War Room Battleground EP 939: Shaking Up Texas

Date: February 2, 2026
Host: Stephen K. Bannon
Guests: Scott Coburn, Luke Macias, Joe, Clarice Tinsley

Episode Overview

This episode centers on a dramatic legislative and political shift in Texas, specifically:

• Gov. Greg Abbott’s signing of a bill targeting what are called “Sharia law compounds,” prompted by controversy over the proposed “Epic City” Muslim-centric development in Collin County.
• Analysis and reaction to a stunning Democratic win (Taylor Roamet flipping Texas Senate District 9 in Tarrant County—a previously deep-red district).
• Warnings about shifting demographic and electoral realities in Texas, Republican complacency, Democratic mobilization, and what it signals for the midterms.
• Personal insight from Scott Coburn on the risks of religious radicalism, drawn from his family’s experience in revolutionary Iran.
• The episode maintains a sense of urgency and alarm, asserting Texas as ground zero in the cultural and partisan battles for the country’s future.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Abbott’s “Sharia Law” Bill and the Epic City Controversy

• (00:01–01:37): Coverage opens with Governor Abbott signing a law widely understood to target large-scale, Muslim-centric residential developments — specifically Epic City in Collin County.

  • While the bill doesn't mention Sharia by name, it aims to prevent “religious compounds” that restrict residency by faith.
  • Republicans frame the law as anti-discriminatory, stating it prohibits exclusionary, religious-based housing developments.
  • Quote: "People are not going to be able to establish these comprehensive large-scale developments that limit only people of one religious belief to that area." — Stephen K. Bannon (01:18)

• Epic City developers claim inclusion: The development’s planners insist all are welcome, dismissing accusations as “racial profiling.”

2. Fear of “Islamification” and Redefining Community

• (01:37–02:33): Rhetoric intensifies, equating “Sharia compounds” to a threat to Western society, with strong language about Islamic radicalism and terrorism.

  • Senator John Cornyn highlights revoking tax-exempt status from Islamic organizations and declares, “Sharia law has no place in American courts or communities.”
  • Quote: "No organization that supports terrorists should receive taxpayer benefits. And Sharia law has no place in American courts or communities." — John Cornyn (02:22)

• National Security Overtones: Frequent framing of demographic and housing changes as existential threats to American, and especially Texas, identity.

3. The Texas SD9 Special Election Shock

• (03:02–05:58): Republican dominance in Tarrant County (long a MAGA stronghold) is upended as Democrat Taylor Roamet wins by 14 points — a 31-point swing from Trump’s 2024 margin.

  • GOP panelists see this as a potentially dire omen, not an anomaly.
  • Quote: “If you ignore this, you're going to ice yourself out of a majority come the midterms." — Joe (03:24)
  • Historical Analysis: Recalls that special elections reliably foreshadow midterm outcomes; Democrats’ current “overperformance” mirrors patterns from the 2017-2018 blue wave.

• Democratic Momentum: Democrats averaging 12–15 point overperformance against prior results—“Democrats should love and Republicans should be really worried about” these trends.

4. Linking Demographic Change to National Security

• (05:58–07:17): Bannon and guests conflate “Islamic Jihadis” and changing Texas suburbs, casting migration and new communities as coordinated efforts against Western civilization.

• Ballot Initiative Push: On March 3, Republicans will put a proposition to ban Sharia law in Texas on the primary ballot, with Bannon urging maximum turnout.

• Quote: "Islam will never dominate the United States and by the grace of God, it will not dominate Texas. As Texas goes, so goes the nation. As the nation goes, so goes the world." — Stephen K. Bannon (06:38)

5. Scott Coburn’s Iran Experience and Warnings for Texas

• (07:17–12:42):

  • Coburn shares how his Texan family was forced to flee Iran during the 1979 revolution, recounting threats and the Ross Perot-led rescue mission for American hostages.

  • Draws a direct parallel between the Iranian upheaval and perceived threats to Texas communities from religiously driven developments and policies.

  • Quote: "What seemingly started as simple protests…quickly escalate into warfare and violence… If we don't get this under control now, that's where we're headed." — Scott Coburn (11:10)

• Epic City as a Tipping Point: Panel agrees the scale and visibility of Epic City forced state leaders to act and galvanized political backlash.

6. Shifting Texas Suburbs: The Case of Plano

• (13:23–16:28): Coburn reflects on changes in Plano since his family arrived from Iran, with Bannon noting suburb growth and increasing diversity as drivers of “radical change.”

• Self-Image vs. New Demographics: Panel frames Epic-like projects as more than zoning controversies—they’re seen as attempts at “control” and systemic transformation of communities.

7. Special Election Post-Mortem and Republican Divisions

• (16:28–21:54):

  • Analysis of why the GOP lost SD9: poor turnout, weather, complacency, over-reliance on Trump’s previous margins, and a divided party (moderates vs. MAGA).

  • Quote: “If we don't hold the House, every day in President Trump's life will be a nightmare.” — Stephen K. Bannon (18:06)

  • Moderate Republicans' Role: Accusations that moderate Republicans (like John Huffman) undermined the conservative nominee out of intra-party hostility.

  • Outside Money: Panel laments “hundreds of millions of dollars” in “dark money” funding Democratic organizing in Texas, modeled after Democratic victories in Colorado.

8. Countering Democratic Ground Game and Voter Engagement

• (21:54–24:04):
  • Acknowledgement of the left's strong organizing, referencing the Democratic Socialists and Working Family Party: “They have a very sophisticated ground game.” — Stephen K. Bannon (23:19)
  • Urges conservatives to match Democratic energy and voter outreach, especially heading into the March primaries.

9. National Media and Broader Implications

• (32:03–37:20):

  • Clarice Tinsley delivers a rundown of national media reactions, including the Wall Street Journal attributing the SD9 loss to backlash over mass deportations and Trump’s “debacles.”

  • The panel disagrees with the mainstream assessment, blaming low GOP turnout and Democratic enthusiasm instead of a referendum on Trump.

  • Satirical Quote: “Will Republicans realize that hitting themselves in the forehead with a ball peen hammer causes their forehead to hurt?” — Joe (34:10)

10. Luke Macias on Republican Complacency and the Coming Primaries

• (39:11–48:44):
  • Macias cites lackluster GOP turnout compared to Democrats’ “war mentality.”
  • Moderate Republicans accused of celebrating Democratic wins and possibly planning to undermine more conservative nominees.
  • Three key reasons for GOP losses: (1) Disenfranchised conservatives; (2) A false sense of security and “too much winning” media narrative; (3) Moderates willing to sit out or even sabotage races.
  • Quote: “The left doesn’t have to talk to them tremendously. They're just showing up, where we're having to yell at our people.” — Luke Macias (41:20)

11. The Stakes for Texas—and the Country

• (45:56–48:44):

  • Bannon and Macias warn of a “Colorado on Texas” scenario, referencing Democratic takeover through organizing and candidate recruitment.

  • The upcoming March 3 primary is pitched as a pivotal test for conservative strength and engagement.

  • Macias calls for focus on supporting the most conservative candidates and minimizing moderate influence, warning of dire long-term consequences if Democrats gain traction in Texas.

  • Quote: “We can't be complacent because if you wake up in November and Democrats have made serious grounds...you're going to have a House majority that has swung...which gives them a lot of wiggle room to screw up the America first agenda for not just one cycle, but the next 10 years.” — Luke Macias (49:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Radical Islam is a bloodthirsty ideology…it showed its evil face…As Texas senator, I’m fighting to revoke the tax exempt status of the Council on American Islamic Relations.” — John Cornyn [02:07]
• “If you ignore this, you're going to ice yourself out of a majority come the midterms.” — Joe [03:24]
• “Islam will never dominate the United States and by the grace of God, it will not dominate Texas. As Texas goes, so goes the nation. As the nation goes, so goes the world.” — Stephen K. Bannon [06:38]
• “When you start bringing in things like Sharia law and you start challenging the tenets of our United States Constitution and the rights of our American citizens, you've drawn the line. Especially with Texans. You draw the line and we're going to fight and we're going to squash it.” — Scott Coburn [16:03]
• “The reality is that Republicans did not take this race as seriously. And I think there are three factors…disenfranchised conservatives…Republicans that just think we're winning…[and] the moderate wing...trying to take the party back.” — Luke Macias [39:30]
• “These people are far left wing…DSA, Working Family Party, and they have the energy to get out. These are not old school Texas Democrats.” — Stephen K. Bannon [42:37]
• "We can't be complacent because if you wake up in November and Democrats have made serious grounds...you're going to have a House majority that has swung...which gives them a lot of wiggle room to screw up the America first agenda for not just one cycle, but the next 10 years." — Luke Macias [49:06]

Important Timestamps

• 00:01 – Introduction to Governor Abbott’s bill and background on Epic City.
• 03:02 – Texas SD9 election results shock: discussion of the 31-point shift.
• 06:38 – Bannon declares existential stakes for Texas and the United States.
• 07:51 – Scott Coburn’s Iran story and lessons for Texas.
• 16:02 – Community concerns: control, religious freedom, and Sharia law.
• 18:06 – Bannon: Losing the House would make life “a nightmare” for Trump.
• 32:03 – National media takes on the Texas election result.
• 39:11 – Luke Macias in-depth on Republican turnout failures and intra-party divisions.
• 45:56 – Bannon warns of a 2018/2010-style Democratic surge if Republicans don’t mobilize.
• 48:44 – Macias: Final warning and actionable advice for Texas conservatives.

Final Thoughts

The episode is a rallying cry for Texas conservatives, with Bannon and guests insisting that current “apathy” and internal division are existential threats in the face of organized, energized Democratic gains. They sound alarms about demographic change and “Islamification,” use the explosive Epic City controversy to anchor their narrative, and position the March primary as both referendum and battleground for the future of Texas—and by extension, the nation.

For listeners:

If you missed the episode, this summary presents not just what happened, but why the War Room sees these events as pivotal. Passion, urgency, and a sense of “last stand” infuse the discussion, with a call to arms for conservative voters to recognize shifting dynamics and act accordingly in the coming primaries and national elections.