2024 Election

Vladimir Putin and the Russian propaganda campaigns unsealed by the DOJ

In the digital age, the line between fact and fiction is often blurred, and nowhere is this more dangerous than in the realm of political influence. The power to shape narratives, sway public opinion, and manipulate democratic processes is no longer just the domain of politicians and pundits β€” it’s a high-stakes game involving shadowy operatives, shell companies, and an arsenal of disinformation tools. The latest indictments from the Department of Justice expose the scale of Russian propaganda campaigns to reveal just how deeply this game is rigged against us.

At the heart of this operation is a well-oiled propaganda machine, targeting the fault lines of American society β€” free speech, immigration, and even our national pastime of online gaming. And in the backdrop of these revelations looms the 2024 presidential election, a moment ripe for manipulation by foreign actors with the singular goal of deepening our divisions. While these efforts may feel like the plot of a dystopian thriller, they are all too real, with disinformation campaigns working to tilt the scales of democracy in favor of authoritarianism.

Last week, the Department of Justice released a treasure trove of indictments and accompanying information about the depth and breadth of the still ongoing Russian influence campaigns raging in the US and elsewhere — with a particular focus on sowing discord ahead of the US 2024 elections. Let’s take a look at the major pillars of the DOJ’s work.

RT employees and right-wing influencers indicted

On September 3, 2024, the Department of Justice filed an indictment of two Russian nationals, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, for covertly funding a Tennessee-based content creation company that published videos promoting Russian interests. According to the indictment, they funneled nearly $10 million through shell companies to spread pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation on U.S. social media platforms. The defendants posed as U.S.-based editors, directing content that amplified domestic divisions and supported Russian government narratives. Both are charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and money laundering.

Although not specifically named, there are enough uniquely identifying clues in the document to identify the content company in the scheme as Tenet Media, a company run by married couple Liam Donovan and Lauren Chen — herself a prominent “conservative” commentator associated with Glenn Beck‘s The Blaze and Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA. The six commentators who were being paid exorbitantly by the Russians for their content (as much as $100,000 per video) — all of whom, improbably, claim to have been duped — are Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Benny Johnson, Tayler Hansen, Matt Christiansen, and Lauren Southern. All are outspoken Trump supporters, and are on record parroting Russian talking points despite claiming the work was wholly their own.

Continue reading Russian propaganda campaigns exposed by the DOJ in a slew of indictments
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The war in Ukraine is less “surprising” to some who’ve seen it raging since 2014. Although it escalated greatly in 2022, the Ukraine war timeline ultimately dates back all the way to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

To understand the backstory — which is now inextricably intertwined with our own presidential history given the impeachment of Donald Trump over his phone calls with Zelensky to the Republican Party‘s current-day support of the aims of Vladimir Putin — we have to go back to a time when no one was stronger on anti-Russian policy than GOP darling Ronald Reagan.

  • 1991 — Ukraine declares independence and becomes an independent entity after the fall of the Soviet Union
  • 1994 — Ukraine agrees to give up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for a protection agreement with Russia, United States, Britain, and Ireland (Budapest Memorandum)
  • 2004Viktor Yanukovich “wins” election under dubious circumstances and is deposed for a do over election, which he loses to Viktor Yuschenko (Orange Revolution)
  • 2006 — Viktor Yanukovych begins working directly with Paul Manafort, in an effort to boost his image after his electoral loss. Manafort was known for his work helping the “Torturers’ Lobby” of brutal dictators around the world in the 1980s, with Roger Stone (another infamous dirty trickster best known for his role as a fixer for Richard Nixon).
  • 2007 — Yanukovych’s Party of Regions does well in the Ukranian parliamentary elections, gaining a large number of seats credited to Manafort’s strategic advice about Western-style campaigning.
  • 2010 — Yanukovych is elected President of Ukraine, again largely crediting Manafort’s strategies for his comeback.
  • Nov 2013 — Having promised a more European-style government in order to win the presidency in 2010, Yanukovych turned on his word and initiated more pro-Russian policies than the Ukranians had signed up for. Yanukovych is now beset by enormous public protests against the corruption of his regime, and his unilateral decision to abandon an association agreement with the EU in favor of a trade agreement with Russia (Maidan Revolution / Revolution of Dignity)
  • Feb 2014 — After a harrowing 93 days barricaded inside Kyiv’s Maidan Square, activists are victorious; Yanukovich is deposed and flees to Russia
  • Mar 2014 — Russian forces invade and annex the region of Crimea within Ukraine
  • Apr 2014 — Russian forces invade the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, escalating a war that continues to this day and had already killed more than 14,000 people by the time the 2022 large scale invasion began
  • Apr 2014 — Hunter Biden and business partner Devon Archer join the board of Burisma
  • May 2014 — Candy magnate Petro Poroshenko succeeds Yanukovych as president of Ukraine
  • Feb 10, 2015Viktor Shokin takes office as the prosecutor general of Ukraine, tasked with getting a handle on rampant corruption
  • Oct 8, 2015 — US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland reiterates strong concerns that Shokin is failing to prosecute obvious corruption in Ukraine, and that efforts at anti-corruption must be stepped up there
  • Dec 8, 2015 — Then VP and point person on Ukraine Joe Biden gave a speech to the Ukrainian parliament, urging them to step up their efforts to pursue anti-corruption reforms to help strengthen their young democracy
  • Winter 2015-6 — Biden is talking to Poroshenko about how Shokin is slow-walking their anti-corruption efforts
  • Feb 16, 2016 — Viktor Shokin resigns as Prosecutor General of Ukraine
  • May 12, 2016Yuriy Lutsenko is appointed as the new Prosecutor General, despite having no law degree or legal experience. At first he takes a hard line against Burisma.
  • Aug 14, 2016 — “Black ledger” payments to Paul Manafort from Viktor Yanukovych go public
  • May 10, 2017Trump hosts Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office, the day after he has fired James Comey as the Director of the FBI over “the Russian thing” — only a photographer for Russian news agency Tass is allowed to cover the meeting
  • June 2017 — The NotPetya malware emerges and causes extensive damage — especially in Ukraine. It is widely fingerprinted as a Russian state-sponsored attack.
  • October 30, 2017 — Paul Manafort is indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for money laundering, acting as a foreign agent, making false statements, and conspiracy against the United States, as part of the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
  • Apr 30, 2018 — At a Trump dinner in his DC hotel, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman tell Trump they think Ukraine Ambassador Yovanovitch isn’t loyal enough to him
  • May-June 2018 — Lev Parnas pressures US Congressman Pete Sessions to pressure Trump to fire Yovanovitch in exchange for campaign funding; he and Fruman are later arrested for this scheme and other federal charges of illegal foreign funding of election campaigns
  • Summer 2018 — Trump reportedly frets a potential Biden run for the presidency
  • August 2018 — Lev Parnas’s company, which is named (I kid you not) “Fraud Guarantee,” hires Rudy Giuliani‘s firm for $500,000 to continue working on getting Ambassador Yovanovitch fired for doing her job pursuing corruption in Ukraine.
  • Sept 2018Congress passes and Trump signs a spending bill for the Department of Defense, including $250 million in military aid to Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI)
  • Late 2018 — Lev Parnas arranges for Giuliani to meet with both Shokin and Lutsenko on multiple occasions; Devin Nunes also secretly meets with Shokin in Vienna.
  • Dec 6, 2018 — Trump pressures Parnas and Fruman to pressure the Ukrainian government to open an investigation into the Bidens
  • Late Feb, 2019 — Parnas and Fruman pressure then-President Poroshenko to open an investigation into the Bidens, in exchange for a state visit at the White House that would help his challenging re-election campaign against the popular young upstart comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy
  • Spring 2019 — A “working group” of Giuliani, Parnas, Fruman, conservative Hill reporter John Solomon, Joseph diGenova, Victoria Toensing, and Devin Nunes’s top aide Harvey meet regularly to work on the quid pro quo project
  • March 2019 — Prosecutor General Lutsenko opens 2 investigations: 1 into alleged Ukrainian involvement in the 2016 US election (a Russian conspiracy theory) and a 2nd into Hunter Biden’s involvement with Burisma (he will later retract many of his allegations).
  • March 24, 2019 — Don Jr. tweets criticism of Ambassador Yovanovitch
  • March 28, 2019 — Giuliani hands off a smear campaign packet of disinformation cobbled together on Yovanovitch, intended for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
  • April 24, 2019 — Trump orders Marie Yovanovitch recalled from her diplomatic mission in Ukraine, after Giuliani and other allies reported she was undermining and obstructing their efforts to extort Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelensky to claim he was investigating the Bidens for corruption.
  • July 25, 2019 — On a phone call with Zelensky, Trump pressures him to investigate Biden in exchange for the release of funds to keep the Russians at bay in Crimea. He disparages Yovanovitch on the call, referring to her as “bad news.”
  • Oct 3, 2019 — Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch is unsummarily fired by Donald Trump after recently having been invited to continue her post for several more years
  • Dec 18, 2019 — The House of Representatives votes to impeach Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, the first of two times Trump will be impeached.
  • Feb 5, 2020 — The Republican-controlled Senate voted along party lines, having called no witnesses, to acquit Donald Trump of both impeachment charges.
  • Feb 24, 2022 — Russian forces begin a large scale land invasion of Ukraine including massive attacks on civilian cities. They aim to seize Kyiv and other major cities quickly — though fail to do so. Western nations impose severe economic sanctions on Russia in response.
  • March 2022 — Ukrainian forces mount a strong defense, repelling Russian forces from Kyiv. Russian troops begin shifting focus to Eastern and Southern Ukraine.
  • April 2022 — The Bucha massacre comes to light, with evidence of Russian war crimes against civilians. International outrage intensifies, leading to more sanctions and military aid to Ukraine.
  • May 2022 — Ukraine successfully defends Kharkiv, pushing Russian troops away from the city.
  • September 2022 — Ukraine launches a successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, reclaiming significant territory, including Izyum.
  • October 2022 — Russia illegally annexes four Ukrainian territoriesβ€”Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Khersonβ€”after sham referenda. This is widely condemned by the international community.
  • November 2022 — Ukrainian forces retake Kherson, marking a significant strategic victory.
  • December 2022 — Intense fighting continues in Bakhmut, with Ukraine holding the line despite relentless Russian attacks. Heavy missile strikes across Ukraine target energy infrastructure.
  • January 2023 — Western allies, including the U.S. and Germany, announce shipments of advanced weaponry, including tanks, to support Ukraine’s defense efforts.
  • February 2023 — One-year anniversary of the war. Russia continues missile and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure, while Ukraine receives increased military and financial support.
  • March 2023 — Ukraine begins preparing for a major counteroffensive, aiming to reclaim occupied territories.
  • April 2023 — Initial discussions in the US Congress about the next round of Ukraine aid take place, but internal divisions within the House of Representatives delay progress.
  • June 2023 — House Speaker Mike Johnson faces pressure from the right wing of the Republican Party to scrutinize and potentially reduce aid to Ukraine, citing domestic budget concerns.
  • June 2023 — Ukrainian forces launch a counteroffensive in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, aiming to sever Russia’s land bridge to Crimea.
  • August 2023 — Ukraine’s counteroffensive makes slow progress due to entrenched Russian defenses but continues to receive significant Western military support, including cluster munitions and long-range missiles.
  • August 2023 — US negotiations stall as right-wing factions within Congress demand more oversight of military aid spending and threaten to block further packages.
  • September 2023 — Speaker Johnson agrees to temporarily suspend additional Ukraine aid discussions to avoid a government shutdown, further delaying critical military and humanitarian assistance.
  • September 2023 — Ukrainian forces make modest gains in southern and eastern regions, including near Bakhmut and Robotyne. Tensions rise as Russia escalates missile attacks.
  • Feb 2024 — Donald Trump holds up a bipartisan immigration deal in Congress that would allow military aide funds to Ukraine to be released. Running for a second term as US President, Trump continues to break with 80 years of the post-WWII international order — in refusing to support NATO, the alliance widely regarded as keeping the peace in Europe broadly, as well as in supporting the regime of Vladimir Putin in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
  • April 23, 2024 — The US Senate finally passes a $95 billion bill to provide aid to Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russian aggression.
  • September, 2024 — The US Department of Justice releases a slew of indictments against Russian actors and agents seeking to influence the upcoming 2024 elections, including softening support for providing aid to Ukraine.
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Right wing groups in America have long wielded disproportionate influence over political discourse, policy-making, and the judiciary — quietly but effectively steering the country toward a more authoritarian, corporate-driven agenda. Groups like the Federalist Society and Heritage Foundation operate as power brokers in the conservative ecosystem, funneling money and influence to shape not just elections, but the ideological future of the nation.

The Federalist Society, for example, has become a judicial kingmaker, successfully installing justices on the Supreme Court who subscribe to its narrow view of constitutional “originalism”β€”leading to landmark decisions like Dobbs v. Jackson, which rolled back reproductive rights in America. Meanwhile, Heritage’s Project 2025 serves as a blueprint for a far-right authoritarian takeover of federal agencies, ready to gut progressive reforms and install Christian nationalist ideology in their place.

But these are just a few key players in an ever-expanding web of right-wing groups. The National Rifle Association (NRA) remains a force in stoking fears around gun rights to mobilize voters, while Fox News continues to manipulate public discourse with fear-mongering and disinformation to drive its viewers further into a reactionary worldview. Behind the scenes, the Council for National Policy (CNP) operates as a shadowy network of conservative elites pulling the strings, and groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and Turning Point USA drive extremist policies at the state and grassroots levels.

Add to that the influence of organizations like the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, and PragerU, and it becomes clear that right-wing power in America is deeply entrenched, feeding off the fear and division these groups systematically create. The stakes for democracy and the future of civil liberties couldn’t be higher.

One way to address the threat is to become familiar with it. Here is a cheatsheet to some of the most influential and notable right wing groups in operation today.

The Federalist Society

The Federalist Society is a powerful, right-wing legal organization that seeks to reshape the U.S. judiciary by advocating for originalism and textualismβ€”the interpretation of the Constitution based on its supposedly “original” meaning (as interpreted by conservative judges, of course). Founded in 1982, this group has steadily gained influence by grooming conservative legal talent, promoting judges who share their philosophy, and challenging progressive legislation, with many of its members appointed to federal courts, including the Supreme Court.

Their ultimate goal is to roll back decades of civil rights protections, environmental regulations, and reproductive freedoms in favor of limited government (even ultra-limited government) and deregulated markets. Now led by conservative activist Leonard Leo, The Federalist Society’s growing clout can be seen in the success of getting their chosen justices onto the Supreme Court, paving the way for decisions like Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade and set back reproductive rights in America by half a century. The organization’s influence has been particularly notable during Republican administrations, especially under former President Donald Trump, who appointed 3 of the Court’s 9 straight from the Federalist list.

A full two thirds of the current U.S. Supreme Court justices have been affiliated with or supported by The Federalist Society. These justices share the Society’s commitment to originalism and textualism, and many were recommended or championed by the organization during the judicial nomination process. The following 6 justices have ties to The Federalist Society:

  1. John Roberts (Chief Justice) – Although not a formal member, Roberts has participated in Federalist Society events and has been described as ideologically aligned with the group’s principles.
  2. Clarence Thomas – An advocate of originalism, Thomas has long been associated with the judicial philosophy promoted by The Federalist Society. He has spoken at their events and is widely seen as one of their intellectual leaders on the bench.
  3. Samuel Alito – Like Roberts, Alito is not a formal member but has participated in Federalist Society activities and shares their conservative judicial outlook.
  4. Neil Gorsuch – A formal member of The Federalist Society before his nomination, Gorsuch was strongly backed by the organization when he was selected to replace Antonin Scalia in 2017.
  5. Brett Kavanaugh – Kavanaugh was supported by The Federalist Society throughout his career, and his nomination to the Supreme Court in 2018 was actively promoted by the group.
  6. Amy Coney Barrett – A former member of The Federalist Society, Barrett was a professor at Notre Dame Law School, where she worked closely with the organization. She was nominated to the Supreme Court in 2020 to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The Heritage Foundation

The Heritage Foundation, founded in 1973, has long been a key architect of conservative policy in the United States. The Foundation’s efforts consistently push for policies that prioritize corporate interests, deregulation, and concentrated executive power, even at the expense of democratic institutions and processes.

Over the decades, The Heritage Foundation has become a significant force in shaping Republican legislative agendas, providing policy proposals to GOP lawmakers and conservative administrations since Ronald Reagan. However, this institutional influence has often facilitated the entrenchment of an authoritarian strain of right-wing ideology that has now metasticized into the body politic.

Heritage’s agenda has become increasingly anti-democratic in its pursuit of power. Its advocacy for dismantling federal agencies, weakening regulatory oversight, and limiting social safety nets often serves to entrench economic inequality and undermine the role of government in protecting vulnerable populations.

Furthermore, Heritage’s opposition to climate change action, LGBTQ+ rights, and healthcare reform is reflective of a broader ideological commitment to a reactionary social order. By aligning itself with powerful corporate donors and influential media allies, The Heritage Foundation plays a critical role in driving an agenda that marginalizes progressive movements and fosters an increasingly polarized political environment.

Project 2025

Project 2025, one of The Heritage Foundation’s most concerning initiatives, is emblematic of its deeper authoritarian aspirations. Framed as a β€œpresidential transition” plan for the next conservative administration (it features Donald Trump’s name some 312 times in the document), Project 2025 offers a detailed blueprint to swiftly take control of the federal government. It is not simply a roadmap for policy but a systematic effort to capture and reshape the bureaucratic state.

The project outlines a strategy for staffing key government agencies with loyalists (and preferably sycophants), ensuring that the next administration can immediately implement an aggressive conservative agenda. This emphasis on bureaucratic control, along with Heritage’s advocacy for executive power, represents a clear threat to democratic governance and the system of checks and balances architected so carefully by the Framers.

In many ways, Project 2025 is less about policy and more about consolidating power. By installing ideologically aligned personnel across government agencies, the project seeks to neutralize resistance from career civil servants and diminish the ability of future administrations to enact progressive reforms. This long-term strategy of bureaucratic entrenchment and executive dominance is a direct challenge to democratic norms and the American principle of governance for the common good.

The Heritage Foundation, through Project 2025, reveals its broader mission: not just to win elections, but to reshape the machinery of government itself in the image of its authoritarian vision. It’s a blueprint for dismantling the administrative state and concentrating power among a select few.

National Rifle Association (NRA)

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is far more than just a gun rights advocacy groupβ€”it’s a political powerhouse that has masterfully weaponized the Second Amendment to push a broader right-wing agenda for years. With deep ties to conservative politicians and a well-oiled lobbying machine, the NRA’s influence extends far beyond the realm of firearms.

Over the decades, it has systematically reframed the gun debate as an existential battle for β€œfreedom,” distorting the conversation around personal liberty while sidestepping the horrific realities of mass shootings and gun violence. By wrapping their cause in the flag and positioning themselves as defenders of constitutional rights, the NRA has successfully blocked nearly every attempt at even modest gun control reforms, no matter how devastating the consequences.

Behind the scenes, the NRA has also served as a financial and ideological conduit for far-right causes, aligning itself with libertarian, Christian nationalist, and white nationalist factions in the U.S. and abroad. Their messaging, amplified through donations, media campaigns, and rallies, often serves as a rallying cry for those who fear a changing demographic and cultural landscape.

In this context, the NRA’s defense of gun ownership morphs into a broader crusade against progressive ideals, becoming a tool to mobilize voters around fear, racial resentment, and conspiracy theories about government overreach. While the group’s finances and leadership have recently been rocked by scandal including the departure of longtime head Wayne LaPierre, the NRA remains a critical node in the conservative ecosystem, helping to fuel America’s increasing polarization and resistance to meaningful reform.

Fox News

Fox News has perfected the art of outrage, transforming itself from a news channel into a megaphone for right-wing populism and conservative grievance politics. More than just a media outlet, Fox has become the central nervous system of the conservative movement, shaping public discourse by peddling a mix of hyper-partisan news, conspiracy theories, and fear-based rhetoric — to resounding profits, defamation suits notwithstanding.

With personalities like Sean Hannity and former performer Tucker Carlson leading the charge, the network has managed to inflame racial, cultural, and political divisions while reinforcing a narrative of β€œus vs. them” that keeps its audience in a state of perpetual anger and distrust. The goal is clear: to command attention, retain viewers, and push the Overton window ever further to the right, all while raking in massive profits.

Fox News also operates as an informal arm of the Republican Party, serving as both a testing ground for policy ideas and a propaganda machine for GOP candidates. From promoting baseless claims of election fraud to downplaying public health crises like COVID-19, the network consistently distorts reality and joins in the Big Lies to fit its ideological goals.

This symbiotic relationship between Fox and conservative power brokers helps create an ecosystem where facts are malleable, and ideological loyalty trumps journalistic integrity. At the same time, its influence spreads beyond television screens, seeping into social media, right-wing radio, and political rhetoric, amplifying its impact and ensuring that its brand of populist nationalism remains deeply entrenched in American political culture.

Council for National Policy (CNP)

The Council for National Policy (CNP) is an ultra-secretive, right-wing organization that wields immense influence over conservative politics in the U.S., yet few outside the political sphere are even aware of its existence. Comprised of high-profile conservative activists, donors, media moguls, and religious leaders, the CNP acts as a behind-the-scenes power broker, shaping Republican strategy and policy far from the public eye.

Its members, who include Christian nationalists, anti-abortion activists, and climate change deniers, work to advance a deeply conservative agenda aimed at reshaping America according to their ideological visionβ€”one where Christian values dominate public life, government regulations are gutted, and progressive social reforms are rolled back.

Operating in the shadows, the CNP is a master of political influence, often acting as the connective tissue between think tanks, media organizations, and grassroots movements (or, more likely, astroturfed movements). Its influence can be seen in the rise of candidates who espouse extremist views, the promotion of climate skepticism, and coordinated efforts to undermine voting rights and democratic norms.

The group’s meetings are closed to the public, but its fingerprints are evident in the far-right policies being enacted across state legislatures and at the federal level. While their operations remain mostly hidden, the CNP’s agenda is clear: to push America toward a future that aligns with a deeply conservative, Christian nationalist ideology, regardless of the cost to democratic institutions or the broader public good.

Right Wing Groups

In addition to the above heavyweights, a whole horde of other right-embracing organizations are out there working towards anti-democratic ends. We are actively updating this list over time, so please stay tuned for additional right wing groups research to come (or TKTK, as we say in the biz).

Active ClubSimilar to Patriot Front, Active Club emphasizes creating a white nationalist counterculture where young men are socialized into adopting the group’s racist politics. It has risen to prominence with 12 chapters as of the latest reports.
Alliance Defending Freedomformerly the Alliance Defense Fund:

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is a conservative Christian legal advocacy organization founded in 1994. ADF focuses on defending religious freedom, the sanctity of life, freedom of speech, and traditional family values through litigation, legal training, and advocacy. The organization provides legal representation and support in cases related to these issues, often taking on high-profile cases that challenge laws or policies perceived as infringing on religious rights or promoting progressive social agendas. ADF has been involved in numerous significant legal battles in the United States, including cases before the Supreme Court, where it has advocated for the rights of individuals and organizations to act according to their religious beliefs. The organization is widely recognized as a leading force in the legal defense of conservative Christian values.
America First Legal FoundationOrganization connected to Trump advisors Stephen Miller and Mark Meadows, involved in both the fake electors scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election and backing the “independent state legislature doctrine” arguments in favor of extreme partisan gerrymandering to keep GOP power concentrated in state legislatures.
America’s Frontline DoctorsAmerica’s Frontline Doctors (AFLDS) is a controversial conservative group founded in 2020 by Dr. Simone Gold, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization gained national attention for promoting unproven and often discredited treatments for COVID-19, such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, while downplaying the severity of the virus and opposing public health measures like mask mandates and vaccinations. AFLDS positioned itself as a counter-narrative to mainstream medical and scientific advice, claiming to advocate for medical freedom and patient rights. The group’s activities and messaging have been widely criticized by public health experts, medical professionals, and government agencies for spreading misinformation and contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Despite this, AFLDS has maintained a significant following among certain segments of the population that are skeptical of conventional medical advice and government interventions.
America’s FutureMike Flynn-connected org involved in both the fake electors scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Donald Trump’s favor, and legal support for the “independent state legislatures doctrine” arguing for extreme state gerrymandering to concentrate state power in GOP hands.
American Conservative Union (ACU)The American Conservative Union (ACU) is a prominent conservative advocacy organization in the United States, founded in 1964. It is best known for hosting the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which brings together conservative activists, policymakers, and leaders to discuss and promote conservative values and policies. The ACU also engages in political lobbying, voter education, and the rating of politicians based on their adherence to conservative principles. The organization plays a significant role in shaping the conservative agenda in American politics, with a focus on issues such as limited government, free markets, individual liberties, and traditional values.
American Federation for ChildrenTax-free organization funded by Betsy DeVos that lobbies to divert funding away from public schools and to private Christian charter schools.
American Future FundThe fund describes itself as providing Americans with “a conservative and free market viewpoint” with the means to communicate and advocate on behalf of those beliefs.[7] In 2010, the fund reported over 9 million dollars of independent campaign expenditures to the Federal Election Commission, and all of its expenditures benefited Republicans.
American Heritage Girlsthe right-wing “shadow version” of the Girl Scouts, that splintered off after the organization allowed scouts to substitute for the word ‘God’ if they so chose, in the Girl Scout Promise.

AHG is a ‘Christ-centered organization’ that requires members to make statements of faith.
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)Along with CNP, one of two primary right-wing groups with deep funding ties over the past half century to Republican lawmakers and donors & covertly driving “local” and state legislative agenda centrally from a nationally-coordinated source that shrinks from public view and carefully shields its operations from scrutiny.
American MajorityAn organization supported by the Uihleins that provides training to conservative activists.
American Phoenix ProjectAccording to the indictment, Hostetter founded a group in 2020 called the American Phoenix Project that protested restrictions on public gatherings imposed as a public health measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. That group became a platform to advocate violence against government leaders, according to the indictment.
American Principles Projecta right-wing anti-abortion and anti-free elections think tank
Americans for ProsperityAs the Koch brothers’ primary political advocacy group, it is one of the most influential American conservative organizations.
Americas PACAnother closely-tied super PAC, Americas PAC, received $1 million from Restoration Action and about $1.4 million from Restoration PAC in 2021. During the 2020 cycle, Americas PAC was funded mostly by Uihlein’s $2.35 million in contributions. During the following cycle, its funding shifted from Uihlein to Restoration PAC and Restoration Action, effectively adding an extra layer of insulation between Uihlein and the super PAC.
Arlington GroupThe Arlington Group is a coalition of influential conservative Christian leaders and organizations in the United States, formed in 2002. The group focuses on coordinating strategies to influence public policy and elections in favor of conservative, often evangelical Christian, values. Members of the Arlington Group include leaders from various Christian advocacy organizations, think tanks, and political action committees. The coalition primarily addresses issues such as opposition to abortion, the defense of traditional marriage, and the promotion of religious freedom. The Arlington Group is known for its behind-the-scenes efforts to shape Republican Party platforms and support candidates who align with its values, playing a significant role in the broader conservative movement in America.
Aryan NationsAryan Nations is a white supremacist, neo-Nazi organization founded in the 1970s. It has been involved in promoting white nationalism and has a history of criminal activity and violence.
Big Oil: oil and gas industrynatural habitat for Dominionist theology:
* Texas
* Louisiana
* Kansas
* Oklahoma
California Family CouncilThe California Family Council (CFC) is a conservative Christian organization dedicated to promoting and defending traditional family values in California. Founded in 2003, CFC works to influence public policy and legislation from a biblical perspective, focusing on issues such as opposition to abortion, the defense of traditional marriage, and the promotion of religious freedom. The organization engages in grassroots advocacy, public education, and lobbying efforts, aiming to shape state laws and cultural attitudes in line with its conservative Christian beliefs. CFC also collaborates with other like-minded organizations to amplify its impact on California’s social and political landscape.
Center for Renewing AmericaChristian nationalist organization led by Russell Vought, with a focus on “combating” Critical Race Theory:

Vought sees his and his organization’s mission as β€œrenew[ing] a consensus of America as a nation under God,” per a statement on CRA’s website, and reshaping the government’s contract with the governed. Freedom of religion would remain a protected right, but Vought and his ideological brethren would not shy from using their administration positions to promote Christian doctrine and imbue public policy with it, according to both people familiar with the matter, granted anonymity to avoid retaliation. He makes clear reference to human rights being defined by God, not man.

America should be recognized as a Christian nation β€œwhere our rights and duties are understood to come from God,” Vought wrote two years ago in Newsweek.

via https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/20/donald-trump-allies-christian-nationalism-00142086
Christian CoalitionLong battles over its tax status as well as struggles with the Federal Election Commission over illegal campaign contributions led to the decline of this once giant of the right, founded by 1988 presidential candidate Pat Robertson in the lineage and tradition of Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority in the 1970s.
Christian VoiceChristian Voice was a conservative Christian advocacy group founded in 1978 in the United States. It was one of the first organizations to mobilize evangelical Christians for political activism, aiming to influence public policy and elections in alignment with conservative Christian values. Christian Voice focused on issues such as opposition to abortion, support for traditional family values, and promoting prayer in public schools. The organization was known for its “Moral Report Card,” which graded politicians based on their voting records on key issues important to conservative Christians. Christian Voice played a pioneering role in the rise of the religious right as a political force in America during the late 20th century, setting the stage for later organizations like the Moral Majority. While its influence waned over time, Christian Voice was significant in shaping the early Christian conservative movement in U.S. politics.
Church UnitedChurch United is a conservative Christian organization that seeks to equip and mobilize pastors and church leaders to engage in cultural and political issues from a biblical perspective. Founded in California, the organization focuses on influencing public policy, particularly in areas related to religious freedom, pro-life advocacy, and traditional family values. Church United encourages clergy to take active roles in their communities and the political process, aiming to bridge the gap between the church and government. The organization conducts training sessions, provides resources, and facilitates connections among pastors to unify their efforts in shaping societal norms and legislation according to Christian principles.
Citizens for the EnvironmentSister organization to the CSE (Citizens for a Sound Economy) Koch-funded operation that called acid rain and other environmental problems “myths”
Citizens of the American Republicone of Steve Bannon’s organizations
Club for Growth ActionAn anti-tax, anti-government spending, pro-free market ideology super PAC and sister organization to the Club for Growth PAC, founded by Harlan Crow et al.
Committee for the Free WorldA neocon anti-Communist think tank is the U.S. from 1981 until 1989.

Members included: Donald Rumsfeld, Tom Stoppard, George Will.

Potential involvement with the CIA.
Concerned Women for AmericaFounded 1979 by Beverly LaHaye, wife of End Times religious fiction author Timothy LaHaye.
Congressional Leadership FundThe GOP’s main super PAC dedicated to electing House Republicans.
Conservative Partnership InstituteThe Conservative Partnership Institute describes itself as β€œa home base and a networking hub for conservatives here in Washington” that helps associates β€œbuild the relationships and gain the education and training necessary to thrive in an environment that too often strips you of your resolve.”
Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA)their website claims that the power of any local sheriff is greater than the power of the President — which would be astonishing news to foreign leaders around the world
Convention of StatesExtreme right-wing group seeking to rewrite the Constitution
Council for National Policy (CNP)Founded 1981 by Paul Weyrich, Arch-Demon of the New Right, and Tim LaHaye, who wrote a series of wildly popular novels about the Rapture
Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC)SCOTUS Justice Thurgood Marshall once referred to the group as the “uptown Klan”; today, they push the Cultural Marxism conspiracy theory of William S. Lind and Paul Weyrich — famously, they radicalized Dylann Roof who went on to murder 9 people in the AME Baptist Church
Cowboys for TrumpCowboys for Trump is a political organization founded in 2019 by Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin in New Mexico. The group was established to support Donald Trump’s presidency and promote his policies, particularly in rural and Western communities. Known for their distinctive horseback rides to show support for Trump, Cowboys for Trump advocates for conservative values such as limited government, Second Amendment rights, and border security. The organization has garnered attention for its outspoken and often controversial positions, reflecting a strong alignment with the broader MAGA movement and grassroots conservative activism.
Edgar and Elsa Prince FoundationRight-wing foundation that has donated about $70 million to Christian nationalist causes between 2000 and 2014.
Fair Missourianti-democracy PAC in MO
Faith & Freedom CoalitionThe Faith & Freedom Coalition is a conservative Christian political advocacy organization founded in 2009 by Ralph Reed, a veteran political strategist and former executive director of the Christian Coalition. The organization aims to mobilize evangelical Christians and other socially conservative voters to influence public policy and elections in the United States. The Faith & Freedom Coalition focuses on promoting traditional family values, religious freedom, pro-life policies, and limited government. It engages in grassroots organizing, voter education, and lobbying efforts to advance its agenda, particularly within the Republican Party. The coalition is known for its significant influence in mobilizing evangelical voters, playing a key role in the success of conservative candidates and causes at both the state and national levels.
fake electorsOne of the many arms of Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in order to stay in power against the will of the people, the fake electors scheme involved convincing state legislators to fabricate a new slate of Republican electors for the Electoral College vote — in defiance of their own state Constitutions and basic democratic values.
Family America ProjectThe Family America Project is a conservative organization that focuses on promoting traditional family values, patriotism, and civic engagement within American society. The group advocates for policies and initiatives that support the nuclear family structure, religious freedom, and education that aligns with conservative principles. Through various campaigns, events, and outreach efforts, the Family America Project seeks to influence public discourse and policy, aiming to strengthen the role of the family as a foundational institution in the United States. The organization is part of a broader movement that emphasizes the importance of cultural and moral values in shaping the nation’s future.
Federalist SocietyAn organization of lawyers led by Leonard Leo, dedicated to rolling back legal precedents set during the post-WWII era. They essentially control the list of SCOTUS nominees for Republican Presidents.
Focus on the FamilyFocus on the Family is a conservative Christian organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson. Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the organization advocates for traditional family values and promotes a Christian worldview through various media channels, including radio broadcasts, publications, and online content. Focus on the Family is particularly known for its opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, abortion, and same-sex marriage, while it supports homeschooling and abstinence-only education. The organization has significant influence in American conservative circles and often engages in political lobbying to advance its religious and social agenda.
Foundation for Economic Education (FEE)The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) is one of the oldest free-market think tanks in the United States, founded in 1946 by Leonard E. Read. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, FEE is dedicated to promoting principles of individual liberty, free markets, limited government, and entrepreneurship. The organization provides educational resources, including articles, books, seminars, and online courses, aimed primarily at young people and educators to foster a deeper understanding of economics and classical liberalism. FEE’s work is grounded in the belief that economic freedom and personal responsibility are the foundations of a prosperous society. Over the years, FEE has played a significant role in the dissemination of free-market ideas, influencing generations of economists, policymakers, and business leaders who advocate for libertarian and conservative economic policies.
Foundation for Government AccountabilityThe Foundation for Government Accountability, a conservative think tank that has advocated for loosening child labor protections in certain states, is another major recipient of Uihlein money. The family foundation has given the Foundation for Government Accountability nearly $18 million since 2013, with its largest donation reported in its most recent tax return. In 2021, the family foundation gave FGA $3.6 million, making them FGA’s largest beneficiary that year.
Freedom PartnersKoch network group
Freedom SchoolFree market ideology school that teaches the Robber Barons were heroes and the Gilded Age was when American Was Great Again.
Freedom to Workanti-democracy PAC in Missouri
Generals InternationalDominionist religious group affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)
GOPACThe Republican state and local training organization.
GroypersNamed after the Pepe the Frog meme embraced by the alt-Right, the Groypers are an extremist group seeking to inject their ideologies into the mainstream conservative right-wing movement.
Healing Tree International501(c)(3) non-profit organization affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation movement.
Heartland Apostolic Prayer NetworkThe Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network (HAPN) is a Christian intercessory prayer movement founded by John Benefiel. It is part of a larger network of prayer groups and ministries that focus on spiritual warfare, prophetic intercession, and the belief in transforming nations through prayer. HAPN operates with the goal of mobilizing believers to pray for the removal of what they view as spiritual strongholds over regions, including addressing issues such as abortion, government policies, and cultural practices. The organization emphasizes a biblical worldview and often engages in activities aimed at influencing both spiritual and political realms in the United States and beyond.
Heartland InstituteThe Heartland Institute is a conservative and libertarian public policy think tank founded in 1984 and based in Illinois. The organization is known for its strong advocacy of free-market principles and limited government intervention. The Heartland Institute is particularly prominent for its work in areas such as environmental policy, healthcare, education, and taxation. It has gained significant attention and controversy for its skepticism of mainstream climate science, particularly its opposition to policies aimed at addressing climate change, and for promoting the idea that human activity is not a significant driver of global warming. The Heartland Institute publishes research, hosts conferences, and engages in advocacy efforts to influence public policy and opinion in line with its ideological positions. The organization is a key player in the network of conservative think tanks and advocacy groups in the United States.
Heritage FoundationThink tank founded by Paul Weyrich as a counterweight to the Brookings Institute and other liberal think tanks, with major funding from beer magnate Joseph Coors and Mellon oligarch Richard Scaife.

Sponsors have included:
* Amoco
* Amway
* Boeing
* Chase
* Chevron
* Dow Chemical
* Exxon
* General Electric
* General Motors
* Mesa Petroleum
* Mobile Oil
* Pfizer
* Philip Morris
* Procter & Gamble
* R. J. Reynolds
* Searle
* Sears
* Roebuck
* SmithKline Beckman
* Union Carbode
* Union Pacific
Honest Elections ProjectThe Honest Elections Project is a conservative advocacy organization focused on so-called “election integrity” and voting laws in the United States. Launched in 2020, the group advocates for stricter voter identification laws, purging voter rolls of ineligible voters, and opposing efforts to expand mail-in voting and same-day voter registration. The Honest Elections Project argues that these measures are necessary to prevent voter fraud and ensure the security of elections, although critics contend that such efforts can suppress voter turnout, particularly among minority and low-income communities. The organization is part of a broader network of conservative groups that have increasingly focused on election-related issues, particularly in the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Identity EvropaA white supremacist group known for its role in the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally — that has since “rebranded” as the American Identity Movement.
Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA)lobbying arm of the NRA, started in 1975
International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (ICAL)The International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (ICAL), one of several organizations affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) — along with the US Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (USCAL), its US-based subgroup.
John M. Olin Foundationit was one of the largest “intellectual right” funders before its closing
Judicial WatchOrganization founded by Richard Mellon Scaife that used dark money to go after the Clintons since the 1990s. Part of the “vast right-wing conspiracy” that Hillary accurately described during the 2016 presidential campaign she so tragically lost to a boorish fake billionaire who cares for nothing and no one but himself.
Ku Klux Klan (KKK)Historically one of the most infamous white supremacist groups in the US.
Lynde and Harry Bradley FoundationRight-wing foundation that has donated to the CNP, ALEC, Claremonth Institute and John Eastman, the Heritage Foundation, and the Public Interest Legal Foundation chaired by Cleta Mitchell.
MAGA Inc.Predominant Trump SuperPAC.

MAGA Inc. has become the leading super PAC supporting Donald Trump. It was established before the 2022 midterm elections with an initial funding of $60 million, transferred from Save America, Trump’s leadership PAC. Over the past year, MAGA Inc. has spent considerable amounts to undermine two of Trump’s 2024 competitors: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. DeSantis withdrew from the Republican primary last week.

In the first half of 2023, the super PAC refunded $12.5 million back to Save America, which has been primarily responsible for covering Trump’s legal expenses.

The organization was founded by Taylor Budowich, a former adviser to Trump, who serves as its CEO. It is also supported by veteran Trump pollster and strategist Tony Fabrizio, with Meredith O’Rouke handling fundraising efforts.
Mighty I AM movementCultish right-wing “self-actualization” group headed by Robert LeFevre in the 1930s, alongside the rise of fascism in the US
National Alliance (NA)At one time a premier neo-Nazi group in the U.S., founded by William Pierce, author of the white supremacist fascist fantasy novel The Turner Diaries
National Policy InstituteThis think tank based in Augusta, Georgia, describes itself as the right’s answer to the Southern Poverty Law Center and is known for promoting white nationalist views.
National Right to Life CommitteeThe National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) is the oldest and one of the largest pro-life organizations in the United States, founded in 1968. The NRLC is dedicated to advocating against abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and other practices it considers to be threats to human life. The organization operates through a network of state affiliates and local chapters, engaging in public education, lobbying, and political action to influence legislation and public opinion. The NRLC also plays a key role in endorsing and supporting pro-life candidates for public office, aiming to advance its agenda at both the state and federal levels. With its long history and broad reach, the NRLC is a significant force in the American pro-life movement.
National Socialist MovementOne of the largest neo-Nazi groups in the US.

Founded in 1974, this party has been very active since 2005, staging many marches and demonstrations.
neo-NazisThese groups include various organizations that idolize Nazi Germany and embrace anti-Semitic ideologies.
Oath Keepersformed in 2009, the organization actively recruits active-duty military, veterans, and members of law enforcement.

from SPLC:
Although Rhodes likes to claim that the Oath Keepers is a nonpartisan organization, Donald Trump’s inauguration marked the first trip the Oath Keepers would take to Washington, D.C., in support of the Trump administration. In January 2017, Rhodes launched what he called β€œOperation DefendJ20,” a coordinated effort by Oath Keepers, Three Percenters and the far-right Bikers for Trump group, to descend on the Capitol under the guise of protecting peaceful β€œAmerican patriots” from supposed β€œradical leftist groups.”
Opportunities Solutions ProjectLobbying arm of the Uihlein-supported Foundation for Government Accountability, a conservative think tank that has lobbied against child labor laws and attacks direct democracy initiatives like referendums at the state level.
Patriot Frontβ€œPatriot Front” and the β€œbloodandsoil.org” website are the brainchild of a cluster of Texas-based neo-Nazis who created their new entity β€” a blend of traditional white-supremacist ideology, alt-right sensibilities and activism, and militia-style armed insurrection β€” as a result of internecine quarreling within their original organization, Vanguard America (VA), in Charlottesville, Virginia, this summer, when one of their marchers drove a car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one and maiming 19.
Patriot Mobile ActionPAC for Patriot Mobile, the conservative Christian cellphone company, used to funnel the money for taking over 4 Texas school boards.
Plants Need CO2Front group for the lobbying arm of oil magnate Corbin Robertson Jr.
Proud Boysself-described “Western chauvinists”
Public Interest Legal FoundationA Cleta Mitchell and Bradley Foundation enterprise to sow doubt about the 2020 election — and one conspicuously notable director: John Eastman of the infamous Eastman Memo from Jan 6
Republican Study Committee (RSC)The largest ideological caucus in Congress has an extreme right-wing platform — which is saying something in this climate of right-wing extremity. They believe the following:

The RSC’s key legislative initiatives are detailed in the American Taxpayer Bill of Rights,[6] unveiled in March 2007.[4]

Taxpayers have a right to have a federal government that does not grow beyond their ability to pay for it.
Taxpayers have a right to receive back each dollar that they entrust to the government for their retirement.
Taxpayers have a right to expect the government to balance the budget without having their taxes raised.
Taxpayers have a right to a simple, fair tax code that they can understand.
Restoration ActionRestoration Action, the dark money group affiliated with Restoration PAC, a super PAC funded largely by Richard Uihlein, took in over $20.5 million in revenue 2021, nearly double the $10.4 million it brought in the prior year, according to tax records for the organization. The group’s 2022 fundraising haul was more than 300 times as much as the roughly $64,000 it brought in over the course of 2019 and 51 times the highest revenue recorded any prior year.

Unlike super PACs, which are legally required to report its donors to the Federal Election Commission, Restoration Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that keeps its donors’ identities secret from the public.
Restoring Integrity and Trust in ElectionsBill Barr-associated organization involved in the fake electors scheme to overturn the 2020 election results in favor of Trump, and a proponent of the “independent state legislature doctrine” pushing extreme gerrymandering as a tactic for right-wing statehouse control.
Richard and Helen DeVos Family Foundationdonated about $100 million to Christian nationalist causes between 2000 and 2014
Rutherford InstituteA conservative Christian public interest law firm (non-profit) working in the interest of religious liberties.
SAGE ConsSpiritually Active, Governmentally Engaged Conservative Christians — mostly older white Protestants in Middle America. They revere the past and fear the future.
Schafly EaglesFounded 1972
Seasteading InstituteA 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and think tank devoted to the study of autonomous floating seafaring communities outside the reach of national governments, founded and funded by tech billionaire Peter Thiel.
Senate Judiciary CommitteeSenator from South Carolina who ran for President in 2016 but dropped out before the Republican primaries began.

Known for being a Trump sycophant and a closet queer.
Smith Richardson FoundationThe Smith Richardson Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 1935 by H. Smith Richardson, the founder of the Vicks Chemical Company. The foundation is dedicated to supporting public policy research and projects that advance the long-term interests of the United States, particularly in areas related to national security, foreign policy, and domestic public policy. It funds a wide range of research initiatives, think tanks, and policy institutes, with a focus on promoting effective governance, economic growth, and American leadership in the world. The Smith Richardson Foundation is known for its support of conservative and neoconservative scholars and institutions, though it also funds research across the political spectrum. Its grants have played a significant role in shaping U.S. policy debates on critical issues both domestically and internationally.
Southern Baptistsdemanded increased “religious freedom” to grow their political influence, by maximizing benefits to the church as a tax-exempt power base
Students for Life“Abortion is discrimination based on their age”
Students for TrumpStudents for Trump is a grassroots political organization founded in 2015 by college students in support of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The group quickly gained momentum on college campuses across the United States, mobilizing young voters and organizing rallies to advocate for Trump’s policies and campaign. After Trump’s election, Students for Trump continued to operate as a prominent youth-driven movement within the broader MAGA (Make America Great Again) coalition, focusing on promoting conservative values, engaging in political activism, and supporting Republican candidates who align with Trump’s agenda. The organization plays a key role in energizing and mobilizing young conservative voters.
Susan B. Anthony Lista right-wing anti-abortion and anti-free elections org
Tea PartyThe Tea Party movement was an American fiscally conservative political movement within the Republican Party. Members of the movement called for lower taxes and for a reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit through decreased government spending.[1][2] The movement supported small-government principles[3][4] and opposed government-sponsored universal healthcare.[5] The Tea Party movement has been described as a popular constitutional movement[6] composed of a mixture of libertarian,[7] right-wing populist,[8] and conservative activism.[9] It has sponsored multiple protests and supported various political candidates since 2009.[10][11][12] According to the American Enterprise Institute, various polls in 2013 estimated that slightly over 10% of Americans identified as part of the movement.
Tea Party PatriotsDuring the 2020 election cycle, Richard Uihlein was the top donor to the Tea Party Patriots super PAC and has given the operation at least $4.29 million since the 2016 election.
The American LegionVeterans’ organization founded in 1919, funded in part by J.P. Morgan. Engaged in union-busting and anti-New Deal activities.
The Club for GrowthThe Club for Growth is a conservative 501(c)(4) organization based in Washington, D.C. that advocates for policies focused on cutting taxes, limited government, and “economic freedom.”

It was founded in 1999 by Harlan Crow, Stephen Moore, Thomas L. ‘Dusty’ Rhodes, and Richard Gilder with the stated mission of “promoting public policies that promote economic growth, lower taxes, and limited government”

The Club for Growth has two affiliated political arms – the Club for Growth PAC (a traditional PAC) and Club for Growth Action (a super PAC formed in 2010)

The PAC endorses and raises money for fiscally conservative candidates, while the super PAC runs independent expenditure campaigns supporting or opposing candidates based on their stance on economic issues

Over the years, the Club for Growth and its political arms have spent millions opposing Republican incumbents they view as insufficiently conservative on economic issues, as well as supporting challengers aligned with their free-market, anti-tax agenda

The organization was initially skeptical of Donald Trump’s candidacy in 2016 and spent millions on ads attacking his economic policies before eventually supporting him in the general election against Hillary Clinton

The Club for Growth’s current president is David McIntosh, who has led the organization since the early 2000s
The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the LordA far-right paramilitary organization affiliated with the Christian Identity movement of the 1970s and 80s. The groups dissolved in 1985 after a law enforcement siege of their Arkansas compound dubbed “The Farm” and subsequent arrest and conviction of leadership for weapons violations and domestic terrorism.
The Hoover InstitutionRight-wing think tank
The Leadership InstituteClaimed in a 2018 YouTube promo video by Mike Pence that the organization had trained 185,000 activists, operatives, and elected officials since forming in 1979 under Morton Blackwell, Paul Weyrich, and Richard Viguerie.
The Moral MajorityThe Moral Majority, a prominent political organization founded in 1979 by Jerry Falwell, was a key player in the rise of the Religious Right in the United States. It was primarily focused on promoting conservative social values and had strong connections with several groups and constituencies.
The Sarah Scaife FoundationThe Sarah Scaife Foundation is a prominent American philanthropic organization known for its support of conservative and libertarian causes. Established by the Scaife family, which has a long history of influence in conservative circles, the foundation primarily funds think tanks, policy institutes, and advocacy groups that promote free-market principles, limited government, and traditional values. The foundation is one of several Scaife family foundations that have played a significant role in shaping conservative thought and policy in the United States, particularly through its financial backing of influential organizations like The Heritage Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Cato Institute. The Sarah Scaife Foundation’s contributions have been instrumental in advancing the conservative agenda across various domains, including economics, foreign policy, and social issues.
The State Policy Networka “mini-Heritage Foundation in each state”
The Supreme Court (SCOTUS)Highest court in the land (yet curiously, the only one without an official ethical standard)
Three PercentersFounded in 2008, the Three Percenters is a loosely organized anti-government group that takes its name from the idea that only 3% of American colonists took up arms against the British in the 18th century American Revolution.
True Texas ProjectPatriot Mobile-aligned group in Texas that has been labeled an anti-government extremist group by the SPLC.
TrumPACAs of February 2016, Amy Kremer was the chair of TrumPAC, a super PAC supporting Donald Trump’s campaign in the 2016 presidential election.[17] TrumPAC later changed its name to Great America PAC.[18] Great America PAC was founded by Kremer and William Doddridge, the CEO of The Jewelry Exchange.[19] Kremer resigned from Great America PAC in May 2016, shortly after Trump became the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, due to decisions which she claimed had been made without her input.[20]
Turning Point USATargets kids and young adults for far right radicalization: https://twitter.com/jennycohn1/status/1463759054212198400
United Daughters of the ConfederacyThe United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) is an American lineage society that was founded in 1894 to commemorate Confederate soldiers and to promote the “Lost Cause” narrative of the American Civil War. Over time, the UDC has been associated with several groups and organizations, either directly or through shared goals, such as memorializing the Confederacy or promoting similar historical interpretations.
US Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (USCAL)The US subgroup of the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (ICAL), one of several organizations affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)
US Council for World FreedomThe U.S. Council for World Freedom (USCWF) was the American chapter of the World Anti-Communist League (WACL), founded in 1981 by Major General John K. Singlaub, a retired U.S. Army officer and staunch anti-communist. The organization aimed to combat global communism by supporting anti-communist movements, particularly in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, through advocacy, funding, and coordination with other like-minded groups. The USCWF was involved in controversial activities, including providing support to paramilitary groups and other organizations fighting against leftist governments and movements during the Cold War. While its supporters viewed it as a necessary force against the spread of communism, critics accused it of aligning with authoritarian regimes and engaging in unethical practices. The USCWF was part of the broader network of organizations associated with WACL and played a significant role in the international anti-communist movement during the 1980s.
Vision Forum MinistriesNow defunct Evangelical organization in TX
We Build the Wall, IncNon-profit organization founded by Steve Bannon et al, indicted in New York state on multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy for using the fundraised proceeds to enrich themselves.
World Anti-Communist LeagueThe World Anti-Communist League (WACL) was an international coalition of anti-communist organizations and individuals, founded in 1966. The organization brought together a diverse range of members, including political leaders, military officials, and activists from various countries, united by their opposition to communism and Marxist ideologies. WACL played a significant role during the Cold War, supporting anti-communist movements and governments around the world through advocacy, networking, and sometimes covert operations. The league was controversial due to its alliances with far-right and authoritarian figures, as well as its involvement in efforts to undermine communist influence in Latin America, Asia, and other regions. Over time, WACL evolved and eventually rebranded as the World League for Freedom and Democracy in the 1990s, continuing its mission with a broader focus on promoting democracy and human rights.
World Congress of Families (WCF)Already oriented towards Russia by 2011! Held the bulk of its meetings there.

The growing influence of these right-wing organizations underscores a sobering reality: the American political landscape is being quietly reshaped by a network of well-funded, ideologically-driven groups working to erode democratic norms and concentrate power. From the judiciary to the media, their coordinated efforts are pushing the country towards an increasingly authoritarian and corporate-dominated future. These groups feed on fear and division, capitalizing on cultural and political grievances to drive their agenda forward.

Yet, awareness is the first step toward resistance. Understanding the scope and strategy of these organizations allows us to recognize the long-term threats they pose to civil liberties, environmental protections, and the social safety net. As citizens, it is crucial to remain vigilant, informed, and engaged in the defense of democratic principles. The fight for the future of American democracy is far from over, and the stakes could not be higher.

Here’s how to volunteer, if you’re brave enough to answer the call.

Read more

Ask not what your country can do for you, y’all. Here’s how to volunteer your time and energy to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz our next President and Vice President.

You can pick up the phone, or the pen, or via whatever channel moves you — but We The People have a key part to play in preserving democracy for the next generations. Voting is essential — but can you do more?? As Michelle Obama commanded: DO SOMETHING!

Most activist groups had to adjust to political organizing completely online during the pandemic, so it is exceedingly easy now to parachute in to a group and get involved right away, whether that’s on the phone talking to voters or prospective voters, texting potential voters, writing letters or postcards, helping others canvassing directly, using social media as an influencer, or other forms of organizing or messaging. All you really need is an internet connection and ideally a laptop and a phone — but you can get by with a tablet and a phone or even just a phone for certain volunteering campaigns.

2024 Election

“Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.” — Gil Scot-Heron

It’s our time, people. We need to turn this tide. We need to confront fascism in its new face. Its new form. Its morphology of ugliness in its ought to have been knowing better by now. We’ve seen this movie before. We know how it ends. It’s not pretty for the outgroup — if they survive at all.

We cannot let that happen in America — the land of the free, and the home of the brave. These are no hollow words. These are not things we take lightly. We will not be moved from our patriotism. We will not allow the right-wing merchants of doubt to kill our joy — to dampen our conviction that America is one of the greatest places in the world.

Getting involved if you don’t have a ton of time

Field 6 BYOP Bring Your Own Phone Text Banks

After a half hour training these Field Team 6 BYOP sessions are so easy to drop right into and register about ~34 new Democrats per day before Google Voice throttles me. It’s super easy and effective which is a rare combo. I feel like it’s a secret little stealth weapon against the GOP that, given the number of participants and texts per day, is likely to wield a consequential influence on the 2024 election.

Getting involved as much as you can

Kamala Harris Official

The campaign has a volunteer portal on their website at go.kamalaharris.com.

DNC Official

The Democratic National Committee offers phone and text banking as well as numerous other programs and volunteer opportunities.

Swing Left

Longtime progressive activists Swing Left are swinging hard for Kamala Harris in 2024.

Mobilize

Bookmark Mobilize.us to get a large database of volunteer opportunities and other ways to plug in to the 2024 election, Harris campaign, state and local politics, and more.

Continue reading How to Volunteer: DO SOMETHING!
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who owns twitter elon musk and others

The social network formerly known as Twitter, now known as X, has been through some things — including a rocky change of ownership 2 years ago. At the time, the person who owns Twitter on paper was known to be tech billionaire and then-world’s richest man Elon Musk — but it was not fully known who was included in the full shadowy list of Twitter investors.

Thanks apparently to some terrible lawyering, the full list of Twitter investors via parent company X Corp has been unsealed during discovery for a legal case against Musk relating to non-payment of severance for employees he laid off after buying the company. In addition to the known in 2022 list below, we can now augment the Twitter investors list with more detail:

  • Bill Ackman
  • Marc Andreesen — legendary tech investor and general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, known for his techno-accelerationist views
  • Joe Lonsdale — cofounder of Palantir with shadowy tech billionaire Peter Thiel, the primary financial backer of Trump’s VP pick JD Vance
  • Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal
  • Jack Dorsey — one of the original founders of Twitter
  • Larry Ellison
  • Ross Gerber
  • Doug Leone
  • Michael Moritz
  • Changpeng Zhao

Security analyst and intelligence professional Eric Garland notes that beyond the notable billionaires on the list, the investor sheet can be largely read as “fronts for the dictatorships of Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, and others.” Tech pioneer turned investigative journalist Dave Troy’s take on the Twitter investor list reveal is that it shows “this platform is an instrument of information warfare.”

Continue reading Who owns Twitter (X)? [2024 update]
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This is one of those stats that’s sure to be both repeated and disbelieved, courtesy of Bill Clinton’s speech at the phenomenal DNC 2024 last night: since the end of the Cold War in 1989, the cumulative tally of job creation between the two parties is not even close: 50 to 1. Out of the 51 million jobs that have been created since then, about 50 million of them can be attributed to Democrats (under Clinton, Obama, and Biden who account for 97.4% of the total), and only 1 million to Republicans.

That is a pretty stark objective review of right-wing economic ideology. Which is billed, by the way, as “job creating” policy. Trickle down economics, supply side, Reaganomics, libertarian theory, Mudsill Theory — by whatever name you call it, the policy of giving massive tax cuts to the rich while cutting spending on the middle class is supposed to magically create great prosperity for all. Instead, the numbers show the exact opposite — prosperity is not trickling down. It is in fact being hoovered up.

DNC 2024: Fierce middle class energy

I hope to write more about the overall amazing, vibrant, and joyful atmosphere of the DNC this year — delivering not just the strongest support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz possible, but bringing back the sense of hope and optimism from the Obama years in the most refreshing and much-needed way. But for now I’ll just say that the Democrats are driving home this economic message that has already been wildly successful under Joe Biden: when we invest in the middle class, the economy truly does grow for everybody.

When the middle class is strong, America is strong. It’s a lesson we learned in the post-war era of the 1950s but have drifted away from since the 1970s when corporate leaders and big business interests mounted a concerted effort to turn the tide against the New Deal value system that lifted us out of the Great Depression and the economic policy that ushered in that broad distribution of wealth in the U.S.

It feels like the fever is finally breaking. The decades of epic gaslighting fomented by the merchants of doubt may have reached the peak disinformation tolerance of the American people. Here’s hoping the real economic stories will now get told — and that Americans will go to the polls this November and cast their ballots accordingly.

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In an age where history is often twisted into a pretzel to fit the political narrative du jour, Heather Cox Richardson stands out as a truth-teller. She’s not just another academic tucked away in an ivory tower; she’s a historian with her boots on the ground (often literally, as she travels the country speaking about what she sees), dissecting the American past with surgical precision and connecting it directly to the chaos we’re living through today. Heather Cox Richardson books are like tours through the deep history behind the seemingly recent developments in US politics.

Richardson isn’t content to let history gather dust in old textbooks. No, she’s dragging it kicking and screaming into the present, showing us that the battles we’re fighting nowβ€”over democracy, race, and who gets to call the shotsβ€”are just the latest skirmishes in a war that’s been raging since the country’s inception. She doesn’t just recount the past; she wields it like a spotlight, illuminating the dark corners of our current political mess.

Historian Heather Cox Richardson interviews President Joe Biden

Her “Letters from an American” newsletter has become a lifeline for many who feel lost in the swamp of today’s political discourse. With each entry, she lays out the facts, cutting through the noise and reminding us that the problems we face aren’t newβ€”they’re the bitter fruit of seeds planted long ago. But Richardson isn’t just about doom and gloom. She’s also about hope, about understanding the past so we can navigate our way out of the storm.

Why does her work matter so much right now? Because as we teeter on the edge of what sometimes feels like the unraveling of our democracy, Richardson offers us a lifeline: context. She shows us that the currents pulling us under have been swirling for centuries and that understanding them is the first step to changing the tide.

Richardson’s books are more than just historical accounts; they’re roadmaps that guide us through the muck of the present by showing us where we’ve been. Whether she’s unpacking the economic machinations of the Civil War, tracing the GOP’s evolution from Lincoln’s party to today’s fractured entity, or exposing how Southern oligarchy seeped into the national bloodstream, she’s always making one thing clear: history is not a straight line. It’s a loop, and if we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves back where we started.

In a time when facts are up for debate and democracy is under siege, Heather Cox Richardson’s voice is not just importantβ€”it’s essential. She’s not just telling us what happened; she’s showing us what’s at stake. I look forward to immersing myself in the first three, but I’ve read the last 3 and wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone seeking to understand this current political moment and what’s at stake.

1. “The Greatest Nation of the Earth: Republican Economic Policies during the Civil War” (1997)

  • Summary: The book examines how the Republican Party’s economic policies during the Civil War shaped the United States’ economy and political landscape. Richardson argues that these policies, including the establishment of a national banking system and the introduction of a national currency, laid the groundwork for the modern American economy and solidified the Republicans’ control over the national government.

2. “The Death of Reconstruction: Race, Labor, and Politics in the Post-Civil War North, 1865-1901” (2001)

  • Summary: Richardson explores the Northern perspective on the Reconstruction era, focusing on how Northern attitudes toward race, labor, and politics contributed to the failure of Reconstruction. She argues that the North’s retreat from Reconstruction was driven by concerns about class and labor rather than race alone, leading to the abandonment of African Americans in the South.

3. “West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America after the Civil War” (2007)

  • Summary: This book extends the traditional narrative of Reconstruction beyond the South, exploring how the Civil War and its aftermath reshaped the entire nation. Richardson connects the experiences of people across the country, showing how the Reconstruction era led to the creation of a new American identity and a modern national government.

4. “To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party” (2014)

  • Summary: Richardson provides a comprehensive history of the Republican Party from its founding in the 1850s through the early 21st century. She traces the party’s evolution from a force for emancipation and national unity to its modern incarnation, examining the ideological shifts and internal conflicts that have shaped its trajectory.

5. “How the South Won the Civil War: Oligarchy, Democracy, and the Continuing Fight for the Soul of America” (2020)

  • Summary: In this book, Richardson argues that although the South lost the Civil War militarily, its ideology of oligarchy and white supremacy continued to shape American politics and society. She traces the spread of this Lost Cause ideology from the post-war South to the West and its eventual influence on national politics, culminating in the rise of modern conservative movements.

6. “Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America” (2023)

  • Summary: Richardson reflects on the current state of American democracy, drawing on her expertise in history and her popular “Letters from an American” newsletter. She examines the challenges facing the country in the era of Trumpism, including political polarization, disinformation and misinformation, conspiracy theories, and the erosion of democratic norms, while also offering hope and a path forward based on historical lessons.
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Kamala Harris for President 2024

Kamala Harris is poised to break that glass ceiling that Hillary Clinton cracked and I am so here for it. She was my Senator when I lived in California and I appreciated her energy back then — and I would be thrilled for her service as the first woman president.

And I’m by no means the only one — from White Dudes for Harris to Republicans for Harris to Mormons for Harris, to Democratic groups up and down the spectrum, there is renewed energy in this election and momentum has been building even since Biden’s decision to step down from the race.

The selection of Tim Walz as her running mate adds yet another layer of awesomeness — with his folksy small town dad appeal, military service, midwestern charm, and zingy comebacks and catchy takedowns of Trump and Vance as “weird,” he seems to be bringing a hefty punching up vibe to the campaign.

Meanwhile, all the Orange Man and emo beardo seem able to do is sling racist and sexist insults at Kamala, or attempt a cheap knockoff of the swiftboating of John Kerry that’s been swiftly and resoundingly debunked. People aren’t falling for it.

Imagine if the momentum carries us all the way to a blue wave, and a Democratic Congress… we could perhaps have nice things! Time to put shoulders to the wheel. Give whatever time and money you can, if you can.

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Evangelicals in church raising their hands high for Christian nationalism

Christian nationalism, a belief system that intertwines national identity with Christian faith, has been a significant force in American history — and the Christian nationalism timeline may go back further than you think. It erroneously asserts that the United States is fundamentally a Christian nation and should be governed by biblical principles.

This flawed ideology has influenced various aspects of American life, from politics to education, and continues to shape the discourse around national identity and public policy. Understanding the evolution of Christian nationalism provides critical insights into its current manifestations and implications for the future.

In recent years, the resurgence of Christian nationalism has become more visible and influential in American politics. The events of January 6, 2021, and the Big Lie rhetoric surrounding the 2020 presidential election highlighted the power and reach of this movement. With key figures like Russell Vought and organizations like Project 2025 advocating for policies that align with their interpretation of Christian values, it is essential to examine the timeline of Christian nationalism to grasp its roots, growth, and contemporary relevance.

Vote them out, while we still can

Then, get to the polls and take everyone you know with you. Do not allow the right-wing to establish a theocracy in this country — no matter what your faith (or lack thereof), we have common interest in preventing any one faith from informing the US government.

A line of diverse and young-looking voters forms at the polling place -- the right-wing's worst nightmare

Just because they say the words “Christian nation” does not alter the actual history in which the founders were deists who were adamant about keeping the political and religious spheres separate — having seen the ills it can cause to entwine them. Is America a Christian nation? No. We rejected the divine right of kings, very consciously and loudly so at the time. It is easy to pick up this sentiment in the writings of the founders both inside and outside of the founding documents.

Christian nationalism timeline

  • 1607 — The Jamestown Colony is established in Virginia. Early settlers bring a mix of Christian beliefs that will influence American culture.
  • 1620 — The Pilgrims arrive on the Mayflower, establishing the Plymouth Colony. They seek religious freedom after being persecuted for their lack of conformity to the Anglican church in England, and establish a community based on their Puritan beliefs.
  • 1630 — John Winthrop delivers his sermon “A Model of Christian Charity,” articulating the vision of America as a “city upon a hill,” influencing the concept of a Christian nation.
  • 1730-1740s — The First Great Awakening, a series of religious revivals, sweeps through the American colonies, strengthening evangelicalism.
  • 1776 — The Declaration of Independence is signed. The Founding Fathers, while influenced primarily by Enlightenment ideas, also incorporate some Christian principles.
  • 1787 — The U.S. Constitution is drafted, establishing a secular government with the First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of religion.
Continue reading Christian Nationalism Timeline
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Christian nationalism library

The Christian nationalist movement has been coalescing itself over the past 50 years (and more), partly in the shadows and partly very publicly through scandals and political strife. This list of Christian nationalism books aims to cover both ends of the spectrum.

Christian nationalism overlaps and shares some common cause with the white nationalism movement and nationalism ideologies more broadly in the US.

Here are some of the best resources I’ve found to navigate the zealous yet fragile world of Christian nationalism, so far:

Christian nationalism books

The Power Worshippers

πŸ”‹ The Power Worshippers — Katherine Stewart

The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism by Katherine Stewart is a comprehensive examination of the growing influence of Christian nationalism in US politics. Stewart delves into the movement’s origins, tracing its development from fringe ideology to a dominant force shaping contemporary policy and societal norms. She uncovers the network of religious leaders, political operatives, and plutocratic donors who are driving this agenda, revealing their strategies to mobilize voters, influence legislation, and reshape the American legal system. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Stewart exposes the ways in which this movement seeks to undermine the separation of church and state, imposing a specific religious worldview on a diverse populace accustomed to enjoying their freedom of religion.

In the book, Stewart highlights how Christian nationalism is not merely a cultural phenomenon but a deliberate, coordinated, and concentrated political effort. She provides detailed accounts of how the movement capitalizes on issues such as abortion, LGBTQ rights, and religious liberty to galvanize support and exert pressure on political leaders. Stewart argues that this agenda poses a significant threat to democratic values and pluralism, advocating for vigilant resistance to protect the integrity of the nation’s secular institutions. By intertwining personal narratives with in-depth analysis, “The Power Worshippers” offers a critical look at the implications of religious nationalism for the future of American democracy.

Unholy

😈 Unholy: How White Christian Nationalists Powered the Trump Presidency, and the Devastating Legacy They Left Behind — Sarah Posner

Unholy: How White Christian Nationalists Powered the Trump Presidency, and the Devastating Legacy They Left Behind by Sarah Posner is an incisive exploration of the alliance between white Christian nationalists and Donald Trump. Posner meticulously documents how this group, driven by a fervent belief in their divine mandate, played a pivotal role in Trump’s election and subsequent administration. She explores the historical roots of this movement, its theological underpinnings, and the powerful figures who have shaped its direction. Through extensive interviews and detailed reporting, Posner reveals how white Christian nationalists leveraged their significant influence to advance a political agenda that aligns with their religious convictions, often at the expense of democratic norms and minority rights.

Posner’s book delves into the complex relationship between Trump and his evangelical supporters, showing how their mutual needs and ambitions created a symbiotic bond. She illustrates how this unhealthy alliance has led to policies and judicial appointments that reflect the priorities of white Christian nationalists, such as restrictions on reproductive rights, opposition to LGBTQ equality, and the dismantling of church-state separation. “Unholy” also examines the broader cultural impact of this movement, highlighting the ways it has contributed to the polarization and division within American society. Through a blend of investigative journalism and sharp analysis, Posner provides a compelling narrative about the enduring and troubling legacy of this powerful political alliance.

The Immoral Majority

✝️ The Immoral Majority: Why Evangelicals Chose Political Power Over Christian Values — Ben Howe

The Immoral Majority: Why Evangelicals Chose Political Power Over Christian Values by Ben Howe is a critical examination of the evangelical support for Donald Trump and the apparent contradiction between their political choices and their professed Christian values. Howe, an evangelical himself, delves into the reasons why a significant portion of the evangelical community embraced a candidate whose behavior and rhetoric often starkly contrasted with traditional Christian teachings. Through personal anecdotes, interviews, and keen analysis, Howe explores how the pursuit of political power and cultural influence led many evangelicals to compromise on key moral and ethical principles.

In the book, Howe argues that the evangelical community’s alignment with Trump reveals a broader shift within American Christianity, where political expediency has overshadowed the core tenets of the faith. He critically examines how issues such as abortion, religious liberty, and conservative judicial appointments were used to justify unwavering support for Trump, despite his moral failings. Howe also addresses the long-term consequences of this alliance, suggesting that the evangelical movement’s credibility and moral authority have been significantly undermined. “The Immoral Majority” offers a thought-provoking reflection on the intersection of faith and politics, challenging readers to consider the true cost of prioritizing political power over spiritual integrity.

White Evangelical Racism

πŸ‘» White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America — Anthea Butler

White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America by Anthea Butler is a compelling exploration of the historical and contemporary intersections between white evangelicalism and racism in the United States. Butler meticulously traces the roots of evangelical racism back to the 19th century, highlighting how racial prejudice and discriminatory practices were often justified through religious rhetoric and beliefs. She examines the ways in which white evangelicals have historically supported segregation, opposed civil rights, and upheld systems of racial inequality, all while professing a commitment to Christian morality.

Butler’s book also delves into the modern political landscape, showing how white evangelical racism has influenced contemporary politics, particularly in the support for Donald Trump. She argues that white evangelicals have frequently prioritized their racial and cultural interests over the inclusive values they claim to uphold. Through a blend of historical analysis and modern political critique, Butler demonstrates how racism has been an enduring element of white evangelical identity and political engagement. “White Evangelical Racism” challenges readers to confront the moral contradictions within the evangelical movement and consider the broader implications for American society and politics.

White Too Long

🏳️ White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity — Robert P. Jones

White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity by Robert P. Jones is a profound examination of the deep-seated connections between white supremacy and American Christianity. Jones, a religious scholar and CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, utilizes historical research, sociological data, and personal reflections to trace the ways in which white Christian churches have perpetuated racial inequality and supported systems of oppression. He argues that white supremacy is not just a historical aberration but a defining characteristic of American Christianity that has shaped its institutions, doctrines, and practices.

In the book, Jones explores how white Christian communities have often resisted racial integration and civil rights, aligning themselves with ideologies that uphold racial hierarchies. He provides a detailed account of how these communities have used theology to justify segregation, discrimination, and violence against people of color. Jones also addresses the contemporary implications of this legacy, urging white Christians to confront and repent for their complicity in racism. By blending personal narrative with rigorous scholarship, “White Too Long” challenges readers to acknowledge the pervasive influence of white supremacy within American Christianity and to seek genuine reconciliation and justice.

Wrapped in the Flag

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Wrapped in the Flag: A Personality History of America’s Radical Right — Claire Conner

Wrapped in the Flag: A Personal History of America’s Radical Right by Claire Conner is a poignant memoir that delves into the rise and influence of the radical right in American politics, with a particular emphasis on its hardline Christian stance. Claire Conner, whose parents were staunch members of the John Birch Society (JBS), provides a deeply personal perspective on how the JBS’s extreme conservative and religious ideologies shaped her upbringing and the broader conservative movement. Through her narrative, Conner exposes the Society’s fervent anti-communism, its use of fear-mongering tactics, and its uncompromising quest for political power, all underpinned by a strict interpretation of Christian values.

In the book, Conner recounts her childhood in a household where the JBS’s radical Christian beliefs were not only embraced but fervently promoted. She explores how these beliefs drove the Society’s opposition to civil rights, its promotion of segregation, and its rejection of any form of progressive social change. Conner reflects on the broader implications of this hardline stance, showing how the JBS’s combination of political extremism and religious zealotry influenced the modern conservative movement. “Wrapped in the Flag” serves as both a personal memoir and a critical historical analysis, offering readers an insightful look at the roots of America’s radical right and its enduring impact on contemporary politics, especially through its integration of rigid Christian ideology.

One Nation Under God

πŸ“ˆ One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America — Kevin M. Kruse

One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America by Kevin M. Kruse is an insightful exploration of the strategic alliance between corporate America and religious leaders to promote a Christian identity for the nation. Kruse meticulously traces the origins of this partnership back to the mid-20th century, revealing how business leaders and conservative politicians collaborated with prominent clergy to counter the New Deal and the growing influence of secularism. By championing the idea that America was founded as a Christian nation, they sought to foster a moral framework that aligned with free-market capitalism and conservative political values.

Kruse’s book delves into how this orchestrated campaign reshaped American public life, embedding religious language and symbols into the political and cultural fabric of the nation. He details how corporate-funded initiatives popularized practices such as adding “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” on currency, effectively merging religious faith with national identity. Through a combination of historical research and engaging narrative, “One Nation Under God” uncovers the deliberate efforts to create a Christian America from whole cloth, highlighting the lasting impact of this movement on contemporary politics and society. Kruse’s work challenges readers to reconsider the origins of America’s religious rhetoric and its potentially dangerous implications for the nation’s democratic principles.

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory

β›ͺ The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism — Tim Alberta

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta is a penetrating examination of the evolving role of evangelicals in American politics, particularly in the context of rising extremism. Alberta, a seasoned political journalist and former Evangelical, provides a comprehensive analysis of how the evangelical movement has increasingly aligned itself with radical political ideologies, often prioritizing political power over traditional Christian values. He explores the complex dynamics within the evangelical community, highlighting the tensions between maintaining religious integrity and engaging in partisan battles.

Alberta’s book offers a detailed account of key events and figures that have shaped the current evangelical landscape, from the Moral Majority and the rise of the religious right to the influence of prominent evangelical leaders in the Trump era. He delves into the ways in which evangelicals have embraced extreme positions on issues such as immigration, LGBTQ rights, and religious liberty, often at odds with the inclusive message of Christianity. Through rigorous reporting and insightful commentary, “The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory” challenges readers to understand the deep-rooted factors driving evangelical political engagement and the implications for American democracy. Alberta’s work provides a critical perspective on the intersection of faith and politics in an age of increasing polarization and extremism.

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Project 2025 mind map of entities

Project 2025, led by former Trump official Paul Dans and key conservative figures within The Heritage Foundation, sets forth an ambitious conservative and Christian nationalist vision aimed at fundamentally transforming the role of the federal government. Leonard Leo, a prominent conservative known for his influence on the U.S. Supreme Court‘s composition, is among the project’s leading fundraisers.

The initiative seeks to undo over a century of progressive reforms, tracing back to the establishment of a federal administrative framework by Woodrow Wilson, through the New Deal by Roosevelt, to Johnson’s Great Society. It proposes a significant reduction in the federal workforce, which stands at about 2.25 million people.

Project 2025 plans

Essential measures include reducing funding for, or even abolishing, key agencies such as the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Departments of Education and Commerce. Additionally, Project 2025 intends to bring semi-independent agencies like the Federal Communications Commission under closer presidential control.

At its heart, Project 2025 aims to secure a durable conservative dominance within the federal government, aligning it closely with the principles of the MAGA movement and ensuring it operates under the direct oversight of the White House. The project is inspired by the “unitary executive theory” of the Constitution, which argues for sweeping presidential authority over the federal administrative apparatus — in direct contradiction with the delicate system of checks and balances architected by the Founders.

It is also inspired by religious fervor (and the cynical exploitation thereof) — and Project 2025 has brought together a pantheon of Christian nationalist organizations and groups to draft policy that could be implemented with alacrity, select potential appointees for the administration, build networks with GOP at the state and local levels — and with right wing groups and networks around the world.

Project 2025 goals

To realize their extremist, authoritarian goal, Dans is actively recruiting what he terms “conservative warriors” from legal and government networks, including bar associations and offices of state attorneys general. The aim is to embed these individuals in key legal roles throughout the government, thereby embedding the conservative vision deeply within the federal bureaucracy to shape policy and governance for the foreseeable future.

Continue reading What is Project 2025: The GOP’s plan for taking power
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Jesus healing the sick as a foil to Christian nationalism

Jesus commanded us to love our enemies. The vitriol of our politics — the violent rhetoric, the animosity, the refusal to engage in democratic deliberation — is not loving our enemies. It seems to me that Christian nationalism isn’t very Christian, in word or deed.

Jesus hated fame, loathed fortune, and eschewed power. So many of these fake Christians and Christian nationalist groups fundraising for the profane idol of Trumpism are drunk on all three.

They’ve tied capitalism and Christianity together in a way that is both wholly unsupported by the Bible and wholly antithetical to the foundational idea of growing the size of your market, not shrinking it. Jesus threw the moneylenders out of the temple, condemning the commercialization of religious practice. And yet the commercialization of religious practice is alive and well in the American version of Christian nationalism.

Jesus loved the poor, and frequently warned about the dangers of wealth and greed. He told the parable of the Good Samaritan, who stops to help a total stranger in need, expecting no help in return — and said “go and do likewise.” He was very much an original Social Justice Warrior.

Jesus with a group of poor children, as a foil to the Christian nationalist movement

Politics and spirituality are opposites

Jesus also said to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s — indicating that he believed politics and spirituality were not a good mix. God’s realm is not like this one, and he does not care about our petty political trifles. He cares that we love our neighbors as ourselves.

Which is a value I believe in and agree on, even though I’m a Buddhist. There is much wisdom from pretty much all the religious doctrines worth listening to and adopting, even if one does not adopt the symbolism of the identity tropes of a chosen religious practice. Morality does not depend on being a member of the Christian faith or any other particular faith — despite the claims of some in the right-wing. There are moral people everywhere, getting up every day and doing their best to be good humans, good citizens, good neighbors, good parents, friends, volunteers, and so on.

Humans first, tribes second

We have to put our humanity ahead of our group identities if we have a chance of surviving the coming wars — the climate war, the food and water wars, the new cold war, lawfare, and new escalations of the information warfare and psychological warfare around the globe. We are all more alike than we are different — a deep truth that Jesus knew and shared strongly, asking us to live and share that message ourselves, even when it’s sometimes hard.

Continue reading Christian nationalism isn’t very Christian
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Biden gave a fiery speech in Detroit today and pitched his plan for his second term’s first 100 days, if given a Democratic Congress. Which would mean that by around May of 2025 we could have the following nice things:

It sure sounds like a far cry from whatever fiery white supremacist death zone backed by ravenous billionaires would be unleashed upon us in Trump‘s first 100 days (only 1 of which, we are led to believe, would be as a dictator… sure, Jan). It is the opposite direction of the literal End Times hellscape vision of Project 2025 and its Christofascist propagandists who have abused the American Evangelical church to the point of being unrecognizably distant from anything Christ himself taught.

Vote blue no matter who

I’m bored with the obsession over Biden’s age. He’s 81, he’s not 101. He certainly still passes the Turing Test to me — others apparently see something different. Superagers can go a long time these days — Charles Koch is 88 and leads both an oil empire and a conservative dark money juggernaut. Rupert Murdoch is 93 and only last year stepped down from leading one of the world’s largest media empires.

I don’t think there’s anyone in the world who can match Joe Biden’s foreign policy experience, having been at the table on major world events for decades now. He knows everybody — and has warm relationships with our allies. Unlike Trump, who has spurned everyone America has cherished and cozied up to (other) two-bit dictators with tiny hands syndrome. Biden is holding up the Western order against a revanchist Russia seeking to erode the post-Cold War consensus and spread the forces of authoritarianism widely around the globe — Trump would simply hand Ukraine to Putin and welcome the wave of illiberalism to wash over his slavering Project 2025 belligerents.

I think we urgently need Joe Biden’s unparalleled experience at this moment in history — no one else can match it. Although now Kamala Harris is no slouch in that regard either, given her 4 years of jetting around the globe as VP, years in the Senate before that, years as California AG, and a decade as the District Attorney of San Francisco before that. If Biden decides at some point in the next 4 years to stand down and hand the reins to Harris, that would be a fantastic outcome. In the meantime, why don’t we give the man some respect for his own self-assessment?

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Recently the Former Guy proclaimed to know nothing about Project 2025, the plan whose authors include 70% current and former Trump officials. In that he doth protest too much — does Trump support Project 2025? You bet your bippy he does!

What is Project 2025? Think of it as a vast plan, close to the former president, to feverishly establish Christofascism in America starting with Day 1 of a second Trump presidency. It is a 920-page document, and 1000-employee project, to “supercharge” another Trump term with an infusion of Christian nationalism.

More than 100 Christian nationalist organizations and groups are involved in drafting the blueprint for Trump’s next term, should that horrorscape come to pass. One core problem they have, however, is the extreme unpopularity of their ideas. Most Americans would recoil from the draconian measures Project 2025 wishes to bestow upon the nation, unasked for and unwanted — including banning abortion nationwide, restricting IVF, defunding education, pulling out of NATO, etc.

Who is behind Project 2025?

Project 2025 is so toxic in fact that Donald Trump disavowed it on Truth Social:

Trump disavows Project 2025 on his social network, Truth Social

Despite his pathetic attempt to disclaim knowledge about Project 2025, Trump’s current and former staff make up the majority of the group’s architects. Trump’s name appears 312 times in their document. It’s simply not credible that the GOP presumptive nominee is unaware of his loudest allies and advocates — and even if you take him at his word, it constitutes malpractice for a political candidate to be so uninformed.

So allegedly, Donald Trump doesn’t know anyone behind Project 2025. Let’s have a look at the amazing Venn Diagram between Trump officials and Project 2025, shall we?

Karoline Leavitt

Currently serving as the national press secretary for Trump’s 2024 campaign, Karoline Leavitt appears as a trainer in Project 2025 Presidential Administration Academy videos:

Karoline Leavitt, Donald Trump's national press secretary for his 2024 campaign, in a training video for the Project 2025 Presidential Administration Academy

Stephen Miller

Dour, pasty-faced goon Stephen Miller complemented Trump’s sadism as his senior advisor, with his cruel border separation policy for children and their families. He is well known for his white supremacist views and associations, but less well known for his role as head of a legal group on Project 2025’s advisory board. Here is Miller in a recruitment ad for Project 2025:

Stephen Miller, top Trump aide and anti-immigration extremist, stars in recruitment ads for Project 2025
Continue reading Does Trump support Project 2025?
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banned books burning books

Expecting this banned books list will be ongoing, unfortunately…

Book bans represent a significant threat to the First Amendment by restricting access to diverse ideas and viewpoints, which are essential to a free and democratic society. These bans orchestrated by right wing groups often target literature that addresses complex and sometimes controversial themes such as race, sexuality, and political ideologies, under the guise of protecting young readers.

However, this form of censorship undermines intellectual freedom and the right to read, leading to a homogenized culture that stifles critical thinking and open dialogue. The American Library Association (ALA) and PEN America have documented thousands of instances where books have been removed from school and public libraries, reflecting a concerted effort by certain groups to impose their moral or political standards on the wider community, thus eroding the foundational principles of free expression enshrined in the First Amendment​.

Most Banned Books (2023-2024)

  1. “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe
  2. “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson
  3. “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
  4. “Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope PΓ©rez
  5. “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
  6. “Beyond Magenta” by Susan Kuklin
  7. “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie
  8. “Melissa” (previously published as “George”) by Alex Gino
  9. “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
  10. “Drama” by Raina Telgemeier
Continue reading Banned Books List: What the right-wing considers dangerous literature
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