# A tax protest tests City Hall messaging > Neil Steinberg questions Rachel Cohen's tax protest, Brandon Johnson's strategy, and the line between protest and lawbreaking. - Title: A tax protest tests City Hall messaging · Chicago Sun-Times - Summary: Neil Steinberg questions Rachel Cohen's tax protest, Brandon Johnson's strategy, and the line between protest and lawbreaking. Tax protest may send a… - Keywords: chicago politics, taxes, protest, city hall, media, news, local, tax, tests, City, Hall, messaging - Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/09/15/rachel-cohen-influencer-tax-boycott-brandon-johnson-communications-director - Published: 2026-09-15T21:17:18.385+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: chicago politics, taxes, protest, city hall, media, news, local ## Freelance money stings Steinberg opens with his own writing income. When freelance checks arrive, his wife reminds him that a big slice still belongs to the IRS. > Of course, you have to pay taxes on that. ## April brings the bill He says he follows that rule every spring. Depending on the year, taxes take roughly a quarter to a third of his freelance income. > we do indeed pay whatever portion ## Cohen refused to pay The column turns to Rachel Cohen, Mayor Brandon Johnson's new communications director, who withheld federal income taxes on freelance work to protest ICE. > deliberately withheld federal income taxes ## A tempting question Steinberg asks whether everyone can do the same. He also opposes parts of the federal government, and tax resistance would save him money. > Can we all do that? ## Protest still matters He separates tax refusal from street protest. He praises anti-ICE demonstrations, especially Broadview, as patriotic resistance to deportation tactics. > heroic, but essential ## Lawbreaking makes him uneasy Even while supporting protest, Steinberg casts himself as a rule follower. He says casual lawbreaking bothers him, especially when people appear to avoid consequences. > I’m also a chronic law abider. ## Washington’s old tax case He recalls Mayor Harold Washington failing to file federal taxes for four years in the 1960s. Washington later blamed disorganization, not protest. > not even as a protest ## The IRS pursued him Washington owed only $508 after baseline payments were counted, but he pleaded no contest and served 36 days in Cook County Jail in 1972. > only owed $508 ## Voters still chose him Washington discussed the episode during his 1983 campaign and still won. Steinberg contrasts Washington's regret with Cohen's public pride in her protest. > I’m not proud of this ## Johnson could feel it Steinberg asks whether Cohen's admission will follow Johnson as he seeks another term while facing weak funding and low popularity. > come to dog Johnson ## Rivals have baggage too The column notes Alexi Giannoulias, named as Johnson's chief rival, has a family banking history that drew allegations but no criminal charges. > no criminal charges were filed ## Selective tolerance questioned Steinberg links the episode to Johnson's reputation for leniency toward some illegal conduct, including youth unrest downtown. > ignoring certain illegalities ## Tax money is fungible He questions Cohen's assumption that her unpaid taxes would have funded ICE. The same pool of money could support other federal programs too. > what makes her think ## Influence over interviews Steinberg closes by arguing Cohen's hiring signals a shift from traditional journalism toward direct social media messaging for Johnson's administration. > bypass traditional journalism ## Key takeaway Tax protest may send a message, but public officials and their aides still face legal and political scrutiny for it.