Apple News Today The little-known official quietly driving Trump’s second term
18 snips
Nov 1, 2025 
Andy Kroll, an investigative reporter for ProPublica and coauthor of 'The Shadow President', dives into the significant yet overlooked influence of Russell Vought in shaping Trump’s agenda. Kroll reveals Vought's views on dismantling the ‘deep state’ and how Christian nationalism infuses his policies. He discusses Vought's powerful role as the 'shadow president', his past experiments with funding impoundment, and plans for Project 2025. The conversation sheds light on Vought's loyalty to Trump and the long-term implications of his governance philosophy.
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Vought Sees Bureaucracy As A Deep-State Problem
- Russell Vought believes a 'deep state' bureaucracy has gained too much power and must be dismantled.
- His actions at OMB reflect that worldview through mass firings and freezing agency functions.
Christian Nationalism Informs Policy Goals
- Vought openly identifies as a Christian nationalist and ties policy aims to a Judeo-Christian vision of America.
- That worldview informs policy choices opposing marriage equality, trans rights, and non-Judeo-Christian faiths.
OMB As The Budgetary chokepoint
- OMB sits at a key junction controlling how and when congressional funds flow to agencies.
- Under Vought, OMB has used that control to withhold legally appropriated funds to advance the administration's priorities.