WarRoom Battleground EP 926 – US Revival Latest: Bible Sales Shot Up 36% in the Month Charlie Kirk Was Martyred

Date: January 14, 2026
Host: Steve Bannon (WarRoom.org)
Guests: Frank Walker (Canon212), Jenny Holland

Episode Overview

This episode of WarRoom Battleground explores two central themes: internal turmoil and resistance in the Catholic Church’s leadership, contrasted with an apparent spiritual revival among young Westerners, especially highlighted by surging Bible sales and growing Catholic identification in Generation Z. The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk is mentioned as a catalyst for this revival. The show features candid, at times fiery, analysis of church politics, culture, and youth trends, peppered with the hosts’ and guests’ personal experiences and reflections.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Crisis and Control in the Institutional Catholic Church

• Consistory in the Vatican:
  Discussion centered on the recent gathering of cardinals (consistory) and its implications for church tradition, leadership, and dissent.

  • Pope Leo (dubbed “Francis 2.0”) allows cardinals to meet, unlike predecessor Pope Francis, but maintains strict control.
  • Notable interventions included those of Card. Roach (UK, liturgy chief), Card. Zen (Hong Kong), Card. Gretsch (synod boss), and Card. Fernandez.

• Suppression of Traditionalism:

  • Frank Walker expressed that expectations about liberalizing the Latin Mass were dashed; traditional liturgy continues to be suppressed.
    • “They're not part of the revival… That’s an organic thing. That’s something that’s come from God himself.” [04:35, Frank Walker]
    • Walker accuses leadership of upholding “a model of structure that I would call very Nazi. It stomps down on any dissent whatsoever.” [05:20, Frank Walker]
  • The hierarchy favors “unity”—but only as uniformity for their vision, not true Catholic unity.

• Resistance and Dissent: Cardinal Zen’s Speech

  • Cardinal Zen, at 93, denounced the consistory’s synodal process as “ironclad manipulation and an insult to bishops.” [09:00, B; 11:21, C]
    • “People think that holiness and humility means being cowardly in the face of injustice. Of course it doesn’t mean that.” [09:16, B]
    • Zen, described as saintly and courageous, risks severe repercussions due to his defense of faith under Communist pressure in China.

• Critique of Progressive Church Elements:

  • Guests sharply criticize the “68 generation” that “hijacked the church,” blaming modernist policies for institutional decline.
  • There’s scorn for media-apologist Catholics (“TradInc”) who argued Pope Leo would loosen restrictions; the podcast claims these hopes were misplaced.

2. Spiritual Revival Among Generation Z

• Bible Sales Surge in UK and US:

  • Jenny Holland reports Bible sales in the UK rose to 6.3 million in 2025 (up 134% since 2019). The religious nonfiction segment grew 11% year-on-year.
  • “Sales of Bibles were up 34% in September 2025 following [Charlie Kirk’s] death than in September 2024.” [21:22, D]
  • The assassination of Charlie Kirk is credited as a defining spiritual moment for many, particularly the young.

• Generation Z’s Embrace of Faith:

  • Gen Z is “far less likely to identify as atheist than their parents,” and is seen rejecting “crass materialism, extreme promiscuity, and excessive internet culture.” [19:23, D]
  • Holland sees “an influential segment… saying, enough with the sins of the world, and turning to church.” [20:21, D]
  • An uptick in young men’s church attendance: 21% of 18–24-year-old men are regular churchgoers versus 12% of women. [31:42, B]

• Shift in US Religious Identity:

  • For the first time, Catholic Gen Z outnumber Protestants among 18–24-year-olds in the US: 21% Catholic vs. 19% Protestant. [33:03, D]
  • Protestant decline attributed to “wokeness” and internal polarization; “Pride flags hanging from altars… that’s a stain that cannot be washed away.” [34:30, D]
  • Catholicism’s endurance seen as grassroots-led, family-based, and less tainted by institutional compromise.

• Parental Influence and Cultural Reaction:

  • Holland and the host discuss how Gen Z’s search for meaning is partly a “youthful rebellion” against the “godless materialism” of Gen X parents. [22:16–24:43, B/D]
  • Modern spiritual hunger is seen as a response to overabundance in material wealth and undernourishment spiritually, intellectually, and socially.

3. Scandal and Secularization: The “Slime Jesus” Incident in Germany

• German Catholic Scandal:
  • Christmas Eve mass on German TV featured a controversial “Slime Jesus” nativity—a modern art depiction that many saw as sacrilegious or grotesque.
  • “It looks like a blob of flesh to me… Even the Christian Democrats called it disgusting.” [40:14, C]
  • Critiqued as an example of artistic overreach and spiritual decline: “They blame it on art… Shows you what we need to remember every day, who they really are. This is what Satanism is: it’s making mockery of God.” [41:08–43:30, C]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"They're not part of the revival that Jenny's going to be talking about at all. That's an organic thing. That's something that's come from God himself, I think."
— Frank Walker [04:35]

"He [Cardinal Zen] called synodality an ironclad manipulation and an insult to bishops."
— Host [09:00]

“The people that he has worked together with are jailed. And you know, he's facing this prosecution too. … he's 93 years old is awful old to travel all the way here and give this brave speech.”
— Frank Walker [11:47]

“Gen Z are in a very visible way rejecting the crass materialism, extreme promiscuity, excessive Internet culture of our time. They are moving away from it.”
— Jenny Holland [20:21]

"In September [2025] there was a year-on-year increase of 36% [in Bible sales] which is a huge number."
— Host [22:16]

"Among 18 to 24 year olds, Gen Zs now outnumber—Catholic Gen Zs outnumber Protestant Gen Zs ... historic and unprecedented."
— Jenny Holland [33:01]

"Protestant churches, many of them, the big ones, went woke and got broke... That's a stain that cannot be washed away."
— Jenny Holland [34:30]

"It looks like a blob of flesh to me... the outrage from the community is right."
— Frank Walker, on the German 'Slime Jesus' art [40:14]

Jenny Holland’s Rosary Journey

• A Year of Daily Rosary from Atheist to Believer:
  • Holland shares how she started praying the rosary daily a year ago, influenced by a previous War Room segment.
  • “I can’t honestly call myself an atheist anymore... It made my mood better... produced a peacefulness and stability within me that became stronger and stronger.” [46:22, D]
  • Key insight: “Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good when making progress in one's prayer life, one's interior life.” [49:05, D]
  • Rosary practice gave her detachment from worldly concerns: “Let God take care of it... very valuable meditation when you're in this business… Let God guide you and not the attention economy, essentially.” [50:00, D]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:54 – Introduction and preview of topics
• 03:00–16:19 – Catholic Church consistory, suppression of traditionalism, Cardinal interventions (Walker)
• 19:23–24:43 – Revival in the UK, Bible sales surge, Charlie Kirk’s martyrdom, Gen Z religious trends (Holland)
• 31:42–35:51 – US religious identification shift: Gen Z Catholics vs. Protestants (Holland)
• 38:10–43:45 – German “Slime Jesus” controversy and broader cultural decline (Walker)
• 46:22–51:06 – Jenny Holland’s personal journey, the impact of praying the rosary for a year

Conclusion & Where to Find Guests

• Jenny Holland: jennyeholland.substack.com, YouTube “Saving Culture From Itself”
• Frank Walker: canon212.com; daily updates on Rumble and Gloria TV; @canon212 on Twitter

Final words: The episode ends with affirmation of the revival’s authenticity, celebration of grassroots faith, and stark criticism of institutional failures both in religion and culture. The speakers urge vigilance and hope in spiritual renewal amid widespread material and moral crises.