Topic: Revenue Department

The Treasury Department recently lifted sanctions on Iranian oil stored on tankers, a move critics say provides Iran with $14 billion in revenue. Officials argue this "jujitsus" the Iranians by allowing the US a better "line of sight" to block accounts when the oil is sold to countries like Japan or Korea. However, oil sold to China is often "recycled" or used directly, making it harder for the US to track or block the funds.

The hosts investigate the Department of Homeland Security's "Level 1 National Security Event" designation for the Super Bowl, concluding it may be a fabricated or misapplied term. A major point of contention is the NFL's status as a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, which allows the league office to remain tax-exempt. They contrast this tax status with the billions in revenue generated and the cutting of federal food stamp subsidies.

The U.S. government is accelerating plans to mandate black box data recorders in all new vehicles by 2014. While framed as a safety measure, the hosts argue these devices are intended for revenue generation, such as automated speeding tickets and mileage taxes. They express concern over the lack of privacy protections and the potential for the IRS to use the data.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released a threatening advertisement announcing the "imminent death of Mr. Nice Guy" regarding back taxes. The ad warns citizens that "things could get complicated" if they do not pay by June 18. The hosts characterize this as state-sponsored terrorism and suggest the aggressive tone is more suited to a mob enforcer than a government agency.