Podcast Summary: Bannon's War Room – Episode 5134

Title: Airspace Shut Down Over El Paso; Making Sure The 2026 Election Is Safe
Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Stephen K. Bannon (WarRoom.org)

Episode Overview

This episode covers urgent, developing news and controversies at the intersection of national security, US politics, and election safety. The main themes include:

• The unprecedented shutdown of airspace over El Paso, Texas, attributed to suspected drug cartel drone incursions and a military response.
• The Biden administration and DOJ's ongoing disputes with states over control of election law, data, and "nationalizing" elections.
• Geopolitical tension, particularly with Iran, discussed in light of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House.
• The intensifying Texas Republican primary race, new polling, and the role of issues such as Sharia law and alleged foreign influence.

The episode features analysis and interviews with Erik Prince (security contractor), aviation experts, political commentators, and top Texas pollster James Johnson.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. FBI Raid & 2020 Election Data Controversy ([00:00–03:03])

• The FBI’s seizure of 2020 election material in Fulton County, Georgia, originated from a Trump campaign legal referral.
• Ongoing mistrust between federal government and state officials about election oversight:
  • “We can't trust the federal government and they are now adversaries of the state.” ([01:51], unnamed secretary of state)
• Panelists argue that efforts to investigate or restrict voting are fundamentally anti-democratic, while Bannon and others see these as safeguarding election integrity.

2. Deeper Look: Nationalizing Elections & Trust in Institutions

• Political commentator laments Trump’s alleged efforts to restrict voting access:
  • "It is not just vote; it is them trying to make it so hard for you to vote so that they can cheat on the outcome..." ([02:25])
• Bannon responds by asserting that federal moves are "nationalizing" elections:
  • “They are trying to nationalize the elections.” ([03:03])

3. El Paso Airspace Shutdown & Militarized Drones ([03:10–05:52])

Aviation Expert’s Analysis:

• The 10-day airspace closure over El Paso is linked to a classified Defense Department operation at Fort Bliss, Biggs Army Airfield.
• This is without modern precedent for a city of El Paso’s size; it affected commercial, police, and medevac flights.
• Notable differences from typical airspace restrictions (e.g., VIP movements):
  • “This includes all flights up to 18,000 ft… commercial flights, police helicopters, and medevac helicopters. Usually those things are exempted.” ([04:36])

Bannon: "[This] is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going medieval on these people... The people have had a belly full of it." ([05:52])

4. Update: Situation at the White House ([06:34–10:51])

• Host notes breaking news and packed agenda: El Paso situation, testimony of Pam Bondi (Trump’s legal ally), and Netanyahu’s White House visit.
• Bannon shares that President Trump is sending a second carrier strike group near Iran and that there’s tension over the scope of US negotiations with Iran.
• Netanyahu aims to broaden discussions about Iran to include regime-change topics.

5. Interview: Erik Prince on Security Threats ([10:51–14:59; 16:48–21:48])

• Prince debunks rumors of his capture in Africa and describes recent developments in Congo and Rwanda.

• On El Paso:

  • He describes the airspace closure as a military response to cartel-operated drones:

  "I think they [the DoD] used some higher end capabilities, whether they're kinetic or EMPs or lasers to, to shoot all those threats out of the sky." ([13:44])

  • Prince sees the incident as a harbinger of cartel militarization at the border, possibly more serious than spy balloons from China.
  • He encourages targeting cartel finances and proposes public-private interdiction partnerships.

• On the Mexican government:

  "The Mexican government [is] up to their neck in this with the cartels. They control the government. They're an enemy of the United States. They're not a friendly power..." ([18:52])

6. Iran, Israel, and US Foreign Policy ([20:50–25:24])

• Discussion on Bibi Netanyahu’s pressure for broader US action against Iran.

• Erik Prince argues strongly against direct US military intervention or airstrikes for regime change:

  "Air power alone is not going to get that done. So again not our problem. Iran does not have an independence day because they don't get invaded. They've not been colonized... Again, it is not the responsibility of the United States government and...fighting personnel...to solve that problem." ([23:31–25:24])

7. Sharia Law, Election Issues & Rise of New Political Themes in Texas ([25:24–43:58])

• The podcast pivots to politics in Texas, where banning Sharia law and the alleged “Islamic invasion” have become hot primary topics.
• Bannon and Prince argue such issues, if not resolved at the ballot box, will escalate:

  "If this...doesn't get solved in the ballot box, this will get solved in a very kinetic way because I don't think Americans are going to accept being colonized by...an Islamic paradigm." (Prince, [26:12])

8. Texas Republican Primary Poll & Fallout ([37:55–51:46])

James Johnson (JL Partners):

• Defends the integrity and impartiality of his poll that shook up the Texas GOP Senate race by showing a three-way tie (Paxton, Cornyn, Hunt).
• The Cornyn campaign’s media blitz is having a net neutral effect; some voters doubt his sincerity as a Trump-aligned candidate.
  • “He said he was a Trump Republican, but I see him as a rhino.” ([43:01])
• The rise of Sharia law as an issue is influencing the campaign rhetoric, even being cited in Cornyn’s ads.
• Jasmine Crockett is likely to win the Democratic primary, but analysts believe she’s too far left to win statewide.

9. Netanyahu’s Meeting at the White House ([30:01–36:52])

Brian Glenn (Live, White House):

• Unusual secrecy and lack of ceremony around Netanyahu’s visit, with no color guard or public press access.
• Israel’s press and international media set up outside; speculations about sensitive negotiations regarding Iran.

10. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cartel-Operated Drones & Border Security:

  "That is by definition an invasion and must be dealt with. This is...far worse than those weather balloons...that the Chinese were flying across US airspace and Biden didn't dare shoot them down. I'm glad the War Department shot these things down." (Erik Prince, [17:18])

• On Iran & US Foreign Policy:

  "No. No and no is a complete answer. Ultimately Iran is not the problem in the United States. It would be an unnecessary war...If people want to give them the tools...fine. But it does not require US air power." (Erik Prince, [21:48])

• On Sharia Law:

  "Ban Sharia law. If this...doesn't get solved in the ballot box, this will get solved in a very kinetic way..." (Erik Prince, [26:12])

• On Cornyn Campaign Ads & MAGA Voters:

  "He said he was a Trump Republican, but I see him as a rhino." (Texas GOP voter, [43:01])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment/Discussion | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | FBI raid/Fulton County election data | | 02:08 | Trump election trust & federal-state relations | | 03:10 | Aviation expert on El Paso airspace shutdown | | 05:52 | Bannon: Rhetoric on media & elites | | 10:51 | Erik Prince interview begins | | 13:13 | Prince on cartel drones & El Paso | | 16:48 | Prince on airspace as an "invasion" | | 18:52 | Prince: Mexican government & the cartels | | 20:50 | Shift to Iran – Bibi visit and military posture | | 21:48 | Prince: Case against US regime change in Iran | | 25:24 | Sharia law debate and Texas politics | | 30:01 | Brian Glenn live from White House | | 37:55 | Texas GOP primary poll (James Johnson) | | 46:35 | Jasmine Crockett & Texas Dem primary | | 49:44 | Sharia law as a Texas campaign issue |

Conclusion

This episode tackles a packed news cycle, connecting national security threats on the US–Mexico border, the politics of election security, the rising profile of Islam and Sharia law in Texas campaigns, and high-stakes international diplomacy with Iran and Israel. All threaded with Bannon’s combative, populist tone and punctuated by expert guest commentary.