Podcast Summary: War Room Battleground EP 940

"What We See In Europe Is Coming To Texas"

Date: February 3, 2026
Host: Steve Bannon (WarRoom.org)
Key Guests: Ben Harnwell (International Editor), Peter McElveen (Hearts of Oak)

Overview

This episode centers on the perceived threat of Islamic influence and Sharia law in Texas and the broader United States, drawing cautionary parallels with developments in Europe, especially the United Kingdom. Steve Bannon and his guests, Ben Harnwell and Peter McElveen—both with extensive backgrounds in analyzing political and religious shifts—emphasize what they describe as the decline of Christian identity in Europe and the dangers of repeating these patterns in America. They highlight recent political actions in Texas to ban Sharia law, the mobilization of the "Sharia Free America Caucus," and the importance of cultural and political vigilance.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Texas as the Front Line (00:00–01:26, 12:53–13:44)

• Texas under Threat: The episode opens with rhetorical warnings about "Jihadis" and Sharia law in Texas, framing the state as the new defensive front against an "Islamic invasion."

• Bannon's Framing: Bannon positions Texas as the "beating heart of Christian nationalism" and warns that, as Texas goes, so goes the nation.

  “As Texas goes, so goes the nation. As the nation goes, so goes the world. Are you prepared to fight for this state? Are you prepared to fight for your country?” – Unidentified Guest (01:06)

2. Lessons from Europe: Is America Next? (05:55–12:53; 24:09–26:57)

• European Decline: Ben Harnwell describes Western Europe, not as "post-Christian," but as "pre-Islamic," emphasizing the exodus of the British elite from London due to increasing Islamic influence.

  “We've got to call it pre-Islamic because that... that's the direction the country's going in... people now really for the first time leaving the West because it's becoming unlivable.” – Ben Harnwell (05:55)

• Political Betrayal: Harnwell criticizes European center-right parties for siding with the left to block right-wing, anti-immigration candidates, framing this as evidence of a political class that has betrayed its population.

  “It's very difficult to win an existential war on three or four fronts when your political class is betraying you in your face. And that's what's happening right now.” – Ben Harnwell (11:56)

• Parallel in the U.S.: Peter McElveen warns that the same “escalator” of secularization followed by Islamicization could happen in the U.S. if vigilance lapses.

  “What we have seen in Europe, we are seeing happening slowly in the US. But I think the energy, that enthusiasm... there is hope in the US that I have not seen in Europe. And that's why I believe that Texas can win and save Europe.” – Peter McElveen (25:25)

3. The Spiritual and Political Battle (13:44–17:56, 17:56–22:35)

• Spiritual Conflict: Both Bannon and Harnwell frame the issues in spiritual, even biblical, terms—reiterating that it is not just a political or cultural struggle, but “a supernatural spiritual battle.”

  “There is a spiritual... battle. Fundamentally. It's a supernatural spiritual battle... our fight not being against flesh and blood...” – Ben Harnwell (17:56)

• Candidate Selection: Harnwell urges the MAGA base to support politicians with “battle scars” from standing up against the system, not those seeking power for its own sake.

  “Pick people who've been banned from social media. Pick people who've been cancelled... because these are the people who are more likely to be for real.” – Ben Harnwell (14:44)

4. Sharia Law and Political Activism in Texas (16:28–20:06, 34:51–40:55, 49:26–50:54)

• Legislative Push: The launch of the "Sharia Free America Caucus" is celebrated, with Proposition 10 set for the March 3rd ballot to prohibit Sharia law in Texas.

• Importance of the Vote: Both McElveen and Bannon stress that this vote is critical not just for Texas but as a precedent for the entire nation.

  “You can only have one law and it has to be the law of the land... It is vital that you win that vote on 3rd of March.” – Peter McElveen (49:42)

• Austin as a "Node": Bannon warns of Austin potentially becoming a node of resistance against anti-Sharia efforts, likening it to London’s role in the UK.

5. Pattern Recognition: What America Can Learn from Europe (24:09–26:57, 40:55–49:26)

• Mass Immigration & Social Change: Both guests detail how mass immigration changed Europe, citing the establishment of “no-go zones” and parallel legal systems.

  “We let Sharia courts come in through the back door... They don’t announce themselves to say, ‘We are legally taking over your country.’” – Peter McElveen (49:42)

• Loss of National Identity: McElveen underscores the UK’s confusion over national identity and asserts that, unlike the U.S., British society and the Church of England lost the confidence to assert their values.

  “It’s about identity and Britain, Europe have lost their identity. We are utterly confused at what it means to actually be British, what it means to be English.” – Peter McElveen (43:51)

• Role of the Church: A recurring theme is the comparative boldness of American churches in public discourse, which is portrayed as a reason for hope in the U.S.

6. "Permission Structure" and Open Discussion (40:55–43:51)

• Bannon and McElveen agree that the War Room and similar networks have given Texans—and Americans—a “permission structure” to speak openly and confront these issues, claiming this kind of candid discussion was absent in the UK.

  “We’ve given a permission structure for people to actually say, I’m not going to be othered anymore. I’m not going to be vilified. I’m going to talk about this because I’m saving my community...” – Steve Bannon (41:34)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Texas as the New Vienna:

  “Texas... the new Vienna, right, stopping this onslaught.” – Steve Bannon (01:26)

• On Pre-Islamic Europe:

  “It’s not correct to call continental Europe post-Christian anymore. We’ve got to call it pre-Islamic...” – Ben Harnwell (05:55)

• On Identity Loss:

  “What country arrests people for flying your own flag? It is utterly ludicrous. What country sees their own flag as an extremist declaration? Yet that's what we see in Britain...” – Peter McElveen (43:51)

• On Banning Sharia Law:

  “You can only have one law and it has to be the law of the land.” – Peter McElveen (49:42)

• Churches as Hope

  “That's why I believe there is hope for the us, because churches are engaged much more than the uk... There is boldness, there is courage, there is determination and because of that, I believe there is hope.” – Peter McElveen (48:39)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00–01:26 — Opening warnings, Texas as frontline
• 05:55–12:53 — Ben Harnwell on the state of Europe, political betrayal
• 13:44–17:56 — Spiritual battle, candidate selection, lessons for Texas
• 17:56–22:35 — Spiritual analysis, multiculturalism, migration as a political tool
• 24:09–26:57 — Peter McElveen: Europe’s warnings & hope for America
• 34:51–40:55 — McElveen’s Texas observations, political action, importance of 3rd March vote
• 40:55–43:51 — The importance of open discussion (“permission structure”), U.K. inability to address issues
• 43:51–49:26 — National identity, free speech, Islamophobia laws in the UK
• 49:26–50:54 — Sharia law: legislative initiatives and importance of one law

Resources & Where to Find the Guests

• Ben Harnwell:
  • Getter: @Harnwell
  • Twitter: @Ben_Harland
• Peter McElveen:
  • Show: Hearts of Oak
  • Website: heartsofoak.org
  • X (Twitter): @HeartsofOakUK
  • War Room appearances: Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays (3pm Eastern/2pm Texas Time)

Themes and Takeaways

• Texas is seen as America’s cultural bulwark against Islamic law, and the March 3rd ballot is presented as a critical moment.
• Guests repeatedly draw direct parallels between the experiences of Europe/UK and the current trajectory in America, using Europe as a cautionary tale.
• The battle is consistently depicted as both political and spiritual, with the engagement of churches emphasized as essential to preserving American identity.
• The “permission structure” for publicly discussing Islam and migration issues is credited with energizing the conservative base in Texas.
• Open opposition to Sharia law is seen as essential for safeguarding U.S. legal and cultural primacy.

This summary captures the central arguments, themes, and warnings of Bannon’s War Room Battleground EP 940, spotlighting the episode’s alarmist tone and political-religious framing, and identifying key moments and action points for listeners concerned about cultural shifts in Texas and the wider U.S.