THE WAR ROOM WITH STEVE BANNON (EP. 4954) – November 26, 2025
Overview
This episode of “The War Room with Stephen K. Bannon” aired on Thanksgiving Eve, 2025, and delivered the show's hallmark of combative political analysis, culture war commentary, and calls for grassroots action. Host Steve Bannon, joined by contributors like Charlie Kirk, Joy Pullman, Joe Allen, and Alex DeGrasse, focused on themes of institutional resistance, the internal “deep state,” military and political integrity, redistricting battles, and the existential fight against “perpetual war” and the unchecked influence of technological elites.
Key Topics & Discussion Points
1. Congressional and Military Tensions Over Illegal Orders
[03:35 – 09:00]
- Jonathan details ongoing tension as the Justice Department targets six Democratic lawmakers for a video telling service members to refuse illegal orders, provoking President Trump to accuse them of sedition.
- Lawmakers defended themselves, citing constitutional duty over presidential orders.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pursues an inquiry against Sen. Mark Kelly for statements urging refusal of illegal orders.
- Bannon’s take: The incident is emblematic of "chain of command" chaos and “primal scream of a dying regime.”
- Memorable Quote: “This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies, because we're going medieval on these people.” – Steve Bannon (09:03)
- The “seditious six” are accused of weaponizing their roles; Bannon calls for immediate action, including recall and court martial for Kelly.
2. Gender and Culture Wars: Tish Hyman vs. California Politics
[04:30 – 07:04]
- Tish Hyman, guest and outspoken advocate, confronts the panel about trans issues in women’s spaces, prisons, and sports, demanding frank answers from California’s political hopefuls.
- Quote: “There are 45 men in the women's prisons right now, raping them, picking them out like chicken. The trans men are not women and they're raping women. … We need to be on the women side, inside people. It’s happening to our girls.” – Tish Hyman (05:43)
- Hyman asserts, “There are no trans kids, there are just children. Stop transforming children. … No one can make a decision that young.”
- The conversation reflects ongoing culture war flashpoints, with Bannon and the panel positioning themselves staunchly as anti-trans ideology advocates.
3. Deep State, U.S.–Russia Relations, and Perpetual War
[12:04 – 16:00]
- Charlie Kirk links the military dead in Vietnam and Ukraine with “Deep State” power preservation, arguing that a U.S.–Russia rapprochement threatens the establishment’s “perpetual war.”
- Key Points:
- U.S. policy shifts post-Soviet Cold War are cited as broken promises fueling global instability.
- The Deep State and CIA are described as obstacles to peace, particularly with Russia.
- Quote: “The deep state wants war. They want perpetual war to maintain... they also don't want two Christian entities … partnering with another deeply Christian nation, Russia.” – Charlie Kirk (14:10)
- Bannon’s take: The CIA’s “outrageous” leaks and attempts to disrupt “alliance” with Russia mean, “We should be kicking down doors ... Those six, the seditious six, I don’t know why we went to December 10th… throw him in prison by Monday. Let’s just roll.” (16:00)
- Key Points:
4. Redistricting Wars and Republican Inertia
[25:56 – 32:01]
- Alex DeGrasse updates on critical redistricting battles in Indiana and elsewhere, with direct effect on future House control.
- Republicans in state legislatures are only now reversing course under heavy pressure.
- Trump’s personal threats of primary challenges believed to be the key motivator.
- Quote: “There’s literally no excuse for any Republican … from not manning the ramparts and pushing this thing not just back, but forward.” – Alex DeGrasse (27:44)
- Bannon and Kirk criticize Congressional Republicans for fecklessness and performative support for Trump and MAGA, failing to pass legislation or mount effective opposition.
- Quote: “They talk maga, but they don’t act. … They see Trump as a passing summer storm.... These are acts of commission, not omission. They’re purposely doing nothing.” – Steve Bannon (24:14)
5. Military Vaccine Mandate Reinstatement & Bureaucratic Resistance
[35:27 – 46:44]
- Joy Pullman of The Federalist details ongoing bureaucratic resistance to Trump’s executive orders reinstating service members dismissed over the COVID vaccine mandate.
- Only a small fraction (313 out of ~95,000) have been reinstated due to institutional pushback.
- Civil service protections shield resistant bureaucrats; Congress is blamed for inaction and failing to strip such protections.
- Quote: “If we had a Republican Congress that wasn’t a pile of crap … people who literally are insurrectionists defying the orders of the elected government … could be fired immediately.” – Joy Pullman (43:15)
- Bannon underscores the “swamp” nature of the administrative state, where career officials and the “deep state” assume Trump’s return is temporary and can be waited out.
- “The apparatus, not just the deep state, but the administrative state ... is just saying, hey, Trump’s a passing summer storm.” – Steve Bannon (44:42)
6. AI, Tech Lobby Power, and the Moratorium Battle
[47:10 – 59:50]
- Joe Allen reports on new advocacy efforts to blunt the influence of tech billionaires in AI and to establish meaningful regulation.
- Two ex-congressmen launch a “pro-human” PAC, Public First, to counter “big tech agenda” in Congressional races and policy battles.
- Bannon and Allen lament Big Tech’s capture of U.S. strategic assets and its readiness to supply China with critical AI chip technology.
- Calls for strict export controls and citizen ownership stakes in AI infrastructure, arguing current regulatory efforts are full of loopholes.
- Debate over whether to allow states to rapidly regulate AI versus central federal standards.
- “States have the ability right now to put in regulations that can move much more quickly than the federal standards and they are doing so.... [The moratorium] would block that entirely, not to benefit the American people ... It's to benefit the people producing and deploying it.” – Joe Allen (57:44)
- Bannon ends with renewed calls for populist vigilance and grassroots activism, previewing more to come on the War Room.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Steve Bannon: “This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies, because we're going medieval on these people.” (09:03)
- Tish Hyman: “There are 45 men in the women's prisons right now, raping them, picking them out like chicken. The trans men are not women and they're raping women. … Stop with this malarkey.” (05:43 – 06:50)
- Charlie Kirk: “The deep state wants war. … They also don't want two Christian entities, the United States and Russia, to partner.” (14:10)
- Joy Pullman: "If we had a Republican Congress that wasn’t a pile of crap … people who literally are insurrectionists defying the orders of the elected government … could be fired immediately." (43:15)
- Alex DeGrasse: “There’s literally no excuse for any Republican … from not manning the ramparts and pushing this thing not just back, but forward.” (27:44)
- Joe Allen: “States have the ability right now to put in regulations that can move much more quickly than the federal standards and they are doing so.… The moratorium would block that entirely … It's to benefit the people producing and deploying it.” (57:44)
Important Segment Timestamps
- Justice Department v. Lawmakers, Military Orders: [03:35 – 09:00]
- Trans Issues & Women's Protection: [04:30 – 07:04]
- Deep State, Russia, and Perpetual War: [12:04 – 16:00]
- Redistricting, GOP Accountability: [25:56 – 32:01]
- Military Vaccine Mandate Reinstatement: [35:27 – 46:44]
- AI, Tech Lobby, and Moratorium Fight: [47:10 – 59:50]
Conclusion/Tone
The episode is combative and urgent, with Bannon and guests painting a picture of existential struggle—against deep state bureaucrats, political inaction, progressive overreach in culture, and technological oligarchy. Listeners are called to activism, vigilance, and skepticism of both entrenched elites and establishment Republicans. The rhetoric is unapologetically populist: fiercely critical of “the swamp” and the permanent state, unfailingly pro-Trump, and deeply distrustful of mainstream narratives and institutional motives.
For further details or to join the continued conversation, follow the featured guests:
- Joy Pullman: @JoyPullman and The Federalist
- Alex DeGrasse: @DegrasseA1 on X/Truth/Getter
- Joe Allen: @JoeBotXYZ