LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Democrats in Michigan and around the nation are trying to tie former President Donald Trump to Project 2025, a so-called conservative blueprint they believe will lead to America’s downfall.

Words like “dangerous” and “dictator,” along with phrases like “taking our country backwards” have been thrown around in attempts to tie Trump to the Democrats’ vague notion of impending doom and the end of democracy if Trump is elected to a second term.

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Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) did her best to instill this fear about Project 2025 at the Democratic National Convention last month in Chicago.

 

However, sorting out the facts is critical in an election year, and platforms of both presidential candidates are worth noting.

What is “Project 2025?”

Project 2025 is the brainchild of The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. According to its website, “Heritage’s mission is to formulate and promote public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.” It’s been advocating for conservative policies in government since 1973.

The 900-page collection of policies that conservatives would like to see implemented in Washington was published in April 2023. However, the idea of it being tied to Trump started gaining traction as he picked up primary election wins earlier this year.

Project 2025 includes conservative mainstays like securing the border, boosting American energy production, holding unelected bureaucrats accountable, and banning biological males from competing in women’s sports.

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Advisory board members include some advisors from Michigan’s Hillsdale College along with several former Trump advisors.

Trump’s policies outlined in “Agenda 47.”

Trump has listed his official platform, Agenda 47, on his campaign website. It calls for conservative policies similar to his first term in office.

According to his website, those include stopping the migrant invasion at the southern border and deporting illegal aliens, ending inflation, defending the constitution, ending the weaponization of the government against the people, cancelling the electric vehicle mandate, preventing World War III, and protecting social security and Medicare.

Many Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, said Trump will sign a national abortion ban if elected. However, there is no mention of an abortion policy on the “Agenda 47” page, and the U.S. Supreme Court took care of national abortion regulations when it struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022. That decision returned abortion regulations to the states.

In Michigan, abortion has been enshrined into the state constitution through a 2022 voter initiative and is legal through the moment of birth.

What is “Election 24: Issues at Stake?”

On the opposite side of the political coin is the liberal-leaning Brookings Institute. It boasts an “Election 24: Issues at Stake” on its website comparable to Project 2025. But most people would be hard-pressed to find anyone talking about it in the media.

Brookings, founded in 1916, describes the initiative on its website as, “equipping leaders with insights and policy ideas to help them govern in 2025 and beyond.” It’s main “issues at stake” include jobs and the economy, the role of the government, responsible AI, America’s role in the world, and combating the climate crisis.

On its website, Brookings says this year’s election “takes place in the shadow of disruptive global perils, including major conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, intensifying strategic competition with China, and a surge of migrants from around the world along America’s southern border.”

It also echoes Democratic talking points heard recently regarding climate change. “The risks of climate change are clear: rising global temperatures are causing more frequent, severe weather events impacting homes and businesses; degrading ecosystems and infrastructures; creating instability in households’ access to food and drinking water.”

These same sentiments have been expressed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. In 2021, she cited the “climate crisis” and “aging infrastructure” as the cause of record flooding in Detroit.

What are the policies of VP Kamala Harris?

As of Wednesday, Sept. 4, Harris had yet to add any policies to her campaign page.

In the “Meet Kamala Harris” section of her website, she mentions “standing up against extremists” and “defending reproductive freedom.”  She touts “bringing our economy back from the brink of disaster” but ignores record inflation incurred under the Biden administration.

Harris is visiting battleground states, including Michigan, and has mentioned what she will do “on day one.” However, many have pointed out she could implement all these policies now as vice president, including securing the border as the Biden “Border Czar.”

Voters will cast their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 5.