Weekly Recap | Is 'Mass Amnesty' For Migrants On The Way?
WSJ Publishes 'Damning' Evidence On Trump/Epstein Ties
Good afternoon Informed Community!
Today is Friday July 18, hoping your day is going well so far, and the weekend plans are set. It has been a LONG week, but we are finally at the weekend.
Did you know know? Today July 18 is National Tropical Fruit Day?
So before heading off to those weekend plans, make sure to head out to your local grocery store, and pick up a handful of tropical fruit to keep you refreshed and energized! Now let’s head into this weeks top stories you might just have missed, and if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to receive weekly newsletters!
Bipartisan Bill To Give Pathway To Illegal Migrants In U.S.
The Dignity Act, formally known as the DIGNIDAD (Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream) Act of 2025 (H.R. 4393), is a bipartisan immigration reform bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 15, 2025, by Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX).
The legislation aims to strengthen border security through enhanced infrastructure, technology, and personnel, while providing a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants who meet strict criteria, such as continuous U.S. residency since December 31, 2020, passing criminal background checks, paying a $7,000 fine over seven years, and maintaining employment or education. It explicitly avoids amnesty by requiring restitution payments and barring federal benefits, ensuring participants earn legal status through accountability and compliance with U.S. laws, distinguishing it from blanket forgiveness.
The bill updates the legal immigration system, including visa reforms, and is fully funded by participant fees, requiring no taxpayer dollars. It has garnered significant bipartisan support, with 10 Republican co-sponsors and endorsements from groups like the Problem Solvers Caucus, reflecting broad appeal amid public demand for balanced immigration reform.
The Dignity Act of 2025 is estimated to provide legal status to approximately 10 to 13 million undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. since before December 31, 2020. The bill is expected to generate around $50 billion through a 1% income fee from participants, which will be deposited into a fund to cover the program's costs and provide a net surplus to the Treasury.
Critics of the Dignity Act of 2025, particularly some conservatives, argue it effectively grants amnesty by providing legal status to undocumented immigrants, potentially incentivizing further illegal immigration despite its strict requirements and fines. Others, like some Democrats, contend it falls short by not offering a direct path to citizenship, viewing it as insufficient for addressing the needs of long-term undocumented residents.
POTUS To Sue WSJ For ‘Damning Article’ On Epstein Ties
On July 17, 2025, The Wall Street Journal published a report alleging that President Donald Trump contributed a suggestive letter to a 2003 birthday album for Jeffrey Epstein, a financier later convicted of sex offenses, which included a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman with Trump’s signature styled as “Donald” below the figure’s waist, mimicking pubic hair.
The letter, part of a leather-bound collection organized by Ghislaine Maxwell, contained typewritten text with a playful dialogue between Trump and Epstein, concluding with, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret”. Trump vehemently denied authoring the letter or drawing, calling it “fake” and threatening to sue The Wall Street Journal, its parent company News Corp, and owner Rupert Murdoch, claiming the report was “false, malicious, and defamatory”. The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, accused the outlet of publishing without verifying the letter’s authenticity, while Vice President JD Vance labeled the story “complete and utter bullshit” on X.
Amid mounting pressure from his base over Epstein-related files, Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of grand jury testimony from Epstein’s case, subject to court approval, to counter what he calls a “hoax” perpetuated by Democrats. The controversy has reignited scrutiny of Trump’s past ties to Epstein, despite his claims of a falling-out before Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea. The Journal’s decision to publish despite Trump’s legal threats was praised internally as “brave,” though the outlet did not release an image of the letter. This saga underscores ongoing tensions between Trump and media outlets, with the president leveraging his history of successful lawsuits against ABC and CBS to bolster his threat.
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Late Night Talk Show Host Stephen Colbert Shares His Show Has Been Axed
CBS announced on July 17, 2025, that "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" will end in May 2026, concluding a 33-year franchise and retiring the program without replacing Colbert as host.
Colbert, who has hosted the show since September 2015, succeeded David Letterman, who launched the show in 1993. The network cited financial pressures in the declining late-night television market as the reason for cancellation, emphasizing that the decision was not related to the show’s performance or content. Despite being the top-rated late-night show with approximately 2.417 million viewers across 41 new episodes in 2025, the program faced challenges monetizing viewership in a streaming-dominated era.
Colbert has been a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, frequently delivering sharp political satire, including a recent critique of a $16 million settlement between CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, and Trump over a "60 Minutes" interview, which he called a “big fat bribe”. The timing of the cancellation, just days after this criticism, has sparked speculation about political motivations, though CBS denies any connection.
Three Christians Dead, At Least Ten Others Injured In Israeli ‘Friendly Fire’ Attack
On July 17, 2025, an Israeli military strike hit the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, killing three people and injuring at least ten others, including the parish priest, Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, who sustained minor leg injuries.
This church, a sanctuary for approximately 500 displaced Christians and Muslims, was frequently in contact with the late Pope Francis, who died in April 2025 and made near-daily calls to Romanelli to support the community during the 21-month Israel-Hamas war. This was not the first attack on a Christian site in Gaza; in December 2023, an Israeli sniper killed two women at the same church, and an earlier strike hit the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, killing 18.
The Israeli military described the strike as a mistake, stating that “fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly,” and expressed regret, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noting, “Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza’s Holy Family Church”. The White House reported that President Donald Trump, in a call with Netanyahu, expressed frustration over the incident, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating Trump “did not have a positive reaction” to the strike. Pope Leo XIV condemned the attack, renewing calls for an immediate ceasefire and emphasizing the need to protect civilians and religious sites. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem also denounced the strike as a “targeting of innocent civilians and a sacred place,” highlighting the ongoing devastation in Gaza.
Married With Kids CEO Caught ‘Canoodling’ Employee At Coldplay Concert
During a Coldplay concert on July 16, 2025, at Gillette Stadium in Boston, a kiss cam captured Astronomer CEO Andy Byron embracing the company’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, prompting both to frantically hide their faces, sparking widespread speculation of an extramarital affair.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin quipped, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” a comment that fueled the video’s viral spread across TikTok, X, and Instagram, amassing over 34 million views as online sleuths identified the married executives. The clip’s rapid circulation was driven by public fascination with the awkward moment and allegations of workplace impropriety, amplified by memes and Coldplay lyric puns.
A purported apology from Byron, referencing his family and Coldplay fandom, was widely shared but debunked by Astronomer as fake, originating from a parody account, further intensifying the scandal’s online traction. Neither Byron nor Cabot has publicly addressed the allegations, and Astronomer has issued no official statement.
That’s it for this week.
As more news stories unfold, I’ll keep you informed with the latest updates, opinions and analysis. Stay tuned for next week’s edition of The Informed Community Newsletter as we continue to cover the most pressing issues. If you have a story suggestion, feel free to comment it below!
The only way I could remotely support this bill would be if the immigrants have been here for at least 10 years. Nothing about Biden's border policies should be awarded.