America Votes

George Soros hands control over his family's philanthropy to son Alex, after giving away billions and enduring years of antisemitic attacks and conspiracy theories

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 16, 2023
Open Society Foundations, State, Central European University, Freedom, Interview, Tides Foundation, Education, Murder of Ján Kuciak, The Wall Street Journal, London, Method, National Rifle Association, Democrat, Nazism, Goal, Attention, America Votes, African Americans, Black, Foundation, Billionaire, The Holocaust, US, World War II, Time, Communism, Supreme court, Open society, United Kingdom, Social, House, Family, Demonization, Hasidic Judaism, Success, London School of Economics, Cryptocurrency, Nursing, Hunting, Pharmaceutical industry, Drug, EU, Economics, Jews

Billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros is handing control of his US$25 billion holdings, including his Open Society Foundations, to one of his sons, Alexander Soros.

Key Points: 
  • Billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros is handing control of his US$25 billion holdings, including his Open Society Foundations, to one of his sons, Alexander Soros.
  • Baseless conspiracy theories have at times clouded his legacy as one of the world’s biggest donors to causes like higher education, human rights and the democratization of Europe’s formerly communist countries.

Success followed early hardship

    • After World War II, he moved from Budapest to the United Kingdom, where he studied at the London School of Economics while working part time in low-wage jobs.
    • By the 1990s he had amassed a fortune and established himself as one of the world’s most important financiers.
    • But his dedication to philanthropy and his support for political freedom are what brought him the most attention.

Deep-pocketed philanthropy

    • Soros’ first philanthropic foray was in 1979, when he funded scholarships for Black students in apartheid South Africa.
    • In the 1980s, he helped promote the exchange of ideas in Communist Hungary by funding visits of Hungarian liberal intellectuals to Western universities.
    • The broad goal of much of Soros’ philanthropy is to support tolerant societies with governments that are accountable and allow everyone to campaign, protest, donate to candidates they like or even run for office themselves.
    • But his fortune would have been far larger had he not given some $32 billion to the Open Society Foundations since 1984.

Antisemitic conspiracy myths

    • Soros’ wealth and influence have also made him a target of numerous conspiracy theories.
    • Such baseless accusations often target his Jewish heritage, invoking hatemongering and centuries-old antisemitic tropes.
    • As I explained in a book chapter about nationalism and populism, U.S. conspiracy theories have hounded Soros for years as well.
    • National Rifle Association leader Wayne LaPierre accused Soros of planning a socialist takeover of the U.S. in 2018, evoking antisemitic myths from the early 20th century about a Jewish-Bolshevik plot.

A complex legacy

    • As is true for all billionaires, the Soros family fortune helps perpetuate a system of income inequality and concentrated political influence in the hands of the world’s wealthiest people.
    • When megadonors of any political preference make big donations to a candidate or party, their gifts can shape the agenda and distort democratic processes.
    • It’s still not clear how Soros’ son aims to put a stop to the demonization of the family’s philanthropic work.

Lee and Salinas Prove Grassroots Can Beat Back Big Outside Money

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Democracy, Hope, Government, Summer Lee, Citizens United v. FEC, End Citizens United, Big Money, America Votes, GLOBE, Public relations, Online gambling, Cryptocurrency

Both Lee and Salinas ran on a message of putting people ahead of big donors and special interests:

Key Points: 
  • Both Lee and Salinas ran on a message of putting people ahead of big donors and special interests:
    Since the Citizens United decision, we've seen exponential increases in outside money and dark money in our elections.
  • Summer Lees and Andrea Salinas victories give us hope and prove that there is a strong path forward for grassroots campaigns and candidates intent on putting people ahead of corporate interests and big donors.
  • They proved that grassroots can stand up to wealthy outside money and overcome it.
  • Theres no question that Big Money tilts the playing field in favor of special interests.

Alliance for Consumers Releases Report on Shady Trial Lawyer PACs and Their Left-Wing Influence

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 22, 2022
AFC, Truth, Politics, Association, Socialist Party of Ukraine, National Democratic Redistricting Committee, Priority, Organization, Democrat, American Association for Justice, Justice, Priorities USA Action, PACS, Consumer, America Votes, Alliance for Consumer Education, American Association, Face, Lawyer, AAJ, Online gambling, Pharmaceutical industry

Altogether, this report shows how The Shady Trial Lawyers PACs put 99% of their money--over $17.5 million--to work for Democrats from 2017 to the beginning of 2022. It also highlights the one-sided ideological orientation of the recipients of this money, which include progressive organizations such as America Votes, Emily's List, The National Democratic Redistricting Committee, and Priorities USA Action.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance for Consumers (AFC) released a new report detailing political donations of federal political action committees (PACs) that are affiliated with trial lawyers.
  • This report is the second installment in a series of reports AFC will release tracking trial lawyer political contributions through the 2022 midterm elections.
  • This report highlights the web of "The Shady Trial Lawyer PACs," and where their dollars are being used.
  • Altogether, this report shows how The Shady Trial Lawyers PACs put 99% of their money--over $17.5 million--to work for Democrats from 2017 to the beginning of 2022.