THE WAR ROOM WITH STEPHEN K. BANNON (EP. #4828)

Date: October 4, 2025
Podcast: Real America’s Voice (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a sweeping, combative discussion of America’s current global military posture, immigration policy, and threats to American sovereignty, all through the lens of ‘America First’ populist-nationalist thought. Host Steve Bannon is joined by Kurt Mills, Mark Krikorian (Center for Immigration Studies), and other guests to dig into the Ukraine conflict, a dramatic Supreme Court immigration decision concerning Venezuelans, the shift towards active U.S. military involvement in the Western Hemisphere—especially Venezuela—and the political intrigue in Israel. The episode sets the stage for a special broadcast on US Navy power and America’s defense doctrine.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shifting U.S. National Security Paradigm

[00:06–03:55]

• Bannon kicks off with a fiery indictment of the U.S. establishment and mainstream media, framing the show as a bulwark against both.
• He argues there’s a "fundamental, serious shift" underway in U.S. geopolitics:
  • Away from neoconservatism in the Middle East,
  • Towards a more aggressive, interventionist posture, especially against China.
• Ukraine as the New Flashpoint:
  • The U.S. is being "inexorably sucked into the kinetic part of the Third World War" (Bannon, [04:40]).
  • Bannon details the evolution from aide to direct combatant—pointing to advanced weapons deliveries and covert U.S./UK operations in Europe.
  • Massive casualty figures in Ukraine (estimated at 1.8 million Ukrainians dead or wounded) underscore the intensity and stakes, but mainstream media now avoid the gory details.
• Quote:

  “We are getting inexorably sucked into the kinetic part of the Third World War.”
  —Steve Bannon ([04:56])

2. Russia’s Civilizational Pivot and Geopolitical Realignment

Kurt Mills Analysis [06:25–11:54]

• Russia disengaging from Europe:
  • Kurt Mills highlights Putin's speech at the Valdai Club, stressing Russia sees itself as a separate civilization and is “done with the Europeans.”
  • Russia’s orientation is Eurasian, not European; more aligned with China pragmatically but with lingering distrust.
• Eurasianism as ideology (influenced by Dugin), and speculation about the possibility of Russia taking a more combative stance toward NATO, or just withdrawing from Europe altogether.
• Quote:

  “They are not going to work with the Europeans... they will work with the Americans or the Chinese... but they don’t trust them.”
  —Kurt Mills ([06:56])

• Russia is ultimately a “lone wolf” in global geopolitics, but the U.S. could “work pragmatically with them”—if U.S. leaders act in America’s interests.

3. Supreme Court Ruling on Venezuelan TPS & U.S. Immigration Policy

Mark Krikorian Segment [11:54–21:18]

• The Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s authority to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans—potentially affecting 600,000 people.
  • The original intent of TPS was short-term humanitarian protection; Biden “abused” this, according to Krikorian, to regularize illegal immigrants.
• Krikorian predicts most affected are unlikely to be deported, but will lose legal status and work permits—some may return to third countries in South America.
• Quote:

  “Trump gets to tell these illegal immigrants the party’s over and they need to leave.”
  —Mark Krikorian ([14:13])

• Nine months into Trump’s second term:
  • Over 2 million illegal immigrants have left, immigration levels are declining, but Krikorian calls for more workplace enforcement and deportation of all unauthorized immigrants, not just criminals.

4. US Military Posture and Potential Conflict in Venezuela

[21:54–30:28]

• Deployment Off Venezuela:
  • An Amphibious Ready Group with 4,000 Marines is off Venezuela's coast; plan leaks indicate consideration of taking ports and transportation nodes—a potential invasion.
  • Bannon and Mills debate the wisdom of this approach versus encouraging self-deportation or negotiation.
• Risks of Intervention:
  • Mills: Past efforts at regime change (like Guaido) failed; warns Venezuela could become "another Ukraine" for the U.S., driving massive refugee flows and inviting interference by US adversaries (China, Russia, Iran).
  • The need to avoid the “Iraq war” logic and escalation traps.
• Quote:

  “If you break it, you buy it, and you will see tons of people flowing over.”
  —Kurt Mills ([24:55])

5. Hemispheric Defense & The Monroe Doctrine 2.0

[28:24–30:28]

• Renewed focus on the “Monroe Doctrine”—U.S. dominance of the hemisphere as a traditional core strategy.
• Concern that aggressive U.S. intervention could backfire, producing a “Ukraine” in the U.S. backyard, with massive destabilization.
• The need for prudence, gradual accommodation, and prioritizing U.S. interests.

6. Israeli Politics and Netanyahu’s Precarious Position

[30:28–33:32]

• Comparison to Churchill:
  • Netanyahu, like WWII-era Churchill, is a giant with “invincibly precarious” support—needs war and instability to retain power.
  • An Israeli election could see him replaced by a more “stable” conservative like Naftali Bennett, which would have complex consequences for U.S.-Israel relations.
• Quote:

  “Netanyahu at this point needs the instability. He needs the crisis. It’s almost a sort of gormless desire for chaos. Chaos is how he stays in the mix.”
  —Kurt Mills ([33:19])

7. Escalating U.S. Action Against Non-State Cartels & Asymmetric Warfare

Taj Gill Segment [35:35–38:38]

• Targets Beyond States:
  • The Trump administration frames new U.S. kinetic activity as actions against non-state actors (cartels, Antifa), not states like Venezuela.
• Operational Scenarios:
  • Gill outlines two likely approaches:
    • Special Forces raids working with locals (limited, targeted strikes).
    • Larger-scale seizure of ports and transport hubs (“small scale invasion”), which would require occupation and defense: “That’s a whole different ball of wax.”
• Acknowledges risk of cartel reprisals inside the U.S., but downplays likelihood of large-scale domestic terror attacks.

8. Upcoming Programming & Focus on U.S. Naval Strength

[39:14–end]

• Bannon previews a special live event commemorating the U.S. Navy’s 250th birthday (with President Trump aboard a carrier), promising a display of U.S. military strength and national security dialogue focused on “hemispheric defense” and great power competition.
• Reaffirms the episode’s overarching narrative: the U.S. is standing at an inflection point—threatened by external adversaries, challenged by domestic disorder, and grappling with the limits of interventionism.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

| Time | Speaker (Initial) | Quote | |----------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:56 | B (Bannon) | “We are getting inexorably sucked into the kinetic part of the Third World War.” | | 06:56 | A (Kurt Mills) | “They are not going to work with the Europeans... they will work with the Americans or the Chinese...but they don’t trust them.” | | 14:13 | C (Mark Krikorian)| “Trump gets to tell these illegal immigrants the party’s over and they need to leave.” | | 24:55 | A (Kurt Mills) | “If you break it, you buy it, and you will see tons of people flowing over.” | | 33:19 | A (Kurt Mills) | “Netanyahu at this point needs the instability. He needs the crisis. It’s almost a sort of gormless desire for chaos. Chaos is how he stays in the mix.” |

Important Segment Timestamps

• Ukraine’s shifting battlefield & U.S. role: [03:00–06:25]
• Russia’s pivot and Valdai Club insights: [06:25–11:54]
• Supreme Court on Venezuelan immigration: [11:54–19:28]
• Venezuela, military escalation, hemispheric defense: [21:54–30:28]
• Israeli politics, Netanyahu vs. Bennett: [30:28–33:32]
• Cartel warfare & asymmetric threats: [35:35–38:38]
• Programming note: Navy 250th commemoration: [39:14–41:05]

Tone & Style Highlights

• Pugnacious, urgent, unapologetically nationalist
• Frequent references to history (“World War I”, “Monroe Doctrine”) and warnings about repeating past mistakes
• Skepticism toward interventionism yet dissatisfaction with perceived weakness against adversaries (esp. China, Russia)
• Implicit and explicit framing of Trump as uniquely assertive, decisive, and deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize ([03:12])
• Regular, spirited sparring between nationalist, conservative, and non-interventionist perspectives

Summary for New Listeners

This episode of The War Room is a dense, provocative survey of America’s looming conflicts abroad and at home—offering fierce critiques of the Biden administration, the mainstream media, and establishment national security orthodoxy. Through sharp debate and historical analogies, Steve Bannon and his guests examine why and how America’s wars, border crises, and alliances are shifting, and what it means for U.S. sovereignty and power in an unstable world. The discussion mixes alarm over potential “World War III” scenarios in Ukraine and Venezuela with calls for assertive—but prudent—U.S. leadership, all while keeping a wary eye on the risks of overreach and hubris.

For more, listen to key timestamped sections above to hear extended analysis on each issue from the principal guests and Bannon.