Today, Explained: Project 2025’s Next Chapter
Released April 7, 2025 | Host: Noel King & Russell Contreras | Contributor: Dov Kent, Senior Director, Diaspora Alliance

Introduction

In the April 7, 2025 episode of Today, Explained, hosts Noel King and Russell Contreras delve into the intricacies of Project Esther, a strategic blueprint by the Heritage Foundation aimed at combating antisemitism. The discussion unpacks the origins, methodologies, and implications of Project Esther, especially in the context of the Trump administration's recent actions against pro-Palestinian protesters. Featuring insights from Dov Kent of the Diaspora Alliance, the episode critically examines the intersection of political agendas, antisemitism, and civil liberties in the United States.

Background on Project Esther

Russell Contreras explains that Project Esther is a national strategy developed by the Heritage Foundation as an addendum to their broader Project 2025 initiative. Released in October 2024, just a year after the initial Project 2025, Project Esther is a concise 33-page document compared to Project 2025’s extensive 900+ pages.

[00:35] Noel King: "So where is this allegation coming from? On TODAY Explained it might be coming from the same people who wrote Project 2025."

Contreras describes Project Esther as a blueprint for the Trump administration to rebrand pro-Palestinian protesters as Hamas supporters without providing substantial evidence.

[03:13] Unnamed Expert: "We have several laws at our disposal that may help to exploit Hamas support network and Hamas support organization vulnerabilities, such as the Foreign Agents Registration Act."

The document attributes the rise in antisemitism to a fabricated "Hamas support network," laying the foundation for stringent measures against perceived supporters.

Trump Administration’s Implementation

The episode highlights the Trump administration's utilization of Project Esther’s recommendations to target and detain individuals associated with pro-Palestinian activities. Notably, the administration has labeled protesters Mahmoud Khalil and Rumayisa Ozturk as Hamas supporters without presenting concrete evidence.

[00:00] Noel King: "The Trump administration is justifying the arrest and detention of protester Mahmoud Khalil and Rumayisa Ozturk, who wrote an op ed in a student newspaper by calling them Hamas supporters."

Contreras emphasizes that Project Esther serves as a playbook for these actions, aligning with broader goals to dismantle civil society institutions such as universities and nonprofits under the guise of combating antisemitism.

[04:43] Unnamed Official: "If you told us all these things when you applied for a visa, we would deny your visa... If you actually end up doing that once you're in this country on such a visa, we will revoke it."
[20:19] Dov Kent: "We cannot terrorize or incarcerate or deport or fire or infiltrate our way out of antisemitism."

Criticism and Responses from the Jewish Community

Dov Kent, Senior Director at the Diaspora Alliance, provides a critical perspective on Project Esther, arguing that its strategies are not only ineffective but also counterproductive. Kent asserts that the administration's measures exacerbate antisemitism by portraying Jews as authoritarian suppressors.

[20:19] Dov Kent: "Deporting international students doesn't combat antisemitism. Public firings don't combat antisemitism... These actions actively stoke antisemitism by making Jews the face of authoritarian crackdowns."

Kent further criticizes the lack of genuine Jewish involvement in Project Esther, noting that the plan appears to be predominantly driven by Christian nationalist organizations with minimal input from Jewish voices.

[04:19] Russell Contreras: "The document clearly states that we're doing this because we have concluded there's been Jewish complacency... It looks like this was written by Christians, white Christians."

The Jewish community's response is divided. While some groups like the Nexus Project advocate for tackling antisemitism without infringing on free speech, others, such as the Combat Antisemitism Movement, endorse Project Esther's approaches.

[09:33] Russ Contreras: "Combat Antisemitism Movement... endorse the Trump administration's deportation of those students who are on foreign visas."

Theological and Political Underpinnings

The episode explores the theological motivations behind Christian conservatives' strong support for Israel, linking it to eschatological beliefs about the Second Coming of Christ.

[05:23] Russell Contreras: "A lot of Christian white Christians believe there needs to be a strong Israel for the second coming of Christ."
[05:43] Dov Kent: "Now this goes into history now. Now you have Israel literally being the centerpiece of God's cosmic clock."

This alliance between Christian conservatives in the U.S. and conservative Israeli governments strengthens their collaborative efforts in shaping policies that target pro-Palestinian activism.

[06:12] Russ Contreras: "The Prime Minister comes to the United States, he'll often visit with white Christian groups who are very supportive."

Implications for Civil Liberties and Antisemitism

Dov Kent argues that Project Esther’s stringent measures undermine constitutional protections and civil liberties, leading to broader societal harms. He contends that such policies not only fail to reduce antisemitism but also foster an environment ripe for antisemitic conspiracy theories.

[24:18] Dov Kent: "The Trump administration's initial attacks on students and higher education... actively stoke antisemitism by making Jews the face of authoritarian crackdowns."
[24:12] Noel King: "What does all of this mean for Jews in the United States?"
[24:18] Dov Kent: "The immediate and long term impact of Project Esther ironically is an increase in antisemitism across the country."

Kent also highlights the administration’s failure to address antisemitism stemming from the far right, focusing instead on conflating left-leaning pro-Palestinian groups with terrorist organizations.

[24:12] Dov Kent: "Project Esther has literally nothing to say about the fire hose of antisemitism and conspiracy theories coming out of the far right in this country."

Conclusion: The Future of Antisemitism and Civil Society

The episode concludes with a stark warning about the long-term consequences of Project Esther’s policies. Dov Kent emphasizes that undermining civil liberties and targeting specific groups under the guise of combating antisemitism will ultimately weaken protections for all minorities and foster a more hostile environment.

[26:18] Dov Kent: "The erosion of those rights makes all communities less safe, including Jews, and any work to carve out exceptions... undermines the universal protection that actually makes us all safe."

Noel King and Russell Contreras underscore the importance of vigilance and informed discourse in addressing antisemitism effectively without compromising democratic values.

Key Takeaways

• Project Esther is a Heritage Foundation initiative aimed at combating antisemitism by targeting pro-Palestinian activists, branding them as Hamas supporters without substantial evidence.
• The Trump administration has implemented Project Esther’s recommendations, leading to the detention and deportation of activists, which critics argue exacerbates antisemitism.
• Jewish community responses are mixed, with some supporting stringent measures and others advocating for approaches that protect free speech and civil liberties.
• Christian nationalist motivations underpin much of the support for Project Esther, linking theological beliefs with political agendas.
• Civil liberties are at risk, as Project Esther’s strategies may undermine constitutional protections and foster an environment conducive to antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Notable Quotes

• Russell Contreras on Project Esther’s alignment with Project 2025:

  "Project Esther could be seen as an addendum."
  [05:19]

• Dov Kent on the ineffectiveness of authoritarian measures:

  "We cannot terrorize or incarcerate or deport or fire or infiltrate our way out of antisemitism."
  [20:19]

• Unnamed Official on visa regulations:

  "If you told us all these things when you applied for a visa, we would deny your visa."
  [03:51]

• Dov Kent on the rise of antisemitism due to Project Esther:

  "The immediate and long term impact of Project Esther ironically is an increase in antisemitism across the country."
  [24:18]

For a deeper understanding of Project Esther and its impacts, listeners are encouraged to visit the show notes for additional resources and links.