Bannon’s War Room: Episode 4911 - Live From The CHD Conference Day 1

Date: November 8, 2025
Location: Children’s Health Defense (CHD) Conference, Austin, TX
Host: Claire Dooley (documentary filmmaker, guest host for this episode)
Key Guests: Mike Howell, Dr. Brian Hooker, Dr. Andy Wakefield, Polly Tommey, Brian Burrows, Rep. Chip Roy, Del Bigtree

Episode Overview

This episode of Bannon’s War Room is broadcast live from the first day of the Children’s Health Defense (CHD) Conference in Austin, Texas. While Stephen K. Bannon is the main host of the War Room, today the episode is predominantly guided by Claire Dooley, who brings on a range of guests from the world of vaccine safety activism and political commentary. The show focuses on two major storylines: updates on the ongoing federal government shutdown and the enduring impact of the influential documentary film "Vaxxed." The episode includes first-hand accounts from key figures in the vaccine safety movement, discussions on political strategies regarding the shutdown, and reflections on the future of health freedom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown and Political Deadlock

Participants: Claire Dooley (D), Mike Howell (A), Rep. Chip Roy (C)

• [02:15–06:46] Mike Howell on Political Impasse
  • Democrats propose re-opening the government in exchange for a one-year extension of ACA (Obamacare) tax credits.
  • Republican senators are largely opposed; President Trump is pressuring for ending the filibuster as leverage.
  • Howell suggests the Democrats have more to lose: “Democrat constituencies depend on the federal government being open more than the Republicans.” (05:31)
  • Howell sees deep divides in the GOP, with many reluctant to back Trump regardless of prior endorsements.
  • Prediction: The shutdown likely to continue; Republicans should use leverage to force a better deal.
  • Notable Quote: “We can expect much more of it. It’s time we actually get people in D.C. who stand for the things they say on the campaign trail.” (04:54, Howell)
• [32:43–36:54] Rep. Chip Roy’s Perspective
  • Expresses respect for CHD and calls for “health freedom.”
  • Criticizes Democrats’ proposed deal as enriching insurance companies.
  • Urges Republicans: “We need to play hardball with Democrats...make them own the shutdown.” (35:32)
  • Advocates for pro-freedom, pro-patient reforms over bureaucratic or corporate-driven healthcare.

2. “Vaxxed” Documentary: Whistleblowers, Impact, and Public Reaction

Participants: Claire Dooley, Brian Hooker (E), Andy Wakefield (F), Polly Tommey (I), Brian Burrows (G), Del Bigtree (H)

• [07:17–14:01] The Origins of “Vaxxed”

  • Dr. Brian Hooker recounts receiving information from CDC whistleblower Dr. William Thompson about the CDC covering up data linking the MMR vaccine and autism.
  • Dr. Andy Wakefield describes early advocacy for exploring the timing of MMR vaccination as a risk factor for autism, leading to studies manipulated to show no risk.
  • Key Data: African American boys who received the MMR “on time” (before age 3) were 3.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism, according to Hooker’s analysis of unredacted data.
  • Notable Quote: “For 14 years they knew and they put millions of American children at risk… to protect the program, not the children. And that’s an absolute disgrace.” (11:22, Wakefield)

• [14:01–14:47] Making the Film

  • Hooker and Wakefield share how their collaboration began, with Hooker seeking help from Wakefield as the “MMR guy.”
  • Secretly-recorded conversations with the CDC whistleblower became the film’s backbone.
  • Notable Quote: “If one word of that film had been wrong … we would have been sued to the moon and back again. There was not a whisper. Because they knew it was true.” (13:17, Wakefield)

• [20:17–24:46] The Impact and Backlash

  • Wakefield details the film’s acceptance into, then abrupt censorship from, the Tribeca Film Festival—sparking what he calls the “De Niro Effect,” after Robert De Niro (with a vaccine-injured autistic child himself) publicly challenged the festival’s censorship.
  • Massive international attention followed; Wakefield toured Europe and the US.
  • Key Figure: If CDC had acted on its initial analysis, a “quarter of a million autism cases in African American males” could have been prevented, according to Hooker.
  • Notable Quote: “This is severe regressive autism...children that will need a lifetime of care… Many will never be able to speak or go to school.” (23:35, Hooker)

3. Vaxxed’s Legacy: Uniting the "Health Freedom" Movement

Participants: Polly Tommey (I), Brian Burrows (G)

• [29:46–41:27] Expanding the Movement
  • Polly Tommey: Describes being pro-vaccine, following all official advice until faced with her son’s adverse outcome: “You really can’t call us anti-vaxxers...We are ex-vaxxers.” (30:43)
  • Brian Burrows: Explains how “Vaxxed” brought disparate health freedom groups together for the first time, creating sustained momentum.
  • Tommey on “Vaxxed II”: They toured the country, recording stories of families with vaccine-injured children, which broadened their focus to multiple vaccines, not just MMR or autism.
  • Notable Quote: “What shocked us was how many Americans are living with vaccine injury and they're living in utter desperation. No help whatsoever out there.” (41:10, Tommey)

4. Reflections from Del Bigtree: Hollywood to Health Freedom

[45:24–49:47]

• Former Hollywood producer (The Doctors, Dr. Phil) who moved into vaccine activism after collaborating on “Vaxxed.”
• Describes “Vaxxed” as a springboard leading to congressional advocacy, the founding of Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), and the launch of The HighWire talk show.
• Notable Quote: “At the tip of the spear of all freedom...If we do not control what goes into our body...we are not free citizens. I believe we have the same rights as farm animals.” (48:12, Bigtree)
• Expresses hope tied to recent political changes (Robert Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Political Strategy:

  • “Democrats should have to live with those consequences...Flights are being canceled, snap's not being rolled out. Democrats are going to have to go on camera and explain.”
    (05:31, Mike Howell)

• On Vaccine Harm Allegations:

  • “For 14 years they knew and they put millions of American children at risk...to protect public confidence in vaccine policymakers.”
    (11:22, Andy Wakefield)

• On Tribeca’s Censorship:

  • “It got in on its merits...Robert De Niro has a vaccine-injured child...Then they pulled our film. The De Niro Effect—it blew up worldwide.”
    (21:24, Wakefield)

• On Autism Severity:

  • “This is profound autism...the bottom 30th to 40th percentile...Many will never be able to speak or go to school.”
    (23:35, Brian Hooker)

• On the Movement’s Growth:

  • “Vaxxed brought the health freedom movement together...everyone started fighting on the same team.”
    (38:27, Brian Burrows)

• On Parental Experience:

  • “We are ex-vaxxers. You really can't call us anti-vaxxers because we vaccinated ourselves and our kids.”
    (30:43, Polly Tommey)

• On Informed Consent:

  • “If we do not control what goes into our body and the bodies of our children, we are not free citizens.”
    (48:12, Del Bigtree)

Important Timestamps

• [02:15–06:46] — Mike Howell on the government shutdown and GOP divides
• [07:17–14:01] — "Vaxxed" origins and the CDC whistleblower
• [20:17–24:46] — Impact of "Vaxxed" and the Tribeca controversy
• [29:46–41:27] — Personal stories: Polly Tommey, tour, and Vaxxed II
• [32:43–36:54] — Rep. Chip Roy on healthcare and the filibuster
• [45:24–49:47] — Del Bigtree’s journey from Hollywood to activism

Where to Find the Guests

• Brian Hooker: childrenshealthdefense.org, "Doctors and Scientists" on CHD TV, X/Twitter: @BrianHookerPhD
• Andy Wakefield: wakefieldmediagroup.com, also has a new Covid movie shot in Thailand
• Polly Tommey & Brian Burrows: Children's Health Defense TV, Tommy Burrows Productions, daily shows at CHD TV
• Del Bigtree: thehighwire.com, icandecide.org, film "An Inconvenience Study"
• Rep. Chip Roy: chiproy.com, X/Twitter: @chiproytx

Tone & Language

The show’s tone is pointed, urgent, and adversarial regarding both political and public health establishments. Guests emphasize personal stories, whistleblower revelations, and perceived systemic failings, with a focus on empowering audiences around health freedom and skepticism toward government narratives. Frequent references to recent political gains (e.g., Robert Kennedy Jr. in the White House/HHS) are celebratory among the panel.

Summary Conclusion

This episode of Bannon’s War Room immerses listeners in the heart of the Children’s Health Defense Conference, offering insider perspectives on the political standoff in Washington and a deep dive into the legacy of “Vaxxed”—a film credited by guests with galvanizing the health freedom movement. With reflections from both leading activists and aligned political figures, the episode paints a picture of a movement emboldened by recent momentum and equipped for new battles ahead, both in vaccine safety discourse and congressional politics.

Note: All episode timings are in MM:SS format, taken from the published transcript.