Once upon a time in the land of bold declarations and interesting life choices, a certain TikToker managed to capture attention by confessing her aversion to one of America’s least favorite annual rites of passage: paying taxes. With a lament that she hadn’t filed taxes in eight years, this social media maven seemed to believe that accountability was optional in this grand republic of ours—perhaps a remarkable assumption given that the IRS has more agents than a Hollywood talent agency.
In an exquisite twist worthy of a daytime soap, she didn’t stop there. She decided it would be a good idea to openly fantasize about the plot of an action movie involving Elon Musk. Now, if there’s one thing Elon Musk knows how to do, it’s to turn heads—much like the time he rocketed a car into space for the fun of it. The entrepreneurial titan was unfazed, sitting atop his pile of Tesla shares and cryptocurrency, seemingly untouchable in his throne of tweets and tech.
Now, while many would find this TikTok revelation as perplexing as pineapple on pizza, a U.S. District Attorney took a moment from his undoubtedly busy schedule to send a virtual wink and nod. He suggested that perhaps now wasn’t the best time to test the system’s patience. Politics might be a contact sport, but there’s still a referee somewhere out there, whistle in hand, when the call to “taxes” is lobbed too casually.
Meanwhile, in a building that many argue could be a fine set for a movie about government waste—the Department of Housing and Urban Development—a unique form of office entertainment played out on the cafeteria TVs. Someone with an ambition for mischief and a decent grasp of technology apparently hacked the screens to share a peculiar AI-generated video of Donald Trump showering Elon Musk with affection. It was a curious scene, though perhaps not quite as shocking as a string of mysterious office refrigerator thefts.
This cinematic lunchtime delight had union bosses and HUD spokespeople in a tizzy, promising to hold the pranksters accountable and to protect the beleaguered HUD employees from further visual scandal. Just think of it as government accountability hitting prime time seating—a rare occurrence in any script.
As more media attention flocks to this caper than to HUD’s day-to-day activities of the past few years, it’s a reminder that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. More cameras might be rolled out, and newscasters might have the story on repeat, but the debate on the necessity and functionality of HUD continues unhindered. As this tale unfolds, perhaps justice—or at least, common sense—will pay a visit. Until then, the audience eagerly awaits the next comedic turn in this political theater.
