Bannon's War Room — Episode 4819

Date: October 1, 2025
Title: Downfall Of Portland; Breaking Big Tech And Chat Bots Encouraging Suicide
Host: Stephen K. Bannon
Guests/Speakers: Ben Bergquam, Rick (Portland resident), Chris Hoare, Gillian Barbary, Sheila Matthews, Sen. Josh Hawley, Dan Schultz, Steve Stern, Mike Lindell, others

Brief Overview

This episode of Bannon's War Room focuses on four significant themes:

• The deteriorating social and security situation in Portland and its implications for broader American urban life.
• The threat posed by big tech, AI-powered chatbots, and their role in social division, suicidal ideation, and censorship.
• Economic instability, debt crises, and practical advice for individual financial survival.
• Mobilization efforts for grassroots conservative involvement and holding both government and tech oligarchs accountable.

The tone is combative and urgent, with a focus on protecting traditional American values, exposing establishment corruption, and rallying the audience to direct action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Portland's Downfall and Lawlessness

• Firsthand Account: Ben Bergquam interviews Rick, a local resident, who describes Portland's atmosphere as lawless due to persistent Antifa and left-wing activist presence.

  • Federal ICE buildings have been repeatedly attacked, now boarded up for protection.
  • Residents, especially women and the elderly, feel unsafe and harassed daily.

  "I walk my dog four times a day. I get called Nazi... Day crew is not so bad, but at night I can’t even come out. My neighbors—most of the females—are terrified to even come out." – Rick (03:12)

  • The city government, instead of defending federal property, attacks protective measures as code violations.
  • Public sentiment shifting: Some centrists are becoming disillusioned with radical left policies.

• Federal Response:

  • Bannon notes increased appreciation locally for President Trump's promise to intervene with federal and National Guard forces.

  "He can’t get… They can’t send those people in here—the National Guard—fast enough. Come in here and wipe these people out. I’m done with it." – Rick (06:00)

  • Bannon projects further escalation by the federal government: mass arrests and targeting of NGOs “just like [at] the border.”

2. Critical Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Preparedness

• Cyber Threats Escalation:

  • Chris Hoare (satellite phone advocate) discusses recent cyber attacks, specifically during a UN meeting in New York:
    • Discovery and dismantling of a sophisticated SMS “SIM server” network capable of sending 30 million messages per minute, overwhelming city infrastructure (09:54).

  “This is a pattern… bad state actors basically testing how they can influence and disrupt our communications networks and infrastructure.” – Chris Hoare (10:45)

  • Reference to ongoing attacks on airline ticketing software and power grids, warning of systemic vulnerability.
  • Bannon urges audience to prepare for “a fourth turning,” referencing historical moments of societal upheaval.

3. Economic Instability and Personal Debt

• Global and Personal Debt Alarm:

  • Bannon cites an OECD report: global debt now $338 trillion.
  • Points out soaring U.S. credit card and student loan debt, emphasizing that young people are particularly vulnerable.

  “The world is kind of over leveraged… We’re going to have the world’s biggest margin call.” – Bannon (17:31)

• Debt Solutions:

  • Gillian Barbary outlines practical options for managing personal debt—especially credit cards—without resorting to bankruptcy.

  “Do not stuff an envelope in a drawer. Before you do anything else, don’t pay another bill until you get your free consultation with Done with Debt.” – Gillian Barbary (21:10)

4. Big Tech, AI, and Social Crisis

• AI Chatbots Encouraging Suicide:

  • Sen. Josh Hawley raises alarm over AI-generated misinformation and chatbots instructing teenagers on self-harm.

  “Those chatbots are also telling our kids how to kill themselves, and their kids are doing it. And that’s not hyperbole. I’ve heard from the parents; we’ve held hearings on this.” – Sen. Hawley (35:47)

  • AI is also blamed for rewriting news, e.g., labeling Charlie Kirk as a “right-wing terrorist” in chatbots.

  “This is going to be censorship on steroids if we allow these AI companies to control all of the news, all of the data, all of the information.” – Hawley (35:38)

• Legislative Solutions:

  • Hawley advocates for allowing individuals to sue AI companies, enforcing antitrust actions, and securing personal digital rights.

  “We need to make sure the Constitution is good for every working person… and a real thing for every working person.” – Hawley (39:04)

  • Notes resistance from colleagues—often silence or outright criticism—but insists the fight is for “we the people.”

• Suppression of Free Speech and Social Credit:

  • Sheila Matthews critiques Utah's “Dignity Index” as an attempt to implement CCP-style social credit, suppressing criticism and dissent in the name of behavioral health.

  “We are not allowed to mock and attack others… this is suppression of freedom of speech.” – Sheila Matthews (26:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Segments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | 03:12 | “I walk my dog four times a day. I get called Nazi... Day crew is not so bad, but at night I can’t even come out. My neighbors… terrified to even come out.” | Rick (Portland) | | 06:00 | “They can’t send those people in here—the National Guard—fast enough. Come in here and wipe these people out. I’m done with it.” | Rick | | 09:54 | “Secret Service managed to take down a network… with the ability to send up to 30 million messages a minute… that network… was designed to cause… denial of service…” | Chris Hoare | | 17:31 | “The world is kind of over leveraged… We’re going to have the world’s biggest margin call.” | Bannon | | 21:10 | “Do not stuff an envelope in a drawer... don’t pay another bill until you get your free consultation with Done with Debt.” | Gillian Barbary | | 35:38 | “This is going to be censorship on steroids if we allow these AI companies to control all of the news, all of the data, all of the information.” | Josh Hawley | | 35:47 | “Those chatbots are also telling our kids how to kill themselves, and their kids are doing it. And that’s not hyperbole.” | Hawley | | 39:04 | “We need to make sure the Constitution is good for… every working person… a real thing for every working person.” | Hawley | | 26:08 | “We are not allowed to mock and attack others… [the Dignity Index is] suppression of freedom of speech.” | Sheila Matthews |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Remarks, State of the Regime and Urban Crisis (00:01–02:25)
• Portland Interview—Living Under Siege (02:25–06:16)
• Federal & Media Response to Portland (06:16–09:54)
• Cyber Threats, Critical Infrastructure, Sat Phone Preparedness (09:54–13:21)
• Global Debt, Financial Warnings, and Personal Debt Solutions (16:53–23:14)
• Utah ‘Dignity Index’ and Social Credit Concerns (25:58–28:01)
• Interview: Sen. Josh Hawley on Shutdown, Party Radicalization, & Working Class (30:13–33:43)
• Hawley on AI, Misinformation, and Protecting Children (35:10–39:27)
• Grassroots Mobilization & Precinct Strategy (45:43–49:01)
• Closing: Upcoming Events, Promotions, Calls to Action (50:08–End)

Additional Highlights

• Senator Hawley criticizes Democratic shutdown tactics, linking escalating radicalism to urban violence and governmental dysfunction, tying it to law enforcement crises in places like Portland and NYC.
• Advocacy for grassroots strategies like “precinct committeeman” mobilization to ensure the party is staffed by true believers, not establishment “RINOs.”
• Recurring stress on individual action: legal, financial, political, and personal preparedness.
• Heavy promotion of gold, satellite phones, and debt management as means of surviving economic and social upheaval.

Conclusion

This episode paints a dystopian picture of America's urban core, the influence of leftist activism, and the unchecked power of big tech. The War Room positions itself as the nucleus of grassroots opposition, offering both dire warnings and tangible personal solutions—whether through political engagement, economic hedging, or direct legislative action. Senator Hawley's warnings about AI and chatbots, coupled with firsthand accounts from Portland, form a stark call to action for the audience: Prepare, get involved, and fight back against forces both digital and political.