Project 2025: The History Of How Trumpism Radicalized

DESC: Molly Jong-Fast converses with Harvard sociologist and political scientist Theda Skocpol about Project 2025, an initiative by the Heritage Foundation outlining a potential future Trump administration. They discuss the drastic policy changes proposed, including increased presidential power and radical socio-political shifts. Skocpol provides insights on the historical and organizational evolution of the Republican Party, the role of grassroots movements like the Tea Party, and the implications of authoritarianism in American politics. They also touch on the impact of these changes on federal agencies and the potential consequences for American democracy.

00:00 Introduction to Project 2025
04:53 Theda Skocpol on the Origins of Project 2025
05:29 The Tea Party's Role in Shaping Modern Conservatism
11:21 Trump's Influence and the Rise of Authoritarianism
14:14 The Republican Party's Shift Towards Authoritarianism
17:40 Potential Consequences of a Second Trump Term
22:41 The Threat to American Democracy

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[robinantonio]

I love how they think banning mention of slavery in education SOMEHOW means it didnt happen.

[TREON.is.Bathit.Crazy.U.S.G]

Follow the money. These people have there own banks. Then they pretend they are churches and not for profit groups to keep from paying taxes.

[TREON.is.Bathit.Crazy.U.S.G]

The Heritage Foundation has been working on this plan since Reagan was President!!! For over 40 years to refine their plan!

[mercywilliams]

My late father was active in Republican politics all of his lifetime. Moderate on most issues.

He became concerned about the direction of things..moving to the extremism on the Right. This was around the late 90’s. And he officially retired from Republican Party affiliation . He had previously been honored in the 90’s in Vermont. Born in Boston and raised in New England and Cincinnati Ohio.

He voted for President Obama in 2008.

Died at the age of 90 in 2011. I am not surprised he was concerned. I sensed it too.

[siouxrose]

The discussion of alleged missing Motherhood should be linked to economics. That's because families could afford a home on one salary back in the 1950s and 1960s. One of the hidden drivers of Feminism was the rising costs of living which necessitated that both parents work in order to afford the American dream of home ownership and children who could afford to attend college.

There has been a decisive attack on the Middle Class. A very educated librarian I met in California explained it this way: that if there is a strong middle class with educated children, it poses threats to that upper class that has ruled for hundreds of years.

Also missing from this conversation is the German Model pivoted on the use of a scapegoat population (in that case it was Jews) to assuage the anger of low -income blue collar workers. In India, the Caste system holds a near parallel role.

These models of oppression follow pre-existing templates. Only the names change.

[deborahunger]

By publishing the document, as well as engaging in political activity, The Heritage Foundation is in violation of the IRS code for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. As a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and BBB Wise Giving Alliance-accredited charity, it is funded by donations from private individuals, corporations, and charitable foundations and is NOT required to disclose its donors and donations under the current laws that guide tax-deductible organizations.

[reddyandre]

This was an amazing (and sickening) conversation. Thank you MOLLY! And wow, I can't believe I've never heard of Dr. Skocpol. She is brilliant, funny, tough, and perfectly articulate. I'm thankful for you work.

[frrimkb]

Thank you. So much. I will be forwarding this to others. I’m going to be honest. I am not from the USA. I am a close neighbour. We have people here who say they love Trump. I know that they have never listened to a speech by him or any of the magas. I am very concerned about your future. And ours. Many of our people tend to follow their southern neighbour’s. I have tried to post on various sites on YouTube and I am invariably shut down if I dare mention history.
Good work. I will be following you in the future. You are well spoken, articulate and educated!

[pamhall]

Well this explains a lot of why there was so little help for single mothers, I was in that boat. The way many men in and out of the workplace treated women was abhorrable.

[joesst]

All I can think is that this policy reminds me of theTwilight Zone episode titled "To Serve Man".



It's a cookbook.

[richardeshelman]

Thank you - I shared this with Americans against project 2025

[brigham]

We are experiencing something with the Right that has been in the works for decades. Not that they knew exactly how it would play out, but they did have a long-range plan, broadly speaking. A little here and a little there, until before you know it, they're a force to be reckoned with. For instance, imagine you have a car and you keep changing a part here and there until the car is really no longer the original car but it was done so subtly that you didn't realize the car was being rebuilt into a new car. On the other hand, the Left wants change but they want it NOW. They just want a new car. When half the country is conservative, such change does not work. It is a reality that many don't like and it lacks long-term strategy. It is a difficult situation. In any event, we are in the midst of the maelstrom and Trump must be defeated. Regarding the D-Day movie references, as somewhat of an historian, I was posting about this more than a year ago. A vote for Trump is a vote that those young men died for nothing (as we are now becoming the enemy we once fought). And, by the way, the German downfall wasn't pretty and ours won't be either if we fall to Trump and the MAGA cult. Ironically, the people voting for Trump think they're patriots. That's really the brilliance behind his movement. He has convinced millions of people to be the opposite of patriots while thinking they're patriots.

[lisagibbs]

Listen, Like and Share. PROJECT 2025. TALK ABOUT IT. LIVES MATTER

[picturedetroit]

I am neither a Republican nor Democrat, but stopped voting 3rd party after Bush Jr. got voted into office.
The only time I've ever voted Republican was when I voted in the primaries to try to keep Trump off the ballot. I feel like if more people had figured that out we would have been successful.

I thought I was pretty well educated/informed on politics, but it seems like I've only started hearing about 2025 in the last month or so. This interview was very enlightening, many thanks, and thank you to my aunt, who texted it to me and asked that I just listen to the first part (I've now listened to the full interview twice).

[steverickenbacher]

I am so thankful that there are still people in this country who are intelligent enough to understand what is truly happening here. Thanks again, Molly, for making this widely available.

[AceInTheHole]

The documentary "Bad Faith" lays out the history of the Christian Nationalist movement. Highly recommend for anyone that hasn't seen it.

[Wizard_]

This is so necessary! Thank you so much for doing this!

[uygprrl]

Keep up the good work, Molly Jong-Fast!

[joannecromley]

Sharing all over No. Michigan! Thank you!

[WingraWonder]

Theda's amazing, thank you for giving her a platform to enlighten us.