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Roger Coryell

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Trump is just the distraction—Look behind the curtain


A stylized, abstract painting depicting a man in a suit, resembling Trump, controlling puppet strings attached to small human-like figures. The background is a vibrant red, emphasizing a dramatic and intense atmosphere of distraction and unfolding events behind the curtain.

Let’s drop the pretense that Donald Trump is orchestrating the chaos himself. The man can’t handle the details of a policy briefing, much less a coup. The real threat lies with the machinery operating behind him—those who see him not as a leader but as a tool. This isn’t just about Trump’s ego; it’s about the powerful forces using him to dismantle the system and seize control.

Take a hard look at January 6, 2021. That wasn’t a spontaneous uprising. It was the first battle of what I call America’s Second Civil War. A ragtag mob of misguided “patriots” stormed the Capitol, fueled by lies. Trump cheered them on, but the real damage came from the puppet masters who watched, calculating how far this chaos could push their agenda. Trump isn’t running this show—he’s the carnival barker, distracting the crowd while the real power players make their moves.

Cue the Heritage Foundation. Once a think tank promoting free markets, limited government, and individual liberty, they’ve mutated into something far more dangerous. Their latest blueprint, Project 2025, is less about “conservatism” and more about consolidating power in the executive branch, ripping apart the checks and balances that keep democracy functional  . Sure, they still pay lip service to the free market, but their agenda has veered into authoritarian territory, with a focus on executive dominance and dismantling federal oversight.

Here’s the kicker: Project 2025 isn’t just some wish list for a future GOP administration—it’s a roadmap for authoritarianism. The plan? Stack federal agencies with loyalists, limit the influence of career civil servants, and funnel power directly to the president. It’s an all-out war on the very idea of a balanced, accountable government. The Heritage Foundation’s playbook calls for giving the president unchecked control over military and intelligence operations, scaling back regulations, and bulldozing social programs  .

And the best part? They’re selling this as “conservative” policy. It’s not. Real conservatism values limited government and individual liberty. But what the Heritage Foundation is pushing is a rebranded form of centralized power, wrapped in a flag and sold as patriotism.

Let’s be clear: if Trump wins in 2024, it won’t be a victory for democracy. It will be a coronation. The Constitution becomes a footnote, with elections turning into ceremonial rubber stamps. This isn’t hyperbole. The very essence of Project 2025 is to expand presidential power to unprecedented levels. Military? Under Trump’s direct control. Intelligence agencies? Reporting to him. Any oversight? Gone  .

Even if Trump loses, these forces won’t go quietly. The Heritage Foundation’s deeper agenda isn’t tied to one man—it’s about reshaping America into something that benefits a tiny elite while stripping protections from the rest of us. Social programs will be gutted, environmental regulations torched, and the federal workforce turned into a rubber-stamp operation for corporate and political interests. They’re laying the groundwork for a government that serves the few at the expense of the many  .

Let’s call it what it is: authoritarianism. This isn’t about protecting freedom or preserving democracy. It’s about consolidating power. And Trump, with all his bluster and bravado, is just the tool they need to get it done.

The real danger here isn’t just Trump or even his most fervent supporters. It’s the system that’s been quietly shifting the balance of power for years, eroding the foundations of our democracy bit by bit. This isn’t a fight for an election—it’s a fight for the soul of the country. What’s at stake isn’t just who sits in the Oval Office. It’s whether or not we still have a functioning democracy when this is all over.

So don’t be fooled by the slogans or the soundbites. What the Heritage Foundation and its ilk are pushing for isn’t conservatism—it’s control. And if they win, we lose a hell of a lot more than an election.

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