The White House Lied About Its IRS Funding Only Targeting the Rich
Plus: A listener asks the editors for examples of left-leaning thinkers who also hold libertarian ideas.
In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman consider President Joe Biden's updated response to the war in Gaza following a strike by Israeli military forces that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers. And with tax day on the horizon, the editors reflect on how Biden's plan to hire new IRS agents is resulting in more audits of the middle class.
03:02—Biden's response to Israeli military forces killing seven aid workers in Gaza
27:04—The IRS hires more workers, and more middle-class audits result.
36:16—Weekly Listener Question
47:56—Eclipse day!
53:25—This week's cultural recommendations
Mentioned in this podcast:
"Biden Says Arab States Ready To Recognize Israel in Future Deal," by Jordan Fabian
"Should pro-Hamas students be blacklisted?" by Nick Gillespie
"The West Bank Comes to New Jersey," by Matthew Petti
Nancy Rommelman's dispatches from Israel
"Russ Roberts on October 7 and the Future of U.S.-Israel Relations," by Zach Weissmueller and Liz Wolfe
"Throwing Money at the IRS Won't Fix Its Problems," by Katherine Mangu-Ward
"Promise-Breaking IRS," by Liz Wolfe
"In 2022, the IRS Went After the Very Poorest Taxpayers," by Liz Wolfe
"Massive Scale of Improper Payments Show Govt is Too Big NOT to Fail," by Veronique de Rugy
"3 More Reasons To Fear the IRS," by Nick Gillespie and Meredith Bragg
"Remy: What Are the Chances? (An IRS Love Song)," by Remy, Austin Bragg, and Meredith Bragg
"Remy: Best Song Ever! (One Direction Parody—Tax Code Edition)," by Remy, Austin Bragg, and Meredith Bragg
"W-2 WTF?!?!: Tax Facts to Make Your Head Explode!" by Meredith Bragg and Nick Gillespie
"The New Philosophers Rock France," by William Bonner
"Velvet President," by Matt Welch
"Was Foucault a Libertarian? Nick Gillespie Explains Why Philosopher's Greatest Protégé Was the Free Market," by Davis Richardson
"Libertarian Postmodernism: A Reply to Jordan Peterson and the Intellectual Dark Web," by Zach Weissmueller and Nick Gillespie
"Goodbye True World," by Nick Gillespie
"'We Are as Gods and Might as Well Get Good at It,'" by Nick Gillespie
"Václav Havel's Funeral: Why Truth Needs Love," by Matt Welch
"Curb This, Mofo," by Nick Gillespie
"Enthusiasm, Curbed," by Nick Gillespie
Send your questions to roundtable@reason.com. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.
Today's sponsors:
- CSN Mint has been providing certified U.S. Mint collectible coins and precious metals for over 20 years, and we are one of the most trusted names in numismatics. Explore CSN Mint's extensive catalog of bullion bars, coins, and numismatic collectibles. Whether you're a seasoned investor or a passionate collector, you'll find a diverse range of products to suit your needs and preferences. At CSN Mint, trust is paramount. Rest assured that every product you purchase includes the original certificate of authenticity or is certified and graded by a third-party grader to ensure origin and purity. With CSN Mint, you can build your collection with confidence. Experience world-class customer service and support with CSN Mint. Our team of knowledgeable professionals is here to assist you every step of the way, from product selection to order fulfillment and beyond. If you are going to collect something, it might as well be money! Go to CSNmint.com/roundtable and use promo code Roundtable at checkout to get a free Silver American Eagle—over $30 in value—with your purchase of $75 or more.
- What's the first thing you'd do if you had an extra hour in your day? A lot of us spend our lives wishing we had more time. The question is, time for what? If time was unlimited, how would you use it? The best way to squeeze that special thing into your schedule is to know what's important to you, and make it a priority. Therapy can help you find what matters to you, so you can do more of it. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online. Designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Learn to make time for what makes you happy, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/roundtable today to get 10 percent off your first month.
Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty.
Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve
- Producer: Hunt Beaty