WarRoom's Battleground EP 712 Summary: Trump vs. Jack Smith & House Budget Resolution

Release Date: February 26, 2025
Host: WarRoom.org
Title: WarRoom Battleground EP 712: Trump Goes After Jack Smith In New EO's House Vote On New Budget Resolution

1. Introduction

In Episode 712 of WarRoom Battleground, host Stephen K. Bannon delves deep into President Donald Trump's latest executive actions targeting Special Counsel Jack Smith and his law firm, Covington & Burling. The episode also covers the House's vote on a new budget resolution, shedding light on the broader implications for federal spending and political dynamics.

2. President Trump's Executive Order Against Covington & Burling

The episode opens with President Trump addressing the weaponization of government, specifically targeting the law firm Covington & Burling for providing pro bono legal services to Jack Smith's Special Counsel office.

• Donald Trump (00:09): "At the outset of your administration, sir, you committed to ending the weaponization of government, to holding those accountable who participated in the weaponization of government."

• Steve Bannon (00:18): "Deranged Jack Smith. We're going to call it the Deranged Jack Smith signing or bill."

President Trump announced the suspension and review of security clearances for attorneys and employees at Covington & Burling who worked with Smith's team, emphasizing accountability for what he perceives as the misuse of governmental powers.

• Donald Trump (00:46): "And we're going to continue holding the people who were responsible for the weaponization of government and who supported it accountable for what they did."

Julie Kelly, a guest on the show, highlighted the significance of Covington & Burling's influence in Washington D.C., noting the firm's connections with prominent Democratic figures like Eric Holder and Dana Remus.

• Julie Kelly (02:25): "Covington and Burling. Mr. President, may I ask you a question about Europe? So long term, do you plan to maintain the number of U.S. troops stationed? Savor this one, please. Who would like this pen? Why don't you send it to Jack Smith."

3. The Hampton Dellinger Case and Supreme Court's Inaction

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Hampton Dellinger, a Biden-appointed head of the Office of Special Counsel, whom President Trump fired on February 7th. Dellinger subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking reinstatement, which led to a temporary restraining order issued by Judge Amy Berman Jackson.

• Steve Bannon (05:07): "So this is one issue that we've been covering... He was fired... a temporary restraining order reversing his firing."

The Supreme Court declined to intervene in this case, a move both Bannon and Kelly view as alarming. They argue that this inaction signals a troubling trend in the judiciary's stance towards presidential authority.

• Julie Kelly (05:23): "And this temporary restraining order is set to expire tomorrow on Wednesday... they're just running amok."

4. DOJ's Actions Against J6 Prosecutors

The conversation shifts to the Department of Justice's handling of prosecutions related to the January 6th Capitol riot. Julie Kelly criticizes the DOJ's use of temporary hires, alleging that these prosecutors were converted to permanent positions without proper authorization and were subsequently fired after Trump took office.

• Julie Kelly (19:59): "I want people to hear how easily they lied. Those two prosecutors were not fired because they did their job... they were brought on as temporary hires to handle this massive caseload."

Trump and his team, including Dan Bongino, are portrayed as spearheading efforts to reform the FBI and DOJ, aiming to purge what they consider biased prosecutions against Trump allies.

• Steve Bannon (23:25): "What could be done? What's your recommendation... what is Julie Kelly's recommendation here?"

• Julie Kelly (23:36): "These prosecutors are basically under investigation right now for abusing their authority... that's really the only thing that can be done."

5. Appointment of Dan Bongino as FBI Deputy Director

Dan Bongino's appointment as the Deputy Director of the FBI is discussed as a strategic move to reform the agency from within. Julie Kelly expresses optimism about Bongino's role in uncovering and addressing internal scandals.

• Julie Kelly (14:54): "I was surprised to see the announcement that Dan had been appointed as deputy director of the FBI... they have a very long list of scandals that they need to expose."

Bannon underscores the significance of this appointment, highlighting Bongino's commitment to restructuring the FBI.

• Steve Bannon (16:43): "This is how much President Trump wants a restructuring and reform and investigation into the FBI..."

6. House Budget Resolution and Reconciliation Process

A substantial portion of the episode is dedicated to explaining the House's ongoing vote on the budget resolution and the subsequent reconciliation process. President Trump discusses how the budget resolution serves as a framework for federal spending and introduces significant cuts alongside tax reforms.

• Donald Trump (34:59): "What's happening right here is what we in the business refer to as a bed check vote. It's utterly meaningless... After this vote, they will move to a vote to pass the House version of the budget resolution."

• Steve Bannon (37:20): "But the impoundment process are going to say either we're not going to spend it or it can be reprogrammed, because the Constitution says the chief executive..."

Trump explains that the current budget resolution is not for fiscal year 2025 but is intended to lay the groundwork for future fiscal policies, including mandatory spending cuts and tax increases aimed at stimulating economic growth.

• Donald Trump (46:56): "The growth rate that I understand that the House is using is about 2.8, which is a fairly average growth rate..."

Kelly adds that the reconciliation process will allow the administration to enact substantial cuts and reforms without the usual legislative hurdles.

• Julie Kelly (38:39): "And so the money that's appropriated via the CR here before March 14th in all likelihood is not actually going to be spent..."

7. Economic Implications and Future Projections

The discussion touches on the economic forecasts tied to the budget resolution, debating whether the proposed growth rates are sufficient to offset the increased spending and tax cuts. Trump remains optimistic that deregulation and fiscal policies will spur significant economic growth, potentially mitigating concerns about rising deficits.

• Donald Trump (47:22): "Yeah. These models will show different things... if you have this massive agenda that includes deregulation across the American economy... that the American people are capable of producing, that they will exceed what is modeled and that, in fact, this won't blow up the deficit."

8. Conclusion

The episode concludes with a preview of upcoming discussions, including a detailed breakdown of the budget resolution vote and its implications for future federal spending. Bannon emphasizes the urgency of understanding and engaging with these financial strategies to safeguard America's economic future.

• Steve Bannon (54:36): "Stay tuned in this space. That is not a good sign folks. Not a good sign. Not a good sign."

Key Takeaways

• Executive Actions: President Trump's latest executive order targets Covington & Burling for alleged government weaponization, suspending security clearances of its members involved with Jack Smith.

• Judicial Inaction: The Supreme Court's refusal to intervene in Hampton Dellinger's case signals potential judicial bias and undermines presidential authority.

• DOJ Reforms: Efforts to reform the DOJ, particularly concerning prosecutions related to the January 6th Capitol riot, are underway with significant opposition from established legal entities.

• FBI Restructuring: The appointment of Dan Bongino as FBI Deputy Director marks a strategic move towards internal agency reform.

• Budget Resolution: The House's budget resolution and the reconciliation process aim to implement substantial federal spending cuts and tax reforms, with long-term implications for the U.S. economy.

Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump (00:09): "You committed to ending the weaponization of government, to holding those accountable who participated in the weaponization of government."

• Steve Bannon (00:18): "Deranged Jack Smith. We're going to call it the Deranged Jack Smith signing or bill."

• Julie Kelly (02:25): "Covington and Burling... we’re looking at the whole panoply of options."

• Steve Bannon (09:08): "The courts bailed us out essentially in the 2020 election and we've got to look to the courts to bail us out."

• Julie Kelly (23:36): "These prosecutors are basically under investigation right now for abusing their authority..."

• Donald Trump (34:59): "What we're doing is paving the way for the government to continue to operate with the president of the United States… to gut it as they have been doing."

• Steve Bannon (37:20): "This is the unified executive theory is now going to come into the budget process."

Note: This summary focuses exclusively on the substantive content of the episode, omitting advertisements, promotional segments, and non-content-related discussions as per instructions.