Is private equity eroding the soul of the accounting profession? Blake and David unpack NASBA’s PE task force, the BDO–First Brands meltdown, and why ‘appearance of independence’ matters. They also break down the end of IRS Direct File, Intuit’s TurboTax stores, the Supreme Court’s skepticism of Trump tariffs, and a new IRS notices law. Plus: AI agents that fall for scams. Learn what these shifts mean for firms, auditors, and your clients this tax season.SponsorsRelay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relayBILL - http://accountingpodcast.promo/bill Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/casChapters(00:00) - Welcome to The Accounting Podcast (01:16) - Viral Tweet and Personal Anecdotes (01:53) - Interview with Furloughed IRS Lawyer (05:45) - Government Shutdown Economic Impact (10:11) - Intuit's New Retail Stores and IRS Direct File Shutdown (14:30) - IRS Leadership and Controversies (17:28) - Trump's Pardons and IRS Math and Taxpayer Help Act (24:53) - Supreme Court Hearing on Tariffs (31:17) - Major Authority and the Power of the Purse (32:03) - AI Agents Falling for Scams (35:32) - NASBA's Private Equity Task Force White Paper (37:02) - Concerns Over Auditor Independence (49:10) - BDO and First Brands Scandal (01:02:35) - Wrap up and Final Thoughts  Show NotesLongest Shutdown in History Costs U.S. Economy About $15 Billion Each Week https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/11/05/longest-shutdown-in-history-costs-u-s-economy-about-15-billion-each-week/172368/IRS tells states Direct File 'will not be available' in 2026 https://federalnewsnetwork.com/it-modernization/2025/11/irs-direct-file-will-not-be-available-in-2026-agency-tells-states/Intuit to open 20 brick-and-mortar TurboTax stores+officeshttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/intuit-to-open-20-brick-and-mortar-turbotax-stores-officesSocial Security, IRS Leader Bisignano Panned After Fiserv Stock Tanks https://401kspecialistmag.com/social-security-irs-leader-bisignano-panned-after-fiserv-stock-tanks/Trump Tariffs Face Supreme Court Challenge From Chicago Toymaker https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-11-02/trump-tariffs-face-supreme-court-challenge-from-chicago-toymakerSupreme Court justices appear skeptical that Trump tariffs are legal https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/05/supreme-court-trump-trade-tarrifs-vos.htmlAICPA Applauds the Passage of the IRS Math and Taxpayer Help Act https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-applauds-the-passage-of-the-irs-math-and-taxpayer-help-actFirst Brands founder accused of looting company https://fortune.com/2025/11/05/first-brands-bankruptcy-founder-allegations-patrick-james/Are Alterna