Five years after Steve Bannon made controversial comments about putting government officials’ “heads on pikes,” his podcast “WarRoom” has been reinstated on Spotify. Bannon, who previously served as the White House’s Chief Strategist, has remained influential in the MAGA sphere and continues to host his podcast, which has been compared to a far-right version of “Meet the Press” by The Washington Post.
Spotify initially suspended Bannon’s podcast in 2020 after he made comments suggesting violence against government officials. However, the show has now been restored on the platform after a period of suspension and dialogue with the show’s team.
Bannon defended his remarks as metaphorical and not literal threats of violence, citing a reference to Thomas More in “A Man for All Seasons.” Despite facing suspensions on Twitter and YouTube for his controversial comments, Bannon’s podcast continued to be hosted on Apple Podcasts and maintained a significant audience.
The show’s comeback on Spotify coincides with various tech platforms reversing past suspensions of President Donald Trump and his allies in recent years. Additionally, several Silicon Valley executives have been working on establishing closer relationships with the White House. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) faced backlash from Democrats earlier this year for featuring Bannon on his podcast, a decision he defended by expressing his desire to engage with diverse ideas.
reversed past suspensions
“I can give a punch and I can take a punch — the MAGA movement prides itself in being resilient,” Bannon told the New York Post regarding his return.
“I can give a punch and I can take a punch — the MAGA movement prides itself in being resilient,” Bannon told the New York Post about his return.