Janet Novack
@janetnovack.bsky.social
Assistant Managing Editor & Washington Bureau Chief @Forbes. Tax, budget, retirement & education policy. Tax shelters. Scams. Fintech. Investing. email: jnovack@forbes.com
Too bad the CFPB is moribund under Trump. www.forbes.com/sites/jeffka...
This $1,000-A-Year Credit-Boosting Service Rarely Improves Scores—But Still Takes Your Money
More than a year after being cut off by the credit bureaus, San Francisco fintech company TomoCredit continues to sell an exorbitant, misleading service and makes its subscription extremely difficult ...
www.forbes.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Too bad the CFPB is moribund under Trump. www.forbes.com/sites/jeffka...
Reposted by Janet Novack
How Tax Credits Can Lower Your Tax Bill—or Boost Your Refund
How Tax Credits Can Lower Your Tax Bill—or Boost Your Refund
Federal tax credits come in a number of flavors, including refundable, nonrefundable and partially refundable. Here’s what you should know heading into tax season.
www.forbes.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:54 AM
How Tax Credits Can Lower Your Tax Bill—or Boost Your Refund
Reposted by Janet Novack
There were 108,000 job cuts in January in the U.S., the most to begin a year since the Great Recession in 2009, according to a new report.
U.S. Jobs Disappear At Fastest January Pace Since Great Recession
There were 108,000 job cuts in January in the U.S., the most to begin a year since the Great Recession in 2009, according to a new report.
www.forbes.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:40 PM
There were 108,000 job cuts in January in the U.S., the most to begin a year since the Great Recession in 2009, according to a new report.
A reminder, that despite certain ownership issues, the Washington Post is still doing important reporting. (Gift link) wapo.st/4rtfCw8
Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon
Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has weaponized administrative subpoenas to attack free speech, according to privacy and civil rights groups.
wapo.st
February 3, 2026 at 2:13 PM
A reminder, that despite certain ownership issues, the Washington Post is still doing important reporting. (Gift link) wapo.st/4rtfCw8
Reposted by Janet Novack
The DOJ’s new Epstein files release shows that billionaire Gordon Getty both had a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and allegedly brushed off his crimes: “well, we ALL have similar kinds of problems.”
Read more in my latest for @forbes.com:
www.forbes.com/sites/monica...
Read more in my latest for @forbes.com:
www.forbes.com/sites/monica...
Epstein Files Reveal Ties To Billionaire Oil Heir Gordon Getty
The latest Epstein files from the DOJ show that Gordon Getty’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was much closer than previously known.
www.forbes.com
January 31, 2026 at 12:57 AM
The DOJ’s new Epstein files release shows that billionaire Gordon Getty both had a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and allegedly brushed off his crimes: “well, we ALL have similar kinds of problems.”
Read more in my latest for @forbes.com:
www.forbes.com/sites/monica...
Read more in my latest for @forbes.com:
www.forbes.com/sites/monica...
Reposted by Janet Novack
"Trump Picks Veteran Staffer to Head Bureau of Labor Statistics: Brett Matsumoto, the next chief, has worked as an economist at the BLS since 2015."
Excellent choice! www.wsj.com/economy/trum...
Excellent choice! www.wsj.com/economy/trum...
Exclusive | Trump Picks Veteran Staffer to Head Bureau of Labor Statistics
Brett Matsumoto, the next chief, has worked as an economist at the BLS since 2015.
www.wsj.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:26 PM
"Trump Picks Veteran Staffer to Head Bureau of Labor Statistics: Brett Matsumoto, the next chief, has worked as an economist at the BLS since 2015."
Excellent choice! www.wsj.com/economy/trum...
Excellent choice! www.wsj.com/economy/trum...
If you're saving for your kids (or grandkids), here's why a Trump account might not be your best bet. www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
Is A Trump Account The Right Savings Plan For Your Children?
With strict rules and limited tax benefits, Trump accounts aren’t right for every family—particularly if they’ re not eligible for government or private seed contributions.
www.forbes.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:49 PM
If you're saving for your kids (or grandkids), here's why a Trump account might not be your best bet. www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
Reposted by Janet Novack
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Reposted by Janet Novack
new from @forbes.com reporter @mhunterhart.bsky.social, who's tracked the money flowing from Bill Gates to his ex-wife Melinda's charitable foundations--she's got four of them. Melinda announced she'd be receiving the funds when she stepped away from the Gates Foundation #philanthropy #billionaires
New nonprofit tax filings have been released showing that Bill Gates gave $2 billion more than previously known to his ex-wife Melinda's foundations, I report for @forbes.com:
www.forbes.com/sites/monica...
www.forbes.com/sites/monica...
Bill Gates Donated Another $2 Billion To Ex-Wife Melinda’s Foundations, Records Show
Melinda French Gates has received at least $10.8 billion from Bill to bolster her philanthropy supporting women and families.
www.forbes.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:47 PM
new from @forbes.com reporter @mhunterhart.bsky.social, who's tracked the money flowing from Bill Gates to his ex-wife Melinda's charitable foundations--she's got four of them. Melinda announced she'd be receiving the funds when she stepped away from the Gates Foundation #philanthropy #billionaires
Reposted by Janet Novack
Scoop from my colleague Anna Tong - OpenAI is building a social network. That, ironically, will not have bots.
www.forbes.com/sites/annato...
www.forbes.com/sites/annato...
OpenAI Wants To Use Biometrics To Kill Bots And Create Humans Only Social Network
OpenAI is quietly building a social network and considering using biometric verification like World’s eyeball scanning orb or Apple’s Face ID to ensure its users are people, not bots.
www.forbes.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Scoop from my colleague Anna Tong - OpenAI is building a social network. That, ironically, will not have bots.
www.forbes.com/sites/annato...
www.forbes.com/sites/annato...
Reposted by Janet Novack
"Bill Gates Donated Another $2 Billion To Ex-Wife Melinda’s Foundations, New Records Show"
@mhunterhart.bsky.social for @forbes.com
@mhunterhart.bsky.social for @forbes.com
Bill Gates Donated Another $2 Billion To Ex-Wife Melinda’s Foundations, Records Show
Melinda French Gates has received at least $10.8 billion from Bill to bolster her philanthropy supporting women and families.
www.forbes.com
January 28, 2026 at 7:31 PM
"Bill Gates Donated Another $2 Billion To Ex-Wife Melinda’s Foundations, New Records Show"
@mhunterhart.bsky.social for @forbes.com
@mhunterhart.bsky.social for @forbes.com
Reposted by Janet Novack
The price of gold hit a new all-time high Wednesday morning as the precious metal surged more than 20% this year.
Gold Price Surpasses Record $5,300 Amid Weakening Dollar, Fed Independence Concerns
The price of gold hit a new all-time high Wednesday morning as the precious metal surged more than 20% this year.
www.forbes.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:35 PM
The price of gold hit a new all-time high Wednesday morning as the precious metal surged more than 20% this year.
Debunking Trump's claims about Ilhan Omar's wealth. www.forbes.com/sites/zachev...
Trump Claims Ilhan Omar Is Worth $44M. Here’s Why That’s Highly Unlikely.
Her 2024 disclosure reported total business values rather than individual stakes, creating wide net-worth ranges that opponents have taken as literal estimates of her personal wealth.
www.forbes.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Debunking Trump's claims about Ilhan Omar's wealth. www.forbes.com/sites/zachev...
Reposted by Janet Novack
🚨 NEW 🚨 The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:08 PM
🚨 NEW 🚨 The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Don't be surprised if this tax filing season is a mess. Thank Musk, DOGE and GOP Congress. www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
Watchdog Warns IRS May Struggle During The 2026 Tax Filing Season
Staffing losses, backlogs of unprocessed tax returns, and tech delays leave the agency entering filing season under strained conditions, according to TIGTA.
www.forbes.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Don't be surprised if this tax filing season is a mess. Thank Musk, DOGE and GOP Congress. www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
Reposted by Janet Novack
NEW: In August, the nursing home industry gave Trump's Super PAC $5M and had a private lunch with him at his golf course.
They asked him to repeal a rule that would have increased nursing home staffing.
Here's what happened next --> w/ @kenvogel.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
They asked him to repeal a rule that would have increased nursing home staffing.
Here's what happened next --> w/ @kenvogel.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
After Donations, Trump Administration Revoked Rule Requiring More Nursing Home Staff
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:03 PM
NEW: In August, the nursing home industry gave Trump's Super PAC $5M and had a private lunch with him at his golf course.
They asked him to repeal a rule that would have increased nursing home staffing.
Here's what happened next --> w/ @kenvogel.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
They asked him to repeal a rule that would have increased nursing home staffing.
Here's what happened next --> w/ @kenvogel.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
Reposted by Janet Novack
America is bleeding scientific talent
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office
A Science analysis reveals how many were fired, retired, or quit across 14 agencies
www.science.org
January 27, 2026 at 7:56 AM
America is bleeding scientific talent
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Paying the price for leak of Trump and Musk tax returns. www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
Treasury Cancels All Booz Allen Contracts Over Leak Of Billionaires’ Tax Data
Private tax information about Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett and Michael Bloomberg, among others, was disclosed by a former Booz Allen contractor.
www.forbes.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Paying the price for leak of Trump and Musk tax returns. www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
The IRS has slashed enforcement staff, but its computers are still running. www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
Why The IRS Doesn’t Need To Audit You To Assess Extra Taxes
The IRS audits very few returns, but mismatched income, overstated deductions, and easy-to-spot errors can still trigger IRS notices, reviews, and costly follow-ups.
www.forbes.com
January 26, 2026 at 2:59 PM
The IRS has slashed enforcement staff, but its computers are still running. www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
“They’re basically saying you can buy your way out of a tax evasion prosecution.”
www.propublica.org/article/bitc...
www.propublica.org/article/bitc...
How “Bitcoin Jesus” Avoided Prison, Thanks to One of the “Friends of Trump”
Billionaire fugitive Roger Ver was facing federal criminal charges until he sought the services of a select club of President Donald Trump’s former personal attorneys who have easy access to top Justi...
www.propublica.org
January 24, 2026 at 7:12 PM
“They’re basically saying you can buy your way out of a tax evasion prosecution.”
www.propublica.org/article/bitc...
www.propublica.org/article/bitc...
Reposted by Janet Novack
The IRS says the December 2025 $1,776 payment was treated as a supplemental housing allowance, not taxable income. That’s consistent with tax rules that exclude military allowances from gross income.
www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
IRS Confirms Trump’s $1,776 Warrior Dividend To Troops Won’t Be Taxed
The IRS says the December 2025 $1,776 payment was treated as a supplemental housing allowance, not taxable income. That’s consistent with tax rules that exclude military allowances from gross income.
www.forbes.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:44 AM
The IRS says the December 2025 $1,776 payment was treated as a supplemental housing allowance, not taxable income. That’s consistent with tax rules that exclude military allowances from gross income.
www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
www.forbes.com/sites/kellyp...
Reposted by Janet Novack
Here's the crazy part about IRS' "digital first" approach: if you can't resolve your issues online (often the case) and you can't reach anyone by phone (bc they keep pushing you online), the result is MORE PAPER.
I'm sending more letters than ever, which is counterproductive.
I'm sending more letters than ever, which is counterproductive.
January 20, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Here's the crazy part about IRS' "digital first" approach: if you can't resolve your issues online (often the case) and you can't reach anyone by phone (bc they keep pushing you online), the result is MORE PAPER.
I'm sending more letters than ever, which is counterproductive.
I'm sending more letters than ever, which is counterproductive.
Trump policy and behavior is MGGA---Making Gold Great Again. www.forbes.com/sites/brando...
What Billionaire Ray Dalio Means By "Capital Wars"
Geopolitical conflicts can spill into financial markets. Rising bond yields and surging gold prices show how investors are responding.
www.forbes.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Trump policy and behavior is MGGA---Making Gold Great Again. www.forbes.com/sites/brando...
Reposted by Janet Novack
From Oxford Economics: "If the US carries out its threat and imposes an additional 25% tariff on European countries, and if there's like-for-like retaliation, it would lower US GDP by 1% relative to our baseline."
January 19, 2026 at 8:46 PM
From Oxford Economics: "If the US carries out its threat and imposes an additional 25% tariff on European countries, and if there's like-for-like retaliation, it would lower US GDP by 1% relative to our baseline."