Topic: Tax Filings

The Internal Revenue Service is reportedly considering an option where the agency calculates taxes and sends a bill directly to citizens, similar to the "blue envelope" system used in the Netherlands. While presented as a convenience, the model is criticized for making it difficult for taxpayers to contest filings and for leading to mandatory preliminary payments based on estimated future income.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reportedly destroyed 30 million paper tax returns due to an inability to process a massive backlog. Critics suggest this move may disproportionately benefit wealthy donors whose complex filings were among the destroyed documents. The segment recalls the "dude named Ben" IT scandal from the Obama era as a precedent for IRS administrative failures.

The Clinton Foundation is criticized for its consistent failure to release timely financial statements, with the 2015 filings currently overdue. Questions are raised regarding how the organization maintains high charity ratings despite financial sloppiness and allegations of buying favorable reviews through large payments.

An analysis of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) reveals a board comprised of high-level diplomats and academics despite a relatively small annual budget of $207,000. The discussion shifts to film recommendations, including the 1965 dark comedy "The Loved One" and the Ethan Hawke drone warfare film "Good Kill."

An examination of 350.org's Form 990 tax filings reveals that the late actress Elizabeth Taylor was listed as a board member working three hours, despite having passed away in 2011. The hosts also note other board members like Van Jones and Naomi Klein. They critique the organization's use of "conspiracy theorist" language to target the fossil fuel industry.