Russell Vought’s Mission Begins in Earnest
Let’s not pretend we didn’t see this coming.
We did. https://pigsfly.info/2025/01/22/freedom-convicted-betrayal-justice-trumps-pardons-shake-nation/
In fact, we’ve been shouting it from the rooftops—warning flare after warning flare, article after article, editorial after editorial.
We chronicled the playbook as it was drafted in real time, tracked the steady erosion of democratic norms, and parsed every utterance from Trump-world promising a second term unbound by law, precedent, or—most alarmingly—the will of the people.
Now, here we are.
Russell Vought, the man who once declared that he wanted to leave “trauma” in the federal workforce, has officially taken the helm as Donald Trump’s budget chief, and already, the wrecking ball is in motion. Entire agencies are being gutted, thousands of federal workers fired, and executive orders are flying off Trump’s desk with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the foundation of American government.
If Trump’s first term was a chaotic test run for authoritarianism, his second is shaping up to be a full-fledged demolition job—and Vought is wielding the dynamite.
Government in Ruins, By Design
Trump’s opening act in this accelerated dismantling of the federal bureaucracy has been as relentless as it has been predictable. In just 19 days, he has:
Stripped civil service protections from federal workers, making it easier to purge career professionals who refuse to march in lockstep with his agenda.
Frozen the hiring of new federal employees, ensuring that the government remains a skeletal version of itself.
Ordered a line-by-line review of federal spending, with explicit instructions to defund anything remotely related to diversity, equity, and inclusion—three words Trump’s movement treats with the same disdain as “free press” and “peaceful transition of power.”
And Vought, though newly confirmed, has been behind it all. This isn’t just about “shrinking government” in the standard conservative mold—it’s about obliterating it.
The fingerprints of Project 2025, the far-right blueprint for Trump’s second term co-authored by Vought, are everywhere. Vought has been explicit in his aims: to purge what he calls the “deep state,” kneecap federal agencies that regulate industry and protect public welfare, and concentrate power in the hands of a president who has openly fantasized about ruling as a king.
And let’s be clear: This isn’t about policy preferences.
This isn’t about a philosophical disagreement over the role of government. This is about a small, radicalized faction seizing the levers of power to make democracy itself unworkable.
The Man With the Match, Standing Over the Powder Keg
For those unfamiliar with Russell Vought, allow us to introduce the man now in charge of the federal purse strings.
A self-described “Christian nationalist,” he once wrote that progressivism is “a genuine, contemptible force that needs to be disempowered.”
In conservative circles, he’s regarded as a brilliant tactician—one of the few true believers willing to go to war for Trump’s vision of an all-powerful executive, unconstrained by Congress, the courts, or the Constitution.
He is not, however, a man particularly troubled by legal constraints. Vought has already hinted that he plans to revive the theory of impoundment—a controversial and legally dubious idea that the president can simply ignore congressional spending directives.
The first test case, a clumsily worded federal spending memo, was so legally flimsy that it collapsed in court almost immediately. But no one watching believes Vought is finished. If anything, this was a test balloon.
Next time, he’ll be more careful.
This is how authoritarians operate: They push, they probe, they test the system’s defenses. And when they find a weakness, they exploit it to its breaking point.
Democrats Scramble for a Response—Again
The Democratic response, so far, has been… exactly what you’d expect. Hand-wringing. A flurry of legal challenges.
A vague hope that the courts—stacked with Trump-appointed judges—will intervene.
Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) has suggested that Congress could retaliate by cutting off White House funding if Vought refuses to comply with spending laws, but that would require congressional Democrats to stand as a united front—something that, historically, has been as easy as herding caffeinated squirrels.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has been sounding the alarm, briefing progressive groups on what’s coming. But let’s be honest:
The left has been playing defense since the moment Trump first descended his golden escalator, and Vought is counting on their inability to keep up.
Because Vought, unlike many of Trump’s lackeys, isn’t just here for the power. He’s a true believer. And he has no intention of playing by the rules of a democracy he doesn’t respect.
Where This Ends
It’s tempting to view all of this as just more chaos in the Trump era—a continuation of the same political trench warfare that’s defined American politics for the past decade. But that would be a grave mistake.
This isn’t business as usual. This isn’t politics as usual.
This is an assault on the very idea of accountable governance.
Russell Vought and Donald Trump are not here to “reform” Washington. They are here to remake it, in their image—a government that serves the powerful, punishes the dissenters, and exists only to prop up the ambitions of a man who sees himself as a monarch, not a president.
And the question, the one we’ve been asking for years, remains the same:
What are you going to do about it? Words won’t cut it.
Simply look at the Democrats. Stupid is as stupid does.
Words won’t cut it.
Wake Up America
Project 2025: Welcome to the MAGA Hunger Games—Where Only the Faithful Survive
Russell Vought, the King’s Ruthless, Heartless, Soulless Christian Nationalist Enforcer, Is Here to Burn It All Down
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the next phase of America’s slow-motion trainwreck. If you thought Trump’s first term was an unhinged reality show, season two is shaping up to be a full-blown dystopian nightmare. And leading the charge? Russell Vought—the Grand Inquisitor of the MAGA Kingdom, the Hand of the Wannabe King, and the man who will personally oversee America’s transformation from a democracy into a medieval feudal state where power is hoarded by the rich, the white, and the zealously obedient.
The Senate just confirmed the most dangerous man in Washington, and they did it with all the urgency of a fire department politely knocking on the door of a burning building. Vought isn’t just another far-right bureaucrat—he’s the brains behind Project 2025, the master architect of Trump’s authoritarian wet dream, and the guy who thinks democracy is an outdated inconvenience.
Step Right Up for the Purge—But Not the Fun Hollywood Kind
Let’s break it down: Vought doesn’t want to govern. He wants to dominate.
- His mission? Turn the presidency into a dictatorship with a side of Christian theocracy.
- His plan? Replace every last independent government worker with handpicked MAGA disciples who will sign their loyalty in blood (or at least in NDAs).
- His endgame? Make sure that if Trump (or any successor) takes office again, they’ll never have to worry about pesky things like laws, accountability, or elections ever again.
And if you happen to work for the federal government? Congratulations! You’re now the enemy.
Vought personally designed Trump’s infamous Schedule F, a plan that would fire tens of thousands of civil servants and replace them with sycophantic MAGA foot soldiers. No more nonpartisan experts, no more career professionals—just a full-scale government purge where only the most loyal survive.
His words, not mine: He wants federal employees to be “in trauma” and “not want to go to work.” That’s right—this isn’t about running a functional government. It’s about terrorizing public servants until they either submit or flee.
America, Meet Your New Theocratic Warlord
And if you were hoping for a small break from far-right religious zealotry—sorry, no such luck. Russell Vought doesn’t just want absolute power; he wants absolute power in the name of God.
- Abortion? Banned. Because women’s rights? Overrated.
- LGBTQ+ rights? A “contagion” to be eradicated.
- Immigration? Only if you pass the MAGA purity test. (Hope you studied up on how to “assimilate” into the white nationalist interpretation of “Judeo-Christian values.”)
- Public assistance? Slashed to the bone. If you can’t pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you must be weak and sinful.
Vought doesn’t just believe in policy—he believes in holy war. His ideology is straight out of The Handmaid’s Tale, and he’s already drawing up blueprints for a future where the government isn’t just conservative—it’s a theocratic enforcement agency, designed to ensure that every law, policy, and executive order aligns with a far-right Christian nationalist doctrine.
And guess what? He’s not even hiding it.
The White House Will Be His Castle—And the Rest of Us? Peasants, If We’re Lucky
If Trump takes power again, Vought will be the real ruler behind the throne. Think Game of Thrones, but instead of dragons and honor, we get Christian nationalism, authoritarianism, and a boot stomping on democracy forever.
Senator Brian Schatz nailed it: “Everybody’s watched Game of Thrones—he wants to be the king’s hand.”
Except here’s the difference:
- Tyrion Lannister had a conscience. Vought? Not so much.
- Even Tywin Lannister had some limits. Vought? His limit is how quickly he can bulldoze every remaining safeguard of American democracy.
Senator Elizabeth Warren called him the “puppet master” behind Trump’s financial chaos and extremist policies. And the worst part? She’s right, and he’s only getting started.
Project 2025: The Moment Democracy Dies for Good
If this all sounds like a bad HBO spinoff, I have some bad news—it’s real, it’s happening, and the clock is ticking.
Project 2025 is not some vague political theory. It’s a blueprint for permanent autocratic rule. And thanks to the Senate, Russell Vought is in the perfect position to execute it.
- Mass firings.
- Total loyalty tests.
- A government purged of anyone who doesn’t worship Trump as their divine ruler.
It’s not just about policy anymore—it’s about power. And once they take it, they have no intention of ever letting it go.
So, America, choose your adventure:
A functioning democracy
A theocratic authoritarian hellscape where power is held by a chosen few and everyone else is just trying to survive
Because if Russell Vought and Project 2025 get their way, this isn’t just about Trump’s second term—it’s about making sure there’s never a need for a third election.
Part of the chaos Donald Trump has generated in his first few weeks back in office is that he is attempting to fire people his office does not have the authority to fire.
But these people still lose access to their work, and now lawsuits are being filed. Rachel Maddow talks with Ellen Weintraub, chair of the Federal Election Commission, who was told by Donald Trump that she is fired, even though her position is not one that the president presides over.
Trump’s War on Watchdogs: The Firing Spree That Could Change American Elections
Let’s talk about power—who has it, who’s trying to keep it, and who’s getting steamrolled in the process.
Donald Trump’s White House had a habit of treating oversight like an optional suggestion, and nowhere was that more evident than in his unprecedented firing spree of Inspectors General—the independent watchdogs tasked with making sure the government runs cleanly. Over the course of his presidency, Trump axed 18 of them, across multiple agencies, often without the legally required 30-day notice to Congress.
Among those fired? Phyllis Fong, the longtime Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture. Fong wasn’t some partisan figure—she was a career official, first appointed by President George W. Bush, and had served under both Democratic and Republican administrations for 22 years. But that didn’t seem to matter.
Watchdogs That Refused to Go Quietly
Here’s where things get interesting: despite being fired, Fong showed up to work the next day anyway. Yes, you read that right. She argued the firing was illegal and wasn’t about to go down without a fight. Initial reports claimed she was physically escorted out of the building—a dramatic scene that the USDA later denied. But the message from Trump’s administration was clear: oversight wasn’t welcome.
And she wasn’t alone.
Ellen Weintraub and the Federal Election Commission Crisis
Then there’s Ellen Weintraub, the Chair of the Federal Election Commission. Trump reportedly tried to fire her too, but there’s just one small problem—he legally couldn’t. FEC commissioners can only be removed when their term expires and a new appointee is confirmed by the Senate. Trump, however, didn’t seem too bothered by those pesky legal details.
After the attempted firing, Weintraub found herself locked out of her own email, her computers, and even her office. Just another day in an administration that treated institutional norms like a mild suggestion.
Why This Matters: The FEC and the Floodgates of Dark Money
Now, let’s zoom out for a second. The FEC isn’t just some bureaucratic agency—it’s the government’s main enforcer of campaign finance laws. It’s supposed to monitor political spending, ensure transparency, and prevent corruption. But if Trump disabled the agency by removing commissioners—effectively leaving it without a quorum—suddenly, there’s no one left to enforce the rules.
The result? A potential flood of dark money—untraceable, unlimited campaign cash—pouring into elections with zero oversight. Sound like a democracy-strengthening move? Not exactly.
The Bigger Picture: A System Under Attack
This isn’t just about one or two officials losing their jobs. Trump’s broader strategy—removing independent watchdogs and replacing them with loyalists—chips away at the very foundations of checks and balances. It raises urgent questions about corruption, abuse of power, and the limits of presidential authority over independent agencies.
What Comes Next?
For now, Weintraub is still weighing her options to challenge the dismissal. But if Trump (or any future president) succeeds in gutting the FEC, the consequences for election integrity could be severe.
The real question is: if no one is left to enforce the rules, does the game even matter anymore?
Project 2025
