In Jackson County, Tennessee, a quiet, rural community steeped in history is becoming ground zero for a concerning new movement—one that combines real estate development, political ambition, and an ideology many view as fundamentally un-American.
According to a recent investigation by NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, a group of politically connected investors and far-right Christian nationalist voices are working to reshape Jackson County into a stronghold for their vision of an alternative America. At the center of the effort is the Highland Rim Project, a multimillion-dollar development backed by Dallas-based investor Nate Fischer and his company, New Founding LLC.
Their goal? Not just homes or businesses, but control. As Fischer put it in a podcast interview, the aim is to establish “a concentration where we can control the town.”
This isn’t just a local story—it’s a national one. Fischer and his allies, including podcast hosts and ideologues like Andrew Isker and C.Jay Engel, have expressed views that include undoing civil rights advancements, deporting naturalized citizens, and welcoming authoritarian leadership—all under the banner of “Christian nationalism.” One of Isker’s books even calls for an explicitly Christian society in which only those who “call Jesus Christ King” can hold positions of power. No room is left for Jews, Muslims, or other faiths.
For locals like Mark Dudney, a seventh-generation Jackson County resident and historian, the issue is deeply personal. Dudney’s family has lived in the area for generations. His father, Dr. E.M. Dudney, served as an Air Force physician and aide to President Eisenhower. To see outsiders descend upon his hometown with visions of a radical experiment in governance is, for him, both heartbreaking and alarming.
“This is not a test tube for some extremist social experiment,” he said in a widely shared video.
The financial backers of this effort don’t just share a real estate portfolio—they’re also reportedly tied to The Society for American Civic Renewal, a secretive all-male network working to prepare for a future “regime” and societal collapse. Their goal: install trained Christian nationalist leaders and form what they call “parallel Christian infrastructure.”
This vision stands in stark contrast to the American democratic tradition, which thrives on pluralism, equal rights, and peaceful coexistence of religious and cultural communities. As some locals post signs declaring “Hate has no place in Jackson County,” it’s clear that resistance to this ideological takeover is growing.
The developments in Tennessee remind us that the threats posed by extremism are no longer confined to the internet or political fringe—they are being quietly embedded into real places and communities.
We believe this story underscores the importance of vigilance, civic responsibility, and bridge-building across lines of difference. As Americans of diverse faiths and backgrounds, we must be clear-eyed about threats to democracy and dignity—especially when they disguise themselves in familiar language or faith-based rhetoric.