“Stop FUNDERs”: Ted Cruz Launches Political Blitz Targeting George Soros and Protest Funding Networks

A Renewed Offensive

In a sweeping escalation of the GOP’s war against left-wing protest movements, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has reignited his campaign for the Stop Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots Act—dubbed the “Stop FUNDERs” Act. Originally introduced in July, the bill is surging back into the political spotlight as the nation braces for what Cruz and his allies claim is a Soros-funded insurgency of nationwide anti-Trump demonstrations under the “No Kings” banner.

At the core of the legislation is an amendment to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, which would reclassify the funding of violent or “coordinated riots” as a predicate offense. This would allow the Department of Justice to pursue sweeping RICO prosecutions against financiers, seize their assets, and—critically—freeze the operations of nonprofit networks and political donors in real time.

Soros in the Crosshairs

Senator Cruz, never one to shy away from naming names, has explicitly pointed the finger at billionaire philanthropist George Soros, his Open Society Foundations, and their affiliate networks. In a now-viral post on X, Cruz wrote:

“There’s considerable evidence that George Soros and his network are funding the ‘No Kings’ rallies. That’s exactly why I’ve introduced the Stop FUNDERs Act. It lets law enforcement prosecute those funding acts of political violence.”

He doubled down during a heated Fox News segment, brandishing charts and 990 forms linking Soros-backed Open Society grants—totaling $7.6 million since 2017—to Indivisible, the activist group spearheading logistics for “No Kings.” According to Cruz and a deep-dive segment on his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, these grants included a $3 million injection in 2023 earmarked for “community outreach and civic participation.”

Indivisible in the Spotlight

Indivisible, long a nemesis of right-wing strategists, is now at the center of the Cruz initiative. Public records show that the organization manages data infrastructure and field operations for over 2,500 coordinated protests planned for this weekend. From downtown Los Angeles to the National Mall, and in cities across the heartland, millions are expected to flood the streets under the “No Kings” slogan—an explicit rebuke of Donald Trump’s policy platform and rumored bid for constitutional reform.

While Indivisible insists its activities are peaceful and constitutionally protected, Cruz argues that the coordination, financing, and strategic targeting of these rallies require new legal scrutiny. “We are not criminalizing dissent,” Cruz clarified in an interview with National Review. “We are criminalizing organized financial support for unrest—riots, looting, attacks on police, destruction of federal property.”

RICO Power Reimagined

The legislative implications of the Stop FUNDERs Act are immense. By inserting “rioting” under the umbrella of racketeering activity, the bill enables the DOJ to charge not just those present at a riot, but the donors and organizations that allegedly supported them. It would provide prosecutors with a fast-track to subpoena bank records, freeze nonprofit accounts, and pursue coordinated investigations.

Co-sponsor Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) called the bill “an urgent firewall,” adding:

“We cannot allow radical, foreign-funded organizations to bankroll chaos on American soil.”

Heritage Action’s Steve Chartan praised the measure as “long overdue,” citing parallels to domestic terror laws applied to militia groups in the 1990s. “You don’t get Portland or Kenosha without funders,” he stated. “You don’t get Atlanta firebombings without logistics teams bankrolled by six-figure checks.”

Soros’ Global Network Under Pressure

George Soros, who fled Nazi-occupied Hungary as a child and built one of the world’s largest philanthropic empires, has long been a boogeyman for conservatives. His Open Society Foundations have donated over $32 billion to progressive causes, spanning criminal justice reform, immigration, education, and voting access.

Critics allege that Soros’ funding is strategic and disruptive. “He bankrolls movements designed to destabilize Western institutions under the guise of progress,” Cruz said on Hannity. “From DA races to immigration marches to these so-called ‘No Kings’ protests—it’s all part of the same machine.”

Open Society Foundations denies these allegations, calling Cruz’s campaign “a dangerous distraction.” In a statement released Thursday, they wrote:

“Neither George Soros nor the Open Society Foundations fund protests, condone violence, or foment it in any way. Claims to the contrary are false and politically motivated.”

Yet, the political winds may be shifting. With Republicans holding the Senate and the Department of Justice now led by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi—an outspoken supporter of enhanced protest surveillance—the Stop FUNDERs Act may soon become law.

A Climate of Escalation

The timing of the Cruz offensive is no coincidence. The “No Kings” demonstrations, scheduled for this Saturday, come amid a fraught political climate. Trump is once again a presumptive GOP nominee. His critics argue he’s seeking to consolidate power through appointments, emergency declarations, and selective enforcement. The rallies—driven by Gen Z influencers, immigrant rights groups, and labor unions—aim to resist what they see as creeping authoritarianism.

But Cruz and his allies frame the movement as astroturfed chaos. On his podcast, Cruz detailed what he called “a playbook for insurrection,” pointing to encrypted messaging apps used by Indivisible operatives, shared protest scripts, and pre-written press releases.

The FBI, represented by Director Kash Patel in a recent Senate hearing, expressed support for the legislation:

“The Stop FUNDERs Act would provide a powerful legal tool to dismantle complex networks of political violence. It gives us the authority to pursue funding chains, not just frontline actors.”

Social Media Echo Chamber

The campaign is gaining traction online. On X, #StopFUNDERs is trending alongside #NoKingsNow and #DrainTheFunders. Right-wing influencers are circulating charts tracing Soros-backed contributions through layers of shell nonprofits to local activist hubs. Memes portray Soros as a puppet master, with Mamdani-like caricatures dancing on protest stages.

Conservative media has amplified the narrative. Fox News, The Blaze, and Townhall have all run segments tying Indivisible to acts of protest violence, citing footage from 2020 and selective clips from prior “No Kings” events.

Democrats, meanwhile, are scrambling to respond. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer—who participated in one of the early “No Kings” events—called the Cruz bill “an un-American effort to muzzle dissent.” The ACLU issued a statement calling the legislation “a chilling overreach that could lead to mass surveillance of civic donors.”

Legal scholars are divided. Some, like former DOJ attorney Ken White, argue the bill’s language is too vague. “The term ‘coordinated riot’ lacks clarity. Is it a protest gone awry? Is it blocking traffic? The enforcement potential here is dangerously broad.”

The Money Trail Debate

While IRS 990 forms and watchdog reports confirm Soros-linked donations to groups like Indivisible, there remains no hard evidence that Soros or his staff encouraged violence. That hasn’t stopped Republican operatives from painting him as the source.

“This isn’t just about Soros,” one strategist told Politico. “It’s about sending a message to anyone thinking they can bankroll the radicalization of America’s youth and get away with it.”

Rasmussen polling suggests the message may be landing. A recent survey showed 58% of Americans believe billionaire funding is “a corrupting force” in political activism. Among independents, that number rises to 63%.

Cruz has seized on this sentiment, closing his recent podcast with a blunt warning:

“We’ve let the money men operate in the shadows for too long. It’s time to shine a light—and if necessary, shut them down.”

Looking Ahead: Legal Fallout and Political Showdowns

The Stop FUNDERs Act is expected to reach the Senate floor within weeks. If passed, its implementation could be swift. Cruz has hinted at executive cooperation, suggesting the DOJ and IRS are already prepared to identify high-risk funders and initiate audits.

Critics worry that this could evolve into a political witch hunt. “Imagine every activist donor being subject to financial seizure,” said Maya Coleman, a civil liberties attorney. “It’s criminalizing ideology.”

But for Cruz, that’s the point. “The ideology being pushed is chaos. We’re not silencing Americans. We’re silencing the funders of destruction.”

Trump has not officially endorsed the bill, but sources close to his campaign confirm he sees it as a tool to undercut opposition organizing heading into the 2026 midterms.

Meanwhile, organizers of the “No Kings” movement vow to push forward. One spokesperson told The Intercept:

“This is bigger than Soros. This is about democracy. If they want to arrest people for standing up to a dictator, let them try. We won’t back down.”

Conclusion: A Defining Battle Over Democracy’s Soul

With the passage of the Stop FUNDERs Act looming and protests preparing to erupt across the nation, the battle lines are clear. On one side stands Senator Ted Cruz and a growing chorus of conservatives who see billionaire-backed protest networks as a threat to law and order. On the other are progressives who argue that these movements are the last defense against a creeping autocracy.

What’s undeniable is that the Cruz campaign has tapped into something visceral. A fear that powerful outsiders—be they Silicon Valley billionaires or East Coast nonprofits—are shaping America without consent. Whether that fear becomes federal law or fizzles under constitutional challenges remains to be seen.

But one thing is certain: In targeting Soros, Cruz hasn’t just launched a bill. He’s launched a national debate about who controls dissent, and who gets to fund it.

And as Saturday’s “No Kings” protests unfurl under watchful eyes and surveillance drones, the question echoing through the Capitol will be: Can America protect free speech without protecting those who pay to weaponize it?

The Stop FUNDERs Act may soon answer that question—not in theory, but in handcuffs and seized bank accounts. The gauntlet has been thrown. Now the courts, the streets, and the voters will decide what comes next.