Bannon's War Room Episode 5201: "The Lies of John Cornyn"

Date: March 9, 2026
Host: Steve Bannon
Guests: Eric Bolling, Caroline Wren, Jack Posobiec

Episode Overview

This episode of Bannon's War Room centers on criticism of Senator John Cornyn, especially regarding his perceived betrayal of Texas conservatives, his stance against Trump and MAGA, and his alignment with the D.C. establishment. The show also delves into the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East and its economic and political fallout, particularly for the U.S. energy market, with expert breakdowns from Eric Bolling and Jack Posobiec. Caroline Wren joins to detail the grassroots revolt against Cornyn and contrast him with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. The Current Conflict and Messaging Failures

[00:53 – 04:41]

• Bannon opens with blunt language about America being "in a shooting war" and critiques the lack of transparent communication from military officials regarding U.S. casualties abroad.
• He asserts that public support depends on honest, consistent government messaging, and lambasts recent official explanations as evasive.
• Notable quote:

  "You’re just not going to free shot all these networks lying about the people. The people have had a belly full of it." — Steve Bannon [00:07]

• Bannon highlights the rising KIA numbers and the underreporting of attacks on U.S. personnel, demanding more accountability and clarity from the Defense Department.

2. Oil, Gas, and U.S. Leverage in Global Markets

[04:41 – 13:46]
Eric Bolling breaks down the economic impacts of the conflict, sky-high fuel prices, and his plan for U.S. energy independence:

• Surging Prices:
  The U.S. is headed for $4–$5 gasoline soon; diesel and jet fuel prices even more inflationary, threatening the entire economy.

  "Every product in the world really has a diesel component to it... Right now, diesel's 4.50, truckers... It's going to be five, it's going to be six." — Eric Bolling [05:24]

• Bolling’s Solution:
  Trump should leverage American control over Iran and Venezuela to form public-private partnerships, boosting their oil production for U.S. use and guaranteeing energy independence.

  "Put your foot on their neck... and then say, I'll tell you what, the American boot comes off your neck... the minute you sign a relationship with the United States where... we get your additional production." — Eric Bolling [05:43]

• The strategic vision is to fill the U.S. import gap (7 million barrels/day) from Iran and Venezuela under U.S.-managed deals, bypassing OPEC and other unstable sources.
• Bannon presses for clarity on timelines, skepticism about Venezuela's infrastructure, and insurance/force majeure games in the Gulf.
• Quote:

  "There's no reason oil should be $100 a barrel today... It's not a supply/demand reason... It's the news and the media and the hype and the speculators." — Eric Bolling [09:34]

Resource Plugs:
Bolling promotes his show "The Edge" and his social media, embracing an anti-woke, masculine tone.

3. The John Cornyn Dossier: Betrayal and Deep State Allegiances

[16:21 – 42:17]
Segment centerpiece: A mashup of Cornyn’s public statements, floor speeches, and news appearances to paint a picture of duplicity and establishment loyalty.

Cornyn on Russia, Border, and the Republican Party

• Cornyn asserts bipartisan commitment to combat election interference, but Bannon and contributors view this as establishment grandstanding.
• On the border wall, Cornyn claims to support “border security” but downplays the need for a physical wall (contradicting Trump’s campaign promises).

  "A wall, I have to tell you, Tucker, is not going to stop illegal immigration if you don't have the personnel on the ground to catch them, if you don't have the technology..." — Sen. John Cornyn [22:43]

• Under cross-examination (Tucker Carlson), Cornyn falls back on moderation, drawing accusations of defying his voters’ wishes.
• On Trump, Cornyn is quoted saying it’s time for the GOP to “move on,” expressing doubt about Trump’s electability in a general election despite his base.

  “In politics, unless you can win an election, you’re pretty much irrelevant. ...I have concerns about the President’s ability to win in November.” — Sen. John Cornyn [23:53]

Conservative Backlash:

• Bannon’s Judgment:

  "He doesn't care about you, he doesn't care about his voters. Any decent person that gets booed by their voters... would stop and say, maybe I'm heading in the wrong direction, and they'd back off. Instead, John Cornyn... says, I'm the senator, not you." — Steve Bannon [24:40]

• Cornyn’s support for Biden appointees like Lisa Monaco and Merrick Garland is framed as capitulating to the deep state and undermining Trump.
• Cornyn’s votes for gun control are highlighted as alignment with Democrats, causing Trump to label him a “RINO.”
• Charlie Kirk (clip from 2022 or 2023): Cornyn is described as a “central defender” of the Washington system, not just a regular politician but an “intentional, brazen” adversary of the MAGA base.

4. The Cornyn vs. Paxton Showdown

[29:57 – 42:17]
Caroline Wren provides inside perspective on the Texas primary battle and Cornyn’s place in the establishment.

Cornyn as Establishment Powerbroker

• His endorsements ("full-throated" for Biden’s picks) are called “damning”—not mere mistakes, but calculated protection of D.C. interests.
• Wren: The deep state, establishment, and lobbyists back Cornyn; his staff is full of anti-Trump Republicans.

  "Half of his staff that works for him voted for Hillary... The D.C. establishment despise Trump... With Cornyn, he just reeks of it." — Caroline Wren [34:20]

• The well-funded Cornyn machine floods the airwaves with misleading ads tying him to Trump, while in reality Cornyn opposed Trump’s wall and piled on criticisms at every controversy.

Why Ken Paxton?

• Wren argues D.C. elites and corporations fear Paxton because he consistently sues powerful interests (Big Tech, pharma, finance) as AG on Texans’ behalf.

  “Ken Paxton does not answer to money... He has sued every major corporation in this country as Texas Attorney General on behalf of the people of Texas.” — Caroline Wren [38:32]

Bannon’s Call to Action:

• The base must recognize Cornyn’s systemic role in the establishment and rally for Paxton, seeing this Senate race as a litmus test for draining the swamp and realigning Republican power toward MAGA populism.

  “You want to drain the swamp? You want to beat down the corporations destroying this country?... Exhibit one is John Cornyn.” — Steve Bannon [41:15]

5. Israel-Iran War: Mission Creep & Market Impact

[45:28 – 51:29]
Jack Posobiec delivers an in-depth military and geopolitical briefing on the escalation between Israel and Iran:

• Describes unprecedented U.S.-Israeli command integration, dismisses the idea that the U.S. was “surprised” by Israeli strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure.
• Oil facility strikes have pushed prices over $100/barrel; U.S., Israeli, and global strategy hinge on oil supply, with Iran able to retaliate against Israel’s vulnerabilities (notably its reliance on Azerbaijani crude).
• Warns of “mission creep,” reminiscent of the Ukraine and Gulf Wars, with ever-broadening targets and unintended escalation.

  "China is filming, for lack of a better term, in real time the American war machine and the Israeli war machine..." — Jack Posobiec [46:41]

• Resulting spikes in oil prices imperil world markets and mirror "2008–style" economic pressure.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [00:34] Bannon: “Ask yourself, what is my task and what is my purpose? If that answer is to save my country, this country will be saved.”
• [05:09] Bannon (on gas): "$5 a gallon. You're saying if it stays above a hundred bucks for a week, you're gonna have $5 gasoline."
• [11:07] Bannon (about partnerships): “You're just in some joint... where you're the controlling entity or somehow you've got a working agreement where you're calling the shots.”
• [24:40] Bannon (on Cornyn): “I have never seen in my 10 years, someone so openly rebuked by their voters and then so quickly turning 180 degrees around and saying, I don’t care.”
• [34:20] Wren (on Cornyn's staff): “Half of his staff that works for him voted for Hillary..."
• [38:32] Wren (on Paxton): “Ken Paxton does not answer to money... He has sued every major corporation in this country... This is why they're pouring millions in.”
• [41:15] Bannon: "You want to drain the swamp? ...Exhibit one is John Cornyn."
• [46:41] Posobiec: “China is filming, for lack of a better term, in real time the American war machine...”
• [49:05] Posobiec: “We've seen gas prices, oil now over $100 a barrel, looking at 120 very rapidly...”

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:02 – 04:41: Bannon's opening monologue on messaging failures, military conflict, and the need for honest leadership.
• 04:41 – 13:46: Eric Bolling on oil prices, strategic energy independence, and his vision for leveraging U.S. power.
• 16:21 – 27:34: Cornyn mashup: his record on Russia, the border, his stance on Trump, and responses to critics.
• 29:57 – 42:17: Caroline Wren and Steve Bannon's deep dive into Cornyn's "betrayals" and the high-stakes Texas Senate primary.
• 45:28 – 51:29: Jack Posobiec's sit-rep on Israel-Iran conflict, U.S.-Israel coordination, and oil market chaos.

Tone & Style

• Combative, urgent, populist: The conversation is unfiltered and adversarial toward the political establishment, both left and right.
• Pragmatic, detail-driven analysis: On oil and war, Bannon and guests combine ideological fire with granular economic/military analysis.
• Grassroots rallying: The episode is a sustained call to MAGA/populist action against entrenched establishment figures, especially Cornyn.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a scathing takedown of Senator John Cornyn as a symbol of Republican establishment duplicity, accused of ignoring his base, enabling the deep state, and undermining Trump and conservative priorities. Through news clips, debate, and expert guest analysis, Bannon and contributors build their case for ousting Cornyn in favor of an unapologetic populist like Ken Paxton. Simultaneously, the show ties the fate of Texas and the nation to global war, spiraling oil markets, and the need for clear-eyed, America-first solutions. All of which is framed as a defining battle for the Republican party and the future of the country itself.