Project 2025: The Ominous Specter Ladies and gentlemen, we find ourselves standing at the precipice of a dark and foreboding future, one in which the very foundations of our democracy are under siege. The threat we face is not an external one, but rather a cancer that has metastasized within the body politic itself. I speak, of course, of the insidious manifesto known as Project 2025 – a blueprint for authoritarian rule that masquerades as a conservative vision for the United States. As we delve into the depths of this pernicious document, crafted in the shadowy halls of the Heritage Foundation, it becomes abundantly clear that we are witnessing nothing less than a frontal assault on the principles that have long sustained our republic. Project 2025 is not merely a misguided set of policy proposals; it is a calculated attempt to dismantle the very fabric of our democratic institutions, to concentrate power in the hands of a few, and to impose a rigid ideological orthodoxy on a nation that has always prided itself on its diversity and its commitment to individual liberty. At its core, Project 2025 seeks to reshape the federal government in the image of a conservative dystopia. Its proponents, consumed by an insatiable hunger for power and an unwavering commitment to their ideological agenda, have meticulously crafted a roadmap for the systematic erosion of checks and balances, the suppression of dissent, and the consolidation of executive authority. It is a vision that should send a shiver down the spine of every freedom-loving American, for it represents nothing less than a repudiation of the very principles upon which this nation was founded. The architects of Project 2025 argue, with a level of audacity that borders on the delusional, that the federal bureaucracy is overrun with unaccountable liberals who impede their agenda. Their solution? A purge of Stalinist proportions, reclassifying tens of thousands of civil servants as political appointees, effectively transforming the machinery of government into an apparatus of ideological conformity. The implications of this proposal alone are staggering – the eradication of expertise, the subversion of meritocracy, and the creation of a loyalty-based system that would make even the most fervent authoritarian blush. But the assault on democratic institutions does not end there. Project 2025's disdain for the separation of powers is as blatant as it is dangerous. Its vision of a "unitary executive theory" is nothing short of a repudiation of the very principles enshrined in our Constitution. By seeking to exert control over independent agencies like the Department of Justice and the FBI, the project's architects aim to transform these bastions of impartiality into instruments of partisan enforcement. It is a move that would make Richard Nixon's transgressions seem like mere child's play, a power grab of such magnitude that it threatens to unravel the very fabric of our democracy. And yet, even as we recoil in horror at the prospect of such an overreach, we must also confront the deeper implications of Project 2025's vision for American society. For the social policies outlined in this document are equally troubling, reflecting a worldview that is as narrow-minded as it is oppressive. The imposition of conservative Christian values, the marginalization of LGBTQ+ individuals, and the draconian stance against abortion rights are all hallmarks of a regime that seeks to impose its moral strictures on an entire nation, regardless of the diversity of beliefs and values that have always been the hallmark of the American experience. Indeed, the notion that America needs to be "saved" from itself, and that only a radical overhaul of its institutions and values can achieve this salvation, is perhaps the most arrogant and dangerous conceit of all. It reflects a view of the world that is fundamentally at odds with the pluralism and the respect for individual liberty that have always been the bedrock of our democracy. And yet, this is precisely the vision that animates the architects of Project 2025 – a vision that is as antithetical to the American spirit as it is to the very notion of a free and open society. But perhaps the most insidious aspect of Project 2025 is the way in which it cloaks its authoritarian agenda in the language of reform and efficiency. Its proponents speak of restoring traditional American values, as if the very notion of tradition were not itself a malleable construct, subject to the whims of those in power. They invoke the specter of an overreaching federal government, conveniently ignoring the fact that their own vision of executive power is far more expansive and unconstrained than anything that has come before. It is a rhetorical sleight of hand that would be laughable if its consequences were not so dire. For what Project 2025 ultimately represents is a rejection of the very principles that have made America a beacon of freedom and democracy in the world. It is a repudiation of the idea that power should be dispersed rather than concentrated, that dissent should be protected rather than suppressed, and that the rule of law should be upheld rather than subverted. To fully grasp the dangers of Project 2025, one need only look to the historical precedents that have paved the way for the rise of authoritarianism. The erosion of democratic norms in the Weimar Republic, the centralization of power under Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and the stifling of free speech under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey – these are all cautionary tales that underscore the fragility of democracy in the face of those who would seek to undermine it. Indeed, the parallels between the tactics employed by these authoritarian regimes and the strategies outlined in Project 2025 are striking. The demonization of political opponents, the co-optation of the media, the erosion of institutional checks and balances – these are all hallmarks of a playbook that has been used time and again to consolidate power in the hands of a few. And yet, even as we acknowledge the magnitude of the threat before us, we must not succumb to despair. For the fight against the forces of authoritarianism is one that has been waged throughout history, and it is a fight that has always been won by those who refuse to surrender their principles in the face of adversity. It is a fight that will require the active engagement of every citizen who values the sanctity of our democratic institutions. It will require a sustained effort to raise public awareness, to mobilize opposition, and to hold those in power accountable for their actions. It will require a commitment to the principles of free speech, free press, and the rule of law, even in the face of those who would seek to undermine them. But perhaps most importantly, it will require a willingness to confront the uncomfortable truths about our own society – the inequalities, the injustices, and the divisions that have long simmered beneath the surface. For it is only by addressing these underlying issues that we can hope to build a more perfect union, one that is truly worthy of the ideals upon which it was founded. And so, my fellow citizens, let us not be lulled into complacency by the siren song of those who would promise us a return to some mythical past. Let us not be seduced by the false promises of those who would trade our freedoms for the illusion of security. Let us instead stand firm in our commitment to the principles that have made this nation great – the principles of liberty, equality, and justice for all. For in the end, the fight against Project 2025 is not simply a battle for the soul of our nation – it is a battle for the very future of democracy itself. It is a battle that will require all of us to summon the courage and the conviction to stand up for what we know to be right, even in the face of those who would seek to silence us. Let us draw strength from the examples of those who have gone before us – the patriots and the martyrs who have sacrificed everything in the name of freedom. Let us remember that the arc of history bends towards justice, but only if we have the courage to bend it ourselves. For as Thomas Jefferson once said, 'When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.' And as we stand here today, on the brink of an abyss that threatens to consume us all, let us be clear about where our loyalties lie. They lie not with those who seek to impose their will upon us through force and coercion, but with those who believe in the power of reason, of dialogue, and of democracy itself. They lie not with those who would trade our freedoms for the false promise of security, but with those who understand that our security lies in our freedoms themselves. And so, my friends, let us go forth from this place, armed with the knowledge that our cause is just, and our resolve unshakable. Let us go forth with the conviction that, no matter how dark the road ahead may seem, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel – a light that shines bright with the promise of a better tomorrow. For if we do not fight for that tomorrow, then who will? If we do not stand up for the principles that define us as a nation, then what will become of us? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves, as we confront the spectre of Project 2025 and all that it represents. And let us never forget, even in our darkest moments, that the power to shape our destiny lies not in the hands of those who would seek to control us, but in our own hands – the hands of a free people, united in the pursuit of justice, of equality, and of the democratic ideal. Thanks for listening and remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts .
All content for Project 2025: The Ominous Specter is the property of Inception Point Ai and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Project 2025: The Ominous Specter Ladies and gentlemen, we find ourselves standing at the precipice of a dark and foreboding future, one in which the very foundations of our democracy are under siege. The threat we face is not an external one, but rather a cancer that has metastasized within the body politic itself. I speak, of course, of the insidious manifesto known as Project 2025 – a blueprint for authoritarian rule that masquerades as a conservative vision for the United States. As we delve into the depths of this pernicious document, crafted in the shadowy halls of the Heritage Foundation, it becomes abundantly clear that we are witnessing nothing less than a frontal assault on the principles that have long sustained our republic. Project 2025 is not merely a misguided set of policy proposals; it is a calculated attempt to dismantle the very fabric of our democratic institutions, to concentrate power in the hands of a few, and to impose a rigid ideological orthodoxy on a nation that has always prided itself on its diversity and its commitment to individual liberty. At its core, Project 2025 seeks to reshape the federal government in the image of a conservative dystopia. Its proponents, consumed by an insatiable hunger for power and an unwavering commitment to their ideological agenda, have meticulously crafted a roadmap for the systematic erosion of checks and balances, the suppression of dissent, and the consolidation of executive authority. It is a vision that should send a shiver down the spine of every freedom-loving American, for it represents nothing less than a repudiation of the very principles upon which this nation was founded. The architects of Project 2025 argue, with a level of audacity that borders on the delusional, that the federal bureaucracy is overrun with unaccountable liberals who impede their agenda. Their solution? A purge of Stalinist proportions, reclassifying tens of thousands of civil servants as political appointees, effectively transforming the machinery of government into an apparatus of ideological conformity. The implications of this proposal alone are staggering – the eradication of expertise, the subversion of meritocracy, and the creation of a loyalty-based system that would make even the most fervent authoritarian blush. But the assault on democratic institutions does not end there. Project 2025's disdain for the separation of powers is as blatant as it is dangerous. Its vision of a "unitary executive theory" is nothing short of a repudiation of the very principles enshrined in our Constitution. By seeking to exert control over independent agencies like the Department of Justice and the FBI, the project's architects aim to transform these bastions of impartiality into instruments of partisan enforcement. It is a move that would make Richard Nixon's transgressions seem like mere child's play, a power grab of such magnitude that it threatens to unravel the very fabric of our democracy. And yet, even as we recoil in horror at the prospect of such an overreach, we must also confront the deeper implications of Project 2025's vision for American society. For the social policies outlined in this document are equally troubling, reflecting a worldview that is as narrow-minded as it is oppressive. The imposition of conservative Christian values, the marginalization of LGBTQ+ individuals, and the draconian stance against abortion rights are all hallmarks of a regime that seeks to impose its moral strictures on an entire nation, regardless of the diversity of beliefs and values that have always been the hallmark of the American experience. Indeed, the notion that America needs to be "saved" from itself, and that only a radical overhaul of its institutions and values can achieve this salvation, is perhaps the most arrogant and dangerous conceit of all. It reflects a view of the world that is fundamentally at odds with the pluralism and the respect for individual liberty that have always been the bedrock of our democracy. And yet, this is precisely the vision that animates the architects of Project 2025 – a vision that is as antithetical to the American spirit as it is to the very notion of a free and open society. But perhaps the most insidious aspect of Project 2025 is the way in which it cloaks its authoritarian agenda in the language of reform and efficiency. Its proponents speak of restoring traditional American values, as if the very notion of tradition were not itself a malleable construct, subject to the whims of those in power. They invoke the specter of an overreaching federal government, conveniently ignoring the fact that their own vision of executive power is far more expansive and unconstrained than anything that has come before. It is a rhetorical sleight of hand that would be laughable if its consequences were not so dire. For what Project 2025 ultimately represents is a rejection of the very principles that have made America a beacon of freedom and democracy in the world. It is a repudiation of the idea that power should be dispersed rather than concentrated, that dissent should be protected rather than suppressed, and that the rule of law should be upheld rather than subverted. To fully grasp the dangers of Project 2025, one need only look to the historical precedents that have paved the way for the rise of authoritarianism. The erosion of democratic norms in the Weimar Republic, the centralization of power under Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and the stifling of free speech under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey – these are all cautionary tales that underscore the fragility of democracy in the face of those who would seek to undermine it. Indeed, the parallels between the tactics employed by these authoritarian regimes and the strategies outlined in Project 2025 are striking. The demonization of political opponents, the co-optation of the media, the erosion of institutional checks and balances – these are all hallmarks of a playbook that has been used time and again to consolidate power in the hands of a few. And yet, even as we acknowledge the magnitude of the threat before us, we must not succumb to despair. For the fight against the forces of authoritarianism is one that has been waged throughout history, and it is a fight that has always been won by those who refuse to surrender their principles in the face of adversity. It is a fight that will require the active engagement of every citizen who values the sanctity of our democratic institutions. It will require a sustained effort to raise public awareness, to mobilize opposition, and to hold those in power accountable for their actions. It will require a commitment to the principles of free speech, free press, and the rule of law, even in the face of those who would seek to undermine them. But perhaps most importantly, it will require a willingness to confront the uncomfortable truths about our own society – the inequalities, the injustices, and the divisions that have long simmered beneath the surface. For it is only by addressing these underlying issues that we can hope to build a more perfect union, one that is truly worthy of the ideals upon which it was founded. And so, my fellow citizens, let us not be lulled into complacency by the siren song of those who would promise us a return to some mythical past. Let us not be seduced by the false promises of those who would trade our freedoms for the illusion of security. Let us instead stand firm in our commitment to the principles that have made this nation great – the principles of liberty, equality, and justice for all. For in the end, the fight against Project 2025 is not simply a battle for the soul of our nation – it is a battle for the very future of democracy itself. It is a battle that will require all of us to summon the courage and the conviction to stand up for what we know to be right, even in the face of those who would seek to silence us. Let us draw strength from the examples of those who have gone before us – the patriots and the martyrs who have sacrificed everything in the name of freedom. Let us remember that the arc of history bends towards justice, but only if we have the courage to bend it ourselves. For as Thomas Jefferson once said, 'When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.' And as we stand here today, on the brink of an abyss that threatens to consume us all, let us be clear about where our loyalties lie. They lie not with those who seek to impose their will upon us through force and coercion, but with those who believe in the power of reason, of dialogue, and of democracy itself. They lie not with those who would trade our freedoms for the false promise of security, but with those who understand that our security lies in our freedoms themselves. And so, my friends, let us go forth from this place, armed with the knowledge that our cause is just, and our resolve unshakable. Let us go forth with the conviction that, no matter how dark the road ahead may seem, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel – a light that shines bright with the promise of a better tomorrow. For if we do not fight for that tomorrow, then who will? If we do not stand up for the principles that define us as a nation, then what will become of us? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves, as we confront the spectre of Project 2025 and all that it represents. And let us never forget, even in our darkest moments, that the power to shape our destiny lies not in the hands of those who would seek to control us, but in our own hands – the hands of a free people, united in the pursuit of justice, of equality, and of the democratic ideal. Thanks for listening and remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts .
Conservative Playbook Unveiled: Project 2025 Aims to Centralize Executive Power and Reshape American Governance
Project 2025: The Ominous Specter
4 minutes
2 months ago
Conservative Playbook Unveiled: Project 2025 Aims to Centralize Executive Power and Reshape American Governance
Project 2025 began quietly in conservative circles, with its origins traced to a Spring 2022 gathering of strategists and operatives in Washington. By April 2023, the Heritage Foundation had unveiled the nine-hundred-plus page blueprint, branding it “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise.” The document reads less like a policy wish list and more like a regime change manual, spelling out a dramatic vision for American governance under a future conservative administration.
Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, captured the mood in a statement: “All federal employees should answer to the president.” This encapsulates the project’s signature ambition—greater centralization of executive power—rooted in what conservative legal theorists call “unitary executive theory.” According to analysis in The New York Times, this vision would go farther than any post-Nixon Republican platform by making the entire federal bureaucracy directly accountable to the president, erasing agency independence and civil service barriers that have existed for decades.
The Project’s approach is methodical. Its 180-day playbook details how agency heads should be replaced immediately after inauguration, with thousands of ideologically vetted appointees stepping into critical roles. The controversial Schedule F personnel policy is central: it seeks to reclassify existing civil servants, strip them of job protections, and replace large swathes with loyalists, allowing the new administration essentially unlimited power to hire and fire across government. According to the National Federation of Federal Employees, this would have unprecedented ramifications—apolitical employees, many with deep expertise, would lose their shields from political interference and could be replaced at will, upending regulatory stability.
Examples of proposed reforms are as concrete as they are sweeping. The plan advocates abolishing entire agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the U.S. Agency for International Development. According to reporting on the current administration’s implementation efforts, the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk has already moved to shut down both of those agencies, simultaneously laying off over a quarter million federal workers and contractors—27 agencies impacted in total. The chaos of rapid layoffs has led to lawsuits: NTEU President Tony Reardon stated, “For over 47 years, the law has made clear that collective bargaining in the federal sector is in the public interest. We have taken the necessary action to file a lawsuit to uphold the law and stop this attack.”
On the policy side, criminal justice stands as a stark example. Project 2025 recommends that the Department of Justice intervene in local cases where it believes “rule of law deficiencies” exist, targeting prosecutors who prefer diversion programs or refuse to prosecute low-level offenses. The Brennan Center underscores that this would politicize local law enforcement and undermine prosecutorial discretion, with potentially chilling effects on criminal justice reform.
Economic policy proposals include consolidating the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Census Bureau, and Bureau of Labor Statistics into a single agency—a move that critics, like Democracy Forward, warn would “kneecap the data-collection capacities” essential for planning and transparency. Project 2025 also seeks to dismantle the Economic Development Administration, which recently overseen billions in infrastructure investment and the creation of over 200,000 jobs, threatening significant disruption to federal investment in communities.
Supporters argue these measures will “destroy the administrative state,” clearing away what they view as unaccountable power. Critics, from the ACLU to the Center for Progressive Reform, counter that the blueprint’s methods—centralized appointment, aggressive...
Project 2025: The Ominous Specter
Project 2025: The Ominous Specter Ladies and gentlemen, we find ourselves standing at the precipice of a dark and foreboding future, one in which the very foundations of our democracy are under siege. The threat we face is not an external one, but rather a cancer that has metastasized within the body politic itself. I speak, of course, of the insidious manifesto known as Project 2025 – a blueprint for authoritarian rule that masquerades as a conservative vision for the United States. As we delve into the depths of this pernicious document, crafted in the shadowy halls of the Heritage Foundation, it becomes abundantly clear that we are witnessing nothing less than a frontal assault on the principles that have long sustained our republic. Project 2025 is not merely a misguided set of policy proposals; it is a calculated attempt to dismantle the very fabric of our democratic institutions, to concentrate power in the hands of a few, and to impose a rigid ideological orthodoxy on a nation that has always prided itself on its diversity and its commitment to individual liberty. At its core, Project 2025 seeks to reshape the federal government in the image of a conservative dystopia. Its proponents, consumed by an insatiable hunger for power and an unwavering commitment to their ideological agenda, have meticulously crafted a roadmap for the systematic erosion of checks and balances, the suppression of dissent, and the consolidation of executive authority. It is a vision that should send a shiver down the spine of every freedom-loving American, for it represents nothing less than a repudiation of the very principles upon which this nation was founded. The architects of Project 2025 argue, with a level of audacity that borders on the delusional, that the federal bureaucracy is overrun with unaccountable liberals who impede their agenda. Their solution? A purge of Stalinist proportions, reclassifying tens of thousands of civil servants as political appointees, effectively transforming the machinery of government into an apparatus of ideological conformity. The implications of this proposal alone are staggering – the eradication of expertise, the subversion of meritocracy, and the creation of a loyalty-based system that would make even the most fervent authoritarian blush. But the assault on democratic institutions does not end there. Project 2025's disdain for the separation of powers is as blatant as it is dangerous. Its vision of a "unitary executive theory" is nothing short of a repudiation of the very principles enshrined in our Constitution. By seeking to exert control over independent agencies like the Department of Justice and the FBI, the project's architects aim to transform these bastions of impartiality into instruments of partisan enforcement. It is a move that would make Richard Nixon's transgressions seem like mere child's play, a power grab of such magnitude that it threatens to unravel the very fabric of our democracy. And yet, even as we recoil in horror at the prospect of such an overreach, we must also confront the deeper implications of Project 2025's vision for American society. For the social policies outlined in this document are equally troubling, reflecting a worldview that is as narrow-minded as it is oppressive. The imposition of conservative Christian values, the marginalization of LGBTQ+ individuals, and the draconian stance against abortion rights are all hallmarks of a regime that seeks to impose its moral strictures on an entire nation, regardless of the diversity of beliefs and values that have always been the hallmark of the American experience. Indeed, the notion that America needs to be "saved" from itself, and that only a radical overhaul of its institutions and values can achieve this salvation, is perhaps the most arrogant and dangerous conceit of all. It reflects a view of the world that is fundamentally at odds with the pluralism and the respect for individual liberty that have always been the bedrock of our democracy. And yet, this is precisely the vision that animates the architects of Project 2025 – a vision that is as antithetical to the American spirit as it is to the very notion of a free and open society. But perhaps the most insidious aspect of Project 2025 is the way in which it cloaks its authoritarian agenda in the language of reform and efficiency. Its proponents speak of restoring traditional American values, as if the very notion of tradition were not itself a malleable construct, subject to the whims of those in power. They invoke the specter of an overreaching federal government, conveniently ignoring the fact that their own vision of executive power is far more expansive and unconstrained than anything that has come before. It is a rhetorical sleight of hand that would be laughable if its consequences were not so dire. For what Project 2025 ultimately represents is a rejection of the very principles that have made America a beacon of freedom and democracy in the world. It is a repudiation of the idea that power should be dispersed rather than concentrated, that dissent should be protected rather than suppressed, and that the rule of law should be upheld rather than subverted. To fully grasp the dangers of Project 2025, one need only look to the historical precedents that have paved the way for the rise of authoritarianism. The erosion of democratic norms in the Weimar Republic, the centralization of power under Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and the stifling of free speech under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey – these are all cautionary tales that underscore the fragility of democracy in the face of those who would seek to undermine it. Indeed, the parallels between the tactics employed by these authoritarian regimes and the strategies outlined in Project 2025 are striking. The demonization of political opponents, the co-optation of the media, the erosion of institutional checks and balances – these are all hallmarks of a playbook that has been used time and again to consolidate power in the hands of a few. And yet, even as we acknowledge the magnitude of the threat before us, we must not succumb to despair. For the fight against the forces of authoritarianism is one that has been waged throughout history, and it is a fight that has always been won by those who refuse to surrender their principles in the face of adversity. It is a fight that will require the active engagement of every citizen who values the sanctity of our democratic institutions. It will require a sustained effort to raise public awareness, to mobilize opposition, and to hold those in power accountable for their actions. It will require a commitment to the principles of free speech, free press, and the rule of law, even in the face of those who would seek to undermine them. But perhaps most importantly, it will require a willingness to confront the uncomfortable truths about our own society – the inequalities, the injustices, and the divisions that have long simmered beneath the surface. For it is only by addressing these underlying issues that we can hope to build a more perfect union, one that is truly worthy of the ideals upon which it was founded. And so, my fellow citizens, let us not be lulled into complacency by the siren song of those who would promise us a return to some mythical past. Let us not be seduced by the false promises of those who would trade our freedoms for the illusion of security. Let us instead stand firm in our commitment to the principles that have made this nation great – the principles of liberty, equality, and justice for all. For in the end, the fight against Project 2025 is not simply a battle for the soul of our nation – it is a battle for the very future of democracy itself. It is a battle that will require all of us to summon the courage and the conviction to stand up for what we know to be right, even in the face of those who would seek to silence us. Let us draw strength from the examples of those who have gone before us – the patriots and the martyrs who have sacrificed everything in the name of freedom. Let us remember that the arc of history bends towards justice, but only if we have the courage to bend it ourselves. For as Thomas Jefferson once said, 'When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.' And as we stand here today, on the brink of an abyss that threatens to consume us all, let us be clear about where our loyalties lie. They lie not with those who seek to impose their will upon us through force and coercion, but with those who believe in the power of reason, of dialogue, and of democracy itself. They lie not with those who would trade our freedoms for the false promise of security, but with those who understand that our security lies in our freedoms themselves. And so, my friends, let us go forth from this place, armed with the knowledge that our cause is just, and our resolve unshakable. Let us go forth with the conviction that, no matter how dark the road ahead may seem, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel – a light that shines bright with the promise of a better tomorrow. For if we do not fight for that tomorrow, then who will? If we do not stand up for the principles that define us as a nation, then what will become of us? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves, as we confront the spectre of Project 2025 and all that it represents. And let us never forget, even in our darkest moments, that the power to shape our destiny lies not in the hands of those who would seek to control us, but in our own hands – the hands of a free people, united in the pursuit of justice, of equality, and of the democratic ideal. Thanks for listening and remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts .
