The War Room with Stephen K. Bannon (EP. 4937)

Date: November 19, 2025
Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: Steve Bannon
Guests/Contributors: Joe Allen, Michelle Morrow, Brian Harrison, Richard Barris (The People’s Pundit), Salma Villarreal

Overview

In this episode, Steve Bannon and his guests tackle a wide array of pressing topics ranging from foreign investments in the U.S. (particularly Saudi commitments), election year politics, concerns about AI and technology transfer to China, the state of the U.S. education system affected by immigration, Texas policy changes regarding vehicle registrations and terrorist designations, and increasingly unfavorable polling for Republicans. Throughout, the tone is combative and urgent, with repeated calls for grassroots action and political vigilance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Foreign Investment Promises & Middle East Dynamics

• Bannon and guests discuss President Trump’s announcement about Saudi Arabia’s commitment to invest $600 billion (possibly $1 trillion) in the U.S.
• Skepticism abounds: Historical pattern of Saudi over-promising and under-delivering, especially in post-9/11 and Yemen contexts.
  • "Annual foreign investment in total in the United States has never exceeded $500 billion." – Joe Allen (02:41)
• Concerns about this being "nonsense" and distractive from real issues.
  • Michelle Morrow jokes: "When the President talks like this, it’s as though I’m watching Austin Powers and Dr. Evil with 1 million." (02:44)

2. Human Rights, ICE, and American Division

• Concerns are raised about human rights violations by ICE, including the mistreatment of U.S. citizens and legal residents.
  • "We are being driven apart rather than being united and held together and seeing our shared interests... instead we’re vilifying people. And in the end it’s going to impact all of our rights." — Michelle Morrow (04:05)
• Discussion on the impact of fear and division, especially among "non-college educated whites... who feel threatened by whether or not they have a real opportunity in this country."

3. Trump Administration Critique, Autocracy, and Legal Contempt

• Highly critical commentary on Donald Trump’s leadership style, alleging autocratic tendencies.
  • "Donald Trump is an autocrat... does not care about the law, about the facts, he just wants power." – Joe Allen (05:36)
• Accusations that the administration is “utterly contemptuous of the law and don’t even try to follow it,” referencing deployment of military, immigration, defiance of courts, and more.

4. The State of AI: U.S. vs. China, Jobs, and National Security

• Growing alarm that China is outpacing the U.S. in AI expertise and hiring, partly due to domestic policy and educational admissions.
  • “China is moving ahead of us... the stupidity that is like occupying people that are running Washington D.C. is so self-defeating.” — Joe Allen (06:57)
• Bannon issues stark warnings about mass job displacement due to AI, especially for new graduates (“AI apocalypse is here now.”)
• Urges a national debate on AI development, warning about chips, investment, and government guarantees to big tech — with a proposal that "the American taxpayer, we need half the equity, 50% of the equity in all these things." (20:11)
• "This is corporatism and crony capitalism." – Bannon (20:12)
• Describes Jensen from Nvidia as “an arms dealer... agent of influence for the Chinese Communist Party” in relation to AI chips being sold overseas. (10:44–13:55)

5. Texas Immigration and Policy Update: Victories Claimed

• Breaking news from Brian Harrison: Texas will now require proof of legal status for vehicle registration, reversing decades of allowing foreign passports.
  • "You guys delivered... melt the governor’s phone lines... they are implementing a new policy to now actually require proof of legal status before they just issue you a vehicle registration. So this is a huge victory." — Brian Harrison (23:13)
• Texas Governor Abbott designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations, but Harrison warns “words without action is meaningless,” demanding investigations and arrests (25:44).

6. Redistricting Wars & Election Prognosis

• Discussion of the recent judicial ruling in Texas redistricting that could hand Democrats additional House seats—potentially swinging Congressional control.
  • "The stakes couldn’t be higher... this could literally determine the future of the whole country because it could determine whether the U.S. Congress falls into the hands of the radical leftist Marxist progressive Democrats." — Brian Harrison (27:36)
• Calls for aggressive counter-mapping if the Supreme Court doesn’t overturn the decision ("Let’s add six seats, let’s add seven, let’s add eight.").

7. Polling Analysis: Republican Red Alerts

• Richard Barris (The People’s Pundit) delivers an urgent polling warning:
  • The generic ballot recently swung from D+1.2 to D+7.8, with some polls showing D+14 (34:58).
  • "It does tell you a lot of Republicans are thinking of just not voting... the right needs a wake-up call." — Barris (39:43)
• Disappointment at GOP inactivity and infighting ("It’s either cowardice or corruption... It’s always the American voter who doesn’t get prioritized." — Barris (43:57))
• Congressional work schedule (115 days in session) deemed "humiliating," with criticism that Congress works harder for Ukraine/Israel than Americans.

8. Education, Immigration, and Charlotte School Crisis

• Local reporting from Charlotte, NC: Large-scale student absences (approx. 28,000–30,000) due to fear of immigration raids; controversy over schools providing online learning to avoid enforcement.
  • "Does that mean there are 56,000 illegal parents right there just in that one school district?" — Michelle Morrow (51:50)
• Bannon and Morrow demand enforcement and accountability; call out Democrats for not fixing the system during years in power.

9. AI Moratorium & Congressional Maneuvers

• Joe Allen and Bannon express alarm about Ted Cruz and Steve Scalise allegedly pushing for federal preemption to limit state regulation of AI via NDAA, behind closed doors.
  • “Ted Cruz... is the running dog of the Tech Bros.” — Steve Bannon (46:17)
  • “It’s all being done behind closed doors.” – Joe Allen (46:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When the President talks like this, it’s as though I’m watching Austin Powers and Dr. Evil with 1 million. Like this is straight-up nonsense.” — Michelle Morrow (02:49)
• “Donald Trump is an autocrat who does not care about the law, about the facts, he just wants power.” — Joe Allen (05:36)
• “China is moving ahead of us... the stupidity that is like occupying people that are running Washington D.C. is so self-defeating.” — Joe Allen (06:57)
• “This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies. Cuz we’re going medieval on these people’s not got a free shot. All these networks lying about the people. The people have had a belly full of it.” — Steve Bannon (09:37)
• “The American taxpayer, we need half the equity, 50% of the equity and all these things... This is not capitalism. This is corporatism and crony capitalism.” — Steve Bannon (20:11)
• “We are making a difference, and this is a huge difference... there’s a 0% chance that this would have happened if the unit party in Austin was left to their own devices.” – Brian Harrison (23:13)
• “Words without action is meaningless. So I want to see investigations, I want to see arrests.” — Brian Harrison (25:44)
• “None of these interviews... takes into consideration the recent infighting you’ve been seeing... the idea that (Republicans) are losing faith is probably an accurate idea.” — Richard Barris (36:04–41:24)
• “It’s always the American voter who doesn’t get prioritized. And then when they’re getting their, you know, you know, their asses kicked, they’re wondering why the Republican voter doesn’t want to come out and vote. Well, they’re going to fight for you about as hard as you fight for them.” — Richard Barris (44:33)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 02:09 — Trump’s claims of $600 billion Saudi investment dissected
• 04:02 — Concerns over ICE, citizen rights, and social division
• 05:36 — Trump, autocracy, and legal defiance
• 07:57 — U.S. losing ground to China in AI; implications for jobs and security
• 10:44 — Bannon’s warning on AI, chips, and “arms dealers”
• 20:11 — Bannon: “50% of equity in AI must go to USA taxpayer”
• 23:13 — Texas policy shifts: vehicle registration and terrorist designations
• 27:36 — Texas redistricting bombshell and battle plans
• 34:58 — Barris details dire polling landscape for GOP
• 39:43 — Causes for GOP malaise: Epstein scandal, Israel, lack of leadership
• 43:10 — Ridicule of Congress’ 115-day work year
• 51:50 — Charlotte school absences and immigration enforcement
• 54:30 — Calls for penalties for schools “aiding and abetting" illegal immigration
• 46:13–47:06 — Concerns about AI moratorium and legislative secrecy

Action Items & Calls to Action

• Bannon repeatedly calls the audience (“War Room posse”) to action on AI, redistricting, grassroots engagement, and local lobbying.
• Urges vigilance on policy changes, especially in Texas and regarding congressional efforts to regulate (or prevent regulation of) AI.
• Promotes following on social media (especially Locals/X) for rapid updates and organizing.

Summary

This episode weaves together pressing international, national, and local political concerns with a signature Bannon blend of indignation, activism, and conspiratorial suspicion. The conversation spotlights the perceived existential threats posed by AI, immigration policies, and political complacency, with strong criticism directed at both Democratic and Republican establishments. Urgent poll numbers and the Texas redistricting scenario undergird a broader narrative of impending crisis and the need for mobilization within the conservative grassroots. Throughout, listeners are encouraged to take action, stay vigilant, and question both the motives and effectiveness of policymakers and established political actors.