When criticism erupted over the 87,000 new revenooers to be hired thanks to Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, Washington's Defenders of Correct Thinking rushed to the ramparts.

The media goes to bat for the IRS

Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank, in an article headlined "Another Republican Lie is Born," caterwauled that Republicans' anti-IRS rhetoric is one of the "hallmarks of authoritarianism" and justified Biden's condemnation of Republicans for "semi-fascism." Post columnist Joe Davidson fretted that "attacks on the IRS" are part of Republican efforts "delegitimatizing government." Another Post article warned that Republicans are "putting federal workers in danger" by "repeating baseless claims" about the IRS. A Post purported humor columnist did a piece headlined, "Farewell, Mother I am off to join the IRS army!" sneering at baseless fears about Biden weaponizing IRS agents.

"Baseless?" At the time the Inflation Reduction Act passed, the IRS was advertising for "special agents" who must "carry a firearm and be willing to use deadly force, if necessary" during "execution of search warrants, and other dangerous assignments." The IRS had recently made massive purchases of new firearms and ammunition. The job notice declared: "No matter what the source, all income earned, both legal and illegal, has the potential of becoming involved in crimes which fall within the investigative jurisdiction of the IRS Criminal Investigation."