The Heritage Foundation, the premier conservative think tank in America for several decades, has come up with a grand agenda for the next Republican administration. It's called Project 2025, and it is causing panic on the left.
The heart of the Project is a 900-page-plus policy manual, the "Mandate for Leadership." It's a comprehensive manifesto of what conservatives would like to achieve in reforming government, expanding freedom, and defending values.
https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf
Project 2025 goes even further, and aims to staff the future administration. It even asks people to submit resumes for White House positions they may be interested in. It also has plans to manage the transition within federal agencies.
Something like this effort is absolutely necessary and long overdue. Few people can master 922 pages of policy recommendations, but the manual will serve as a useful way to make sure people are at least singing from the same song sheet.
It's not a particularly Trump-oriented manual, and I believe it reflects more of a traditional establishment conservative consensus. Trump has already come out with his own concise policy manifesto, which is the official Republican platform.
My own effort in "The Agenda" is different from all of the above. It is a simple description of executive orders and actions that the president can do on Day One of his administration without help from Congress or either political party.
I did not consult Project 2025 or the Trump campaign, though there are broad areas of agreement. In "The Agenda," I keep it simple, and provide a way for a lame-duck White House beset by enemies to make the biggest possible impact.
Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/164821116X
This week's portion elucidates some of the first laws and principles of the Torah that follow the Ten Commandments, including -- a message particularly relevant to freed slaves -- the Jewish restrictions on indentured servitude.
God also provides the basic civil laws of Jewish society, governing almost every area of life -- in this one portion! -- as well as several basic principles of faith and religious observance. Moses then ascends Sinai for 40 days.
One of the laws God gives is the law against taunting a foreigner. This is different from allowing people to enter your land illegally; it is about showing respect, however, for people from other lands and other groups.
I am reminded of the importance of this principle because of the rhetoric lately attacking Elon Musk, a fellow South African-turned-American, for his foreign roots -- often by people who favor illegal immigration, ironically.
...
Since the Palisades Fire on January 7, my posts have been fairly sparse. I have just been so busy -- fighting the fire, covering the fire, helping neighbors, and launching a new podcast, "Three Homeless Guys," with two local friends.
Things are up and down. My family is still displaced, and we haven't resolved our living situation. We are awaiting answers from the insurance company (State Farm) on what they will cover, including alternative living expenses.
There are some incredible opportunities opening up -- more on that later -- and our kids are generally doing well, though this has been hard for them as well (especially the two middle kids, who miss their friends and their house).
The emotion of it all hit me yesterday. Today I feel wrung out. But I also feel that, in a way, going through the fire has been a process of refinement, of re-casting in a new mould, to face new challenges. And to win each new day.
So much to talk about, once again, as the Trump administration continues at breakneck pace. From DOGE chewing through the federal bureaucracy, to Marco Rubio heading out on his first missions for Trump, there's so much...
Special guests:
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio -- on the L.A. fires and reforming CA insurance
Matt Boyle -- Breitbart News political editor, on DOGE and confirmations
Jamie Paige -- founder of the Westside Current, on L.A. politics and the fires
Frances Martel -- Breitbart News foreign editor, on Rubio and Russia/Ukraine
Rob Hersov -- South African commentator, on SA's fight with the White House
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