Podcast Summary: WarRoom Thanksgiving Day Special 2025 (continued)
Podcast: Bannon’s War Room
Host: Steve Bannon (WarRoom.org)
Guests: Dr. Larry Schweikart (historian), Nate Morris (Senate candidate)
Musical Interludes: Odette
Date: November 27, 2025
Episode Theme: Reflections on Thanksgiving, American history, and the evolution of American identity and values—from the Pilgrims to the present. Special attention is paid to the founding, westward expansion, contentious issues of land and conquest, and the political and cultural meaning of Thanksgiving.
Episode Overview
This special Thanksgiving Day episode commemorates American heritage by tracing the nation's history from the Pilgrim settlers through the Revolution, touching on land disputes, relations with Native Americans, and the enduring values that shape national identity. Blending historical analysis, political commentary, and personal reflection, the episode features a discussion between Steve Bannon, historian Dr. Larry Schweikart, and Senate candidate Nate Morris. Notable musical performances by Odette bookend and intersperse the discussion with traditional American hymns.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Thanksgiving Reflections and Traditions
[00:05–01:52, 29:15–02:40, 43:15–45:51]
- Odette opens and closes segments with poetic recitations and singing, emphasizing gratitude, family, and the blessings of American life.
- Thanksgiving is framed as a time for "counting blessings," family unity, and remembering the nation’s foundational stories.
2. The Early Colonies and Founding Myths
[02:40–04:12]
- Bannon: Sets historical context—contrasts the entrepreneurial, land-driven settlers in Jamestown with the religious seekers in Massachusetts (Pilgrims).
- Schweikart: Explains the varied motivations for colonization: land acquisition (especially for tobacco in Virginia) and searching for religious freedom (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland).
3. Complex Relations with Native Americans
[04:12–08:48]
- European settlers’ insistence on land deeds and titles, unfamiliar to most Native Americans, put indigenous populations at a disadvantage.
- Bannon: Emphasizes that Native American societies had sophisticated political alliances and saw early European arrivals as opportunities for leverage in intertribal conflicts.
- Schweikart: Differentiates between English and French colonial relations with Native Americans—the French treated tribes more as trading partners, the English tended toward conquest and settlement.
“It was kind of a religious movement that sparked the rise of New England into all of these colonies. But the second key element there is land.”—Larry Schweikart [04:12]
4. The French and Indian War & Geopolitical Power
[08:48–13:15]
- The Seven Years' War (called the French and Indian War in North America): Native tribes allied with both French and British; America became a “prize” for European empires.
- War’s aftermath led to new British taxes and land restrictions, sowing seeds for the Revolution.
“The English came back later and said, hey guys, we need to tax you guys...”—Steve Bannon [08:48]
- The British Proclamation Line of 1763, restricting westward settlement, angered colonists and led to governmental indecisiveness—fuel for revolutionary sentiment.
5. Thanksgiving, Land, and the Legacy of Conquest
[16:51–19:02]
- Nate Morris (Senate candidate): Pushes back against contemporary land acknowledgments, framing American history as a story of conquest and negotiation, not simple theft.
- Argues against judging America by uniquely harsh standards and criticizes apologizing for history as a left-wing tactic.
“America was conquered, not stolen. And anyone who tries to tell you differently is either trying to rewrite history or make America weaker.” —Nate Morris [16:51]
6. The Kentucky Frontier and American Character
[20:13–25:42]
- Kentucky and Ohio symbolized the American drive for westward expansion—the “old Northwest.”
- Morris: Connects his family history and Kentucky’s identity to themes of grit, self-reliance, and resistance to elite authority.
- Bannon & Morris: Link the Cumberland Gap and pioneer determination to broader themes of American “cussedness” (independence and stubbornness).
“We've been fighting since the very beginning, since we came over the Cumberland Gap...our people, we're going to fight. If anyone ever tried to invade our country... the Kentuckians, we'd be the first ones to sign up and say, we're going to fight to protect what's ours...” —Nate Morris [22:17]
7. Monopolies, Trade, and American Capitalism
[34:01–38:02]
- Schweikart: Tells the story of John Jacob Astor, who built a fur trading empire, ended government monopolies in the business, and invested his fortune in American real estate.
- Contrasts American entrepreneurialism with British colonial monopolies (like the Hudson Bay Company and East India Company), which played a role in fomenting the Revolution.
8. History, Irony, and Transformation in 21st Century America
[38:02–41:27]
- Schweikart previews his coming book: America in the 21st Century—discussing major events from Y2K, 9/11, and the pandemic to the financial crisis and the rise of Donald Trump.
- Argues: Barack Obama, billed as "transformative," was less so than Trump, who is described as reshaping American politics.
“The irony is that in the first quarter of the 21st century, the most transformational political figure has been Donald Trump. Far and away.” —Larry Schweikart [41:20]
Notable Quotes
- Steve Bannon: “I want everybody to understand, there is warfare between whites and Indians...it’s not like these guys are savages. They have very sophisticated alliances...they see the whites originally as a strategic asset.” [06:30]
- Nate Morris: “You don’t strengthen America by apologizing for it. Our job is not to rewrite the past. It’s to defend our future with border security, national pride, strong families and strong communities.” [18:34]
- Dr. Larry Schweikart: “His term that it’s a conquest is true. But you have to understand...they were all fighting over land and territory. The Indians were fighting each other over territory. What do you think was going to happen when the last of the Mohicans was gone?” [33:01]
Important Segment Timestamps
- Thanksgiving reflections & song: [00:05–02:40], [29:15–02:40], [43:15–45:51]
- Colonial origins, motives & land: [02:40–06:15]
- Indigenous relations, alliances, and European geopolitics: [06:15–13:15]
- French and Indian War & the march toward revolution: [08:48–13:15]
- Nate Morris' Thanksgiving address & critique of land acknowledgments: [16:51–19:02]
- Kentucky frontier, American spirit, and Morris’ family history: [20:13–25:42]
- Astor, monopolies, and American entrepreneurship: [34:01–38:02]
- Schweikart on 21st-century American history: [38:02–41:27]
- Book promotions and further reflection: [45:51–47:10]
Tone and Style
The episode blends scholarly analysis, conservative commentary, and personal storytelling with patriotic, nostalgic flair. Bannon and guests use vivid language, humor, and a “storytelling over coffee” approach. Morris’s tone is combative and resolute; Schweikart’s is wry and historically grounded. Odette’s performances add a heartfelt, traditional element.
Memorable Moments
- Bannon’s playful skepticism about early land transactions:
“If some guy’s gonna walk up to me and say, ‘Hey, look, where’s your title? Where’s your deed?’ Don’t you get a tomahawk in the head?” [05:50] - Morris’s Thanksgiving message:
“America was negotiated for, it was fought over and it was settled by ancestors who believe in private industry and law and order. Manifest Destiny.” [16:51] - Schweikart’s fur company story and critique of “land theft” framing:
“The biggest competitor in these areas was American monopolistic fur companies that were given fur trading licenses by the US Government.” [34:01] - Musical interludes: Stirring renditions of Battle Hymn of the Republic and Thanksgiving-themed songs by Odette punctuate and close the show.
Resources and Further Reading
-
Dr. Larry Schweikart’s work can be found at:
-
Nate Morris’s campaign: natemorris.com
Final Thoughts
This Thanksgiving installment of WarRoom interweaves American myth, conflict, and perseverance—framing the nation's story as one of conquest, struggle, and gratitude. The discussion covers both the inspiring and contentious aspects of the American experience, encouraging listeners to appreciate history’s complexity while celebrating enduring national values.