In this episode of Gross Domestic Problem, William Glass talks with Daniel Hall, creator of the app Taxes Wrapped, which turns your federal tax bill into a personalized, Spotify Wrapped-style “receipt” showing where your money hypothetically goes. Daniel shares how his background in economics, curiosity, SaaS, and digital experiences led to building the app as a way to make the national debt and federal spending more tangible and engaging. They discuss the psychology of engagement, the deliberate tongue-in-cheek design and randomization of profiles, and how the app itemizes spending down to oddly specific line items to close the distance between “me” and “us” as taxpayers. William uses the app to explore bigger themes: the $39 trillion national debt, the difference between discretionary and mandatory spending, the bipartisan nature of fiscal dysfunction, and the lack of honest public debate about entitlements and interest on the debt. The key takeaway is that tools like Taxes Wrapped can make abstract, overwhelming fiscal issues concrete and personal, nudging citizens to become more informed and engaged in how their government spends on their behalf.
Key topics in today’s conversation include:
- Where Does Your Money Go and What Taxes Wrapped Tries to Show (0:40)
- Daniel Hall Introduction and His Path From AP Economics to Software (2:32)
- Spotify Wrapped Analogy and Turning Tax Data Into a Personal “Receipt” (4:12)
- Psychology of Engagement and Inspiration From Mischief’s Provocative Projects (5:39)
- Framing Taxes as the Price Of Living in a Society and Bridging Citizen and State (7:52)
- William’s “Permanent Under Secretary” Profile and How Randomization Works (10:06)
- Under the Hood of ‘Taxes Wrapped’ and Hyper Specific Line Items in the Receipt (15:10)
- Using the App to Grapple With the $39 Trillion Debt and Voter Accountability (17:18)
- Discretionary vs Mandatory Spending (23:37)
- Bipartisan Failure on Deficits and the Need for Honest Fiscal Conversations (28:36)
- Daniel’s Future Plans for Highlighting Mandatory Spending and National Debt (33:47)
- Final Thoughts and Takeaways (35:05)
Gross Domestic Problem is a podcast from Millennial Debt Foundation focusing on America’s biggest financial crisis. Each episode, we break down how we got here, what happens if we don’t act, and the least painful way forward. There’s no do-nothing solution. Subscribe now at grossdomesticproblem.com and join the conversation.
