THE WAR ROOM WITH STEPHEN K. BANNON (EP. #5043)

Summary

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THE WAR ROOM WITH STEPHEN K. BANNON (EP. #5043)

Date: January 5, 2026 | Podcast: Real America’s Voice / iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

This high-energy episode covers the U.S. military's dramatic intervention in Venezuela, the capture and impending trial of Nicolas Maduro, and a political earthquake in Minnesota as Governor Tim Walz withdraws from the gubernatorial race amid a burgeoning welfare fraud scandal. Steve Bannon, joined by guests such as Mike Lindell, Royce White, Oscar Blue Ramirez, and David Zier, dissects the implications of these events on U.S. domestic politics, geopolitics in the Western Hemisphere, and the America First movement.

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Main Topics & Key Discussion Points

1. U.S. Intervention in Venezuela

• Overview:
  The U.S. military executed a rapid strike, seizing control in Venezuela, capturing then-president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, now facing arraignment in a New York federal court.

• Motivations & Policy:
  President Trump publicly stated, “the United States will run Venezuela for an unspecified period of time, zeroing in on advancing American oil interests.” (00:04)
  Secretary of State Marco Rubio attempted to clarify, maintaining a focus on policy rather than governance, but Trump doubled down on his stance.

• Administration’s Approach & Justification:
  Mike Lindell: “We’re in charge.” (01:08)
  On the fate of Venezuelan oil: “We’re going to run everything. We’re going to run it, fix it. We’ll have elections at the right time.” (01:59)
  When asked if this was about oil or regime change, Lindell stated: “It’s about peace on Earth.” (02:32)

• Concerns & Critique:
  Journalists and panelists questioned the implications of “running Venezuela,” possible military overreach, and the strain on U.S. military readiness and priorities.
  “If we are, quote, running Venezuela, that is going to entail putting some type of military assets on the ground…” (04:29)

• Notable Quote:
  Lindell: “Peace on earth. You got that piece? It's our hemisphere. The Monroe Doctrine was very important… I didn’t lose sight." (02:36)

[00:04 – 04:30] Venezuela Crisis and U.S. Objectives

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2. Maduro in Federal Custody

• Extraction Process:
  Steve Bannon and reporters detail Maduro’s capture, transfer to NYC, and looming federal charges, with commentary on the legal and historical precedents for U.S. seizure of foreign officials.

• Insider View:
  David Zier shares on-site updates:
  "We're outside of the Patrick Moynihan District Courthouse... Judge Hellerstein will preside at 12 noon over this arraignment... They indicted Maduro, just superseded that with a superseding indictment... narco terrorism, conspiracy, 25 years of cooperation with FARC..." (17:18)

• Law Enforcement Handling:
  Bannon criticizes lenient treatment by DEA officers:
  “They did not make it very evident that this guy was a prisoner... He’s wishing people, you know, happy New Year. He’s giving thumbs up. They’re taking photos…” (23:59)

[17:18 – 26:30] Federal Charges & U.S. Law Enforcement Commentary

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3. Minnesota Political Earthquake: Governor Tim Walz Steps Down

• News Break:
  Walz, Democratic nominee for VP in 2024, ends bid for a third gubernatorial term due to a deepening welfare fraud scandal.
  “Governor writes…‘I can't give a political campaign my all. Every minute I spent defending my own political interests would be a minute I can spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences.’” (06:00)

• Analysis of Fallout:
  Bannon and Royce White interpret Walz’s withdrawal as a sign of "the primal scream of a dying regime.” (08:30)
  Royce White: “Minnesota, the belly of the beast, should be the focal point... to underline the corruption of the Democrat Party…” (12:32)

• Political Impact & 2026 Outlook:
  Guest panelists predict Amy Klobuchar could run for governor, but systemic fraud and dissatisfaction from conservative, independent, and some Democratic constituents may make the state competitive for Republicans. Royce White: “We’re just at the tip of the iceberg with the fraud… there’s no bottom to the fraud here in Minnesota, not to mention the election fraud.” (28:28)

  Mike Lindell positions himself as the leading gubernatorial candidate:
  “We can't... just go, oh, no, now he's not running. Let's just cover it up. All the crowd in Minnesota, He. He needs to be checked into Keith Ellison.” (42:25)

• Notable Quotes:

  • Bannon: "This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we’re going medieval on these people. The people have had a belly full of it." (08:30)
  • Royce White: “How do communists and Satanists take a Protestant country? When Christians and conservatives become soft." (30:07)
  • Mike Lindell: “Either you were so negligent, or you let it go on. This is going to uncover...the most massive fraud the world has ever seen.” (42:25)

[04:04 – 16:00; 28:28 – 45:20] Walz Withdrawal & Minnesota Fallout

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4. Broader Geopolitical Implications & America First Reflections

• Debate Over Foreign Versus Domestic Focus:
  Bannon voices concern about the U.S. “nation-building” in Venezuela while American cities struggle:
  “Maybe we should. Maybe some of that focus should be here… the United States looks worse than Caracas.” (40:11)

• Guest Insights:

  • Oscar Blue Ramirez: Confirms top Venezuelan leaders' fear and population oppression post-Maduro extraction; government restricting food, electricity, and internet; crackdown on public celebrations. (33:52 – 37:55)
  • Bannon: “If you’re going to play games, you’re not going to play games. That’s what happened here. That’s what he rolled into Maduro and pulled him out.” (38:33)

[32:15 – 41:00] Domestic vs. International Priorities; Situation in Venezuela

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mike Lindell on Venezuela:
  “We're going to run everything. We'll have elections at the right time. But the main thing... we need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country...” (01:59; 02:15)

• Steve Bannon's Rallying Call:
  "This is the primal scream of a dying regime... The people have had a belly full of it." (08:30)

• Royce White on DNC Power in Minnesota:
  "Minnesota, the belly of the beast, should be the focal point of all American politics to underline the corruption of the Democrat Party." (12:32)

• Mike Lindell on Fraud Scandal:
  “You either you’re the most incompetent governor in history, that you didn’t watch all $18 million missing or… $18 billion. I mean, even if it’s 9 billion, whatever it is, you’re not. Either you were so negligent, or you let it go on.” (42:25)

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Timestamps Guide to Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic/Segment | |:-----------|:--------------------------------------------------------| | 00:04 | U.S. military’s Venezuela intervention, Trump/Lindell’s plans | | 04:04 | Minnesota: News of Gov. Walz stepping down | | 06:00 | Background/details on Minnesota welfare fraud scandal | | 08:30 | Bannon’s monologue on regime change, political frustration| | 12:32 | Royce White joins, critiques DNC/MN establishment | | 17:18 | David Zier on-site: Maduro’s legal proceedings | | 23:59 | Bannon critiques DEA’s handling of Maduro | | 28:28 | Royce White on DNC power, Minnesota’s importance | | 32:15 | Oscar Blue Ramirez: Venezuela’s on-the-ground situation | | 40:11 | Bannon calls for more focus on U.S. domestic issues | | 42:25 | Mike Lindell on Walz, welfare fraud, allegedly corrupt administration | | 47:20 | Lindell launches campaign push—Minnesota governor race |

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Tone & Language

• Confrontational, Urgent, and Outspoken:
  Unfiltered, direct, and combative toward political adversaries—reflected in Bannon's rhetoric and the aggressive calls for accountability and action.
• Populist & America First:
  Recurrent emphasis on reclaiming American sovereignty and redirecting focus from international entanglements to domestic crises and perceived threats.
• Sarcastic Edge:
  Frequent use of irony/sarcasm toward political rivals (e.g., “Tim Waltz will go on some type of liberal sabbatical. He’ll eat vegan pizza, drink arugula juice.” – Royce White, 28:28).

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Summary Conclusion

In this eventful “War Room” episode, Steve Bannon and guests dissect a volatile start to 2026: the U.S.-led power move in Venezuela (framed as both oil-driven and “peace on earth”), the high-drama capture of Maduro, and the seismic Minnesota political scandal that could reshape the 2026 electoral map. Throughout, the theme is one of seismic backlash—against corruption, foreign entanglements, and “uniparty” politics—embodying War Room’s populist fervor and sense of urgent change.

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For further details, listen to these highlighted segments and key timestamps for the full context and energy of the discussions.

Transcript

[Steve Bannon]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Then transported to New York late Saturday night where they were being held at a Brooklyn jail awaiting today's arraignment. Before they took off this morning. Being transported right now. This strike and seizure by the US military was the culmination of a months long campaign in the region, building up forces, targeting alleged drug boats and intercepting oil tankers. President Trump said over the weekend the United States will run Venezuela for an unspecified period of time, zeroing in on advancing American oil interests there. Secretary of State Marco Rubio then tried to clarify that comment, saying the focus is not on governing, but on setting future policy. The President, however, doubled down on his assertion just last night while outlining what he says he needs from the acting leader of Venezuela and Maduro's former vp, Delsey Rodriguez.

[Mike Lindell]

Don't ask me who's in charge because I'll give you an answer and it'll be very controversial.

[Steve Bannon]

What does that mean?

[Mike Lindell]

It means we're in charge.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Have you spoken with her?

[Mike Lindell]

We're in charge.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Have you spoken with her?

[Steve Bannon]

No, no, I haven't, but other people have.

[Mike Lindell]

You want to at the right time? I will.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Did the US give DC Rodriguez any guarantees in exchange for cooperating with your administration?

[Mike Lindell]

No, but she's cooperating.

[Steve Bannon]

Are you going to demand me elections.

[Mike Lindell]

In the short term in Venezuela? Well, it depends, you know what you're talking. We have to do one thing in Venezuela, bring. It's a dead country right now.

[Narrator/Reporter]

How soon can an election take place?

[Mike Lindell]

Well, I think we're looking more at getting it fixed, getting it ready first. Because it's a mess. The country is a mess. It's been horribly run. The oil is just flowing at a very low level, much lower than even if it was badly run, it should have more income, more oil than what they did.

[Narrator/Reporter]

What is going to happen to those reserves?

[Mike Lindell]

We're going to run everything. We're going to run it, fix it. We'll have elections at the right time. But the main thing you have to.

[Steve Bannon]

Face short term, next two weeks. What do you need from Del Rodriguez?

[Mike Lindell]

You're you.

[Steve Bannon]

You threatened total access.

[Mike Lindell]

We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country.

[Narrator/Reporter]

You had to sum up Operation Absolute Resolve. Would you say that it was about oil or it was about regime change?

[Mike Lindell]

It's about peace on Earth.

[Narrator/Reporter]

How is it peace on earth?

[Mike Lindell]

Peace on Earth. You got that piece? It's our hemisphere. The Monroe Doctrine was very important when it was done. And other Presidents, a lot of them, they lost sight of it. I didn't, I didn't lose sight, but it really is, it's peace on earth.

[Narrator/Reporter]

One of the many confusing declarations of President Trump has made around the US Intervention in Venezuela is that the US Is taking control of Venezuela's massive oil reserves and that he expects the US Oil companies to invest billions and billions of dollars to stabilize and revive the country's oil industry. Venezuela has the world's, is sitting on the world's largest oil reserves, but it only accounts for about 1% of the world's oil production. An important note on this, let me pause here as we're now seeing Nicolas Maduro departing, coming out of that helicopter. We're going to see his wife probably depart right after that. He's going to be now getting into, we assume we're getting into another vehicle and heading to the courthouse. Just remarkable to see this. It was just until early morning, the early morning hours of Saturday, that this man and his wife were running a country of more than 30 million people. And then that dramatic and violent US military operation taking place has now captured them and now making their way with their hands bound in those tan jumpsuits to be facing a federal judge.

[Steve Bannon]

Big breaking political news out of Minnesota.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

Governor Tim Walz, who of course was.

[Steve Bannon]

The Democratic nominee for vice president in.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

2024, has ended his re election bid for governor. He is not going to run for reelection.

[Steve Bannon]

This comes as pressure has been growing around this widening welfare fraud scandal. Now, Waltz has not been accused of.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

Any wrongdoing, but it has been a growing political headache.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I think, to put things in perspective, I mean, Venezuela is twice the size of California or even Iraq. So to run a country with 30 million people, and Donald Trump says that we are running Venezuela, that I think there are a lot of outstanding questions. And I hope that members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are pressing this administration for more details. Because if we are, quote, running Venezuela, that is going to entail putting some type of military assets on the ground. And you heard, you know, yesterday, President Trump saying that we're going to extract the wealth from Venezuela from the oil field. Well, if companies are going to go into Venezuela and start extracting oil, these oil fields are also going to have to be secured. So again, I have so many questions on what it means that we're running Venezuela, what that means for our military buildup outside the coast of Venezuela. That's obviously putting incredible strain on our military force and our, unfortunately, our readiness. But I think also to the larger point that the president was making on Air Force One yesterday. It seems like we're not seeing stopping at Venezuela. It seems like, you know, he has the sights potentially set on Colombia, Cuba and of course, we've obviously heard about Greenland. So I think the question, you know, members of Congress and frankly the president's base also need to be asking is how does this fit into the America first agenda that he ran on, you know, in the 2024 election? Because we are now in getting into the business of nation building, something that the president was, you know, pretty much against for the entire election season. So I have a lot of outstanding questions on what it means for Venezuela, but also the Western hemisphere more broadly.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

Is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had been insistent on running for a third term, which would have been unprecedented in and of itself. Minnesota has not elected a governor for three consecutive terms. But it is that deepening federal probe as well as this widening scandal. As you said, he is not implicated in this at all. This is actually somewhat old news in Minnesota. This has been going on for years and years. The prosecution started back during the Biden administration, but over the holidays it certainly did widen. There was a right wing influencer who posted a viral video on social media that quite literally went viral when the vice president of the United States and the FBI director leaned in on this. And it shined a brighter spotlight on really what had been some deep concerns among Minnesota Democrats, even about the wisdom of Governor Walz seeking a third term. They believed that this would hang over the the entire reelection effort and perhaps even damaged the Democratic Party, even though there is no suggestion that there was wrongdoing. However, this widening scandal happened on his watch. But we are getting his reasoning in a new statement this morning that's ahead of a news conference he's scheduled to hold in just a few hours. And let's take a look at one small portion of this, if we can. John, the governor writes this. He said, as I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can't give a political campaign my all. Every minute I spent defending my own political interests would be a minute I can spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences. And the governor goes on in quite a lengthy statement which we expect him to read at that news conference which is going to be happening at 11am in St. Paul, Minnesota. He goes on to take direct aim at President Donald Trump and allies of the president And Republican allies who have sought to make political hay out of this, if you will. Of course they have. A lot of this fraud is coming from some leaders of the Somali population in Minneapolis and Minnesota, longstanding members of the community. And the fraud goes back to the COVID time of federal money that was sent to the state of Minnesota. It was simply misused to the tune of the billion. So dozens have already been convicted. But again the governor is taking direct aim at President Trump over this for politicizing this entire matter.

[Steve Bannon]

This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going medieval on these people. Reasons I got a free shot on all these networks lying about the people. The people have had a belly full of it. I know you don't like hearing that. I know you try to do everything in the world to stop that, but you're not going to stop it. It's going to happen.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

And where do people like that go.

[Steve Bannon]

To share the big lie?

[News Anchor/Reporter]

MAGA MEDIA I wish in my soul, I wish that any of these people had a conscience.

[Steve Bannon]

Ask yourself what is my task and what is my purpose? If that answer is to save my country, this country will be saved. War ROOM here's your host, Stephen K. Banner. Monday, the 5th of January in the rear of our Lord 2026. What a way to start off the year with a bang. This is a tale of two cities. Caracas and I guess lower Manhattan or New York City. And Minneapolis, the signals coming out of Minneapolis. Waltz, remember was just running for his third term as a tee up for a 2028 run and he was on the short list, he was on their short list as a presidential candidate. He's now done. This is the power of not just the Somalian situation, but the entire situation about these programs essentially taking illegal aliens, what do they call them, refugees, migrants, whatever program they come in, asylum program, they're all illegal. It's all 100%. They're all gun decked getting in here and they all have to be removed and taking your tax dollars. They understand the polling is just not magas outraged but most importantly independents are are completely outraged because they've heard Waltz's liver lipped BS for years and years and years. He's done. He's a casualty of this war, this political warfare. This is quite frankly ten times more important than what's going to happen in the court day. And, and that's very important for obviously for all the geopolitical and geostrategic reasons that that are occurring in the western hemisphere and throughout the world. And we've got a team. We're going to have Erik Prince, we've got Oscar Blue. Ramirez, who's been in Venezuela, is heading back there. Jack, Jack Posobics going to join us. Brian Kennedy. We're going to talk about Guyana, we're going to talk about the oil. All the geostrategic elements of hemispheric defense. May throw in a little Greenland on you too, since the president seems like he's, he's on a roll and looking at that. Also going to talk about disturbing news coming out of Tehran. It's not the, it's not the protests in the streets. They're, they are expressing their anger at the regime. We told you, these mulas don't know what they're doing. It's complete countries completely upside down. The sanctions are working and we're not even going hard enough. We could cut off the oil in a second, but in the streets. But of course, you got the Greater Israel Project. They're just itching. They're just itching to get in there. Stir it up. You don't need to stir it up. We don't need foreign intervention. We don't need the CIA. We don't need anything with the United States. Just let it all happen. Let the people, let the Persians be Persians. Let them take care of it. David Zier is in lower Manhattan. I think I've got Royce White. I'm gonna have Mike Lindell. Royce, do I have Royce? Royce White joins us. Royce, you're the, you're running for the Senate for the Republican nomination. You have been on this one and talking about this for years, pointing this out of how the Somalian community there is really stealing from the African American and Hispanic community. It's been a huge issue. Now Waltz is gone. How big a deal is this? A, is this political earthquake as big as we think it is in Minnesota.

[Royce White]

Sir, to say the very least. Steve, thanks for having me on. I've been saying it for two and a half years. Minnesota, the belly of the beast, should be the focal point of all American politics to underline the corruption of the Democrat Party. Because Minnesota, you know, remember heavy dnc, Klobuchar, Keith Ellison, then Tim Waltz. Not by accident, not by coincidence, these people are major players in a much bigger Democrat establishment nationwide. Governor Walsh throwing in the white flag. The signal is from the dfl, the dnc, all the vertical donors, the, the donor class that they see the, the, the, the writing on the wall for 2026.

[Steve Bannon]

In fact, they think they can, they can Cauterize this by having Walt step down that. You're right, Allison. He's up to his neck in this. You got the. You got the beating heart. Minnesota is a power player. They punch way above their weight when it comes to politics in the Democratic Party. I mean, so many of the ideas come out of there. So much of the money comes out of there. So much of the street muscle comes out of there. And they think they're cauterizing this with Waltz. Do you think. You think it stops with Waltz, Sir?

[Royce White]

They can't stop it. The avalanche is on. All they're doing is conceding the defeat. The question is, will we get these Minnesota elections secure so that the results can show what we all know to be true? A million conservatives and Christians in Minnesota didn't cast a ballot in 2024's presidential election. I don't even know if I believe it, but I do know with everything that's going on here with Tim Waltz and the independents, let alone the. The minority communities who are just as fed up with this type of government subsidy fraud, we're in the Minnesota in play big in 2026 and I can't wait.

[Steve Bannon]

Royce, hang on for one second. We're have you stick around. The gubernatorial candidate. We've got the Senate candidate. Gubernatorial candidate is on the road as he should be campaigning. He's going to join us. That is the Mike Lindell. We've got David Zier outside the federal court in lower Manhattan. You remember the federal court there, Right? So we're get. We're going to get David Zier. We got Erik Prince. Got a lot on Venezuela, a lot on hemispheric defense. President Trump's now saying, hey, look, to complete my hemispheric defense, I need Greenland. The Danes are up in arms all this morning in the war room. America's heart.

[Royce White]

Go.

[Steve Bannon]

America's voice family. Are you on get her yet?

[Mike Lindell]

No.

[Steve Bannon]

What are you waiting for?

[Mike Lindell]

It's free, it's uncensored, and it's where.

[Steve Bannon]

All the biggest voices in conservative media are speaking out. Download the Getter app right now. It's totally free. It's where I put up exclusively all of my content 24 hours a day. Want to know what Steve Bannon's thinking? Go to Getter. That's right.

[Oscar Blue Ramirez]

You can follow all of your favorites.

[Steve Bannon]

Steve Bannon, Charlie Kirk, Jack Posobi, and so many more.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

Download the Getter app now.

[Steve Bannon]

Sign up for free and be part of the hoopin. Welcome back. Okay, Pete Hex got the ball rolling on Mark Kelly. I believe the start of the process. They, they're sending now, they've notified him. They're sending a formal letter of censure. Secretary Navy's involved. They're going to take and review this. Secretary Navy's going to review it for 30 days. And I think we're going to get the recommendation to recall Mark Kelly to active duty and then to court martial him. I'm gonna get poso Eric Prince trying to get Neil McCabe up on all of this. This just broke another good sign. Let's go to David's here. Royce is going to stick with us. We're gonna get Mike Lindell. So we got a lot going on this morning, but remember, there's an earthquake coming out of Minnesota. There's an earthquake coming out of Minnesota. So let's make sure we stay on the signal. Gonna be a lot of noise today, but let's stay on the signal. I want to go to David Zier in lower Manhattan outside the federal courthouse. David, get us up to speed. So they got him on the EU regime. They extracted him. 32 Cubans. 32 Cubans. This is what the Cubans admit. 32 Cuban security guards killed in the line of duty protecting Maduro. That's how deep the relationship is with the Cubans. Now, you don't have to talk about it. You can actually prove it because the Cubans admitted it. We extracted him, put him on the Iwo Jima, then got him to New York City. He kind of bounced around between DEA offices and eventually got to, was it MDC over in Brooklyn, and now he's down in the courthouse in lower Manhattan. So, Davis, walk us, walk us through the process. What is going to happen to Maduro today? And, and what should we be looking for, sir?

[David Zier]

Well, the Cuban deaths remind me of Grenada when they had 700 construction workers who were really Cubans building the Runway for the Soviets there. But we're outside of the Patrick Moynihan District Courthouse here. Judge Hellestein will preside at 12 noon over this arraignment here. And he's the guy Clinton appointed judge who denied Trump's use of the Alien Enemies act to deport Trende Aragua. And then Hellerstein refused to move Donald Trump's court case or the hush money trial from state to federal court also here. But these indictments he presided over go all the way back to 2011. And they just convicted El Pollo the Chicken, who was a Costa de la Solis member here. His sentencing, I think, is coming up next week in the same court. So in 2020, they indicted Maduro and they just superseded that indictment with a superseding indictment here, adding to the charges Pam Bondi with new things like narco terrorism, conspiracy, 25 years of cooperation with FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, weapons charges, corruption and violence. And it may be possible, I don't know for sure, but they can add to these charges through the superseding indictment or subsequent superseding indictments to involve other things. Like I know the International Criminal Court's talking about human rights abuses by Maduro right now and other and the specific allegations here that Maduro cooperated with the Sinaloa cartel Trandiagua for kidnappings, beatings, murder of rivals, including the trafficking here there are weapons charges and again, standing on its face, I'm not so sure. You know, if there's a solid case of the prosecutors to get a conviction here, maybe they can add to it. I just wanted to add there's some precedence here for arresting Maduro and bringing him back to the United States. The Cato Institute, Clark Neely wrote on Saturday federal courts held that the manner in which a defendant is brought before US Court, even by force, even from foreign soil, does not defeat criminal jurisdiction, he's saying. But according to CNN, they reminded us in my 1989 Bill Barr decision when he was in the Department of Office of Legal Counsel that a president has the inherent constitutional authority when the they got Noriega to order the FBI to take people into custody in foreign countries, even if it violated international law. So a lot is going to unfold here and the prosecution's going to make their case. And we expect Maduro and his wife Celia, flown by chopper over from the Metropolitan Detention center this morning to plead not guilty.

[Steve Bannon]

One of the things I watched this thing by the drones of the helicopters that CNN is and others had up there is how disturbing and this is why we need to focus on our country. And it just, it breaks my heart that Mandami is now there. How awful New York City looked. I mean it looked worse in parts of Caracas. When you go to areas of Brooklyn, the Bronx, other places it looked, it looked absolutely horrific. And I think that should be a big lesson for us, particularly as we focus on all these things that are going on right now. We need to focus back here to the United States always has to be the centerpiece. Look at the wall situation. If you have add the importance of what's happened with Maduro and which is monumental, don't get me wrong, in, in the federal court in lower Manhattan and the earthquake that's coming out of Minnesota because they realize Walls was one of their best guys. You know, he's the guy that's like the gym coach. He's the guy hunts, you know, this is why he can relate. They need somebody that can relate to. To white Christian men, right? So their party is just not a party of freaks, which it is. This is why Waltz was picked to be Kamala's running mate. He just quit. This thing was a layup. The thing, the CNN piece we showed were all lies and misrepresentations in spin. The reason Waltz decided to run for a third term is to give him something to do to make his case, to go up against Newsom and really Whitmer and Pritzker and all these Midwest governors. This is why he was doing it. He was bulletproof. Absolutely bulletproof. You know, initially, when you had the speaker of the House there, who's. Who's no heavyweight, the Republican in Minnesota and Mike Lindell, they took all these candidacies as a joke, right, because they. They have a lock, not just a lock on the electoral system up there actually counting the votes, which is bad enough, but they own the media. They own all of it. I mean, this thing was absolutely, absolutely drilled in. That's why this earthquake with. Here's what I don't get with. It was a law enforcement action. I think the administration really structured that well. There was dea, you had. It was a Special Forces ops, right? And they took the guys out. But dea, this was a law enforcement. To serve a warrant to basically arrest the guy and bring him back here to the United States. And you're right, David, there's a lot of precedent for that. And the Cato guys and other guys have done a good job explaining it. Here's what I don't get, and I don't have the stills up here, but I'm sure most of the audience has seen them or if Grayson Mo can put them up. But once he got back here, I mean, when he was on the. On the. On the. I think the helicopter taking you back to the Iwo Jima, he was in prison sweats. Those are basic prison sweats with the blackout goggles and all that. The first one that President Trump put up, you know, that looks like a guy that's disoriented and, you know, in the middle of the night, and it's been, you know, it's a snatch and grab. But once he got to New York, I mean, there. There are a number of pictures of him with DEA agents They're kind of treating him like a rock star. I mean, when he gets on that sally port in the back of that armored vehicle, comes up, it looks like 20 or 30 agents with their phones up taking, you know, taking memorial videos for the family. There's. There's a couple of photos where he's doing thumbs up. He changes outfits all the time. You know, having been. Having been in the. Had the pleasure of being a guest of the federal government, the Bureau of Prisons. That's not how it rolls. They're not sitting there giving you changes of garb. You get the prison sweats, and then you get your prison uniform. So explain it. You know, law enforcement, what this. And a couple of times when he was handcuffed, he's next to DEA officers where he could get in a chokehold with them. I mean, he wasn't handcuffed in back of himself, which I think is the normal procedure so that he can't attack an officer. But walk me through this. Why did it seem like DEA in particular was pretty lax with their prisoner? Sir.

[David Zier]

I don't know the answer to that, other than, you know, the Metropolitan Detention center is known for very poor conditions. People accusing them of sometimes having maggots in the food and harsh conditions.

[Steve Bannon]

Okay, but hang on, but hang on, but hang on, hang on, hang on. David, David, David, hang on, hang on. I'm not talking about metropolitan dissension. That's a bureau prisons operation. I'm talking about dea. I mean, you know, the dea, Posoba is going to be on here. Posobuk is one of the guys down at Gitmo. At Gitmo, when you walk up there, that's not how they treat you. Okay? Even I was in a. A low security. Not a camp, but a low security at Danbury. That's not how they treat you when you walk in there. It's all business. There's no photos. There's no, you know, thumbs up. It's. You're not there to. You're not there to have. You're. You're not in charge of yourself. And they make it very evident this. The DEA officers did not do that. They did not make it very evident that this guy was a prisoner. I mean, he's wishing people, you know, happy New Year. He's giving thumbs up. They're taking photos with him like that. Like it's. Like it's a fraternity. So what happened? Don't. It's not the md. I'm not talking mdc. That's a. That's a. They they make that, they make that a rat infested hell hole to intimidate these prisoners. That's not random. They could, if they wanted to clean it up, they could clean it up. Right. They do that on purpose. But why, why were the DEA officers particularly look like LAX with the prisoner?

[David Zier]

Well, I was getting to the point that yes, he was wishing everyone a happy New Year. He didn't look too worried there. And part of this security classification, not only in the prison but in the courthouse here, you know, high, high security designation, 24 hour surveillance restricting his communication, political activity. Maybe it had something to do with that. He's the most notorious figure to ever come through, you know, lower Manhattan and international.

[Mike Lindell]

A criminal.

[David Zier]

I, I can't, I can't explain that. I can't go further and, and you know, conject whether, you know, they, they're, if they're, if they're sympathetic to him or empathetic. But.

[Steve Bannon]

Yeah, I don't, I don't know, sympathetic, but so. Okay, hang on, David, we're going to come back to you. You're going to be down. This arraignment supposed to take place at noon. Of course, real America's voice, you can't get into federal courts with, with cameras. But David Zier is going to be there. We got David Zier as a scene, as we always does, and David Zier knows his way around down there. We're going to take a short commercial break. I think I'll get some of these photos up. Also, Marco laid it out and then was reemphasized by President Trump. It was playing games. Marco, Marco Rubio said the other day, the most perceptive thing he said or anybody said, he stood up to Mike and say, hey, look, President Trump gave this guy deal after deal after deal. He's making videos and dancing, doing dance videos. There's gonna come a point in time that you're just gonna hit Trump's tripwire when he's trying to work with you. And if you don't work with him, his motto is no games. Short break, back in a moment. Here's your host, Stephen K. Ban. Okay, Mike Lindell's traveling, he's going to join us here momentarily. Royce White, just closing thoughts. This has been a, a absolute earthquake coming out of Minnesota. Of course you've been, you've been talking about this for years. People have been banging on this and you know, the, the mainstream media saying, oh, this has all been taken care of. These guys are working on nothing. It's a bald faced lie and it's just not maga. Now you've got independent voters are sitting there going, they're outraged and even some Democrats to say, you're taking my tax money and this is how you've financed the invasion of our country. And these people are taking the limited resources we have. That should go with. Because the Americans believe in a safety net to those who really need it. Right. I think there's a general consensus of that now. The safety nets, way out of control, et cetera. But these people are stealing and they're laughing at you. They're stealing it and they're laughing at you. They got these phony daycare centers. You get down there, they got every excuse or they're laughing in your face. And finally Walls realized there's a firestorm here. He can't control. How, how does this gonna impact what's gonna happen in 26? You got Ellison running for Attorney General. You know, Klobuchar still a big shot. What is they're talking about now? They're talking about drafting her to run for governor. What, what are your thoughts again?

[Royce White]

People have to realize Minnesota is a focal point of power, political power for the dnc. Klobuchar, Keith Ellison been top of the, top of the heap in terms of influence in the Democrat Party. Tim Waltz was, you know, was called upon in 2024 to fill in the role as a relatable VP candidate. He just failed in dramatic fashion. And now the, the, the fraud and all the other problems in Minnesota are coming up under his watch. And we're just, we're just at the tip of the iceberg with the fraud. Let's be clear about that. They're saying 10, 11 billion. It's going to be 20 billion in no time. I mean, there's no bottom to the fraud here in Minnesota, not to mention the election fraud. I think what you see happen here is Senator Amy Klobuchar steps in to run for governor. And you know, Tim Waltz will go on some type of liberal sabbatical. He'll, he'll, he'll go to some retreat and try and get his world together. He'll eat vegan pizza, drink arugula juice. And then Senator Amy Klobuchar will try to reappoint him as US senator once she wins in 2026. I don't think that she can win either. She was so. She was hemorrhaging approval ratings in, in our race in 2024. If I had to support the Republican establishment, which again, not one sitting Republic Republican congress member here in Minnesota, four Of them, we have not one sitting Republican Congress member was willing to endorse me after I had won the Republican nomination. So, you know, we talk about the Union Party all the time. The Republicans are geared up to win no matter who they run. In Minnesota in 26. We just got to put our shoulder to the wheel now.

[Steve Bannon]

Tom Emers. You mean Tom Emers who's so. Thank God for Tom Emmers bringing this to light of the Somalian thing. Oh, oh, excuse me. That's right.

[Narrator/Reporter]

He.

[Royce White]

He started Somali caucus caucus.

[Steve Bannon]

Right, right.

[Royce White]

Him and Keith Ellison, biggest phony in the world.

[Steve Bannon]

He's gonna.

[Royce White]

Yeah.

[Steve Bannon]

I've been telling people for years he's gonna skate in now. He's gonna skate in now and high stick it. He's gonna high stick. He's a toug.

[Royce White]

Oh, don't go ahead, sir. Wait a second. Don't be surprised to see Tom Emmer come in now as a dark horse to run as the Republican nominee for governor now that Tim Waltz has bleeded, you know, bled out in front of the entire world. There was already rumors that Tom Emmer might run. There isn't a bigger. Let me be clear about this. There isn't a bigger progenitor of uni party politics in the entire country than Tom Emmer. Tom Emmer wears his MAGA hat. He kisses the president's rear end and behind his back. He is the most subversive person to the America first and MAGA movement in the entire country. This Republican establishment, him, Vin Weber, the entire crew of them, are the reason why Tim Waltz was able to do what he's done and the reason why the DFL has become as strong as it has. Because we're too soft. That's the only answer. How do communists and Satanists take a Protestant country when Christians and conservatives become soft?

[Steve Bannon]

Amen. Royce White delivering it. Royce White, where do people go to find out more about you as a political candidate, sir, and where they go to find all your great content?

[Royce White]

Royce White, US. That's the campaign website. You can also find me on X Getter, Facebook, all the social media platforms. Please call me crazy on YouTube. Real America's voice, Saturday mornings before the great Steve Bannon.

[Steve Bannon]

Now, people know that Royce White and I are very close, very close friends. I think the world of Royce. As I told him today, God came down and tapped you on the shoulder and just said, stay on message. Okay? This is providential for you and Lindell. God came down and tapped both you guys on the shoulder. Just stay on message. Royce White, love you. Fight on, sir.

[Royce White]

Godspeed, brother. Thank you.

[Steve Bannon]

Godspeed. Bruce White. Wow. So do I have, Do I have. I have Oscar Blue Ramirez and I have Brian Kennedy. Let me go. Let me go to Brian Kennedy. I tell you what, let me take Oscar first for some ground truth. And we get to Erik Prince and Brian Kennedy. Oscar, can you give us an update? Okay, a little confusion, right? President Trump said first the VP is on board and he's not a fan of the Nobel Prize winner, right? Says he doesn't. She doesn't have a lot of support and, you know, is not strong enough, et cetera. The VP and the people should know that vp, I think, is tougher than Maduro. Look, Maduro's got all the publicity, but he's a bus driver. He was a bus driver that was a union guy and was kind of Chavez's pick because Chavez didn't like strong people around him because those dictators never want to look around and say, hey, I think that guy is better than you and we can replace you. So he always had weak people, Maduro being one, but he's a bus driver. The vice president comes from a. She's basically from a family of mafia types, right? Not obviously Italian, but really the mob that ran that runs Venezuela long before Chavez and these guys showed up. She's a tough hombre and she kind of gave it as good as she got with President Trump on Saturday. Now she's singing a very different tune this morning. So get us an update. You, your, your hit with us on Saturday went viral where you said, hey, look, Maduro is one guy, but you've got. He's not even the most important of another two or three guys around him. They're a little bit dug in right now, are they not, sir?

[Oscar Blue Ramirez]

Yes, absolutely. And that's the thing, Steve, that, you know, they have the intelligence that the American government has on these people. It is just profound. And that is the number one reason why Delta Rodriguez cabin, she came out with statements saying we are going to be collaborating with the United States government. It basically says that Donald Trump ended El Chavismo, basically ended socialism and is trying to end socialism in Venezuela. And this has been an enormous thing inside of Venezuela and with Venezuelan political analysts also outside of Venezuela. It's historic. Not only that, the statements also by Marco Rubio that why he did not extract it. The other two individuals that, with that video that we are talking about, Steve, that is Yozal Cabello and Padrino Lopez, that those are the other two heads of El Cartel de los Olles that practically Possibly they already told him, if you do not collaborate and if you do not cooperate, you are next. We are coming after you. Padrino Lopez and Di Oz El Cabello. As soon as Maduro got extracted, they started making videos to look at the population, to make the population think that they're looking like tough guys. And then all of a sudden when Denzil Rodriguez came out, they look really calm. They look like, you know what, we are not going to talk about it anymore. We're not going to make these funny videos. And the only thing that is happening right now on the ground, Steve, is that they already, these two guys are trying to oppress the population already. Trying to make them think we still have the power. They're restricting food access, they're restricting the Internet. These electricity shutdowns like an socialist countries continue to happen. They're continuous happening in Caracas, happening in the parts of, you know, cavimas and Maracaibo and several different sections that they're important in Venezuela. They're still having that. Trying to oppress the population, to not go out and celebrate. And if they go out and celebrate, they're already oppressing them and telling them, we are going to charge you with treason to our country and terrorism.

[Steve Bannon]

Yeah, I want to make sure, because there's tons of videos. In fact, Joe Allen is going to appear later. Some of these are already been designated as artificial intelligence, which people didn't pick up. But there's a ton of videos out there, particularly that they're flooding the streets and people drive around honking horns and. And celebrating. Is that actually going on with these guys or if they locked it down? Because I've seen other videos where it's very quiet and people are in long lines to get water or to go buy food. And the reason is that they restrict it, even the hours a day they can do it. What is closer to the reality?

[Oscar Blue Ramirez]

The reality is that there's no celebrations outside in the Venezuelan country. They already told them, you know, the government has been oppressing the population for the longest time. Also in the elections. This started happening since Maduro stole the elections. They started oppressing the populations. No celebrations outside. Whoever celebrates is going to be charged with terrorism and treason to the country that will be up to 15 or 30 years. A lot of these videos are AI. A lot of these videos are soccer game celebrations. A lot of these videos are past protest celebrations that they are basically using them to just get clicks and likes. That's the only thing. And to disinform the population, Steve. But until now, this is the reality the Venezuelan people are not going outside, are not celebrating, they're afraid, they are happy. This is what happened when I was right there five or six days ago, I was talking to all these citizens and they were saying, you know what? We're waiting for the moment that this guy gets extracted, this guy, that there's some kind of intervention by the United States of America. We're happy that he's been designated. And narco terrorists, we're happy that all these organizations, they are designated but we cannot say it on camera, we're afraid because we're going to get detained and we're going to get stopped and also we're going to get arrested. So it's exactly the same thing. You know, there's a lot of videos of Venezuelan celebrating. A lot of them, they're from outside. Let's remember there are more than 12 million migrants from Venezuela, outside of Venezuela. So it's not necessarily means that they're celebrated in Caracas or outside in whatever city in Venezuela.

[Steve Bannon]

Okay, hang on. So you're gonna stick with me, particularly as I get Eric up here. Can I play the video? We got a short clip of Marco, he talked for about two or three minutes. We got a short clip, Let me play that and bring in Brian Kennedy. We have a president, the 47th president. United States is not a game player. When he tells you that he's going to do something, when he's going to tell you he's going to address a problem, he means it, he actions it. I, I can tell you I've watched this process not for four things, 14, 15 years, been around it, everybody talks. I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that when I get there. We're going to do this, we're going to, this is a president of action. Like I don't understand yet how they.

[Mike Lindell]

Haven'T figured this out.

[Steve Bannon]

And now if you don't know, now you know, because this is the way.

[David Zier]

It'S going to play out.

[Steve Bannon]

And it of a lot of things have been said around President Trump, etc. You know, I talk about this on the show. If you get to know President Trump, Marco Rubio right there stuck the land. Now Marco is obviously a neocon and you know, he's already marching towards Havana. But in just the way President Trump rolls, he nailed it. And now we know from reporting that's coming out that President Trump gave Maduro every alternative to do this and with his top guys, you know, but they had to leave the country and he was prepared to Accommodate many different aspects of it and eventually the guy stop responding and then start doing these videos. And at some point in time, you're going to hit President Trump's tripwire. He's just going to go, hey, there's no games here. We're not going to play games. If you're going to play games, you're not going to play games. That's what happened here. That's what he rolled into Maduro and pull him out. You got 32 dead Cubans. We still don't know the full story. Brian Kennedy is going to join us. I tell you, Brian, give me a minute now. I'm holding through the break. You think there's something bigger? Look, MAGA fully supported President Trump and obviously a precision military exercise. And Maduro's Maduro, you want to take him and try him. Go get him and try him. The bigger issues here I think people are concerned about is that President Trump, like last night saying, hey, you know, you said the other day, we're going to have boots on the ground and last night we're going to rebuild the country. I'm just noticing that when Maduro was taken from the Brooklyn Detention center through lovely parts of Brooklyn and I think some of the Bronx, the United States looks worse than Caracas.

[Mike Lindell]

Right?

[Steve Bannon]

I think I would say maybe we should. Maybe some of that focus should be here. I tell you what, I'm gonna hold you through the break. I've already talked through. I've already talked through your minute. We're gonna take a short commercial break. Birch Gold, if you haven't notice, markets are kind of on fire all over the world. There's a little geopolitical turbulence going on. Or Bond said today, no need to meet in Budapest right now. He had offered it up as a place for Putin and President Trump to sit down maybe on the back end of the Davos meeting. President Trump is going to Davos. At least he said he's going to go. That's going to happen next week. Now said no need this. The peace process, really no peace process right now. The Middle east on fire, particularly Tehran. And this word is that the IDF wants to go there. Birch Gold, make sure you know about gold as a hedge in these turbulent markets.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had been insistent on running for a third term, which would have been unprecedented in and of itself. Minnesota has not elected a governor for three consecutive terms. But it is that deepening federal probe as well as this widening scandal. As you said, he is not implicated in this at all. This is actually somewhat old News in Minnesota.

[Steve Bannon]

An earthquake. Somewhat old news in Minnesota. Yeah, a earthquake out of Minnesota today. And we have Mike Lindell. Mike, I won't go into the details of why you're 45 minutes late for your hit. We'll do that another time. Let's say. Michael. Michael. And I was making every effort. So. Mike, this is an earthquake. You have been caught. You've. You've been saying this about Waltz. In fact, you were the guy that brought this up when he was nominated for vice president, said this guy will never pass scrutiny. What was it here in the last couple of days that Waltz basically said? Is it the deepening of the scandal and knowing that it could be tens and tens of billions of dollars? I mean, what. Waltz was using this third term as a launch pad for his 28 run, particularly against the Whitmers and the Pritzkers, those upper Midwest, big state Democratic. Democratic governors. He thought he'd be more competitive as a current governor. So what happened?

[Mike Lindell]

Well, I think, Steve, you just can't play defense and try and be offense. Try and do any kind of a campaign. We don't know how deep this goes. I mean, I've. I've said it before. I mean, you. You either you're the most incompetent governor in history, that you didn't watch all $18 million missing or. Or $18 billion. I mean, this is 18 with a B. I mean, even if it's 9 billion, whatever it is, you're not. Either you were so negligent, or you let it go on. So, you know, that's all. I mean, he can't play defense and have. And then also be. You know, they run a campaign, so I think. I think they made. You know, they made these decisions. Rumor has it he met with Amy Klobuchar yesterday. You know, I don't know how this will play out, but I would. I want. No matter what, this has to. We can't. They can't just go, oh, no, now he's not running. Let's just cover it up. All the crowd in Minnesota, He. He needs to be checked into Keith Ellison.

[Steve Bannon]

Hang on, hang on.

[Mike Lindell]

Omar.

[Steve Bannon]

Hang on, hang on. Axios. Axios. Axios has got a story up from the Smart. They're pretty smart over there. They're saying Keith Ellison is weighing and measuring. Now, should he get in the race? Because they fear you. And Ellison figures he's the guy can take you on. How can. Keith Ellison's gonna be in prison because of this, isn't he? I mean, hasn't he been Part of the scandal and looking the other way.

[Mike Lindell]

Yeah. And Keith Ellison has been attacking me for a year ago September. That my Lindell Recovery Network, by the way, also my foundation, which is gonna have a lot to do with securing these welfare platforms in Minnesota, have it all laid out ready to go. And Keith Ellison knows that. Keith Ellison, I believe, has to be in on this. All this fraud. It couldn't have been. For one thing, he. He obviously hasn't prosecuted anything. So if he's thinking of running, I mean, you know, Steve, these guys, you know, I guess they got. We'll have to see how this plays out. But this guy. We can't have any. This thing goes horizontal and vertical. These. You got an. You got a crooked attorney general, governor, lieutenant governor. I mean, all these things, it's gotta. This is gonna uncover open up the most massive fraud the world has ever seen. And Keith Ellison shouldn't even be thinking about Ronnie. But if he is bringing on. Bring it on, that'll be great. We'll just check into him, which should have been done a long time ago. He's got a history in him. I think he's part of the Muslim brotherhood. I mean, this guy goes way back, but.

[Steve Bannon]

So, you know, Minnesota has a reputation of being nice folks, decent people. How.

[Mike Lindell]

How.

[Steve Bannon]

How did this happen? How did people not be up in arms about this? Now they're up in arms about it. But Waltz has been corrupt in both a combination of incompetence and corruption for years. So why the. Why the people in Minnesota tolerated.

[Mike Lindell]

Steve, we were brainwashed. We were. You know, this. That's the Minnesota media, just like all the media, even the national media, obviously, we know how that's been for five years now since we. Since they tried to just cover everything up. January 7th and 8th of 2021, when they cancel 1.2 million Americans on all the media platforms and voices like your own Steve in the war room. Posse here in the war room, getting out and never letting our voices die. But Minnesota media is a complete. They cover it up. They cover it up. They cover it up. And so even though we're Minnesota. Nice. We didn't really know. You really didn't know. You know, and then plus. So politically, Greg. Oh, you know. Oh, you know, you can't say anything bad because they're Somalians or this or you can't say anything bad about this. And if you do, then they would attack you. You got to realize, too, when we've been sounding the alarm in Minnesota, some of us have. And then you get attacked by the local media. You get attacked by Waltz, you get attacked by Keith Ellison. But we're going to get attacked no more. This is woke. This is wake up. Woke so many people up in Minnesota. Just like the 2020 election woke up the whole world and the whole United States. This big scandal, the biggest fraud in the world. History is what's going to happen now and I think is woken us up. It's no more Minnesota. Nice. We're nice. But you know what? You can only be nice so long and now everybody's going to be prosecuted and the people that are here illegally. Goodbye. And you know you've. We're not going to let the Minnesota media cover things up anymore. They're disgusting. Start with the Minneapolis Star and Tribune, one of the worst cover up papers in the United States. I will put it up against any paper as being how horrible they are.

[Steve Bannon]

Mike, overnight you've now become the leading candidate for governor in Minnesota. Where do people go? Find out more. They love you and they love your pillows. But now how do they find out about your political program? Where do they go, you guys.

[Mike Lindell]

And by the way I was meeting with farmers the last two days so we've got a great thing coming out about that. But you need to go to mike Lindellgov.com everybody help. Now's the time to help out. Donate, donate, donate mike lindell gov.com you guys, everything we're doing right now, check it out there. We've got the big straw poll coming up on February 3rd in Minnesota, very important month. I'm going to be going on a two week campaign starting tomorrow where it's all the governor debates, all the candidates on stage with them all. And I've got the best plans, problem solutions that this country's ever seen. Some of them will be able to use countrywide, especially with the farmers and what we, we all talked about this whole weekend. Steve. So It's Mike Lindell gov.com everybody please help out now. And we're going to save Minnesota and help save this country for such a time as this. We are going to win and we are going to get this, get Minnesota and the country back on, back on the right track. We've been going down some very bad paths. Everybody.

[Steve Bannon]

Mike Lindell. Godspeed. Thank you sir.

[Mike Lindell]

Thank you. Thanks Steve.

[Steve Bannon]

What a fighter. Okay, just some logistics. We're packed with more stories and analysis but at noon our Time Waltz is going to have a press conference I think in St. Paul, Minneapolis, St. Paul. @ the same time, Maduro I think is going to be walking into the federal court to be indicted. We got them all covered. We're gonna take a short commercial break, take your phone out and text Bannon B A N N Owen at 989-898. The ultimate guy. Totally free. No obligations to investing gold and precious. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed.