Don’t say we weren’t warned. Project 2025, the 2022 Heritage Foundation’s 900-page policy blueprint, unambiguously plotted out the strategy of the second Trump administration. As Atlantic staff writer David A. Graham makes clear in his refreshingly brief The Project, the Heritage Foundation document is an verbose summary of Trump 2.0’s ambition to reshape government by strengthening executive power, promote traditional family structures, eliminate climate regulations, attack DEI initiatives, restructure the civil service and (gasp) outlaw pornography. Graham sees this project as both radical in its methods yet traditional in its values, produced by isolationists intent on resurrecting their fantasy of small town America.

Five Point Takeaway

* Project 2025 was created by former Trump administration officials under the Heritage Foundation to provide a comprehensive policy agenda and staffing strategy for a second Republican presidency.

* Despite Trump publicly distancing himself from the project during his campaign, many of its policies are now being implemented, particularly through executive orders and civil service reforms.

* The project emphasizes traditional Christian values, binary gender definitions, nuclear families, and aims to use government power to promote these views through various policies and incentives.

* On climate, the project seeks to eliminate climate research, end climate-related regulations, and promote fossil fuel extraction, prioritizing economic growth over environmental concerns.

* Graham believes Democrats could learn from the project's systematic, forward-thinking approach rather than remaining reactive, as Republicans are reshaping government in ways that may be difficult to reverse.

Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Urban Sensemaking through Science & Technology Ft. MIT Senseable City Lab