This has to be quick and short because my device is glitching, but it's a need-to-know IMO.
Pro Publica, the nonprofit investigative newsroom, has, God love them (srsly) done it again.
In-depth, extensively documented journalism, this time illuminating more of plots to turn the United States into a Christianist theocracy.
“We are in a spiritual battle and locked in a terrible conflict with the powers of darkness,” says a strategy document that lays out Ziklag’s 30-year vision to “redirect the trajectory of American culture toward Christ by bringing back Biblical structure, order and truth to our Nation.”
What in the holy H. is "Ziklag"?
The group describes itself as a “private, confidential, invitation-only community of high-net-worth Christian families.”
And what are they doing?
According to the Ziklag files, the group has divided its 2024 activities into three different operations targeting voters in battleground states: Checkmate, focused on funding so-called election integrity groups; Steeplechase, concentrated on using churches and pastors to get out the vote; and Watchtower, aimed at galvanizing voters around the issues of “parental rights” and opposition to transgender rights and policies supporting health care for trans people. [Emphasis added]
Yup, as we had reason to suspect, among other things specifically stirring the anti-trans moral panic for political advantage.
And if you read the whole piece, advertising a top-down, rather than more trad (since the 80s) evangelical grassroots-up approach to taking over the nation and making us all conform to their twisted theology.
Also according to the story, this political-organizing is all plowing forward under the shelter of a 501(c)(3) "charity."
How to make your political contributions to the undermining of the Constitution tax-deductible. Super sweet. And sounds illegal as H. (Assuming legality still has any meaning at all outside a self-proclaimed pipeline to the Almighty, thanks Archbishop Roberts and conclave.)
If you, dear reader, haven't been aware of the long-term "Seven Mountains Strategy" of the theocratic right, there's an intro in the article, which I encourage everyone to look into.
And we should probably be giving more public exposure to that, alongside Project 2025.
Also noting the increasing mentions of "demons" (ffs, srsly!) that have crept into RW political discourse, obviously "Dark Brandon" must have them upset... ;-)
But oh, dear...Easy to laugh at, srsly demonization = dehumanization.
And logically, the end game for these characters seems to be restoration of the legal and social structures of the (colonial, btw) 1600s. :-/ Actually, having had a bit of a hobby interest in that historical era, not kidding.
Do, if you have a sec, do go look. And thanks for reading.
This splotch of darkness luvs you. In spite of our worries, happy Saturday. :-)