WSJ Special Access gives you a front row seat to some of the Wall Street Journal's most

exciting content, including exclusive live events and interviews with top executives and

newsmakers, only for subscribers and only on Spotify.

From the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal, this is Potomac Watch.

Two IRS agents testify about what they say was interference in the Hunter-Binded Investigation.

As a new report suggests that COVID learning loss in America's schools is being exacerbated

by teaching loss.

Welcome, I'm Kyle Peterson with the Wall Street Journal.

We are joined today by my colleagues, columnist Bill McGurne and editorial board member,

Meneh-Uquit-Barua.

Welcome and happy Friday to one at all.

One of the spectacles this week up on Capitol Hill was on Wednesday, two IRS agents testifying

on TV and under oath they are Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, and they had spoken previously

behind closed doors to investigators, but this is the first time that America was getting

to hear from them.

So, let's start with that.

Here is Gary Shapley.

I'm here to tell you that the Delaware U.S. Attorney's Office and Department of Justice

handling the Hunter-Binded Tax Investigation was very different from any other case in

my 14 years at the IRS.

At every stage, decisions were made that benefited the subject of this investigation, for example.

Prosecutors concealed contents of Hunter-Binded's laptop from investigators.

...