THE WAR ROOM WITH STEPHEN K. BANNON (EP. 4763)

Date: September 8, 2025
Host: Steve Bannon
Key Guests: Benny Johnson, Julie Kelly, Ben Berkwam

Overview

This episode of The War Room explores:

• National crime and justice issues, focusing on a tragic murder in Charlotte, NC, and the broader debate on "restorative justice."
• Supreme Court wins for the Trump administration, especially on immigration and federal agency leadership.
• Media coverage bias of violent crime incidents.
• The impact of fatherlessness on crime in America.
• Vaccine mandates and the political/media landscape around vaccine injury.
• Operation Midway Blitz, ICE immigration raids in Chicago.
• Analysis of the Supreme Court's rulings and their potential long-term effects.

The tone is direct, urgent, and combative, reflecting the show's commitment to challenging mainstream narratives and advancing "America First" viewpoints.

Crime, Justice, and Restorative Policies

[00:04–02:07]

• Benny Johnson launches by highlighting failures of the U.S. justice system, specifically repeat, violent offenders being released.
• Legal Expert discusses ongoing federal civil rights investigations, including policies allegedly giving preferential treatment in plea deals based on race.
  • Federal government’s role is primarily through tying grants/support to standards; overall, policing power is local, under the Tenth Amendment.

“If they are treating offenders of a particular race more leniently... that would be a federal civil rights violation.”
— Unidentified Legal Expert [00:20]

Charlotte Bus Killing Case and Broader Crime Data

[04:08–10:32]

• Benny Johnson details the murder of a Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte by Demarcus Brown Jr. (14 prior arrests, described as a hate crime).
• He attributes the tragedy to "restorative justice" and "woke judicial policies" that release serial offenders.
• Presents crime statistics and argues for tougher action on crime, heavily linking fatherlessness to violent crime, particularly in black communities.

"Little did she realize that in this country there is something arguably as or more deadly than the war zone that she fled ... restorative justice."
— Benny Johnson [04:25]

• Claims of systemic underreporting and lack of mainstream media coverage surrounding the story.

“She couldn't say 'I can't breathe' because she had a knife in her throat.”
— Benny Johnson [04:43]

Key Statistics Discussed (Benny Johnson)

• “One in every 22 black men will commit murder in their lifetime” [05:28]
• “52% of the murders are committed by black men who are 6% of the population.” [05:42]
• “70% of all black children are born into fatherless homes.” [06:12]
• “Fatherlessness is killing, literally and figuratively, America.” [07:43]

Bannon on Crime in DC

• Credits tougher policies and National Guard for lowering crime.

“The city is demonstrably safer.”
— Steve Bannon [10:07]

El Salvador Example

• Johnson cites the incarceration of career criminals in El Salvador drastically reducing crime.
• Ties this to Trump's approach in DC and advocates for nationwide adoption.

Media Critique and Footage Suppression

[11:52–14:47]

• Discusses media silence: lack of coverage blamed on narrative conflicts.
• Johnson says leftist officials/figures refuse to share the story because it does not fit their agenda.
• Asks why no one intervened to help the victim, using it as evidence of societal decline.

“This is kryptonite for the left. ... There's a no win situation here for the left to cover this subject.”
— Benny Johnson [12:08]

"Where are the men? ... When you see a guy walking around with his fist filled and dripping with blood... At some point, you know, evil is real, demons are real."
— Benny Johnson [14:12]

Supreme Court Rulings: Immigration and Federal Agency Authority

[28:03–39:27]

Immigration Ruling

• Gary Grumbach summarizes Supreme Court’s decision favoring the Trump administration: ICE can stop suspected undocumented immigrants with less than “probable cause” in seven California counties; dissent warns against racial profiling.

“It was a grave misuse of our emergency docket. ... I dissent.”
— Justice Sonia Sotomayor, quoted [28:54]

• Julie Kelly explains how Justice Kavanaugh’s concurrence signals deference to executive immigration policy, ties to Alien Enemies Act litigation.

“The judiciary does not set immigration policy or decide enforcement priorities.”
— Justice Brett Kavanaugh, concurring [33:05]

Federal Agency Leadership Ruling

• Supreme Court upholds president’s authority to fire appointees from independent agencies. Julie Kelly connects this to ongoing litigation regarding the FTC and Federal Reserve.

Vaccine Policy and Bobby Kennedy

[16:59–24:47]

• Bannon and Johnson discuss Bobby Kennedy’s combative confirmation hearing and anti-pharma stance:

“He was Van Helsing to the vampire Steve. He was the sunlight and the silver bullet to the werewolf.”
— Benny Johnson on Bobby Kennedy [17:27]

• Johnson discusses vaccine mandates, legal immunity for vaccine makers, and personal experience with vaccine injury.
• Advocates for removing vaccine manufacturer immunity as “the heart of darkness.”

“That… is the holy grail for these people. And it's time for them to live and play by everyone else's rules.”
— Benny Johnson [21:41]

Operation Midway Blitz & Law Enforcement Action

[41:05–45:01]

• Ben Berkwam reports live from Chicago as ICE begins immigration raids targeting career criminals.
• Describes interference from leftist activists and police being called to situations where ICE is operating.

“We're going to get him. Our car gets surrounded by radical leftists who are there to obstruct ICE... This decision by the Supreme Court in California, this needs to ripple across America.”
— Ben Berkwam [42:46]

• Highlights activists' contradictions (e.g., call to defund police, yet calling police) and the difficulty of executing removals of criminal undocumented immigrants.

Additional Notable Moments/Quotes

• Bannon’s Tone & Framing:
  • “This is the primal scream of a dying regime.” [02:07]
• Call to Action: Lock up serial violent offenders to protect communities, especially “populations of color.”
• Repeated Emphasis: The need for hardline justice policies and cultural renewal.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Legal Expert on civil rights investigation: [00:20–02:07]
• Charlotte murder/race/crime/fatherlessness: [04:08–07:53]
• Crime policy discussion (DC, El Salvador): [10:07–11:52]
• Media critique/mainstream coverage: [11:52–14:47]
• Bobby Kennedy/vaccine industry: [16:59–24:47]
• Supreme Court on immigration/agency power: [28:03–39:27]
• Operation Midway Blitz (ICE in Chicago): [41:05–45:01]

Where to Find Guests

• Benny Johnson: “EnnyJohnson on everything.” [24:18]
• Julie Kelly: Declassified with Julie Kelly on Substack and @Julie_Kelly2 on X/Twitter. [39:37]

Summary

This episode provides an aggressive, data-heavy critique of crime policy, judicial leniency, and left-liberal media bias, while celebrating recent Supreme Court wins for Trump-era policies. The show links urban crime to “restorative justice” and social policy, with a particular focus on race and family structure, and sharply criticizes vaccine mandates and legal immunities for pharmaceutical companies. Operation Midway Blitz (ICE actions in Chicago) is highlighted as a concrete response to crime and illegal immigration, while judicial developments are interpreted as wins for executive power and law enforcement authority.

Tone: Outspoken, confrontational, populist
Audience Takeaway: The system is broken, but hardline measures and legal victories show a way forward for "America First."

Note: Ads, promotions, and some repetitive coordination discussions were omitted for clarity and focus on substantive content.