With stacked courts and state legislatures, groups are furthering their hardline ideology behind the scenes.
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** What you need to know
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Amidst the theatrics of national politics, it is easy to lose sight of where politics is having an impact. That distinction rests in state legislatures and in the federal judiciary. The Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation (CPCF) and the Federalist Society are two groups advocating for legislation and judicial nominations and hires based on an exclusionary view of America. Many of their judges push for policies and legal rulings that are hostile toward American Muslims and other marginalized communities. Organizations like Prager University (PragerU) work to recruit new members into the fold. Together, these far-right groups build lasting power at the state and judiciary levels.
** The details
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Last year, Religion Dispatches broke the story ([link removed]) of Project Blitz. This state-level campaign is a product of the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation (CPCF). The CPCF, a coalition of Christian groups, seeks to redefine faith in an exclusionary way. These groups flood statehouses with legislation and shift the religious freedom debate. Through these proposals, comes increased discrimination. They also advocate for anti-LGBTQ policies on adoption and marriage. Under Project Blitz, CPCF frames those who oppose their legislation as “anti-faith.”
Last week, Steven Menashi was nominated for a judgeship for the 2nd US Circuit Court of appeals. Menashi has a history of misogyny, homophobia and far-right dog whistling ([link removed]) . He is just the latest of a historic number ([link removed]) of judges appointed to the federal judiciary since 2017. A majority of judges come from the Federalist Society ([link removed]) . They use a literalist interpretation of the Constitution to stage a judicial “counterrevolution ([link removed]) .” Through these appointments, the Federalist Society
has built lasting power. Senators ([link removed]) and Representatives ([link removed]) are pushing back. Their friend-of-the-court briefs criticize the Federalist Society’s “project” and outsized influence.
"Intensely partisan videos ([link removed]) " further the movement. Organizations like Prager University (PragerU), an online video production company, echo alt-right ideology. PragerU creates videos railing against multiculturalism. They offer the CPCF and Federalist Society a stream of indoctrinated young people. According to the LA Times ([link removed]) , PragerU has had “more success rallying young people … than many campaign committees.”
These groups receive funding from the same sources. The Federalist Society raised $20 million in 2017, with $300,000 coming from the Koch brothers. According to the LA Times, PragerU enjoys ([link removed]) $23 million in funding, also from the same group of far-right billionaires.
In her work, Asma Uddin sketches out ([link removed]) a well-integrated machine; one working to bring about lasting legislative and legal change. Her book, “When Islam is Not a Religion ([link removed]) ,” discusses the religious right’s efforts ([link removed]) to use religious freedom laws to exclude Muslims and Islam. Two Supreme Court rulings from earlier this year show the problem with bias. Uddin’s other work focuses on Project Blitz ([link removed]) and the Federalist Society ([link removed]) . Both organizations pose a threat to religious freedom and human rights law. They
work in statehouses, courts, and halls of public opinion to advance their goals. Uddin analyzes how these groups argue that “Islam is not a religion.” They use these tactics to take away respect, protection, or dignity from Muslims.
We can protect against these harms and uphold American pluralism by remaining engaged. We must keep in mind where politics is most impactful: at the state and local levels. There, we can uphold the vision of American pluralism, both as voters and as stewards of an inclusive America.
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