AI, Democracy, and the National Endowment for Democracy: A Conversation with Steve Bannon and Rep. Eli Crane
Steve Bannon and Rep. Eli Crane engaged in a riveting discussion about the role of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and its alleged connections to the CIA, particularly in relation to the censorship of the MAGA movement. Rep. Crane expressed his belief that the NED functions as a “cutout” for the intelligence agency, raising questions about its true purpose.
During their dialogue, Bannon posed a thought-provoking question regarding artificial intelligence: “Are you concerned here at all that we may be summoning the demon?”
Crane responded candidly, stating, “I have many concerns about AI. You know, I think you could definitely view it as a technological Tower of Babel, with all the potential chaos that could ensue. I’m also very worried about the economic ramifications.” He elaborated further, “This is something that I think is pretty terrifying, and I don’t think there’s a lot of good solutions out there.”
Legislative Action Against the NED
Bannon and Crane’s discussion also delved into legislative efforts aimed at defunding the National Endowment for Democracy. Bannon inquired, “Talk to us about this legislation. You are trying to put something forward that we can codify, getting rid of this, correct?”
“That’s right, Steve. This is really reminiscent to me of last Congress when I tried to defund USAID,” Crane affirmed, highlighting a pattern of legislative resistance against perceived misuse of government funds.
The NED’s Alleged CIA Connections
Rep. Crane reiterated his stance on the NED, arguing that it may have started with good intentions but has since been weaponized against American citizens. “This is another institution, nonprofit, that I do believe is a cutout for the CIA. It had a semi-virtuous origin when created, but like many Washington agencies, especially in the last administration, it’s been turned against the American people,” he explained.
Crane further elaborated on the political climate, stating, “You have all these Democrats running around saying that President Trump, the MAGA movement, and the America First movement are all threats to democracy. Therefore, they’ve used this agency to censor us, weaponizing it to try and stifle this populist movement.”
“I want to make sure that we hold them accountable in the pocketbook,” Crane concluded, emphasizing the need for financial accountability in government-funded initiatives.
Watch:
“This Is Another Nonprofit That I Believe Is A Cutout For The CIA.” Rep. Crane On Defunding National Endowment For Democracy @RepEliCrane pic.twitter.com/HbSY7OZCn3
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_War_Room) August 2, 2025
