Additional Coverage:
- Project 2025 ex-chief appeared on media channel DOJ called ‘covert project’ linked to Russia (newsbreak.com)
Paul Dans, the former head of the conservative initiative Project 2025, appeared on a podcast episode hosted by Tim Pool of Tenet Media in July, during which he discussed the alleged misinformation surrounding Project 2025. At the time, Dans was serving as the director of the initiative, which was developed by the Heritage Foundation to shape policy for a potential future Trump administration, focusing on expanding executive powers.
Project 2025 closely relates to President Donald Trump, with many of its contributors having ties to him. This connection has drawn criticism from Democratic figures, including the Democratic House campaign and Vice President Kamala Harris, who have linked the initiative directly to Trump.
The Department of Justice has implicated Tenet Media, the company behind Pool’s podcast, in an indictment charging that Russian operatives used media entities to secretly fund and influence U.S.-based operations. Although Tenet Media was not explicitly named in the indictment, details from the indictment match the descriptions of the company’s activities registered in Tennessee and stated in public records.
The indictment also identifies RT, previously known as Russia Today, as involved in clandestine financial activities totaling nearly $10 million to support “U.S. Company-1,” a designation thought to refer to Tenet Media. This company produces content across various social media platforms and describes itself as promoting alternative views on Western politics and culture—a description that matches TenetMedia.com’s own depiction.
During the podcast, Dans said Project 2025 aims to inspire public involvement in governance, positioning the government as a body belonging equally to all citizens.
Following the podcast, which was also shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), Dans stepped down from his position at the Heritage Foundation on July 30, shortly after the podcast’s airing. Attempts to reach Dans, as well as the Heritage Foundation and Pool for comments, have not yet received responses.
In the podcast posted online, Dans remarked on the sophisticated nature of opposition to Project 2025, attributing challenges he faced to a hoax by a well-known liberal voting rights lawyer and expressing a mix of concern and flattery at being targeted by such tactics.