Bannon’s War Room – Episode 4625: FBI Raid Bolton’s Home; The Rule of Don

Date: August 22, 2025
Host: Steve Bannon
Key Guests: Alex DeGrasse, Christina Bobb, Jackie Toboroff
Main Focus: FBI raid on John Bolton’s home, “maximalist” GOP strategy in redistricting, rule of law under Trump, immigration/visa policy, and implications for the 2026/2028 elections.

Episode Overview

This episode is dominated by two explosive news cycles: the FBI raid on the home of John Bolton (Trump’s former National Security Advisor and vocal critic), and the “redistricting wars” that are rapidly tilting the congressional map through aggressive partisan gerrymandering in Texas, California, and beyond. Steve Bannon and guests dissect these events against the backdrop of what they call a “maximalist” Republican strategy—leaving no opportunity on the table in the pursuit of shifting power, controlling investigations, and rebalancing the political landscape ahead of the next two election cycles. They also attack “the rule of Don,” a reference to Trump’s nontraditional, forceful tactics reshaping American norms.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Breaking News: FBI Raids John Bolton’s Home

[01:05], [02:36], [36:23], [41:34]

• Fact Pattern: Early-morning FBI raid on John Bolton’s Bethesda, MD residence as part of a national security/classified records investigation.
• Official Statement: “The FBI is conducting court authorized activity in the area. There is no threat to public safety. We have no further comment.”
  — FBI Spokesperson [02:36]
• Possible Grounds: “John Bolton wrote a book that was very critical of Donald Trump… they were trying to essentially say that he didn’t get the required permissions and clearances around making sure there was no classified information in the book. He has long said there was no classified information in the book…”
  — Legal Analyst [02:36]
• Comparison to Mar-a-Lago: Contrasts made between handling of Bolton and Trump’s own Mar-a-Lago search, noting political ironies and differences in FBI openness; Cash Patel, current FBI Director, is “out front” and owning the action on Bolton.
  — Christina Bobb [36:23]
• Trump Reacts:

  “No, I don’t know about it. I saw it on television this morning. I’m not a fan of John Bull. He’s a real sort of a low life…I could be the one starting it. I’m actually the chief law enforcement officer, but I feel that it’s better this way.”
  — Donald Trump, [41:34]

• Potential Fallout: Bannon and guests speculate that sensitive foreign policy material may be seized; Bolton described as a “Mossad associate…biggest cheerleader for Zelensky…for Netanyahu’s murderous government,” suggesting spillover in Ukraine/Gaza policy.
  — Steve Bannon [11:41], [43:12]

2. Redistricting Wars: “Maximalist” GOP Response

[00:00], [16:20], [18:07], [20:21], [25:17], [27:02]

• The Battleground: Texas and California legislatures pass partisan “mid-decade” maps, both sides openly admitting motives to “protect their majority”—arms race mentality.
• GOP Strategy: “We have at least 10 additional seats that we have to get. Five in Florida, two in Ohio, and I think one each in Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri.”
  — Steve Bannon [15:30]
• Alex DeGrasse (GOP strategist):

  “If we do a maximalist strategy…this could be the game changer for this republic. I mean, this will make or break everything that we have fought so far.” [16:20]
  “This is going to be a drawn out, two cycle fight regardless of the Supreme Court and how things rule.” [16:20]

• Hypocrisy Noted: Both sides admit motives, but Bannon claims “Democrats have been more aggressive,” especially via courts and redistricting boards.
  — Political Commentator quoting Wall Street Journal [05:35]
• Numbers Game: Bannon claims CA’s 41% GOP vote is being squeezed down to “48 to 4” in congressional seats, New England’s GOP representation “25 to 0,” and that a “maximalist” approach could swing “100 seats for 100 years.”
  — Steve Bannon [18:07], [25:43]
• Immediate Activism Call:

  “Everything we need to do now has to be maximalist. You have to take it to its own logical conclusion because we’re burning daylight and everything has got to be urgent.”
  — Steve Bannon [11:41]

• Action Items:
  • Push for further redistricting in GOP states (especially Texas, FL, OH, IN, MO, KY)
  • Mobilize base, county/state / national GOP to turn out for ballot initiatives and block Dem maps (esp. CA Nov. special election)
  • Attack mail-in voting, push law enforcement presence at polls, revisit census counting for apportionment

3. The New “Rule of Don” – Law Enforcement, Weaponization, and Retaliation

[07:17], [39:25], [42:34]

• Weaponization Allegations: Under Trump, DOJ and FBI are accused of targeting political enemies (from John Bolton to former Obama officials re: Russia probe), with the explicit threat of retaliation against prior investigators:

  “Kash Patel said, you should come in and talk to us and if you don't, you're going to find yourself on the end of our investigative activity and it’s going to be very uncomfortable for you…That was a remarkable statement by an FBI director.” — Legal Analyst [07:17]

• Legal Process: Christina Bobb details warrant process and contrasts it with the secretive, contested Mar-a-Lago raid under Biden:

  “With Mar A Lago, they were afraid to take ownership of it… they didn’t actually have probable cause, and they didn’t find anything worth using…But yet here today, we have Cash Patel coming out front saying nobody’s above the law.” — Christina Bobb [36:23]

• Bannon’s Framing:

  “This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we’re going medieval on these people…If that answer is to save my country, this country will be saved.”
  — Steve Bannon, [09:48]

• Trump’s Self-Characterization:

  “I could be the one starting it. I’m actually the chief law enforcement officer, but I feel that it’s better this way.” — Donald Trump, [42:35]

4. Immigration, Visas, and “Foreign Influence”

[27:47], [44:17], [51:59]

• 55 Million Visa Holders: Both Bannon and Jackie Toboroff anchor discussion around a “stunning” number of visa holders in the U.S. as a core issue, tying it to housing crises, labor market displacement, and national security.

  “55 million, which I think is bigger than like a hundred of the countries that are in the United Nations. Absolutely absurd." — Steve Bannon [11:41]

• Student Visas & Universities:

  “We’ve been told that international students… are taking in the best and the brightest. We are not getting Einstein, we’re getting Mahmoud Khalil… 6,000 visa holders have had their visas revoked due to serious crimes and being a threat to national security.” — Jackie Toboroff [45:03]

• Foreign Funding:

  "Arab oil nations and Qatar have given $29 billion to college campuses. Saudi Arabia has given approximately 2 billion. This is not charity. This is transactional influence buying and ideological capture.”
  — Jackie Toboroff [53:44]

• Policy Prescription: Calls for immediate and complete halt to all new foreign student visas and expulsion of illegal aliens and those who overstay.

  “I think for initially all the foreign students. All visas ought to be stopped for foreign students until we find out that American students can get jobs. This is about American citizens and American kids.”
  — Steve Bannon [54:39]

5. Memorable Quotes and Moments

• Bannon on Maximalism:

  “This is a maximalist strategy on everything. Half measures don’t work.” — Steve Bannon [28:18]

• On the “Rule of Don”:

  “It’s not the rule of law, it’s the rule of Don. And we’re standing up to that.” — Republican Political Strategist [01:46]

• On Redistricting Arms Race:

  “Both parties are honest about their raw partisan motives… Difference is, Democrats have been more aggressive in using courts rather than their legislatures.” — Wall Street Journal quoted by Political Commentator [05:35]

• On Bolton’s Influence:

  “He’s the biggest cheerleader for both Zelensky, he’s the biggest cheerleader for Netanyahu’s murderous government… a well known Mossad associate.” — Steve Bannon [11:41]

• On DOJ Retaliation:

  “Cash Patel said… you’re going to find yourself on the end of our investigative activity and it’s going to be very uncomfortable for you. I’m paraphrasing.” — Legal Analyst [07:17]

6. Additional Noteworthy Segments

• Preview of Upcoming Action: Hints at major upcoming announcement from President Trump at noon; focus on other issues like “55 million visas,” “foreign truckers,” and efforts to cut down on mail-in ballots are promised.
• References to International Events: Mention of global currency “Rio Reset” (BRICS), US dollar threats.
• **Plug for Trump’s attorneys, books (“The Room Where It Happened,” Christina Bobb’s book), and upcoming War Room/Trump initiatives.

Episode Timeline (Key Timestamps)

• 00:00–01:05: National redistricting news, Texas and California legislative maps.
• 01:05–02:36: FBI raid on John Bolton – initial report.
• 07:17: Legal Analyst, deep dive on FBI’s political reorientation.
• 09:48: Bannon’s fiery “primal scream” speech.
• 11:41: Scene-setting for news on Trump, Bolton, and redistricting.
• 16:20–20:47: Redistricting “maximalism” detailed with Alex DeGrasse.
• 25:17, 27:47: Bannon-DeGrasse on convergence of issues: redistricting, mail-in ballots, census, immigrant voting.
• 36:23–39:47: Christina Bobb explicates legal process, contrasts Bolton and Trump cases.
• 41:34–42:35: Trump gives candid, dismissive reaction to Bolton raid.
• 44:17, 51:59: Jackie Toboroff exposes scale and risks of US visa policy and university subsidies.
• 53:44: Foreign funding, ideological capture in American higher education.

Conclusion

Episode 4625 of Bannon’s War Room captures a moment of heightened political and legal brinksmanship:

• The unprecedented FBI raid on a key Trump-era official, John Bolton, becomes a proxy for debates about law enforcement, political retribution, and the definition of presidential power.
• The coordinated, aggressive effort to “counter-gerrymander” by both parties—amplified by calls for a “maximalist” Republican response—reflects a no-holds-barred arms race for congressional dominance.
• The hosts and guests argue that unchecked immigration and foreign influence in higher education threaten the American labor market and have been exploited for partisan advantage.
• Throughout, Bannon and allies present their positions with overt urgency and combative language, framing the coming months as a fight for the nation’s political future.

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode offers a raw snapshot of the political climate on the American right at a moment of great turbulence and transition.