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Joseph Zeballos-Roig

Joseph Zeballos-Roig

Domestic Policy and Politics Reporter

@josephzeballos

Joseph Zeballos-Roig covers domestic policy & politics in Congress at Semafor. He previously reported on economic policy for three years at Insider, focusing on the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the legislative battles around President Biden’s domestic agenda. He’s based in Washington D.C.

Billionaire John Paulson on Trump, tariffs, and the Treasury secretary job

The investor is one of the most vocal economic surrogates for the former president.

John Paulson gives a thumbs up after asking a question as Donald Trump addresses the Economic Club of New York in September

The $5 trillion dollar issue neither campaign wants to talk about

It’s one of the biggest looming policy fights of 2025, but the ‘tax cliff’ has been mostly invisible on the trail.

Donald Trump, wearing a black tuxedo, points to the ceiling at the 79th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City

Vance wants to be a ‘pro-family’ Republican. His party isn’t there yet.

The vice presidential nominee wants a bigger child tax credit and other benefits for building families. His party is still divided on whether to follow.

Vice presidential nominee and Ohio GOP Sen. JD Vance

Harris escalates her courtship of crypto

The well-funded digital assets industry is getting more than warm words from the vice president lately. She’s also dispatching aides to get closer to its investors and their Democratic allies.

Vice President Kamala Harris

US averts funding shutdown as spending deal reached

If approved this week, the deal will position Congress for a new spending battle just before the holidays.

Fed’s big rate cut ‘screams of interference’ in election, Trump adviser says

Reaction from Trump world shows the fight is now over who gets credit for what looks like a soft economic landing: “Why couldn’t this wait until the day after the election?”

Trump’s growing tax cut promises will give GOP a huge headache

Republicans concede they have a “math problem” when it comes to the former president’s ambitious, and hugely costly, array of new tax ideas.

Alleged Trump gunman touted his Capitol Hill contacts

Ryan Routh claimed to Semafor that “four or five” lawmakers’ offices were receptive to his entreaties for foreign soldiers in Ukraine, but the two he name-checked denied meaningful involvement.

Biden’s top trustbuster faces a battle to survive, even under Harris

Sure, Wall Street donors dislike Federal Trade Commission chief Lina Khan. But she’d also have a harder time than before with GOP senators.

Donald Trump has ‘concepts of a plan’ for Obamacare. Do they include big spending cuts?

Trump previously tried to reduce Medicaid and ACA funding. We asked for details on his future approach.

Mark Cuban is Kamala Harris’ on-call billionaire. What’s he after?

The Shark Tank star and former Dallas Mavericks owner once talked with No Labels about a third-party run. These days, he’s in the KHive.

Build, baby, build: YIMBYs for Harris host fundraiser with emphasis on affordable housing

The issue is gaining more prominence for Democrats in the 2024 campaign, with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and others scheduled to speak at the virtual event.

Harris’ ‘Goldilocks’ economic agenda

The vice president’s early policymaking forays don’t represent much of a break from Biden, despite some signs that one might help.

Harris camp signals it backs Biden bid to raise taxes on wealthy, corporations

The vice president herself hasn’t shed light on how she’d pay for her economic plan. But her team has quietly embraced the outgoing president’s vision.

The 2025 tax war starts early as Harris and Trump vie over child credit

What price gouging plan? Both candidates are focused on tax benefits for parents, as the Trump camp eyes JD Vance’s proposed expansion.

Trump’s Social Security tax cut plan would jeopardize entitlements, think tanks say

The plan to eliminate levies on benefits could speed up the insolvency date for Social Security and Medicare, when Trump has pledged to shield the programs.

Trump’s idea to lower corporate tax rate draws more Republican skepticism

Senator Tillis suggested even raising that levy, instead of cutting it to 15%, as US debt mounts.

From crackdown to comeback: Crypto’s fortunes turn in Washington

A year ago, regulators and lawmakers targeted the industry after some epic failures. Now it’s being feted by Trump and drawing interest from Harris.