ProPublica reported that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson lives in the home of a far-right evangelical who lobbies for his extremist views.
How is this different from being roommates with a lobbyist for Big Pharma or the Tobacco Industry?
It’s not, but it may be more dangerous because this pastor is one of those wing nuts who knows nothing about the Founding Fsthers or the Constitutuion.
ProPublica reports:
In 2021, Steve Berger, an evangelical pastor who has attacked the separation of church and state as “a delusional lie” and called multinational institutions “demonic,” set off on an ambitious project. His stated goal: minister to members of Congress so that what “they learn is then translated into policy.” His base of operations would be a six-bedroom, $3.7 million townhouse blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
Recently, the pastor scored a remarkable coup for a political influence project that has until now managed to avoid public scrutiny. He got a new roommate.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has been staying at the home since around the beginning of this year, according to interviews and videos obtained by ProPublica.
The house is owned by a major Republican donor and Tennessee car magnate who has joined Berger in advocating for and against multiple bills before Congress.
Over the past four years, Berger and his wife, Sarah Berger, have dedicated themselves to what they call their D.C. “ministry center.” In addition to Johnson, who is an evangelical conservative, the pastor has built close relationships with several other influential conservative politicians. Dan Bishop, now nominated for a powerful post in the Trump White House, seems to have also lived in the home last year while he was still a congressman, according to three people.
A spokesperson for Johnson said that the speaker “pays fair market value in monthly rent for the portion of the Washington, D.C. townhome that he occupies.” He did not answer a question about how much Johnson is paying. House ethics rules allow members of Congress to live anywhere, as long as they are paying fair-market rent.
The spokesperson added that Johnson “has never once spoken to Mr. Berger about any piece of legislation or any matter of public policy.” Berger and Bishop did not respond to requests for comment.
If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.
Please read the rest of the article.

Meanwhile, the new head of FBI, Kash Patel lives in the Las Vegas house of a TimeShare mogul accused of shady practices. https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/trump-fbi-pick-kash-patels-vegas-roommate-is-timeshare-tycoon-accused-of-shady-practices
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Any arrangements that are made within politics is about power. Religion is about power. Words like conservatism are about power.
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Maybe they are gay.
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Why the “Maybe”?
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And I really would like to buy a bridge in Brooklyn
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Oh such innocence on display.
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So Steve Berger, former pastor of an evangelical Nashville church, now runs a DC non-profit that includes an apt bldg where he lives, and rents pieds-a-terre to current legislators who have plenty of tete-a-tetes with him on political subjects/legislation. Even brags about it. Shows what a farce non-profit legislation is.
From the FAQ section of a legal website:
“Can a nonprofit take a political position on controversial issues that divide candidates?
“Yes. However, nonprofits may not do so in a way that indicates that one candidate is favored or opposed and must avoid engaging in substantial legislative activities by attempting to influence legislation, commonly known as lobbying. Nonprofits should be careful not to contact or urge their members or employees to contact any federal, state, or local legislative body to propose, support, or oppose legislation.”
I suppose he gets by: “Hey, they’re just my tenants. We’re just shooting the breeze.”
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