Podcast Summary: Bannon's War Room

Episode 5024: WarRoom Boxing Day Special 2025 With Raheem Kassam
Date: December 27, 2025
Host: Raheem Kassam (guest host), Stephen K. Bannon
Special Guests: Daniel (President, Center for American Rights), Andy Wigmore, Alex (UK War Room viewer), others
Main Theme:
A reflective and wide-ranging Boxing Day special examining the state of the nationalist-populist movement, media transformation, and the power of civic engagement and remembrance—centered around major events and personalities in the past year, especially the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Includes live reporting from across key political scenes in the US and UK, discussions of media reform, and a look at charity and community through events like Tunnel to Towers.

Episode Overview

The Boxing Day Special, guest-hosted by Raheem Kassam, marks a solemn and introspective look back at a tumultuous year for the populist movement. Kassam explores personal and political shifts, the impact of Charlie Kirk's assassination, the evolution of new right-wing parties in the UK, the importance of charity, and significant changes in the media landscape. The episode features on-the-ground segments from Washington D.C., the Reform Party conference in the UK, and the Tunnel to Towers charity run in New York, tying together themes of legacy, purpose, and movement-building.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflections on the Movement and Personal Health

• Kassam discusses his years with Bannon and his recent relative absence (“I’ve been a little awol ... personal, health-wise, and ... wanted to get back out there.” [05:13]).
• Emphasis on returning to grassroots reporting and rebuilding connections beyond the screen (“for the last year, I’ve been out there rebuilding a couple of things” [05:36]).
• State of the movement: “We really do stand at a really, really strange ... position in this movement right now.” [06:20]

2. The Assassination of Charlie Kirk (Phoenix, AZ Memorial Coverage)

• Deeply personal tribute to Kirk and reflections on his values:
  • “What he really wanted ... was actually giving back.” [06:52]
  • “Charlie would have wanted us to work together, not apart.” [07:44]
• Kassam’s absence from America Fest in Phoenix is explained by disapproval of “scrapping ... I don’t think that’s what Charlie was ever about.” [07:22]
• Kassam attends Kirk’s memorial immediately after returning from the UK.
• Memorial included remarks by Vice President J.D. Vance and former President Donald J. Trump.

Notable Quote:

• “This is not a political war ... it’s a spiritual war.” – Unidentified Speaker [11:50]

3. Community, Charity, and Boxing Day Legacy

• Kassam emphasizes Boxing Day’s tradition of charity, linking it to Kirk’s values.
• Highlights his annual participation in the Tunnel to Towers 5K in New York:
  • “Every year I do that and raise money ... now they raise money for military families, ... veterans village ...” [29:10]
• This year’s run dedicated to Charlie Kirk (“... wearing the Charlie Kirk Freedom T shirt. ... we raised over $20,000 this year.” [30:47], [30:53])
• Describes the challenge, the route, and the emotional resonance of the event (“It’s always so moving, no matter how much you do it.” [37:52])

4. The State of Washington, D.C. and Administrative Impact

• Kassam tours around a “cleaned up” D.C. post-Trump administration and Mayor Bowser:
  • “Thanks to President Trump and the recent cleanup ... it really does feel just about fine to be out here doing this.” [18:46]
  • Contrasts with previous unrest and urban decline (“it was, it was really, really ugly and horrible.” [20:17])
• Acknowledges improvements under local government too: “Mayor Bowser does get some credit ... she has cleaned up some of these areas.” [21:38]

5. Populism in the UK: Reform Party Conference (Birmingham)

• Live reporting from the conference:
  • Rapid growth of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party (“... topping and has topped, I think, over 150 polls in a row.” [22:42])
  • Importance for Americans: “... in the next couple of decades we are not going to be able to rely on the United Kingdom as a partner ... it will be perhaps a majority Muslim nation in our lifetimes.” – (paraphrasing Vice President J.D. Vance) [23:41]
• Andy Wigmore on Farage’s Speech:
  • “He’s picked on subjects which everyone is concerned about ... Nigel talks the language that they think of but cannot actually articulate, and he’s absolutely nailed it.” [27:01]
• Alex (UK War Room viewer): “Speech was fantastic. ... It’s probably five, six times as big as it was last year. So I think that shows the direction of travel.” [28:01]

6. The Changing Media Landscape

• In-depth discussion with Daniel (Center for American Rights) about media regulation and local broadcast TV:
• Kassam connects the survival of the nationalist movement with fair representation in media.
• Daniel explains:
  • “Local TV is subject to these antiquated regulations ... there was no Google, There was no YouTube TV.” [45:22]
  • “Americans don’t trust the national legacy media for good reason ... but they still trust, especially local television news.” [45:09]
• Media ownership cap (“39% cap”) discussion:
  • Daniel: “It’s Silicon Valley and the national networks ... handicapping the competition.” [46:51]
  • Reform advocated: “... repeal these rules that have been around for decades ... so [local broadcasters] can be a more effective counterbalance.” [47:05]
• Calls to Action & Resources for Listeners:
  • “We want to open up a free market ... allow broadcasters to grow in a, in a natural way in line with what capitalism dictates.” [49:26]
  • “If your viewers agree with that, I’d encourage them to visit our website. It’s americanrights.org/liftthecap ...” [49:52]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Raheem Kassam (on remembering Charlie Kirk):
  “What he really wanted more than anything else ... was actually giving back.” [06:52]

• Unidentified Speaker (on the cause):
  “This is not a political war ... it’s a spiritual war.” [11:50]

• Andy Wigmore (on Farage’s leadership):
  “Nigel talks the language that they think of but cannot actually articulate, and he’s absolutely nailed it.” [27:01]

• Daniel (on media regulations):
  “It’s the people, frankly, who don’t share our values as conservatives ... who are benefiting from the current rules because it’s essentially handicapping the competition.” [46:51]

• Narrative thread:
  “You can look behind the scenes at a lot of stuff, some of it political, some of it not ... I actually want people to feel like they’re here, like they’re involved.” – Kassam [16:31]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:44] – Raheem Kassam introduces Boxing Day special, key themes, and personal approach for the episode
• [05:13] – Kassam reflects on health and stepping back to re-engage with grassroots reporting
• [06:52] – Tribute to Charlie Kirk and reflections on his legacy of giving back
• [11:50] – “This is not a political war ... it’s a spiritual war.”
• [14:15] – Donald J. Trump introduced at Charlie Kirk’s memorial
• [16:31] – Behind-the-scenes: Washington, D.C. cleanliness and the impact of administrative change
• [22:42] – Transition to the Reform Party conference in the UK; Farage’s rise and movement context for Americans
• [27:01] – Andy Wigmore assesses Farage’s impactful speech at the conference
• [28:01] – Alex describes the rapid growth of the Reform Party conference
• [29:10] – Tunnel to Towers 5K: charity, physical challenge, and dedication to Kirk’s memory
• [30:53] – “We still made it through ... we raised over $20,000 this year.”
• [36:38] – Tunnel to Towers: symbolism of walking through the tunnel and out to Freedom Tower
• [42:31] – Assessment of media changes, interview with Daniel (Center for American Rights)
• [44:55] – Daniel explains the legacy media regulation problem and the importance of local news
• [46:51] – Who benefits from current media ownership caps
• [49:52] – Daniel’s call to action: americanrights.org/liftthecap

Final Thoughts

This Boxing Day special offered a blend of personal journey, movement introspection, and practical action. Kassam’s on-the-ground approach fostered a sense of involvement and urgency for listeners—whether reflecting on loss, urging unity, highlighting international developments in populism, or calling for tangible reforms in media regulation. The recurring message is one of legacy, participation, and not losing sight of ultimate goals in the midst of infighting or institutional obstacles.
Memorable closing note:
“You can look behind the scenes at a lot of stuff, some of it political, some of it not ... I actually want people to feel like they’re here, like they’re involved.” [16:31]