Christian Nationalists are already preparing for their roles in a second Trump administration. It is ironic that the religious zealots cluster around one of the most non religious figures in American life. I recall an anecdote from the book by Trump’s “fixer”Michael Cohen, when a group of evangelical Christians meets with Trump and lay their hands on him, all together. When the earnest group leaves, Trump laughs with Cohen. They both know that he’s a master con man, and he conned them.
Politico writes:
An influential think tank close to Donald Trump is developing plans to infuse Christian nationalist ideas in his administration should the former president return to power, according to documents obtained by POLITICO.
Spearheading the effort is Russell Vought, who served as Trump’s director of the Office of Management and Budget during his first term and has remained close to him. Vought, who is frequently cited as a potential chief of staff in a second Trump White House, is president of The Center for Renewing America think tank, a leading group in a conservative consortium preparing for a second Trump term.
Christian nationalists in America believe that the country was founded as a Christian nation and that Christian values should be prioritized throughout government and public life. As the country has become less religious and more diverse, Vought has embraced the idea that Christians are under assault and has spoken of policies he might pursue in response.
One document drafted by CRA staff and fellows includes a list of top priorities for CRA in a second Trump term. “Christian nationalism” is one of the bullet points. Others include invoking the Insurrection Act on Day One to quash protests and refusing to spend authorized congressional funds on unwanted projects, a practice banned by lawmakers in the Nixon era.
CRA’s work fits into a broader effort by conservative, MAGA-leaning organizations to influence a future Trump White House. Two people familiar with the plans, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal matters, said that Vought hopes his proximity and regular contact with the former president — he and Trump speak at least once a month, according to one of the people — will elevate Christian nationalism as a focal point in a second Trump term.
The documents obtained by POLITICO do not outline specific Christian nationalist policies. But Vought has promoted a restrictionist immigration agenda, saying a person’s background doesn’t define who can enter the U.S., but rather, citing Biblical teachings, whether that person “accept[ed] Israel’s God, laws and understanding of history.”
Vought has a close affiliation with Christian nationalist William Wolfe, a former Trump administration official who has advocated for overturning same-sex marriage, ending abortion and reducing access to contraceptives.
Vought, who declined to comment, is advising Project 2025, a governing agenda that would usher in one of the most conservative executive branches in modern American history. The effort is made up of a constellation of conservative groups run by Trump allies who’ve constructed a detailed plan to dismantle or overhaul key agencies in a second term. Among other principles, the project’s “Mandate for Leadership” states that “freedom is defined by God, not man.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Fertilized Frozen Embryo Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker. Suggested on a radio show that America was founded explicitly as a Christian nation. He discussed his embrace of the Seven Mountains Mandate. The belief that conservative Christians are meant to RULE over 7 key areas of American life, including media, business, education and government.
“God created government and the fact that we have let it go into the possession of others. It’s heartbreaking. That’s why God is calling and equipping people to step back into these mountains right now.”
Rooted in an Anti-Democracy Bible.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alabama-justice-embryos-biblical-seven-mountains-rcna139969
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I think we should stop using words like Christian, Theocracy, or even Religion to describe a gang of fascist sociopaths. This has nothing to do with religion —
Every gang of fascists we’ve ever seen has been driven by delusions of their own divinity, always taken the name of all that’s holy in vain, always tried to sell the world on their idiotic fantasies of absolute power.
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Jon
I agree with the principle underlying your position. However, to the extent that labeling aids in identifying where the sources of power are so that they can be exposed and with luck, diminished, has value.
As example, Catholic, Republican Gov. Voinovich in Ohio wanted school choice so that he could get money for Catholic schools. He told bishops to remain silent because he thought if Ohioans knew voucher money was for Catholic schools, they would oppose it., “Whose choice? How school choice began in Ohio,” Akron Beacon Journal, Dec. 14, 1999.
As another example, the religionists’ politicking, if not scrutinized, means even more egregious the flagrant violation of tax rules that exempt Churches from taxes.
And, thirdly, the extreme heat that Senators face when asking candidates like Amy Comey Barrett about her judicial independence from her religious sect, needs to end. They are legitimate questions.
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So you admit that the real power in Ohio lies with the Evangelicals and 53% who are protestant not the 18% who are catholic. Minus progressive/normal members in each group.
In your words
“He told bishops to remain silent because he thought if Ohioans knew voucher money was for Catholic schools, they would oppose it.”
But of course those Protestants did not want money for Vouchers. Because the Guberment is not out to get Christians. Polluting the minds of their children in Guberment Schools . They just did not want catholic schools to get it. And the Catholic Governor was not reaching out for that Fundamentalist vote only the Catholic vote.
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Joel,
Uhhh…Ohio has ever expanding vouchers. Can’t refute who the winners are. Almost all of the money goes to Catholic schools.
Lucky for you, the government model you have in NJ must have a whole lot more legislative wins for everyday citizens.
Almost all of the Ohio state elected officials from Gov. Dewine on down, including the Supreme Court justices, are GOP Catholic. Republicans drew the gerrymandered districts and the party is controlled by the insiders.
The majority vote of Americans (representative democracy at the national level) were able to get laws protecting reproductive rights and they had established “settled law” precedent and, the majority still want liberty. Never the less, Roe v Wade was overturned. How do the percentages like the ones you listed work in that situation?
Btw- Santa Clara University posted, “Reproductive technology and the Vatican,” Vatican instruction (March, 1987) against IVF,…, “was aimed not just at influencing Roman Catholics but was also intended to influence legislation worldwide on biomedical issues.”
If liberal Catholics, through well-funded and coordinated efforts have had successes in thwarting the right wing American Catholic Church’s objectives, many achieved through the lobbyists of the Catholic Conferences, kudos to them.
I’m thankful for Biden. His policies oppose Catholic doctrine/interests, e.g., reproductive liberty, support for public schools, anti-Koch economics, separation of church and state and, the definition of the common good as collective citizenry-owned parks, museums, libraries, hospitals.
I didn’t see liberal Catholic groups raising equivalent money to what the Church spent in Ohio to destroy democracy in August. Glad to know their liberal operations exist in states like N.J.
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I was going to quote the phrase :
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
I have often heard the phrase attributed to Sinclair Lewis, but I checked on Snopes and learned that he might have written it, but no one has ever found the source in his works. He did write a prophetic book about fascism titled “It Can’t Hapen Here,” but it doesn’t contain the phrase.
“https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sinclair-lewis-on-fascism/
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Linda, Diane,
No doubt fascists enter other places, other times dressed in the local colors and national costume — that Nazis called their movement Christian did not make it so.
Nothing good comes from validating the fascists’ self-description as anything but what they really are. That only goes to confuse ourselves, not to mention confusing others when we try to say where the danger lies. Of course that’s exactly what false advertising is for.
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Jon,
The point of the quote is that fascists adopt the language (though not the meaning) of religion and cast themselves as patriots, wrapped in the flag, when their real intent is to destroy democracy and its institutions, such as the validity of elections and the fairness of the judiciary.
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It’s a familiar quote, whoever said it. I’m just saying there’s absolutely nothing new about the tactic, and we only fall into their trap if we let them highjack the name of anything holy or deserving of honor, whatever that may be this time around.
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Jon
I am thinking about your comment in the context of the JD Vance Hallow app, religious branding that could be turned to fascist messaging. How is it best fought?
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Christian “values,” as framing, hides a two-pronged agenda. The first part is establishment of one religion and, the second, is a coupling with authoritarian governance across the board. The goal is achieved by unfettered capitalism (a right wing religious doctrine) which concentrates wealth. A supporting strategy is to turn back the clock on the rights of women, Blacks, labor and, to take power from all in the 90%, including men.
The interview of Ryan Girdusky (founder of the 1776 PAC) with Pat Buchanan (available online) explains in easy-to-read terms, the timing of the convergence of right wing Catholics and protestants to shape and achieve Republican goals. The first milestone was the confirmation of Scalia to SCOTUS followed by confirmation of a right wing Catholic majority on SCOTUS.
The preceding paragraph conveys the ambition as stated in their own words. Unlike that paragraph, the following is not fact, it is my speculation about the plan for the nation which is largely that of Charles Koch and a select few like him. GOP Sen. JD Vance is Koch’s plan for national leadership. It may be as Trump’s VP in 2024 or a later run for President or VP. JD Vance promotes the idea that Russia is not a threat to the US. He is clear in his goal for a governance model that is authoritarian, like Putin’s. Vance converted to Catholicism in timing similar to his political ambitions. The Hallow ads featuring Mark Wahlberg in a Catholic Church builds religious brand that Vance plans to use. He is creator of the Hallow app. The book, Playing God, by McConahey established the connections between Koch and right wing Catholics.
Currently, Koch is keeping Haley in the race (and, claiming opposition to Trump) to give Trump plausible deniability about the puppet master. The Teamster President, Sean O’Brien, reportedly met with Trump before yesterday’s donation to the Republican National Committee. O’Brien would be put in a difficult position explaining to the union membership that he supports the party of Charles Koch given Koch’s support for the anti-union ALEC. O’Brien may or may not be anti-abortion. Explaining to 27% of Teamsters (the ratio of women in the union), that O’Brien financed an anti-abortion political party is a tough climb, even without adding Koch baggage.
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Rolling Stone, 9-12-2022
“The Catholic Church is bankrolling a nation wide assault on women’s rights”
Synopsis of my comment above- Putin enabler, Republican Sen. JD Vance, joined the Catholic church in 2019 in timing similar to his political ambitions.
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“The Center for Renewing America think tank, a leading group in a conservative consortium. . . CRA’s work fits into a broader effort by conservative, MAGA-leaning organizations to influence a future Trump White House.”
The xtian nationalists are not conservative at all. They are regressives, reactionaries, revanchists-take your pick who seek to take America back to some supposed glorious, god-fearing golden time that never really existed. . . except in their own feeble brains.
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Well said. No religion should be driving our national policies. We need to separate religion from the affairs of the state.
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I will write precisely what I did commenting on Robert Reich’s blog:
Words have meaning, in case anybody has forgotten. “Christian Nationalism” fails to describe the movement or the people who are in it. It is Christofascism, and they are Christofascists. No more, no less. No more sugarcoating, please.
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Gosh, I would have thought that most observers would say Congress is the branch that has steadily ceded power to Exec and Judicial branches for decades– the branch in need of “a complete overhaul.”
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Diane Ravitch, this would be such a blessing to the nation, would it not?
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