WarRoom Thanksgiving Day Special 2025 (Episode 4957)

Podcast: Bannon's War Room
Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Steve Bannon
Guests: Dr. Larry Swigert (Co-author, "Patriot's History of the United States"), Charlie Kirk
Theme: Reflecting on Thanksgiving's roots, American exceptionalism, and the narratives that have shaped American history

Episode Overview

This special Thanksgiving episode explores the origins and meaning of Thanksgiving Day, linking it with key pillars of American exceptionalism. Steve Bannon is joined by Dr. Larry Swigert, noted historian and co-author of "Patriot’s History of the United States." Together, they revisit the foundational moments of the nation, from the Pilgrims at Plymouth to landmark moments in 20th-century American politics. The discussion also traces the influence of historical personalities, the narrative of conservative American history, and the ongoing debate about what makes America unique. Interludes of traditional music, including Johnny Cash and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” frame the conversations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving as a Uniquely American Tradition ([02:46], [10:25], [17:22])

• Steve Bannon opens with a reflection on Thanksgiving as a moment to give thanks for the nation and its blessings, framing the day within a larger narrative of American history.
  • “Is any other nation on earth really segregated out a time of year or a day to actually give thanks to God, to give thanks to divine providence for the blessings of the nation?” ([10:31])
• The episode includes the traditional Johnny Cash Thanksgiving song and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” performed by Odette, underscoring the spiritual and patriotic dimensions of the holiday.

2. The Origin and Impact of "Patriot’s History of the United States" ([02:46]–[07:57])

• Dr. Larry Swigert recounts the creation of "Patriot’s History of the United States":
  • Textbook landscape in the 1990s was seen as increasingly liberal, prompting Swigert and co-author Mike Allen to write their own, with a focus on a conservative, narrative-driven account.
  • The book’s popularity soared after an appearance on Glenn Beck’s show, at one point shipping 19,000 copies in a single day.
  • He offers a free PDF update that covers 2018–2025, including Trump’s first full term, Biden’s term, and COVID ([05:54]).
  • “We had to argue against the textbook all the time. So we said, why don't we write our own?” ([03:53])
• Bannon’s personal connection: Used the book while teaching civics at Danbury Federal Prison, receiving enthusiastic responses from inmates ([06:16]):
  • “So many of the inmates came up to me after and said, what's this history book? … it was standing room only at the prison library after the fact.”

3. The Interconnected Biographies of American History ([07:57]–[09:43])

• Dr. Swigert previews his upcoming book “American Biography”—tracing U.S. history through the interconnected lives of its notable figures.
  • “You find these links through American history, we really are all tied together by less than six degrees of separation...” ([08:41])
• Bannon expands: “I think it was [Thomas] Carlyle that said history is just biography. Right? But you're actually going to prove it.” ([09:23])

4. The Pillars of American Exceptionalism and the Thanksgiving Debate ([18:28]–[26:42])

• Dr. Swigert discusses the origins of Thanksgiving, contrasting the Massachusetts/Plymouth tradition against Jamestown/Virginia ([18:28]):
  • Four pillars:
    1. Christian, mostly Protestant religious tradition (bottom-up congregational church governance)
    2. Common law (law is in the hearts of the people, not the ruler)
    3. Private property with written titles and deeds
    4. Free market economy
  • Only Plymouth, not Jamestown, encompassed the first two crucial elements, making it the true origin of American exceptionalism.
  • “Are you listening to me? 1619 Project: American Exceptionalism has nothing to do with slavery or slaves. There were no slaves in Plymouth.” ([19:39])
• The Pilgrims’ journey—leaving England due to religious persecution, briefly residing in Leiden, Holland, then seeking a new life for freedom of worship in America ([21:54]).

5. Surviving the First Winter: Humanity and Hardship ([25:20]–[26:42])

• Survival in the new world was formidable. The Pilgrims stayed aboard the Mayflower initially, sending scouting parties ashore, and relied on both native survival skills and communal efforts ([25:20]):
  • “More than half of these travelers … were not separatists. They were just others who wanted to come over. … And they fished and they hunted and they gathered and they did whatever they could to stay alive for those weeks.” ([26:00])

6. The Importance of Property, Titles, and Deeds in American Development ([43:22]–[47:53])

• Dr. Swigert defines why written property rights are central ([43:46]):
  • “Private property with written titles and deeds … is a key aspect of economic growth.”
  • Reference to Hernando De Soto's The Mystery of Capital, explaining the advantages of a clear, documented system of ownership for personal and national prosperity.
  • The 1785 Land Ordinance—its landmark role in surveying and settling the Northwest Territory ([45:28]).
• Contrasts how land is parceled east vs. west of the U.S. due to historic differences in surveying and property law ([46:32] and on).

7. Deep Dive: Whitaker Chambers, Yalta, and 20th Century American Anticommunism ([29:22]–[42:29])

• Charlie Kirk and Bannon discuss the postwar political climate, focusing on:
  • The Yalta Conference and its global significance: U.S., UK, and USSR leaders carving up postwar Europe ([29:28]).
  • Whitaker Chambers, formerly a Communist and later a leading anti-Communist journalist, and Alger Hiss, the high-ranking State Department official later exposed as a Soviet spy ([32:16]–[37:39]):
    • The challenge of publicly revealing Communist infiltration.
    • Time and Life magazine’s formative influence in mid-century U.S. popular history ([33:18], [36:08]).
    • “Time magazine … was like Fox, Tucker Carlson, The New York Times, and the BBC combined.” —Charlie Kirk ([31:13])
  • The "informer's dilemma": Chambers’ moral pain and loneliness in exposing a former colleague ([41:36]):
    • “An informer is somebody who's like a ... fetching a soiled boss ... I don't want to name these people I worked with. ... I don't want to be that guy.”

8. Reflections on America’s Modern Political Divides and the Role of History ([50:14])

• Discussion of Ken Burns’ “The American Revolution,” its educational value and “woke” elements, and tying those insights back to the process of American settlement and the social contract from the Proclamation Line of 1763 to the Land Ordinance of 1785 ([50:14]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Steve Bannon:
  • “[Thanksgiving] is a narrative ... like a novel, the arc of the history of the United States. And it’s very profound.” ([06:16])
• Dr. Larry Swigert:
  • “We had to argue against the textbook all the time. So we said, why don't we write our own?” ([03:53])
  • “…1619 Project: American Exceptionalism has nothing to do with slavery or slaves. There were no slaves in Plymouth.” ([19:39])
  • "Private property with written titles and deeds. And that’s so important." ([43:46])
  • "...one of the most important laws in American history, even before the Constitution, was the Land Ordinance of 1785." ([45:27])
• Charlie Kirk:
  • “Time magazine … was like Fox, Tucker Carlson, The New York Times, and the BBC combined.” ([31:13])
  • “An informer ... I really admire about [Chambers], Steve, is that he calls himself an informer.” ([41:35])
• Musical Highlight:
  • Odette’s performance of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” bookends major segments, evoking a deep sense of national spirit and continuity ([11:29], [27:46], [50:50]).

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening Thanksgiving Reflections: [00:09]–[02:46]
• Patriot’s History of the United States Origin Story: [03:53]–[07:57]
• Interconnected Biographies in American History: [07:57]–[09:43]
• Thanksgiving’s Roots Debate (Virginia vs. Massachusetts): [17:22], [18:28]–[21:54]
• American Exceptionalism Pillars: [18:28]–[23:48]
• Pilgrims’ Struggles & Early Survival: [25:20]–[26:42]
• Whitaker Chambers, Yalta, Alger Hiss, and the Anti-Communist Era: [29:22]–[42:29]
• Written Titles, Property Rights, and National Development: [43:46]–[47:53]
• Mayflower Compact Foundation: [48:17]–[49:30]
• Modern Reflections and Ken Burns Discussion: [50:14]–[50:50]

Tone & Style

• The tone is reverent, celebratory, and spirited, with an undercurrent of cultural and ideological critique.
• There is a strong emphasis on patriotism, the continuity of American history, and the fight to preserve traditional narratives.
• The dialogue is rich with anecdotes, historical asides, and cultural commentary.

Summary

This Thanksgiving special does more than recount the holiday’s history; it engages with the foundational ideas that, according to the hosts and guests, make America exceptional: religious liberty, property rights, bottom-up governance, and a shared narrative of perseverance. Dr. Larry Swigert brings scholarly gravitas blended with engaging storytelling, while music and reminiscence set a tone of gratitude and purpose. The episode serves as both a reminder and a challenge—to remember, teach, and continue the uniquely American story.