CPAC Insider

The Deep State Scurries Abroad


Guest Post by Global Explorer Joel Jammal


The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC); is host to the most well-known names and accredited brains within conservatism globally. With thanks to the CPAC Australia organisation and entrepreneur Steve Baxter, I was fortunate to be a sponsored guest at the 2025 CPAC USA conference in Washington DC. As a political commentator and analyst this gave me the opportunity to step out of the figurative lecture hall and into the arena of US politics.


With speakers such as Nigel Farage, Elon Musk, Vice President JD Vance, all the way up to the standing President of the United States; Donald J Trump, any conservative would be blown away by the proximity to this living wisdom, as was I. However, as I left the conference after hearing so many incredible words; an unexpected statement from a speaker rang in my ears.



Mike Benz; a former official with the US Department of State and current director for ‘Freedom Online’, a “free speech watchdog organisation”, spoke to the unconsidered dangers associated with the disempowerment of USAID. While there has been celebration of this milestone, Mr Benz highlighted that the powers formerly unified through the USAID, will be seeking unity internationally – forming a “coalition to try to use the weaponised powers of foreign governments”.


“We've seen heads of state and people from almost all populated continents coming to this conference to say that we are together, and the opposition is going to be doing the same on the other side.” An image was captured vividly in my mind with his metaphor of sharks and minnow fish; while a school of minnows combined can appear capable of overpowering a shark, what happens when these sharks coalesce? This really emphasised the dangers we face when conservative bodies are internationally disconnected but inversely; highlighted the immense power available to the conservative movement when aligned.


Whilst these deep state cockroaches are scuttling for financial cover and positions in other affluent nations, Benz challenged the CPAC audience to “bring the whole world up with us” in order to squash them.



As I return home to Australia, I am filled with immense gratitude to have been one of the few honoured to attending such an incredible event and fortunately my eyes are now opened to the dangers of complacency. Whilst we reside in the Eden of Australia; so many miles from the United States, we are not immune to the powers of the deep state. Cockroaches may not swim but they sure do hide; thus the urgency of our absolute vigilance.



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