War Room Battleground EP 946: PEW REPORT—Catholics’ Support Of President Trump Has NOT Changed Significantly Over The Past Year

Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Steve Bannon (Ben Harnwell, guest hosting)
Guest: Jenny Holland

Main Theme

This episode focuses on recent trends and tensions within Christianity, especially the Catholic Church, examining generational divides, political dynamics, and cultural shifts. Key topics include Catholics' consistent support for Donald Trump (according to a new Pew report), the actions of New York's new mayor regarding the Catholic hierarchy, generational changes within the Church in the US and Europe, the role of the Vatican under a new American Pope, and a quirky cultural controversy in Italy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New York’s Mayor Skips Archbishop’s Installation

[00:53 – 04:10]

• Summary:
  The new Mayor of New York, Mamdani, made headlines as the first in a century to skip the installation of the new Archbishop of New York. He cited a "prior commitment" but attended an interfaith breakfast the same day.
• Analysis:
  • Jenny Holland criticizes the mayor as “an extreme left wing Muslim political activist,” suggesting his absence is indicative of disregard for the city’s faithful, especially working-class Hispanic, Irish, and Italian Catholics:

    "This is not a man who cares one whit really, about the dearly held faith of working class Hispanics, never mind working class Irish and Italians..." [03:33]

  • Ben Harnwell notes political miscalculation, arguing this scorns millions of constituents’ faith:

    "He's obviously scorning the deeply held faith of. Of millions." [04:46]

2. The “Boomer Slop” Homily—Generational Disconnection in Church Leadership

[05:48 – 13:06]

• Overview:
  The new Archbishop’s installation Mass in NYC featured a medley of classic New York songs (e.g., “New York, New York”), which Harnwell and Holland ridicule as tone-deaf given the spiritual crisis among youth.
• Concerns Raised:
  • Out-of-touch "boomer elitism" fails to inspire younger, faith-driven Gen Z Catholics (iconic “crusader” avatars online).
  • The approach is contrasted with the seriousness and zeal of newcomers to the faith.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Not only was that profane, I think is actually known online as Boomer slop.” — Jenny Holland [10:20]
    “These guys are fired up with faith… they want to defend Christendom because they realize it is under existential attack.” — Ben Harnwell [07:57]

3. The Church Crisis in the Netherlands—Numbers vs. Zeal

[16:37 – 23:37]

• The Data:
  • Infant baptisms in the Netherlands fell from 42,000 in 2000 to 6,000 in 2024.
  • Despite a 40% increase in adult converts (to 630 adults joining in 2024), overall numbers continue to plummet.
  • The Catholic population dropped from >5 million to 3.4 million over 24 years.
• Interpretation:
  • Departures are largely among those raised Catholic in the post–Vatican II era who “grew up in it and have rejected it.”

    “It’s the people who have familiarity of what is being presented since the Second Vatican Council… who are rejecting it and leaving it…” — Harnwell [18:16]

  • In contrast, new converts often come to the Church through social media, books, and online learning, bringing fervor and traditionalism.
  • Key Insight:

    “Quality matters more than the quantity, without a doubt.” — Jenny Holland [23:37]

  • The present is a “revival moment,” but mainstream church leadership seems oblivious.

4. Revival, Martyrdom, and the Charlie Kirk Effect

[18:16 – 23:37]

• The recent “public grotesque martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” (a figure held in great esteem by Gen Z Catholics) after his shooting generated significant interest in faith among youth.
• Concern exists that the institutional Church will alienate these new, sometimes politically right-leaning, converts:

  “If they go to knock on the presbytery door wearing a red maga cap…the priest is gonna tell them, look, you know, you’re not wanted here. We’re basically a…pro-migration NGO here.” — Harnwell [18:16]

5. Dutch Secularism and its Consequences

[23:37 – 25:34]

• Holland describes the Netherlands as “a globalist plaything,” where extreme liberalism (e.g., euthanasia laws for children as young as 12) has pushed some to seek deeper spiritual and moral anchors in the Church.
• Quote:

  “If that is not going to turn a few hearts towards, you know, the true church and God…and the Christian faith in particular which stands firmly against that, then nothing will…” — Holland [23:37]

6. The PEW Report: Catholic Support for Trump Remains Strong

[32:22 – 42:17]

• Main Finding:
  Pew’s newest report shows “white Catholics” have maintained support for President Trump, while “white evangelical Protestants” show a slight drop.
  • Hispanic Catholic support has declined but is attributed to different immigrant experiences.
• Context:
  • This persistence is viewed as “relief” in the face of coordinated media and psychological operations (PSYOPs) around ICE raids and the immigration debate.
• Notable Quotes:

  “Anytime I see anything that indicates people are still on side [for Trump], I’m happy to see it.” — Holland [33:05]
  “It seems to me that the Vatican’s project…of having the Vatican put forward an American pope who could be wheeled out to oppose President Trump…has failed because Catholics aren’t listening.” — Harnwell [35:46]

• On American Laity vs. Vatican Hierarchy:
  • Vatican/Church establishment viewed as increasingly disconnected, pro-globalist, and ineffective in swaying American Catholics.
  • Harnwell argues that the “real issues” are identified and fought for by “the laity”—those actually living with the consequences of immigration and social policy.

7. Laity vs. Hierarchy—Revival and the SSPX

[42:17 – 43:35]

• Urges the laity to “take the reins of the leadership of the Catholic Church from the bishops and the cardinals” who have mismanaged the institution.
• SSPX (Society of St Pius X) consecrating new bishops is cited as a hopeful sign for those seeking alternatives to the mainstream hierarchy:

  “I think the spiritual oversight that’s going to widen will give a massive opportunity for the laity…” — Harnwell [43:35]

8. Italian Church Controversy: Giorgia Meloni Angel Fresco

[46:58 – 52:05]

• A church restorer in Rome is accused of painting an angel to resemble Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The “miracle worker” PM’s image drew crowds, but the church erased the image, prioritizing order over curiosity.
• Insights and Tone:
  • Holland is a Meloni supporter, admiring her wit, durability, and the positive cultural shift she represents in Italian politics.
  • Harnwell is skeptical, downplaying Meloni’s policy effectiveness and highlighting the Church’s tendency to suppress popular enthusiasm, even with a historic reference:

    “Caravaggio…The Death of the Virgin…based her depiction on a prostitute that he knew. And that’s one of the great works of Western art.” — Harnwell [51:08]

  • Comic Relief:

    “I wonder if they painted a portrait of Greta Thunberg, would they have left it up?” — Holland [52:05]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Not only was [the Archbishop’s homily] profane, I think it is actually known online as Boomer slop.” — Jenny Holland [10:20]
• “These guys are fired up with faith…they want to defend Christendom because they realize it is under existential attack.” — Ben Harnwell [07:57]
• "Quality matters more than the quantity, without a doubt." — Jenny Holland [23:37]
• “If they go to knock on the presbytery door wearing a red maga cap... the priest is gonna tell them, look, you know, you're not wanted here.” — Ben Harnwell [18:16]
• “Anytime I see anything that indicates people are still on side [for Trump], I’m happy to see it.” — Holland [33:05]
• "It seems to me that the Vatican's project... has failed because Catholics aren't listening." – Harnwell [35:46]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:53 — NY Mayor skips archbishop installation; political analysis
• 05:48 — Archbishop’s “boomer slop” homily & generational disconnect in the Church
• 16:37 — Catholic decline and converts in the Netherlands (hard data)
• 18:16 — Why youth leave and join the Church; the Charlie Kirk effect
• 23:37 — Dutch liberalism’s extremes pushing people toward faith
• 32:22 — Pew Report: Catholics’ continued support for Trump
• 35:46 — Vatican strategy with “American pope” backfires
• 42:17 — Laity vs. hierarchy; hope from SSPX development
• 46:58 — Giorgia Meloni fresco controversy in Rome

The Original Language and Tone

• Sharp, combative, and irreverent—a signature Bannon War Room style.
• Heavy with culture war rhetoric and anti-elite sentiment.
• Frequent generational comparisons (“Boomer slop” vs. Gen Z zeal)
• Frequent direct calls for institutional change (“laity must take the reins”)
• A blend of polemic, data analysis, and both serious and humorous cultural commentary.

Conclusion

The episode argues that the Catholic Church (like contemporary politics) faces an epochal transition point marked by generational change, lay disaffection, and spiritual revival among youth. Despite attempts by the Vatican, global elites, and media campaigns, core Catholic support for Trump remains robust. New crises and cultural quirks reflect deeper divides but also offer signs of hope for those seeking a return to tradition, spiritual rigor, and grassroots leadership.