The quote attributed to a Bush administration advisor, 

"We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality," 

resonates deeply in our current political climate. It speaks to a perceived disregard for objective truth, a sentiment amplified by the MAGA movement. While many of us value facts and science, messages coming from the White House and MAGA across the US are untethered from not only demonstrable truths but also our individual lived experience, what we can verify with our own senses. One of the biggest frustrations prohibiting communication between people within MAGA and those without is that you cannot have a meaningful discussion when the two sides cannot agree on truth.

To take a recent example: The White House message is that ICE is carrying out the mass deportation of illegal immigrants with known ties to gangs. They are thus dangerous criminals and it is too great a risk having them here.

However, the facts are quite different. In particular, many deportees are not illegal immigrants. They were in the country legally. Also in many documented cases the men had no gang ties or criminal records of any kind. They had families and were respected in their communities. ICE has in some cases targeted men with no other evidence than the men had tattoos. One man had an autism-awareness tattoo in honour of his brother and this tattoo was mistaken for a gang tattoo. But even though the mistake was realised, the man has not been released.

If you have faith in the administration, I can understand assuming that ICE had very good reasons for sending these men to a detention centre in another country known for torture and even murder of those incarcerated.

If you have faith in the administration, you might not look into the facts. But when presented with facts, people aligned with MAGA deny the facts entirely. And apparently are happy for men who have had no trial, been convicted of no crime, to be kidnapped and trafficked to another country for the rest of their lives.

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"Magical thinking" is a concept that encompasses the belief that thoughts or intentions can directly influence the physical world. While often associated with pseudoscience or superstition, it's also present in the form of self-fulfilling prophecies, positive affirmations, and even certain interpretations of quantum physics. People like me not only believe in Magical Thinking - or "manifestation" - but attempt to leverage it to bring about positive change (or a yacht, I'm not going to judge wanting stuff). It puts more emphasis on "what could be" than "what is". But it doesn't deny what is.

My concern - and my anger - is that this "magical thinking" is being weaponized for political gain. Critics allege that the MAGA movement has co-opted elements of this concept, particularly in the context of "quantum manifestation," to construct an alternate reality. And it is not a reality in which everyone benefits.

This is where Project 2025 comes into focus.

Project 2025: A Blueprint for a MAGA Reality

Project 2025, spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, is a comprehensive plan aimed at reshaping the executive branch should a Republican candidate win the 2024 presidential election. It outlines a strategy to dismantle the "administrative state" and centralize power within the presidency. 

Key aspects include:

Mass Resignations and Replacements: The plan calls for purging career civil servants deemed disloyal and replacing them with individuals aligned with the MAGA agenda.

Centralized Control: It seeks to consolidate executive power, reducing the autonomy of independent agencies and placing them under direct presidential control. Many agencies are already being dismantled entirely and what services are deemed by the administration to be essential (or those that cause the greatest outcry) are being put under other agencies under more direct control.

Cultural and Religious Conservatism: Project 2025 promotes a socially conservative agenda, emphasizing traditional values. It seeks to limit abortion access, restrict LGBTQ+ rights, and promote Christian nationalism. It is already erasing the many achievements of women and people of colour, creating an ecosystem in which only white men hold value.

Economic Nationalism: The plan advocates for protectionist trade policies, reduced immigration, and a focus on domestic manufacturing. We have seen this playing out with the game of Tariff Roulette in which every single American will lose.

Increased Presidential Power: The plan calls for the invocation of the Insurrection Act on day one, if needed. We're still not sure if this will be invoked. The Act allows the President to deploy federal troops to carry out law enforcement locally. So far news reports only refer to it being used at the border with Mexico to help prevent illegal immigration, but that was before Trump was heard to say that he intended to disappear US citizens to El Salvador.

Media Control: The plan suggests using the FCC to control media narratives. We have seen Trump trying to control the freedom of the press, with the judiciary finding his actions to be unconstitutional. But so far he hasn't actually paid any heed to the courts.

These are just a few of the many points in the Project 2025 plan and we have seen each and every one of them implemented. This nightmarish dissolution of democracy was planned all along. I don't think the Heritage Foundation saw Elon Musk coming. His agenda seems to be to dismantle the government as completely as possible. Not cut waste. Just destroy.

The following sources can provide a deeper understanding of the project:
The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 website.
Reports from organizations like the Brookings Institute, which have analyzed the plan.
This prescient piece from the NEA which explains why Republicans are targeting universities.

The problem with Project 2025 is not that it is Republican and it is not that it is Conservative.

Project 2025 represents a radical departure from democratic norms, aiming to establish a form of authoritarian rule.

Critics see it as an attempt to "manifest" a specific reality through the concentrated application of political will, regardless of factual constraints.

A Counter-Manifestation: A Vision of Equity and Compassion

In contrast to the MAGA vision, many of us aspire to a world defined by equity, compassion, cooperation, and respect. We envision a society that embraces diversity and inclusion, where innovation thrives, and environmental sustainability is paramount. We long for a world free from air, water, soil, and noise pollution, where all work is valued, and the economy prioritizes human well-being.

This vision, too, requires a form of "manifestation." It demands collective action, informed by facts and science, but also fueled by a deep belief in the possibility of a better future. It necessitates a commitment to building bridges, fostering dialogue, and challenging systems of oppression.

While "magical thinking" can be a powerful tool for personal transformation, it becomes dangerous when used to manipulate and control. There is a friction between these competing realities that can't be smoothed. But ultimately the use of magical thinking to deny reality becomes offensive to anyone living within our current reality.

Ultimately, we must remain vigilant in defending objective reality while simultaneously nurturing the seeds of a more just and compassionate world. This requires a delicate balance: acknowledging the power of belief while grounding ourselves in the unwavering pursuit of truth.

Until next time, fly safely.

The Alchemist