Bannon’s War Room — Episode 5137: Withdrawal From Minneapolis, End of Metro Surge

Date: February 12, 2026
Host: Stephen K. Bannon
Topic: The political battle over immigration enforcement, the Minneapolis ICE Metro Surge operation, the state of political partisanship, mass deportation policy, and the country's economic/technological direction with AI.

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the political fracas over federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, reactions to the announced withdrawal of federal surge operations (Operation Metro Surge), and the broader state of division in American politics regarding border security and government authority. The show also touches on implications for federal legislation, the economic direction of the US, and the looming impact of artificial intelligence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Judiciary Committee Showdown and DOJ Appointments

• Contentious Exchange: The episode opens with audio from a raucous House Judiciary Committee hearing focused on the controversial removal and appointment of U.S. attorneys by the Trump administration.
• Democratic Critique: Democrats accuse Attorney General Bondi of weaponizing the DOJ for political retribution, targeting Trump's opponents, including Letitia James and members of Congress who spoke against him.
  • Memorable Quote [01:18]: “You’re one of the worst attorney generals in our history and an instrument of Donald Trump’s lawless, authoritarian agenda.” — Committee Democrat
• Republican Pushback: GOP members repeatedly defend Trump administration actions, accuse their opponents of having "Trump Derangement Syndrome," and pivot to talk up the surging economy under Trump.
• Tension at the Hearing: The exchange quickly devolves into shouted points of order and personal attacks, highlighting the complete lack of bipartisan dialogue and composure.
  • Quote [09:00]: “You don’t tell me. Oh, I did tell you, because we saw what you did in the Senate…” — Republican member

2. Federalization of Elections and Use of Law Enforcement

• Central Criticism: Democrats warn about the Trump White House’s efforts to federalize election oversight and deploy federal officers to voting locations, viewing this as a fundamental threat to state-level democracy.
  • Quote [12:15]: “He said we should federalize the elections. That means the federal government, that means him, run all of our elections in 50 states, literally opposite to how our founding fathers set up our voting system...”
• Retaliation Framing: The withdrawal and prosecution efforts are cast as acts of “retribution” and “reckoning,” particularly related to Minneapolis’s defiance on ICE cooperation.

3. House and Senate Legislative Jockeying — The "SAVE America Act"

• Senate Stalemate: Bannon analyzes the Senate dynamics, explaining that despite efforts to pass the SAVE America Act (targeting immigration and border security), there is no Republican unity or sufficient votes for major legislative victories.
  • Comment [26:23]: “The number one legislative priority right now for President Trump... looks like it’s going nowhere unless somebody’s got a special deal...” — Bannon

4. Operation Metro Surge: The Minneapolis Drawdown

• Tom Homan’s Press Conference ([34:00]):
  • Announced the conclusion and drawdown of the 'Metro Surge' federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
  • Key Points:
    • Surge successfully targeted and arrested “public safety threats” and prioritized criminals.
    • Most federal agents will withdraw, leaving a “small footprint” for ongoing investigations.
    • Praised local officials for (recent) cooperation.
    • Emphasized ongoing commitment to mass deportation as a Trump promise.
  • Notable Quote [36:27]:
    • “President Trump made a promise of mass deportation, and that’s what this country’s going to get.”
  • Emphasis: Drawdown tied to improved cooperation from state and local law enforcement (possibly as part of a political deal).

5. Capitol Hill Reactions: No Room for Compromise

• Neil McCabe Reporting:
  • Reports from the scene at a Senate hearing, describing continued tension and finger-pointing between Minnesota’s AG Ellison, local officials, and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer.
  • Suggests the pullout from Minneapolis may be part of a broader legislative deal or Homeland Security funding compromise.
• Emmer’s Testimony ([66:20]):
  • Blames AG Ellison and local Minnesota officials’ “sanctuary” policies for crime and the Minneapolis chaos, contrasting with other (more cooperative) counties.
  • Quote: “But Tim Walz, Keith Ellison and Jacob Frey are so beholden to their radical sanctuary state and city agenda that they’ve lost all common sense. And now here we are today with innocent lives lost and chaos in our streets.” — Rep. Tom Emmer
  • Criticizes the refusal to honor ICE detainers, names specific incidents.
  • Asserts 4,000 arrests conducted during Metro Surge; claims chaos was “entirely preventable.”
• Bannon's Framing:
  • Casts the situation as a “color revolution” orchestrated by leftist “radicals” and asserts Democrats want to keep millions of illegal immigrants as a new voter base.

6. Shutdown Threats and Immigration Enforcement Funding

• Rosemary Jenks, Immigration Policy Expert ([110:40]):
  • Points out that DHS operating funds (including ICE) are on the line with the looming shutdown.
  • Alleges Democrats hope to “shut down immigration enforcement” through funding battles, making it difficult for federal agents and their families.

7. Economic/Technological Context — AI and National Leverage

• AI as a National Gamble:
  • Bannon turns to the explosive growth of AI investment, noting $7–800 billion in new corporate AI spending, largely with borrowed funds—while warning the tech is "unproven" at scale.
  • Quote [121:52]: “We are doing a highly leveraged financing on an unproven technology... that, at worst, could be totally deadly to the human race and go through jobs like a scythe through grass.”
• Brendan Steinhauser, Alliance for Secure AI ([122:40]):
  • Warns about the risk AI poses to jobs, especially youth and blue-collar workers, linking tech disruption to possible social turmoil.
  • Notes: Despite its importance, AI is not widely debated on Capitol Hill, with most focus still on government shutdowns and immigration.
  • Quote [123:44]: “If this goes the wrong way, we could have so much social and political instability that we could have a revolution on our hands. This AI revolution could lead to a revolution of people that say we don’t want this, especially if it leads to financial disaster and ruin for our people.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DOJ Partisanship:

  • “You weaponize the Department of Justice to target immigrants, working families and educators, anyone that Trump deems an enemy of the state.” — [01:35], Committee Democrat

• On ICE Prioritization:

  • “That means you have a criminal alien here, a non-criminal here. The criminal always comes first because he’s the biggest threat to the communities.” — [38:50], Tom Homan

• On Intransigence:

  • “These are not things you can compromise. Ellison is bald-faced lying, and that gap between what Emmer’s saying and what Ellison’s saying is not bridgeable. Not bridgeable.” — [79:35], Steve Bannon

• On Shutdown Impact:

  • “When the Department of Homeland Security shuts down... there will be thousands of officers and agents... who are not getting paid. Immigration enforcement will continue because these patriots will keep doing their jobs. They will not be paid. However, their families will suffer.” — [111:20], Rosemary Jenks

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00–14:30] — Judiciary Committee confrontation, harsh partisanship, accusations of DOJ abuse
• [26:00–28:00] — Senate/House legislative analysis, Save America Act status
• [34:00–40:00] — Tom Homan’s Minneapolis withdrawal press conference
• [66:20–76:00] — Tom Emmer’s Senate testimony on Minneapolis, ICE, and local cooperation
• [110:40–112:00] — Rosemary Jenks on ICE funding in the shutdown
• [121:52–123:50] — Bannon and Steinhauser discuss national economic risk from AI & leverage

Final Takeaways

• No Political Middle Ground:
  The Minneapolis ICE surge and subsequent withdrawal highlight irreconcilable differences between the parties; even basic law enforcement and immigration questions are utterly polarized.

• Political Retaliation and Security Concerns:
  The fight in Minneapolis is framed as both retaliation and a test-case for broader border/immigration policy under Trump, exposing deep divides over law enforcement’s role.

• Economic & Technological Anxiety:
  The episode closes with warnings that US policy is staking trillions on risky, wholesale adoption of AI, with little public debate or official oversight—a dangerous gamble for jobs and political stability.

• Sense of Siege:
  Throughout, Bannon and guests return to the themes of the regime under threat, the existential necessity to “go medieval” against opponents, and the framing of Democrats as orchestrating a “color revolution” via mass immigration.