
Surviving Trump: With Democracy On Life Support
Surviving Trump is your indispensable guide to navigating the challenges and contradictions of life under the second Trump administration. In the first 20–25 segments we’ll uncover what’s truly at stake: our democracy. You'll deep dive into the key players, from Trump and Musk (with candid insights into their mental states) to MAGA supporters and other Trump loyalists, revealing who they are and why they pose a threat to democratic values. This essential guide equips you with the knowledge and insight to confidently navigate the turbulent years ahead, empowering you to make informed decisions and take proactive action as challenges emerge.
Surviving Trump: With Democracy On Life Support
Episode 12: Russell Vought – The Man Rewriting America’s Future
Donald Trump’s second term isn’t about governance—it’s about absolute power. But behind the headlines and the chaos, Russell Vought is quietly orchestrating one of the most radical transformations of the U.S. government in modern history.
Unlike Trump, Vought isn’t a showman. He’s a strategist, an ideologue, and one of the key architects of Project 2025—a blueprint for dismantling democracy and consolidating presidential authority. Today, we expose his master plan, breaking down:
- Vought’s rise to power – How he embedded himself in Washington’s most powerful conservative institutions.
- Weaponizing the federal government – Purging civil servants, stacking agencies with loyalists, and rewriting the Constitution.
- Christian nationalism as policy – His vision for a government that enforces religious doctrine over civil rights.
- The “deep state” purge – His role in dismantling checks and balances.
- Controlling public institutions – Rewriting education, weaponizing law enforcement, and crushing dissent.
- Trump’s second-term strategy – The real threat: an authoritarian government that may never relinquish power.
Vought isn’t just working behind the scenes—he’s making Trump’s dictatorship a reality.
Next Episode:
Episode 13 – the first episode in our series on Elon Musk… his background
- Psychological Profile
- Childhood experience, unconventional family life
- Trauma and survival mechanisms
Host: Bella Goode
About Bella: Bella is a former Republican turned democracy advocate raised by middle class parents in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Pennsylvania with a masters of business administration from Wharton and a Masters Degree in Positive Psychology.
Career wise, Bella spent 20 years with American Express in New York and 20 years as an entrepreneur. She started and sold a fitness business that grew to 180 locations worldwide.
Community :
- Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – Your feedback helps this show reach more people. Click here to review.
- Join the conversation on Bluesky – Share your thoughts, ask questions, and engage with the community. Find me at @survivingtrump.bsky.social
- Share this episode – If you found this podcast valuable, send it to a friend and tag us on social media.
- Contact me at bellagoodepodcast@gmail.com with questions or comments
- Support the Show