Jesse Recession Stream sounds like a fun and ambitious project! The temporary work hiatus you're going through is tough, but it’s great that you’re channeling your energy into something productive, and potentially profitable, like streaming. Your marathon pugging idea is solid—Twitch viewers love endurance challenges, and the mix of US and Asia pugs should keep things interesting. Setting donation milestones based on hours played could really engage your audience.

As for what to stream, while CS:GO definitely pulls in a lot of traffic, don’t shy away from mixing in other games like Quake or even Freeze Tag. Variety might attract a broader crowd, especially if you’ve got good commentary or an entertaining playstyle. Plus, viewers often appreciate seeing a streamer having fun, even if it's not the top-streamed game.

Regarding taxes, if you're making money through donations or subscriptions on Twitch, you'd likely be considered an independent contractor (IC) and would need to file a 1099 for income earned. It’s a good idea to keep track of all your earnings and expenses so you can report them properly when tax season comes around.

Good luck with the stream—sounds like an exciting journey ahead!