THE WAR ROOM WITH STEPHEN K. BANNON (EP. 4969)

Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Stephen K. Bannon / Real America’s Voice

Episode Overview

This episode of The War Room with Stephen K. Bannon centers on a pivotal special election in Tennessee’s 7th congressional district, the implications of Democratic overperformance in recent special elections nationwide, economic headwinds for small businesses, and intensifying concerns over the expansion of Sharia courts and Islamic institutions in American states like Texas and Minnesota. Bannon and guests analyze these issues through the lens of American populist conservatism, emphasizing grassroots organization, election integrity, and nationalist economic policy, while also highlighting the MAGA movement’s continued engagement.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Tennessee’s 7th District Special Election:

• Background & Results

  • Trump had won the district by 22 points in 2024, but Republican Matt Van Epps now wins by only 9 points over Democrat Afton Bain.
  • The Democratic candidate closed the gap by 13 points, which is seen as a warning sign for GOP moving into the 2026 midterms.
  • Democratic turnout and engagement are up significantly, with some panelists suggesting a potential “blue wave.”
  • [00:34–03:53]

• Democratic Outperformance Nationwide

  • Similar overperformances by Democrats vs. 2024 baselines in Arizona, Florida, Texas, and Virginia.
  • Special election results have historically carried over into midterm outcomes, fueling speculation that Democrats could take the House if the trend holds.

• Quotes:

  • “Republicans should be running for the hills this morning because the blue wave is building.” – [B, 01:06]
  • “If this kind of shift is maintained...the House of Representatives would certainly be in play.” – Larry, [03:18]
  • “This is a very, very bad omen for Republicans and a very, very good omen for Democrats.” – [B, 03:53]

2. Bannon’s Counter-Narrative:

• MAGA Engagement on Game Day

  • Bannon rejects “blue wave” hype, arguing that Republican turnout surges later in the process, citing targeted MAGA mobilization as key to holding the seat.
  • Emphasizes the critical importance of grassroots “game day” organization and engagement of low-propensity, “low information” voters for GOP success.
  • [07:52–10:19]

• Quotes:

  • “Don’t look at the 13-point swing. That’s not particularly relevant. What’s relevant … is people’s engagement in the process.” – Bannon, [08:58]
  • “The takeaway from yesterday is when MAGA engages… you had a massive blow away.” – Bannon, [08:20]

3. Economic Headwinds: ADP Payroll & Small Business

• Weakness in Job Market

  • Discussion of November ADP payrolls: Private payrolls shed 32,000 jobs, led by a dramatic 120,000 drop in small business employment.
  • Bannon disputes claims that tariffs are to blame, instead blaming Fed interest rate policy. He anticipates future economic improvement from reshored manufacturing due to Trump-era tariffs.
  • [05:30–10:43]

• Quotes:

  • “Virtually all of the job losses have come from small business, which has been negative in six of seven months since April.” – [D, 06:05]
  • “There is no evidence the tariffs are having anything to do with this… this is about interest rates and about the way the Fed miscalculates.” – Bannon, [10:19]

4. Grassroots Electoral Organizing & “Precinct Strategy”

• Steve Stern Segment

  • Steve Stern, vice president of the Broward County Republican Club, discusses grassroots efforts (precinct strategy) and Republican voter registration campaigns.
  • Highlights hand-counting of ballots in Texas as part of election integrity push and coordinated national efforts through election security calls.
  • [17:11–22:07]

• Quotes:

  • “I don’t care what the Democrats say. We are winning now. Today and on December 17th—two election security calls…This is happening all over the country.” – Steve Stern, [18:42]
  • “Action. Precinct strategy. The most important thing that we could do for the 2026 election.” – Steve Stern, [21:50]

5. Sharia Courts, Islam, and Cultural Change in Texas & Minnesota

• Peter McIlveen on “Parallel Societies”

  • UK-based guest details the rise of Sharia courts in the UK and draws a parallel with their establishment in American cities, especially Texas and Dallas.
  • Cites exponential mosque growth, increased halal markets, and asserts that Republican state leadership has not halted this.
  • Questions the legal standing and implications of religious arbitration, highlighting issues of gender inequity and lack of oversight.
  • [23:12–27:16, 32:23–35:29]

• Bannon’s Framing

  • Bannon warns of “pattern recognition”: from Texas to Minnesota, to New York City—seeing Islamic influence as a national concern and legislative threat.
  • Cites recent terror organization designations in Texas against CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as a needed first step; calls for rooting out “Sharia courts.”

• Mike Lindell Segment (Minnesota)

  • Lindell claims widespread criminality associated with Somali communities, accuses Minnesota’s government and Attorney General Keith Ellison of anti-Christian bias and corruption.
  • Advocates mass deportations and increased ICE raids, saying Trump administration has begun to crack down.
  • [36:29–41:33]

• Quotes:

  • “As Texas goes, so goes the nation … the Islamic jihadist radicals understand that.” – Bannon, [27:16]
  • “You have a cancer right now in the United States and this cancer is starting to eat away.” – Bannon, [28:40]
  • “Evil is greedy. That’s our biggest advantage.” – Mike Lindell, [37:23]
  • “You’ve got to deport … get rid of all the ones … that are here illegally.” – Mike Lindell, [39:11]
  • “Keith Ellison is attacking my Lindell Recovery Network because it’s a Christian base. Gets people to Jesus Christ. … They’ve done everything they can to take God and Jesus Christ out of our state. … It’s going to stop now.” – Mike Lindell, [40:32]

• Legal & Policy Developments

  • Bannon previews executive action by Trump to nullify Biden-era pardons and expand the nations blocked from US entry, emphasizing aggressive immigration restriction measures.
  • [43:12–44:43]

6. Calls to Action & Movement-Building

• Direct Action
  • Bannon repeatedly calls for “action, action, action”—targeting government officials, pushing investigations, precinct organizing, and direct challenges to perceived adversaries within “the Deep State.”
  • [10:43–14:56]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Election Trends:

  • “What happened last night in Tennessee ain’t just staying in Tennessee. It is spreading itself throughout the nation.” – [B, 02:15]

• Bannon’s Rallying Cry:

  • “This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we’re going medieval on these people.” – Bannon, [07:02]
  • “Ask yourself: What is my task and what is my purpose? If that answer is to save my country, this country will be saved.” – Bannon, [07:34]

• On Immigration & Sharia Courts:

  • “You’ve designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as terrorist organizations. … Now you got to dig them out of here, starting with these Sharia courts.” – Bannon, [34:54]

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |--------------|----------------------------------------------------| | 00:34–03:53 | Tennessee special election, blue wave talk | | 07:52–10:19 | Bannon on MAGA engagement and narrative battles | | 05:30–06:05 | Economic discussion: Weak ADP payrolls | | 17:11–22:07 | Precinct strategy, Steve Stern’s organizing update | | 23:12–27:16 | Peter McIlveen: Sharia courts in Texas & UK | | 32:23–35:29 | US law, religious courts, and enforcement issues | | 36:29–41:33 | Mike Lindell on Minnesota, corruption, ICE raids | | 43:12–44:43 | Trump’s new executive orders on immigration, nullifying Biden-era actions |

Tone & Style

The tone is combative, urgent, and defiantly populist. Bannon’s language is martial (“medieval,” “action, action, action,” “stand in the breach”) and focused on mobilizing his base to recognize threats (internal and external), participate in the political process, and resist what he positions as elite or establishment overreach.

Summary

For listeners seeking to understand the current landscape in populist conservative politics, this episode of The War Room is a comprehensive snapshot: it offers granular election analysis, economic talking points, deeply skeptical takes on demographic and cultural trends, and a rallying, militant spirit. The through-line is engagement—at the polls, in local organizing, in advancing policy—and an insistence that only grassroots action and vigilance can shape outcomes against an ascendant opposition.