IRS ‘prepared’ for 2025 filing season, but potential spending cuts loom for the agency

The Internal Revenue Service is preparing for a tax season that will look quite different for 2025, with the coming expansion of the agency’s Direct File program and other modernization efforts — but also a looming possibility of further IRS spending cuts led by Republican lawmakers. For the 2025 tax filing season, the IRS’ Direct File program will be available in 25 states, more than doubling the 12 states where the IRS-run online filing system was an option for taxpayers in 2024. The IRS will begin accepting tax returns on…

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These Bizarre Theories About the L.A. Wildfires Endanger Everyone

There has been no shortage of explanations for the devastation wrought by the wildfires still burning across greater Los Angeles. Some commentators have argued that sclerotic local governance left the region unprepared to respond to such a large-scale disaster. Others have invoked the impact of climate change or the perils of the Santa Ana winds. And some have blamed the Ukrainians or Israel. “We sent $ 250 billion to Ukraine,” Charlie Kirk, the CEO of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, wrote on X. “And yet we can’t get…

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TRUMP EFFECT: Meta Announces End to DEI Programs

The Trump Effect is in full swing before the new president even takes office.  Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Friday that the company would end its major diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Meta put out a memo to employees explaining the move, which was published by Axios. “The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing,” the memo reads. “The Supreme Court of the United States has recently made decisions signaling a shift in how courts will approach DEI. It reaffirms long…

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NEW AD: Future Forward, MoveOn, Working Families Party Launch Swing-State Push to Make Final Case That Harris Sides With Working People, Trump Doesn’t

Watch the ad here WASHINGTON, D.C. – MoveOn Political Action, Working Families Party National PAC, and Future Forward (FF PAC) have a seven-figure swing-state digital ad campaign to run during the last week of the presidential campaign. The ad is airing in all seven battleground states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, and the campaign will reach late-deciding, less political, working-class voters on streaming services and YouTube. The targets also include the third-party-curious voters that MoveOn has communicated to this entire cycle. The ad, “Backs,” delivers a pro-Harris message about Kamala Harris…

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Why Park Police back a bill to modernize the Park Police

Promotions and other career advancements would come faster for members of the U.S. Park Police under a bill in Congress. The U.S. Park Police Modernization Act was introduced in October. It would bring Park Service personnel practices in line with those of other federal law enforcement agencies. One group supporting this legislation: The National Police Association. Spokesman Betsy Brantner Smith joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Interview transcript: Tom Temin And this bill, is it primarily about personnel practices at the park police or does it go beyond that?…

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