Podcast Summary: Bannon’s War Room
Episode 4318: Developing A True Free Country; Gaining True Control Over Your Life
Release Date: March 6, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 4318 of Bannon’s War Room, hosted by WarRoom.org, Stephen K. Bannon delves into pressing economic and political issues facing America. The episode features insightful discussions with key figures, including Nate Fisher, CEO of New Founding, and Brigadier General Amir Avivi, a retired officer from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The conversation centers on economic policies, government spending, trade tariffs, and the broader vision for America’s future as a truly free country.

Economic Impacts of Tariffs

Steve Bannon opens the discussion by addressing the recent performance of major automotive companies amidst tariff changes post-Inauguration Day.

• Automotive Sector Decline:

  • "Prices for Ford and General Motors since the Inauguration day compared to the overall market... Ford down about seven and a half percent, General Motors down 10%." [00:00]

• Tariffs' Adverse Effects:

  • Bannon criticizes the impact of tariffs on the automotive industry, citing the Ford CEO’s change in stance within a day:
    • "Tariffs will blow a hole in the industry that we have never seen... a day later, they called the White House and said, no, we're really not so happy." [00:39]

• Historical Context:

  • Reflecting on Trump’s previous tariff policies and their consequences:
    • "The government collected a total of $50 billion from all the tariffs... We then gave back $24.5 billion to the farmers to compensate them for their lost exports. So that did not go so well." [01:13]

Kate Obenshain, co-host, counters by highlighting Trump’s positive remarks on tariffs benefiting American farmers, though Bannon remains skeptical about the actual benefits.

• Farmer's Market Concerns:
  • "I don’t really see how this is great for American farmers... we're already selling everything we can at home and sending the rest of it overseas as one of our major exports." [01:13]

Government Spending and Public Opinion

The conversation shifts to public sentiment regarding government spending and the influence of prominent figures like Elon Musk and cryptocurrency (Doge).

• Public Support for Spending Cuts:

  • Bannon mentions a statistic indicating majority support for cutting government staff:
    • "54% say that he and they should influence government spending and operations." [02:24]

• Bipartisan Agreement on Reducing Federal Government Size:

  • "It cuts across Democrat and Republican of people thinking that Washington is too big, bloated federal government, waste, fraud, and abuse." [02:55]

• Kate’s Analysis on Government Cuts:

  • She elaborates on the bipartisan desire to reduce government size but notes the complexity in achieving programmatic cuts:
    • "The programmatic cuts are not across the aisle. The Democrats want bigger government. They want more intrusive government." [03:02]

Bannon emphasizes the challenge of implementing significant federal spending cuts without affecting essential programs like Social Security and Medicare.

• Future of Mandatory Programs:
  • "Social Security and Medicare are off the table... And cut out illegal aliens. Got to do it." [03:25]

Featuring Nate Fisher: Vision for a New America

Nate Fisher, CEO of New Founding, joins the discussion to present his venture firm's mission of fostering a free and empowered America through technology and community building.

• New Founding’s Mission:

  • "We're betting on businesses that can be profitable if we achieve an outcome we find desirable." [08:14]

• Community Development in Appalachia:

  • Fisher outlines a unique project focused on revitalizing rural communities:
    • "We're focusing on a new vision for local and small-town life... people with business skills... can actually build the country they want to live in." [11:45]

• Addressing Accusations of White Nationalism:

  • Responding to Kate Obenshain's challenge:
    • "They threw out white nationalists and then we challenged them on it. They had literally nothing in the article supporting that claim at all." [10:08]
    • "We're building a community where we're intentionally marketing it to Christians... What resonates is offering paths to regular people to build the country they want." [11:00]

• Technology and Human Agency:

  • Fisher emphasizes mastering technology to enhance human agency rather than succumbing to algorithmic control:
    • "We don't have to accept that we can use technology in a way that complements people... human agency remains a central driver of every aspect of life." [19:32]

• Future Vision:

  • He envisions a decentralized power structure utilizing technology to achieve desired societal outcomes:
    • "Ultimately, those are the people who are going to produce better innovations and more effective companies that use technology as well." [19:26]

Discussion on Israel’s Military Strategy

Brigadier General Amir Avivi provides an update on Israel’s military operations against Hamas and broader regional threats.

• Current Military Actions:

  • "The IDF is preparing for a decisive attack against Hamas... to destroy Hamas, the governmental and military entity." [22:19]

• Challenges in Gaza:

  • He explains the complexities of urban warfare in Gaza:
    • "The Gaza Strip is dug with tunnels. This created a very, very complex environment for the IDF." [27:05]
    • "As long as they are holding Israeli people there, we cannot go in. We will endanger their lives." [27:05]

• Impact of U.S. Administration Changes:

  • Avivi critiques the Biden administration’s shifting support for Israel:
    • "Until January 2024, the Biden administration was 100% with Israel... Then there was a complete change in policy." [24:03]
    • "Endless amount of munitions that are coming from the US but also being produced in Israel." [25:00]

• New Chief of Staff:

  • Introduction of Eyal Zamir as the new IDF Chief of Staff:
    • "He's a brave officer... he's going to do a great job." [32:24]

• Future Regional Security:

  • Addressing threats from Iran and maintaining security in contested areas:
    • "We have to deal with Iran and the nuclear program... dealing with terrorists that attack from Palestinian cities." [34:08]

Economic Forecasts and Policy Recommendations

The episode touches upon dire economic forecasts and strategic policy recommendations to safeguard American prosperity.

• Economic Depression Forecast:

  • Kate Obenshain highlights economists’ predictions of a depression by 2030, emphasizing the strain on Social Security, Medicare, and the national debt:
    • "We have major structural problems caused by the Biden regime... How do you get back on a more solid footing?" [42:54]

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant’s Upcoming Address:

  • Anticipation of significant remarks and Q&A on economic recovery strategies:
    • "Secretary of Treasury Scott Besant is going to be there... laying out exactly what we need to be doing to get this economy back on track." [41:12]

• Tariff Negotiations and Border Security:

  • Discussion on reshaping NAFTA and enhancing border security:
    • "Every company that was part of the new NAFTA... will not have the 25% tariffs." [43:40]
    • "Pete Hegse does not have 12,000 combat troops... The Mexican government has got to stop people and send them home." [44:00]

• Capital Market Turbulence:

  • Kate comments on the impact of Trump’s economic policies on capital markets:
    • "Capital markets in total turmoil... President Trump's restructuring what’s happening in Ukraine..." [41:12]

Closing Remarks

Stephen K. Bannon concludes the episode by reiterating the critical nature of the discussions and the ongoing efforts to reshape America’s economic and political landscape. He underscores the importance of agency and high-impact actions to achieve a truly free country.

Notable Quotes

• Steve Bannon:

  • "I don't really see how this is great for American farmers." [01:13]
  • "The numbers are the numbers." [02:51]
  • "Social Security and Medicare are off the table." [03:25]

• Nate Fisher:

  • "We're betting on businesses that can be profitable if we achieve an outcome we find desirable." [08:14]
  • "Human agency remains a central driver of every aspect of life." [19:32]

• Brigadier General Amir Avivi:

  • "The IDF is preparing for a decisive attack against Hamas." [22:19]
  • "The Gaza Strip is dug with tunnels. This created a very, very complex environment for the IDF." [27:05]

• Kate Obenshain:

  • "We're already selling everything we can at home and sending the rest of it overseas as one of our major exports." [01:13]
  • "We have major structural problems caused by the Biden regime." [42:54]

Conclusion

Episode 4318 of Bannon’s War Room provides a comprehensive examination of the intersecting challenges facing America’s economy and political landscape. Through robust discussions with experts like Nate Fisher and Brigadier General Amir Avivi, the episode offers critical insights into the impact of tariffs, government spending, and international conflicts on the quest to develop a truly free country. Listeners are encouraged to engage with these topics to understand and influence the future direction of the nation.