United States federal executive department
Elon Musk’s Handpicked IRS Chief Lasts Just 72 Hours: The IRS will soon be on its fourth acting executive—just three months into MAGA 2.0.
thedailybeast.com/elon-musks-handpicked-irs-chief-gary-shapley-lasts-just-72-hours/
Key Facts: IRS Chief Installed by Musk Ousted After 72 Hours
5h · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
- Gary Shapley was removed after just 72 hours as the acting IRS chief.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent complained about Shapley’s appointment, claiming it was made without his consent.
- Shapley, known for his testimony regarding Hunter Biden's finances, will remain at the IRS in a senior criminal investigation role.
- He is the third acting IRS executive during Trump's presidency, following Melanie Krause and Douglas O'Donnell.
Federal judge in Baltimore temporarily limits DOGE access to Social Security data
apnews.com/article/doge-social-security-data-access-42f4a7639169bd70c9541901bad7e0fe
Key Facts: Judge Limits DOGE's Access to Social Security Data
22h · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: apnews.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: apnews.com
- A federal judge has restricted DOGE's access to Social Security data to protect citizens' privacy.
- DOGE staff can only use anonymized data if they undergo training and background checks.
- The judge questioned the need for unrestricted access to sensitive personal information, emphasizing the privacy risks for Social Security recipients.
- The ruling may be appealed to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has previously favored the Trump administration.
"That intrusion causes an objectively reasonable unease."— Alethea Anne Swift, an attorney with the legal services group Democracy Forward, which is behind the lawsuit.
White House will start interviewing candidates to succeed Fed Chair Jerome Powell this fall
nypost.com/2025/04/14/business/scott-bessent-says-white-house-will-start-interviewing-fed-chair-candidates-this-fall/
Key Facts: Trump Considers Dismissing Fed Chair Powell
1h · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: reuters.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: reuters.com
- White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett confirmed that Trump is exploring the possibility of firing Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve Chair.
- Tensions have escalated as Trump accuses Powell of hindering the economy by maintaining high interest rates.
- Powell stated he cannot be removed and intends to serve until his term ends in May 2026.
- Economists and investors are concerned about the implications for the Fed's credibility and global markets if Trump attempts to dismiss Powell.
The Fed really owes it to the American people to get interest rates down. That's the only thing he's good for.— Donald Trump comments on Jerome Powell and the Fed's interest rate policy.
Feds hit Harvard with new demands, from international student records to funding cuts and tax threats
wbur.org/news/2025/04/17/harvard-trump-irs-cambridge-international-students
Key Facts: Harvard University Faces Threats from Trump Administration
Apr 17 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: reuters.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: reuters.com
- The Trump administration threatens to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students unless it complies with demands for specific visa holder information.
- Two DHS grants totaling over $2.7 million have been canceled as Harvard refuses to submit the requested data.
- Claims of an 'anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology' at Harvard have emerged, while the university defends its independence and right to free speech.
- Human rights advocates express concerns about academic freedom and potential discrimination amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.
With a $53.2 billion endowment, Harvard can fund its own chaos - DHS won't.— Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, in a statement regarding the termination of grants to Harvard.
IRS Direct File Is Reportedly Being Eliminated After This Filing Season: Reports indicate that the Trump administration is planning to eliminate the IRS Direct ...
forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2025/04/16/trump-administration-will-reportedly-nix-irs-direct-file-eliminating-the-free-tax-filing-option/
Key Facts: Trump Administration Moves to End IRS Free Filing Program
Apr 16 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: apnews.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: apnews.com
- The Trump administration plans to eliminate the IRS Direct File program, which allows free electronic tax filing.
- Users praised the program, developed during Biden's presidency, for its simplicity, but it faced opposition from Republicans and tax preparation companies.
- Development of the program was halted when IRS staff were instructed to cease work on it.
- Critics claim this decision disregards taxpayers’ needs and may lead to a return to costly tax preparation services.
"Trump and Musk want to take that away."— Senator Elizabeth Warren, a proponent of building out Direct File, stated this in response to the elimination of the program.
Jacobin Apr 15
Reminder that millionaires and billionaires evade an estimated $150 billion in taxes every year, according to the IRS.
Happy Tax Day.
IRS Could Revoke Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status over Refusal to Bend to Trump: The IRS is reportedly considering revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status in retaliation ...
democracynow.org/2025/4/17/headlines/irs_could_revoke_harvards_tax_exempt_status_over_refusal_to_bend_to_trump
Key Facts: Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status Under Scrutiny
Apr 17 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: nytimes.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: nytimes.com
- The IRS is considering revoking Harvard's tax exemption, marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration's efforts to cut federal aid to the university.
- President Trump publicly demanded that Harvard pay taxes, while IRS officials indicated that scrutiny of the university had begun prior to his call.
- Harvard rejected the claims and warned that revoking its tax status would harm its educational mission and reduce financial aid and research funding.
- The pressure on Harvard is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to challenge the liberal bias at elite universities, threatening billions in federal funding.
"Such an unprecedented action would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission."— Harvard stated that there is no legal basis for rescinding its tax status.
A presidential effort to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status could run up against a number of challenges, including violating federal law.
IRS marks Tax Day amid layoffs, cutbacks: The Internal Revenue Service commemorated the 70th anniversary of the April 15 tax filing deadline.
accountingtoday.com/news/irs-marks-tax-day-amid-worries-about-layoffs-and-cutbacks
Key Facts: IRS in Turmoil Amid DOGE Data Controversy
Apr 15 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cnn.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cnn.com
- IRS career officials struggled to protect sensitive taxpayer data from demands by Trump officials and DOGE staff for access to assist immigration agencies.
- The agency faced internal upheaval, leading to the demotion of senior legal advisors and a mass exodus of experienced personnel.
- A recently signed data-sharing agreement with ICE may enable the use of sensitive taxpayer information for tracking immigrants, undermining confidence in the IRS.
- Experts warn of potential revenue losses as many undocumented immigrants hesitate to file taxes out of fear of deportation.
It’s hard to think of anything positive that will come from the amount of uncertainty and turbulence at the IRS right now.— Former IRS commissioner Danny Werfel on the uncertainties and turbulence at the IRS.
x.com 22h
Trump will reportedly end the IRS Direct File program that allowed taxpayers to file taxes for free. This comes after Intuit, the maker of TurboTax ...
x.com/RBReich/status/1912997272767414753
Trump administration takes aim at Harvard’s international students and tax-exempt status
thehill.com/homenews/ap/ap-business/ap-trump-administration-takes-aim-at-harvards-international-students-and-tax-exempt-status-2/
Key Facts: Harvard Resists Trump: A Turning Point in Education
Apr 17 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: nytimes.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: nytimes.com
- Harvard University decided to reject the Trump administration's demands despite a looming freeze of over $2 billion in federal funding.
- University leaders viewed the demands as a serious threat to institutional independence and chose to fight for their principles.
- The Trump administration responded swiftly with the funding freeze, placing Harvard in one of the gravest confrontations in its history.
- Harvard's decision is regarded as a pivotal moment in the confrontation between higher education institutions and the government, prompting significant reactions across academia.
"The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights."— Dr. Alan M. Garber, President of Harvard, in an open letter rebuffing the Trump administration's demands.
Trump official asked IRS to reexamine audit of MyPillow’s Mike Lindell: A Trump administration appointee asked the IRS in March to review an audit of MyPillow ...
thehill.com/homenews/administration/5254664-trump-official-asked-irs-to-re-examine-audit-of-mypillows-mike-lindell/
Key Facts: Mike Lindell Reveals Financial Struggles in Court Hearing
Apr 17 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: mediaite.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: mediaite.com
- Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, detailed his financial troubles and inability to pay the sanctions imposed against him.
- He was ordered to pay $56,369 to Smartmatic, which sued him for defamation.
- Lindell described a significant financial decline, including laying off hundreds of employees and losing several MyPillow warehouses.
- A judge asked Lindell to provide proof of his bankruptcy by Friday, questioning the verifiability of his claims.
I'm in ruins.— Mike Lindell, during a virtual hearing before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, regarding his financial situation related to the Smartmatic lawsuit.
Head of I.R.S. Being Ousted Amid Treasury’s Power Struggle With Elon Musk: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent complained to President Trump that the acting ...
nytimes.com/2025/04/18/us/politics/irs-scott-bessent-elon-musk.html
MSNBC.com Apr 17
Trump administration plans to end IRS Direct File for free tax filing, sources say
nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-administration-plans-end-irs-direct-file-free-tax-filing-sources-rcna201663
Can’t File Your Taxes by April 15? How to Avoid IRS Fines.: Laggard taxpayers can easily get a filing extension to Oct. 15, though they must pay the money they ...
barrons.com/articles/irs-fines-april-15-taxes-089f2c3d
Paid articlePaywall
DOGE Is Building a Master Database to Surveil and Track Immigrants: DOGE is knitting together data from the Department of Homeland Security ...
wired.com/story/doge-collecting-immigrant-data-surveil-track/
Trump is very wrong about how much the US is collecting from tariffs : Trump's claim of $2 billion daily tariff revenue is contradicted by US Customs and ...
businessinsider.com/trump-says-us-collecting-more-tariff-revenue-than-data-shows-2025-4
Estimates of the burden of China tariffs on the average American household is around $4,000, says former US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ... Show more
South Africa’s New Envoy Flies Into a Trump Storm
South Africa’s New Envoy Flies Into a Trump Storm
Summers: ‘Any self-respecting Treasury secretary would resign’ over Trump Harvard IRS directive
thehill.com/homenews/administration/5254015-larry-summers-scott-bessent-resign-harvard-irs/
Trump's claim of $2 billion daily tariff revenue is contradicted by US Customs and Treasury data, which show much lower amounts collected ... Show more
US removes Orban aide Rogan from sanctions list, Treasury Dept website shows: The U.S. Treasury Department has removed sanctions imposed on Hungarian Prime ...
reuters.com/world/us-removes-orban-aide-rogan-sanctions-list-treasury-dept-website-shows-2025-04-15/
Trump administration replaces acting IRS commissioner: Trump's pick to lead the agency still awaits Senate confirmation.
axios.com/2025/04/18/trump-internal-revenue-service-acting-commissioner-replaced
President Donald Trump is trying every tool in the toolbox to pressure Harvard University to bend to his demands that the institution change its policies and ... Show more
IRS agent who investigated Hunter Biden expected to be named acting chief of the tax collection agency
pbs.org/newshour/politics/irs-agent-who-investigated-hunter-biden-expected-to-be-named-acting-chief-of-the-tax-collection-agency
Trump floats wider IRS tax exemption crackdown: President Trump on Thursday floated a wider crackdown on tax-exempt entities after his administration asked the ...
thehill.com/homenews/administration/5254660-trump-floats-wider-irs-tax-exemption-crackdown/
Semafor 15h
IRS chief is being ousted amid Treasury power struggle with Elon Musk: NYT: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly complained to President Trump that the ...
semafor.com/article/04/18/2025/irs-chief-is-being-ousted-amid-treasury-power-struggle-with-elon-musk-report
Chaos continued to reign supreme at the Internal Revenue Service after President Donald Trump ousted the agency’s interim commissioner only three days after ... Show more
"Donald Trump is a known tax cheat, and it's clear his core economic agenda is to turn the government into an ATM for his billionaire pals."
Janet Yellen is wrong about US manufacturing — and pretty much everything else : Janet Yellen remains wrong on a host of issues — including inflation ...
thehill.com/opinion/finance/5253634-yellen-trump-manufacturing-pipedream/
Trump to Replace Acting IRS Commissioner: Tax agency’s next leader is fifth so far this year
wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-to-replace-acting-irs-commissioner-f5494a97
Paid articlePaywall
IRS agrees to share immigrants' data with ICE: The IRS has previously kept tax returns private, even for undocumented immigrants.
axios.com/2025/04/08/irs-share-immigrant-data-ice-deportations
Key Facts: Oil Prices Plummet, M&A Activity Stalls
Apr 13 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: axios.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: axios.com
- Oil prices have fallen to a level where many companies can no longer afford to drill new wells.
- Deal activity significantly decreases when the economic fundamentals are unfavorable.
- The profitability threshold for new wells is at least $61 per barrel, while existing wells can remain profitable at $45.
- Price volatility and uncertainty complicate fair negotiations, prompting companies to focus on existing operations.
CBS News Apr 12
Judge eases ban on DOGE access to sensitive Treasury information: A New York judge has relaxed a ban she'd put on Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency ...
cbsnews.com/news/judge-ban-doge-access-sensitive-treasury-information/
Elon Musk's Government Efficiency Push Falls Short As Treasury Data Shows Spending Up Sharply Since Trump
benzinga.com/25/04/44778750/musks-government-efficiency-push-falls-short-as-treasury-data-shows-spending-up-sharply-under-trumps-second-term-report
US dollar keeps falling as its ‘safe-haven’ status is questioned: US dollar has fallen by roughly 8 per cent in 2025, trading near a three-year low ...
straitstimes.com/business/economy/us-dollar-keeps-falling-as-its-safe-haven-status-is-questioned
IRS to lose billions in revenue if migrants stop filing taxes: The Internal Revenue Service is projected to lose more than $313 billion in revenue in the coming ...
chicagotribune.com/2025/04/10/irs-migrants-filing-taxes/
Trump tariffs drove a Treasury sell-off — who sold the safe-haven asset? : In just a few sessions, yield on the 10-year Treasury soared to 4.592% on Friday ...
cnbc.com/2025/04/15/us-treasurys-selloff-what-happened-and-why.html
Sumitomo Pharma Poised to Jump on Stem Cell Research Results
bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-17/sumitomo-pharma-poised-to-jump-on-stem-cell-research-results
Paid articlePaywall MSNBC.com 21h
Team Trump reportedly contacted the IRS about a ‘high-profile friend of the president’
msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/team-trump-reportedly-contacted-irs-high-profile-friend-president-rcna201852
US Will Impose 21% Tariff on Mexican Tomatoes Starting in July
bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-14/africa-focused-dpi-takes-over-nclude-to-expand-into-vc-investing
Paid articlePaywall CBS News Apr 18
Can Trump or the IRS strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status? Here's what to know.
cbsnews.com/news/harvard-tax-exempt-status-irs-trump-what-to-know/
Acting IRS leader replaced after 3 days as senior DOGE official loses access
washingtonpost.com/business/2025/04/18/irs-shapley-bessent-musk/
IRS workers only had to show up to work once a week in person, before Trump took over
nypost.com/2025/04/18/us-news/irs-workers-only-had-to-show-up-to-work-once-a-week-in-person-before-president-trump-took-over/
'Federal government will be damaged': Former IRS official on plan to share immigrant data with ICE | Here & Now
wbur.org/hereandnow/2025/04/09/irs-immigrant-data-ice
Mediaite 14h
Trump Ousts New IRS Commissioner After Less Than Half a Scaramucci : Acting IRS Commissioner Gary Shapley was removed from his position on Friday after being ...
mediaite.com/politics/trump-ousts-new-irs-commissioner-after-less-than-half-a-scaramucci/
DOGE Is Just Getting Warmed Up: DOGE has tapped into some of the most sensitive and valuable data in the world. Now it’s starting to put it to work.
wired.com/story/doge-is-just-getting-warmed-up-data-immigration/
The IRS has begun planning to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. But the legal basis for that move is one that “conservatives, more than anyone, should oppose ... Show more
Trump Administration Plans to Nuke Popular Free IRS Tax Filing System: The IRS’ Direct File program remained functional even after Elon Musk said in February ...
thedailybeast.com/trump-administration-plans-to-nuke-popular-free-irs-tax-filing-system/
Bessent Replaces Acting IRS Commissioner in Musk Power Struggle
bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-18/trump-puts-more-federal-civil-servants-under-president-s-control
Paid articlePaywallGOP Accused Democrats of Politicizing IRS. Now Trump Wants It to Punish Harvard.: The president this week publicly raised the prospect of Harvard losing its ...
on.wsj.com/3RnzYqA
Paid articlePaywall
A bigger hole: Trump has already spent $155bn more than Biden. Musk now claims DOGE only saved $150bn
independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/musk-trump-bigger-debt-150-billion-b2733310.html
Tax Deadline Day Comes With IRS Enforcement Shrinking: This is Washington Edition, the newsletter about money, power and politics in the nation’s capital. Today ...
bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-04-15/tax-deadline-day-comes-with-irs-enforcement-shrinking
Paid articlePaywall
The New Republic Apr 17
Trump Comes Running to His Buddy’s Rescue Over IRS Audit: A Trump administration official took the unprecedented step of reaching out to the IRS.
newrepublic.com/post/194122/donald-trump-mypillow-mike-lindell-irs-audit
🇷🇺💰 Russia explores launching its own stablecoin after USDT freeze
Russia is considering developing a national stablecoin after $30M worth of $USDT was frozen ... Show more
Trump Administration Asks IRS to Start Process to Revoke Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status
wsj.com/us-news/education/trump-administration-asks-irs-to-start-process-to-revoke-harvards-tax-exempt-status-2a1c93cf
Paid articlePaywall Jacobin Apr 16
Trump’s IRS Pick Has Ties to Shady Donors Under IRS Scrutiny: Donald Trump’s nominee for Internal Revenue Service director, Billy Long, just had his six-figure ...
jacobin.com/2025/04/billy-long-debt-trump-irs
Yellen sees ‘very worrisome’ pattern in Treasurys sell-off
thehill.com/business/5247789-yellen-dollar-based-assets-trump-tariff-policies/
Trump Moves to Get Rid of Head Start, Which Offers Free Child Care to Poor Families
democracynow.org/2025/4/14/headlines/trump_moves_to_get_rid_of_head_start_which_offers_free_child_care_to_poor_families
Almost 20,000 IRS employees taking second Trump buyout offer: Bloomberg: Nearly 20,000 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees are taking the Trump ...
thehill.com/homenews/administration/5250251-trump-irs-employees-buyouts/
Musk's DOGE team can access sensitive data for now, appeals court rules: A divided federal appeals court on Monday put on hold an injunction that blocked Elon ...
reuters.com/world/us/musks-doge-team-can-access-government-data-now-appeals-court-rules-2025-04-07/
Clips of Trump, Vance and Cruz saying they’d stop the IRS from political attacks resurface after Trump’s Harvard threat
independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-vance-cruz-irs-harvard-b2735343.html
With Harvard Threat, Trump Tries to Bend the I.R.S. to His Will: Since the post-Nixon era, the Internal Revenue Service has had a degree of independence from the ...
nytimes.com/2025/04/18/us/politics/trump-irs.html
Trump-Musk Assault on IRS Could Let Wealthy Evade $30 Million in Taxes—Per Day: "By seeking to gut the IRS, President Trump and Elon Musk would make it ...
commondreams.org/news/irs-high-wealth-tax-evasion
Social Security lists thousands of living immigrants as dead to push them to leave
pennlive.com/nation-world/2025/04/social-security-lists-thousands-of-living-immigrants-as-dead-to-push-them-to-leave.html
Key Facts: US Government Declares Living Immigrants Dead
Apr 16 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: 1news.co.nz
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: 1news.co.nz
- The Trump administration has classified over 6,000 living immigrants as deceased, revoking their Social Security numbers to encourage them to leave.
- This action complicates access to essential services for those affected, as Social Security numbers are necessary.
- Additionally, the legal status of immigrants using the CBP One app has been revoked, pushing them towards self-deportation.
- However, a federal judge has halted the order to force hundreds of thousands of immigrants with temporary legal status to depart.
"This President continues to engage in lawless behaviour, violating the law and abusing our systems of checks and balances."— Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, regarding the legal actions of the Trump administration.
Musk and Trump fan flames of Fort Knox gold conspiracy theory : The baseless conspiracy theory that the Fort Knox gold might be gone, spread by Musk and Trump ...
nbcnews.com/tech/elon-musk/musk-trump-fan-flames-fort-knox-gold-conspiracy-theory-rcna199354
Think the Trump Tariffs Are Bad Now? Just Wait Until This Happens.: From soaring loans to higher prices, to shifting global alliances, a faltering dollar could ...
slate.com/business/2025/04/trump-tariffs-trade-war-us-dollar-fall-stock-market.html
CNBC Daily Open: United Airlines offers two earnings estimates, reflecting turbulence in economy
cnbc.com/2025/04/16/cnbc-daily-open-united-airlines-two-forecasts-reflect-turbulence.html
EWN Apr 17
Trump says 'joke' Harvard should be stripped of funds: Trump's administration had also formally asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke the famed seat ...
ewn.co.za/2025/04/17/trump-says-joke-harvard-should-be-stripped-of-funds
The IRS interim commissioner was just ousted after Scott Bessent reportedly fussed to Trump that Elon Musk installed the leader behind his back
fortune.com/article/internal-revenue-service-irs-elon-musk-scott-bessent-treasury-secretary-doge-gary-shapley/
Paid articlePaywall
Trump gets A's in destruction and vengeance. What grade would you give him? | Opinion
dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2025/04/15/donald-trump-first-100-days-grade-presidency/83079547007/
Judge relaxes ban on DOGE access to sensitive US Treasury information: One DOGE worker can access sensitive payment and data systems if he completes training ...
stltoday.com/news/nation-world/crime-courts/article_7f94b6e1-34eb-5390-aa37-f2a59d23fe8d.html
Can China use US debt in its tariff war against Trump?: China is the second largest holder of US debt and could, theoretically, dump it to devalue the dollar.
aljazeera.com/economy/2025/4/14/can-china-use-us-debt-in-its-tariff-war-against-the-us
Treasury's Bessent says economy "in pretty good shape" despite market rout: The comments come hours after Trump's reciprocal tariffs took effect ...
axios.com/2025/04/09/economy-bessent-trump-tariffs-stock-market
Trump Signs Bill Blocking IRS Crypto Tax Rule Biden Pushed
bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-11/trump-signs-bill-blocking-irs-crypto-tax-rule-biden-pushed
Paid articlePaywall IRS Acting Administrator Quits over Agreement to Share Immigrants’ Tax Data with ICE
democracynow.org/2025/4/9/headlines/irs_acting_administrator_quits_over_agreement_to_share_immigrants_tax_data_with_ice
Undocumented migrants who pay their taxes comply with the law, but put themselves at risk by doing so
english.elpais.com/usa/2025-04-13/undocumented-migrants-who-pay-their-taxes-comply-with-the-law-but-put-themselves-at-risk-by-doing-so.html
