Undercover in Project 2025

Summary

Undercover reporters meet with Russ Vought, a key figure in drafting 'Project 2025,' a controversial 920-page blueprint for Trump's second term. The plan includes radical policies like eliminating the Department of Education and restricting abortion rights. Despite public disavowals, Vought reveals ongoing support from Trump's circle, detailing a secretive second phase with detailed transition plans for federal agencies, aiming to centralize government power under a potential second Trump administration.

Takeaways

• 🕵️‍♂️ Two undercover reporters met with Russ Vought, a key architect of Project 2025, which is a radical plan for Trump's second term, in a hotel suite rigged with hidden cameras.
• ☕ Russ Vought, former director of The Office of Management and Budget, is known for his opposition to the Department of Education and his support for Christian nationalism.
• 🤝 Vought thanks Trump for his support of the Center for Renewing America, an organization that aims to implement the policies discussed in Project 2025.
• 📚 Project 2025 is a 920-page blueprint with ambitious goals, including the elimination of the Department of Education, mass firings of civil servants, and further restrictions on abortion rights.
• 🔥 The plans have become controversial, forcing Trump to publicly distance himself from them, though Vought suggests this is not a genuine disavowal.
• 🤫 Vought is involved in the secretive second phase of Project 2025, which involves creating detailed policy packets and executive orders for each federal agency, kept confidential to avoid public scrutiny.
• 🛡️ Vought aims to centralize government power under the president, including firing civil servants and ending the independence of agencies like the FBI and DOJ.
• 📖 He has prepared documents based on fringe legal theories arguing the president has the power to use the military against protesters, which could be used to maintain law and order.
• 🚫 Vought believes in a radical Christian nationalist agenda that could be realized under a second Trump presidency, including blocking funding for Planned Parenthood and restricting abortion.
• 🎯 Despite public backlash and the Trump campaign's attempts to distance from Project 2025, Vought has been chosen to write the Republican policy platform, indicating his influence within the campaign.
• 🔗 Vought is confident that his plans will be implemented regardless of who is appointed head of the Trump transition team, as he has the trust of key figures and can directly hand over his plans.

Q & A

Who is Russ Vought, and why is he significant in the context of Project 2025?

Russ Vought is the former director of the Office of Management and Budget under the Trump administration. He is a key architect of Project 2025, which is a radical plan designed for Trump's potential second term. Vought's involvement is significant as he leads efforts to centralize government power under the president and implement a Christian nationalist agenda.

What is Project 2025, and what are its main objectives?

Project 2025 is a 920-page blueprint that outlines radical policy changes for a potential second Trump administration. Its main objectives include eliminating the Department of Education, mass firings of civil servants, restricting abortion rights, and centralizing government power under the president. The project also includes plans to use the military to maintain law and order.

How has Trump publicly responded to Project 2025?

Trump has publicly distanced himself from Project 2025, stating that he knows nothing about it and has not seen the document. He describes it as a product of the radical right, contrasting it with the radical left. However, behind closed doors, Vought suggests that Trump's disavowal should not be taken seriously.

What role does the Heritage Foundation play in Project 2025?

The Heritage Foundation is the group running Project 2025. They are involved in coordinating the project's efforts and are present at key events, such as the conference for religious nationalists where journalists from the Center for Climate Reporting posed as donors to meet those involved in the project.

What is the 'second phase' of Project 2025, and why is it considered secretive?

The second phase of Project 2025 involves creating detailed policy packets, executive orders, and agenda items for each federal agency. This phase is considered secretive because these plans are kept confidential to avoid Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, which could expose them to public scrutiny.

How does Russ Vought view the 'deep state,' and what actions does he propose to counter it?

Russ Vought views the 'deep state' as a significant obstacle that frustrated Trump's agenda during his first term. To counter it, Vought proposes a radical centralization of government power under the president, including firing civil servants and ending the independence of agencies like the FBI and DOJ.

What is Russ Vought's stance on the Department of Education?

Russ Vought is opposed to the Department of Education, arguing that it is a department promoting critical race theory. As part of Project 2025, he supports the elimination of the Department of Education.

What is the relationship between Project 2025 and Christian nationalism?

Project 2025 is heavily influenced by Christian nationalist ideology. Vought and others involved in the project believe in rehabilitating Christian nationalism, and the project includes policies that reflect this worldview, such as further restricting abortion rights and promoting a pro-life agenda.

How does Project 2025 aim to handle public and media scrutiny?

To handle public and media scrutiny, Project 2025 avoids making its detailed plans publicly accessible. The project's second phase, in particular, is kept confidential to prevent it from being exposed through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The goal is to familiarize transition teams with the plans without leaving a paper trail.

What is the significance of Trump's relationship with Russ Vought despite public disavowals of Project 2025?

Despite Trump's public disavowals of Project 2025, his relationship with Russ Vought remains strong behind the scenes. Trump has supported Vought's organization and selected him to write the Republican policy platform. This indicates that Vought's ideas and Project 2025's goals align with Trump's vision for a potential second term.

Outlines

00:00

🕵️‍♂️ Undercover Exposure of Project 2025 Architect

This paragraph details an undercover operation where two reporters meet with Russ Vought, a key figure behind Project 2025, which is a radical plan for Trump's second term. Vought, a former director of the Office of Management and Budget, is known for his opposition to the Department of Education and his alignment with Christian nationalism. The meeting takes place in a hotel suite with hidden cameras. Vought's organization, the Center for Renewing America, is described as a driving force behind the controversial policies of Project 2025, which include eliminating the Department of Education, mass firings of civil servants, and restricting abortion rights. Despite public controversy and Trump's public distancing from the project, Vought reveals that behind the scenes, Trump is very supportive of their work.

05:00

📖 Project 2025: The Blueprint for Trump's Second Term

The second paragraph delves into the secretive second phase of Project 2025, which involves creating detailed transition plans for each federal agency. This phase is led by Russ Vought and is kept confidential to avoid public scrutiny and potential legal challenges. The plans include strategies for taking control of government bureaucracies, ending their independence, and using fringe legal theories to justify the use of military force against protesters. Vought also discusses the potential for a radical Christian nationalist agenda to be realized under a second Trump presidency, including blocking funding for Planned Parenthood and fetal tissue research. Despite public backlash and the Trump campaign's attempts to distance themselves from Project 2025, Vought has been chosen to write the Republican policy platform, positioning him as an influential figure within the campaign.

Keywords

💡Project 2025

Project 2025 is referred to as a radical plan for Trump's second term, encompassing a series of controversial policies and reforms. It is an ambitious 920-page blueprint that includes proposals such as eliminating the Department of Education, mass firings of civil servants, and further restricting abortion rights. The script indicates that the plan has become so controversial that even Trump has publicly distanced himself from it, despite private support.

💡Undercover Reporters

Undercover reporters are individuals who pose as something they are not, typically to investigate or expose certain activities. In the script, they pose as donors to meet with key figures involved in Project 2025, revealing the secretive nature of the project and the controversial intentions behind it.

💡Russ Vought

Russ Vought is identified as the former director of The Office of Management and Budget and a key architect of Project 2025. He is described as a figure who is opposed to the Department of Education and is associated with Christian nationalism. His role in the script is central to understanding the ideological drive behind the project.

💡Christian Nationalism

Christian nationalism is a political ideology that seeks to merge American nationalism with an aggressive form of Christianity. In the script, it is suggested that Project 2025 aims to rehabilitate this ideology and implement it through policy changes, indicating a significant shift in the nation's values and governance.

💡Department of Education

The Department of Education is a federal agency in the United States that sets policy for public schools and distributes federal funding. The script mentions the elimination of this department as part of Project 2025, reflecting a drastic change in the federal government's role in education.

💡Mass Firings

Mass Firings refer to the large-scale dismissal of employees, particularly civil servants, which is a proposal within Project 2025. This concept is tied to the plan's goal of centralizing government power under the president and removing what Vought calls the 'Deep state'.

💡Abortion Rights

Abortion rights are the legal rights of women to have an abortion. The script indicates that Project 2025 includes further restrictions on abortion rights, including banning access to the abortion pill, showing the project's aim to impose a conservative social agenda.

💡Deep State

The 'Deep state' is a term often used to describe a supposed hidden government within the legitimately elected government. In the script, Vought believes that Trump's agenda in his first term was frustrated by the 'Deep state,' and Project 2025 aims to dismantle this perceived obstacle.

💡Heritage Foundation

The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank involved in Project 2025. The script mentions this organization as running the project, indicating its influence in shaping conservative policy and the potential direction of the U.S. government under the proposed plan.

💡Policy Platform

A policy platform is a set of principles and policies that a political party or candidate stands for. The script reveals that Vought was selected by the Trump campaign to write the Republican policy platform, suggesting that Project 2025's ideas could directly influence the party's stance.

💡Transition Team

A transition team is a group that assists with the change of administration in government. The script discusses the potential for Project 2025's plans to be handed directly to the transition team, indicating a strategy to implement the project's policies swiftly upon a change in power.

Highlights

Undercover reporters meet with key architect of Project 2025, a radical plan for Trump's second term.

Russell Vought, former director of The Office of Management and Budget, opposes the Department of Education due to its association with critical race theory.

Vought's organization, Center for Renewing America, is likened to the 'Death Star' accomplishing controversial debates.

Project 2025 includes ambitious plans such as eliminating the Department of Education and mass firings of civil servants.

Controversy has led Trump to publicly distance himself from Project 2025, despite private support.

Vought dismisses Trump's public disavowal of Project 2025 as political strategy, not reflective of his true stance.

The second phase of Project 2025 involves detailed transition plans for federal agencies, kept confidential to avoid public scrutiny.

Vought aims for a radical centralization of government power under the president, including ending agency independence.

Documents are being prepared arguing the president's power to use the military against protesters based on fringe legal theories.

Vought believes a radical Christian nationalist agenda can be realized under Trump, with strategies to block funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood.

Trump's VP pick is seen by Vought as indicative of a serious commitment to the ideological agenda of Project 2025.

Despite public backlash, Trump's campaign has selected Vought to write the Republican policy platform.

Vought is confident in his ability to hand over Project 2025's battle plans directly to the transition team, regardless of who leads it.

Project 2025's Phase 1 policy book became a PR disaster, leading to the resignation of its director.

The second phase of Project 2025 is designed to avoid the negative branding of its predecessor, focusing on direct implementation.

Vought emphasizes the importance of trust and relationship with the Trump administration for the success of Project 2025's plans.

Transcripts

two undercover reporters posing as

donors are about to meet one of the key

architects of project 2025 the radical

plan for Trump's second term in a hotel

suite rigged with hidden cameras nice to

meet you would you like uh coffee or

something i' love

coffe meet Russ vot Russell vote the

former director of The Office of

Management and budget he's been called

the most dangerous magga die hard you've

never heard of I am opposed to the

Department of Education because I think

it's the department of critical race

Theory the Russ vote were comrades in

arms formerly a Cabinet member and chief

lieutenant in the first Trump ad men I

want to thank Russ for doing an

incredible job he now runs a group

called Center for renewing America an

organization that I help turn into the

Death Star that is accomplishing all the

debates that you are reading about I

think you have to rehabilitate Christian

nationalism you have the largest

deportation in history block funding for

Planned Parenthood I I want to be the

person that crushes the State vote is

one of the key authors of the blueprint

for a second Trump Administration

project 2025 it's an ambitious 920 page

blueprint like eliminating the

Department of Education the mass firings

of civil servants Banning access to the

abortion pill and further restricting

abortion rights in recent weeks the

plans have become so controversial that

Trump has been forced to distance

himself they're sort of the opposite of

the radical left okay you have the

radical left and you have the radical

right and they come up with this I don't

know what the hell it is it's project 25

are you ready I know nothing about

project 25 I haven't seen the document I

don't intend to really see the document

but behind closed doors vote tells us

not to take Trump's disavowal seriously

I I expect you hear 10 more times from

the rally the president you know

distancing himself from the left

Boogyman of project 2025 yeah um and

you're not worried about that I'm not

worried about it okay he's running

against the brand he is is not running

against any people okay uh he is not

running against uh any institutions it's

interesting he's in fact not even

opposing himself to a particular policy

he's been at our organization he's

raised money for our organization he's

blessed it from the you know walking

into our last day office and told him

what I was going to do so he's very

supportive of what we

do our investigation into project 2025

began 2 weeks before the meeting with

vote at conference for religious

nationalists in DC the truth is

Christian nationalism is not a threat to

American democracy Christian nationalism

founded American democracy journalists

from the center for climate reporting

have come posing as potential donors

looking to meet those involved in

Project

2025 they're not hard to find the

Heritage Foundation the group running

the project are here so is vot's Think

Tank we make the acquaintance of mik

metrof an author on Project 2025 and a

close Aid to vote he tells us that vote

is running the secretive second phase of

project 2025 and the second phase after

the book came out was to break down like

actual sort of policy packets and

executive orders

and um agenda items and things like that

that's been supervised

largely the first phase of project 2025

was a 922 page policy book published

openly the second phase is a

comprehensive concrete transition plan

for each Federal agency these much more

detailed plans are confidential yeah cuz

obviously you want as little of it to be

foilable if you're familiar with the

process as possible freed Freedom of

Information Act yeah the Freedom of

Information Act allows the public to

request government Communications but

metrof reveals they plan to avoid these

rules yeah the goal is you know you

familiarize all the transition team

people with these plans yeah but you

don't actually like send them to their

working cuz right you know you could

just give the handbooks to everyone be

like this is the game plan for the

admin if the Press knows that that's

what you're doing that they're going to

immediately just say like I request all

of your emails from a Heritage okay you

know

you I see so we'll see interesting metal

CR offers to set up a meeting with his L

Russ vote you could like put me in touch

with somebody who looks after his diary

or whatever yes I could put you in touch

with his schedule

amazing great yeah so just tell me when

to do that we want to meet the man

writing the game plan for Trump's second

Administration vote believes that in his

first term Trump's agenda was frustrated

by what he calls the Deep state so vote

is planning a radical centralization of

government power under the president

firing civil servants and ending the

independence of agencies like the FBI

and

doj 80% of my time is working on the

plans of what's necessary to to take

control of these

bureaucracies um and we are working

doggedly on that U whether it's uh

destroying their agency's notion of

Independence they're independent from

the president vote has also been

preparing documents based on Fringe

legal theories arguing the president has

the power to use the military against

protesters you George Floyd obviously

was not about race it was about uh

destabilizing the Trump Administration

uh we put out for instance a 50 page

paper designed for lawyers to know that

the president has you know the ability

both along the border uh and elsewhere

to maintain Law and Order with the

military and and that's something that

um you know it's going to be important

for for him to remember and his lawyers

to affirm but we we've given them the

case for that with loyalists installed

in key government agencies and armed

with his Playbook vote believes a

radical Christian nationalist agenda can

be realized under a second Trump

presidency for example on abortion so I

think the president's actually come up

with a a strategy that works so long as

you are giving people like me in

government the ability to block funding

for plan Parenthood block funding for

fetal tissue research what I've told

people is he had the most pro-life

record ever I've never seen him take it

to stand in the way of a pro-life

initiative that actually was real

politically and with momentum and for

vote Trump's pick for vice president

shows he's serious about pushing this

ideological agenda when in power so I am

very happy with the JD pick I think it's

transformative for sure um and he's you

know he think of him as a member version

of what we do yeah so there's no Think

Tank no policy Organization no battle

plan

Creator other than us for the worldview

that I think Donald Trump has and that

uh JD has but as public backlash against

these plans builds the Trump campaign

has been scrambling to distance

themselves from Project 202's authors

it's complete and utter for any

reporter to write that this is the way

it is the president's made it clear

these people do not speak for him they

do not speak for the campaign but vote

tells us that behind the scenes things

are much friendlier the Trump campaign

recently picked him to write the

Republicans policy platform making him

essentially project 202's man on the

inside I think the best example is like

campaign selected me to be the platform

uh because of their their views on my

policy ideas and they're not running

from all of the negativity that I get

from the Press I see so they haven't

been spooked on you as a person you

don't think no I mean I I no I I don't

think I'm going to be their transition

pick because then they have all these

kinds of stories yeah but no the

relationship is great the head of the

Trump transition team has not yet been

appointed but vote says that no matter

who is named he'll be able to hand over

his project 2025 battle plans directly

if it's someone like Steven Miller or

Bob lighthiser then all the stuff gets

uh plugged right in if it's not we'll

figure it out okay but but all of it

will designed for a theory of the case

that president if if if a battle plan is

out there that will do what he wants

there are people like me that have his

trust that will we'll be able to get it

to him uh in whatever position we're at

or I could be at Center for new America

but the relationships will be there uh

the trust level will be there project

202's radical Phase 1 policy book turned

into a PR disaster the director of

project 2025 has stepped down after

facing criticism from both Democrats and

the Trump campaign but votes Phase 2

battle plans top secret and handed

directly to the transition team remain

unburdened by the brand and are you

going to like Rebrand that second phase

at for what I do yeah the brand is not

important and you're not worried that if

it has project 2025 on he's going to go

like and you're not going to publish

those no no they go straight to yeah

they're very very close hold yeah okay

brilliant brilliant it's been an

education appreciate it thank you for

time thank you so much any time thank

you very much you can show your