Joe Thorndike
@joethorndike.bsky.social
Tax | History | Politics
Not in any particular order, although tax pays the bills (for me and everyone else).
Not in any particular order, although tax pays the bills (for me and everyone else).
Seems ironic/appropriate/illuminating that the GAO page explaining the Antideficiency Act and its role in government shutdowns is itself a victim of the government shutdown.
November 11, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Seems ironic/appropriate/illuminating that the GAO page explaining the Antideficiency Act and its role in government shutdowns is itself a victim of the government shutdown.
A ChatGPT fail for the historians out there
August 8, 2025 at 8:17 PM
A ChatGPT fail for the historians out there
August 4, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Did anyone seriously think that corporate America would just eat the tariffs forever? That's not how companies work. (Or tariffs, FWIW.)
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/02/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/02/b...
August 3, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Did anyone seriously think that corporate America would just eat the tariffs forever? That's not how companies work. (Or tariffs, FWIW.)
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/02/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/02/b...
Internal Revenue Commissioner Joseph D. Nunan, Jr. on vacation in Miami Beach, c. 1945.
Despite his penchant for nifty bathing caps, Nunan is better remembered as the only commissioner to be convicted for tax evasion.
Photo courtesy of the Truman Library:
www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-r...
Despite his penchant for nifty bathing caps, Nunan is better remembered as the only commissioner to be convicted for tax evasion.
Photo courtesy of the Truman Library:
www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-r...
June 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Internal Revenue Commissioner Joseph D. Nunan, Jr. on vacation in Miami Beach, c. 1945.
Despite his penchant for nifty bathing caps, Nunan is better remembered as the only commissioner to be convicted for tax evasion.
Photo courtesy of the Truman Library:
www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-r...
Despite his penchant for nifty bathing caps, Nunan is better remembered as the only commissioner to be convicted for tax evasion.
Photo courtesy of the Truman Library:
www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-r...
Pat Buchanan Was Trump Before Trump — And a Master of Antitax Politics
www.taxnotes.com/tax-history-...
www.taxnotes.com/tax-history-...
June 5, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Pat Buchanan Was Trump Before Trump — And a Master of Antitax Politics
www.taxnotes.com/tax-history-...
www.taxnotes.com/tax-history-...
Nixon knew a thing or two about weaponizing the IRS
www.taxnotes.com/tax-history-...
www.taxnotes.com/tax-history-...
April 18, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Nixon knew a thing or two about weaponizing the IRS
www.taxnotes.com/tax-history-...
www.taxnotes.com/tax-history-...
I mean, they're not wrong about the history
April 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM
I mean, they're not wrong about the history
April 3, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Tariff Blowback #4
An effective battering ram in the hands of the right men
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
An effective battering ram in the hands of the right men
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
April 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Tariff Blowback #4
An effective battering ram in the hands of the right men
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
An effective battering ram in the hands of the right men
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
Tariff Blowback #3
Nothing Can Keep It Out (1912)
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
(This one explains why Congress adopted an income tax in 1913 -- something Trump says is inexplicable.)
Nothing Can Keep It Out (1912)
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
(This one explains why Congress adopted an income tax in 1913 -- something Trump says is inexplicable.)
April 3, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Tariff Blowback #3
Nothing Can Keep It Out (1912)
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
(This one explains why Congress adopted an income tax in 1913 -- something Trump says is inexplicable.)
Nothing Can Keep It Out (1912)
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
(This one explains why Congress adopted an income tax in 1913 -- something Trump says is inexplicable.)
April 3, 2025 at 12:57 PM
April 3, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Relief at hand
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
April 2, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Relief at hand
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
A poor marksman and a poor gun
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
April 2, 2025 at 9:29 PM
A poor marksman and a poor gun
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
Woodrow Wilson preparing to use gun labeled "U.S. Senate" to shoot "high tariff" elephant
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
April 2, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Woodrow Wilson preparing to use gun labeled "U.S. Senate" to shoot "high tariff" elephant
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
Woodrow Wilson holds sword of "public sentiment" in front of rock of "tariff reform"
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
April 2, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Woodrow Wilson holds sword of "public sentiment" in front of rock of "tariff reform"
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
William H. Taft on deck of ship surrounded by clouds of "tariff reduction sentiment"
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
April 2, 2025 at 9:17 PM
William H. Taft on deck of ship surrounded by clouds of "tariff reduction sentiment"
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
www.loc.gov/pictures/ite...
