Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The panel dissects the appointment of Russell Vought as the new head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), highlighting his concerning ties to extremist ideologies. The OMB wields significant power over the allocation of federal funds, affecting everything from defense to social programs. This means Vought, an open Christian nationalist with links to Project 2025, now has enormous influence over the financial workings of the U.S. government. His past includes advocating for the use of military force against protesters, dismantling federal agencies like the EPA, and cutting funding for social services, public education, and reproductive rights.
Vought’s think tank, the Center for Renewing America, promotes a theocratic vision for the U.S., openly stating its mission to establish a nation “under God” and dismantle federal protections against corporate and governmental overreach. His policies aim to consolidate executive power and undermine institutions designed to maintain democratic stability. The panel expresses alarm at his ambitions and notes the eerie historical parallels between his rhetoric and past authoritarian regimes.
The discussion shifts to the structural issue of how the OMB interacts with Congress. While Congress technically controls the budget, the OMB has discretion in how funds are allocated, allowing someone like Vought to defund agencies by simply depriving them of resources. This loophole, which has existed for decades, now poses a dire risk given Vought’s extremist agenda.
Panelists Stephen and EJ, representing perspectives from Canada and Scotland, respectively, contrast their countries’ political systems with the U.S. model. Stephen highlights how Canada’s multi-party system prevents any single ideology from dominating, ensuring political diversity and negotiation. EJ warns that Europe has witnessed the consequences of unchecked fascism before and refuses to stand by while such forces gain traction in the U.S. Both express horror at the open rise of authoritarianism in American politics, particularly the normalization of fascist rhetoric and demonstrations.
The conversation concludes on a somber note, with a recognition that while Vought’s appointment is deeply troubling, the fight against authoritarianism is ongoing, and international allies remain committed to resisting its spread.
🚨 Budget Cuts & Bible Thumps!
🏛️ The OMB’s New Overlord
💰 Christian Nationalism’s Payday
🔥 Project 2025: America’s Fire Sale
⚖️ Defunding Democracy, One Step at a Time
🇨🇦 Canada Watches in Horror
🛑 No Money for the Poor, Plenty for Theocracy
🏴☠️ Government Looting, Evangelical Edition
📜 The Constitution? Never Heard of It
☠️ Fascism: Now Budget-Friendly!
The OMB’s Dangerous New Direction
Russell Vought: Christian Nationalist in Power
How One Man Can Defund Democracy
Project 2025: Theocratic Takeover Begins
Budget Control as a Tool for Extremism
Authoritarianism Grows Within the U.S. Government
Congress vs. The OMB: A Structural Weakness
International Alarm Over U.S. Political Shift
Federal Funding at Risk Under Vought
The Dismantling of American Institutions
A Project 2025 mastermind now holds the reins of the federal bureaucracy
Mother Jones, By Isabela Dias, on February 6, 2025
motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/russell-vought-confirmed-senate-omb-project-2025-christian-nationalism
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► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
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The Non-Prophets is a internet show airing at 06:00pm Central time Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday each week. Where we navigate through current events, providing a secular viewpoint that adds depth to the unfolding narrative.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)
► atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2024 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
The panel dissects the appointment of Russell Vought as the new head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), highlighting his concerning ties to extremist ideologies. The OMB wields significant power over the allocation of federal funds, affecting everything from defense to social programs. This means Vought, an open Christian nationalist with links to Project 2025, now has enormous influence over the financial workings of the U.S. government. His past includes advocating for the use of military force against protesters, dismantling federal agencies like the EPA, and cutting funding for social services, public education, and reproductive rights.
Vought’s think tank, the Center for Renewing America, promotes a theocratic vision for the U.S., openly stating its mission to establish a nation “under God” and dismantle federal protections against corporate and governmental overreach. His policies aim to consolidate executive power and undermine institutions designed to maintain democratic stability. The panel expresses alarm at his ambitions and notes the eerie historical parallels between his rhetoric and past authoritarian regimes.
The discussion shifts to the structural issue of how the OMB interacts with Congress. While Congress technically controls the budget, the OMB has discretion in how funds are allocated, allowing someone like Vought to defund agencies by simply depriving them of resources. This loophole, which has existed for decades, now poses a dire risk given Vought’s extremist agenda.
Panelists Stephen and EJ, representing perspectives from Canada and Scotland, respectively, contrast their countries’ political systems with the U.S. model. Stephen highlights how Canada’s multi-party system prevents any single ideology from dominating, ensuring political diversity and negotiation. EJ warns that Europe has witnessed the consequences of unchecked fascism before and refuses to stand by while such forces gain traction in the U.S. Both express horror at the open rise of authoritarianism in American politics, particularly the normalization of fascist rhetoric and demonstrations.
The conversation concludes on a somber note, with a recognition that while Vought’s appointment is deeply troubling, the fight against authoritarianism is ongoing, and international allies remain committed to resisting its spread.
🚨 Budget Cuts & Bible Thumps!
🏛️ The OMB’s New Overlord
💰 Christian Nationalism’s Payday
🔥 Project 2025: America’s Fire Sale
⚖️ Defunding Democracy, One Step at a Time
🇨🇦 Canada Watches in Horror
🛑 No Money for the Poor, Plenty for Theocracy
🏴☠️ Government Looting, Evangelical Edition
📜 The Constitution? Never Heard of It
☠️ Fascism: Now Budget-Friendly!
The OMB’s Dangerous New Direction
Russell Vought: Christian Nationalist in Power
How One Man Can Defund Democracy
Project 2025: Theocratic Takeover Begins
Budget Control as a Tool for Extremism
Authoritarianism Grows Within the U.S. Government
Congress vs. The OMB: A Structural Weakness
International Alarm Over U.S. Political Shift
Federal Funding at Risk Under Vought
The Dismantling of American Institutions
A Project 2025 mastermind now holds the reins of the federal bureaucracy
Mother Jones, By Isabela Dias, on February 6, 2025
motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/russell-vought-confirmed-senate-omb-project-2025-christian-nationalism
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: tiny.cc/patreonnp
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show.
► tiny.cc/fbnp
► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
-------
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a internet show airing at 06:00pm Central time Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday each week. Where we navigate through current events, providing a secular viewpoint that adds depth to the unfolding narrative.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)
► atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2024 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
