Episode 04: "Faith, Schools and Power

Today we continue our deep dive into the pillars of democracy—this time focusing on two major areas under attack: Separation of Church and State and Education.

Since Trump’s return to office, his administration has rapidly pushed policies that threaten core democratic values. One of the biggest dangers? The growing power of Christian nationalism, which aims to blur the lines between church and state. We’ll also explore Trump’s aggressive changes to education policy—shaping what children learn, who controls the curriculum, and how these shifts could erode democracy for generations to come.

If you care about the future of democracy, free thought, and civil rights, this episode is essential listening.

Quote from Kevin Roberts (Heritage Foundation):
"We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be."

The long-term danger: A misinformed, manipulated electorate—easier to control and less likely to resist authoritarian shifts.

Blue Choir Panelists 

Sandy:
"If curriculum is controlled, we end up with Stepford children—and eventually Stepford adults."

Dianne:
"Education is the foundation of a strong country. We need to do better than mediocrity."

Next Episodes 

• Episode 5
  • With sweeping executive orders, Trump’s administration is dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, reversing decades of civil rights protections, and reshaping the justice system to serve political interests. These moves threaten equal opportunity, limit access to education, and push law enforcement toward authoritarian control.
• Episode 6
  • With Project 2025, Trump’s administration is executing one of the most radical immigration crackdowns in American history. The plan includes mass deportations, the militarization of the border, and efforts to dismantle key protections for vulnerable populations. At the same time, Trump’s second term is defined by state-sponsored disinformation—a calculated effort to blur the lines between fact and fiction. From purging government transparency measures to

Transcript

Bella Goode  00:00

Bella, Hello everyone, and welcome to Surviving Trump. I'm Bella Goode, and today we will be continuing our series looking at the impact that Trump is having on our Pillars of Democracy. I know that this might be dry material to listen to, not exactly the democratic answer to Joe Rogan, but hear me out the more informed we are about our freedoms and the attempts underway to restrict our or remove these freedoms, the better prepared we will be to resist this insanity. 

Since returning to office in January, Trump has spewed out a boatload of policies and executive orders that are having devastating implications for our country. Here's a quote from political columnist Simon Rosenberg, that sums up what many of us are probably feeling. 

"Trump 2.0 is a profound, ongoing portrayal of America and everything that has made this remarkable nation the most powerful and prosperous in the world. It is why we must fight as dark as this all is we cannot for one moment, forget what Trump is doing and what he is doing wrong. He and his project remain deeply unstable and his coalition fractious. He is doing deeply unpopular things, going far beyond his narrow mandate. He is old, he is impulsive, he is reckless and clearly in decline, and these extremists that he has by him side are probably better running a circus than governing. We must stop the backsliding of democracy." 

I began our series on The Pillars of Democracy a few weeks ago, and just to refresh your memory, The Pillars are deeply rooted in the Constitution, but they also draw from broader values and principles that have evolved over time through laws, court decisions and what you might call common practice. I think of the pillars of democracy as a kind of current version of the Constitution. 

During last week's episode, we talked about Checks and Balances, which is Pillar Number Three and Pillar Number Four, Freedom of Speech and Press. In essence, checks and balances exist to prevent any one leader like Trump from becoming too powerful. Efforts to dismantle these protections put the country at risk of authoritarian rule. 

Likewise, controlling the press and limiting free speech means those in power can spread falsehoods without being challenged, making it harder for people to know exactly what is true. If leaders can silence journalists and critics, democracy suffers because informed citizens like you and I are essential for holding power accountable. 

With that said, let's turn our attention to two more of the pillars. In this episode, we will cover Pillar Number Five: The Separation of Church and State, especially with the rise of Christian nationalism, and Pillar Number Six: Education, who is controlling what kids will learn. For each of these I will focus on the actions that are causing concern and the inferred threat to democracy. 

So let's get started. You know, one of these days I'm going to have guests on the show, it would be so much easier and better to present this information going back and forth between someone else and me, but that time hasn't come yet, and so in the meantime, it's just going to be me. 

So let's push on with Pillar Five, Christian Nationalism and blurring the line between church and state. In the United States, the government and religion are supposed to stay separate. We all know that. It's been around for as long as I can remember. It's meant to protect everyone's religious freedom. But in recent years, some politicians and religious groups have been pushing to mix Christianity with government policies. This movement called Christian Nationalism, is growing in power, influencing laws, elections and even the way the country is being run. 

Full disclosure, I am a Christian, but this movement sickens me to the core. How can this doctrine be gaining traction, and for what purpose? I can't believe that this is a recognized faction of the Republican Party. Another way of saying this. I can't believe that there's so many nutcases out there, fellow Americans living amongst us. Maybe they've always been there, but now they have permission to crawl out of the woodwork. Their beliefs are the antithesis of what I believe democracy is all about. 

Christian Nationalists want America to be ruled by their version of Christian beliefs at the cost of democracy and equal rights. They believe religious values should have more authority than democratic rules, and they often support strict traditional views on family, gender and religion. Two major forces behind this movement. One is project 2025, an extreme conservative plan to reshape the government and Donald Trump's strong ties with Christian Nationalist leaders. That's the second major force. 

These forces are working together to push America towards a system that prioritizes religious beliefs over democracy, freedom and fairness. Information about Project 2025 started to emerge a couple of years ago and then intensified during Trump's campaign. It's a plan for Christian- for a Christian Nationalist government. The Heritage Foundation, which is a powerful conservative group, created Project 2025 with the intentions to change the US government under a right wing president, and that'd be Donald Trump. The plan would replace experienced government workers with people who share their religious and political beliefs, undoing progress on civil rights and enforcing Christian Nationalist ideas across the country. 

Project 2025 has four main goals. The first one, the mandate for leadership. 2025 it's a 900 page guide outlining exactly how to take control of the government. Number two of their plan, a hiring test only people who pass a religious and political loyalty test would be hired for government jobs. I can't believe it, even though I'm reading it. And number three, a training program, a school to train teacher leaders in Christian Nationalist values. And number four of their plan is The 180 Day Plan, a step by step guide to make extreme policy changes within six months of taking office. 

I feel as if this train is starting down the track, which is pretty concerning. I find this mission mind boggling, like something from a different planet. Initially, I'm staggered that there are Americans out there who could follow this ideology. At its core project 2025 wants the government to follow Christian teachings over constitutional rights. It would remove protections for groups like LGBTQ, women and non Christian religious minorities. It also plans to ban abortion, shut down diversity programs, and get rid of government agencies that don't allow- align with its belief. 

The scariest bit of this all is Russell Vought. He is now the head of OMB, the powerful Office of Management and Budget thanks to Trump and the GOP Senate. He is also the chief architect of project 2025 you can be sure he will be advancing his beliefs for at least the next four years. Kevin Roberts, the head of the Heritage Foundation, made their intentions clear when he said, "We are in the process of the Second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be." 

This is not just talk, Project 2025 is being put into action, and if successful, it will dismantle democratic institutions and replace them with policies that force Christian Nationalist beliefs onto the entire country. The second force behind this movement is Trump's reliance on support from Christian Nationalist leaders, even though his personal actions don't exactly match their religious values. To quote Winston Churchill, at the start of World War Two, "it's a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma". But not really. 

In true Trump fashion, in return for their loyalty, he has promised to push their agenda using government's power. Doesn't actually matter what his religion is, even if he has one. Trump has recently made several decisions, including creating a task force to fight what he calls anti Christian bias in the government. He has also pardoned anti abortion activists who broke the law to block clinics. In addition, he has banned the legal recognition of transgender people and government records. 

Another move he made has been setting up a White House Office led by televangelist Paula White. Trump's message is clear. He will give special treatment to conservative Christians, while limiting the rights of non Christians, LGBTQ and others who don't fit his vision of America, he has also partnered with Christian Zionists, including Pastor John Hagee and former Governor Mike Huckabee. These leaders believe America's foreign policy should be guided by religious prophecy, which has influenced Trump's decisions on global politics. I wonder if that had anything to do with the move on Gaza. 

There also appears to be a connection between Christian Nationalism and political violence. One of the most striking moments from the January 6 attack on the US Capitol was a man kneeling in prayer before a wooden cross as rioters stormed the building, this moment showed how some- how Christian Nationalism and political extremism have become closely linked. Many say white Christian Nationalism is a form of fake Christianity that uses religion to justify racism, sexism and authoritarian rule. 

Of course, I'm in that camp. I think it's fake. Experts warn that with Trump back in the office, this movement will have even more influence over government policy. Historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez, and sorry for butchering her name, she explains that 

"this is not a pluralist vision for America. It is a vision for seizing power and using that power to usher in a Christian America. We need to be aware of several important issues. For one, there is a push to take away LGBTQ rights, including same sex marriage. Some want to completely ban abortion by saying that life begins at the moment of conception. They are also trying to ban certain books and change school history lessons to match Christian Nationalist beliefs. Another concern is shifting money from public schools to private Christian schools, which is part of the bigger plan to get rid of the Department of Education. In the long run, there is also a risk that civil rights laws could be changed to follow religious rules instead of democratic values. Under this system, religious freedom would only apply to those who follow Christian Nationalists belief, everyone else, non Christians, political opponents, LGBTQ people, we will be treated as second class citizens." 

This is unbelievable, and what is likely to happen if they take control? Well, it's going to reshape our government. The country would no longer be a secular democracy. Instead, religious beliefs would dictate government policies, creating a system similar to a theocracy. There could be more political violence. Christian Nationalist rhetoric promotes conflict and increasing the risk of political violence. Critics warn that this could lead to an American version of Viktor Orbán's Hungary, where religious conservatism and authoritarianism work together to crush the opposition. 

Of course, some people do dismiss concerns about Christian Nationalism, saying that it's not a serious threat, but history shows that democracies can fall when people ignore warning signs. The movement behind project 2025, and Trump's Christian nationalist allies is not about religious faith. It is about power. As Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State put it, "This is not about religious freedom. It's about making America into an ultra conservative Christian Nationalist nation. Now we Americans, we must decide, will we stand up against Christian Nationalism and protect democracy, or will we allow this movement to reshape the country into a place where religious ideology controls government, civil rights and everyday life?" 

With that said, let's move on to our next pillar, which is education. We're on to Pillar Six: Who Controls Education? Education shapes the way future generations think. Lately, there's been a push to change what students learn to match certain political views. Under the Trump presidency, big changes could be coming to American education. One of the biggest debates is whether to shut down the US Department of Education. 

Trump and his supporters, backed by conservative groups like the Heritage Foundations project 2025 want to reduce federal government's roles in schools and change how education is funded and give more power to states and local communities. The current debate and key proposals will impact students, teachers and schools across the country, there are major changes being proposed in educational policy. 

For example, Donald Trump wants to shut down the Department of Education, arguing that states and local governments should control schools instead, however many Republican led states depend heavily on federal funding, which means they could struggle if education is decentralized. For years, Republicans have claimed that the federal government shouldn't be involved in education, calling it a waste of money. 

The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 outlines a plan to eliminate the Department of Education and transfer its responsibilities to other agencies. However, critics say this plan isn't realistic. In the past, similar efforts have failed due to legal and political obstacles. Trump also wants changes to federal school funding. 

Another major shift could affect how schools receive federal funding. Currently, about 14% of public school budgets come from federal money, mainly to support low income schools through programs like Title One and special education Project 2025. Proposes turning his funding into block grants, which would give states more control over how to spend the money. This could result in shifting funds away from public schools and towards private and religious schools. However, states that rely on federal funding might see teacher layoffs in school closures if these changes are implemented.

Another thing that Trump is pushing for is school choice. He strongly supports expanding school choice. He advocates for school vouchers, charter schools, Educational Savings accounts, which are also called ESAs that allow parents to decide how their children are going to be educated. One example is Arizona's ESA program, again, Educational Savings accounts, program which lets parents use public money for private school tuition, home schooling or other educational costs. 

While supporters argue that this gives families more options, critics warn that it takes funding away from public schools as a result, lower income students may have fewer opportunities to access a quality education. Trump put civil rights protections at risk. Proposed educational policies could also roll back civil rights protections. For example, Title Nine protections for LGBTQ students may be eliminated, requiring schools to recognize students by their birth assigned gender and less parents approve otherwise. Trump's administration is also expected to ban or limit lessons on race, gender and critical race theory in public schools. 

Additionally, the Office for Civil Rights, which enforces anti discrimination laws in education, could be transferred to the Department of Justice. Critics fear that this move will weaken protections from minorities and LGBTQ students under Trump, Special Education and Disability Rights could change. Changes to special education funding are also on the table. Federal support for special education could become block grants, giving states more power again over how that money is spent. Some proposals suggest giving parents direct payments to cover private special education costs. However, critics again warn that this could lead to less oversight and less accountability. 

Additionally, efforts to address racial bias in special education could be eliminated, potentially reducing protections for minority students. The other segment that is likely to be affected is higher education. They may face future restrictions. Colleges and universities could also be affected by these new policies. Trump's administration is expected to limit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs on campus. Affirmative action policies could face new legal challenges, and the federal government might tighten control over college accreditation. 

These changes could make it harder for schools that don't align with conservative policies to receive federal funding. Student loan forgiveness programs are also likely to end, and Parent Plus loans may be phased out. This would leave families fully responsible for college costs, making higher education less accessible for many students. 

How are these changes likely to affect democracy? Well, education plays a very crucial role in strong- in a strong democracy, schools teach students about government, critical thinking and their rights as citizens. If Trump's proposed educational policies take effect, they could have major consequences for civic engagement, social equality and political participation. 

The proposed changes will weaken civic education without federal oversight, states could teach civics in vastly different ways. Some may focus on patriotic education, while others stick with a broader curriculum. Eliminating federal education standards could make history government and civil rights lessons inconsistent across the country, expanding school choice and privatization could also mean that students never take civic courses. This could leave them unprepared to vote and participate in democracy. The proposed changes will widen the educational gap. That's another impact on democracy. 

Privatization efforts such as school vouchers and ESAs could make it harder for low income students to access quality education. Public schools, which play a key role in civic engagement, might lose funding without proper education. Students may struggle to understand how the government works and what their rights are. Students show that public school students generally receive better civics educations than those in private or religious schools. 

If public school funding is cut, fewer students may get the education needed to become informed citizens. The proposed changes will control how history is taught. Restrictions on teaching race, gender and systematic inequality could make it harder for students to develop critical thinking skills about history. Efforts to promote patriotic education and ban certain books might limit exposure to diverse perspectives. 

When students aren't encouraged to question authority and debate different viewpoints democracy weakens. A less informed public becomes more vulnerable to political manipulation. The proposed changes will roll back civil rights protections. If protections for LGBTQ students, racial minorities and students with disabilities are removed, students could become less inclusive without federal oversight. States may implement discriminatory policies that push marginalized students out of academic and civic life. 

A country that allows discrimination in education may also weaken voting rights, workplace protections and public equality laws. These changes could have a long term consequence for social justice and democracy. The proposed changes will limit higher education's role in democracy, reducing DEI programs and increasing political control over college accreditation could lead to more restrictions on what universities can teach. 

Conservatives argue that colleges push liberal ideas and that new policies may attempt to limit certain subjects. Ending student loan forgiveness and restricting financial aid could also make college less accessible, especially for low income and minority students. Historically, universities have been hubs for political activism. If they lose funding and academic freedom, students may have fewer opportunities to challenge government policies, sounds like we're going backwards. 

And then finally, six, the proposed changes will reduce political participation. A weaker public education system could result in fewer students learning about their voting rights and responsibilities. If civics education becomes optional or inconsistent, misinformation could spread and fewer people might participate in politics. Cuts to public school funding could disproportionately affect minority and low income students, making them less likely to become informed voters. Over time, an undereducated population is easier to control, increasing the risk of authoritarian policies going unchallenged. 

History has shown the dangers of restricting education. For those of you who remember, in Cambodia during the 1970s The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, shut down schools and banned education. They targeted and killed educated citizens to create a new controlled society. Their mission depended on an uneducated population that couldn't resist their rule. So what's at stake here? Well, education is the foundation of democracy. If federal oversight is reduced, privatization expands, certain subjects are censored and fewer people can afford higher education. 

The impact on democracy will be devastating. It will result in a less educated public which is easier to manipulate, an unequal educational system that deepens class divide and limiting academic freedom makes it harder for people to challenge government policies. The debate over education isn't just about schools. It's about who holds the power in the future. If these policies take effect, they could shift control of knowledge and political influence away from the public and into the hands of a few. 

My panelists, who I call The Blue Choir, have strong opinions on the future of education, for example, from Sandy, 

"The Pillar I value most is education. We need a population that understands our real past and tools to discern truth from lies. And let's face it, learning is fun and challenging and necessary for our existence. If curriculum is controlled, we end up like Stepford children and eventually Stepford adults." 

Well, that's one way of putting it. Diane also shares her passion for education. 

"I cherish the role of education and advocating for what children learn. As a former teacher, we need to do better than mediocracy and our expectations by guiding children in every school to become proficient in all areas of academics, our colleges need to be fiercely teaching and demanding excellence in teacher training in this new era of technology. Education is the foundation of a strong, successful country. We need to look at our standards and improve them." 

So concluding our episode today, mixing religion with government and restricting education threaten democracy by limiting knowledge and increasing control over what people believe when schools become places for political influence instead of learning, the next generation may not have the tools to think critically or challenge unfair systems. 

A democracy cannot survive if people are kept in the dark or if only one version of truth is allowed. These threats to democracy are connected, and if they continue unchecked, the foundation of freedom and fairness in the US will crumble. 

We continue our discussion of The Pillars of Democracy next week, when we will cover Pillar Seven: Civil Rights, rolling back freedoms and Pillar Eight: A Politicized Military and Law Enforcement. Until then, two requests I always make a view. One is, leave a comment. The transcript for today's episode is available along with references and links. Start a discussion, ask questions, challenge ideas. This is your community and my community. Secondly, leave a review. If this podcast resonates with you. Let me know. If it doesn't, tell me that too. I want to get it right. Should I keep going? Should I tweak the approach? Your honesty is invaluable. Oh, and follow me on Blue Sky. 

On that note, I'll leave you with some Borowitz humor. Dateline Washington, The Borowitz Report, calling the South African tech titan some kind of genius. Donald J Trump revealed on Tuesday that Elon Musk had discovered a huge fraud in the Oval Office. "Elon has been going through things." Trump said, "he said that the fraud turned up in 2017 and went away in 2021 but now it's back again." He said, "it's unbelievable what a waste this gigantic fraud is!" Trump continued. "This should never be allowed to happen in this country." Trump said that "the fraud won't be around much longer", adding that "Elon's got a plan to get rid of it right away." 

Until next time, stay engaged, stay informed, and most importantly, stay in the fight. This is Bella Goode, signing off.