Real America’s Voice – War Room with Stephen K. Bannon

Episode #4817 | September 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of the War Room, hosted by Steve Bannon, delivers a heated discussion on the rapidly evolving landscape of American politics, civil unrest, and public safety as seen through the lens of the MAGA movement. With President Trump’s recent address to military leaders and new policy moves regarding the designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, the War Room crew—featuring guests Alex Brucewicz, Ben Bergquam, and Mark Mitchell—dissects the country’s mounting internal crises. The conversation is framed by anxieties over government shutdown, public order, and the direction of law enforcement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Address to the Military & “Enemy Within” Narrative

[01:47, 04:27, 06:01, 11:44]

• President Trump delivers a direct and assertive speech to all flag officers of the uniformed services, emphasizing the existential threat posed by "the enemy within," citing domestic unrest and crime in major cities, particularly Chicago and Portland.
• Trump positions recent executive actions—including training for rapid response forces—not just as public safety measures, but as part of a foundational redirection of American military priorities to address internal threats rather than foreign interventions.
• Notable quote:
  • "Only in recent decades did politicians somehow come to believe that our job is to police the far reaches of Kenya and Somalia while America is under invasion from within." (Donald Trump, [01:47 & 31:36])
• Host Steve Bannon interprets the speech as a campaign rally more than a military briefing, noting visible discomfort from attending military officers, especially women who felt alienated by the emphasis on “culture war” themes.

2. Antifa’s Designation as a Terrorist Organization & Implications

[11:44, 12:42, 15:00, 20:07]

• Trump’s executive order officially designates Antifa and affiliates as domestic terror networks, with new powers unleashed for financial investigation and disruption of their operations.
• Alex Brucewicz frames this as a pivotal moment, arguing that the “greatest enemy” is not abroad but “deep state” actors and their “violent domestic terrorists.”
• The discussion ties Antifa’s presence to high-profile violence (such as the “assassination of Charlie Kirk”) and an alleged increase in attacks on Trump allies.
• Brucewicz:
  • "It's the deep state. It is the corrupt actors who have really done everything they possibly could over the last few decades to destroy our country. And now they are unleashing their crazy domestic terrorists on our people and on our country." ([12:42])
  • "We have to crush these people or we're not going to have a country much longer." ([20:07])

3. State of Urban America: Crime & Gang Violence

[13:58, 22:32]

• Brucewicz recounts escalating violence in cities like Chicago, noting clashes now between local and foreign gangs (e.g., Chicago vs. Venezuelan gangs) and an overall sense of lawlessness.
• The sense among communities, he claims, is largely in favor of military intervention to restore order, contrary to what local politicians say.
• The situation in Portland is discussed as emblematic, with federal facilities under siege and nightly unrest.

4. Grassroots Political Divide & Republican Party Tensions

[09:03, 20:07]

• Bannon laments the disconnect between Capitol Hill Republicans and grassroots MAGA priorities, suggesting that many in the GOP establishment are “detached from this country sliding into a civil war.”
• Brucewicz expresses optimism that the new crop of Congressional Republicans is more combative, while warning those who resist Trump's direction may face primary challenges.
  • “You’re on our team or you’re not…if you’re not on our team, there’s going to be consequences.” (Alex Brucewicz, [20:07])

5. On-the-Ground in Portland: Ben Bergquam’s Report

[25:54, 26:31, 28:30, 29:41, 47:28]

• Ben Bergquam reports live from Portland, detailing the presence of Antifa-aligned protesters:
  • Describes anti-ICE graffiti, overnight violence, and a neighborhood overrun by activist encampments.
  • Indicates city officials are either blind to or complicit in the ongoing unrest, describing the problem as “controlled” rather than “out of control”.
  • “At night, especially around midnight, you get the antifa…It feels like a city that’s been given over to the devil." ([26:31])
• Bergquam argues for immediate and aggressive federal intervention: "I think we have plenty of bed space in Guantanamo and that's what we need to start doing." ([49:21])

6. Public Opinion & the Antifa Designation

[34:35, 40:00]

• Mark Mitchell presents Rasmussen polling:
  • Most Americans are supportive of designating Antifa as a terror organization, though many are unclear on what Antifa is.
  • Support for deploying National Guard troops to combat crime is high (53%), including notable Democratic support.
  • Violent crime is a top issue, and many Americans see the country as being “too soft on crime.”
  • "People want accountability…round these people up because the optics are horrible for Democrats." (Mark Mitchell, [34:35])
• Despite this, Mitchell cautions that the narrative from the left and the fallout from January 6th mean many Americans still view right-wing extremism as the greater threat.

7. Media and Political Manipulation

[40:42, 44:57]

• The team discusses the role of media silos, misinformation, and psychological operations—pointing to legacy media and social platforms both amplifying and distorting public perceptions of reality.
• The effect is a deeply divided American public with little shared sense of threat or solution.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump:

  • "We're under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways because they don't wear uniforms…" ([01:47 & 31:36])
  • "It's to protect our republic, and it's the republic that we dearly love." ([04:27])

• Steve Bannon:

  • "This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going medieval on these people." ([08:12])

• Alex Brucewicz:

  • “What we loved about you, you can take incoming and not flinch.” ([09:03, Bannon to Brucewicz])
  • "President Trump is teaching Republicans how to fight, and he's not going to back down. There's nothing that's going to deter the president from doing the right thing." ([20:07])
  • "If people aren't joining the president in his endeavor to crush the enemy within, then…we're going to need to identify some new members." ([20:07])

• Ben Bergquam:

  • "Honestly, when you come to a place like Portland, it feels like a city that’s been given over to the devil." ([26:31])

• Mark Mitchell:

  • "People want accountability. And I think Trump should just keep doing this stuff…round these people up." ([34:35])
  • "90% of America now is concerned about political violence. That's a really high number. 70% very concerned. That's the number one issue now." ([40:42])

Important Timestamps

• 01:47 – 04:27: Trump’s extended remarks on using military to quell unrest in U.S. cities and the threat of "invasion from within."
• 06:01: Bannon’s critique of Trump’s military speech and culture war rhetoric.
• 09:03: Bannon and Brucewicz discuss Republican Party infighting and grassroots priorities.
• 11:44 – 12:42: Antifa designated a domestic terrorist group; implications discussed by Brucewicz.
• 20:07: MAGA movement’s strategy and coming political consequences for unaligned Republicans.
• 25:54 – 28:17: Bergquam’s live report from Portland, describing conditions on the streets.
• 34:35 – 40:42: Mitchell shares polling data on Antifa, National Guard deployments, and crime concerns.
• 47:28 – 49:21: Bergquam details the “controlled” nature of Portland unrest, advocates for mass arrests.
• 40:42 – 44:57: Mitchell explains lasting impact of January 6th on national perceptions of extremism and violence.

Summary

This episode reflects War Room’s full-throated support of Trump’s hardline approach to domestic unrest and criminality, with a strong rhetorical focus on the dangers of internal enemies—namely Antifa, “foreign gangs,” and the so-called deep state. Guests recount both the top-down (executive action, military orders) and bottom-up (community desperation, on-the-ground violence) elements shaping Conservative perceptions of crisis. Discussions stress the disconnect between GOP traditionalists and the grassroots, suggesting only unified, aggressive action can "crush" the perceived threat.

The conversation is defined by:

• Emphasis on existential peril from within rather than foreign enemies
• Calls for escalated government force and legal apparatuses
• Anxiety over cultural, demographic, and political transformation of cities
• Frustration with and critique of perceived weakness among Republican and law enforcement leaders

Rasmussen polling indicates the public’s appetite for “accountability” and a shifting tide on the acceptance of using military force domestically in the name of law and order, while deep divisions remain on the nature and scale of political violence.

For Further Listening

For additional perspectives or follow-up, listeners are pointed toward Ben Bergquam’s on-the-ground reporting, Mark Mitchell’s polling updates, and Alex Brucewicz’s social channels—all heavily promoted as alternative media to mainstream news.

This summary focuses exclusively on the substantive discussions and omits all advertisements and peripheral segments as per guidelines.