Project 2025 September 5th Update

Project 2025 is a 920-page plan spearheaded by the powerful and extreme far-right Heritage Foundation. More than 100 organizations support this blueprint for autocracy. Their stated goal is to create an “ideal” America that would see women, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, people of color, and others deprived of their hard-won constitutional rights and the erosion of environmental and education protections. It also advocates for a frightening centralization of power in the executive branch. Rooted in hate and Christian Nationalism, the plan promises to “rescue the country.” Read GPAHE’s full analysis of Project 2025 and the groups behind it.

GPAHE tracks the activities of those behind Project 2025, and their plans for an authoritarian and Christian Nationalist America, no matter who is president, and the groups in this extremist movement are relentlessly implementing initiatives at local, state, and federal levels.

This week we look at retired game show host Pat Sajak’s deep ties to Project 2025 supporters, how Amway has funded and influenced the conservative movement for generations, and Project 2025’s plans to return to nuclear testing. We’ll also hear from members of the Family Research Council, Students for Life of America, the American Principles Project, and TPUSA guest Rob Schneider, in their own words.

From Wheel to Right-Wing: Pat Sajak’s Deep Ties to Christian Nationalism and Project 2025

The affable but bland game show host Pat Sajak retired from his four-decade tenure hosting Wheel of Fortune this year, and is spending his “bonus round” devoting himself to his lesser-known but influential role in conservative political circles. 

Sajak has long been deeply embedded in a network of right-wing institutions and causes that support Project 2025’s agenda, with roots stretching back to the Claremont Institute and culminating in his current role as chairman of the Board of Trustees at Hillsdale College.

Sajak’s conservative activism dates back decades. In 1999, he attended the Claremont Institute’s Lincoln Day Dinner alongside Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. At this exclusive black-tie affair, Sajak took to the podium and decried how “political correctness” had “watered down” the teaching of American history. This rhetoric aligned closely with Claremont’s opposition to educational approaches that critically examine systemic inequalities in American society.

His involvement with Claremont continued over the years. In 2007, Sajak emceed a Claremont event honoring former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, a key architect of the Iraq War. This ongoing relationship with Claremont is significant, as the institute would later play a role in promoting election denial claims after the 2020 vote, with Claremont fellow John Eastman becoming a central figure in efforts to overturn the election results.

The Claremont-Hillsdale connection runs deep, with both institutions steeped in the ideal that the original American republic has been corrupted by an expanding administrative state and progressive ideologies, and cross-pollination of ideas and personnel between Claremont and Hillsdale is common.

Sajak joined Hillsdale’s board in 2003 and became chairman in 2019, placing him at the nexus of the college’s expanding political reach. Under the leadership of President Larry P. Arnn, himself a founder and longtime leader of the Claremont Institute, Hillsdale has transformed from a small liberal arts school into a conservative powerhouse with outsized influence in right-wing politics. Arnn, who has called minority students “dark ones,” and Sajak have been friends for years. “Pat is a man of calm and steady judgment, possessed also of a wicked wit. He is a man of selfless service, famous and yet not interested in celebrity, hilarious and yet serious. He knows the purposes of the college and is devoted to them,” Arnn said of Sajak in 2019. 

The college’s involvement in the tumultuous aftermath of the 2020 election has raised eyebrows. Hillsdale’s general counsel, Robert E. Norton II, and Ian Northon, an alumnus and lawyer affiliated with the college, were reportedly involved in efforts to challenge the election results in Michigan. According to testimony given to the House January 6th Select Committee, Norton and Northon participated in meetings and calls with Trump campaign lawyers, including Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, discussing strategies to overturn the election, as the New York Times reported.

Norton allegedly reached out to the state Republican chairwoman about a plan to have fake electors hide overnight in the State Capitol to cast votes for Trump. Northon, meanwhile, worked on lawsuits challenging the election results and helped coordinate the fake electors scheme. Both men leveraged their Hillsdale connections in these efforts, with Northon testifying that he kept Hillsdale officials informed of his activities.

Hillsdale’s influence extends beyond the 2020 election controversy. The college is closely aligned with Project 2025. Two former fellows at Hillsdale’s Washington campus, Spencer Chretien and Troup Hemenway, are associate directors of Project 2025, and the college is on the advisory board of this effort to reshape the federal government.

Michael Anton, a former senior national security official in the Trump administration, is a Hillsdale fellow and Project 2025 contributor with a history of promoting racist ideologies. Anton has written in support of the “Great Replacement” — a racist conspiracy theory that claims powerful elites are intentionally changing America’s demographics through immigration. In a 2016 essay published under the pseudonym Publius Decius Mus (the name of a Roman consul) Anton wrote, “The ceaseless importation of Third World foreigners with no tradition of, taste for, or experience in liberty means that the electorate grows more left, more Democratic, less Republican, less republican, and less traditionally American with every cycle.” Anton has also authored several essays arguing for the end of birthright citizenship, arguments that have been widely criticized as factually incorrect and racially motivated, or as Slate put it, “Racist, Ahistorical Gobbledygook.”

Anton contributed to the Mandate for Leadership chapter on the “Executive Office of the President of the United States.”

Sajak’s involvement with Hillsdale and his long association with Claremont place him at the heart of a conservative network working to promote a particular vision of American society and politics. As he steps away from his public role on television, his position at the nexus of these influential institutions may prove more consequential in shaping the future of American conservatism.

For those who knew Sajak only as the smiling face of Wheel of Fortune, his deep conservative ties and association with controversial post-election activities may come as a surprise. But for those who’ve followed his off-screen activities, it’s clear that Sajak has long been spinning a different kind of wheel — one aimed at advancing Project 2025’s conservative vision for America’s future, with Hillsdale College and the Claremont Institute as key hubs in that effort.

From Direct Sales to Direct Influence: Amway’s Heritage Foundation Legacy

In a bold move that echoes the longstanding goals of Amway’s founding families, Project 2025 has set its sights on dismantling the Department of Education. This ambitious plan aligns perfectly with the educational vision of Betsy DeVos, former Secretary of Education and Amway heiress, underscoring the deep-rooted connection between the multi-level marketing giant and the shaping of conservative politics in America.

The story of this influence begins in Washington D.C., where the newly inaugurated Barb Van Andel-Gaby Building stands as a testament to the enduring impact of one of America’s most controversial business empires. This state-of-the-art facility, boasting television and radio studios, conference spaces, and a ballroom, is the latest addition to the Heritage Foundation’s sprawling campus. More than just an expansion of the conservative think tank’s physical footprint, it symbolizes the profound connection between Amway and the conservative movement’s efforts to reshape American governance.

Betsy DeVos, daughter-in-law of Amway co-founder Richard DeVos and sister to Erik Prince, founder of the mercenary firm Blackwater who earlier this year called for the US to colonize Africa and parts of Latin America, brought the family’s conservative Christian worldview and advocacy for school choice to the highest levels of government during her tenure as Secretary of Education under President Donald Trump. Her policies, which aligned closely with Project 2025’s goals, aimed to fundamentally alter the American education system. DeVos consistently pushed for school choice and privatization, arguing that these approaches would improve educational outcomes and provide more options for families.

“My friend Betsy was a champion of campus free speech, religious liberty and due process as secretary. College campuses, which had become islands of intolerance and inquisition for a generation or more, were finally called to account, and students will be freer because of Betsy’s work on their behalf,” Heritage Foundation president Kay James said in January 2021.

“Through their family foundation, Betsy and her husband Dick have been longtime supporters of The Heritage Foundation, ensuring that the conservative principles that give people the opportunity to live the American dream are preserved for all Americans. I applaud Betsy for her great success as education secretary and wish her all the best.”

DeVos’s policies undermined public education, diverting resources from already struggling schools and exacerbating educational inequality. Her approach, which included support for charter schools and voucher programs, was seen by many as an attempt to shift public education funding into private hands. In Michigan, where the DeVos family’s influence has been particularly strong, about 80 percent of the state’s 300 publicly funded charter schools are operated by for-profit companies — more than any other state.

Project 2025’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education takes DeVos’s vision even further. The initiative, heavily supported by the Heritage Foundation and backed by the considerable resources of the Amway founding families, aims to dramatically reduce federal involvement in education. This aligns with the long-held conservative belief that education should be primarily a state and local responsibility, with minimal federal oversight.

The roots of this influential connection trace back to 1959, when Richard DeVos and Jay Van Andel started Amway in a Michigan basement, selling biodegradable soap. As their business grew into a multi-billion-dollar empire, so did their political ambitions. DeVos and Van Andel were ideological soulmates, united by a fervent belief in free-market capitalism, limited government, and traditional Christian values. They began using their considerable wealth strategically to shape public policy, funding think tanks, advocacy groups, and educational initiatives aimed at promoting conservative ideals.

The Heritage Foundation became a key beneficiary of the Amway founders’ largesse. Richard DeVos, whose net worth was a staggering $5.5 billion when he died, gave generously to Heritage, endowing the Richard & Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society. He also provided the Heritage Foundation with its very motto. 

“The DeVos Center is not the only legacy Rich left Heritage. It was he who pushed us to adopt a statement of ‘shared vision’ to help ensure a lasting mark on social policy,” Heritage President Kay James said upon his death in 2018. “The resulting 17 words are emblazoned inside the main entrance of our headquarters building on Capitol Hill: The Heritage Foundation is committed to building an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity and civil society flourish.”

Jay Van Andel joined the Foundation’s board of trustees in 1984, serving until his death in 2004 when his net worth was reported to be $2.3 billion. His daughter, Barb Van Andel-Gaby, followed in his footsteps, joining the board in 1996 and eventually rising to the position of chairman. This generational commitment to Heritage underscores the long-term strategy of the Amway founding families to influence conservative thought and policy.

The DeVos family’s approach to political giving has been remarkably transparent. In a 1997 Op-Ed, Betsy DeVos candidly admitted that her family expected a return on their political investments, including the promotion of a conservative governing philosophy and electoral victories for the Republican Party.  “My family is the largest single contributor of soft money to the national Republican party….I have decided, however, to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence. Now, I simply concede the point,” she wrote. This quid pro quo approach to political donations provides a clear window into the families’ strategy for influencing policy, particularly in the realm of education.

The influence of the DeVos and Van Andel families extends far beyond education policy. They have been major supporters of Heritage for two generations, as well as Project 2025, which aims to reshape the federal government along conservative lines. The project’s goals, including the dismantling of the Department of Education, align closely with the families’ long-held beliefs in limited government and traditional values. Their financial backing has helped to develop and promote policies that would dramatically alter the role of government in American life.

The Amway model itself, based on multi-level marketing, has faced legal challenges and investigations, with some arguing that it essentially functions as a pyramid scheme benefiting only a small percentage at the top. Despite these controversies, the company has managed to navigate regulatory waters, often leveraging its political connections to maintain its business model.

As the Barb Van Andel-Gaby Building stands proudly on Massachusetts Avenue, it serves as a physical reminder of the enduring influence of Amway’s founders on American politics and education policy. It represents not just the success of a business, but the power of wealth to shape ideology, policy, and ultimately, the direction of a nation. The connection between Amway, the Heritage Foundation, and initiatives like Project 2025 underscores the profound impact that private wealth can have on public education and governance.

There’s no denying the significant role that Amway and its founding families have played in shaping American conservatism, education policy, and the country’s political discourse. As Project 2025 moves forward with its plans to reshape federal education policy, the legacy of the DeVos and Van Andel families continues to reverberate through the halls of power in Washington and classrooms across America.

Nuclear Ghosts: How Project 2025 Revives Old Atomic Fears

Project 2025 is stirring up nuclear anxieties that many thought were long buried, outlining an agenda for the next conservative administration that includes reviving nuclear weapons testing in Nevada and restarting efforts to store the nation’s radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain. In a search of the text of Project 2025’s Mandate for Leadership, the term “nuclear” appears 230 times. 

The 900+-page document proposes a dramatic buildup of nuclear weapons not seen since the Reagan administration. According to reporting from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the plan seeks to significantly increase budgets and deployments of nuclear weapons and related programs while dismantling remaining arms control agreements.

For residents of southern Utah and Nevada who lived through the era of above-ground nuclear testing, these proposals are reopening old wounds and raising alarm bells about potential health impacts on future generations.

Between 1951 and 1962, the U.S. government conducted nearly 100 above-ground nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site, just 65 miles north of Las Vegas. An additional 828 underground tests continued until a moratorium was enacted in 1992. While officials at the time assured nearby residents the tests were safe, subsequent research has linked the radioactive fallout to increased cancer rates across a wide swath of the country.

Now, Project 2025 threatens to bring this dark chapter of American history full circle. The document calls for “restoring readiness to test nuclear weapons” at what is now known as the Nevada National Security Site. It also advocates for restarting the licensing process for a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, a project that has been fiercely opposed by Nevada politicians and residents for decades.

The nuclear proposals were drawn up by Project 2025’s coauthor Christopher Miller, the former acting secretary of defense whose tenure during the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection raised serious questions about his judgment, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

This is the same Christopher Miller who headed up the initial drawdown in Afghanistan, leaving the Taliban intact, because that, also, seemed like a good idea, indicating that poor judgment is not a fluke. Also the same Christopher Miller who in January 2021 told reporters during an odd press briefing that  “I still think we have a hangover on a lot of that…high tech, very expensive weapons systems.  And we need to go smaller, swarmy, mass over…quantity over quality, in some cases,” before adding,  “I cannot wait to leave this job, believe me.”

His plans include prioritizing nuclear weapons programs over other security initiatives, accelerating the development and production of all nuclear weapons programs, and increasing funding for new and modernized nuclear warheads.

Moreover, the plan calls for increasing the number of nuclear weapons above current treaty limits, expanding weapons production capabilities, and preparing to test new nuclear weapons — despite the United States being a signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

The financial implications of these proposals are staggering. President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for nuclear weapons is already $70 billion  — the highest since the Cold War. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that currently planned nuclear weapons programs will cost $750 billion over the next decade. Project 2025’s recommendations would substantially increase these costs.

Implementation of these proposals would begin immediately upon the next president taking office, according to the Heritage Foundation’s detailed plan. This includes making a major speech to justify nuclear weapons expansion, directing monthly briefings from the National Nuclear Security Administration, and submitting supplemental budget requests to accelerate key nuclear projects.

For those who’ve lived in the shadow of nuclear testing, the human cost is too high. Residents of St. George, Utah, about 130 miles east of the former test site, bore the brunt of the atomic legacy. Many “downwinders,” as residents of Washington County are called, have lost family members to cancer they believe stems from the nuclear testing era. 

“Winds routinely carried the fallout of these tests directly through St. George and southern Utah. Significant amounts of radioactive particles were dropped on these areas leading to marked increases in cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, thyroid cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, bone cancer, brain tumors, and gastrointestinal tract cancers, from the mid-1950s through 1980,” The Washington County Historical Society writes. 

The revival of nuclear testing faces significant hurdles, including opposition from Nevada’s congressional delegation and governor. Even Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, who has endorsed Trump, does not support Project 2025’s advocacy for nuclear waste storage or testing in the state.

As the nation grapples with 21st-century nuclear challenges, the voices of those who bore witness to the atomic age serve as a stark reminder of the human toll behind mushroom clouds and geopolitical posturing, and that the atomic ghosts of the past stay firmly in the history books.

In Their Own Words

“Pretending that men and women are the same or that kids will be fine without one of their parents was a premise destined to fail, not because proponents of same-sex marriage had bad intentions, they were fighting the laws of the universe.”

— Joseph Backholm of the Project 2025 partner the Family Research Council in an article from July 10, 2024 on his perception that support for same-sex marriage is on the decline.

“We should just focus on culture. We should make abortion unthinkable, but I’m over here going, well, it should also be unavailable too. Like, it has to be both things because the law saved your life.” 

— Kristan Hawkins, president of Project 2025 supporter Students for Life of America on an August 28, 2024 podcast.

“And if you want to talk about, you know, banning all abortions, that’s great but you’re not going to get power to change anything. The abolitionist movement, right? When we were ending slavery, there were lots of compromises made. There were, it was a methodical, you know, step-by-step approach to limiting the power of the slaveholders. And we have to have a very similar strategy here if we’re ever going to protect the unborn.”

— Terry Schilling of Project 2025 partner The American Principles Project comparing anti-abortion political strategy to ending slavery on August 26, 2024.

“There is no Marshall plan for the United States. If we go down, the world goes down. Thankfully we have enough patriots like yourself, and there’s a lot of us, 440 million guns to back us up too. And that’s the only reason we got outta Covid tyranny.”

— Comedian Rob Schneider speaking with Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA on an episode of Kirk’s podcast entitled “The Rise of Evil in the World” on August 27, 2024.