The Rockbridge Network: A Dangerous Republican High-Tech Project 2025

The Rockbridge Network: The New, High-Tech Face of Radical Republican Power

Welcome to America’s Fractured Politics—the show that pulls back the curtain on the hidden forces reshaping our democracy. Hosted by Washington, DC attorney and longtime Democratic activist Mark Mansour, this episode takes you deep inside the Rockbridge Network, one of the most consequential—and least understood—forces in American conservatism today.

Discover how J.D. Vance, Chris Buskirk, and a cadre of tech billionaires are using Silicon Valley tactics to disrupt and dominate the Republican Party from the inside out. From multi-million-dollar media and litigation strategies to secretive “government-in-waiting” initiatives, Rockbridge is building a parallel political infrastructure designed to outmaneuver traditional gatekeepers and reshape the rules of power.

Whether you’re a political junkie or just trying to make sense of today’s headlines, this episode offers expert analysis and behind-the-scenes insights into the new model of radical Republican activism—and what it means for the future of American democracy.

Subscribe now to America’s Fractured Politics and join the conversation about who really holds the power in Washington—and beyond.

Transcript

UNKNOWN: 0:00

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00: 0:32

Welcome to America's Fractured Politics. I'm Mark Mansour in Washington, D.C., where I've spent my career as an attorney and democratic activist. On this program, we examine the shifting tectonics of American political life, how power is built, wielded, and sometimes abused in the world's oldest democracy. My goal, as always, is to offer you not just headlines, but context, and to help us all better understand the forces shaping our nation's future. Today I want to take you behind the scenes of a movement that's quietly but profoundly changing the Republican Party, and by extension the country itself. It's called the Rockridge Network. If you haven't heard of it, you're not alone. But trust me, its influence is growing, and its methods are unlike anything we've seen before in American politics. It's 2019, and the Republican Party is still in a kind of post-Trump daze. The establishment is scrambling. The old guard is lost, and a new generation of conservatives is looking for a different path. They're not just thinking about the next election. They're thinking about how to fundamentally change the way power works in America. And that's where J.D. Vance and Chris Buskirk come in. You probably know Vance from Hillbilly Elegy and, of course, from his role as senator and vice president. That book was everywhere for a while. Suddenly, everyone in D.C. was talking about the white working class like they'd discovered a new species. Vance went from being a Yale law grad to a Silicon Valley venture capitalist and then into politics. It's a real rags-to-riches story, but also a story about how someone can bridge the gap between rural America and the tech elite. Buskirk, on the other hand, is more of a behind-the-scenes guy. He's a publisher and commentator with strong pro-Trump views, and he's been arguing for years that the right needs to rebuild from the ground up. He's not just interested in winning elections. He wants to reshape the entire radical Republican movement. So Vance and Buskirk basically say, let's not just complain about the state of things. Let's build something. But instead of a think tank or a super PAC, they come up with this idea, a political venture capital firm. Imagine treating politics the way you treat a tech startup, investing in people, ideas, and technology that can disrupt the system. And they're not waiting for permission from the Republican National Committee or the old guard. They're just doing it. Now here's where it gets interesting. The people backing Rockbridge aren't your usual suspects. You've got Peter Thiel, the PayPal guy, early Facebook investor, and a billionaire with some pretty radical ideas about how America should work. Thiel's not just writing checks. He's bringing his whole Silicon Valley network, and his disrupt-everything philosophy to the table. He's been saying for years that he thinks American institutions are stagnant, that they need to be shaken up, and Rockbridge is his vehicle for that. Then there's Rebecca Mercer. Her family's been bankrolling Christian conservative causes for years, and she's got deep connections to political data and media operations. Think Cambridge Analytica. She's not just about money. She's about building the machinery that can actually move public opinion. Mercer's influence is more than financial. She's a connector, someone who can bring together media, data, and political strategy in a way that few others can. You've also got Blake Masters, another Thiel protégé. He ran for Senate, and he's got that classic Silicon Valley move fast and break things mindset. He's helping to shape Rockbridge's strategy, bringing that startup discipline to the world of politics. Masters is all about efficiency, about finding ways to outflank the opposition, and about building systems that can scale. And then there's Omid Malik. Now, Malik's interesting. He used to be a Democrat, but he switched sides and now runs a venture firm called 1789 Capital. He's funding all sorts of anti-woke campaigns and media projects, even Tucker Carlson's new venture after Fox. Malik's firm is backing that. He brings a unique perspective. He knows how the other side thinks, and he's using that knowledge to build bridges and to poach talent. So what are this all adds up to? It's not just a donor network. It's a whole ecosystem, a network of money, media, and manpower that's designed to push their agenda forward no matter what. They're not just playing the game. They're trying to change the rules. Let's talk about what they're actually doing with all of this power and money. First, media. They're pouring millions into what they call a radical media ecosystem. That means influencer programs on TikTok, on YouTube, rapid response teams that attack opponents online, and even investigative journalism that's laser-focused on ideological enemies. But it's not just about countering what they see as liberal bias. It's about creating their own reality. They're building alternative news sites, podcasts, documentaries, anything that can push their narrative straight to the people they want to reach. And they're not afraid to play dirty. Opposition research is a big part of their game. They dig up dirt on progressive politicians, journalists, academics, anyone who challenges their worldview. It's a constant information war, and they're playing to win. Let me give you a concrete example. In 2021, Rockbridge spent$8 million building out this media machine. That included paying influencers to create content that appeals to younger voters. Stuff that feels organic, not like a political ad. They also set up rapid response teams who can jump on a story within minutes, flooding social media with their spin before the other side even knows what hit them. And they're funding investigative journalists, not the kind who are looking for the truth. but the kind who are looking for ammunition. If a progressive candidate has a skeleton in their closet, Rockbridge wants to find it, package it, and blast it out to every corner of the internet. But it's not just about media. Rockbridge is also investing heavily in legal strategies. They're spending millions on strategic litigation, challenging what they claim are lax voter ID laws, regulations on crypto and AI, you name it. Sometimes it's not even about winning in court. It's about tying up their opponents, making it harder for them to fight back and shifting the legal landscape in their favor. Their legal strategy is coordinated with other right-wing legal groups, creating a formidable ecosystem that can challenge progressive policies at multiple levels. This includes filing amicus briefs in key Supreme Court cases, supporting lawsuits against tech companies for alleged censorship, and backing efforts to roll back regulations on industries, favored by its donors. The network's legal team is staffed by some of the most aggressive litigators in the radical movement, ensuring that its cases are well-argued and strategically timed. And here's where it gets even more troubling. They've got something called the Transition Project. Think of it as a shadow government in waiting, a high-tech Project 2025 on steroids. They're identifying, recruiting, and training potential political appointees right now. So if a Republican wins the White House, they've got a whole army of loyalists ready to take over. These aren't just your standard GOP staffers. They're ideologically driven, and they're being groomed for power. The transition project isn't just about filling cabinet positions. It's about building a pipeline of talent that can take over the administrative state at every level, from regulatory agencies, to the civil service. Rockbridge is investing in training programs, mentorship networks, and leadership development initiatives to ensure that its appointees are prepared to implement its agenda from day one. This is a long-term play, designed to outlast any single administration and ensure that their network's influence endures. And it's not just D.C. They're going local, too, with what they call the Red State Project. They're targeting battleground states, Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, working on everything from voter registration to redistricting. They want to build a permanent political infrastructure that can advance their agenda for years, maybe decades. The Red State Project is about building relationships with state legislators, county officials, and grassroots activists. Rockbridge is investing in training programs for local leaders providing them with the tools and resources they need to advance the network's agenda in their committees. This includes everything from voter registration drives to legal support for ballot initiatives and referenda. By building a strong base at the state and local level, Rockbridge is ensuring that its influence will be felt long after any particular election cycle. How do they keep all this coordinated? Twice a year, Rockbridge holds these exclusive invitation-only conferences. And these aren't your typical rubber-chicken dinners. They're strategic summits where venture capitalists, media moguls, political strategists, and conservative activists get together to hash out plans. And get this, it costs$100,000 just to get in the door, and donors are aggressively vetted. These conferences aren't just about networking. They're about building trust, sharing information, and coordinating strategy. It's where the deals get made and the next moves get planned. Attendees have included Donald Trump Jr., high-ranking officials like Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, and even Silicon Valley figures who aren't doctrinaire Republicans but are disillusioned with traditional institutions. And then there's 1789 Capital, Malick's firm. It's not just about political influence. It's about building a parallel economy. They're investing in companies that reflect their American values, which, let's be honest, is code for a very specific radical worldview. 1789 Capital is also investing in companies that are developing new technologies for political organizing. Data analytics platforms, voter targeting tools, secure communication systems. These investments are designed to give Rockbridge a technological edge over its rivals, enabling it to run more effective campaigns, mobilize supporters more efficiently, and counter progressive organizing efforts. Now let's step back for a second. What does this mean for democracy? What happens when politics becomes indistinguishable from venture capital? When the people who run the country are being vetted in private at invitation-only retreats? Rockbridge isn't hiding what they're doing. They want to rewrite how political power is acquired, how it's exercised, and who gets to wield it. They're building a new model for power, one that's rooted in grievance, fueled by capital, and disciplined by the long game. This approach raises important questions. What happens when politics becomes indistinguishable from venture capital? What does it mean for democratic institutions when their future leadership is selected not through public, deliberation, but through private vetting at invitation-only retreats. Rockbridge doesn't hide its intentions. It wants to rewire how political power is acquired, how it's exercised, and who gets to wield it. And here's the thing. Democrats and progressives need to pay attention. Rockbridge is building a forward-looking, well-funded machine that operates with ruthless efficiency. While Democrats are still relying on legacy institutions and aging coalitions, Rockbridge is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. So what do we do about it? First, we need to get informed. That's why we're having this conversation. Second, we need to get organized. We can't just rely on the Democratic Party or the same old institutions. We need to build our own networks. Media, organizations, activists. that can challenge the rights dominates. And third, we need to get involved, volunteer, donate, vote, run for office. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Democracy isn't a spectator sport. It's a team effort. Let's talk a little bit more about what this means for the future of American politics. The rise of networks like Rockbridge is part of a broader trend toward the privatization of political power. It's not just about money. It's about control. By building their own media, legal and political infrastructure, these groups are creating a parallel system that operates outside their traditional channels of democratic accountability. This is a serious challenge to the idea of a government by and for the people. When a small group of wealthy, ideologically committed individuals can shape the political landscape in ways that most Americans don't even see, It undermines the very foundations of our democracy. And it's not just a problem for Democrats. It's a problem for anyone who believes in transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. If we want to preserve the integrity of our democratic institutions, we need to understand how these networks operate and how we can push back. One of the most troubling aspects of Rockbridge's approach is the way it blurs the line between politics and business. By investing in companies that align with their ideological goals, they're creating a feedback loop where political power and economic power reinforce each other. This is a classic example of what political scientists call state capture, the process by which private interests take control of public institutions for their own benefit. And it's not just happening at the federal level. Rockbridge's Red State Project is targeting state, legislatures, county governments, and even school boards. By building a strong base at the local level, they are ensuring that their influence will be felt for years to come, regardless of what happens in Washington. This is a long-term strategy, and it's one that progressives need to take seriously. We can't afford to focus only on the next election or the next big scandal. We need to think about how we can build our own networks, our own media, and our own institutions that can compete with the likes of Rockbridge. Let's talk about some of the specific tactics Rockbridge is using. On the media front, they're not just funding traditional outlets. They're investing in influencers, people who can reach audiences that are skeptical of mainstream news. They're also funding rapid response teams that can jump on any story, any rumor, and spin it to their advantage. On the legal front, they're not just filing lawsuits. They're building a network of litigators who can challenge progressive policies at every level of government. They're also investing in legal training programs so that their allies know how to use the law to advance their agenda. And on the political front, they're not just backing candidates. They're building a pipeline of talent. people who are ideologically committed and operationally competent. They're investing in training programs, mentorship networks, and leadership development initiatives to ensure that their people are ready to take power when the time comes. This is a sophisticated, well-funded, and highly disciplined operation. It's not something that can be countered with the same old tactics. If we want to push back, we need to be just as strategic and just as disciplined, and just as committed to the long game. We need to be ruthless. So what does that look like in practice? For progressives, it means investing in our own media and communications infrastructure. It means building our own legal networks so that we can challenge right-wing policies in court. It means recruiting and training our own candidates so that we have a pipeline of talent ready to take on the challenges of governing. It also means being willing to experiment, to try new things, and to learn from our mistakes. The political landscape is changing, and we need to be willing to change with it. Look, I know all of this sounds daunting, but I honestly believe we can fight back. The future of our democracy depends on it, but we have to be tougher. So here's my call to action for you. Don't just listen to this podcast and move on. Take what you've learned and share it. have conversations, challenge assumptions, and most importantly, act. Whether that means volunteering, donating, or just voting in every election, every bit counts. The networks we build, the conversations we have, the actions we take, these are what will determine the future of American politics. We can't afford to sit on the sidelines. Thank you for joining me today on America's Fractured Politics. I'm Mark Mansour. And I'm grateful to have you as part of this conversation. And don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Until next time, stay informed, stay engaged and keep fighting the good fight.