New story: President Trump meets… The deal is done – now he will..
President Donald Trump is implementing measures to restrict non-citizens’ access to financial systems in the United States as part of his administration’s broader immigration enforcement.
In accordance with the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act, the new order mandates that the Treasury Secretary and federal financial regulators provide banks with guidance on identifying customers whose profiles or transactions may indicate risks such as money laundering, terrorism financing, and labor trafficking.
The order stated that the purpose of these modifications is to “take into account the potential threats to the integrity of the United States financial system posed by foreign consular identification cards. ”
The order describes “red flags and typologies” associated with suspicious activity
Among these are repetitive cash withdrawals, the use of shell companies to conceal true account ownership, and the use of certain platforms for “off-the-books” wage payments.
The “red flags” also encompass the use of an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) in place of a Social Security number when opening an account or performing specific banking transactions. This number is accessible to all, irrespective of their immigration status, and is used to file and pay taxes.
Even for legitimate reasons, the move could exacerbate the challenges faced by non citizens, particularly undocumented immigrants, in obtaining financial services
The U. S. government has implemented a stringent policy regarding immigration, regardless of whether it is legal or illegal, has restricted the access of immigrants to public services, increased scrutiny for visa and citizenship applications, and detained and deported individuals in mass, including those with lawful immigration status.
Protests across the nation have been incited by extensive immigration operations, which have resulted in the deaths of numerous Americans at the hands of federal agents.
In November, the Treasury Department also disclosed its intention to reclassify specific refundable tax credits as “federal public benefits,” which would limit the eligibility of certain non citizens who submit taxes in the United States
“President Trump is taking action to restore integrity to America’s financial system, cracking down on illicit activity that threatens national security and ending the extension of credit to high-risk borrowers that American citizens are forced to subsidize,” a White House fact sheet for the order said.
“Restoring sound underwriting standards puts money back in the pockets of law-abiding Americans,” the order added.
The fact sheet claimed that “gaps in customer identification practices have allowed terrorists, drug traffickers, money launderers, and other criminal networks to exploit U.S
The White House also pointed to cases of banks extending mortgages, credit cards, and loans to undocumented immigrants and employers underreporting wages for undocumented employees, arguing that associated “costs are passed on to American consumers in the form of higher fees and interest rates. ”
Economists generally attribute higher rates to benchmark rates, which are used to balance inflation and job growth, bank funding costs, and individual factors like borrowers’ credit scores.
According to a study by the left leaning Urban Institute, lenders issued around 5,000 to 6,000 mortgages to customers with ITINs
Banks are generally reluctant to lend to customers with ITINs, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are typically disinclined to insure mortgages for borrowers with an ITIN.
The order also directs the Treasury to consider regulatory changes under the Bank Secrecy Act that would enable financial institutions to more readily collect customer data, including immigration status and employment authorization.
6, 2021, Capitol riot
JPMorgan Chase said in January, “Our company does not close accounts for political or religious reasons. We do close accounts because they create legal or regulatory risk for the company. We regret having to do so, but often rules and regulatory expectations lead us to do so.
At the same time, the White House has overseen a broader deregulatory push that has benefited firms outside the traditional banking framework, and openly embraced cryptocurrency, with Trump pledging to make the U. S.
Kenny Rogers Spent Four Days Losing Faith in a Song. Dolly Parton Changed It in Forty Minutes.
Kenny Rogers had been singing the same song for four days.
Finally, he told producer Barry Gibb he didn’t even like it anymore.
Gibb’s answer was immediate: they needed Dolly Parton.
Then Rogers’s manager mentioned he had just seen her downstairs.
The person who could change the recording was already nearby.
Parton joined him, and the song acquired something Rogers hadn’t found singing alone. He later recalled that within forty minutes, it had taken on a completely different personality.
That song was “Islands in the Stream.”
Listen to how their voices meet. Rogers brings that warm, weathered calm; Parton adds brightness and lift. When they reach the chorus together, the recording opens up.
Their chemistry made the duet sound inevitable.
Its creation had been anything but.
Released in 1983, it reached No. 1 on both the American pop and country charts. The collaboration also began a close friendship that lasted for decades.
Rogers remembered Parton lighting up the song. What had become exhausting work turned into the beginning of a musical partnership.
Before her arrival, he had spent four days trying to make the recording work.
Afterward, millions would find it difficult to imagine either voice singing it alone.
The Anthem That Ruled the '70s: Linda Ronstadt's Journey to Pop-Rock Royalty
The Linda Ronstadt Hit That Redefined Women in Rock
Released in late 1974, Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good” became the breakthrough that transformed her into one of America’s biggest rock stars. Originally written by Clint Ballard Jr. and previously recorded by Dee Dee Warwick and Betty Everett, the song found its definitive voice when producer Peter Asher helped Ronstadt reinvent it with a bold rock arrangement. Powered by a brooding bassline, sweeping strings, and Andrew Gold’s unforgettable guitar solo, the single climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1975, becoming Ronstadt’s first chart-topping hit and launching her landmark album Heart Like a Wheel.
Ronstadt’s commanding vocal balanced heartbreak, defiance, and liberation with remarkable intensity. Her emotionally charged performance helped break new ground for female artists in rock, proving they could lead with both vulnerability and strength while commanding mainstream radio.
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Strength in Separation: The 1974 Masterpiece That Redefined the Breakup Song
Released in 1974, this ballad wasn't a tearful breakdown, but rather the quietest, most resilient goodbye ever recorded.
Released in 1974, Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” arrived at a defining moment when the singer was ready to forge her own musical destiny.
It wasn’t simply another country single; it felt like a turning point where profound gratitude, inner conflict, and a fierce desire for independence all collided into something sharper and incredibly tender.
From the very first acoustic guitar strum—stark, slow, and unadorned—the song sets a tone that feels both mournful and resolute, as if the singer is holding back a heavy sigh.
That quiet tension became the heartbeat of the track, pulling listeners into a space where love isn't about possession, but rather the graceful act of letting go.
At its core, “I Will Always Love You” is about the quiet courage it takes to walk away.
Unlike typical tear-soaked country ballads of the era, the track is a promise, an acknowledgment that even though paths must diverge, the deep appreciation for the other person will never fade.
Written by Parton as a professional and personal farewell to her longtime mentor and duet partner, Porter Wagoner, the track carries a fragility that reflects the heavy toll of choosing between loyalty and her own artistic evolution.
That evolution is unmistakable here, with stripped-down production that steps back to let raw emotional honesty take center stage.
Parton’s vocal performance plays a crucial role. Her voice doesn’t explode with rage or theatrical agony; instead, it trembles gently while maintaining a remarkable composure, letting the heartbreak bleed through line by line.
“If I should stay
I would only be in your way
So I'll go, but I know
I'll think of you each step of the way”
As the chorus arrives, it doesn’t offer a dramatic climax so much as it deepens the sense of acceptance. The phrase “I will always love you” becomes less of a romantic cliché and more of a heavy, heartfelt blessing.
Musically, the restraint of the instrumentation creates an expansive, lonely atmosphere, leaving Parton’s delicate soprano suspended in the memories of what was.
That masterful storytelling cemented Parton not just as a stellar vocalist, but as one of the greatest songwriters of her generation. When the single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, it confirmed that absolute vulnerability resonated deeply with a wide audience.
Yet beyond its chart success, the song carried a mood that felt deeply personal.
It spoke to listeners who understood the agonizing difficulty of leaving something beautiful behind in order to move forward.
Decades later, even as the world rightfully marvels at Whitney Houston’s powerhouse R&B rendition, Parton’s acoustic original retains its pure, devastating core. It reminds us of those quiet, sleepless nights when we realize that the ultimate act of love is sometimes simply setting someone free.
As the final notes fade, the song doesn’t leave behind regret, but rather a quiet peace.
“I Will Always Love You” lingers not because it offers a tidy resolution, but because it captures a fleeting moment of profound maturity.
In the end, Dolly didn’t just write a hit—she built a monument to the most beautiful kind of heartbreak, and its quiet echo continues to resonate through time.
