Podcast Summary: Bannon’s War Room – Episode 4895

Attacks On Phyllis Schlafly Distort History; The Great Unmasking
November 1, 2025
Host: Stephen K. Bannon
Guests: Ed Martin, Mark Hemingway, Julie Kelly, Sally Grubbs

Episode Overview

This episode of Bannon’s War Room centers on two main threads:

1. The legacy and defense of Phyllis Schlafly against recent attacks in National Review, exploring her importance to the conservative movement and her early support of Donald Trump.
2. Emerging government overreach highlighted by the impeachment campaign against Judge Jeb Boasberg, in light of the Department of Justice and FBI’s activities related to January 6, 2021.

Bannon gathers prominent conservative voices to analyze recent media attacks, internal battles on the right, election-related controversies, and what they see as existential threats to the MAGA movement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Phyllis Schlafly: Movement Icon Under Renewed Attack

• Ed Martin (Eagle Forum, Main Justice) describes going to speak at the Eagle Council about Schlafly’s continuing impact. He frames Schlafly’s support for Trump as rooted in shared “America First” values and her unique political courage.
• Mark Hemingway (The Federalist) reports that National Review chose its 70th anniversary issue to publish an extensive critique of Schlafly, accusing her of conspiracy-mongering and branding her as emblematic of the populist turn in the GOP.
• The debate over the Panama Canal—a pivotal clash between Schlafly and William F. Buckley—is retold as symbolic, with Schlafly “dismantling all the globalist arguments” (Bannon, 05:28).
• Multiple panelists highlight Schlafly’s unwavering character, her influence on Reagan and Trump-era populism, and how her endorsement of Trump in 2016 remains a turning point for movement conservatism.

Notable Quote:

"She never wavered. She never wavered in her whole career. And the common denominator for her and him is they just love America."
—Ed Martin (03:04)

Memorable Moment:
Ed recounts Schlafly “destroying” Buckley in a televised debate and Buckley refusing his customary post-debate gesture (02:30–03:22).

2. The National Review–Conservative Civil War

Mark Hemingway draws a direct line between the attacks on Schlafly and the unease of the conservative establishment with the movement’s populist turn:

• The National Review’s attack is described as “brutal,” labeling Schlafly as a propagandist and “virtuoso of the paranoid style”—a term referencing Richard Hofstadter's classic critique of right-wing populism (10:53).
• Hemingway argues that Schlafly—and by extension Trump—was targeted because she embodies a populist conservatism that won out over establishment, elite conservatism.

Notable Quote:

"It is just shocking that you would embrace that, you know, attempt by Richard Hofstadter, a pseudo Marxist. ... It's just like a really, you know, offensive way to go about things."
—Mark Hemingway (11:59)

Bannon’s take:

"You’re such a gentleman. It’s not just an attack, it’s a brutal attack. ... It’s like Buckley came back from the grave for payback."
—Stephen K. Bannon (10:19–10:42)

3. The Stakes: Election Warnings and the Role of Trump

Bannon discusses upcoming elections and the perceived lack of support from the MAGA base when Trump is not personally involved. He frames ongoing electoral battles and redistricting as existential stakes for the movement.

• Bannon warns that without Trump, Republican efforts in competitive states like New Jersey, Virginia, and California falter (13:49–15:59).
• He characterizes establishment-backed campaigns as losing touch with the base, contrasting the populist energy of Schlafly and Trump.

Notable Quote:

"If you don’t have Trump, you don’t have victory."
—Stephen K. Bannon (14:53)

4. Weaponization of Government and Impeachment Efforts

Julie Kelly joins to break down the controversy over Judge Jeb Boasberg’s role in recent DOJ subpoenas and non-disclosure orders, which forced telecom companies to hand over records from sitting members of Congress without notifying them.

• Kelly argues that establishment Republicans only began objecting when the DOJ’s investigations targeted legislators themselves rather than Trump associates or J6 defendants (33:17).
• She contends that figures like Sen. Ted Cruz only react now because they’re directly affected—despite earlier silence as the DOJ and FBI rounded up January 6 participants, including many Texans (34:10–36:19).
• Kelly outlines specific statutes she believes Boasberg violated and stresses the criminality and “rubber stamping” of DOJ requests (37:25–41:02).
• Overall, the segment presents a deep distrust of the Justice Department’s impartiality, framing the issue as the culmination of years of weaponized law enforcement against political opponents.

Notable Quotes:

"This was a criminal operation run by the Biden White House, his DOJ, Jack Smith, and these two chief judges... A criminal racket. That’s what this was."
—Julie Kelly (41:17)

"They allowed the FBI, the same FBI that came for you, John Cornyn. Yes, exactly. Where have you been? Texas number two only to Florida in the greatest number of J6ers rounded up — probably close to 100 Texans. Of his own constituents. He was silent in the face of that happening."
—Julie Kelly (35:33)

5. Election Integrity Battles: The Georgia Ballot Fight

Sally Grubbs gives updates on election integrity litigation in Georgia:

• She details efforts to preserve, subpoena, and seize ballots from the disputed 2020 presidential contest (48:40–51:00).
• Grubbs and Bannon argue that decisive action—via warrants and even U.S. Marshals—should be taken to secure evidence, going beyond “strongly worded letters” (44:30, 49:45).
• The segment is framed as a test of will and resolve between “establishment” and grassroots Republicans, with Bannon blaming both Democrats and GOP leaders for obstruction or inaction.

Notable Quote:

“Send in the United States marshals. Let's get those ballots and let's rub the Democrats’ nose in it... It’s time to fight and throw a punch."
—Stephen K. Bannon (44:30–44:51)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "She never wavered... and the common denominator for her and him is they just love America."
  —Ed Martin (03:04)
• "You’re such a gentleman. ... It’s a brutal attack. ... like Buckley came back from the grave for payback."
  —Stephen K. Bannon (10:19–10:53)
• "It is just shocking that you would embrace that, you know, attempt by Richard Hofstadter, a pseudo Marxist."
  —Mark Hemingway (11:59)
• "If you don’t have Trump, you don’t have victory."
  —Stephen K. Bannon (14:53)
• "This was a criminal operation run by the Biden White House, his DOJ, Jack Smith, and these two chief judges... A criminal racket."
  —Julie Kelly (41:17)
• "They indicted Trump on felony charges to put him in prison. What don’t we get about this?"
  —Stephen K. Bannon (50:37)
• "Send in the United States marshals. Let's get those ballots and let's rub the Democrats’ nose in it... It’s time to fight and throw a punch."
  —Stephen K. Bannon (44:30–44:51)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Start | Finish | |-------------------------------------|-------|--------| | Intro, Setting Theme | 00:02 | 01:00 | | Ed Martin on Schlafly’s Legacy | 02:13 | 06:49 | | Schlafly v. Buckley, National Review| 03:22 | 05:28 | | Bannon Praises Schlafly | 04:55 | 06:49 | | Ed Martin - Schlafly & Trump | 06:49 | 08:53 | | Mark Hemingway on Federalist Article| 09:31 | 12:24 | | National Review, Populism, Trump | 14:59 | 16:40 | | Julie Kelly: Impeachment/Bosberg | 31:37 | 41:46 | | Sally Grubbs: GA Ballot Fight | 48:40 | 51:25 |

Tone & Language

The tone is combative, urgent, and populist, blending nostalgia for conservative icons with a call to arms regarding both internal movement loyalty and against perceived government overreach. Dialogue is direct and colloquial, prioritizing emotional appeals and anecdotal evidence.

Summary Takeaway

This episode merges culture war commentary and movement history, focused on defending grassroots populist conservatism against charges from “elites” within the conservative movement and the supposed deep-state apparatus. Phyllis Schlafly’s icon status is used to illustrate the throughline from Goldwater-Reagan to Trump, and the show frames current establishment resistance as a betrayal of America First values. Simultaneously, legal and electoral controversies are used to rally the audience for more forceful political engagement and institutional overhaul.

Listeners are left with a sense of pitched battle—against media, elites, and institutions alike—encapsulated in Bannon’s final exhortation for direct action and a “great unmasking.”