Chart of the Day: Deficit Reduction So Far = $2.4 Trillion

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Michael Linden and Michael Ettlinger provide us today with a handy chart of all the deficit reduction we’ve implemented over the past couple of years. In all, we’ve reduced spending by $1.8 trillion and increased taxes by $600 billion, for a total of $2.4 trillion. More details here. This may not be the grand bargain of Beltway dreams, but it’s pretty good progress in a short period of time.

And three-quarters of it has been from spending cuts. If you’re wondering why President Obama thinks the sequestration negotiations should include a balance of both spending reductions and tax increases, now you know.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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