The War Room with Stephen K. Bannon (EP. 5095)

Date: January 26, 2026
Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: Stephen K. Bannon (& guests)

Overview:

This episode of The War Room, hosted by Stephen K. Bannon, focuses on what Bannon calls an "inflection point" for America, where conflicts over immigration policy, internal political divisions, and the threat of “color revolution” tactics converge—particularly manifesting in Minneapolis and, interestingly, Maine. Through in-depth interviews with investigative journalists, political commentators, and activists, the episode paints a picture of alleged organized efforts by left-wing groups, foreign actors, and what the hosts call “controlled opposition” within the GOP, to undermine American sovereignty and enforce radical change. Providing a warlike tone throughout, the episode is dense with warnings against compromise, deep dives into alleged corruption, and calls for unwavering support of strict immigration enforcement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Petri Dish” of America: Maine as a Microcosm

Guest: Steve Robinson, Maine Wire

• Maine as a "destination" for migration: 25 years of Somali migration, more recently central Africans, Haitians, Rwandans.
• State Democratic leadership, especially Gov. Janet Mills, openly pursued policies to increase migrant presence to counter demographic decline.
• Federal COVID-19 money and Medicaid funds allegedly channeled into NGOs and nonprofits run by migrants, with funds supposedly used as de facto electioneering arms for Democrats (especially during 2022 governor’s race).
• Systemic abuse of Medicaid, no-bid contracts, and long-term strategy to expand migratory influence and political leverage.
• Quote:
  “The Democrats really have taken the migrant diaspora, particularly the Somali diaspora, and they've used it as a reason to pump taxpayer money to achieve their own political ends... It was a long, long, long term plan and it's coming to fruition.” (Steve Robinson, 04:47)

2. Law Enforcement, Local Sentiments & ICE Operations

Steve Robinson reports:

• Unlike cities like Minneapolis, the majority of Mainers—estimated 80-85%—support ICE efforts.
• Locals have actively assisted federal operations.
• Opposition is characterized as a “tiny, radical fringe” amplified online rather than on the ground.
• Warning to Republican leadership: don’t back down amid negative press, since “the people of this country support it.”
• Quote:
  "It would be a travesty to allow a fringe minority to undermine the democratic will of 77 million Americans who voted for exactly what President Trump is doing now." (06:48)

3. Minneapolis: Described as “Ground Zero”

Mike Howell (Project Oversight):

• Critiques President Trump for listening to “weak-willed Republicans”—alleged retreat and limitation of enforcement in Minneapolis.
• Warnings against focusing only on “criminal illegal aliens,” claiming numbers are low and mass deportations are needed; claims only 240 Somalis deported last year versus thousands potentially “naturalized.”
• Deep skepticism of Lindsey Graham’s forthcoming legislation—suspects it will be a vehicle for amnesty under the guise of addressing sanctuary cities.
• Quote:
  "It's a jailbreak to the left for a lot of Republican senators... We’re getting mass communications, not mass deportation. So you get the riots but not the deportations." (09:11)
• “If you hear language about worst of worst and focusing on criminals, know it’s over.” (12:45)

4. Allegations of a “Color Revolution”

Bannon, Howell, Bratt, and D.C. Drano:

• Presents unrest in Minneapolis as an organized, well-funded, foreign-influenced insurgency.
• Connects Democratic officials, NGOs, and allegedly foreign-funded organizations using encrypted comms (Signal chats), claims of local officials found in these chats.
• Blames “neo-Marxists,” “over-socialized leftists,” and accuses left-wing activists of treating opposition to ICE as a form of religious fervor/jihad.
• Notable quote (Howell):
  “This country’s been under siege by color revolution for some time... what they’re doing is basically jihad by another means. It’s death by ICE is now the Democrat version of jihad.” (14:51)

5. National GOP Dynamics & Controlled Opposition

• Bannon harshly criticizes politicians like Lindsey Graham and Oklahoma’s governor for advocating compromise.
• Asserts that Republican “controlled opposition” enables progressive advances.
• Links calls for “unity” and “compromise” to betrayal of both MAGA agenda and national security.
• Quote (Bannon):
  “If you blink, you’re going to lose your country. If you pull out of Minneapolis, you’re going to lose your country... This is a moment in history and patriots either gonna man the barricades and say no, we’re not gonna back off here.” (23:20)

6. Foreign Affairs: Diego Garcia

Cleo Pascal (from Guam):

• Warns of UK plan to transfer Diego Garcia (critical U.S. military base territory) to Mauritius, risking Chinese influence through leasing arrangements.
• Urges U.S. Congressional action to prevent this, citing the strategic importance.
• Quote:
  "It's going to require members of Congress... [to] let your members of Congress know you do not want the land under a critical U.S. Military base to be given to an ally of China." (47:13)

7. The “Data War”: Exposing Organization & Tactics

D.C. Drano (Rogan O’Hanley):

• Describes coordinated insurgent tactics in Minneapolis: real-time tracking of ICE agents, data access via state/local government employees, use of encrypted chats for organization.
• Reports personal death threats against journalists (e.g., James O’Keefe) and describes the demonstrations as “low-intensity insurgency.”
• Public release and exposure of signal chats and coordination described as crucial to undermining the opposition’s efforts.
• Quote:
  "Once we exposed their ICE signal chats... they started to abandon them. We're breaking down their comms now. We're exposing their financing... this slow grind of justice is going to play itself out." (38:21)

8. Electoral Implications and the War Room’s Line

• Unyielding support for mass deportations as central to the populist agenda.
• Any retreat is cast as existential failure; victory in Minneapolis (and beyond) depicted as a precedent for saving the country.
• Emphasis on “mass deportations,” “restoring rule of law,” and “finishing what was started.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going medieval on these people.”
  — Stephen K. Bannon (01:46)

• “The Democrats really have taken the migrant diaspora... as a reason to pump taxpayer money to achieve their own political ends. And they're not being particularly stealthy about it.”
  — Steve Robinson (04:47)

• “It would be a travesty to allow a fringe minority to undermine the democratic will of 77 million Americans who voted for exactly what President Trump is doing now.”
  — Steve Robinson (06:48)

• "We’re getting mass communications, not mass deportation. So you get the riots but not the deportations. For instance, last year they only deported 240 Somalians. They probably naturalized, you know, 20 times that number."
  — Mike Howell (09:11)

• "It's a jailbreak to the left for a lot of Republican senators... It pains me to say it because this is the inflection point."
  — Mike Howell (09:36)

• "This country’s been under siege by color revolution for some time in Minneapolis... what they're doing is basically jihad by another means. It's death by ICE is now the Democrat version of jihad."
  — Mike Howell (14:51)

• “The facts are coming out. This invisible coup is becoming a very visible coup. And if you don't show up as being pro American, America first means only that.”
  — Dave Bratt (21:18)

• "If you blink, you’re going to lose your country. If you pull out of Minneapolis, you’re going to lose your country… This is a moment in history and patriots either gonna man the barricades and say no, we’re not gonna back off here.”
  — Stephen K. Bannon (23:20)

• “We're breaking down their comms now. We're exposing their financing... We're going to clean this up and we're going to set an example that you're not going to do this in America. We don't have Marxist no-go zones in our country.”
  — D.C. Drano (38:21)

• "This is where you have to draw the line."
  — Dave Bratt (41:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| MM:SS | Segment & Speaker | Main Topic / Notes | |--------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:46 | Stephen K. Bannon (Opening Rant) | “Dying regime,” populist outrage, warlike rhetoric | | 03:41 | Steve Robinson (Maine segment) | Maine as microcosm for migration & political manipulation | | 06:48 | Robinson/Bannon | Maine ICE support, local sentiment, warning to GOP | | 09:11 | Mike Howell (Project Oversight) | Minneapolis, weak Republicans, focus on mass deportations | | 14:51 | Howell on Color Revolution | Organization in Minneapolis, “jihad by another means” | | 21:18 | Dave Bratt | Connections to “invisible coup,” Schweitzer’s book | | 23:20 | Bannon | Importance of Minneapolis, “moment in history” | | 31:39 | D.C. Drano (Rogan O’Hanley) | Insurgency, data leaks, threats, foreign funding | | 34:10 | Bannon/Drano | Political consequences, need for unyielding enforcement | | 38:21 | D.C. Drano | Disrupting opposition comms, exposing financing | | 41:16 | Dave Bratt | “Draw the line” speech, referencing historical context | | 46:59 | Cleo Pascal (Diego Garcia segment) | British handover threat, Chinese Communist Party | | 49:50 | Mike Lindell | Minnesota gubernatorial run, Minneapolis as “Stalingrad” |

Flow & Tone

The episode maintains an urgent, battle-focused tone—casting all current conflicts as existential and portraying opposition as a mix of foreign enemies, traitorous elites, and radical activists. Guests use martial metaphors (“barricades,” “siege,” “insurgency”), and host Stephen K. Bannon is relentless in focusing on the need for mass mobilization and zero compromise.

Additional Resources/Socials Referenced

• Steve Robinson — @steverob on X, asmanegoes.com, themainwire.com
• Mike Howell — @mhowtweets on X, itsyourgov.com
• D.C. Drano — @dc_draino on X
• Dave Bratt — @bratteconomics on X
• Cleo Pascal — @cleo_paskal on X
• Mike Lindell governor run — mikelindellgov.com

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a detailed breakdown of themes, key allegations, tone, and pivotal moments on immigration, political strategy, “color revolution” accusations, and internal GOP tensions as discussed in this high-stakes episode.