Bannon’s War Room | Episode 5191: Attacks Continue ON Oil In The Strait Of Hormuz

Date: March 5, 2026
Host: Stephen K. Bannon
Main Guests: Julie Kelly, Dr. Bradley Thayer, Dr. Jeffrey Tucker, Mays Middleton

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on two intersecting crises: the escalating attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader political and legal unrest within the United States. Host Stephen K. Bannon and a range of guests address the strategic, economic, and political impacts of the Persian Gulf attacks, delve into polling and the “medical freedom” movement, discuss challenges within the US justice system, and examine flashpoint political battles in Texas. The tone is urgent, combative, and deeply skeptical of elite institutions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legal and Political Unrest in the U.S.

• Auto-Pen Executive Orders and DOJ Investigations (00:53–03:50)
  • Discussion opens with a Truth Social post (attributed to Trump) questioning the legality of executive orders signed by President Biden’s auto-pen.
  • DOJ’s investigation into the auto-pen issue reportedly failed to find a criminal statute to prosecute under, leading to public skepticism and frustration among MAGA circles.
  • Julie Kelly: "Not a single J6er walked out of a courtroom after a trial, completely exonerated, acquitted on all counts. Yet now Jeanine Pirro and the Trump DOJ is struggling to get a basic indictment... So this is a real crisis..." (05:51)
  • Bannon and Kelly note increasing jury nullification efforts in blue cities, training sessions for activists seeking to disrupt immigration and other prosecutions (06:03).

Memorable Moment / Quote

• Julie Kelly: “There is not a fair justice system in this country. Not even close.” (07:11)

2. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz – Global & Domestic Implications

Immediate Oil Market Impact (07:53–09:34)

• Breaking news: A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by missiles as the segment aired.
• Bannon: “Brent is now at 84 a barrel. West Texas…76. Oil at the time of the beginning of the strike was up 33%. That shows you how efficient the world’s oil markets are.” (08:32)

Strategic Military Assessment with Dr. Bradley Thayer

• Thayer explains the Gulf as a new and dangerous front in the wider conflict; over 3,000 vessels in the region, high global economic stakes (09:34–13:52).
• Iran’s aim is to inflict economic pain by targeting oil and gas flows and raising prices, especially through unconventional means like mines, drones, and suicide attacks (12:40–13:52 and revisited at 19:09–20:03, 48:12–49:28).

Notable Quote

• Dr. Bradley Thayer: “They want to hurt the natural gas market and they also want to hurt clearly the oil market—a way of inflicting pain on us…as well as the Gulf sheikdoms and Saudi Arabia in other fronts.” (09:58)

• "Estimates are over 4%, essentially by tonnage of global ship tonnage are in the Gulf now. So that's a lot of vessels that are going to have to exit and those are going to be a lot of targets." (49:28)

• The attacks are compared to “the tanker wars” of the late 1980s (13:52, 48:12–49:28).

• U.S. Navy is preparing to reprise escort missions reminiscent of Operation Earnest Will.

Memorable Quote

• Dr. Thayer: “You don’t need to sink every tanker…just the threat of losses, the threat of damage is going to drive insurance up, which is why President Trump has in essence assigned the mission to the Navy...” (48:12)

On-the-Ground Reporting

• Additional report: At least four vessels have been attacked, with shipping firms halting bookings, rerouting, and vessels turning off transponders to avoid targeting (16:21).

3. The Medical Freedom Movement and Political Polling

Dr. Jeffrey Tucker Segment (22:05–34:37)

• Polling conducted with the Health Freedom Defense Fund—rejects mainstream “biased” polls.
• Findings: “Super majorities—like 80% and sometimes even 90% for these hardcore issues of medical freedom,” including skepticism of mandates, industry indemnity, and support for holistic medicine (22:05–25:23).
• Tucker claims previous polls intentionally minimized public opposition to pharmaceutical mandates, misleading White House and campaign advisors.
• “This deception...could lose the midterms because the MAHA coalition has broad and passionate public support...” (25:23–27:43)
• Promotion of a campaign for “a reckoning” via covidjustice.org—a petition for official acknowledgment of the damage during COVID mandates (33:12).

Memorable Quotes

• Dr. Jeffrey Tucker: “What I think is what 80% of the public thinks. It’s just that the White House was not getting this message because of these distorted polls.” (30:51)
• “If [the White House] believe these old polls, they are in the process of making potentially a catastrophic error...” (25:23)

4. Texas Attorney General Runoff: The Political and Cultural Battlefield

Interview with Mays Middleton (35:11–43:18)

• Middleton characterizes the AG race as crucial for defeating “the left,” focusing on aggressive social conservatism: bans on transgender surgery for minors, religious prayer in schools, targeting Sharia law, border security, and combating “Islamification.”
• Middelton positions himself as a fighter uniquely hated by Democrats and progressive activists.
• “They have these big ugly green signs with my face on it, X’s through my eyes, and they call me the bathroom bigot. Why? Because I don’t want men in my little girl’s restroom.” (37:16)
• “Sharia law is organized crime, period. This is not a religious liberties issue. They see us as the infidel, and they don’t think we deserve the right to exist…” (40:33)
• Emphasizes Texas as the “line in the sand” for American conservatism.

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Auto-Pen & DOJ/Jury Nullification: 00:53–07:47
• Strait of Hormuz Attacks – News Break & Strategic Assessment: 07:53–14:28, 16:21–20:36, 48:12–50:58
• Medical Freedom Movement & Polling w/ Dr. Tucker: 22:05–34:37
• Texas Attorney General Race (Mays Middleton): 35:11–43:18
• Final Strategic Overview on Hormuz with Dr. Thayer: 48:12–50:58

Notable Quotes

• Julie Kelly (06:03): "This is a real crisis that the DOJ is dealing with."
• Dr. Bradley Thayer (09:58): "They want to hurt the natural gas market and they also want to hurt clearly the oil market—a way of inflicting pain on us…"
• Dr. Jeffrey Tucker (25:23): “There is no question what you just said is absolutely true... This deception... could lose the midterms."
• Mays Middleton (40:33): "Sharia law is organized crime, period. This is not a religious liberties issue."

Flow and Tone

The episode is marked by urgency, skepticism toward institutions, and an “us-versus-them” tone. Bannon repeatedly urges action, paints domestic and international struggles as interlinked battles for the soul of the nation, and foregrounds the grassroots and MAGA base’s priorities. Guests reflect that energy, voice frustration with perceived institutional obstacles, and champion combative, populist solutions.

Summary Table

| Segment | Time | Main Focus/Insight | Notable Participant / Quote | |-------------------------------|-------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | DOJ, Jury Nullification | 00:53–07:47 | Legal battles, system “rigged” | Julie Kelly, "No fair justice system..." | | Strait of Hormuz Attacks | 07:53–14:28 | Oil attacks, global markets, Navy | Dr. Thayer, Bannon | | Hormuz Ongoing Assessment | 16:21–20:36 | More attacks, market disruption | Various - shipping updates | | Medical Freedom Polling | 22:05–34:37 | Grassroots opposition, polling | Dr. Jeffrey Tucker | | Texas AG Race | 35:11–43:18 | Social conservatism, "line in sand" | Mays Middleton | | Strategic Wrap-up: Hormuz | 48:12–50:58 | US Navy response, economic pain | Dr. Thayer |

Conclusion

Episode 5191 offers an hour of rapid-fire, high-stakes commentary linking world events (oil attacks in the Gulf) to domestic legal, political, and cultural battles. Bannon and guests sound alarms on system breakdowns, alleged institutional bias, and urge assertive grassroots action, especially for Texas and in support of medical autonomy. The episode projects a narrative of global chaos met by determined, populist resistance—framing the day's news as both a crisis and a call to action.