Leonard Leo: Everything You Need to Know About the Man Behind Project 2025 and the Right-Wing Agenda
Save 50% off your SimpliSafe security system when you sign up for a professional monitoring plan, and get your first month FREE. Visit https://SimpliSafe.com/GUY to customize yours! Try SimpliSafe risk-free. If you don’t love it, return it for a full refund within 60 days. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe®
In our 20th (!!) episode of This F*cking Guy, Erin and Alyssa take a look at a guy who may not be a household name but has played a leading role in creating the current hellscape of American politics. His name is Leonard Leo and as one of the leading architects of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 he has been a key player in securing the conservative majority on the Supreme Court and drowning our elections in dark money. Join us for a deep dive into his efforts to impose a right-wing Christian agenda onto all of America and how he is now setting his sights on the entertainment and tech industries.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
1:33 Early Life
3:23 DC Internship and The Federalist Society
6:16 The Judicial Confirmation Network
10:31 “The Honest Elections Project”
11:14 Leonard’s Judges and Their Luxury Gifts
15:02 Dark Money and Trump’s Judges
17:23 Ad Break
19:19 Leonard’s Lavish Lifestyle
21:26 CRC Advisors and “$1.6 Billion is a cross”
23:41 Cafeteria Catholicism
28:14 Moves into Influencing the Entertainment Industry
31:30 Electoral Failures
33:58 Rating Leonard Leo
SOURCES
https://www.propublica.org/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-leo-supreme-court-supermajority
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/leonard-leo
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/05/05/leonard-leo-clarence-thomas-ginni/
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/opus-dei-leonard-leo-supreme-court-moneybags-kid-1235115538/
https://jacobin.com/2023/07/leonard-leo-dark-money-abortion-lgbtq-maine-church
https://www.propublica.org/article/dark-money-leonard-leo-barre-seid
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/28/magazine/roe-v-wade-christian-network.html
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/inside-the-mind-of-leonard-leo-trumps-supreme-court-right-hand-man
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/07/20/leonard-leo-clarence-thomas-paoletta/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/05/04/leonard-leo-clarence-ginni-thomas-conway/
https://www.propublica.org/article/samuel-alito-luxury-fishing-trip-paul-singer-scotus-supreme-court
https://www.axios.com/2020/01/07/leonard-leo-crc-advisors-federalist-society
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-adviser-leonard-leo-details-plans-to-overhaul-judiciary
https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/whitehouse-durbin-ask-leonard-leo-and-right-wing-billionaires-for-full-accounting-of-gifts-to-supreme-court-justices
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2024/apr/12/billionaire-leonard-leo-rejects-senate-subpoena-supreme-court-gifts
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/10/ginni-thomas-leonard-leo-citizens-united-00108082
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/12/how-leonard-leos-dark-money-network-orchestrated-a-new-attack-on-the-voting-rights-act/
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/05/leonard-leo-federalist-society-voter-fraud.html
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/12/supreme-court-moore-v-harper-federalist-society-leonard-leo/
https://jacobin.com/2024/08/leonard-leo-voter-suppression-swing-states
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/28/magazine/roe-v-wade-christian-network.html
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/28/leonard-leo-firm-received-21-million-from-leo-linked-group-00128884
https://www.levernews.com/tag/leonard-leo/
https://www.levernews.com/how-dark-money-bought-a-supreme-court-seat/
https://www.levernews.com/how-a-secretive-billionaire-handed-his-fortune-to-the-architect-of-the-right-wing-takeover-of-the-courts/
https://www.propublica.org/article/leonard-leo-scotus-elections-nonprofits-discrimination
https://jacobin.com/2024/11/dark-money-election-leo-trump
https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-secretly-attended-koch-brothers-donor-events-scotus
https://www.propublica.org/article/leonard-leo-teneo-videos-documents
https://maplightarchive.org/story/new-dark-money-group-led-by-trump-judicial-adviser-tied-to-network-promoting-his-court-picks/
https://www.propublica.org/article/dark-money-leonard-leo-barre-seid
https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/leonard-leo-tied-nonprofits-businesses-88-million/
Political commentator and comedy writer Erin Ryan and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco are joined by a bicoastal squad of funny, opinionated women to talk through everything from reproductive rights to romcoms. They break down the political news of the week, plus the topics, trends, and cultural stories that affect women’s lives. New episodes drop every Thursday. Get in touch: hysteria@crooked.com.
Photos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
@volkerneumann3597
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Lenora needs to be investigated!
@Sandra-s7w5k
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Love your channel ❤️. Thank you for calling out those f%$$cking guys.
@DavidYbabez
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Wait, who da pimp, again?
@harrycanyon5298
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
The corruption is real!
@dentrh
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Democrats and independents represent more than 50% of the electorate they need to vote and campaign for progressive candidates at every level. We see daily what the Republicans are doing to support billionaires. Across the country from Nebraska farms to Amazon warehouses the middle class is disappearing. It seems like the Republicans are trying to create a society ruled by elites. If my perception is correct that makes them traitors to the original intent of the Constitution. Act now even an election for a dog catcher matters.
@danrode104
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
What's the what with these wops???? Mama's boys….
@Woeisu7777
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
You guys are so good and your podcast TFG is wonderful to watch. Thank you, for all you do.
@PhotoWix
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
ProPublica is the BEST!
@PhotoWix
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
OMG!!! That jizzwhistle whine about $1.6 billion cross and having to be a steward of good – yeah through the self-funnel millions for YOUR personal pampering!
@PhotoWix
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Perfect!!! Leo IS the unofficial judicial PIMP! I will personally help you illustrate the amount Rushmore of Evil Shitlords!!!
@PhotoWix
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
YES! Originalists are definitely rotting fig leaf white supremists.
@bonniewilliams8743
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Leo is vital brain-maga GOP Republican DESIGNERS’ of Project2025(Federalist COUP DESTROYING ALL US RIGHTS for”minorities”)TOTAL RACIST& POWER GRABBER for White Elitist! He prompts/promotes”don😡FELON to DICTATOR-ABSOLUTE POWER DESTROYING ALL Constitutional Norms! He is one of MAIN TRAITORS!Jail HIM&vote💙
@flordgold356
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
👏👏👏
@maryjordan7649
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
These people are clearly fascist…. mostly white misogynist, racist and narcissistic people . Nazis using a different name. America is now going downhill fast VOTE THEM ((Republicans) OUT!!!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
@Steelstud007
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Im so glad how you ladies are calling out these corrupt a#$holes.
@enkididit8669
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Leonard, Lord Farquad, Leo.
@NadineWendellMojica
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Sheldon Whitehouse is fighting the good fight with the past and present corrupt Supreme Court.
@steverussel7048
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
You have an incredible site. Just found you and trying to catch up!
@HarrisonBergeronIsHere
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Behold!! The festering carcass of American rot shoved into an ill-fitting suit: the sleaze of a conman, the cowardice of a draft dodger, the gluttony of a parasite, the racism of a Klansman, the sexism of a back-alley creep, the ignorance of a bar-stool drunk, and the greed of a hedge-fund ghoul — all spray-painted orange and paraded like a prize hog at a county fair. Not a president. Not even a man. Just the diseased distillation of everything this country swears it isn't but has always been — arrogance dressed up as exceptionalism, stupidity passed off as common sense, cruelty sold as toughness, greed exalted as ambition, and corruption worshipped like a gospel. It is America's shadow made flesh, a rotting pumpkin idol proving that when a nation kneels before money, power and spite, it doesn't just lose its soul — it shits out this bloated obscenity and calls it a leader.
@PoggeB13
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Walker…ewww.
@artskiwendy
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
CUCK FATHOLICS..JESUS WAS NOT A CATHOLIC…. OR A CHRISTIAN..IT IS THE GREATEST "STORY" …LIE SINCE CONSTANTINE..WTF?
@artskiwendy
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
JUST FYI…THERE IS A WIFI HAVE CALLED A FLIPPER THAT CAN HACK ANY WIFI CONNECTED SURVEILLANCE.
@FireWood-z3u
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
I can watch Erin all days. She's funny and beautiful…
😍
@captainkirk4514
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Corporate money has been a big problem in our politics for decades, and it is on both sides of the political pendulum. But when you really dig deep, the obvious influence of religious power and money being inserted into our political system is staggering.
Conservatism has morphed into a grotesquely huge criminal organization to promote control and, eventually, the destruction of our constitutional republic.
@rbaron7352
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
I gave up catholism for lent.
@skycatlive1576
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO BOBBY COCKDICK
@wingitwildlife
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Wisconsin was a good blue state back in the day. What the heck happened. People may have come from other areas for better opportunity and brought their lousy politics with them.
@wingitwildlife
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Glad you quit the weasels which are a valuable part of the ecosystem of God's natural world which is a lot more than you can say about the people you critique.
@wingitwildlife
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
It's outrageous how the American Taliban has had such influence in all aspects of society especially the Federal government and the Catholic Church.
@wingitwildlife
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
You gals are really good, some of the few long videos I take the time to watch.
@wingitwildlife
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Should be a big tax on all political campaign contributions.
@Vercangetorix
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Just discovered this channel this week and wow, can’t get enough!
@pamelahomeyer748
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Do https://youtu.be/OYA4Ero-lb4?si=b6a4978W4-qT_LM8
@willmpet
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
“Wait! This messenger brings neither good nor bad news, just take him out and work him over a little.”
@user-ky6ib3tn8x
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Having grown up Roman Catholic, and a professional organist from 7th grade-on, I've met unfortunately a bunch of priests much like this guy.
very very scary. like being organist for hitler's chapel
@FalconAndTrident
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Ah…. SPLC lists an organization in State Line, PA, as a Catholic hate group. So now I know what they are ….
@bubbabaker6244
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Ĝod, I hate Republicans!
@coreyham3753
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Leo has caused as much damage as Chump himself has.
@vicario9959
September 22, 2025 at 10:26 pm
EPSTEIN PRESIDENT BECAUSE WHITES DONT LIKE BLACKS!!!!
Comments are closed.