The Real ID Trap: A Federal Power Grab Threatening Your Freedom

By Brannon Howse

Folks, we are staring down the barrel of a federal overreach that could fundamentally alter the fabric of our constitutional republic. The Real ID Act, which I’ve been warning about for years, is being pushed with a new urgency, and the misinformation coming from the highest levels of government is nothing short of alarming. On my recent broadcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Twila Brase from RefuseRealID.org, who laid bare the deception surrounding the Real ID and its dangerous implications for our God-given freedoms.

Let’s start with the latest push from Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security. She’s been sounding the alarm, claiming that come May 7, 2025, you won’t be able to board a plane without a Real ID. This is fear-mongering, plain and simple. Twila Brase, who I trust far more than the bureaucrats in Washington, pointed out that Noem’s claims don’t align with the Department of Homeland Security’s own regulations. A January 2025 rule, known as the “progressive enforcement rule,” grants a two-year enforcement period for Real ID compliance. That means the hard deadline Noem is touting isn’t as hard as she wants you to believe. In fact, 44% of Americans don’t have a Real ID, and the government knows that enforcing it overnight would cause chaos at airports—disruption, mayhem, and public backlash against TSA agents. So why is Noem pushing this narrative?

The answer is control. The Real ID is not just a driver’s license with a star on it; it’s a stepping stone to a national ID card, a digital ID that could track your every move. As I’ve said before, the World Economic Forum admitted in a 2018 document that they want a global digital ID for voting, travel, banking, and even accessing social media. This isn’t a conspiracy theory—it’s their own words! And now, we’re seeing the groundwork laid right here in America. Twila highlighted that the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AMVA) testified to Congress in December 2023 about plans to digitize Real IDs, putting them on your phone with remote government access. That means the feds could shut down your ID at any moment, leaving you stranded at an airport or unable to access your bank account. This is the kind of power that opens the door to a Chinese-style social credit system, where your freedom hinges on government approval.

Noem’s public service announcement, which we played on the show, claims Real ID will “keep our country safe” by preventing fraud and enhancing security. But as Twila pointed out, this is nonsense. The 9/11 hijackers had passports, not driver’s licenses. Congressman Thomas Massie has said it clearly: Real ID wouldn’t have stopped the World Trade Center attacks. And let’s not forget what Ron Paul warned about decades ago on the House floor. He called Real ID a national ID card, plain and simple, with no limits on the data the government could collect—biometrics, gun ownership, you name it. His words were prophetic, and now we’re seeing the very dangers he foresaw unfold before our eyes.

Some so-called conservatives are falling for the lie that Real ID will fight voter fraud. I asked Twila about this, and she was crystal clear: voting is a state responsibility, not a federal one. The Constitution forbids the federal government from meddling in state elections, and states can handle voter ID requirements without a national ID. In fact, Real ID could make things worse. Twila warned that a future administration—say, one like Kamala Harris’s—could push to give Real IDs to illegal immigrants, opening the door to non-citizen voting. We’re already seeing states like California and Minnesota issue IDs to illegals. Do you really think a federal ID will fix that? It’s a Trojan horse, folks, designed to lure conservatives into surrendering their freedoms under the guise of election integrity.

The good news is that we can fight back. Twila and her team at RefuseRealID.org are leading the charge, providing resources to educate Americans and push for state resistance. In Maine, legislators are working to repeal Real ID, and Twila believes that if just a few states stand up under the 10th Amendment, the federal government will be forced to back down. She’s also encouraging people to ditch their Real ID and switch to a standard state driver’s license. Only five states—Texas, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Wyoming—currently prohibit this switch, but RefuseRealID.org is investigating reports of other states blocking it. If you’ve got a Real ID, go to their website and learn how to reclaim your freedom. And if you need to travel, a passport or passport card will work just fine—something Noem conveniently forgot to mention.

We’re also seeing courageous leaders step up. Congressman Massie is calling on President Trump to halt Real ID, and Twila hopes Senator Rand Paul, as chair of the Homeland Security Committee, will join the fight. Rand’s father, Ron Paul, recently did a podcast on April 14, 2025, reiterating his warnings about Real ID’s dangers. This isn’t a partisan issue; it’s about preserving the America our Founders envisioned—a nation where the federal government doesn’t demand your papers to live your life.

Folks, I’ve seen the misinformation firsthand on X, where even well-meaning MAGA and Make America Healthy Again folks are saying, “Just get your Real ID, it’s no big deal.” They’re wrong, and they need to hear the truth. RefuseRealID.org is putting up billboards—starting in Dallas and Kentucky—to spread the word, and they’re asking for your support to expand this effort. We can’t let the federal government turn us into a surveillance state. As Twila said, “Our country is an experiment in freedom.” Protecting that freedom means rejecting Real ID and standing firm against this unconstitutional power grab.

I’m heading to Washington, D.C., the first week of May to broadcast from the nation’s capital, with press passes to film on Capitol Hill and interviews lined up with House and Senate members. We’ll also visit the Anti-Communist Museum to expose the ideologies driving these policies. Support our work at worldviewfoundation.com or join our vault at worldviewtube.com/vault for exclusive behind-the-scenes content from this trip. Together, we can stop Real ID and preserve the America we love. Go to RefuseRealID.org, get educated, and spread the truth. The time to act is now.