>>> IF YOU'RE KEEPING UP WITH OUR SHOW, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE RADICAL PLAN OF THE FAR RIGHT TO OVERHAUL OUR GOVERNMENT WITH THE FIRST 180 DAYS OF THE NEW REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION. IT'S A PLAN KNOWN FORMALLY AS PROJECT 2025. IT IS SPEARHEADED BY THE CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION. THE PLAN IS MORE THAN 900 PAGES LONG, PROJECT 2025'S ADVISORY BOARD CONSISTS OF NEARLY 100 GROUPS OF VARYING FAR RIGHT INTERESTS INCLUDING TRUMP LOYALISTS AND ABORTION ACTIVISTS, CHRISTIAN NATIONALISTS, PROPONENTS OF LGBTQ+ RIGHTS, AND ANTI- ENVIRONMENTALISTS. THE THREAT PROJECT 2025 POSES TO OUR DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. AT THE TOP PLANS TO CONSOLIDATE PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY, FILL THE RANKS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WITH LOYALISTS, DISMANTLE CIVIL RIGHTS AND WE CAN FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A WIDE ARRAY OF SOCIAL SERVICES SPENDING FROM POVERTY TO EDUCATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. IT ALSO ADVANCES A CHRISTIAN NATIONALISTS AGENDA, AIMING TO REPLACE CURRICULUM BY REDIRECTING FUNDING WHICH IT REFERS TO AS A WOKE EDUCATION CARTEL, THOSE ARE THEIR WORDS, REDIRECTING MONEY TO CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. PROBABLY THE MOST TROUBLING ASPECT OF 2025 IS ITS PLAN TO HAVE UNCHECKED POWER OVER THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, ALLOWING HIM TO APENNINES IT AGAINST HIS CRITICS, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE MEDIA WHO HE CONSTANTLY SAYS HE'S GOING TO TARGET ANYWAY. PROJECT 2025 IS ULTIMATELY A BLUEPRINT FOR A SOFT COUP COME UP ONE THAT REPLACES OUR AGE- OLD SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES. WHAT TRUMP COULDN'T ACHIEVE IN HIS FIRST TERM, PROJECT 2025 SEEMS TO FACILITATE BY REMOVING OBSTACLES TO HIS AUTHORITY. THIS INCLUDES AN ACTIVE PLAN FOR PURGING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF ANY DISSENT WITH THOSE WHO PLEDGE FEALTY TO TRUMP. POLITICAL APPOINTEES INCLUDES MORE THAN 4000 VETTED CANDIDATES WHO ARE, ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENT, READY AND WILLING TO BEGIN DISMANTLING THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE FROM DAY ONE. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES, TRUMP ADVISOR PUT IT PLAINLY. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS IDENTIFY THE POCKETS OF INDEPENDENCE AND SEES THEM,". IT DOESN'T STOP THERE. PROJECT 2025 CALLS FOR INVOKING THE INSURRECTION ACT WHICH WOULD ALLOW PRESIDENTS TO EMPLOY THE MILITARY'S FORCES AGAINST AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO PROTEST THEIR ACTIONS, SOMETHING THAT IS ILLEGAL AT THE MOMENT. ADDITIONALLY, IT CLAIMS TO REVERSE RECENT LGBTQ+ CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. IT CRIMINALIZES TRANSGENDER IDENTITY, EQUATING IT WITH PORNOGRAPHY, IT WOULD DESIGNATE LIBRARIANS WHO PROMOTE BANNED BOOKS AS SEX OFFENDERS AND WOULD DEFINE LIFE AS BEGINNING AT THE VERY MOMENT OF CONCEPTION FOR THE PURPOSES OF LEGAL PROTECTION. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE RELIGIOUS LIFE RIGHT PLANS TO IMPLEMENT UNDER PROJECT 2025. IT SHOULD ALARM YOU. THE GREATER NUMBERS ARE UNDERESTIMATING AND DISMISSING THE GRAVITY OF THIS PLAN ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY. JUST IN MARCH, TUCKED WITHIN A LARGER SPENDING BILL. CONGRESS QUIETLY APPROVED A PROJECT 2025 PROPOSAL TO BAN THE LGBTQ+ RAINBOW FLAG FROM FLYING OVER U.S. EMBASSIES ACROSS THE GLOBE. AS ABORTION RIGHTS ADVOCATE JILLIAN KANE ACTIVELY WARNS, THERE IS A LINE IN TOLSTOY'S WAR AND PEACE USEFUL FOR THE MOMENT WE ARE IN. NOTHING WAS PREPARED FOR THE WAR THAT EVERYONE EXPECTED,". I AM JOINED BY MOLLY JOHN FAST, MSNBC POLITICAL NIHILIST AND THE HOST OF THE FAST POLITICS PODCASTS. OLIVIA TROY JOINS US AS WELL, THE SENIOR ADVISOR OF VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE AND DIRECTOR OF 97%, A GUN INFORMATIZATION, WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU. MOLLY, YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DECIDED, THEY WON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A PARTY PLATFORM, USUALLY PARTIES DEBATED THEIR CONVENTIONS, DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO BE THERE PLATFORM. AND BASICALLY SOME PEOPLE WERE ALARMED BY THAT BUT MOST PEOPLE FOUND DONALD TRUMP IS A BIT OF A STUFFED SHIRT AND IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER. NOW THERE IS A REAL PLATFORM. THIS ISN'T A REPUBLICAN PARTY ACTUALLY, THIS IS A REAL PLATFORM BY FAR RIGHT GUESTS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT SPELL OUT HIGHLY SPECIFICALLY WHAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO DO. THERE IS NO PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY ANYMORE FOR SOMEBODY WHO VOTES FOR DONALD TRUMP THINKING HE DIDN'T BREAK ANYTHING LAST TIME, HE WILL NOT BREAK ANYTHING THIS TIME. >> ONE OF THE SCARIEST THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS REALLY EMBRACED AUTHORITARIAN TROPISM, THE STUFF TRUMP SET FOR EVERYONE SORT OF WAVED AND SAID HE WON'T REALLY DO THAT. ALL OF THAT STUFF IS IN HIS DOCUMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS THE TOP LINE IS EVERY SINGLE GOVERNMENT AGENCY WILL BE POLITICIZED. SO THAT MEANS FROM THE FDA TO -- TO THE DOJ, TO THE EPA. EVERY SINGLE PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE SERVING TRUMP AND HIS REPUBLICAN PARTY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY TERRIFYING. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE BASICALLY SERVING AS A CAMPAIGN ARM TO DONALD TRUMP. NOW IMAGINE AN ENTIRE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT SERVES AS A CAMPAIGN ARM TO DONALD TRUMP. >> OLIVIA, HERE'S THE THING THAT STRIKES ME IN READING THIS. GROUPS LIKE THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, IT IS NOT A FRINGE ORGANIZATION. PEOPLE WHO WATCH THIS MAY DISAGREE WITH A LOT OF THE THINGS THEY DO BUT IT IS A HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL FAIRLY MAINSTREAM THINK TANK THAT WAS ONCE ASSOCIATED WITH REAGANISM. WHAT THIS PROJECT 2025 TELL US ABOUT TODAY'S CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT >> I AM SO GLAD YOU POINT THAT OUT, AND HONESTLY I THINK AS A RADICAL PLAN BY THE FAR RIGHT IS THE CORRECT WAY TO NAME THIS. THIS IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE PLAN. IT IS THE MORE EXTREME OF CONSERVATISM IT SHOWS A TRANSFORMATION OF THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, A THAT HAS LONG TIME BEEN RESPECTED. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED THERE AND FOR GENERAL COUNSEL, THESE ARE HONORABLE, DECENT PEOPLE WHO YOU MAY DIFFER ON POLICY, BUT THEY WERE NOT COMPLETELY INSANE ABOUT THEIR APPROACHES TO THINGS. THEY JUST VIEW THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY, THEY LIMITED GOVERNMENT. THEY WERE USUALLY PROTECTING THE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS. THIS IS THE ANTITHESIS OF THAT. WHAT MOLLY SAID IS SO ACCURATE. THIS IS THE POLICY PLAN. WHILE TRUMP MAY SIT THERE AND SHIFT IN WHATEVER DIRECTION, WHEREVER HE GETS PUSHED BACK, WATCHING THE POLLING THINKING WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR THING TO SAY RIGHT NOW, THESE ARE THE POLICIES OF THESE PEOPLE. >> MOLLY, DONALD TRUMP PROBABLY HASN'T BEEN READING WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN. FOR THE EXPANSION OF EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY, HE SPEAKS IN THOSE TERMS. HIS ENTIRE VIEW OF THE PRESIDENCY IS PRESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS. PART OF THE ISSUE WITH PROJECT 2025 IS IT GOES FURTHER DOWN THAT ROAD. THE PROBLEM WITH PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY AS A LOT OF PRESIDENTS TRY TO EXPAND IT AND EVERYBODY SUPPORTS IT WHEN IT IS THEIR GUY. THIS IS AN EXTREME EXPANSION OF PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY THAT IS GOING TO PERHAPS CHANGE OUR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AND DEMOCRATIC LANDSCAPE. >> I THINK THE SCARIEST PART OF THIS IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT, JUSTICE ALITO AND JUSTICE THOMAS, IF THEY LISTEN TO THIS CASE, THOSE GUYS ARE TOTALLY BOUGHT IN ON THIS. I REALLY DO THINK THERE IS A CHANGE FROM TRUMP IN 2016 WHERE HE WAS THIS OUTLIER THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT KIND OF MADE FUN OF, THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT, TO NOW, THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT IS ALL IN ON THIS. THEY HAVE DECIDED THEY ARE GOING TO USE TRUMP AS A SORT OF TROJAN HORSE, GET HIM IN THERE, PUSH EMBRYONIC PERSONHOOD AND ALL OF THESE -- YOU KNOW, ATTACK ON LIBRARIANS, THIS KIND OF STUFF, WHICH IS AN ATTACK ON LGBTQ. THIS REALLY IDEALISTIC REALLY AUTHORITARIAN STUFF. SO I DO THINK IT'S QUITE SCARY AND I DO THINK THEY ARE REALLY ORGANIZED NOW. THEY SORT OF, REMEMBER, IN A TIME MAGAZINE ARTICLE, TRUMP SAID THAT HIS MISTAKE WAS BEING TOO NICE. WHAT HE MEANT WAS HIS MISTAKE WAS NOT FINDING IDEOLOGICALLY PEOPLE COMPLETELY ALIGNED WITH HIS QUEST FOR POWER. HE HAS ON THOSE PEOPLE AND HE WILL INSTALL THEM. >> LET'S DO THE CHECK AND THE EGG HERE OLIVIA. WOULD PROJECT 2025 HAVE EMERGED WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE? IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO DO ALL THIS TO SAY, DONALD TRUMP IS A BIT OF AN EMPTY VESSEL WHO BELIEVES PRESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE ROYAL TYPE AUTHORITY, SO WHY DO WE PUT EVERYTHING IN THIS 900 PAGE DOCUMENT. IT'S CRAZY STUFF, LABELING LIBRARIANS AS SETS OF SEX OFFENDERS. THIS IS SUPER EXTREME STUFF. WHO IS THE LEADER AND WAS THE FOLLOWER? >> I THINK THIS IS SCARY. I THINK THE CHARLATANS AND THE CRAZIEST OF THE PACK HAVE COME TOGETHER AND THEY HAVE FOUND A HOME IN TRUMP. THEY HAVE FOUND A LEADER AND THEY HAVE FOUND SOMEONE WHO WILL LISTEN, I WATCH THAT HAPPEN FIRSTHAND. I WILL SAY THIS. I LIVED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FROM DAY ONE WHEN THEY CAME INTO OFFICE. I LIVED AS A PUBLIC SERVANT I WAS AT DHS WHEN SOME OF THESE POLICIES WERE ENACTED. I HAVE SERVED OVER UNDER SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIONS. I WILL SAY THIS, THE BEHAVIOR OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING I HAVE WITNESSED IN THE PAST. THAT BEHAVIOR WILL BE MORE EXTREME. ALL OF THE COVENANT PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE IN GOVERNMENT THAT HAVE DEVELOPED THESE POLICIES WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT, THIS IS WHY, THIS IS WHY THAT WAS ENACTED, AND BY THE WAY, THAT IS ILLEGAL, ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL EITHER BE FIRED, WHICH IS WHAT THEY ARE SAYING DIRECTLY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO, OR THEY WERE GOING TO FIND THEM IN THE BASEMENT WITH RED STAPLERS AND THEY WILL BE SITTING THERE PUTTING PAPERCLIPS TOGETHER AND BOXED AND WHILE THE OTHER LOYALISTS ARE DOING THE POLICIES. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SEPARATION IN THOSE MEETINGS, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HARD IT IS TO SIT IN THOSE DEBATES AND THE HORRIFIC MESS OF IT AND WATCHING THE MOST EXTREME VOICES IN THE ROOM SAYING WE DON'T CARE. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PUSHED. >> IS A CRITICAL THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS IS REAL POLICY? IT IS ON PAPER, 900 PAGES LONG AND SPEAKS TO EVERY DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT, IS IT IMPORTANT PEOPLE ON THE FENCE WHO WILL VOTE IN NOVEMBER? WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF US FEEL LIKE IT IS A HAIR ON FIRE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE EROSION OF DEMOCRACY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PLAN HERE. IS THAT GOING TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS SERIOUS? >> PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR IT. MOST VOTERS DO NOT LIKE THIS. WE KNOW MOST VOTERS IN THE MIDDLE. THEY DO NOT WANT THIS KIND OF FAR RIGHT. THEY DON'T WANT TAKING. THEY WANT A PRESIDENT. A LOT OF REPUBLICANS, LOOK, WE SOUGHT IN THE PRIMARIES, EVEN AFTER SHE DROPPED OUT, NIKKI HALEY STILL GOT 30, 40% IN SOME OF THESE STATES. BECAUSE VOTERS DON'T LIKE TRUMP IS HIM. REPUBLICANS ARE AFRAID OF HIM AND THEY HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO CAPTURE THEIR PARTY ONCE AGAIN, BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT IF HE IS DEFEATED ONE MORE TIME, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY, BUT I DON'T THINK THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS BELIEVE IN THIS KIND OF STUFF. I KNOW THEY DON'T BECAUSE THE STUFF IS BEYOND THE PALE. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING PEOPLE WANT. >> IT'S CRAZY STUFF. I WOULD AGREE. THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO READ IT. EVEN IF YOU ARE A CONSERVATIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE WANT TO HAVE REAL DEBATES, MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY THIS IS A BIT BEYOND THE PALE AND IT'S NOT THE KIND OF STUFF WE ARE LOOKING FOR. I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE. MOLLY JONG-FAST IS A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT AT VANITY FAIR
