promoearn: Tax the billionaires

Monday, March 28

$President Joe Biden is releasing a budget blueprint that tries to tell voters what the diverse and at times fractured Democratic Party stands for.$

Tax the billionaires

Biden wants to tax the wealthiest. Russia tampers down expectations for Ukraine talks. Job quitters have regrets. It's Monday's news.

President Joe Biden's budget proposal includes a new tax on billionaires. Russia has low expectations for talks with Ukraine. And those who quit their jobs during the pandemic may have regrets.

😊It's Nicole, bringing you all the news you need to know Monday!

But first, a slap, a dog and chaos. Here are seven memorable moments from Sunday's Oscars (and yes, Will Smith's viral outburst).

Will Smith hits presenter Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars on March 27, 2022.

Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

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Biden's budget clamps down on billionaires, boosts police spending

President Joe Biden sent his 2023 budget to Congress on Monday, outlining his administration's fiscal priorities for the coming year. While Congress is in charge of writing the federal budget, Biden's spending plan serves as a starting point for negotiations between lawmakers and the White House. A few highlights include a new minimum tax of 20% on households worth more than $100 million, which addresses tax disparities between wealthy taxpayers and middle-income households. While some Democrats are calling to defund the police, Biden outlined $30 billion in mandatory spending to support law enforcement, crime prevention and community violence intervention, and another $1.7 billion to expand gun-tracking strike forces.

•	The proposal reflects key points Democrats are likely to emphasize in this fall's midterm elections.

$President Joe Biden is releasing a budget blueprint that tries to tell voters what the diverse and at times fractured Democratic Party stands for.$

President Joe Biden is releasing a budget blueprint that tries to tell voters what the diverse and at times fractured Democratic Party stands for.

Andrew Harnik, AP

Russia's low expectations for Ukraine talks

The Kremlin dampened expectations Monday that talks with Ukraine negotiators this week would lead to a deal to end Russia's deadly invasion. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were no "significant breakthroughs" so far in movement toward an agreement with Ukraine, but the in-person meeting scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Turkey would likely allow for more "meaningful" negotiations. The talks come as Russia rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's latest request for a meeting with President Vladmir Putin, claiming a discussion wouldn't be worthwhile until the two countries are closer to agreeing on key issues. Zelenskyy said over the weekend that he would consider declaring neutrality and offering security guarantees to Russia, such as keeping Ukraine nuclear-free.

•	A Pentagon official said Russian troops are refocusing their aims in Ukraine.
•	The mayor of Ukrainian city Mariupol called for a complete evacuation.

👉More news: Monday's latest updates.

In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during an interview with independent Russian news media from Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 27, 2022.

What everyone's talking about

•	The Academy will launch a formal review of Will Smith's actions at the Oscars.
•	What to expect from the final four teams in the NCAA tournament.
•	The Buffalo Bills get a new home, but taxpayers will pay $850 million.
•	Artistic justice: The Supreme Court will consider disputed Andy Warhol images.

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

Will ex-Trump aides be held in contempt?

A special committee investigating the Capitol attack will vote Monday evening on a resolution to hold two former White House aides to President Donald Trump in criminal contempt for defying subpoenas for documents and testimony. The House Jan. 6 panel seeks information from Peter Navarro, a former trade adviser, about efforts to delay election certification, and information from Dan Scavino, a former deputy chief of staff, about Trump's activities leading up to the riot and messages on social media that day. If the committee approves the resolution, the full House will vote before the Justice Department considers possible criminal charges.

•	'The illegality of the plan was obvious': What a judge said about Trump's plot.
•	Here's how the Jan. 6 committee is looking into the deadly attack on Capitol Hill.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is pushing ahead with contempt charges against former Trump adviser Peter Navarro in response to his monthslong refusal to comply with subpoenas.

Alex Brandon, AP

Job quitters have regrets

One in five of the people who quit their jobs during the past two years have regrets, don't like their new position enough to stay or are already searching for a new position, according to a Harris Poll survey for USA TODAY. Some of the quitters with regrets say their new role is not what they expected, and they didn't take enough time to think through the pros and cons of leaving before tapping out. The unprecedented wave of resignations have been traced to pandemic-related factors, including a desire to avoid return-to-office policies and burnout. But while higher pay and the comfort of working from home enticed new hires, desperate employers struggling during the labor shortage may have sugarcoated or misrepresented work conditions.

•	Small businesses endured COVID. Now they're grappling with changing tax rules.

The "Great Resignation" is a term coined by the media and job experts. Americans have been leaving their jobs, voluntarily, in record numbers. According to CNBC, "A record 4.5 million workers quit their jobs in November."

iStock via Getty Images

Real quick

•	How university health centers are 'adopting' households.
•	Walmart is the largest national retail chain to say it will no longer sell cigarettes at some locations.
•	What to know about Russia's hypersonic missile.
•	April 18 is coming. Here are some tax-filing resources.

Climate justice programs move more than just cars

A growing number of electric vehicle programs across the country aim to expand access to these vehicles for low-income Americans and people of color. Electric vehicles and charging stations are more likely to be seen in wealthier areas, so non-profits and other groups are working to bring these resources to all demographics and incomes. Communities in cities su Los Angeles are finding affordable alternatives to high gas prices through pilot electric vehicle car share programs. These initiatives not only educate people about how to charge the cars, but also help groups that are already disproportionately affected by air pollution and transportation systems.

•	Why electric car maker Tesla saw its shares rise sharply Monday.

Electric vehicles being charged.

Getty Images

A break from the news

•	👉Jada Pinkett Smith lives with alopecia. Here's what she's said about it.
•	🌴Planning a visit to Hawaii? Skip the hotel and go camping.
•	🏎Are Formula One's lucrative deals worth the cost of human rights?
•	📺Everything you need to know before watching Marvel's 'Moon Knight.'

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.