Podcast Summary: Bannon’s War Room, Episode 4962
Title: Zelensky Begs For Help As American Trust Wanes
Date: November 29, 2025
Host: Steve Bannon
Notable Guests: Jack Posobiec, Kevin Posobiec, Ben Harnwell, Royce White, Taj Gil, Brett Galachevsky
Main Theme
This episode centers on waning American public and political support for Ukraine as President Zelensky seeks renewed Western aid and security guarantees, amid escalating reports of corruption in the Ukrainian government. The War Room panel offers scathing critiques of both U.S. and European political leadership in relation to Ukraine—accusing them of promoting distraction from domestic crises, mishandling foreign policy, and enabling grift within the war effort. The episode also broadens into U.S. domestic concerns: immigration, urban decline, Republican Party infighting, and the mounting challenges for Donald Trump’s agenda.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. American Sovereignty vs. Ukrainian Sovereignty (00:51–04:49)
- Steve Bannon opens by questioning the logic of guaranteeing Ukraine’s sovereignty when the U.S. is struggling to maintain its own, especially in cities overwhelmed by illegal immigration.
- Bannon attacks U.S. politicians and media for ignoring what he describes as endemic corruption in Ukraine, referencing casualties and lost resources.
- Quote:
“It's impossible for us to guarantee the sovereignty of Ukraine. We ain't guaranteed the sovereignty of the United States of America...” (Steve Bannon, 01:34) - Jack Posobiec argues European governments use the war as a distraction from their own failures—rising crime, mass immigration, economic woes.
- Posobiec praises Poland for closing its borders and defying EU pressure on cultural issues, implying Western Europe has lost its way due to globalist policies.
2. Corruption & Lost Cause in Ukraine (04:49–10:23)
- Kevin Posobiec recounts firsthand experiences in Ukraine, witnessing black market arms sales and widespread corruption.
- “...when we sent the first $40 billion over to Ukraine, and we witnessed all the black market weapons sales, and they wanted us to...” (Kevin Posobiec, 04:49)
- Both Posobiec brothers argue the Ukrainian cause was militarily unwinnable from early on, but key U.S. political and media figures misled the public.
- Memorable moment: Kevin observes Americans were flying more Ukrainian flags than Ukrainians themselves:
"What I didn't see is... any American T shirts or any American flags. They're not up in any of those houses." (Kevin Posobiec, 09:56) - Discussion asserts aid is diverted away from Ukrainian civilians, who remain impoverished.
3. Switching Focus: U.S. Urban Decline & Immigration (10:23–12:36)
- Bannon insists U.S. sovereignty—in devastated cities like Minneapolis—should take priority over Ukraine.
- President Trump’s deployment of troops to sanctuary cities and ICE operations is praised as reclaiming American sovereignty.
4. Media, Intelligence, and Corruption in Ukraine (16:49–26:37)
- Ben Harnwell alleges media (Wall Street Journal, Murdoch outlets) and potentially U.S. intelligence sat on evidence of massive corruption by Ukrainian presidential aide Yermak:
- “That means that that underlines everything that the war room's been saying for three and a half years about FOX lying to people about keeping this war going.” (Ben Harnwell, 18:44)
- Harnwell argues Yermak’s ouster signals a “pivot” from military aid (the “mother of all grifts”) to lucrative reconstruction contracts.
- He predicts further regime change, suggesting Zelensky will also be ousted now that his regime’s usefulness is ending.
5. Republican Infighting and Legislative Inertia (30:42–36:52)
- Brett Galachevsky (Turning Point Action): Focuses on internal GOP struggles in Indiana over redistricting—warning that “Republican in name only” (RINO) politicians may cost the party the House majority.
- He underscores the need for grassroots mobilization and MAGA-aligned Republicans to pass advantageous district maps.
- Quote:
“The scary reality check… is that it very well could be legislators in Indiana… that… could potentially [cost us] the majority in the House...” (Brett Galachevsky, 31:49)
6. Afghanistan, Immigration, and Violence (26:41–29:13; 36:52–39:44)
- Taj Gil reflects on Afghan allies abandoned after U.S. withdrawal, noting many were loyal, but destitution and abrupt policy shifts forced some into desperation and violence.
- He voices little surprise that a “CIA-trained” Afghan could turn violent after such abandonment:
- "I'm just saying they once were a loyal force, and then we abandoned them. And now they’re broke on the street… guess what? They're trained killers. So this is what happens." (Taj Gil, 37:57)
7. Urban Crisis in Minneapolis & Immigration’s Political Impact (43:11–50:03)
- Royce White: Describes Minneapolis as having become “Mogadishu” due to immigration, corruption, and Democratic Socialist policies.
- He calls for mass deportations to reverse decline, arguing Somali immigrants are exploited to sway state elections and facilitate government grift.
- “The 200,000 Somalians… make up enough of a percentage to really swing these elections…” (Royce White, 46:39)
- White also criticizes “civil rights movement” politics and how DEI funding is misused.
8. Broader Critique of Republican Establishment (43:44–45:13)
- Bannon lists ways the GOP establishment—especially the Senate—fails to help Trump: not supporting filibuster reform, redistricting, appointments, or budget cuts.
- He warns that inertia and lack of support will sabotage the conservative agenda and Trump’s ability to govern if re-elected.
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- Steve Bannon (00:02):
“This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we’re going medieval on these people…” - Jack Posobiec (02:37):
“The Western governments of Europe right now want to keep the war going because they want to use the threat of Russia as a distraction from the collapse of their own countries…” - Kevin Posobiec (05:23):
“This lovely, lovely Ukrainian women lured us in.” (Lighthearted moment about their 2022 Ukraine reporting trip.) - Steve Bannon (11:43):
“Trump…sent the troops in to back up ICE because the elites don’t want the ICE raids and to back up police officers on the crime...reestablishing American sovereignty in our biggest and greatest cities…” - Ben Harnwell (24:49):
“...We're at the pivot point where the grift will switch from arms manufacturer to reconstruction.” - Royce White (46:39):
“1000% with no equivocations…nothing's happened about it. Nobody wants to even say it… But it’s not happening. These people are organized…an absolute scam.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:51–04:49: Opening discussion—U.S. vs. Ukraine sovereignty, corruption, disillusionment with Western elites.
- 04:49–10:23: Personal reporting from Ukraine, U.S. aid corruption, symbolic disconnect.
- 12:36–13:17: ICE, domestic security, and the prioritization of U.S. urban renewal.
- 16:49–26:37: Deep dive on the Yermak corruption story, media/institutional complicity, Washington’s “pivot.”
- 30:42–36:52: GOP redistricting fight in Indiana, importance for future majorities.
- 36:52–39:44: Afghanistan war aftermath, abandoned allies, emergent violence.
- 43:11–50:03: Minneapolis as “Mogadishu,” mass deportations, Democratic use of immigration, grift.
- 43:44–45:13: Bannon’s list of Republican establishment failures.
Tone and Language
The episode is combative, urgent, and conspiratorial, particularly in its condemnation of “globalists,” establishment Republicans, and the media. The panel favors populist, nationalist, and hard-right rhetoric—expressing deep skepticism of foreign entanglements and the ability (or willingness) of legacy institutions to represent the interests of ordinary Americans.
Conclusion
This episode offers a bleak appraisal of Ukraine’s war, Western political leadership, and the current state of the U.S. domestic agenda—arguing that the time, money, and focus spent on Ukraine have come at the expense of U.S. sovereignty, security, and prosperity. The panel calls for a return to populist priorities, a purge of corrupt influence at home and abroad, and a renewed—almost isolationist—focus on “saving our country first.”
