These leaked videos, obtained by ProPublica and Documented, expose the secretive training program designed to prepare an army of conservative loyalists to take over the federal government and implement a radical agenda.

What You’ll See and Hear:

These videos feature presentations and discussions by prominent conservative figures, including former Trump administration officials, Heritage Foundation experts, and leaders of other right-wing organizations. They offer a chilling glimpse into the minds of those who seek to control the levers of power in a future conservative administration.

Key Themes:

  • Confrontational Tactics: The videos emphasize aggressive strategies for challenging the status quo, dismantling the “administrative state,” and implementing a conservative agenda, often bypassing traditional norms and democratic processes.
  • Loyalty Above All: Speakers stress the importance of loyalty to the President and his agenda, urging appointees to be “watchdogs” and to “rein in” the bureaucracy, potentially creating a climate of fear and silencing dissent within the government.
  • “Us vs. Them” Mentality: The videos foster a divisive “us vs. them” mentality, portraying liberals, the media, and career civil servants as enemies who must be defeated.
  • Manipulating the Media: Appointees are instructed on how to bypass mainstream media outlets, control the narrative, and use social media to promote a conservative message, potentially leading to the spread of misinformation and propaganda.
  • Undermining Democratic Processes: The videos reveal a disregard for democratic norms and a willingness to use executive power to circumvent Congress and the courts, potentially eroding checks and balances and the rule of law.

Why This Matters:

These videos are a wake-up call. They reveal the extent to which the conservative movement is actively preparing for a future administration, training a cadre of loyalists to implement a radical agenda that could have devastating consequences for our democracy, our environment, and our rights.

Watch the Videos. Read the Transcripts. Get Informed.

The future of our country is at stake. We must expose this agenda, educate the public about its dangers, and mobilize opposition to prevent it from becoming a reality.

  1. Conserving America: Matthew Spalding, a vice president at Hillsdale College, sets out the landscape for the Presidential Administration Academy by talking about common conservative principles.
  2. The History of the Conservative Movement: Christopher Malagisi, the executive director of outreach for Hillsdale College’s Washington, D.C., campus, gives a history that spans from the early-20th century Progressive Era to the 1964 defeat of Barry Goldwater and the “Reagan revolution.”
  3. Why Your Service Matters: How Presidential Appointees at All Levels Impact Policy: Three Heritage Foundation experts discuss the role that political appointees play in making policy.
  4. Political Appointees & The Federal Workforce: Spencer Chretien discusses the critical role that he says political appointees play in carrying out the vision of a conservative administration.
  5. Presidential Transitions & Appointee Hiring: What You Need To Know: Ed Corrigan and Rick Dearborn outline how an aspiring political appointee can get a foot in the door during a presidential transition.
  6. Deep Dive on The Federal Background Investigation & Security Clearance Process: James Sherk gives an overview of the federal government’s background check process, including what disqualifies an individual, like substance abuse issues, and what does not.
  7. The Political Appointee’s Survival Guide: Bethany Kozma, who was the deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development during the Trump administration, talks with six other former Trump administration staffers about what it’s like to serve as a political appointee in the federal government.
  8. Time Management for Political Appointees: Katie Sullivan explains how political appointees can maximize their time in government by vetting whom they meet with and not allowing career civil servants to fill their calendar with meetings.
  9. The Art of Professionalism: Chris Hayes and Karoline Leavitt discuss tenets of how to act with professionalism while serving in government.
  10. How to Staff Your Principal: Jeff Small discusses the day-to-day work of serving closely with a senior government official like a cabinet secretary.
  11. Hidden Meanings: The Monsters in the Attic: Katie Sullivan and Bethany Kozma discuss supposed left-wing code words and biased language that future appointees should be aware of and root out.
  12. How to Work With the Media: Alexei Woltornist talks about how political appointees should navigate the modern media environment, including bypassing mainstream news sources and focusing on conservative outlets because those are the only ones conservative voters trust.
  13. Oversight & Investigations: Mike Howell, Tom Jones and Michael Ding explain what government oversight entails, the ins and outs of public-records laws and how political appointees should think about when and when not to put sensitive communications in writing.
  14. The Federal Budget Process: Michael Duffey explains key budgetary policies, such as the difference between appropriations and authorization bills and discretionary versus mandatory spending.
  15. The Administrative State: What it is & How to Address the Problem: Paul Ray explains what the so-called administrative state does and how a conservative administration could use its authority to rein in government regulation.
  16. How to Promulgate a Rule: David Burton discusses how the federal government’s regulatory process works and the role of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
  17. Taking the Reins: How Conservatives Can Win the Regulations Game: Roger Severino talks about what lessons conservatives learned about passing new rules during the Trump presidency and how to be more effective in a future conservative administration.
  18. Executive Order Drafting & Implementation: Steven G. Bradbury explains the process of writing and carrying out executive orders, drawing on experience from the Trump presidency.
  19. Advancing the President’s Agenda as a Political Executive: Donald J. Devine and James Bacon discuss different strategies for promoting the president’s policies as a high-ranking political appointee.
  20. How to Get Your Policy Through the Agency: Dan Huff talks about how to navigate the policymaking process in the executive branch.
  21. Congressional Relations: How to work with Members: Hugh Fike and James Braid talk about what executive branch political appointees should know and expect about working with congressional offices and elected officials.
  22. Building Winning Coalitions to Advance Policy: Paul Teller and Sarah Makin discuss what strategies political appointees can use to work with pro-life, gun-rights and other outside advocacy groups to pass policies.
  23. Best Practices in Social Media to Advance Policy: Ben Friedmann explains how political appointees can most effectively use social media to promote conservative policies and messages.