Trump Is Just the Puppet—The Murderous Machine Pulls the Strings
Trump isn’t the mastermind—he’s the distraction. Behind him, billionaires, theocrats, and fascist operatives are executing a takeover. Here’s how they’re destroying democracy—and how we fight back.
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A Note Before We Begin…
What you’re about to read is grim. The scale of the right-wing takeover is staggering, and as you move through this article, you might feel a growing sense of despair. That’s intentional—not by me, but by them.
They want you to feel powerless. They want you to believe that resistance is futile, that the machine is too big, and that you don’t matter.
But here’s the truth: they are not invincible.
At the end of this article, you’ll find concrete actions you can take to fight back. Because understanding the problem is only the first step—the real power lies in what we do next.
Donald Trump: The Useful Idiot of American Fascism
Donald Trump is vile, corrupt, and morally bankrupt—a conman, a liar, a cheat, and a monument to narcissistic incompetence. But let’s not give him too much credit. For all his bluster, bravado, and delusions of grandeur, Trump is no master strategist. He’s not orchestrating some grand authoritarian plan—he’s the marionette, flailing and sputtering, while far more intelligent and far more dangerous figures pull the strings.
Trump is a reckless, self-obsessed carnival barker, the gaudy figurehead chosen precisely because he’s too stupid, selfish, and short-sighted to understand the role he plays. The true architects of America’s authoritarian descent are the billionaires, Christian nationalists, and fascist ideologues who’ve spent decades dismantling democratic safeguards. They don’t need a genius—they need a distraction.
Trump’s insatiable craving for attention, his cult-like following, and his complete lack of moral or intellectual depth make him the perfect tool for their ambitions. While he’s out there throwing tantrums, spewing lies, and stroking his fragile ego, the real power players are entrenching permanent minority rule behind the scenes.
Trump thinks he’s the king. In reality, he’s the jester at the court of American fascism, and when he’s served his purpose, they’ll discard him like the trash he is—but the damage will remain.
The Coup Is Happening in Real Time
This isn’t a warning. The coup is already here. The United States is being hollowed out from the inside, its democratic foundations rotting away under the guise of governance. Look at what has unfolded in just Trump’s first month back in office—the slow-motion collapse of American democracy is no longer hypothetical. It’s happening before our eyes.
⭕ Project 2025—the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint for permanent right-wing rule—is being implemented in real-time, turning federal agencies into tools of authoritarian control.
⭕ Federal prosecutors investigating Trump have been fired en masse, ensuring that he will never face legal consequences for his crimes. Accountability is dead.
⭕ A full-scale purge of civil servants is underway, with over 2 million federal employees offered buyouts to resign, replacing experienced professionals with MAGA loyalists. The Pentagon, CIA, and nearly every federal department are now under the thumb of far-right extremists.
⭕ The Supreme Court and federal judiciary are being flooded with far-right judges, ensuring decades of legal protection for authoritarian policies and corporate plunder.
⭕ Federal oversight agencies have been gutted, leaving corporate fraud, political corruption, and human rights abuses to run unchecked. The very thieves who once looted the treasury are now its gatekeepers.
⭕ The U.S. Treasury has been weaponized to create a sovereign wealth fund, allowing the government to seize private assets from corporations and individuals deemed “anti-American.” This isn’t fiscal policy—it’s economic warfare.
⭕ Elon Musk is dismantling regulatory agencies, shredding worker protections, environmental safeguards, and corporate accountability. The billionaire class is now writing the rules.
⭕ Environmental protections are being annihilated. The EPA has been gutted, clean energy policies have been reversed, and fossil fuel expansion is being fast-tracked. The planet is a casualty of their greed.
⭕ A sweeping executive order has suspended federal loans and grants tied to climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, and progressive education. Public funding now serves only the far-right agenda.
⭕ LGBTQ+ rights are under direct assault. Federal recognition of trans identities has been erased, gender-affirming care has been banned, and Title IX protections have been revoked. Queer existence is being legislated out of public life.
⭕ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have been eliminated across federal agencies, dismantling racial equity initiatives and fair hiring practices. The federal government is now a bastion of white male dominance.
⭕ The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has been defunded, stripping workers of basic protections against corporate exploitation. Labor rights have been obliterated.
⭕ USAID, America’s flagship humanitarian agency, has been dismantled, halting critical global aid and triggering humanitarian crises worldwide. America’s moral leadership is dead.
⭕ A new “Election Integrity” task force is nothing but a front for voter suppression ahead of 2026 and 2028. Expect mail-in ballots purged, voter rolls scrubbed, and barriers erected to silence marginalized communities. Democracy is on life support.
⭕ The administration is fast-tracking a crackdown on the press, with legal threats against journalists and expanded state control over public broadcasting. Freedom of the press is being strangled.
For all his supposed “strength,” Trump is a weak, hollow man—a coward desperate for approval, terrified of being challenged, and entirely at the mercy of those who stroke his ego. Every major decision is dictated not by Trump’s bluster, but by the theocrats, oligarchs, and fascist ideologues who have spent decades preparing for this moment.
Trump isn’t the mastermind behind this coup—he’s the distraction. While he rages and rants for the cameras, the real power players are solidifying their grip on every lever of government.
Let’s meet some of the most notorious architects behind this authoritarian takeover.
The Hateful Eight:
The Real Architects of American Fascism
These aren’t just advisors or donors—they are the strategists, financiers, and ideologues orchestrating the right wing’s systematic takeover of America. Billionaires, judges, propagandists, and political hitmen, each of them has their hands deep in the machinery of power, steering the country toward authoritarianism while hiding behind Trump’s bloated, blustering facade.
They don’t need to run for office or win elections. They don’t need to answer to voters or respect democratic norms. Their power is absolute and unchecked, cemented through dark money, rigged courts, and a propaganda machine that keeps the public distracted and divided.
This is how democracy dies—not with a single dramatic coup, but through a slow, deliberate suffocation. These eight figures have engineered a system so rigged, so insulated from accountability, that even if Trump falls, the authoritarian infrastructure will remain.
Democracy won’t just falter—it will be strangled to death, ensuring it can never rise again.
1️⃣ ELON MUSK
The Unelected Oligarch Running Trump's Government
"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself."
— Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1938
Who Is He?
Elon Musk, once a Silicon Valley darling, has evolved into something far more sinister: an unelected power broker operating in the shadows of Trump’s regime. He is no longer just the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX—he is now a de facto government official, wielding unchecked influence over policy, finance, and federal oversight.
How He Owns Trump
Musk isn’t a mere adviser—he’s running his own shadow government. Trump's administration handed him control of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a propagandized name for what is, in reality, a weaponized agency designed to dismantle federal institutions from within. Under the guise of “cutting waste,” Musk is purging civil servants, slashing public programs, and turning the government into a profit machine for billionaires.
Even worse, Musk now has direct access to the Treasury’s federal payment system—a man who has spent years evading regulators, manipulating stock markets, and siphoning public subsidies now wields control over the country’s financial infrastructure. The government’s purse strings are now in the hands of a mercurial billionaire with a god complex.
Musk doesn’t follow rules—he rewrites them to serve himself. And now, under Trump’s blessing, there’s no one left to stop him.
The Wreckage He’s Already Caused
Dismantling USAID: Musk obliterated the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), shutting down humanitarian aid in favor of for-profit “relief” programs. The agency's website has gone dark, staff have been locked out, and global aid programs—totaling over $43 billion—have collapsed overnight.
Kneecapping Federal Watchdogs: The SEC, FTC, and NLRB—agencies that once held billionaires accountable—are now in ruins under Musk’s watch. Regulatory oversight? Gone. Corporate accountability? A relic of the past.
Crushing Workers’ Rights: Musk’s long record of union-busting, labor law violations, and worker abuses at Tesla and SpaceX now extends to the entire federal workforce. He’s actively dismantling labor protections, ensuring corporate overlords never face consequences again.
Corrupting Government Ethics: As a special government employee, Musk skirts conflict-of-interest laws, profiting directly from his government position. He has incentivized mass resignations of federal employees, ensuring that the only people left are those who bow to him.
Why He’s a Threat to Democracy
Let’s be clear: Musk isn’t here to help Trump—he’s using Trump as a blunt instrument to consolidate his own power. This is bigger than one administration. Musk and his billionaire allies are engineering a future where democracy is an illusion, the state is privatized, and elections are performative rituals covering for unchecked corporate rule.
This isn’t governance. It’s a calculated seizure of power, turning public institutions into private tools of authoritarian control.
2️⃣ KEVIN ROBERTS
The Heritage Foundation’s War General
"The most detestable wickedness, the most horrid cruelties, and the greatest miseries that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this thing called revelation, or revealed religion."
— Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason, 1794.
Who Is He?
Kevin Roberts isn’t just the head of the Heritage Foundation—he’s the architect of America’s authoritarian descent. Once a conservative think tank, Heritage under Roberts has morphed into a far-right command center, masterminding Project 2025, a policy manifesto for permanent MAGA domination. This isn’t about governing—it’s about entrenching a theocratic, nationalist regime that will outlive Trump himself.
Roberts even delayed his book release, "Dawn's Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America," to avoid spooking moderates before the election—a calculated move from a man who knows exactly how dangerous his plans are.
How He Pulls Trump’s Strings
Roberts doesn’t advise Trump—he directs him. Heritage doesn’t need to whisper in Trump’s ear; they write the policies, slap his name on them, and ensure they’re executed without question. Project 2025 isn’t some abstract policy paper—it’s the operating manual of Trump’s second term.
Mass firings? Check. Regulatory gutting? Check. Every executive action Trump takes reads like a line-by-line enactment of Roberts’ vision. Even Trump’s flimsy attempts to distance himself from Project 2025 have collapsed under the weight of his own compliance.
The Wreckage Roberts Has Already Inflicted
Purging the Civil Service: Roberts’ plan is to fire over 50,000 federal employees and replace them with MAGA loyalists—political zealots who pledge allegiance not to the Constitution, but to Trump and his cronies. Blacklists are already circulating, targeting civil servants who dared support diversity, equity, or inclusion initiatives.
Christian Nationalist Takeover: Project 2025 ensures that key agencies like Health & Human Services, the Department of Education, and the DOJ become bastions of Christian fundamentalism. Expect the obliteration of reproductive rights, LGBTQ protections, and secular governance as Roberts installs theocratic zealots in the highest echelons of power.
Dismantling the Administrative State: Roberts is gutting agencies like the EPA, FTC, and DOJ Civil Rights Division, giving corporations, police forces, and religious extremists free reign. His goal? To destroy the regulatory framework that protects ordinary Americans, leaving us at the mercy of unchecked corporate greed and authoritarian rule.
The Existential Threat He Poses
Roberts isn’t just steering Trump’s presidency—he’s engineering America’s slide into dictatorship. If Project 2025 is fully realized, voter suppression, gerrymandering, and political purges will become permanent fixtures, locking in a white nationalist, Christian fundamentalist regime immune to elections and insulated from public accountability.
At a recent book event, Roberts told a reporter to “go to hell,” a fitting snapshot of his authoritarian disdain for media scrutiny and democratic norms. But his actions speak louder than his words: Project 2025 calls for the consolidation of executive power, dismantling checks and balances to cement permanent one-party rule.
Kevin Roberts isn’t just playing with fire—he’s burning down democracy, brick by brick, policy by policy. And he’s doing it with surgical precision while the nation watches, paralyzed.
3️⃣ LEONARD LEO
The Judiciary’s Shadow Emperor
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
— Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, 1963.
Who Is He?
Leonard Leo isn’t just a legal strategist—he’s the puppet master behind America’s judicial coup. As the co-chair of the Federalist Society, Leo has spent decades rigging the courts to serve the rich, the powerful, and the theocratic. But Leo’s ambitions don’t stop at the judiciary. He’s now waging an all-out war on American culture, determined to “crush liberal dominance” in entertainment, media, business, and finance. His mission? To turn every institution into a right-wing echo chamber, smothering dissent and cementing conservative control over every facet of American life.
How He Owns Trump
Trump wasn’t picking judges—Leonard Leo was. Every Supreme Court justice Trump “nominated” was handpicked by Leo, a man who’s never faced a single voter yet wields more power than most elected officials. Over 200 lower court judges now march to Leo’s drumbeat, systematically rolling back civil rights, bolstering corporate greed, and fortifying religious extremism.
But Leo’s reach extends beyond the bench. Through shadowy organizations like the Marble Freedom Trust, he’s funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into propping up Trump’s policies and bankrolling far-right causes. Trump is just the face; Leo is the architect of the authoritarian machine.
The Wreckage Leo Has Already Inflicted
Overturning Roe v. Wade: Leo’s handpicked justices obliterated 50 years of reproductive rights, sending women back to an era where their bodies are controlled by the state. This wasn’t just a legal decision—it was a declaration of war on women’s autonomy.
Gutting Voting Rights: In Shelby County v. Holder, Leo’s judicial foot soldiers dismantled key protections of the Voting Rights Act, unleashing a wave of voter suppression targeting Black and Latino communities. This was a calculated move to rig elections in favor of permanent Republican dominance.
Legalizing Corruption: Leo doesn’t just manipulate the law—he owns the judges. He arranged luxury vacations, gifts, and financial kickbacks for Supreme Court justices like Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, corrupting the highest court in the land while gutting judicial ethics. His judges consistently rule to shield billionaires, crush workers, and bulldoze environmental protections.
And it gets dirtier. Reports reveal Leo’s direct involvement in funneling money to Ginni Thomas, the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas. This raises red flags of corruption and conflict of interest that would trigger investigations in any functioning democracy.
The Existential Threat He Poses
Leonard Leo’s game is simple: hijack the courts to choke democracy. Even if Trump is thrown out tomorrow, Leo’s judicial henchmen will be gutting rights and entrenching authoritarian rule for decades.
But Leo’s not stopping at the courts. Through networks like the Marble Freedom Trust, he’s pouring obscene amounts of dark money into reshaping American culture, from media to finance. His goal is nothing short of a cultural purge, replacing democratic ideals with corporate feudalism and Christian nationalism.
Leonard Leo doesn’t wear a robe, hold office, or give speeches. He doesn’t need to. His fingerprints are all over every regressive ruling, every corrupted judge, every dismantled right. He’s the man behind the curtain, pulling the strings while America’s democracy bleeds out on the floor of his courtroom.
4️⃣ STEPHEN MILLER
The Architect of Cruelty
“The greatest evils in the world will not be carried out by men with guns, but by men in suits sitting behind desks.”
— C.S. Lewis, 1958.
Who Is He?
Stephen Miller isn’t just a policy advisor—he’s the beating heart of America’s descent into fascism. As Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, Miller has spent his career weaponizing government power to enforce a white nationalist, authoritarian vision of the United States. His obsession with racial, religious, and ideological purity has turned immigration policy into a tool of state-sponsored terror.
Now, with near-total control over immigration and civil rights policy, Miller is orchestrating a campaign of mass deportations, setting ICE arrest quotas, and dismantling protections for vulnerable communities. But it doesn’t stop there—he’s also behind the escalation of oil production, the dismantling of diversity initiatives, and the creation of executive orders designed to roll back basic human rights. Miller’s vision isn’t just about exclusion—it’s about erasure.
How He Commands Trump
Miller isn’t whispering in Trump’s ear—he’s writing the script. From immigration crackdowns to civil rights rollbacks, Miller’s fingerprints are on every act of state-sponsored cruelty this administration unleashes. ICE, DHS, DOJ—they’ve all become instruments of repression under his guidance, designed to punish, purge, and silence anyone who doesn’t fit his vision of a white, straight, Christian America.
His latest moves? Cutting federal funding to sanctuary cities, pressuring House Republicans to withhold resources from states that protect immigrants, and ensuring that federal agencies are weaponized against marginalized communities. Miller isn’t just influencing policy—he’s turning the federal government into an engine of oppression.
The Atrocities He’s Already Committed
Reinstating Trump’s Transgender Military Ban: Miller’s obsession with erasing LGBTQ+ visibility led to the banning of transgender Americans from military service, part of a broader campaign to drive queer people out of public life.
Erasing LGBTQ+ Resources from Federal Websites: Under Miller’s directive, protections, guidance, and crisis resources for LGBTQ+ individuals were scrubbed from every federal platform—an Orwellian move designed to erase queer existence from public consciousness.
Banning Federal Support for Gender-Affirming Care: Miller pushed for stripping healthcare funding for trans youth, blocking Medicaid support, and punishing doctors who provide life-saving care. This isn’t policy—it’s state-sanctioned cruelty.
Expanding Family Separation at the Border: Miller didn’t just bring back the child separation policy—he scaled it up, planning to detain entire families indefinitely. This is systematic child abuse, carried out in the name of “law and order.”
The Existential Threat He Poses
Miller isn’t just an ideologue—he’s a genocidal tactician. His policies are calculated acts of harm, designed to normalize persecution and create legal frameworks for state-driven oppression. If left unchecked, Miller will build an America where immigration is criminalized, queerness is outlawed, and dissent is crushed under the weight of authoritarian power.
Stephen Miller isn’t just a threat—he’s the face of American fascism. And he’s turning the United States into a testing ground for policies that would make history’s darkest regimes proud.
5️⃣ REBEKAH MERCER
The Billionaire Who Funds the Narrative
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
— Voltaire, Questions sur les Miracles, 1765.
Who Is She?
Rebekah Mercer isn’t just a right-wing heiress—she’s the oligarch pulling the strings of America’s descent into authoritarianism. The Mercer fortune, soaked in far-right ideology, is fueling fascist propaganda, election sabotage, and AI-driven disinformation campaigns designed to choke democracy to death.
Mercer has bankrolled Breitbart, Cambridge Analytica, Project Veritas, Parler, and an ever-expanding network of extremist organizations dedicated to spreading lies, suppressing voters, and dismantling democratic institutions. But she’s not just polluting the media—she’s embedding herself in the machinery of government. As a key financier of Project 2025, Mercer is orchestrating a hostile takeover of federal agencies, rigging the system to ensure permanent conservative rule long after Trump has left office.
How She Owns Trump
Mercer doesn’t need to twist Trump’s arm—she funds the entire MAGA disinformation machine that keeps him in power. From right-wing media outlets to AI-powered propaganda factories, Mercer ensures that Trump’s base is locked in an alternate reality, fed a steady diet of fabricated scandals, conspiracy theories, and voter suppression tactics.
Her role as a trustee of the Heritage Foundation—the mastermind behind Project 2025—gives her the power to embed right-wing operatives inside federal agencies, turning the government into a puppet regime for far-right interests. Trump may be the face, but Mercer is the bankroll behind the authoritarian apparatus.
The Carnage She’s Already Unleashed
Cambridge Analytica & Voter Manipulation: Mercer didn’t just fund Cambridge Analytica—she weaponized it. The firm stole data from millions of Facebook users, creating psychological profiles to manipulate voters and hijack the 2016 election. This wasn’t political strategy—it was psychological warfare on the American electorate.
Bankrolling Project 2025 & Election Sabotage: Mercer isn’t content with spreading lies—she’s funding policies designed to make stolen elections permanent. From voter suppression laws to mass firings of civil servants, Mercer’s money is building the legal framework for authoritarian rule.
AI-Powered Disinformation Networks: Mercer’s investments in artificial intelligence are the cutting edge of election manipulation. Millions of fake accounts, deepfake videos of opposition candidates, and fabricated crises flood the internet, swaying public opinion with lies generated at scale.
Ties to White Nationalist & Extremist Groups: Mercer’s money fuels hate. She has quietly funded organizations pushing anti-immigrant laws, anti-LGBTQ policies, and white nationalist ideologies, helping to mainstream extremism in American politics.
Funding Right-Wing Militias & Political Violence: Mercer’s millions have flowed into groups tied to the January 6 insurrection, funding organizations that harass election workers, intimidate voters, and push for armed resistance against democratic governance. She’s not just sponsoring disinformation—she’s bankrolling political violence.
The Existential Threat She Poses
Rebekah Mercer’s billions don’t just buy influence—they undermine reality itself. If her efforts go unchecked, elections won’t be decided by voters, but by AI-generated lies, deepfake candidates, and a digital army of bots and propaganda.
Her continued involvement in platforms like Parler—a breeding ground for conspiracy theorists and insurrectionists—and her role in Project 2025 underscore her unrelenting drive to reshape America into a playground for authoritarian oligarchs. Democracy isn’t just under threat—it’s on life support, and Mercer is pulling the plug.
6️⃣ CHARLES KOCH
The Libertarian Warlord
“The rich will strive to establish their dominion and enslave the rest. They always did. They always will.”
— Abraham Lincoln, 1837.
Who Is He?
Charles Koch isn’t just a billionaire industrialist—he’s the shadow emperor of America, pulling the strings of government while hiding behind a smokescreen of “free market” propaganda. For decades, Koch has waged a silent war on democracy, using his vast dark money empire to rig the system in favor of corporate overlords while gutting the rights and protections of everyday Americans.
His fingerprints are everywhere—from voter suppression laws designed to silence poor and minority communities, to environmental devastation that prioritizes fossil fuel profits over human survival. Labor protections? Shredded. Social safety nets? Dismantled. All so that Koch and his billionaire cronies can hoard unimaginable wealth while the rest of the country is left to rot.
Recently, Koch’s political hit squad, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), launched a $20 million campaign to support Trump’s plan to extend tax cuts and strip federal regulations, further cementing corporate dominance over every aspect of American life.
How He Owns Trump
Koch doesn’t need to sit in the Oval Office—he owns the blueprint Trump follows. His billions fund an army of think tanks, super PACs, and legal groups that churn out ultra-libertarian, pro-corporate policies and hand them directly to Trump’s administration.
Though Koch once postured as being above Trump’s circus, the money never lied. The Koch network has aligned itself with Trump to push through deregulation, tax cuts, and policies that bulldoze worker protections in favor of corporate greed.
Koch doesn’t just influence policy—he writes the rules. And Trump? He’s just the loudmouth puppet paving the way for Koch’s dystopian vision of America.
The Carnage Koch Has Already Inflicted
Deregulating Industries & Wrecking the Environment: Koch’s network has stripped environmental protections to the bone, giving fossil fuel companies free rein to pollute, exploit, and destroy with zero accountability. Climate catastrophe isn’t an accident—it’s part of Koch’s profit model.
Crushing Labor Unions & Worker Protections: Koch’s war on unions has decimated workers’ rights, ensuring that corporate profits skyrocket while wages stagnate and workers are left defenseless. The American Dream? Koch turned it into a corporate nightmare.
Defunding Social Safety Nets & Privatizing Public Institutions: Koch’s influence has gutted public education, healthcare, and welfare programs, replacing them with profit-driven, privatized systems that serve the rich and punish the poor.
Funding Voter Suppression & Election Rigging: Koch’s billions bankroll efforts to suppress minority votes, gerrymander districts, and rig elections before a single ballot is cast. For Koch, democracy isn’t a right—it’s an obstacle to be eliminated.
The Existential Threat He Poses
Koch’s endgame is clear: a corporate-controlled America where billionaires write the laws, workers are disposable, and elections are rigged from the start. If Koch’s network succeeds, democracy will be nothing more than window dressing for a plutocratic dictatorship, where power belongs to the highest bidder and the rest of us exist solely to serve their profits.
The recent collaboration between Koch’s AFP and Trump’s administration isn’t just a political alliance—it’s a hostile takeover of American governance. Koch isn’t fighting for freedom—he’s buying the country, one rigged election at a time.
7️⃣ RUSSELL VOUGHT
The Budgetary Executioner
“When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in society, over the course of time they create a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.”
— Frédéric Bastiat, The Law, 1850.
Who Is He?
Russell Vought isn’t just Trump’s former budget director—he’s the butcher sharpening the knives for the slaughter of America’s public institutions. Now confimed to return as Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director, Vought is leading the economic arm of Project 2025, a blueprint designed to cripple the federal government from the inside out. This isn’t fiscal conservatism—it’s a deliberate economic assassination of the social safety nets that millions rely on.
Vought’s mission is already underway: dismantling federal programs, slashing social services, and turning public welfare into corporate handouts. During Trump’s first term, Vought orchestrated devastating cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and public education, and now he’s back to ensure these programs are not just weakened, but obliterated.
His goal? Permanent austerity. A radical, scorched-earth approach to government spending that leaves public institutions in ruins while lining the pockets of the ultra-wealthy. Once Vought’s work is done, there’ll be nothing left to rebuild.
How He Owns Trump
Vought isn’t just another Trump lackey—he’s the architect behind making government ungovernable. His strategy is simple: starve, defund, and dismantle.
Starving Public Programs: Vought has slashed funding for Medicaid, SNAP, and public education, leaving millions without healthcare, food assistance, or access to quality schools.
Weaponizing the Budget: He uses the federal budget like a bludgeon, defunding regulatory agencies and eliminating social justice initiatives, ensuring there’s no oversight, no accountability, and no protections for vulnerable communities.
Redirecting Wealth to the Rich: Vought’s budgets shift federal dollars away from public welfare and funnel them into tax cuts for billionaires, turning the government into a piggy bank for the ultra-wealthy.
Now, in collaboration with Elon Musk, Vought is freezing federal grants and loans, throwing government programs into chaos and disarray. This isn’t incompetence—it’s intentional sabotage.
The Carnage Vought Has Already Inflicted
Eliminated DEI Funding: Vought led the charge in defunding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, erasing decades of progress toward a more equitable government.
Slashed Social Safety Nets: Under Vought’s direction, Medicaid, food stamps, and housing assistance were gutted, leaving millions of Americans struggling to survive.
Privatized Public Institutions: Vought redirected public education funds into private and religious schools, turning education into a for-profit venture that excludes the most vulnerable.
His most recent atrocity? Ordering an OMB memo to freeze federal grant funding, sabotaging programs like Head Start, which provides early childhood education for low-income families. Vought’s message is clear: if you’re not rich, you don’t matter.
The Existential Threat He Poses
Vought’s economic agenda isn’t just about shrinking government—it’s about crippling it beyond repair. If he succeeds, government programs won’t just be defunded—they’ll be dismantled, destroyed, and buried so deep no future administration could revive them.
Working alongside Elon Musk under the DOGE, Vought plans to slash the federal workforce, forcing over 2 million federal employees to choose between financial incentives to quit or surviving in a gutted bureaucracy. This is more than budget cuts—it’s an economic coup designed to erase the federal government as we know it.
Russell Vought isn’t managing America’s budget—he’s gutting its soul. And if he’s allowed to finish what he started, there won’t be anything left to save.
8️⃣ STEVE BANNON
The Propaganda Warlord
“The propagandist’s purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human.”
— Aldous Huxley, The Olive Tree, 1936.
Who Is He?
Steve Bannon isn’t just a disgraced former Trump strategist—he’s the high priest of MAGA extremism, the man who turned disinformation into a political weapon and chaos into a governing strategy. As a far-right nationalist and self-proclaimed revolutionary, Bannon has spent years refining the art of political warfare, using lies, violence, and fear to dismantle democracy from within.
Fresh off a prison sentence for contempt of Congress, Bannon is back at the center of Trump’s movement—unofficial, but more dangerous than ever. From his War Room platform, he’s mobilizing the MAGA base, pushing for political retribution, and laying the groundwork for a full-blown nationalist takeover of the U.S. government. Bannon isn’t just whispering in Trump’s ear—he’s scripting the next chapter of America’s authoritarian descent.
How He Owns Trump
Bannon doesn’t just influence Trump—he defines his message. He’s the architect of MAGA’s disinformation machine, using propaganda, conspiracy theories, and fear-mongering to radicalize the base and keep Trump’s cult of personality alive.
Right-Wing Media Propaganda: Bannon floods outlets like Breitbart with white nationalist propaganda, turning fringe conspiracy theories into mainstream Republican talking points.
Mobilizing Extremist Movements: He rallies MAGA activists to harass election officials, spread voter fraud lies, and fuel anti-government violence.
Foreign Collusion & Anti-Democracy Messaging: Bannon coordinates with foreign actors to amplify pro-Russia, anti-NATO, and anti-democracy narratives, turning America’s enemies into Trump’s silent allies.
Bannon isn’t just feeding Trump’s ego—he’s weaponizing his presidency to destroy the foundations of American democracy.
The Carnage Bannon Has Already Inflicted
Fueled the January 6 Insurrection: Bannon was a chief architect of the “Stop the Steal” disinformation campaign, inciting the deadly Capitol riot and laying the groundwork for political violence as a tool of MAGA governance.
Mainstreamed White Nationalism: Through Breitbart and his other media ventures, Bannon gave platforms to neo-Nazis, conspiracy theorists, and domestic terrorists, normalizing hate and dragging extremist ideologies into the political mainstream.
Destroyed Trust in Elections: Bannon weaponized disinformation to convince millions that democracy is a sham, creating a permanent class of voters who believe violence and authoritarianism are the only answers.
Bannon’s legacy is a fractured, radicalized America, teetering on the edge of civil unrest and authoritarian collapse.
The Existential Threat He Poses
Bannon doesn’t want to “fix” America—he wants to burn it down. His goal is nothing less than the destruction of the U.S. government as we know it. He calls it “deconstructing the administrative state,” but let’s be clear: it’s a roadmap to fascism.
If Bannon succeeds, democracy will be replaced by permanent authoritarian rule, backed by white nationalist extremism and enforced through disinformation and violence. His recent efforts to purge rivals within Trump’s circle and consolidate his grip on the MAGA movement are warning signs of the political purge to come.
Steve Bannon isn’t just a threat—he’s the blueprint for America’s authoritarian future. And he’s turning Trump’s presidency into the launchpad for his dystopian revolution.
The Real Threat: The Machine, Not Just the Man
Focusing solely on Trump is a fatal mistake. He is a symptom, not the disease.
This isn’t just one man’s authoritarianism—it’s a fully industrialized machine of control. Billionaires, media moguls, theocrats, and political operatives have spent decades dismantling democracy, brick by brick, ensuring that no leader is indispensable.
If Trump vanished tomorrow, the system wouldn’t just survive—it would thrive without him.
⭕ The judiciary is stacked with far-right ideologues who will cement authoritarian rule for generations.
⭕ The laws are being rewritten to rig elections, criminalize dissent, and silence marginalized communities.
⭕ Federal agencies are being gutted, leaving corporate greed, white nationalism, and political corruption to run unchecked.
⭕ Every lever of power—from the courts to the Treasury—is being recalibrated for permanent right-wing dominance.
If We Don’t Dismantle the Machine, It Won’t Matter Who the Next Trump Is.
The right never stopped. They never stopped plotting, never stopped radicalizing, and never stopped preparing. Now they are back—more ruthless, more entrenched, and closer than ever to permanent power.
And here’s the truth: if we fail to destroy this machine at the motherboard, they won’t need Trump anymore. The next puppet will be more ruthless, more disciplined, and far more dangerous.
By then, it will be irreversible.
Hope Is a Weapon—Use It
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
— Margaret Mead, 1978
The far right is powerful, but it is not all-powerful. It is not invincible. And it sure as hell is not unbeatable.
They want you to feel hopeless—because hopeless people don’t fight back. They want you to believe resistance is futile, that their victory is inevitable. But it’s not. And history has proven it time and time again.
Even the most entrenched systems of oppression, the most brutal regimes, the most deep-rooted injustices—they’ve all fallen. Why? Because people rose up and made them fall.
🔵 The Abolition of Slavery (1865): After 246 years of human bondage, abolitionists, enslaved people, and a bloody Civil War forced the end of slavery with the 13th Amendment. What was once “normal” was obliterated.
🔵 The Defeat of Jim Crow (1954-1965): The Civil Rights Movement—armed with protests, boycotts, and legal battles—crushed segregation and secured voting rights against an entire system designed to keep them down.
🔵 Women’s Suffrage (1920): Decades of activism, protests, and hunger strikes led to the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. They were told to stay silent, but they screamed louder.
🔵 The Fall of McCarthyism (1950s): Public pressure and investigative journalism exposed McCarthy’s lies, bringing an end to the Red Scare witch hunts. Fear lost its grip because people refused to be cowed.
🔵 The Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage (2015): LGBTQ+ activists fought tooth and nail for decades. Legal battles and cultural shifts forced the Supreme Court to strike down marriage bans. Love won because people refused to hide.
🔵 The Standing Rock Resistance (2016-2017): Indigenous activists and allies stood their ground, delaying an oil pipeline and bringing global attention to environmental justice. They faced corporate might—and still stood tall.
🔵 The Overturning of Trump’s Muslim Ban (2017-2018): Mass protests, lawsuits, and public outrage forced the courts to strike down parts of Trump’s travel ban. When they targeted one group, millions showed up.
Every single one of these victories once seemed impossible—until people stood up and made them real.
They don’t fear Trump. They don’t fear the billionaires. They fear YOU. They fear an organized, mobilized, and relentless people who refuse to back down.
Be that.
Defending Democracy Isn’t Optional—It’s Your Responsibility
“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”
— Thomas Jefferson, 1800s
The fight for democracy doesn’t belong just to politicians or activists. It belongs to all of us. Democracy isn’t self-sustaining, and right now, it’s under full-scale assault. The far-right machine is relentless, ruthless, and closer than ever to permanent power.
But they’re not invincible.
The fight starts now—with tangible actions that hit them where it hurts. You are the resistance.
1. Expose the Lies—Break the Propaganda Machine
The right’s most powerful weapon isn’t Trump—it’s the disinformation engine that keeps people confused, divided, and too exhausted to resist.
They thrive on lies. Rip the mask off.
🔵 FIGHT MISINFORMATION DIRECTLY
Verify the facts: Use the Media Bias Chart to find credible sources.
Report disinformation: The Disinfo Defense League fights disinfo across major platforms.
Stay informed: Follow Snopes, FactCheck.org, and Media Matters for America.
🔵 SUPPORT INDEPENDENT, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
Subscribe to journalists exposing authoritarian corruption: ProPublica, Mother Jones, The Guardian, and yes, Open Letters by Mersault (because we’re in this fight too).
🔵 TALK TO PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE
Don’t leave friends and family in the dark. Guide for Talking to Trump Supporters can help you cut through conspiracy thinking and bring people back to reality.
The machine thrives on unchecked lies. Your voice can be the disruption.
2. Fight Where It Hurts—Local & State Power
The right didn’t seize America overnight. They spent decades infiltrating school boards, city councils, and state legislatures—because they knew that’s where real power lies.
They play the long game. Play it better.
🔵 GET INVOLVED IN LOCAL ELECTIONS
Support progressive candidates in your state: Run for Something backs young, diverse progressives running for office.
Vote.org: Check your voter registration—every vote counts.
Ballot Ready: Know who’s on your ballot before you vote.
🔵 HOLD LOCAL OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE
Call your city council, school board, or state reps using Common Cause.
Show up at local meetings. Make your voice impossible to ignore.
They win local battles because too many people ignore them. Flip the script.
3. Disrupt Their Power—Attack Their Funding & Influence
The far-right isn’t just a political movement—it’s an industry. Funded by billionaires, sustained by corporate donations, and legitimized by media control. Cut off the money, and the machine starts to crumble.
🔵 DEFUND RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS
Find out which companies fund far-right politics: Open Secrets exposes advertisers on hate speech platforms.
Grab Your Wallet lists brands funding right-wing causes. Boycott them into submission.
🔵 PRESSURE COMPANIES TO STOP FUNDING FASCISM
Color of Change leads corporate accountability campaigns.
SumOfUs fights billionaire-driven corruption.
🔵 DISRUPT RIGHT-WING MEDIA INFLUENCE
Boycott Fox News advertisers: Use the Fox News Ad Boycott List.
Protest media bias: Media Justice fights against disinformation propaganda.
The machine runs on profit. Make extremism unprofitable.
4. Expand the Resistance—Build Coalitions, Not Purity Tests
The right thrives on division. They know that if progressives, moderates, and disillusioned conservatives stay divided, they can rule indefinitely.
They weaponize division. We weaponize unity.
🔵 JOIN NATIONAL & GRASSROOTS MOVEMENTS
Indivisible: Local progressive activism with a national impact.
People’s Action: Economic & racial justice organizing.
MoveOn: Progressive policy & grassroots action at every level.
🔵 FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS
Support organizations protecting the vote: Fair Fight, founded by Stacey Abrams, is leading the charge against voter suppression.
Brennan Center for Justice: Research & advocacy for free, fair elections.
Divide and conquer is their strategy. Solidarity and resistance are ours.
5. Never, Ever Accept Authoritarianism as the New Normal
The far-right wins when people give up. They bank on fatigue. But history shows us: autocracies fall when people refuse to comply.
They want you tired, silent, and defeated. Prove them wrong.
🔵 TAKE DIRECT ACTION & RESIST
DemCast: Digital activism & grassroots organizing.
ShutDownDC: Direct action against corporate-backed fascism.
Sunrise Movement: Youth-led resistance to political corruption.
🔵 PREPARE FOR MASS RESISTANCE IF NEEDED
Beautiful Trouble: Tactical training for activists.
Extinction Rebellion Handbook: Protest planning & strategy for when civil disobedience is the only option.
National Lawyers Guild: Provides legal support and defense resources for activists and protesters engaging in civil disobedience.
The Only Way They Win Is If We Stop
Authoritarianism isn’t an unstoppable force—it’s a bully that thrives on fear, division, and complacency.
You’re not just a bystander in this fight. You are the frontline. Every action matters. Every voice matters. Every refusal to submit matters.
The machine wins when people give up.
Keep fighting. Keep showing up. Keep making noise.
“Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
— Dylan Thomas, 1951
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Another amazing article that perfectly exposes the intentions, tactics, and active operations of the billionaire Christofascists who are rapidly dismantling and destroying American democracy from within. Every average American needs to understand that this is happening NOW, and in order to stop it we ALL need to take action.
What they've already managed to accomplish in just 2 short weeks is shocking. Traditional methods of defending against these attacks will be mostly useless because these traitors do not care about our laws, our Constitution, or any semblance of moral human decency. The courts move far too slowly and have been so deeply entrenched with their corrupted allies that they stand almost zero chance of stopping this takeover.
Likewise, they've now taken full control of federal law enforcement and every national security institution. They've already begun issuing threats and installing loyalist spies in hopes of quickly locating and neutralizing any leaks and/or internal revolt. That said, they have not yet succeeded in purging every devoted, honorable, law abiding and Constitution respecting civil servant currently in govt, but they're desperately trying to.
Worse yet, the Republicans who have control of the House and Senate have fully abdicated their duties entirely. Even the tiny few who recognize the threat and silently oppose it, have been bullied and threatened into submission. They know that if they attempt to oppose this takeover, the radicalized and indoctrinated MAGA army will be unleashed against them.
The author has done an amazing job, as always, of laying out a number of actions we can, and absolutely should be taking NOW. I fully agree that one of the top actions that everyone should try to do is sharing this information far and wide, even with those who've been manipulated by the endless MAGA propaganda and lies. We will need every last American possible to join together to stop this coup...
I've been saying for a long time the tRump is not smart enough to cause all of these problems. His narcissism makes him the perfect puppet for these villains to execute their plan. I just can't believe that smart educated people fall for this crap. The fact that this is actually happening is mind boggling. Democrats have been far to complacent and worried about following proper etiquette to stop this onslaught. It is time to fight back and fight like hell. If we want to have a future, a democracy, in this country we all need to unite. It's also time to call on our allies abroad, for decades we have come to their aid, now it's time they take action and come to our aid.