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”—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 textualism—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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Samuel Alito – Like Roberts, Alito is not a formal member but has participated in Federalist Society activities and shares their conservative judicial outlook.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 right-wing 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 “presidential 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 group—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 “freedom,” 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 “us 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 vision—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 Club | Similar 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 Freedom | formerly 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 Foundation | Organization 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 Doctors | America’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 Future | Mike 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 Children | Tax-free organization funded by Betsy DeVos that lobbies to divert funding away from public schools and to private Christian charter schools. |
| American Future Fund | The 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 Girls | the 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 Majority | An organization supported by the Uihleins that provides training to conservative activists. |
| American Phoenix Project | According 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 Project | a right-wing anti-abortion and anti-free elections think tank |
| Americans for Prosperity | As the Koch brothers’ primary political advocacy group, it is one of the most influential American conservative organizations. |
| Americas PAC | Another 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 Group | The 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 Nations | Aryan 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 industry | natural habitat for Dominionist theology: * Texas * Louisiana * Kansas * Oklahoma |
| California Family Council | The 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 America | Christian nationalist organization led by Russell Vought, with a focus on “combating” Critical Race Theory: Vought sees his and his organization’s mission as “renew[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 “where 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 Coalition | Long 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 Voice | Christian 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 United | Church 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 Environment | Sister 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 Republic | one of Steve Bannon’s organizations |
| Club for Growth Action | An 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 World | A 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 America | Founded 1979 by Beverly LaHaye, wife of End Times religious fiction author Timothy LaHaye. |
| Congressional Leadership Fund | The GOP’s main super PAC dedicated to electing House Republicans. |
| Conservative Partnership Institute | The Conservative Partnership Institute describes itself as “a home base and a networking hub for conservatives here in Washington” that helps associates “build 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 States | Extreme 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 Trump | Cowboys 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 Foundation | Right-wing foundation that has donated about $70 million to Christian nationalist causes between 2000 and 2014. |
| Fair Missouri | anti-democracy PAC in MO |
| Faith & Freedom Coalition | The 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 electors | One 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 Project | The 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 Society | An 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 Family | Focus 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 Accountability | The 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 Partners | Koch network group |
| Freedom School | Free market ideology school that teaches the Robber Barons were heroes and the Gilded Age was when American Was Great Again. |
| Freedom to Work | anti-democracy PAC in Missouri |
| Generals International | Dominionist religious group affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) |
| GOPAC | The Republican state and local training organization. |
| Groypers | Named 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 International | 501(c)(3) non-profit organization affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation movement. |
| Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network | The 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 Institute | The 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 Foundation | Think 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 Project | The 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 Evropa | A 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 Foundation | it was one of the largest “intellectual right” funders before its closing |
| Judicial Watch | Organization 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 Foundation | Right-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 movement | Cultish 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 Institute | This 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 Committee | The 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 Movement | One 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-Nazis | These groups include various organizations that idolize Nazi Germany and embrace anti-Semitic ideologies. |
| Oath Keepers | formed 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 “Operation 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 “American patriots” from supposed “radical leftist groups.” |
| Opportunities Solutions Project | Lobbying 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 Front | “Patriot Front” and the “bloodandsoil.org” website are the brainchild of a cluster of Texas-based neo-Nazis who created their new entity — a blend of traditional white-supremacist ideology, alt-right sensibilities and activism, and militia-style armed insurrection — 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 Action | PAC for Patriot Mobile, the conservative Christian cellphone company, used to funnel the money for taking over 4 Texas school boards. |
| Plants Need CO2 | Front group for the lobbying arm of oil magnate Corbin Robertson Jr. |
| Proud Boys | self-described “Western chauvinists” |
| Public Interest Legal Foundation | A 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 Action | Restoration 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 Elections | Bill 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 Foundation | donated about $100 million to Christian nationalist causes between 2000 and 2014 |
| Rutherford Institute | A conservative Christian public interest law firm (non-profit) working in the interest of religious liberties. |
| SAGE Cons | Spiritually Active, Governmentally Engaged Conservative Christians — mostly older white Protestants in Middle America. They revere the past and fear the future. |
| Schafly Eagles | Founded 1972 |
| Seasteading Institute | A 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 Committee | Senator 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 Foundation | The 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 Baptists | demanded 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 Trump | Students 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 List | a right-wing anti-abortion and anti-free elections org |
| Tea Party | The 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 Patriots | During 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 Legion | Veterans’ organization founded in 1919, funded in part by J.P. Morgan. Engaged in union-busting and anti-New Deal activities. |
| The Club for Growth | The 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 Lord | A 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 Institution | Right-wing think tank |
| The Leadership Institute | Claimed 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 Majority | The 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 Foundation | The 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 Network | a “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 Percenters | Founded 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 Project | Patriot Mobile-aligned group in Texas that has been labeled an anti-government extremist group by the SPLC. |
| TrumPAC | As 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 USA | Targets kids and young adults for far right radicalization: https://twitter.com/jennycohn1/status/1463759054212198400 |
| United Daughters of the Confederacy | The 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 Freedom | The 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 Ministries | Now defunct Evangelical organization in TX |
| We Build the Wall, Inc | Non-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 League | The 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 (for more, please see our set of curated expert sources on this and related subjects). 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.
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