Can the U.S. Tax Code Be Simplified?

Can the U.S. Tax Code Be Simplified?

From The Dispatch Podcast by The Dispatch

April 17, 2026 · 1h 11m

About this episode

The episode discusses the complexities of the U.S. tax code and features a conversation about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's policies.

Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren, Scott Lincicome, and Megan McArdle to discuss our overly complicated tax code and our launch of Dispatch Markets, featuring Scott's latest newsletter. Steve, Megan, and Mike then discuss New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax and how the democratic socialist mayor has governed so far.The Agenda:—Donald Rumsfeld's tax letter—The cost of tax compliance—Political will for tax reform—Personal vs. corporate tax complexity—Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax—Economic policy in New York—NWYT: J.D. Vance's small crowdDispatch Recommendations:—Trump Retribution Campaign Threatens to Unravel Indiana GOP—Is Private Credit in Trouble?—The Decline and Fall of Orbánism Show notes: —Megan's podcast Reasonably Optimistic⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Steve Hayes

Guests: Mike Warren, Scott Lincicome, Megan McArdle

Topics covered

  • U.S. tax code
  • tax reform
  • New York City politics
  • pied-à-terre tax
  • economic policy
  • political will
  • tax compliance

Keywords

  • tax code
  • tax reform
  • New York City
  • Mamdani
  • Rumsfeld
  • politics
  • economic policy
  • compliance
  • corporate tax
  • personal tax

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dispatch Markets, Trump Retribution Campaign, Indiana GOP, Private Credit, Orbánism

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