Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Testing.
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
Good, because what I'm about tosay they hope you never do.
You're seeing it all overTikTok Project Esther.
Some are calling it the nextProject 2025.
Others are saying it's just astrategy to stop terrorism.
(00:21):
But let me break it down foryou, like we do here on Sassy
Politics, with clarity,compassion and a sledgehammer,
if we need to.
This one, it touches everyone.
I'm Christy Chanel and this isSassy Politics.
(00:45):
Project Esther is a politicalplan from the Heritage
Foundation Yep the same peoplebehind Project 2025.
But instead of targeting justfederal agencies, this one goes
after protesters, students,educators and nonprofits.
It's a playbook to silencepro-Palestinian voices, merge
(01:06):
religion and state andcriminalize free speech.
Let me break it down for you.
You've heard of RICO laws,right?
They were made to take down themafia, drug rings,
extortionists, organized crime.
Now, under Project Esther, theywant to use those same laws to
(01:27):
go after advocacy organizations.
That means if a student grouppeacefully protests in support
of Gaza and someone donates tothem, they could be labeled as
part of a terrorist network.
They are taking tools fororganized crime and using them
on people organizing for justice.
(01:49):
Project Esther pushesuniversities to fire professors
or shut down departments if theyteach anything that challenges
US policy, colonization orsupport for Israel.
What's that look like?
It means programs like BlackStudies, chicano Studies,
indigenous Studies or MiddleEastern History could lose
(02:11):
funding.
Professors who teach about theapartheid Label dangerous.
They are attacking truthbecause the truth challenges
power.
The truth challenges power.
You know that protest we hadlast month no King's Day.
All the signs, the voices, noviolence anywhere Under Project
(02:36):
Esther.
That could be flagged.
If you held a microphone,shared a flyer or live-streamed,
you could be watched, flaggedor even deported if you're on a
visa, I know I definitely livestreamed.
They want to pull the plug onany nonprofit that speaks out.
That means civil rights orgs,bail funds, legal aid groups,
(02:58):
campus coalitions, palestineSolidarity collectives.
They could lose their taxstatus, their funding, their
bank accounts.
Which brings me to ActivistChain.
This, right here, is exactlywhy the Activist Chain is
people-powered.
We're not here for taxexemptions or grant applications
(03:20):
.
We're not here to play nicewith a system that wants to
defund us and shut us down.
We are not a non-profit and wewe never will be, because
Project Esther is teaching thegovernment how to target
nonprofits.
Yeah, and you can't revoke thestatus of a community held
together by people.
(03:41):
We are link to link.
We are a movement,decentralized and unbreakable.
Let's not gloss over the nameEsther, a biblical queen who
used her faith to protect herpeople.
Project Esther is deliberatelyblending religion with policy.
It encourages lawmakers to makefaith-based laws that align
(04:06):
with a single worldview and topunish those who don't fit into
that worldview.
This means abortion bansjustified by scripture,
anti-lbgtq, plus laws backed bychurches.
That means your personal lifenow falls under their religious
rule.
And don't think for one second.
(04:27):
This only affects Muslims orPalestinians.
It affects you, if you're awoman who needs birth control, a
queer person who wants to marry, a parent who wants your kids
to learn actual history, ajournalist trying to report the
truth, or a single mom in Texasjust trying to raise her kids in
peace.
(04:50):
Here at Sassy Politics, we don'tjust talk about it, we organize
.
I am Christy Chanel, I am themic and I am also the first link
in the activist chain.
If you've heard all that andyou're still not shaken by
what's to come, I don't know ifI'm ever going to be able to get
through to you.
I really don't.
I'm trying so hard to getthrough to come, I don't know if
(05:17):
I'm ever going to be able toget through to you.
I really don't.
I'm trying so hard to getthrough to you.
You can't just sit on your couchand binge watch Handmaid's Tale
and think you're doingsomething for this country,
because you're not.
They're coming for illegalimmigrants now, even though we
know it's way more than that.
Immigrants now, even though weknow it's way more than that.
There's a list and you're on it.
You're on it.
(05:38):
Get that through your head.
They just haven't gotten to youyet.
Share this, join the chain, bethe link someone else is
counting on.
You may need them becauseProject Esther may be their
blueprint, but we are thecounterstrike.
Let's build, let's protect andlet's amplify.
(06:00):
You can find this episode onSpotify, youtube and wherever
you get your podcasts.
Visit activistchaincom to joinus and follow me for more
breakdowns, more truth and morereasons to never sit this one
out.
Stay loud, stay linked and stayconnected.
(06:24):
Link by link, we are the chain.
Love you, miss you, bye you.