Biden’s Open War On Hidden Fees

The Biden administration is trying to crack down on sneaky fees charged by hotels, rental cars, internet providers and more.
Jim Tankersley, a White House correspondent, explains why the effort is doubling as a war against something else that Biden is finding much harder to defeat.
Guest: Jim Tankersley (www.nytimes.com/by/jim-tanker...) , who covers economic policy at the White House for The New York Times
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Background reading:
• This month, a judge temporarily blocked a new rule (www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/bu...) limiting credit-card late fees.
• Hotels and airlines struggling to recoup their losses from the pandemic have been including more hidden charges (www.nytimes.com/2023/06/15/te...) . Don’t fall for them.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily (nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-t...) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

[@paxdriver]

Maybe we should just inform the public that what they want is called "socialism"

[@frankthetank130]

I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic or funny. I certainly cackled. But yeah, irrespective of your political orientation, we need to regulate capitalism. Unfortunately for many that’s socialism, but in truth we are regulating what is essentially an oligopoly. We either need more competition or more socialism. As a nation we are stuck in a middle ground that has the inequality of capitalism and the high prices and inefficiencies of an oligopoly. I’d rather just have socialism then.

[@MeanOldLady]

@@frankthetank130 Socialism is fascism. All power & wealth concentrates upwards into the hands of the few as they hide behind a mask of altruism to con morons into giving away their wealth & freedom to these worthless tyrants! Why do you absolute fools instead on repeating genocidal history?!

[@michaelknoll4199]

I have to disagree with the assertion that hidden fee's are a side battle. It highlights the fundamental dishonesty running amok in corporate America. That a lot of inflation isn't inflation at all but greed and dishonesty.

[@americanexpat8792]

Absolutely! Many companies used the 'air cover' of inflation to take advantage of the situation. Here in Ireland, culture constrains that behavior to a degree that simply isn't found in the US. There are not many hidden fees here at all.

[@Winspur1982]

Right, the "canoe" analogy is a little silly -- or maybe Biden doesn't need to cross the Atlantic Ocean in it, only hop to the next island in a Polynesian archipelago, which ancient explorers routinely did.

[@MikiCab1]

I just bought a plane ticket and it was advertised as $254 but after all the fees it cost $344. $90 in fees. Not long ago the price you saw was the price you paid minus tax

[@Winspur1982]

Housing has hidden fees too. I rent through Airbnb and overall I like the experience, BUT I got slapped with a $81.83 fee apparently because I wanted to extend my "lease" by 26 days (the 26 days' rent is of course another payment). The business leaders whining about over-regulation sound exactly like the slaveowners who screamed that Lincoln was a tyrant.

[@americanexpat8792]

Amen! Kudos to Biden! At least, somebody has taken aim on that. It was amazing coming back to the US for the summer of 2021. You had to super vigilant since the prices advertised to you never end up being the final prices paid. The US is a culture that tries to squeeze the average guy at every turn. Thank God for Ireland. Erin go brauch!

[@DAVIDSAWH]

It is actually the richest people in America who are responsible for all these junk fees and who do not want them removed so that they can keep robbing people. It is each and every one of these enormous corporations.

[@fredbarnes196]

Compared to trumps efforts to help consumers it looks pretty good

[@ScottCleve33]

As a consumer I'll tack Trump over Bidens inflation any day.

[@androidash6901]

How about closing the border so no more cheap labor comes across!

[@MrDellasc]

How about if the GOP get on board and pass the James Langford immigration bill that is the conservative plan ever implemented. Oh, that’s right, Trump doesn’t want to give Biden a win. Hypocrites.

[@IOSALive]

New York Times Podcasts, You're fantastic! Let's be friends and have fun!