The Russian Cult Pulling Strings in DC & Threatening US Democracy
January 24, 2026
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Cult Expert Dr Steven Hassan Episodes Around January 24, 2026
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59:44Now PlayingThe Russian Cult Pulling Strings in DC & Threatening US Democracy
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as posted by the channelDr. Steven Hassan interviews independent researcher Matthew Williams about AllatRa, The Creative Society, Russian cult influence operations, and their growing presence in U.S. politics, including a recent conference in Washington, D.C. held merely steps away from the White House.
In this conversation, Dr. Steven Hassan, author of the Cult of Trump, speaks with Matthew Williams, an independent researcher investigating emerging threats to American democracy. This led him to investigate AllatRa, a transnational cult movement and disinformation network that uses front groups like The Creative Society to mask authoritarianism, spread conspiracy theories & pseudoscience, exploit unpaid volunteers, and gain legitimacy through religion, climate change denial, and political lobbying.
The AllatRa conference Matthew attended featured figures connected to Trump’s Christian outreach, including Pastor Mark Burns, a longtime Trump supporter and megachurch pastor in MAGA-aligned religious networks.
They discuss:
- What AllatRa and its front group The Creative Society are really doing in US politics
- Matthew Williams’s observations from a recent AllatRa event in Washington, D.C. lead by Trump's spiritual advisor, Pastor Mark Burns
- How foreign actors linked to cult movements seek legitimacy through U.S. political institutions under the Trump administration
- The role of AllatRa in disseminationg disinformation and conspiracy theories among the alt-right
AllatRa has been investigated by Ukraine’s Security Service, accused of operating in the interests of Russian special services, and linked to large-scale online disinformation campaigns and conspiracy theories while simultaneously lobbying lawmakers in Washington, presenting itself as a pro-faith movement. This livestream sheds light on how AllatRa is using religious authority, political proximity, and media strategy to exploit and usurp our democratic system.
AllatRa's expanding influence could be disastrous for democracy and national security. We seek to bring public awareness to this issue and break down why understanding cult dynamics is essential in this unprecedented political moment.
📅 LIVESTREAM: Friday, January 24, 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM Eastern Time / 12:00 PM Pacific Time
🌐 For more information on AllatRa, please check out my recent article on Substack
Chapters:
#AllatRa #CreativeSociety #StevenHassan #MarkBurns #TrumpReligion #Cults #USPolitics #WashingtonDC #ConspiracyTheories #CultExpert #Authoritarianism
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