America Under Attack, Week 2: What We're Monitoring
America is under attack from within — and with assistance from hostile foreign powers.
Attacks on the United States have unfolded much as anticipated, with Donald Trump issuing an overwhelming number of executive orders and provocations, while Elon Musk dismantles the government from the inside out. Frankly, the number of individual actions taking place are too many to count, much less keep up with. Tariffs and market crashes are old news, while capturing Gaza is the latest provocation. Rather than react to everything, we are taking an active stance in monitoring several specific attack vectors. Here's what we're monitoring this week.
Neoreactionary Movement and Network State
In addition to Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, the public is beginning to become aware of the names Curtis Yarvin, Nick Land, and Balaji Srinavasan. Those of us watching the rise of extremism in tech circles know these names well, but they have been less well-known to lawmakers. Yarvin seeks to eliminate government where possible and privatize the rest. One of Yarvin's proposals, called "RAGE" stands for "Retire All Government Employees." Yarvin is also a monarchist, and Musk sees himself as king. Several of his team of young DOGE engineers are also aligned with Monarchism. Several politicians are being briefed on the Neoreactionary movement and its connections to Musk. The related "Network State" movement led by Srinavasan is also rooted in Neoreactionary philosophy and has been linked to Trump's efforts to annex Greenland. (See: Meet the Bros Behind Trump's Greenland Bluster; See: Neoreactionary Movement Memo)
DOGE: Agency 'Deletions' and Illegal Activity
Elon Musk has engaged a team of young engineers to attack and shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID) as well as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and 18F, a technology services arm of the General Services Administration. DOGE has also been reported to have altered contracts across multiple agencies (including plans to sell or eliminate real estate holdings), as well as gained direct read-write access to the US Treasury's payments systems, pushing new code into live production use. This presents a serious security and operational risk to the United States. The House Oversight Committee has voted to subpoena Elon Musk for testimony before the committee.
Project Russia
We have previously reported on Project Russia, the Kremlin's plans for destroying Western democracies. Musk's current actions — nullifying the rule of law, bypassing Congress, introducing financial instability — are aligned with prescriptions outlined in Project Russia, which include replacing democracy with a supranational monarchy led by an enlightened prince-king. Project Russia also includes plans to collapse the global economy, especially the dollar. Uncertainty around tariffs along with government shutdown (March 14) and potential US debt default (Q2 2025) pose major national security risks. (See: Project Russia: The Kremlin's Playbook for Undermining Democracies)
Technocracy and Secession
In the 1940's, Musk's grandfather Joshua Haldeman was a proponent of the Technocracy movement, which advocated for the abandonment of democracy and rule by scientists and engineers. The movement's principal advocate Howard Scott called for the creation of a "Technate of America" spanning from Canada to Colombia, and included Greenland. However, this would also mean the end of the United States as we know it. The federal government (and indeed all government) would be replaced with small teams of technical managers and engineers assigned to managing and solving different areas of importance. So while the Technate may resemble a larger, more powerful, and expanded United States, it is in fact something quite different. Musk and Putin may believe that Russia-backed movements such as Calexit and TEXIT may spark the dissolution of the United States and lead towards outcomes like the Technate. (See: America's Future in Four Maps)
Cabinet and Agency Nominees
While all of Trump's appointments pose national security risks, we are especially concerned with the pending confirmations of Kash Patel (FBI), Tulsi Gabbard (ODNI), and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (HHS) — all of which appear imminent. Attorney General Pam Bondi has just been confirmed, while Pete Hegseth and Scott Bessent have already begun at Defense and Treasury; Michael Ellis has been appointed as Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Linda McMahon is also scheduled for a confirmation vote this week as head of the Department of Education. We assess that Patel, Gabbard, and Ellis are likely to mine intelligence files to persecute their own enemies, as well as to embarrass American interests while advancing those of hostile foreign powers — including Russia and China. FBI and the CIA are likely to see continued reductions in staff, with matching risks to American security. (See: Patel at FBI: Proof of Death for the American Experiment)
Economic Meltdown
Donald Trump's "flash tariffs" with Canada and Mexico ended as quickly as they started, both postponed while talks continue. Chinese tariffs have kicked in as well, sparking widespread uncertainty. Adding to risks are the need to pass a budget bill to fund the US government by March 14. Soon after that, likely in May, we will need to extend or eliminate the debt ceiling or face a crushing debt default. With everything going on with Musk, DOGE, and Congress, it seems somewhat improbable that we will be able to take on these difficult tasks in a timely manner. Add to that the fact that House Speaker Mike Johnson has been funded by principal authors of Project Russia, and we may have an especially perilous period on our hands — in addition to all the other destruction happening right now. Also expect chatter to continue about elimination of the IRS — in favor of tariffs.
Instability in the Middle East
The idea of a US takeover of Gaza is appalling, and a textbook example of imperial overreach. Yet Trump has proposed exactly this. This has already led to additional tensions with Arab states and Iran. This situation is still developing and will likely spiral out of control unless — as with so many things — Trump backtracks on it. Still, his words have effects and may have consequences that are unpredictable. Who wins from a Gaza takeover? Jared Kushner has discussed developing beachfront properties, and Network State advocates see it as fresh ground for Praxis, or other Network State inspired communities.
Over-reliance on Historical Frames
For decades, we've kept Hitler and Mussolini in our back pockets as the go-to examples of human degeneracy. Terms like Reichstag Fire or references to concentration camps are dropped as if the descent into evil always proceeds along the same well-worn path. History should certainly be a guide, but we would do well to stay alert to new manifestations and unexpected turns. It may be a grave error to compare Elon Musk to Hitler, for example; Hitler, famously, did not have access to nuclear weapons. Musk's relationship with Trump and access to such threats is unclear.
Actions You Can Take to Defend the Constitution
Democrats: contact your representatives and educate them about the Neoreactionary movement and the Network State. Encourage them to cultivate relationships with Republicans who care about the Constitution and oppose Musk's takeover. It is tempting to think "there are no good Republicans," but data suggest otherwise. Focus on finding them, and furthering a schism in the Republican Party, however small.
Republicans and Independents: find and work with Democrats concerned with preserving the rule of law and the Constitution. We can disagree on many things, but the majority of Americans agree that the Constitution is worth defending. Call out Republicans who are going along with the authoritarian takeover currently being waged by Musk and his allies.
Everyone: Read and share this memorandum about Musk and the Neoreactionary (NRx) and Network State movements with your representatives and your communities. It is the work of anonymous authors; it is being shared with lawmakers and the media. Share it widely. Our current predicament isn't strictly partisan, but rather a conflict between those who defend the Constitution and those who do not.
Update: This additional background document provides more evidence in support of the primary briefing above.
Additional Reading
Timothy Snyder
Stephanie Kelton
Timothy Noah
Adrian Carrasquillo
Nina Joss
