America First Legal has released the sixth set of internal meeting notes from the disbanded Department of Homeland Security “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group,” led by John Brennan and James Clapper. This is part of AFL's #DeepStateDiaries series, revealing the group's strategies to influence public perception.
The latest documents reveal discussions about using DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis for covert messaging campaigns aimed at the American public. Previous releases showed the group believed “quietly making democracy work” could suppress political dissent. The new notes continue this theme, detailing plans to use “trusted messengers” to shape public opinion on issues, specifically targeting Trump supporters as a domestic extremism threat.
In a September 2023 meeting, the group debated how to effectively deliver their partisan message. Acknowledging President Biden’s declining influence, they sought alternative messengers. One member mentioned that DHS Secretary Mayorkas was actively engaging political figures to promote their narrative. The group suggested working quietly with individuals from both political sides and leveraging private sector crisis communication strategies.
They also discussed using various channels for their outreach, including social media and trusted public figures like the National Sheriffs Association and local leaders. The idea was to communicate through sources perceived as credible by their political opponents. The group even considered the “All In” podcast, popular among Republican candidates, to help disseminate their message.
Ultimately, the group aimed to portray domestic violent extremism as predominantly originating from Trump supporters, advocating for this viewpoint to be treated as a public health issue. This strategy involved leveraging government and private sector resources to influence public sentiment and suppress dissenting opinions.
