Friday, August 29, 2025

RICO, SOROS, AND THE SHADOW PARTY: A BATTLE OVER AMERICA’S POLITICAL FUTURE By Josimar Salum

 

RICO, SOROS, AND THE SHADOW PARTY: A BATTLE OVER AMERICA’S POLITICAL FUTURE


By Josimar Salum – August 2025


On August 27, 2025, Donald J. Trump made headlines by demanding that George Soros and his son be prosecuted under the RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act). He accused them of bankrolling violent protests and orchestrating coordinated efforts to destabilize the United States. For many, Trump’s comments sounded radical. For others, they echoed a warning sounded nearly twenty years ago in a little-known book: The Shadow Party by David Horowitz and Richard Poe.



A NETWORK BEYOND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY


Published in 2006, The Shadow Party described in detail how George Soros, through his billions, constructed a web of organizations designed to transform American politics from the outside in. Soros was not just a donor; he was an architect of influence. By pouring money into activist networks, media watchdogs, and policy think tanks, he created what Horowitz and Poe called a parallel power structure—a political machine that could pressure, bypass, and even dictate the Democratic Party’s agenda.


The book traced how groups like MoveOn.org, Center for American Progress, and Media Matters—funded or influenced by Soros—coordinated messaging, mobilized activists, and steered the national conversation. It was, in Horowitz and Poe’s words, a “shadow party”: a party within a party, operating largely out of public view but exercising enormous sway over policy and elections.



THE CLINTON ALLIANCE AND THE LONG GAME


At the time, the authors emphasized Hillary Clinton as a central figure aligned with Soros’s project. She and other party elites benefited from the grassroots mobilization and media power Soros financed. Though the book predated Barack Obama’s rise, its analysis foreshadowed how future Democratic leaders would ride the infrastructure Soros built.


The lesson was clear: Soros was not only funding candidates—he was reshaping the political battlefield itself.



WHY RICO ENTERS THE CONVERSATION


The RICO Act, passed in 1970, was originally intended to dismantle the Mafia. It allows prosecutors to target enterprises that engage in a pattern of racketeering activity—from fraud and bribery to money laundering and beyond.


Trump’s argument is that Soros’s network—when it supports violent protests, funds coordinated campaigns, or potentially manipulates election processes—should be investigated under the same framework. To qualify, prosecutors would need to prove that the network crossed the line from legal political financing into criminal enterprise activity.


Critics argue that Soros simply funds progressive causes within the law. But Trump and others contend that the systematic, organized, and global nature of Soros’s influence matches the spirit of RICO: to confront entities that act above accountability, cloaked as legitimate enterprises but operating with subversive intent.



FROM 2006 TO 2025: HISTORY REPEATS


Nearly twenty years after Horowitz and Poe warned about The Shadow Party, Trump’s RICO call puts Soros back in the center of American politics. The same accusations—that Soros bankrolls unrest, undermines national sovereignty, and manipulates democratic structures—are now tied directly to the most powerful legal weapon the U.S. has against organized enterprises.


Whether prosecutors pursue such charges remains to be seen. But the convergence of Trump’s rhetoric with Horowitz and Poe’s analysis suggests this debate is far from over.



THE LARGER BATTLE


At stake is not only the future of George Soros and his network, but the question of accountability in American democracy. Can vast private fortunes, acting through webs of nonprofits and activist groups, wield unchecked influence over elections and policy? Or should such influence be investigated as a form of organized manipulation that violates the spirit—if not yet the letter—of the law?


For Trump and his supporters, the answer is clear: the “shadow party” described nearly two decades ago is not a theory but a living enterprise that must be confronted. For Soros’s defenders, it is simply philanthropy and democracy in action.


History will decide which view prevails. But one thing is undeniable: the clash between Trump and Soros has become a defining fault line in the struggle over America’s future.



Tuesday, July 15, 2025

CAN IMMIGRATION BE FIXED? THE 2025 DIGNITY ACT SAYS YES By Josimar Salum

CAN IMMIGRATION BE FIXED? THE 2025 DIGNITY ACT SAYS YES


This is the most comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform bill in decades.


By Josimar Salum – July 15, 2025


In a political era marked by division and deadlock, a group of ten Republicans and ten Democrats has introduced a rare and ambitious bipartisan bill aimed at solving one of the nation’s most contentious issues: immigration. The Dignity Act of 2025 (H.R. 4393), led by Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX), presented this Tuesday is being hailed as the most serious and comprehensive immigration reform effort in decades.


But what exactly is in this 500+ page proposal? Here’s a clear breakdown of the Dignity Act’s key ideas and what it means for immigrants, American workers, and the nation’s future.


1. Border Security and Law Enforcement: “Order First”


The bill takes a firm stance on ending illegal immigration. It aims to secure the southern border by:

Mandating E-Verify nationwide to prevent hiring undocumented workers.

Hiring thousands of new border agents and officers, enhancing physical barriers and using cutting-edge technology like surveillance systems and drones.

Creating new penalties for smugglers, traffickers, and those who damage border security tools.

Expanding port-of-entry infrastructure to boost legal commerce and trade while stopping illegal crossings.


These provisions signal a clear message: the U.S. will no longer tolerate a chaotic or porous border.


2. Fixing the Asylum Process: “Security and Humanity”


To address the backlog and abuse of the asylum system, the Dignity Act proposes:

Establishing Humanitarian Campuses at the border where asylum seekers will stay while their cases are decided within 60 days—with healthcare, legal aid, and humane conditions provided.

Creating screening centers in Latin America to reduce dangerous border journeys.

Implementing strict anti-fraud policies, including a two-strike rule for repeat unauthorized border crossings.


The intent is to both protect legitimate asylum seekers and stop fraudulent claims—restoring credibility and efficiency to the process.


3. A Pathway for the Undocumented: “Earned Legality, Not Amnesty”


The most controversial, yet pivotal, part of the Dignity Act offers undocumented immigrants—especially those who have been in the U.S. since before December 31, 2020—a chance to earn legal status through work, tax payments, and restitution:

The “Dignity Program” gives participants 7 years to pay $7,000 in restitution, pass background checks, and stay in good standing.

In return, they get protection from deportation and full work and travel rights—but no access to welfare or citizenship.

Afterward, they can apply for “Dignity Status”, a renewable legal residency—again, without a path to permanent residency or citizenship.


Dreamers and DACA recipients have a different route: 10 years of conditional residency with the chance to become permanent residents if they meet education, military, or work requirements.


This structure emphasizes accountability and contribution, not blanket amnesty or shortcuts to citizenship.


4. Empowering American Workers: “Restitution Becomes Opportunity”


The Dignity Act ensures American workers benefit directly from immigration reform:

It establishes the American Worker Fund, financed entirely by immigrants in the Dignity Program.

Each immigrant’s restitution will fund training or re-skilling for at least one unemployed American.

The projected investment: $70 billion into workforce development, apprenticeships, and job readiness.


This unique mechanism ties immigrant accountability to economic opportunity for citizens.


5. Legal Immigration Modernization: “Smart Growth for a Changing Economy”


To boost competitiveness and relieve long-standing visa backlogs, the bill includes:

Premium processing for immigrants waiting over 10 years—by paying a $20,000 fee.

Raising country caps for family and work-based visas from 7% to 15%.

Opening more pathways for STEM PhDs and medical graduates to stay and work in the U.S.

Creating 90-day family visitor visas, and allowing children to avoid “aging out” of visa eligibility due to delays.


It also demands coordination across federal agencies to streamline visa approvals and eliminate red tape.


Funding Without Taxpayer Dollars


One of the most appealing features of the Dignity Act: it doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime. Instead, it is funded by:

1% paycheck levy on work-authorized immigrants in the Dignity Program.

The $7,000 restitution payments over seven years.

A portion of these funds also go to paying down the national debt—with at least $50 billion projected.


A Nation of Laws and Second Chances


Supporters say the Dignity Act strikes a much-needed balance between law enforcement, compassion, and economic realism. It restores order to the border, offers a fair process for those already living in the shadows, protects American jobs, and modernizes the legal immigration system.


Representative Salazar put it this way:


“No handouts. No shortcuts. Just accountability and a path to stability for our economy and our future.”


Representative Escobar added:


“This legislation incorporates both humanity and security… It is a realistic, common-sense compromise."


Conclusion: Will Congress Act?


The Dignity Act faces an uphill battle in a polarized Congress. But its bipartisan foundation, innovative funding model, and comprehensive scope make it the most viable immigration reform proposal in decades. If passed, it could redefine America’s approach to immigration—not as a zero-sum battle, but as a partnership between accountability, dignity, and national interest.


Now, the question is: Will Washington finally fix what’s been broken for far too long? Or will politics again bury progress?


*Youseph and Daniel – Accounting – Business Formation – Tax Returns (Individuals & Businesses) – ITIN – Consulting – IRS Representation*

*www.yousephdaniel.com*

Thursday, July 3, 2025

WHAT’S INSIDE THE “BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL Josimar Salum

 


WHAT’S INSIDE THE “BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL


Josimar Salum 

July 3, 2025


The so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” of President Donald J Trump that Congress approved today proposes sweeping tax and budget changes affecting millions of Americans. Here is a concise summary of its main provisions:


Key Highlights


Deductions for overtime pay and tip income, excluding these earnings from taxable income


Child Tax Credit increased to $2,200 per child


Permanently expanded standard deduction


Senior tax break raised to $6,000 through 2028


SNAP (food stamps) work requirement extended to age 64 for able-bodied adults


SALT (State and Local Taxes) deduction boosted to $40,000 for couples earning up to $500,000


$737 billion in corporate and business tax deductions, plus expanded estate tax relief


Expanded credits for childcare and paid family leave


Auto loan interest deduction of up to $10,000 annually for U.S.-made vehicles


Expanded Social Security income break for seniors


$5 trillion debt ceiling increase through reconciliation


Rollbacks of green energy incentives, including cuts to credits for wind, solar, electric vehicles, and infrastructure


$175 billion in border security funding, $150 billion for defense equipment


$25 billion for rural hospitals and regional SNAP adjustments


Approximately $186 billion in SNAP reductions


Medicaid Cuts: $930 Billion, a big concern 


A $930 billion reduction in Medicaid funding over ten years would likely have major impacts:


Enrollment: states could impose stricter eligibility rules, reducing the number of people covered


Benefits: states might cut services, such as prescription coverage, mental health care, or preventive care


Hospital strain: more uncompensated care, especially in rural areas, could lead to closures or higher private insurance costs


Uninsured rates: many who lose Medicaid eligibility may not afford other coverage


State budgets: states could be forced to find new funding or cut other programs to preserve minimum health coverage


In short, these cuts would almost certainly shrink the program’s reach, pressuring state budgets, hospitals, and low-income families.


Summary of Impacts


Spending cuts: Medicaid, SNAP, student loans, green energy


Spending increases: defense and border security


Deficit: projected to rise by $3–4 trillion over the next decad


Key Permanent Tax Relief Provisions, a big relief.


Individual tax rates and brackets extended indefinitely


Permanently doubled standard deduction


Child Tax Credit set at $2,200 per child


SALT (State and Local Taxes) deduction cap raised to $40,000 for joint filers earning under $500,000


No-tax rules on tips and overtime pay


Senior $6,000 annual deduction preserved, with phase-outs


Permanent small business deductions for equipment and R&D investments


Temporary Features (Through 2028)


Auto loan interest deduction up to $10,000 per year


Tips and overtime deduction caps limited to $25,000 annually


Why It Matters


This bill delivers permanent tax relief and aims to shift the tax burden away from lower- and middle-income earners while scaling back incentives for green energy.


The bill increases defense and border spending by hundreds of billions of dollars (for example, $175 billion for border security, $150 billion for defense equipment, plus ongoing military operations), which represents new spending. Estimates suggest the net deficit effect of the entire package would be roughly $3–4 trillion over ten years, depending on economic growth rates.


Supporters argue the bill will:


put more money in people’s pockets, boosting spending and investment


encourage business hiring and productivity


increase cash flow to lower- and middle-income earners, supporting economic growth


This reflects dynamic scoring, the idea that growth can partly offset revenue losses.


Critics argue that while past tax cuts under Reagan, Bush, and Trump did stimulate growth, they failed to close budget deficits, and the Congressional Budget Office projects that the current bill’s tax reductions will similarly expand the deficit. Combined with increased defense and border spending and cuts to social programs, these measures could further deepen the nation’s fiscal imbalance over the next decade.


In summary, while lower taxes generally support economic growth, maintaining a balanced budget will still depend on spending discipline and achieving sufficient growth to replace lost revenue — a challenge not always met in previous tax cut cycles. Since this bill is not yet fully implemented, current forecasts rely on economic models rather than proven results. 


However, supporters are confident that its combination of tax relief, pro-growth incentives, and regulatory rollbacks will fulfill President Trump’s campaign promises of boosting jobs, empowering American workers, and strengthening the nation’s economic future.