THE WAR ROOM WITH STEPHEN K. BANNON – EPISODE #5077

Date: January 19, 2026
Podcast: Real America’s Voice / iHeartPodcasts
Host: Steve Bannon
Guests: Royce White, Nora Ben Laden, Rabbi Wielicki, Protesters/Reverend Activist (audio), various contributors (clips and discussion)

Overview:

This episode of War Room with Stephen K. Bannon (MLK Day/Davos Special) focuses on mounting domestic tension around immigration enforcement and protest actions in Minnesota, intensifying federal investigations and accusations of authoritarianism under the Trump administration, and the global geopolitical realignment spotlighted by the World Economic Forum in Davos. The War Room team discusses domestic unrest, policy ramifications, and elite global gathering shifts as Larry Fink takes over from Klaus Schwab at Davos, with President Trump set to make a controversial return.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Escalation of Federal Power and Democratic Pushback

• [02:13–03:03]
  • Bannon and Nora Ben Laden discuss recent DOJ investigations into prominent Democrats (e.g., Tim Walz, Jacob Fry) for opposing the Trump administration’s immigration actions, describing it as “drifting towards autocracy.”
  • Trump’s overt threat of using the Insurrection Act to deploy military force locally, and his suggestion of canceling midterms, alarm the panel.
  • Ben Laden: “To top it all off, Trump even floated the idea of canceling the midterm elections, given that his party's chances of holding the House do not look good.”
• [02:16]
  • Bannon: "Just look at what we've seen this past week alone... Democrats in Congress under investigation by Trump’s Justice Department over protected speech."
• [04:24–04:40]
  • Bannon outlines the administration's stance: no planned DOJ/FBI investigation into recent controversial police shootings unless “circumstances change,” refusing media/political pressure.

2. Church Protest and Community Frustration in Minnesota

• [03:07–06:42, 10:58–12:22, 20:30–21:38]
  • The show repeatedly features audio of Rev. activist-led protest in a Minnesota church, targeting the congregation and leadership for “complicity” with ICE enforcement and not standing with Somali and Latino communities.
  • Protester/Reverend Activist (paraphrased and direct):
    • "You cannot pretend to be a house of God while harboring someone directing ICE agents to wreak havoc… Enough is enough. I am a reverend on top of being a lawyer and activist... Renee Good."
    • "Why are you not standing with your Somali and Latino communities?... You're sinners. You're pretending to be Christians. But we know you live an easy life, don't you? While people are starving. Shame on you."
• Memorable Moment/Quote [10:58]:
  • Protester: "All these comfortable white people who are living lavish, comfortable lives while children are dragged into concentration camps… Stand with the Somalis. Stand with the Latinos. Quit ignoring this injustice."

3. Host & Panel Reactions to Protests and Political Climate

• [12:22–13:06, 23:05–25:43]
  • Bannon frames the protest disruptions as a symptom of a “dying regime,” warning listeners that "we're going medieval on these people."
  • Royce White (GOP Senate Candidate, Minnesota):
    • “Any black person in this country who talks about white supremacy and lets a white man dominate him every night—I can’t take serious.”
    • White downplays the left’s narrative on immigration, arguing the real issue is “national sovereignty, not illegal immigration” and asserts, “Until every illegal immigrant is removed…the border is not restored, and therefore justice is not restored.”
  • Bannon insists mass deportations are coming, and protests are portrayed as radical and disconnected from mainstream society.

4. Davos 2026: The Fink Era and U.S. Power Play

• [16:55, 29:44–44:36]
  • Transition to global focus: Davos coverage (MLK Day, Trump’s arrival, new leadership)
• [34:30–36:22]
  • Nora Ben Laden reports live from Switzerland, recapping Klaus Schwab's ouster and Larry Fink's takeover of the World Economic Forum.
  • Ben Laden: “It’s one villain passing the baton to another…before Klaus Schwab, we had Henry Kissinger…”
• [37:19–38:16]
  • Bannon and Ben Laden agree Fink is “10x more dangerous” than Schwab due to BlackRock’s trillions under management and political ambition.
  • Notable quote [Bannon, 36:22]:
    • “Larry Fink is 10x more dangerous than Klaus Schwab…he controls trillions of dollars of assets…This guy is literally just a…bond salesman, and now he’s king of the world.”
• [39:01–42:45]
  • Discussion of the unprecedented “America House” at Davos, heavy U.S. delegation, President Trump’s anticipated speech (first since returning to WEF), and the symbolic geopolitical message of this U.S. presence.
  • Ben Laden: “It’s his first time coming back to Davos…with the largest ever delegation of the United States of America since the inception of the World Economic Forum.”
• [41:34–42:45]
  • Bannon: “President Trump has shattered the postwar international rules based order as he pivots…focus on hemispheric defense in the Pacific and the Arctic…the danger in the Arctic that lurks beneath.”

5. Geopolitics: Greenland, Tariff Wars, Accusations of Authoritarianism

• [42:47–44:36]
  • Concerns over increasing U.S.-Europe tensions as the EU threatens massive tariffs in response to Trump’s assertion that Greenland is essential for U.S. defense.
  • Ben Laden: "All the headlines show that President Trump is the key figure of this week's Davos…DW headline: 'WEF Donald Trump set to dominate Davos 2026.'"
• [44:36–46:22]
  • Peter Schweitzer’s upcoming “Red Green Alliance” book is previewed—alleged alliance of Marxists and Islamists in Europe and the U.S.
  • Minneapolis is presented as the forefront for analyzing these coalitions (reference back to Somali community issues).

6. Israel, Gaza, and Middle East Dynamics

• [46:22–52:07]
  • Rabbi Wielicki is brought on to weigh in on U.S.-Israel policy and the future of Gaza; Bannon asks about a “peace deal” involving broad international participation (including Qatar and Turkey as security underwriters).
  • Rabbi Wielicki:
    • Skeptical that Hamas will ever disarm: “No one’s going to disarm Hamas…Israel is not going to surrender security control to anybody until Hamas is disarmed.”
    • Says economic incentives alone won't end jihadist violence: “...mistakes that are being made…is this wishful thinking that economic incentives...makes jihadists stop being jihadists.”
  • Bannon and Rabbi argue over the futility of outside mediation given ideologically entrenched actors.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Nora Ben Laden [03:03]:

  • “The White House claims he was simply being facetious [about canceling midterms].”

• Protester/Reverend Activist [03:08 & 10:58]:

  • “We show up somewhere that is a key location…they cannot pretend to be a house of God while harboring someone who is directing ICE agents to wreak havoc upon our community.”
  • “All these comfortable white people…while children are dragged into concentration camps…Shame on you. Do something. Stand with the Somalis. Stand with the Latinos. Quit ignoring this injustice.”

• Steve Bannon [12:22]:

  • “Pray for our enemies because we’re going medieval on these people… The people have had a belly full of it.”

• Royce White [23:05 & 25:43]:

  • “Any black person…who talks about white supremacy and lets a white man dominate him every night—I can’t take serious.”
  • “We have to have a border…until every illegal immigrant is removed from this country, the border is not restored…”

• Steve Bannon [36:22]:

  • “Larry Fink is 10x more dangerous than Klaus Schwab…He was a bond salesman, now he’s king of the world.”

• Nora Ben Laden [39:01]:

  • “He’s coming with the largest ever delegation of the United States of America since the inception of the World Economic Forum…”

• Rabbi Wielicki [47:38 – 49:55]:

  • “No one’s going to disarm Hamas…So long as Hamas is still there, I don’t see any of these actors getting in there and rebuilding the Gaza strip…this wishful thinking that economic incentives and building…makes jihadists stop being jihadists.”

Structured Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:13 | DOJ investigation of Democrats, Insurrection Act threats | | 03:08 | Protester explains “Operation Pull Up” at church | | 04:16–06:42| Protest and church confrontation audio, back-and-forth on protest, law, worship | | 10:58–12:22| Activist diatribe – privilege, ICE, migrant communities, “concentration camps,” activism | | 20:30–21:38| Audio replay – protest in church, Bannon frames context | | 23:05–25:43| Royce White's views on blackness, immigration, anti-left populism, the state of Minnesota | | 29:44–32:00| Davos segment transition, MLK Day, preview of global/geopolitical coverage, Fink takes over | | 34:30–38:16| Nora Ben Laden, Larry Fink replaces Schwab, BlackRock, WEF power structures | | 39:01–42:45| America House at Davos, Trump’s return, significance of U.S. presence | | 44:36–46:22| Geopolitics, upcoming book on Marxist-jihadist alliance, U.S./Europe friction | | 46:22–52:07| Rabbi Wielicki on Israel, security, and the futility of the current peace process on Gaza |

Tone and Language Observations

• Bannon: Aggressive, hyper-partisan, conspiratorial, martial metaphors (“going medieval...”), deeply critical of Democrats and globalists, positioning Trump’s policies as just, necessary, and populist.
• Royce White: Populist/nativist tone, strong on American sovereignty, dismissive of progressive activism as insincere or contradictory, frames “border” as the fundamental civil rights issue.
• Nora Ben Laden: Analytical, critical of “globalist villains,” presents Davos as nefarious power transfer, gives inside summary.
• Rabbi Wielicki: Direct, pragmatic, skeptical of international diplomatic solutions in Middle East peace, prioritizes Israeli security above all.

Summary Conclusion

The episode paints a picture of a world (and nation) at a critical crossroads: domestically, protests against immigration crackdowns and accusations of increasing authoritarianism under Trump dominate, with church disruptions serving as flashpoints for broader ideological culture wars. Globally, regimes and alliances are realigning amid economic and security upheavals. At Davos, BlackRock’s Larry Fink supersedes Schwab, symbolizing technocratic finance’s next phase of elite rule, just as Trump and his massive U.S. delegation arrive to “shatter the post-war order.” Panelists and guests frame all these moves as “resistance to globalism” versus “ascendant authoritarianism,” with each side warning of existential stakes and coming showdowns—both in the streets and on the world stage.