Podcast Summary

Bannon's War Room

Episode 5025: WarRoom Boxing Day Special 2025 With Raheem Kassam (continued)
Date: December 27, 2025
Host: Steve Bannon
Featured Hosts/Guests: Raheem Kassam, Bart Hutchins, Rick Grinnell

Main Theme & Purpose

This Boxing Day Special takes the War Room “off the battlefield and into the culture,” as Raheem Kassam tours listeners through new institutions of conservative culture in Washington DC—including Butterworth’s restaurant and the Trump Kennedy Center. The episode dives deeply into efforts to reclaim and remake cultural spaces, bridging populist currents from both right and left, and foregrounds the importance of building alternatives beyond pure politics. There’s a heavy focus on the intersection of food, politics, and community, and reflections on unity and populism heading into the next pivotal political cycle.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of the Movement and Culture Building

• Steve Bannon opens with characteristic combative language, emphasizing the need to fight back against establishment narratives and encourage a populist resurgence:
  • “This is the primal scream of a dying regime… Pray for our enemies because we're going medieval on these people.” (00:02)
• Populism vs. Establishment: Raheem Kassam and guests discuss how populism is uniting elements from both the right and the left, as the real divide is increasingly “the ruling class vs. the rest.”
• Restoring Cultural Institutions:
  • Raheem details the reclaiming and transformation of existing D.C. landmarks (like the now “Trump Kennedy Center”) as critical for cementing broader cultural change.
  • Significance of Butterworth’s as a destination: not just a MAGA hub, but a genuinely diverse political gathering spot. He notes surprising liberal and establishment visitors alongside conservatives.

2. The Trump Kennedy Center Experience

• Behind the Scenes: Raheem gives listeners a behind-the-curtain look at Kennedy Center events, highlighting its recent revitalization under new leadership and the collaboration of figures like Rick Grinnell.
  • “The show has just been phenomenal… my favorite so far has been the appearance of Kelsey Grammer.” (04:44)
• Family, Tradition, and Inclusion:
  • The Kennedy Center’s programming now includes family-friendly outreach (like “Opera in the Outfield”), making high culture accessible to new generations.

3. Butterworth’s on Capitol Hill: Story, Purpose, and Menu

• Genesis of Butterworth’s:
  • Bart Hutchins, executive chef and partner, recounts how his frustration with the lack of authentic eating culture on Capitol Hill inspired him to reclaim the 200-year-old building and create a truly American culinary space.
    • “When you think about a country that has its own culture... one of the first things you have to figure out how to do is eat… the idea of building this beautiful dining room... was so obvious when you looked at the building.” (18:45)
• Populist Ideals in Hospitality:
  • Not a MAGA-only space: Bart, a self-described Democrat from the populist left, says Butterworth’s welcomes all, noting visits from folks across the spectrum.
  • The restaurant has drawn protesters and media ire, highlighting the new frontlines of cultural and political contest.
• Food as Politics and Principle:
  • Rigorous sourcing: All food is local (within 200 miles), rejecting the globalized supply chain and emphasizing flavor, nutrition, and support for American farmers.
    • “If something has to get on an airplane, we're not selling it... that's a way we have to sort of take back our agency.” (25:24)
  • Educating patrons: Dishes like bone marrow and oysters might be novel to many, but have historical American roots.
  • The menu celebrates American culinary heritage and seeks to retrain palates away from industrialized “fake food,” linking food sovereignty and national restoration.

4. Political Crosspoints and Unity

• Old Lines, New Alliances:
  • Bart describes similarities between the Trump populist agenda and the Bernie movement, underscoring that “oligarchic” control affects everyone.
    • “There was a certain populist bent to the whole thing... the left/right thing is getting destroyed.” (22:09)
  • Anecdotes of meaningful left-right dialogue at the bar reinforce the broader theme.

5. Facing Protest and Media Attention

• Butterworth’s Under Siege:
  • Raheem shares his wry observations of frequent protests outside Butterworth’s, noting that opposition usually means impact.
    • “The fact that the restaurant gets protested is a sign that we are getting under their skin... I sat there with this cacophony of noise for three whole hours just to show them they don't bother us, but we clearly bother them.” (35:49)

6. Domination of Culture as the New Political Battlefield

• From Politics to Culture:
  • Raheem underscores the necessity for MAGA/populism to “dominate culture” as much as politics, warning against only contesting elections instead of also shaping art, dining, and communal life.
  • Hints at future projects (e.g., Smithsonian takeover) are teased but held back for strategy.

7. Reflections & Rallying Message for 2026

• Movement Unity:
  • Raheem cautions against infighting on the right, calling for grace and a focus on truth and shared purpose. He warns that leftist victories depend on conservative fragmentation.
    • “If anything in the last sort of 8 to 12 years in this world has taught us is that... the left can't actually win without us letting them win, without us tearing ourselves apart.” (42:37)
• Support for Independent Media & Community:
  • A heartfelt appeal for continued grassroots support for efforts like The National Pulse, emphasizing independence from corporate and megadonor control.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Steve Bannon:
  • “This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going medieval on these people.” (00:02)
• Raheem Kassam on the Kennedy Center:
  • “The amazing team.... have treated me like family since day one. And I think it's so important that we help restore that once great cultural institution to greatness.” (03:44)
• Bart Hutchins on American food culture:
  • “When you think about a country that has its own culture... the first thing you have to figure out how to do is eat... and it was incredibly embarrassing to me that the people who run this country had no idea how to eat and ate so poorly.” (18:45)
• Bart Hutchins on left/right realignment:
  • “This rich establishment… is hell-bent on ruining our lives, affects you whether you're a Democrat, whether you're a Republican. It really doesn't matter.” (22:09)
• Raheem Kassam on unity:
  • “They want us fighting amongst each other, they want us tearing chunks out of one another... We need to avoid that in the new year.” (42:37)
• Bart Hutchins on ingredient sourcing & food nationalism:
  • “If something has to get on an airplane, we’re not selling it... That’s the way we take back our agency.” (25:24)
• Raheem Kassam on protest:
  • “The fact that the restaurant gets protested is a sign that we are getting under their skin and it makes more and more people come to Butterworth on Capitol Hill. I'll see you there.” (35:49)
• Bart Hutchins on political hospitality:
  • “This is not a private club... anybody who wants to come eat and drink can come here... The left/right thing is getting destroyed. Are you part of the ruling class or are you not?” (22:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02 – Steve Bannon’s rallying introduction
• 03:44 – Raheem Kassam introduces Butterworth’s & Kennedy Center narrative
• 07:49 – “Opera in the Outfield” at Nationals Park with Rick Grinnell
• 16:39 – In-depth Butterworth’s discussion with chef Bart Hutchins
• 22:09 – The left-right populist realignment, Butterworth’s open-door philosophy
• 25:24 – Local food sourcing as a nationalist/sovereignty project
• 35:49 – Raheem’s protest anecdote
• 42:37 – Raheem’s closing reflections on movement unity and next-year strategy

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is alternately combative, irreverent, earnest, and reflective—true to Bannon and Kassam’s populist, culture-war style. There is much playful banter (especially with Rick Grinnell and Bart Hutchins), a sense of DIY culture-building, and periodic self-congratulation on subverting expectations. Edgy, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, yet with an underlying seriousness about the stakes—both cultural and electoral.

Final Thoughts

The Boxing Day Special delves into the “cultural trenches” of the post-Trump, populist movement. With stories of restoring lost American traditions, merging populist left and right, and defending independent, crowdfunded institutions, the episode offers a rich cross-section of how the War Room sees its evolving mission: to win not just votes, but hearts, stomachs, and the very fabric of American identity.