Overconfidence

Trump is going to try to take away Harvard’s tax-exempt status. Considering that one of the big set of institutions that power the Republican Party are evangelical megachurches that have pastors flying around in private jets, you’d think that they’d want to be a little careful about stripping tax-exempt status from non-profits. But, of course, they’re not, for two reasons.

First, they think they’re going to rule eternally. Second, in the (in their view) unlikely event that the Democrats regain power, they’re pretty confident that the Democrats won’t retaliate.

Let’s be clear here: I’m not talking about Democrats doing something illegal, as Trump’s action towards Harvard certainly is. I’m talking about Democrats engaging in a completely legal, careful investigation of the non-profit status of megachurches that fleece their flocks to make their pastors incredibly wealthy.

Republicans are certain that a serious investigation won’t happen for a few reasons. One is the timidity of Democrats toward going after so-called “Christians”, because the minute that happens, the right-wing noise machine will turn it into a weeks- or months-long accusation of persecution. Another is that there are some churches that turn out Democrats that might also have some pastors who are compensated far beyond the reasonable level for non-profits.

All that said, I wonder what would happen if some Democrats who the right are actually scared of (AOC, Jasmine Crockett, who else?) dropped some threats. Perhaps saying that as soon as Democrats regain at least one chamber of Congress, they’re going to haul megachurch pastors in front of Oversight and start asking uncomfortable questions. I have no illusions that this would change the Trump Administration’s course of action — they’ve already shown that they don’t care whether Republican Members of Congress are going to have a tough 2026 or 2028. But some of the folks with skin in the game — those up for election in 2026 — might just tell Trump to lay off of Harvard.

It’s at least worth a try.