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This is an iHeart podcast.
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A new NFL season means a fresh start and fresh styles. @nflshop.com you'll find the latest jerseys, hats and sideline gear to rep your team all season long. From rookies making their debut to legends, NFLShop.com has it all. Score exclusive styles you won't find anywhere else and show up ready for every kickoff and big play fan like a pro and shop now at NFL the US Electric grid is approaching a breaking point as demand soars from data centers and home energy use. Our aging infrastructure can't keep up and the Department of Energy warns that without action, blackouts could surge 100 fold by 2030. The good news? One solution is already here. Propane. It's American made, stored on site and always ready. Powering homes and businesses with cleaner, reliable energy that doesn't depend on the grid or the weather. Learn more@propain.com if you've been thinking about getting serious with your money, like actually serious, now's the time. The Motley fool is offering new members 50% off their iconic stock recommendation service, Stock Advisor. This is the same service that's crushed the market with recommendations that have returned 1,057% since inception compared to the S&P 500's 180% over that same period. This isn't guesswork. The Motley fool has a track record of finding companies before they become household names. So if you want to invest smarter and you like saving money while doing it, go to fool.com listen to claim your 50% off discount off a one year term of stock advisor. Again, that's fool.com listen returns of 1057% are from the Motley Fool's product stock advisor and measured against S&P 500 returns of 180% as of July 10, 2025. Past performance is not an indicator of future results. All investing involves a risk of loss. Individual investment results may vary.
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Whatever team PHI is on has a chance to win a championship. I'm Christina Williams, host of the podcast in case you missed it with Christina Williams. The WNBA playoffs are here and I've got the inside scoop on everything from key matchups and standout players to the behind the scenes moments you won't find anywhere else. It's really, really hard to be the champions, but we have to remember how.
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It feels and embrace the new challenge that we have.
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So listen to in case youe Missed it with Christina Williams, an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with D Deep Blue Sports and entertainment on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You want smart political talk without the meltdowns? We got you. And I'm Carol Markowitz. And I'm Mary Kathryn Hamm. We've been around the block in media and we're doing things differently. Normally is about real conversations, thoughtful, try to be funny, grounded, and no panic. We'll keep you informed and entertained without ruining your day. Join us every Tuesday and Thursday Normally on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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48 hours.
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Trump's inner circle and his allies in right wing media have been citing the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a justification to crack down not just on the accused perpetrator, but to bring the full weight of the government.
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Down on all their perceived enemies and opponents.
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The left, even though there has been, thankfully from the actual elected leaders of the Democratic Party, a welcome universal and unanimous condemnation of the murder and of all political violence. Even though researchers with no political axe to grind have, when they have looked into the question, consistently found that most American domestic extremist violence is statistically right wing violence. The New York Times reports President Trump and his top advisers threatened on Monday.
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To unleash the power of the federal government to punish what they allege was.
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A left wing network that funds and incites violence, seizing on Charlie Kirk's killing to make broad and unsubstantiated claims about their political opponents. We have to escalate and it's not towards violence. Have you seen anybody in Charlie Kirk's arena? Have you seen anybody on the right go burn down anything, go threaten anybody? No, but we're going to get to the bottom and destroy this. Gave a talk to the CPI guys last night. That's Senator DeMint and Mark Meadows, kind of umbrella organization for conservatives, like conservative leaders. And I said this is an inflection point that those that have just been going along to get along have gotten us here because they haven't stood up. And now, you see, with what happened at Charlie Kirk and as bad as it's presented in Utah, I'm not buying all of it. I'm particularly not buying those text messages. It just seems too stilted, too much like a script, actually a bad script. So we got to get to the bottom of it. You have to designate these groups. You heard Aaron Sabarium from Free Beacon. He's got this piece that you should read just about all the other tweets that were out there, Right. That seem amazingly prescient for Charlie Kirk. Coming to, quite frankly, a college. And not a lot of people know about a university and not a lot of people know about, although I think it's the largest university, bigger than the University of Utah or Brigham Young in the state of Utah. You've got to get to the bottom of these groups. You got to get to the bottom of antifa. You got to see if there's any connections to Butler. We got a whole lot of work to do, right? A whole lot of work to do. And no, I am not buying thei'm not buying the script that was in the text messages. I think so much more has got to be done about this. I think the parents ought to be brought in. I think everybody in the disc of the roommate. What do you mean? The roommate sounds like roommate sounds like their accessory. And not turning him in. He did this text message hours and hours before. Why is that any different than the Boston, the Boston bomber where the four roommates went to prison because they didn't turn him in. I think that no American politician has done more to normalize political violence in this country other than Donald J. Trump. He has used insightful language, dehumanizing language to describe his dissenters or his political opponents. And I would argue that in pardoning at least the 530some odd insurrectionists who violently assaulted police officers on January 6, 2021, he is advocating for the use of political violence in furtherance of his administration. He has told his supporters that if you commit acts of violence, I've got your back and this administration will absolve you of any criminal culpability. And that message has resonated with his supporters. This means war. That is where we are. We are at war with these people. These folks are evil. There is an ultra right MAGA contingent in this country that wants to overthrow the US Government.
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It is a danger to our democracy. It is a danger to our way of life.
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The MAGA movement is a threat. The extremists that we're dealing with every single day, we've got to kill and confront that movement. Clearly, you know, this is a literally call to arms.
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Obviously Republicans, I think, are the biggest threat to democracy. We don't separate right wing extremists and Republican Party anymore.
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I see this as a, I mean, Hezbollah, you know, bombed the embassy in Beirut, including many Americans. So I just feel it's quite inappropriate. You are an Islamophobe and although you live here, I want you to know.
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As mayor, you are not welcome here.
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And the day you move out of the city will Be the day that I launch a parade celebrating the fact that you moved out of the city.
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Because you are not somebody who believes in coexist.
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You see what the, what the Tillises of the world want and it's more than that, right? It's Cox, it's Katie Britt in, in Alabama. It's all of them virtually de escalate. They're telling you to accept the assassination of Charlie Kirk because they think I'll just blow over. They're all worked up now. They'll blow over just like all the, just like everything else that you know is wrong with the country. They're just going to tap you along. What? They're, they're tapping President Trump along right now. They're tapping President Trump along. They can't wait. They cannot wait for Trump to leave office. It's going to all revert back. Wait for it. You can see it happening right now. They're doing everything to stop Sam Sa this is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going medieval on these people. Here's not 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. And where do people like that go to share the big L MAGA media. I wish in my soul, I wish that any of these people had a conscience. 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. It's Wednesday the 17th of September in the year of our Lord 2025. The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, is in England with the king at Windsor Castle. You saw the very moving reception for president get in last night, but he actually got over to the castle today for a formal reception. They played the Star Spangled Banner. So President Trump is in England for the second state visit. The only president ever to get two. He's there, I guess through tomorrow night or. Yeah, tomorrow night because he's back on Friday. Cash Patel is at the House Judiciary. They're going to do oversight on the FBI. Yesterday you saw fireworks, the most intense fireworks I've ever seen. I think historically maybe before the Civil War, but I'm not so sure even then a senior government official blown back hard on these out of control left wing Democrat senators. And I Should say that if we were moving the project along, take apart the deep state and got subpoenas going and doj, we were on top of things with US Attorneys. Shifty Shift would not be there. He'd already been perp walked. He would not be there to try to trash Cash Patel. Anyway, we're going to go between Cash at house Judiciary got Dr. Susan was it Menarez, the fired CDC director that was only there for 30 days after confirmation. She's in front of the, I think the Health and Human Services Committee chaired by Cassidy. She's there to basically say that Bobby Kennedy is the worst person in the world and that all these anti vax wing nuts are trying to destroy the United States. So we'll get to all that. Also in and out. What the main threat is going to be today is what's happened on Charlie Kirk's assassination. And as importantly, to get to the bottom of it, the designation of these, of these terrorist groups as, wait for it, terrorist groups so they can be fully investigated. Kaitlan Collins last night trying to blow up Todd Blanch on what President Trump threw out, which is RICO investigations, criminal RICO investigations. They're making a big deal about that that you can't investigate these groups. Although Grassley put out yesterday stunning information about which we knew about a government FBI involvement really in the 2020 election in people that were protesting the election fraud of 2020. In particular, they focused on wait for a turning point in Charlie Kirk and the team given that Charlie Kirk and those guys were instrumental in the recount that a flawed recount in Arizona in early 2021. You remember that? I think this file Arctic Frost is from is from 21 and 22 is I believe or 21 maybe to 23. Arctic frost. Mark Mitchell is going to join us in a little while because the celebration on the left he just heard they're taking, they're looking at Democrat politicians saying, well, they're united in about political violence. No, they're not. No, no, they're not. They are giving the very basic, oh, it's, you know, it's terrible for Charlie with his family and two children. But they are instigating it of these radical groups because these radical groups are also how they get elected. And that's why you got to get in back of the financing. Remember I told you it's three layers of antifa like groups or the, the armed, the Armed Queers of Salt Lake City and all these revolutionary really paramilitary groups now that are part of this radical transgender movement. Transgender movement and are getting More and more radicalized every day. More and more violent every day. They're actually, I think Ben Shapiro, I'm not sure he formally announced it, but I think there's some leak or something about. He may be delaying some of his college campus tours. And you have some of the most radical groups on Reddit that are sitting there, you know, saying, hey, we told you direct action. Remember, direct action are things like firebombing, sabotage, and assassinations. It's a revolutionary technique from, from Europe. And you're seeing, you're seeing right now that they're saying, hey, direct action works because Ben Shapiro is talking about maybe delaying somewhat his, his campaign. I don't know if that's true, but this is what they're pushing out in Reddit. That is a victory for them. Do we have, do we have cash getting, getting lit up? Bernie Sanders? I tell you what, let's go to break anyway. I don't want to blow the brake. Let's get, we got a, get some commercial breaks and it could be intense. I see right there, it's Bernie Sanders. Bernie Sanders. Glazing, I'm sure. Dr. Susan Monarz, who made it for 31 days as head of CDC. We're juggling a lot of balls here in the world this morning, plus all the analysis and breakdown of what actually is going on in the world. And there's a lot, including capital markets finance. Today, I think, is the deadline for the pushing of the cr. Get ready to. Folks, get ready to, you know, kind of shrug your shoulders and roll your eyes, but we're going to a CR at least to November. If you look at everything that's got to happen in November before Christmas, it's like, you know, 30 major pieces of legislation are coming, CISA, all of it. If they kick the can down the road, one thing you can do is get ahead of it personally. Gold is, you know, every couple of days, all time high. Why is that? It's like, forget the price. What is the process? Number one, why has gold been a hedge against times of financial turbulence since the earliest recorded history of mankind? Whether it's the Greeks, the Persians, the Jews, the Romans, check it all. Why is gold always been a hedge? Why? Ask yourself that. Birchgold.com, promo code Bannon. The end of the dollar empire. We tried to get to the bottom of that as a tool for you to use in your personal financial life, about your country, your politics, all of it. Birch gold. Good part is this. Four years, seven free installments. Go check it out. Today, short commercial break. Mark Mitchell's gonna come in. A lot of ugly stuff going on in the Internet against conservatives. Be back in a moment. A new NFL season means a fresh start and fresh styles. @nflshop.com you'll find the latest jerseys, hats and sideline gear to rep your team all season long. From rookies making their debut to legends, NFLShop.com has it all. Score. Exclusive of styles you won't find anywhere else. And show up ready for every kickoff and big play fan like a pro and shop now@nflshop.com the US electric grid is approaching a breaking point as demand soars from data centers and home energy use. Our aging infrastructure can't keep up, and the Department of Energy warns that without action, blackouts could surge 100 fold by 2030. The good news? One solution is already here. Propane. It's American made, stored on site and always ready, powering homes and businesses with cleaner, reliable energy that doesn't depend on the grid or the weather. Learn more@probane.com looking for a smarter choice for dental implants? Meet the Contact Dental Implant System from Biotech Dental. Trusted by clinicians across Europe and now available in the US With a single prosthetic connection, streamlined surgical kits and seamless digital workflows, Contact makes every step easier. It's clinically proven, intuitively designed, and surprisingly affordable. See for yourself why more dentists are switching to Biotech Dental's contact system. Visit biotechdental.com today to learn more. That's biotechdental.com Would you guys consider anything.
A
Less than a championship to be a failure from this year? I wouldn't say anything is a failure.
B
Especially because we all grow every day.
A
Obviously the goal is a championship. There's no doubt in that.
C
And that's the goal.
A
We want to win a championship. I'm Christina Williams, host of the podcast in case you missed it with Kristina Williams, the WNBA playoffs are here and I've got the inside scoop on everything from key matchups and standout players to the behind the scenes moments you won't find anywhere else. It's really, really hard to be the champions, but we have to remember how.
B
It feels and embrace the the new.
A
Challenge that we have for all the biggest stories in women's basketball, plus exclusive interviews with the game's brightest stars.
B
So to be here, I think it's.
A
One that we definitely don't take for granted. But we also know, you know, that's just one stop along the way and we're hoping to, you know, make it run so listen to in case you missed it with Christina Williams and iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and entertainment on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey there. I'm Mary Kathryn Hamm. And I'm Carol Markowitz. We've been in political media for a long time. Long enough to know that it's gotten, well, a little insane. That's why we started normalely a podcast for people who are over the hysteria and just want clarity. We talk about the issues that actually matter to the country without panic, without yelling, and with a healthy dose of humor. We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we do take the truth seriously. So if you're into common sense, sanity, and some occasional sass, you're our kind of people. Catch new episodes of Normally every Tuesday and Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
C
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and welcome. Director Patel, you and I have not had the opportunity to meet and alas, you failed to respond to the eight oversight letters I've sent you over the last seven months. So we do have a lot of questions piling up for you. But I want to start with a word of praise. The first FBI director was J. Edgar Hoover, who steadfastly refused to hire women, African Americans and other minorities as agents. And although he was a closeted homosexual who lived in domestic partnership for decades with Clyde Tolson, he also participated in anti gay crusades. He aggressively promoted what we would today call white Christianity nationalism, and he would undoubtedly be turning over in his grave to see, as one of his successors, a first generation Indian American and a proud Hindu. So I congratulate you on being a breakthrough in this sense and being a beneficiary of the civil rights movement that opened up the FBI and the federal workforce to lots of people who never would have been hired in its first decades. Alas, you share J. Edgar Hoover's dangerous obsession with blind loyalty over professionalism and effective public policy. For Hoover, it was blind loyalty to him in keeping his secrets. For you, it's blind loyalty to Donald Trump in keeping his secrets. During your confirmation, it was widely noted on all sides that your primary qualification was your unwavering loyalty to Trump. Unlike other directors, you had no work experience at the FBI, but you had made over a thousand media and political appearances in support of Trump's campaign. Your Senate confirmation vote was 51 to 49, the closest in history, with your opponents warning you were not qualified and had no interest in actually developing the qualifications for the job, I hoped that they were wrong. Alas, they were not. While most other new FBI directors drew on their experience as FBI agents, you didn't have that. But you did write a picture book trilogy for children ages 5 and up based on your experience Experience clashing with President Trump's political enemies. In your book, you describe your literary alter ego Cash the Knight as a wacky, easily bored wizard carrying out King Donald's vengeance by driving his enemies out of the kingdom. In the books, King Donald is besieged by the evil Hillary Queentown, but saved in the end by Cash. Then Cash goes on to catch mules who are still stealing the 2020 election for the great King Donald from Sleepy Joe. And then in the third book, Cash takes down the Dragon of the Jalapenos, nicknamed the doj. Your supporters had hoped that you would graduate from imagining yourself a romantic fairy tale knight to actually running America's premier federal law enforcement agency. Alas, just as we've learned how dangerous it is to put a science denying anti vaxxer in charge of our public health, we've learned how dangerous it is to name as director of the FBI a man who thinks of himself as a fairytale knight who keeps a fire breathing dragon named DOJ at home to forcibly drive villains out of the kingdom. When Charlie Kirk was assassinated while his killer was still on the loose, you decided you didn't need to be at FBI headquarters in Washington to work with your team. While the chaotic manhunt unfolded. You spent your evening dining in a swanky midtown Manhattan restaurant and tweeting out false information that the subject of the shooting was in custody, a statement you had to retract. One hour later, your performance was so disturbing that even the MAGA base was alarmed. Culture warrior Christopher Ruffo, who just a few months ago sat in your chair as a Republican witness, observed that you performed terribly and he called for your ouster. The FBA FBI might be able to survive your delusions of grandeur and the explosively volatile temper that was on display yesterday in the Senate. But the intractable problem is that you are running the FBI not as a law enforcement agency charged with keeping the American people safe, but as a political enforcement agency working directly for the President's vengeance campaign. Seven months in, it's impossible to overstate the destruction, chaos and demoralization you've brought to the FBI and its workforce and the resulting danger your actions have caused to our country. You've been systematically purging the FBI of its most experienced and qualified agents, division Leaders and experts in counterterror, counterintelligence, and cybersecurity. Precisely. The people who have the equity, expertise you lack and which the FBI and the country need. They've been expelled from the ranks of the Bureau simply because they did their duty investigating crimes, including those committed by the mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and beat the hell out of more than 140 police officers. Or simply because you suspected them of being insufficiently loyal to Donald Trump? You illegally sacked Brian Driss Driscoll, the former acting director of the Bureau and a decorated counterterrorism expert who worked at the FBI for nearly 20 years, according to Driscoll. Driscoll, you told him your own job, quote, depended on the removal of agents who worked on the cases against the President, regardless of whether the agents chose to work on those cases or not. You added, quote, the FBI tried to put the President in jail, and he hasn't forgotten it. You forced out the leader of the Salt Lake City field office, Metab said, just weeks before Charlie Crook's assassination, depriving the FBI of an experienced counterterrorism expert described by her colleagues as absolutely the best and legendary. She would have led the FBI's manhunt had she not been fired. When Trump decided that rounding up immigrants with no criminal records was more important than preventing crimes like human trafficking of women and girls, drug dealing, terrorism, and fraud, you ordered the 25 largest field offices to divert thousands of agents away from chasing down violent criminals, sex traffickers, fraudsters, and scammers to carry out this immigration crackdown. Director Patel, you treated the men and women at FBI with disrespect and paranoia. You've assembled a roving band of freelancing henchmen within your office and charged them with conducting unauthorized investigations, targeting and harassing career FBI employees. Amazingly, you forced senior leadership to repeatedly take polygraph tests to prove their political loyalty and pushed out leaders who refused these demeaning exercises. And now we're seeing one very clear reason why you want to build a political FBI. The Epstein files. You want an FBI blindly loyal to Trump and to you as his enforcer so you can continue your cover up of a massive international sex trafficking ring with more than 1,000 victims, betraying all of the survivors of the sexual violence. Before you got in this job, you called for full release of Epstein files, telling podcaster Benny Johnson that the only reason the list was not released by DOJ and FBI was, quote, because of who's on that list. Upon your confirmation, you promised that, quote, there Will be no cover ups, no missing documents, no stone left unturned. And anyone from the prior current bureau who undermines this will be swiftly pursued. This spring, you ordered hundreds of agents to pour over all the Epstein files, but not, not to look for more clues about the money network or the network of human traffickers. You pulled these agents from their regular counterterrorism or drug trafficking duties to work around the clock, some of them sleeping at their desks, to conduct a frantic search to make sure Donald Trump's name and image were flagged and redacted wherever they appeared, whether an email, a text, a letter, an interview, a photograph or a video. In May, Attorney General Bondi reportedly told Trump that his name had indeed appeared multiple times throughout the Epstein files. And not long thereafter, in July, you and the Attorney General released a memo claiming that, quote, no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted. In a few short months, how did you go from being a crusader for accountability and transparency for the Epstein files to being a part of part of the conspiracy and cover up? The answer is simple. You said it yourself. Because of who's on that list. Donald Trump's relationship with Epstein over the years is well documented. A week ago, the Oversight Committee released Trump's disturbing birthday book note to Epstein, written over a drawing of a woman's naked body, referring to a, quote, wonderful secret. The Oversight Committee obtained the note from the Epstein estate, not from the FBI, raising questions again of whether the FBI has been withholding documents while you're unleashing the FBI to cater to Trump's desire to shut down the Epstein inquiry. The first nine months of the Trump presidency have seen a spate of political violence and domestic terror events. We saw deadly attacks on political figures on both the left and the right. The brutal assassination of Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and and her husband in the attempted murder of Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, who miraculously survived a combined 17 gunshots. We saw an arsonist set Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence on fire. And of course, last week we saw the horrific cold blooded assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah that has shaken the nation. One minute after Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck, a 16 year old shooter in Evergreen, Colorado was radicalized by white supremacist ideology online, opened fire and critically wounded two other students at Evergreen High School. We've seen lethal antisemitic violence, including the murder of two young Israeli embassy staffers just blocks from the Capitol. And then in the attack on a gathering of Jewish people in support of hostages held in Gaza. In Boulder in June, we've seen continued mass shootings at schools, like the domestic terror incident at a Catholic school in Minneapolis last month, which killed two children and wounded 18 others. And in August, a man fired more than 500 bullets at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, killing a police officer who was a Marine veteran and a father. People like Melissa Hortman and Charlie Kirk should be able to participate in politics as elected officials or active citizens without being shot down in cold blood. In the United States of America, people should also be able to go to elementary school, to middle school, to high school, to work, to the mall and to church without being shot down in explosions of gun violence. The important position at the FBI requires a leader who puts public safety and national security and the rule of law first. I'm afraid, Director Patel, you've given us reason to believe You've used the powers of the FBI to serve Donald Trump and his agenda of partisan retribution. You've broken your promise not to do that. You've betrayed Jeffrey Epstein's victims and survivors. You've turned your back on the career law enforcement officers of the FBI. And as a result, you've left all of us less, less safe than before. Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
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Gentleman yields back. That opening statement may have been longer needed. Okay, okay. We're gonna go to a short commercial break right there. You saw it. Raskin is the ranking member of the committee. He's framing this. That cash is the enforcer, the political enforcer for President Trump. Nothing could be farther from the truce. Expect fireworks in the house. We're going to cover it all. Also, we got opening statement over at the fire director cdc. It's on fire this morning on Capitol Hill. A new NFL season means a fresh start and fresh styles. @nflshop.com you'll find the latest jerseys, hats, and sideline gear to rep your team all season long. From rookies making their debut to legends, NFLShop.com has it all. Score exclusive styles you won't find anywhere else. And show up ready for every kickoff and big play fan like a pro and shop now@nflshop.com the US electric grid is approaching a breaking point as demand soars from data centers and home energy use. Our aging infrastructure can't keep up. And the Department of Energy warns that without action, Blackouts could surge 100 fold by 2030. The good news? One solution is already here. Propane. It's American made, stored on site and always ready. Powering homes and businesses with cleaner, reliable energy that doesn't depend on the grid or the weather. Learn more@probane.com Would you guys consider anything.
A
Less than the championship to be a failure from this year? I wouldn't say anything is a failure.
B
Especially because we all grow every day.
A
Obviously, the goal is a championship. That's there's no doubt in that.
C
And that's the goal.
A
We want to win a championship. I'm Christina Williams, host of the podcast in case you missed it with Christina Williams, the WNBA playoffs are here and I've got the inside scoop on everything from key matchups and standout players to the behind the scenes moments you won't find anywhere else. It's really, really hard to be the champions, but we have to remember how.
B
It feels and embrace the new challenge.
A
That we have for all the biggest stories in women's basketball, plus exclusive interviews with the game's brightest stars.
B
So to be here, I think it's.
A
One that we definitely don't take for granted. But we also know, you know, that's just one stop along the way and we're hoping to, you know, make it run. So listen to In Case youe Missed it with Christina Williams, an iHeart woman sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and entertainment on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there. I'm Mary Kathryn Hamm. And I'm Carol Markowitz. We've been in political media for a long time. Long enough to know that it's gotten, well, a little insane. That's why we started Normalely a podcast for people who are over the hysteria and just want clarity. We talk about the issues that actually matter to the country without panic, without yelling, and with a healthy dose of humor. We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we do take the truth seriously. So if you're into common sense, sanity, and some occasional sass, you're our kind of people. Catch new episodes of normally every Tuesday and Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
B
I'm Ben Ferguson. And I'm Ted Cruz. Three times a week we do our podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz. Nationwide, we have millions of listeners. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we break down the news and bring you behind the scenes inside the White House, inside the Senate, inside the United States Supreme Court.
C
And we cover the stories that you're.
B
Not getting anywhere else. We arm you with the facts to be able to know and advocate for the truth with your friends and family. So download Verdict with Ted Cruz now. Wherever you get your podcasts, tell America's Voice family. Are you on Getter yet? No.
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What are you waiting for? It's free, it's uncensored, and it's where all the biggest voices in conservative media are speaking out.
B
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. You can follow all of your favorites.
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Steve Bannon, Charlie Kirk, Jack Posobi, and so many more.
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Sign up for free and be part of the new pin.
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Okay. By the way, take your photo for Birch gold. Text Bannon Bann 989898. Get the ultimate guide for investing in gold and precious metals in the Age of Trump. I think it's something that's quite important for you to understand. Do it today. Okay. You think that's fireworks? They're going to be blowtorches up on the House side. Let's go to the Senate because the fired CDC director of 31 days is going off on Bobby Kennedy. Let's hit it. Is your microphone on?
A
I believe it's on. Can you hear me?
B
Yeah, close to the mic.
A
Thank you, Chairman Cassidy, Ranking Member Sanders, and distinguished members of this committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you again. My name is Susan Monarz, and I am a microbiologist and immunologist. Exactly 12 weeks ago, in this same room, I testified that if confirmed, I would lead the CDC to restore public trust, modernize public health infrastructure, and strengthen the agency's core mission of protecting Americans from infectious diseases and emerging threats. I was honored to be nominated by President Trump and confirmed with the Senate support. Secretary Kennedy himself swore me in on July 31, calling me a public health expert with unimpeachable scientific credentials. My tenure as CDC director lasted 29 days. Since my removal, several explanations have been offered. That I told the secretary I would resign, that I was not aligned with the administration priorities, or that I was untrustworthy. None of those reflect what actually happened. I will share the details, but I want to be clear. Today should not be about me. Today should be about the future of trust in public health. The events leading to my dismissal began weeks before August 25th. On August 2nd, I learned from media reports that experts serving as liaison representatives to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the acip, including those from major medical societies, had been removed from its working groups. The following week, I heard concerns that the ACIP might alter childhood vaccine schedule at its September meeting potentially without credible supporting data. On August 8th, a gunman driven by vaccine distrust fired 180 rounds into CDC headquarters in Atlanta, killing Officer David Rose. In the days after the attack, I focused on security staff and ensuring the CDC could continue its mission. On August 19, I received a directive from the Secretary's office that I now required prior approval from my political staff for CDC policy and personnel decisions. On August 21, I was told to return to Washington from Atlanta immediately, which would have meant missing Officer Rose's memorial, something I was not willing to do. When I did return, I was concerned about my ability to continue to lead the CDC while preserving evidence based on decision making commitments I had made to this committee. During my confirmation hearing on the morning of August 25th, Secretary Kennedy demanded two things of me that were inconsistent with my oath of office and the ethics required of a public official. He directed me to commit in advance to approving every ACIP recommendation regardless of the scientific evidence. He also directed me to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause. He said if I was unwilling to do both, I should resign. I responded that I could not pre approve recommendations without reviewing the evidence and I had no basis to fire scientific experts. He told me he had already spoken with the White House several times about having me removed. For three decades, I have worked at the intersection of public health, science and technology innovation, always challenging the status quo and welcoming the changes that come from research and discovery. Even under pressure, I could not replace evidence with ideology or compromise my integrity.
C
Dr. Monaz, you're almost out of time.
B
I'll be generous, but if you could speed up just a little.
A
Vaccine policy must be guided by credible data, not predetermined outcomes. As I wrote in my September 4th Wall Street Journal op ed, I agree with President Trump. We should not hesitate to ask for proof about our vaccines. And I also agree with his most recent comments that vaccines are not controversial because they work. Demanding evidence is exactly what I was doing when I insisted CDC recommendations be based on credible science. I was never misaligned with the administration priorities, the goals Secretary Kennedy recently cited publicly protecting the public from threats, building infrastructure, modernizing systems, investing in the workforce, and enhancing scientific rigor were the same priorities I articulated at my confirmation hearing and began advancing during my short tenure. I remain supportive of those priorities. The question is whether they can be achieved without the expertise required at cdc. Regarding trustworthiness, I cannot define that word for Secretary Kennedy. I made commitments to this committee that I would lead with integrity, transparency, purpose, and work with Congress to maximize health outcomes and protect the American people. Secretary Kennedy told me he could not trust me. I had refused to commit to approving vaccine recommendations without evidence, fire career officials without cause, or resign. And I had shared my concerns with this committee. I told Secretary. I told the secretary that if he believed he could not trust me, he could fire me. The next day, I was told I still had my job. But the Secretary's expectations remained. Approval of ACIP recommendations and dismissal of career scientists. I would not commit to that. And I believe it is the true reason I was fired. Tomorrow, the reconstituted ACIP will meet. Its composition has already raised concerns from the medical community. Based on what I observed during my tenure, there is a real risk that recommendations could be made restricting access to vaccines for children and others in need without rigorous scientific. Scientific review. With no permanent CDC director in place, those recommendations could be adopted. The stakes are not theoretical. We already have seen the largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years, which claimed the lives of two children. If vaccine protections are weakened, preventable diseases will return. I was fired for holding the line on scientific integrity. But that line does not disappear with me. It now runs through every parent deciding whether to vaccinate a child, every physician counseling a patient, and every American who demands accountability. I want to end where I began, with my confirmation hearing. I spoke then about the value of hard work, paying my own way through college, and my lifelong dedication to science and public health. On August 25, I could have stayed silent, agreed to the demands, and no one would have known. What the public would have seen were scientists dismissed without cause and vaccine protections quietly eroded, all under the authority of a Senate confirmed director with unimpeachable credentials. I could have kept the office, the title, but I would have lost the one thing that cannot be replaced. My integrity. Some may question my motives or mischaracterize my words. That is part of public life. But I am not here as a politician. I'm here as a scientist, a public servant, and a parent committed to protecting the health of future generations. The question before us is whether we will keep faith with our children and grandchildren, ensuring they remain safe from the diseases we fought so hard to defeat. Polio, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, and many others. Undoing that progress would not only be reckless, it would betray every family that trusts us to protect their health. Thank you. And I look forward to your questions.
B
Thank you, Dr. Aubrey. Okay. Okay. It's very simple. Let me bring in Mark Mitchell, who you've done polling on this. I Had you here for the Charlie Kirk assassination. The dark underbelly of it. And we're going to get to that in a moment. But let me be blunt. She called Bobby Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy's narrative of what happened. She call him a stone cold liar. Am I missing that? Mark Mitchell?
C
I don't want to listen to the.
B
Tears and whinging of somebody that went.
C
And did a job, got fired because.
B
They were found wanting. She's a nobody.
C
And whoever invited her to Congress really.
B
Needs to reconsider what they're doing. You know what I heard? I heard an alternative set of information. I heard her say, no, we need.
C
To use evidence based.
B
But they want their evidence. There's a $1.5 trillion industry and they are going to resist changes to the status quo with every fiber of their being. And I trust RFK since he's spent his entire life fighting people like this to spot the ideological rot the instant they see it. And I suspect that that's what's happened now. She cried big crocodile tears about the two children that died from this measles outbreak that had less than 1,500 people. What about the vaccine?
C
That's my question.
B
I didn't hear anything about that. An evidence based science.
C
Because Americans are super freaking concerned about the vaccine.
B
And as you all, your audience knows this, Steve, because you're the only one that had us on, except for a few others to talk about COVID vaccine polling. But this is not going away. The last time we asked, it was just a week ago.
C
How likely is it that side effects.
B
Of COVID 19 vaccines have caused a significant number of unexplained deaths? 32% vary, 24% somewhat. That's 56% of the electorate. Only 35% say not likely. Only 17% say not at all likely.
C
46% of Democrats think that the COVID.
B
Vaccine is killing people. And we saw all the videos of young people dropping dead on soccer fields and people presenting the news keeling over.
C
So don't tell us about these two.
B
Kids that died of measles. What about all of the kids that have this massive childhood vaccine schedule and so fine, like sayonara, get the hell out.
C
I hope RFK hires somebody that's a.
B
Little bit more aggressive about this. I mean, because we even pulled specifically on this lady getting fired.
C
RFK Jr. Is the secretary of Health and Human Services.
B
He has been highly critical about how government health officials handled the COVID 19 pandemic.
C
Which is closer to your opinion. His criticism is of him. His Criticism is unfair. Only 37% government health officials deserve criticism.
B
For how they handled the pandemic.
C
50% and then do some CDC officials involved in government COVID 19 response deserve to be fired.
B
Now I guess she wasn't involved in the response, but you know, sometimes you.
C
Just gotta be the scapegoat.
B
42% yes 41% no 67% of Republicans only 20% Republicans no. If they can't sitting there in their.
C
Comfortable establishment understand the concerns of the.
B
Voters and align themselves to the new direction of the country, I don't think the people are going to tolerate crap like this much more. And you saw the same thing out of Jamie Raskin. That was a beautiful work of gaslighting. I do not believe he wrote that himself. I wonder who is Hang on, hang on, hang on. I'm gonna get to Raskin in a minute because it's too good to pass up on. A 1.5 trillion dollar industry is not gonna go down without a fight folks. Short break. Mark Mitchell A new NFL season means a fresh start and fresh styles. @nflshop.com you'll find the latest jerseys, hats and sideline gear to rep your team all season long. From rookies making their debut to legends, NFLShop.com has it all score exclusive styles you won't find anywhere else and show up ready for every kickoff and big play fan like a pro and shop now@nflshop.com the US electric grid is approaching a breaking point as demand soars from data centers and home energy use. Our aging infrastructure can't keep up and the Department of Energy warns that without action, blackouts could surge 100 fold by 2030. The good news? One solution is already here. Propane. It's American made, stored on site and always ready, powering homes and businesses with cleaner, reliable energy that doesn't depend on the grid or the weather. Learn more@propain.com Would you guys consider anything.
A
Less than a championship to be a failure from this year? I wouldn't say anything is a failure.
B
Especially because we all grow every day.
A
Obviously, the goal is a championship. That's there's no doubt in that.
C
And that's the goal.
A
We want to win a championship. I'm precise. Christina Williams, Host of the Podcast in case you missed it with Christina Williams, the WNBA playoffs are here and I've got the inside scoop on everything from key matchups and standout players to the behind the scenes moments you won't find anywhere else. It's really, really hard to be the champions, but we have to Remember how.
B
It feels and embrace the new challenge.
A
That we have for all the biggest stories in women's basketball, plus exclusive interviews with the game's brightest star.
B
So to be here, I think it's.
A
One that we definitely don't take for granted. But we also know, you know, that's just one stop along the way, and we're hoping to, you know, make it run. So listen to In Case youe Missed it with Christina Williams, an iHeart woman sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and entertainment on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there. I'm Mary Kathryn Hamm. And I'm Carol Markowitz. We've been in political media for a long time. Long enough to know that it's gotten, well, a little insane. That's why we started normalely a podcast for people who are over the hysteria and just want clarity. We talk about the issues that actually matter to the country without panic, without yelling, and with a healthy dose of humor. We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we do take the truth seriously. So if you're into common sense, sanity, and some occasional sass, you're our kind of people. Catch new episodes of normally every Tuesday, Tuesday and Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
B
I'm Ben Ferguson. And I'm Ted Cruz. Three times a week we do our podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz. Nationwide, we have millions of listeners. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we break down the news and bring you behind the scenes inside the White House, inside the Senate, inside the United States Supreme Court.
C
And we cover the stories that you're.
B
Not getting anywhere else. We arm you with the facts to be able to know and advocate for the truth with your friends and family. So download Verdict with Ted Cruz now. Wherever you get your podcasts. Look, this is the debate over changing the childhood schedule. The hepatitis B vaccine on the schedule is given to newborns. What is the medical, scientific reason and.
C
Proof for giving a newborn a hepatitis.
B
B vaccine if the mom is hep B negative?
A
I want to go back to the assertion associated what is the medical reason.
B
For giving a hepatitis B vaccine to a newborn? See, everybody's like blithely going along.
C
We can't change the childhood.
B
You're somehow terrible. If you want to change the childhood, we should be discussing what is the childhood vaccine schedule.
C
And you should be.
B
The burden should be on you. You want to make all the kids take this. The burden is upon you and the people you wouldn't fire to prove to us that we need to give ourselves six month old COVID vaccine and that we need to give our one day old a Hepatitis B vaccine. That's what the debate ought to be about. Not whether all vaccines are good or whether we live in Alice in Wonderland.
A
I actually agree with you and I was open to the science. I just would not pre commit to approving all the ACIP recommendations without the science.
C
Untrue.
B
Is the witness allowed to answer that.
A
Question or do I have to use my time?
C
Did she answer the question?
B
Did you have more to say?
A
Dr. Monaras, the last thing I wanted to say about those scientists, we had never discussed any of their thoughts considerations.
B
We being we? Who's we?
A
Me and the scientists that I was being asked to dismiss. As far as I know they had never said that they are pre committed to maintaining any of the decisions that had been made. All of us had agreed that the science evolves and we need to see the data and the evidence to ensure that we are protecting our children.
C
Okay, Senator Murray.
B
Thank you Mr. Chairman in May. Let me have it right there. Rand Paul and this is what it's about. He narrows it down to what, what we got to get our arms around because if you change that you can change everything. And Senator Paul knows about leverage given his medical thing. He called her a bald faced liar. Mark Mitchell right there, that's the drama but they're trying to tap dance around it. He gets right to the bottom line and ask her about the science. She's touting oh it's all science. We got the science and I just support scientists. She won't answer a basic question because Mark Mitchell tells US it's a $1.5 trillion industry that the populist movement right there, the movement that has, that has changed American history is demanding that this stop. And I'm telling you this is one of the most important battles going on. Mark Mitchell Healthcare is going to be the death of our republic. That's essentially where we're at. We already spent 21% of our GDP on this highly taxpayer funded because of Medicare and Medicaid promises. And I did a little bit of.
C
Research with AI and went back and.
B
Said you know what if they had.
C
Capped those programs back in 1970 at.
B
The percentage GDP they were then, what would our government total government debt be right now to be 11 trillion, not 30 whatever the frick trillion it is now. And what we haven't even been through a population collapse. How are is this current generation that can't even get started in life how are they going to support all of the failing boomers?
C
It's not going to happen.
B
We are going to die. And there need to be really hard choices for that to happen. And we can't even have a hard.
C
Choice about childhood vaccines. The US vaccine market is $33 billion and they're going to fight tooth and.
B
Nail to defend it.
C
And you and I both know that.
B
The way science works. I'm not an immunologist, but they find.
C
The thinnest proof they can that, oh.
B
Well, there's nothing to see here. And then all of a sudden all these kids are shot full of the misal. And RFK Jr is the only person, as far as I know, who is.
C
Really putting effort and money behind asking those questions.
B
So I applaud him and I think Americans would, too. Here are two horrifying numbers again that.
C
That woman, the doctor could have referred.
B
To from our polling if she had wanted to.
C
28% of Americans think it's at least.
B
Somewhat likely that somebody they know personally died from the COVID side effects of the COVID 19 vaccine.
C
And then we asked another question set.
B
Has somebody in your family died from the COVID 19 vaccine?
C
And has somebody in your family you.
B
Suspect died of side effects of the COVID 19 vaccine?
C
11% say someone in their household died of the virus.
B
10% say somebody died from side effects of the vaccine. So now you can't draw. It's not apples to apples. We can't come down to an exact.
C
Number of deaths, but the implication is Americans think that there are hundreds of thousands of deaths in America from this.
B
Vaccine that was forced on Americans as a experimental therapeutic that Bill Gates was slobbering over himself to put into the.
C
Arms of American children.
B
They wanted pregnant women shot with this, and now they're rolling it back bit by bit. If this isn't the number one thing that there are torches and pitchforks for.
C
I don't know what.
B
And if the government, if the Republicans, if the people now at the head of these organizations do not have the.
C
Resolve to stand on the line over this thing that now 56% of Americans.
B
Agree that the vaccine is likely killing a significant number of people in America, then I don't know what we're doing as a republic because the voters are never going to get what they want.
C
And that brings us to a dark place.
B
Mark, hang on. I'm going to hold you through the. I'm going to hold you to the top. We got a lot to go through on this assassination. Jamie Raskin. It's also hitting cash again with the blowtorch. We're going to get back to that. Mark Mitchell is going to talk about what nobody else is talking about is Reddit. So today we're talking about the structure of these Internet companies and the depths and darkness that abides there for, how do I say this, capturing our youth and turning them into demons. The stuff you're going to see and hear right now, it's revolutionary. It can be taken away without saying stopping, without stopping free speech. What you can do is designate these groups as terrorist organizations. Get into it. See who's driving these messages. See who. Not just the frontline, Grand Dunes, the hoplites, which they have in droves and they're recruiting more every day. But the people financing it, the people making money off it, the true power in the country and the world. We're going to get to all that. Two things. Mark Mitchell talk about $32 trillion in debt, not 11. That's meaning means the IRS, whatever the administration is, needs every penny they can get. And they're coming looking at you. If you have failed to file a late filing, if you've got a letter from the irs, don't let it sit in the drawer. Metastasize. It ain't going away. Tax Network USA, tnusa.com or 1-800-958-1000 they've solved about a big billion of tax problems. Trust me, they've heard everything. Okay, you're not going to surprise them. But get a free consultation today. Use promo code Bannon. Just go have a talk. See if they can help you out. If they can, your decision. If they can't, then you better get to the IRS ASAP. Also hometitle lock.com make sure every dream you've ever had is in that home. And Mark, Mark Mitchell just talked about a population collapse. Under 35 don't own homes. You do. Make sure that dream does not become a nightmare. How do you do that? Home title lock hometitleock.com Steve 60 for 60 days. Two months for one buck. You get to try it out. Try it out today. That's a no brainer. They've mitigated your risk. A buck for 60 days. Hometitleock.com Steve60 the right stuff takes us out. Mark Mitchell on the other side, a new NFL season means a fresh start and fresh styles. @nflshop.com you'll find the latest jerseys, hats and sideline gear to rep your team all season long. From rookies making their debut to legends. NFLShop.com has it all score. Exclusive of styles you won't find anywhere else and show up ready for every kickoff and big play. Fan like a pro and shop now@nflshop.com Oral health goes beyond just aesthetics. It's deeply connected to your general health and well being. That's why preventing oral health problems before they start is so important. When you use the Colgate Total Active Prevention system, you're not just helping to prevent oral health problems like cavities and gingivitis, you're laying the groundwork for overall wellness. Colgate Total's three product routine includes a reformulated toothpaste, an innovative toothbrush, and a refreshing antibacterial mouthwash that all support a healthy mouth. In fact, the three products were designed to work together to be 15 times more effective at reducing bacteria buildup in six weeks starting from week one compared to a non antibacterial fluoride toothpaste and flat trim toothbrush. Take control of your oral health and get the Colgate Total Active Prevention system today so you can be dentist ready. Visit shop.colgate.com Total.
A
Whatever Team Phi is on has a chance to win a championship. I'm Kristina Williams, host of the podcast in case you Missed it with Kristina Williams. The WNBA playoffs are here and I've got the inside scoop on everything from key matchups and standout players to the behind the scenes moments you won't find anywhere else. It's really, really hard to be the champions, but we have to remember how.
B
It feels and embrace the new challenge that we have.
A
So listen to in case youe Missed it with Christina Williams, an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and entertainment on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. You want smart political talk without the meltdowns. We got you. And I'm Carol Markowitz. And I'm Mary Kathryn Ham. We've been around the block in media and we're doing things differently. Normally is about real conversations, thoughtful, try to be funny, grounded and no panic. We'll keep you informed and entertained without ruining your day. Join us every Tuesday and Thursday Normally on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
B
I'm Ben Ferguson. And I'm Ted Cruz. Three times a week we do our podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz. Nationwide we have millions of listeners. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we break down the news and bring you behind the scenes inside the White House, inside the Senate, inside the United States Supreme Court.
C
And we cover the stories that you're.
B
Not getting anywhere else. We arm you with the facts to be able to know and advocate for the truth with your friends and family. So download Verdict with Ted Cruz now. Wherever you get your podcasts, this is an I Heart podcast.
This episode of The War Room, hosted by Stephen K. Bannon on Real America’s Voice, dives deep into three urgent themes: the political fallout following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, congressional fireworks over the politicization of federal agencies (notably the FBI and CDC), and America’s escalating “vaccine wars.” Drawing on congressional testimonies, polling insights, and unfiltered commentary, the episode positions itself as a rallying call for Bannon’s populist audience amid what he repeatedly describes as a nation at an “inflection point.”
[03:03–08:27, 08:27–13:00]
"You got to get to the bottom of these groups. You got to get to the bottom of Antifa. ... We got a whole lot of work to do, right? A whole lot of work to do." (Bannon, 04:50)
[21:17–32:51]
"You've assembled a roving band of freelancing henchmen within your office... And now we're seeing one very clear reason why you want to build a political FBI. The Epstein files. ... You've betrayed Jeffrey Epstein's victims and survivors." (Rep. Jamie Raskin, 27:50)
"Raskin is the ranking member of the committee. He’s framing this, that Cash is the enforcer, the political enforcer for President Trump. Nothing could be farther from the truce. Expect fireworks in the house." (Bannon, 32:51)
[37:55–46:59]
“Vaccine policy must be guided by credible data, not predetermined outcomes. ... I was fired for holding the line on scientific integrity.” (Dr. Susan Monarz, 43:04)
[47:23–1:00:00]
“An evidence based science. Because Americans are super freaking concerned about the vaccine.” (Mark Mitchell, 48:14)
“The US vaccine market is $33 billion and they're going to fight tooth and nail to defend it.” (Mitchell, 57:18)
“If this isn’t the number one thing that there are torches and pitchforks for, I don’t know what [is].” (Mitchell, 58:57)
“If the government, if the Republicans, if the people now at the head of these organizations do not have the resolve to stand on the line over this thing that now 56% of Americans agree that the vaccine is likely killing a significant number of people in America, then I don’t know what we’re doing as a republic because the voters are never going to get what they want.” (Mitchell, 59:08)
This episode is a tour de force of populist, anti-establishment rhetoric. It stitches together violent flashpoints (the Kirk assassination, political attacks), congressional conflict over the direction and purpose of federal agencies, and deep skepticism of public health authority. Structure and commentary are designed to drum up a sense of existential crisis and urgency among War Room listeners, calling for action and vigilance on everything from political violence to the integrity of America’s public health infrastructure.
Above all, the refrain is clear: The populist movement sees itself under siege—from what it characterizes as both violent left-wing extremism and a pervasive, corrupt establishment. The response, per 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.” (13:00)