"NARRATOR:" "Tonight..." "Anotherday,another bombshell out of Washington." "Newsbreakingmomentsago  from the Justice Department..." "Thedepartmenthasnamed a special counsel" "to investigate..." "NARRATOR:" "WiththeWhite House reeling from crisis..." "Nopoliticianin historyhas  been treated worse." "NARRATOR:" "Frontlinelooksat  the president's top strategist." "SteveBannon'stheorywas , bam-bam-bam-- keep Washington" "off balance." "Oneofthegreatest strategic minds" "that I've ever been around." "NobodyelsespeakstoTrump's base as powerfully" "as Steve Bannon does." "That's not something Jared Kushner can do," "that's not something Ivanka Trump can do." "NARRATOR:" "A hard-line nationalist..." "It'sAmericafirst, in the most literal sense." "Stevegravitates" "toward countercultural conservative figures" "that resonate with Middle America." "NARRATOR:...whopromised disruption." "WhatBannonsaidwas ,"We are  going to do everything we can" "to take your power away and move it somewhere else."" "NARRATOR:" "Tonighton  Frontline..." "Deconstructionofthe administrative state." "NARRATOR:" Bannon'sWar."" "There'sa brand-newteamin charge of the White House," "a brand-new staff to keep the wheels turning." "PresidentTrumpwakesup with a busy day ahead." "Thisisjustthe beginningof what is going to be" "a very busy day for Donald Trump." "Thispresidentcametothis  town with a mindset" "after the election he was going to shake things up." "He was going to move at a much more rapid pace" "and shake the government up." "We'realsoexpectinghim  to head to the Pentagon." "NARRATOR:" "Onhisseventhday in office," "President Donald Trump headed to the Pentagon." "It was time for action." "...departtheWhiteHouse and head to the Pentagon." "Idothinkthatthey wanted to have a flurry of activity" "at the beginning to demonstrate" "that Trump is what he said he was." "He's not going to wait." "He's not going to take his time." "He knows what to do, and he's going to fix everything." "He's going to set the world right immediately." "...opportunityforhim to meet" "with his secretary of defense, James Mattis." "NARRATOR:" "Itwasthe first time the new president had been" "to the Pentagon." "...wouldnotofferdetails," "but President Trump is expected to..." "Thepresidentis asking the military to..." "NARRATOR:" "AtTrump'sside," "his chief strategist, Stephen Bannon." "Trumphastoldme multiple times" "that he actually loves to fight." "In Bannon, he saw someone who was just like him," "someone who loved to fight." "NARRATOR:" "Bannon had engineered" "a sweeping executive order aimed at fulfilling a campaign promise" "to restrict Muslims from entering the United States." "That'sSteveBannon'sidea," "is to just throw everybody else off-balance, knock them back" "before they have a chance to resist." "NARRATOR:" "Untilthismoment," "the order's details had been a well-kept secret in Washington," "even among Trump's own team." "Theywantedto rushthis thing through and get it" "out there, and essentially take a shock-and-awe approach" "to changing immigration policy." "DefenseSecretaryMattisknew very late in the process" "that this was what was going to be done during this visit." "Bannondidn'twantother agencies to have a chance to see" "what was in this executive order and say," ""Whoa, whoa, wait a minute." "Slow down." "This might not be something we'd want to do."" "JohnKellyis thenew  secretary of homeland security," "a retired four-star general." "He's on the phone being briefed on a helicopter" "while they're doing this announcement." "Thepresident'sfirstand  most important responsibility" "to the American people is to keep the homeland safe." "And so I think that that's what the president" "was shooting for there, is to, is to protect the homeland." "NARRATOR:" "Bannonandthe new  president had sent a message." "Change had come." "Thatwas,in theeyes of Bannon," "the way to rupture the establishment." "They knew it was going to be disruptive." "They wanted the disruption." "Bannon sees disruption as power." "Refugeesarewelcomehere!" "Asceneof outrageatJFK Airport in New York, where..." "Protestsallacross the country," "reaction from around the world" "after the president signed his executive order." "Theyknewthatthe protests would come," "they knew the media would erupt." "It's what they wanted." "Swiftreactions from around the country." "Nowprotests,outrage," "and backlash from President Trump's..." "Sanctuaryforall!" "No ban!" "No wall!" "OneseniorTrumpofficial said, "The fact that it came out" "on a Friday afternoon, with no warning, was no accident,"" "because Bannon knew that people who were opposed to this policy" "would be enraged." "And most of them would have Saturday and Sunday" "off from work, so they could get out there" "and they could protest and they could get angry." "And TV cameras would come and film these protests." "It would be all over the news." "Seattlepoliceactually dispersed some crowds" "with pepper spray." "Itwouldsendthe messageto Trump's voters that Trump was" "keeping the promises that he made on the campaign trail." "Noban!" "No wall!" "Sanctuary for all!" "NARRATOR:" "IthadbeenaSteve  Bannon production." "Bannonthinks, "This is great." ""We're killing it." "We're winning." ""We're doing everything that we said we would." ""We are beating down the establishment and the liberals" ""into submission." "We are literally making America great again."" "ThisAmericancarnagestops right here and stops right now." "From this day forward, it's going to be only America first," "America first." "The time for empty talk is over." "Now arrives the hour of action." "NARRATOR:" "A strategist,a revolutionary, a provocateur," "Steve Bannon helped create a movement intent on transforming" "the country." "Thankyouverymuch, Benjamin..." "NARRATOR:" "ButBannonhimself rarely talks publicly" "about the worldview at the heart of his politics." "We'respeaking from Los Angeles today," "right across the street from our headquarters in Los Angeles." "NARRATOR:" "Oneexception,this video at a Vatican conference" "less than three years before he entered the White House." "Hecomeson to thescreen." "He's via Skype." "It's this grainy video image." "He gives this speech, where he talks about how Islam is" "a threat to Judeo-Christian civilization." "Ibelievetheworld" "and particularly the Judeo-Christian West" "is in a crisis." "ThethreatthatBannonsees  post-9/11" "to the Judeo-Christian West, is that radical Islamic theology" "is metastasizing into more mainstream Islamic communities." "We'reattheverybeginning stages of a very brutal" "and bloody conflict." "We are in an outright war" "against jihadist Islam, Islamic fascism." "And this war is, is, I think," "metastasizing almost..." "far quicker than governments" "can, can, can handle it." "NARRATOR:" "Bannondescribes himself as a combatant" "in what he believes is an epic war." "SteveBannonsees America's dilemma," "at this stage in its history, as really part" "of a civilizational battle between the forces of the West" "and faith and democracy versus that of Islam and terrorism." "And he has kind of reduced all of the conflicts" "of modern society to that essential face-off" "between the terrorists and the Americans." "NARRATOR:" "ForSteveBannon," "his view of the world began to form decades earlier," "back in the 1950s." "Richmond,Virginia, the capital of the Old South." "ToreallyunderstandSteve Bannon, you just need to think" "about Richmond, where he grew up." "He grew up in a working-class household in Richmond, Virginia," "and he thinks his whole worldview comes back" "to his experience." "Thefamiliarmaninthetent is splicing." "It is both the typical skill of the telephone man..." "NARRATOR:" "Hisfatherwas a telephone company lineman" "who taught Bannon the value of hard work..." "♪Kennedy,Kennedy,Kennedy" "♪ Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy" "♪ Kennedy for me!" "NARRATOR:...andwas a strong supporter" "of Democrat Jack Kennedy." "Hisdadknockedondoors for John F. Kennedy." "Irish Catholic to the core." "I spoke with his brother, and his brother talked about," "you know, sort of, every Irish Catholic kid at that time" "grew up thinking that they could be JFK, you know." "And it wasn't different in the Bannon family." "Kennedy!" "NARRATOR:" "Inhighschool," "he attended an all-male Catholic military academy." "He earned a reputation as a brawler." "In college at Virginia Tech, he worked during the summers" "to pay the bills." "SteveBannonworked at the junkyard" "when he was coming home from college," "and his mom would spray him outside before he could come in," "you know, with the, with the hose." "NARRATOR:" "Itwasduringthose years that Bannon had" "his first experience with politics," "as an anti-establishment candidate" "for student government." "Hemadean insurgentrun  for student class president" "when he was a junior." "It was very Trump-like." ""Washingtonbureaucratsare not going to change the policies" "that deprive us of a normal human lifestyle."" "Heattackedhisopponents for being tools" "of the administration, establishment people," "and he's an outsider." "NARRATOR:" "Hepulledoff an unlikely victory," "winning by a landslide." "Then Bannon joined the Navy." "He told shipmates it was a stepping stone" "for a career in politics." "On the U.S.S.Foster, in the Gulf of Oman, Bannon first saw" "what he came to believe was a gathering storm" "in the Middle East." "Goodevening." "The U.S. Embassy in Tehran has been invaded and occupied" "by Iranian students." "The Americans inside have been taken prisoner." "Weeksgoby andmonthsgoby ," "and this is a story dominating America's news and headlines," "night after night after night." "LateyesterdayIcancelleda carefully planned operation." "NARRATOR:" "Bannonwould later say" "that President Carter's failure to rescue the hostages" "was his political turning point." "TwoofourAmericanaircraft collided on the ground." "Hewasaboardthe shipwhen  the mission went bad." "He blamed Jimmy Carter for this failure," "for hurting American prestige." "NARRATOR:" "Aftersevenyears, Bannon left the Navy." "He enrolled at Harvard Business School." "It was a ticket into a world far from working-class Richmond." "He landed a coveted job at Goldman Sachs," "but rather than stay on Wall Street," "he headed to Hollywood to make deals." "Hetookadifferentpath" "than a lot of the people at Goldman Sachs." "He felt the kids that had gone to prep schools" "had kind of easier entrées, socially." "And he was very aware of it, and edgy about it." "NARRATOR:" "AtGoldman, and then on his own," "Bannon financed movies and TV shows." "By his late 40s, Bannon was wealthy, but he still seemed" "to be searching for a purpose." "Then everything changed for Steve Bannon." "KFInewstime6:09." "63 degrees here in Los Angeles." "Goodmorning,everybody." "It's Bill Handel, and a pleasure to have you with us." "If you have not yet heard, a few minutes ago, an airplane crashed" "into one of the World Trade Centers followed by..." "NARRATOR:" "Thelurkingdanger from the Muslim world" "that he had first seen in the Navy had now arrived in America." "Itconfirmsallhis fears, all his suspicions." "Here are the same forces of Islam that seized" "American hostages in 1979 and 1980." "Now they've reached all the way over to the United States." "They're coming here." "They're killing Americans." "He viewed that as a civilizational war." "NARRATOR:" "Itwasafight Bannon wanted to join." "He did, first as a documentary filmmaker." "Inthetraditionalmotion picture story, the villains are" "usually defeated, the ending is a happy one." "I can make no such promise" "for the picture you're about to watch." "NARRATOR:" "Alarmedby  September 11, Bannon produced" "a film about his hero, Ronald Reagan." "We'reatwarwiththemost dangerous enemy" "that has ever faced mankind in his long climb" "from the swamp to the stars." "Thefirstwordthatleaps to mind is "apocalyptic."" "He has a very alarmist, urgent filmmaking style." "The tone is febrile, the visual style is lurid." "NARRATOR:" "Bannon'sfilm identifies a dark threat" "he calls "the beast."" "Thebeastembodied Nietzsche's will to power," "stopping at nothing to achieve its ends." "Hisbeliefin thebeastwas so real." "It was very real." "The whole idea of the beast." "I mean, you're either for the beast" "or you're against the beast." "You know, there's no in-between." "NARRATOR:" "Thefilmportrays Reagan as a political warrior" "willing to fight the beast." "But Bannon did more than glorify Reagan." "At the film's end, he issued a warning." "There'sa noteto myself in the script." ""Steve, I know you have your own ideas" "about what to do with the coda."" "Well, what happened was, he went into the editing room" "and the coda..." "Suddenly, the beast still lives." "Thewolfhadnot passed by the door." "War had not been wished away." "(Rachmaninoff'sVespers playing)" "Suddenly,thenarratoris talking about the beast" "and we see Muslims praying." "Reachingout, first to convert," "then turning in to destroy, that was the nature of the beast." "Andthenwe seepeople" "jumping out of the World Trade Center" "and falling to their death." "(Rachmaninoff'sVespers playing)" "NARRATOR:" "Increasingly, Bannon was a man on a mission:" "reading, studying, trying to understand history," "and how to change it." "Hereallyhasthe persona of a college professor." "He's constantly carrying around books, and he's talking" "about different philosopher he reads." "When you sit down with Steve Bannon, it's really sitting down" "for two or three hours." "Freespirit." "He was very happy to discuss the ideas of Giordano Bruno," "Chinese philosophy, and Plato." "He had his own room, but there were so many books on the bed," "he couldn't sleep in it." "NARRATOR:" "Andhe hadbecome fascinated" "by one particular book." "SteveBannoncallsmeand just introduces himself" "as someone who is very interested" "in the works of Strauss and Howe," "Generations andthe Fourth Turning," "and who's making a movie about them." "NARRATOR:" "Thatbook-- The Fourth Turning" "argued that historical cycles predict the future" "and that another crisis was looming." ""Historyisseasonal, and winter is coming." ""The risk of catastrophe will be very high." ""The nation could erupt into insurrection or civil violence," "crack up geographically, or succumb to authoritarian rule."" "NARRATOR:" "Bannonwassodrawn to this grim prediction" "about the future, he made a film about it:" "Generation Zero." "Thisisthetriggerthat lets  loose a chain of events" "which pushes society in a new mood," "in a fundamentally different direction." "NARRATOR:" "AndBannonseemed to believe that he knew" "what would happen next." "Onepartof theconversation that I vividly remember is" "about the possibility of a huge war," "comparable in scope to the Second World War," "as part of the coming crisis." "This was something that he clearly believed" "was likely to occur." "He wanted to get me to say on camera" "that I thought it was likely to occur." "He wasn't impolite about it." "But the thing I remember him saying, "Well, look, you know," ""we have the American Revolution," ""then we have the Civil War." ""That's bigger." ""Then we have the Second World War." ""That's even bigger." "So what's the next one going to be like?"" "BringontheApocalypse." "There is an almost fetishistic desire" "to see everything blow up." "It's almost like he is inviting a cleansing fire" "to just raze the edifice, raze the institutions." "I think it's that dramatic." "NARRATOR:" "Thefilmsdidn't have the impact he hoped for." "NARRATOR:" "Bannonstillsaw  an America in crisis," "and in his films, he began to look for a new political warrior" "to save the country." "In 2011, he believed he found her." "(people cheering and shouting)" "We'resittingtherein2011 , in Pella, Iowa." "And he says, "Costa, one day someone like Sarah Palin," ""perhaps even in 2012, is going to be president" "of the United States."" "NARRATOR:" "Theoccasionwas  the premiere of a documentary" "Bannon had made about Palin." "Isaid,"Whatare you talking about, Steve?" "How could Sarah Palin become president?"" "Stevegravitates" "towards countercultural conservative figures" "that have an ability to resonate with Middle America." "NARRATOR:" "Insidethetheater," "Bannon unveiled the film he calledThe Undefeated." "(dramatic music playing)" "Likea Marine,sheruns toward the danger." "Ondayone,GovernorPalin made it absolutely clear" "that this was a different governor." "Ifwehavegovernmentstill invading our house," "then, you know, the women stand up" "and we start invading the government." "Andthat'swhatwedon'tsee in any politician." "Shewasachampion of our ideals." "NARRATOR:" "Bannonhadspenta year producing the film," "but he could not convince Palin to actually run." "BannonwasdisappointedPalin didn't run." "Bannon saw it then." "He was just ahead of his time." "It wasn't going to be Palin and it wasn't going to be 2012." "But populism, the populism he saw then, it was on the rise." "NARRATOR:" "Andin Hollywood, that insight made Bannon" "a player among conservatives." "Andthatkindofthrustshim into this small circle" "of Hollywood conservatives that includes Andrew Breitbart." "And that is sort of how Bannon makes his way from Hollywood" "all the way over into right-wing politics." "NARRATOR:" "AndrewBreitbart was a one-of-a-kind force." "(bleep)you,JohnPodesta." "NARRATOR:" "HeworkedatThe Drudge Report," "helped start The Huffington Post," "and now he had his own site." "What'sinyourcloset, John Podesta?" "Andrewwas an iconoclastic guy." "He was a controversial guy," "but mostly because he took no prisoners." "...becausewe'replaying to win." "Meaninghewouldkindofsay whatever came to mind." "He thought of himself, and I think he was, in many ways," "a real truthteller." "We'vebeendrinking." "We've had, like, a couple beers." "Sex and gambling." "NARRATOR:" "Somehow,bombastic Breitbart and bookish Bannon" "were drawn to each other." "NewOrleansPD ." "Therecertainlywasa chemistry and an energy" "between the two of them, where you could see" "that they were both thinking," ""This is a person who could get me to the next level."" "Breitbartimmediately recognized Bannon" "as a fellow traveler, as someone he could conscript" "into this war against Islam," "but also against secular culture in the United States." "NARRATOR:" "Breitbartneeded Bannon's business savvy" "and he needed an infusion of money." "Bannon knew where to get it:" "conservative mega-donors the Mercers." "BobMerceris acomputer scientist who applied his genius" "to the stock markets and just started minting money." "So he is a self-made gazillionaire." "NARRATOR:" "Bannoncultivated Mercer's daughter, Rebekah." "She was new to politics and looking to make an impact." "Bannonstartsbecomingtheir political adviser, kind of like" "a personal political strategist to the family." "Some people have worried, who've known the family," "that he's become kind of a Svengali to the whole family." "NARRATOR:" "NowBannontold them that investing in Breitbart" "was the perfect way to take on big government." "SteveBannonwroteupa  business plan that called" "for the Mercers to put $10 million into Breitbart," "and it's at that point it starts growing into a force." "NARRATOR:" "Thedealhad  another provision:" "Steve Bannon would officially join" "Breitbart's board of directors." "But then, shocking news." "Well-knownconservative blogger Andrew Breitbart" "has died." "Breitbartreportedly collapsed last night," "and the coroner says he died of natural causes." "Igotthenewsat3: 30  in the morning, like it was" "out of a movie, a horrifying moment, and it was Steve" "on the other line." "And he gave me the bad news very quickly and I had" "a delayed response, I couldn't process it at that moment." "NARRATOR:" "WiththeMercers' support, Bannon took over." "Breitbart changed dramatically," "from emphasizing Hollywood culture" "to Washington power politics." "Bannonisvery,veryinto  the inner workings of power" "in Washington, D.C." "You can see that the website starts to push" "political narratives that are DC-centric" "a lot more than it probably would have" "if Andrew had been alive." "NARRATOR:" "InWashington, Steve Bannon set up operations" "in a townhouse he called "the Breitbart Embassy."" "IactuallymetSteve for the first time" "at the so-called Breitbart Embassy." "Steve is a very engaging, charismatic person." "I found him to be actually very charming." "He had a clear sense of vision and objective." "He wanted Breitbart to be the most dominant voice" "in the Republican Party space." "NARRATOR:" "Otherthan Bannon himself," "almost everyone at the embassy was under 30." "Yougointo the Breitbart Embassy," "and it's 25-year-old after 27-year-old" "after 25-year-old and 30-year-old" "talking with Bannon, talking about history," "reveling that they're the outsiders" "and pointing figures at the insiders" "as clowns or as fools who don't get it, who don't understand" "the populism that's really on the rise in the country." "SofromahouseonCapitol Hill, a number of people who are" "kind of on the fringes of the Republican Party come together" "and build what appears to be the roots of a movement." "NARRATOR:" "NowBannonmolded Breitbart around his worldview." "He called it "populist nationalism."" "It'sAmericafirstinthe most literal sense," "that it's the country's responsibility" "to look out for ourselves," "and the best way to look out for ourselves is to be," "if necessary, hostile to other countries." "NARRATOR:" "Breitbart'sreaders embraced stories" "on black crime, Islamic terrorism," "violence by immigrants, stories of a corrupt globalist elite," "a culture under assault." "It'sa kindof anativist voice" "that comes out of Breitbart, and it's not" "something that's never happened in America before," "because we've had waves of nativism." "But it's, it's bringing nativism to a digital platform" "where it's reaching the whole country." ""Hispanicandblackthugs tend to attack Asians..."" ""Blacks are incapable for being responsible" "for themselves..."" "NARRATOR:" "Breitbart's comment sections became" "notorious gathering places for extreme viewpoints." ""Thetowelheadsaretaking over because we let them."" ""Gayness is a cancer on us all."" "Imean,it reads like you've walked" "into a hate club gathering of some kind." ""Howstupidarewomen?" "Let's find out."" "Theywereappealingtothe segment of the population" "that are racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic" "really, the worst among us." "Creating this congregating space everyday," "where people from that worldview can go" "and rally around one another to find content" "that validates their worldview." "And I think that's what they were building, ultimately." "NARRATOR:" "Thearticlesand  comments fueled questions" "about Bannon's own beliefs." "I'veneverheardSteve Bannon say racist things," "but that doesn't mean Breitbart hasn't encouraged" "some of these racist elements within the Republican Party." "As much as Bannon says himself that he has never embraced" "these people, Breitbart, in some respects, has given these people" "a voice, has normalized elements of the conservative right." "NARRATOR:" "Thesitewas  booming," "with millions of readers." "At the embassy, they shrugged off criticism." "Ifyouareseenasthemost powerful right-of-center person" "in America, or one of the two or three most," "you're going to get called a racist, a sexist, a bigot," "a xenophobe, a homophobe, an Islamophobe," "and there's not much you can do about it." "NARRATOR:" "ButBannondidn't just want readers," "he wanted to fundamentally change Washington." "Itisthemostaggressive push for immigration reform..." "NARRATOR:" "Andin 2013,asthe Republicans began to work" "with Democrats on immigration reform..." "...pushedthebipartisan immigration reform plan." "Youcreateapathwayfor those people that are here." "You don't say, "You got to go home."" "NARRATOR:..." "Bannondecided to take on" "the G.O.P. leadership." "...viewedasavictory for the G.O.P...." "NARRATOR:" "Andto do so ,he  made an alliance," "with a 27-year-old Senate staffer, Stephen Miller." "Millerwasthislittle ideologue." "I mean everybody on the hill knew who he was" "because, you know, he was very active" "and he would blast you in the media." "He would blast reporters with press releases day and night." "A lot of reporters considered this spam." "NARRATOR:" "Millerwas made-to-order for Steve Bannon." "He was a top aide" "to controversial Republican senator Jeff Sessions." "From the right wing, Sessions was an outspoken opponent" "of immigration reform." "HeshapedSessions on immigration" "as much as Sessions shaped Miller." "Miller was there with Sessions day in, day out." "NARRATOR:" "Millerconnected Sessions and Bannon." "They built a formidable alliance." "StephenMillerquickly becomes a go-between." "Miller is setting up happy hour meetings" "between Breitbart staffers" "and the staffers in Sessions' office." "And Breitbart really elevates Sessions with its coverage." "He becomes a kind of standard bearer" "for this part of the far right." ""Sessions:" "ImmigrationBill Will 'Hammer' Americans."" ""Sessions Comes Out Swinging" "Against Secretive House Immigration Push."" ""Sessions:" "Breitbart Doing 'Great Work' Getting Truth Out" "About Immigration Bill."" "Itwasveryclear that Steve and Breitbart," "with Stephen Miller, were playing a very hands-on role" "in trying to advise Senator Sessions." "RepublicansinWashingtonare  not on the same page" "as their voters." "NARRATOR:" "Populistangerin the G.O.P. base boiled over." "LiberalRepublicansneed to be punished" "and they need to be..." "Allofasudden," "Republicans who thought they wanted to pass this thing" "were getting phone calls and getting picketed" "by furious constituents that say, "How can you be doing this?" "You have to stop."" "Immigrationreformis allbut  dead in the water, at least..." "NARRATOR:" "Immigrationreform collapsed." "...endofimmigrationreform." "NARRATOR:" "Bannon,Sessions, and Miller realized" "they had tapped into something powerful." "Itwasabig victoryforour audience, because they thought" "that this was putting, putting the interest" "of the permanent political class in Washington" "ahead of the common people throughout the country." "That was a significant moment in our development" "and realizing we can get results." "NARRATOR:" "Hisinfluence was growing." "And now Bannon renewed his search for a political warrior" "who could transform the country." "Bannon,I feellike,has been someone who's been looking" "for a figurehead to attach himself to for a very long time." "NARRATOR:" "And in New York City," "there was a Breitbart reader who was just the person" "Bannon was looking for." "Trumpwasreadingand  digesting Breitbart News" "as long ago as 2013, 2014, and internalizing these things." "And nobody paid any attention because nobody cared" "about Donald Trump in politics in 2014." "NARRATOR:" "Bannonhadbeen introduced to Trump" "by David Bossie, a producer on many Bannon films" "and the head of the conservative advocacy group Citizens United." "BossieandBannonare  friends, and Bossie says" "to Bannon, "Come on over and meet Donald Trump." "He's thinking of running for President."" "So they all meet up at the Trump Tower in New York" "and they talk about it." "I'veknownSteveBannonfor about ten years, worked with him" "on a lot of projects." "One of the greatest strategic minds" "that I've ever been around." "AndTrumpcontinuestokeep a relationship going with Bannon" "from that point on." "NARRATOR:" "InTrump,Bannon had found a fighter" "who matched his own instincts." "AndsoBreitbart,Palin, Trump," "all are sort of anti-establishment figures," "and I think that that appeals to Bannon." "It was more about destroying enemies." "And that's where he and Trump, I think, really meet." "I think they're very much into destroying enemies." "♪SweethomeAlabama" "NARRATOR:" "By2015,asTrump launched his campaign" "for the presidency, he echoed Breitbart's headlines," "painting an alarming picture of illegal immigrants." "Somanypeoplehavebeen  so badly hurt." "The other day in California-- last week-- a woman," "66 years old, a veteran, was killed." "Raped, sodomized, tortured, and killed by an illegal immigrant." "We have to do it, we have to do something," "we have to do something." "NARRATOR:" "Andallthe while," "behind the scenes, Trump turned to Bannon for advice." "Although he was not officially on the campaign," "Bannon wrote this email to his old friend Julia Jones" "about his connection to Trump." "Stevetoldme he wasDonald Trump's campaign manager" "in August of 2015." "But I think it was kind of like a metaphor." "I mean, he was behind the scenes." "I said, "Oh, congratulations." "That's wonderful," you know." "Because I knew it was what he'd always wanted, you know." "Now, you know, it's the big time." "This was it, this was..." "He'd made it." "NARRATOR:" "ToJones, Bannon boasted," ""Don't you ever read Breitbart?" "It's Trump Central."" "Now Bannon was increasingly on the attack," "going after Trump's opponents one by one." "ThereasonthatIquit  Breitbart is because they were" "working so closely with Trump." "When a news outlet decides that it is more important" "to maintain close ties with a particular candidate" "or politician than it is to maintain the integrity" "of their journalists," "that's no longer a journalistic organization." "It is now a propaganda platform." "NARRATOR:" "Duringthattime," "six Breitbart staff members resigned." "Ijustrealized,Idon'twant to be a part of this anymore," "and I think that there were a lot of reporters" "who didn't sign up to be the voice of the Trump campaign." "If I wanted to be involved" "with a specific presidential campaign, I would," "I would have gone and done so." "NARRATOR:" "WhileBannonworked from the embassy," "Stephen Miller signed on to Trump's campaign" "as a senior policy adviser and speechwriter." "DonaldJ.Trump,ladiesand gentlemen, is going to stand up" "to the bullies and fight for you." "StephenMillerwould literally go out on stage" "before Trump and get the crowd riled up" "with a red-meat recitation of all of the ills" "that were affecting America." "Areyoureadytofightthe terrorists, are you ready" "to stop the onslaught of radical Islam, and are you ready..." "GoingwellbeyondwhereTrump was rhetorically," "but eventually their messages began to merge" "and they began to have this fairly consistent worldview" "that matched not only that of Steve Bannon," "but also that of Jeff Sessions." "Iampleased..." "NARRATOR:" "JeffSessions himself was" "the first United States senator to give Trump" "a crucial endorsement." "MakeAmericagreatagain." "DonaldTrumpis  the projected winner" "of the New Hampshire primary." "...toregainhisfrontrunner status in a crowded field." "He'spullingahead" "in virtually every Super Tuesday state." "WeloveNevada!" "We love Nevada!" "Thank you." "Thismakesback-to-back victories for..." "DonaldTrumpis" "a professional political wrecking ball." "NARRATOR:" "Ashe headedinto the general election..." "...TrumpaddingBreitbart executive Steve Bannon" "as campaign C.E.O...." "NARRATOR:..." "Trumpofficially brought Bannon" "into the campaign." "...firebrandconservative Breitbart news boss" "Stephen Bannon as chief executive." "Steveistheguiding right hand," "the Karl Rove, if you will, of the Trump campaign." "He's orchestrating it all: the Mercers, funders of Breitbart," "benefactors of Trump." "David Bossie, close friend of Bannon." "Sessions and Miller, that relationship starts with Bannon" "and Breitbart." "They're all Breitbart-Bannon- orchestrated personnel." "So that tells you who's really running the show" "and what's going on at that point." "...withthatbreakingnews from the campaign trail," "Donald Trump's lewd remarks about women..." "NARRATOR:" "Butthen, a shocking revelation..." "...theyletyoudoit." "You can do anything." "Grab them by the (bleep)." "NARRATOR:...theemergenceof theAccess Hollywood videotape." "TheTrumpcamphas swiftly launched into disaster mode." "Peoplewererevoking their endorsements." "Republicans were all coming out against Trump." "And we know now, internally, Reince Priebus was urging Trump" "to consider getting out of the race." "NARRATOR:" "Ratherthangive up, Bannon wanted to fight back." "BannonrecommendsthatTrump hit back 100 times harder." "Change the topic just enough so that the emphasis goes" "from Donald Trump's wayward transactions with women" "to Bill Clinton's activities decades earlier with women." "NARRATOR:" "Theykepttheir plans a secret," "until two days later, at the second presidential debate," "when Bannon executed the counter attack." "Thesefourverycourageous women have asked to be here." "NARRATOR:" "Standingin the back of the room:" "Steve Bannon." "Mr.Trumpmayhavesaid  some bad words," "but Bill Clinton raped me and Hillary Clinton threatened me." "I don't think there's any comparison." "NARRATOR:" "Itwasthe type of event" "Andrew Breitbart would have loved." "TherealBreitbarttouch there was recognizing" "you had to surprise the media," "that the media would all move in one direction," "and you had to give them something" "they couldn't anticipate." "Okay,thankyouall  very much." "We appreciate it." "...DonaldTrumpcanvassing the country" "as the election nears." "...campaignfindsDonald Trump still stumping" "for every last vote." "...Trumpmakinghisrounds today on the campaign trail..." "WewillmakeAmericagreat..." "NARRATOR:" "Bannonencouraged Trump to travel the country..." "Wearegoingtodrain..." "NARRATOR:...toreachout to what he called the "forgotten":" "the angry and disaffected..." "...ourterribletradedeals." "NARRATOR:" "Deliveringthe nationalist message..." "...wewillkeepradical Islamic terrorists" "the hell out..." "NARRATOR:..." "Bannonhadbeen developing" "for more than a decade." "Wewillbuildagreatwall." "Bannonseesin Trumpa vehicle for his perspectives." "He understands that Trump is not one who studies policy." "And so he's able to insert into Trump's basic message" "and language a lot of the core messages" "that Bannon has been working on for years." "Weareled by very stupid people." "WhenI firststarted covering Trump" "at the start of his campaign," "he was a candidate of gut instincts." "It wasn't until Bannon came on in August of 2016" "that you really saw Trump working" "with Sessions and Bannon," "start to put policy to his gut instincts." "But by the end of his campaign," "he had in many respects adopted Bannonism." "Theworldis watching our country today." "Trumpissettobecome America's 45th president today." "NARRATOR:" "OnInauguration Day, Steve Bannon's strategy" "paid off, helping secure a victory" "that many called impossible." "I,DonaldJohnTrump, do solemnly..." "NARRATOR:" "Bannonwasnamed chief strategist" "and senior White House counselor." "...protectanddefend" "the Constitution of the United States, so help me God." "Congratulations, Mr. President." "NARRATOR:" "NowBannon'sideas would become the essence" "of the president's inaugural address." "Bannoncraftedthespeech." "This was a Bannon speech, and it was in the president's hands," "but it was a Bannon speech." "ThisAmericancarnagestops right here and stops right now." "Thelineabout "carnage in America,"" "I think that was Steve." "You know, there were, like..." "Every now and then, I hear things, I'm like," ""Oh, that's, okay, that's Steve."" "Fromthisdayforward,it's  going to be only America first." "America first." "(cheers and applause)" "God bless America." "NARRATOR:" "Thespeechwas  just the beginning." "Thankyou." "God bless America." "Bannonison akind of a kamikaze mission" "to just get as much done as he can because he knows" "that people with ideas that are as powerful" "and controversial as his, you know," "may not last in Washington." "NARRATOR:" "Andas theyput the  administration together," "Bannon's allies took key positions." "The first cabinet appointee:" "Jeff Sessions as attorney general." "Ifyou'reSteveBannon,the job you want to care about most," "probably, is attorney general." "It's a job that oversees so many of the big issues" "that matter to you." "NARRATOR:" "StephenMillerwas  appointed senior adviser" "to the president." "And from Breitbart," "Bannon recruited 25-year-old writer Julia Hahn" "and the national security editor, Sebastian Gorka." "Youhaveallthesepeoplewho were never taken seriously" "by the establishment now are the establishment." "Therehavealwaysbeenpeople" "like Bannon and Miller in and around government," "people who saw the darkest possible construction of things," "people who wanted to tear down some of the institutions" "because they felt they had become corrupt." "But the difference is, now they're in the West Wing." "Overtheweekend,the first family and White House staff..." "NARRATOR:" "Inthatfirstweek ," "Bannon wanted Trump to act quickly," "using the president's executive power." "...togetapresidencyup and running on day one." "Trumpgotelectedtodisrupt Washington, and if it took" "a lot of executive orders and controversial executive orders" "to do it, so be it." "They wanted to make that clear." "Trump'sadvisershaveteedup" "more than 200 possible executive orders." "NARRATOR:" "TheWhiteHouse issued a raft" "of executive actions:" "on Obamacare..." "...thisone'sassociated with Obamacare." "He'sspeedingup  environmental reviews..." "NARRATOR:...theenvironment, immigration," "and the border wall." "SteveBannon'stheorywas ," "bam, bam, bam, keep Washington off-balance." "A new order, a new order, boom, boom, boom." "In fact, at one point he wanted to do hundreds" "all in a single day." "...Trumpalsosignedfive more executive actions today." "Bannonhasthesewhiteboards in his office." "He calls it his "war room" inside of the White House:" "promises that Trump made, promises they want to make sure" "that Trump keeps." "PresidentTrumpsignedtwo  executive orders, one on..." "NARRATOR:" "Oneof Bannon's top priorities:" "doing something about the danger he'd been warning of for years:" "radical Islam." "Breakingnews," "a freeze on refugees coming to the United States." "A source telling CNN..." "Thefirsttravelban  on January 27," "it was a political document, not a legal document," "written to send a message." ""There'sa newsheriff in town."" "I think that was their intention," "was to show that this was a tough, harsh action" "that sort of displayed, was a statement of intent" "by the Trump administration." "Liberalsacrossthecountry digging in" "against President Trump's latest executive orders..." "Thecriticismhasbeen fierce..." "NARRATOR:" "Astheexecutive actions dominated the headlines," "at the White House, Bannon's influence was growing." "Trumpsignedthreenew  executive orders." "Intheearlydays,Steve Bannon is everywhere." "He's in every meeting he wants to be in." "He is always at the side of the president." "And he has access to any policy he wants to influence." "StephenBannonwasgiven a seat at the table." "NARRATOR:" "Bannonwaseven given a seat" "on the National Security Council." "...totheNationalSecurity Council." "Hehasno particular foreign policy" "or national security experience." "He was the provocateur of provocateurs in that group." "And so what's the reason for that, other than the kind" "of the aggrandizement of Steve Bannon," "as a way to say, "I'm all-powerful"?" "NARRATOR:" "Bannon'smoment had arrived." "Itseemslikethisis everything you could have wanted" "as an insurgent." "Suddenly, you're in charge." "Suddenly, the levers of power are in your hands" "and the hands of the president that you helped get there." "Keyplayersin theTrump administration will speak" "at the Conservative Political Action..." "NARRATOR:" "Bytheend  of the first month," "Bannon headed out of Washington..." "...NationalHarbor,Maryland." "Chief strategist Steve Bannon." "NARRATOR:...tomakearare  public appearance" "at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference." "Controversialadviser to the president Steve Bannon" "will also address the group." "TheHonorableSteveBannon." "(cheers and applause)" "NARRATOR:" "Hehadabandoned his suit and tie" "for the rumpled look he'd worn on the campaign trail." "Now,theC.P.A.C.speechis really the apogee" "of Steve Bannon's moment in the Trump White House." "Youknow,Ican run  a little hot on occasions." "WhatBannonbasicallysaid was, "We are going to be" ""in your face, you the establishment," ""you the media, you the Democrats." ""If you think we are going to play by your rules," ""you are wrong." ""We are going to do everything we can to take your power away" "and move it somewhere else."" "They'regoingto continue to fight." "If you think they're going to give you your country back" "without a fight, you are sadly mistaken." "Every day, every day, it is going to be a fight." "Forhimto showuptheresort of in this triumphal mode," "you know, "We're in charge now," was quite a moment for him." "Ifyoulookatthesecabinet appointees, they were selected" "for a reason, and that is deconstruction" "of the administrative state." "And if you..." "(applause and cheering)" "NARRATOR:" "Butto some observers, this moment" "and the publicity that followed" "looked like the beginning of the end for Steve Bannon." "Bannonmadehimself vulnerable in that moment." "A lot of Bannon's rivals inside of the White House" "were watching Bannon very closely at C.P.A.C." "By going to C.P.A.C., by stepping out, he became" "even more of a political celebrity." "And know who was paying close attention to that?" "President Trump." "...SteveBannonthatis getting the lion's share" "of the credit." "NARRATOR:" "Inthedaysjust  before and after the event," "the buzz about Bannon was growing." "Hehasbeencalledeverything from President Trump's brain" "to President Bannon." "...StephenBannonpulling the strings behind the scenes." "...Bannon'sworldviewandhis  impact on the presidency." "NARRATOR:" "Timemagazine branded him" ""the great manipulator."" "...underthetitle"Bananas"." "NARRATOR:" "OnTwitter,they called him "President Bannon."" "...evenPresidentBannon." "I'mreadyto start this briefing." "Okay." "NARRATOR:" "Andthentherewas Saturday Night Live." "Ican'tstart without Steve Bannon." "He'swalkingin rightnow ." "(dramatic music playing)" "(distortedvoice):" "Sorry I'm late." "(laughter)" "That'sokay,Steve-- you look great." "Thenarrativeof Bannonbeing the hand that's in the puppet," "you know, is not necessarily a good one for Bannon." "CanI havemy deskback?" "Yes,ofcourse, Mr. President." "I'll go sit at my desk, yeah." "Nopresident,andIthink, probably," "President Trump in particular," "likes to have it look as though some adviser" "is pulling all the strings." "The president was going to put him in his place" "and remind people, "I'm the president and he works for me."" "Tension'sgrowingbehind the walls of the Oval Office" "as the power struggle..." "NARRATOR:" "AndBannon'sagenda was in a tailspin." "Denied." "In a major setback for Donald Trump's travel ban..." "NARRATOR:" "Thattravelban was  stuck in the courts." "...PresidentTrump'sapproval ratings at record lows." "NARRATOR:" "Thepresident's approval ratings were sinking." "...wilddayat theTrump White House..." "NARRATOR:" "Therewerereports of chaos and infighting" "at the White House." "...anda lotof chaos and controversy..." "NARRATOR:" "Andthepresident's legislative agenda" "seemed to be stalled in Congress." "...replaceObamacare, the clock is ticking." "The objections..." "Bannonwasin an environment that was new to him." "He'd never worked the legislative process." "He may have done things in Hollywood," "or he may have done things at Goldman Sachs." "And, and you think, "Okay, I know how to operate" "and get people to do things."" "...andtryingto get conservatives on board" "as many groups..." "Butdealingin the legislative environment" "is different." "Theself-proclaimedcloser couldn't close the deal." "Tonight,a majordefeat for President Trump." "NARRATOR:" "AttheWhiteHouse," "they waited for Trump's reaction." "Everyexecutivewho'sever worked for Donald Trump" "and succeeded has very quickly absorbed the lesson" "that in all things Trump, if something succeeds," "the credit goes to the boss." "And if something fails, the blame is distributed" "to the nearest available target." "...theturmoilthatis brewing inside the White House," "whether Steve Bannon..." "NARRATOR:" "Increasingly," "the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner pointed the finger" "at Bannon." "Thedegreeto which there was competition" "between Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon," "the president was going to, in one way or another," "put Bannon down and be responsive to his family." "WhatrattledBannonwas  that the so-called globalists," "the financial types from New York" "who are close with Jared Kushner," "were moving the administration" "in a more mainstream Republican direction." "Thepresidentis nowfiring warning shots at Steve Bannon." "AndBannonis feeling isolated." "He's definitely losing allies," "like Stephen Miller, who's now sort of talking" "to the, the Jared Kushner/ Ivanka Trump wing." "Wearewatchingthe fate of Steve Bannon." "NARRATOR:" "Then,as Trump seemed to walk away" "from some of Bannon's hard-line positions, humiliation." "The president publicly downplayed Bannon's role." "...Trumpaddingfueltothe fire of speculation" "that Steve Bannon may soon hear, "You're fired."" "NARRATOR:" "Finally,the president decided Bannon would" "be stripped of his seat on the National Security Council." "Breakingnews." "Bombshell from the White House." "Stephen Bannon has been removed" "from the National Security Council." "NARRATOR:" "InWashington, it was seen as a sign" "Bannon and his ideas were on their way out." "with the president." "...iftheyfireBannon, they could make an enemy" "of a man who knows all their secrets." "NARRATOR:" "Thenasurprise." "As the president headed out of Washington" "on his 100th day in office..." "...acampaign-stylerally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania." "So what does his base say about the first 100 days?" "NARRATOR:...walkingbefore the cameras," "joining him onMarine One, his chief strategist, Steve Bannon." "Nobodyelsespeakstohis base as powerfully" "as Steve Bannon does." "And that's not something Jared Kushner can do." "That's not something Ivanka Trump can do." "PresidentTrump to rally his supporters" "on his 100th day in office." "...witha rallyin  Harrisburg, Pennsylvania," "where he's got thousands of supporters waiting eagerly" "to hear his speech, and we're going to bring it to you live." "NARRATOR:" "Ithadall  the elements" "of Trump's campaign stops:" "a huge crowd waiting" "and a speech that was pure Bannon." "Onebyone,we'refindingthe illegal immigrant drug dealers," "gang members, and killers, and removing them from our country." "And they will not let them back in-- they're not coming back." "Ifyoulookatpublic opinion polls," "the people who voted for Trump think that he's doing just fine." "That is Steve Bannon." "That is the effect of Steve Bannon saying," ""You, Mr. Trump, are going to keep your eye on the ball." ""You're going to keep saying these things." ""You're not going to be swayed" ""by these establishment people in Washington" "who don't have your own interests at heart."" "Soletme statethisas clearly as I possibly can:" "We are going to keep radical Islamic terrorists" "the hell out of our country." "U.S.A.!" "U.S.A.!" "NARRATOR:" "Itwas a Steve Bannon production." "That night, as they returned to Washington onMarine One," "Steve Bannon was seated right next to the president." "And Bannon was by his side in the weeks that followed," "as the White House was gripped by one crisis after another." "Twowords:" "shock and surprise." "Breakingnewstonight:" "President Trump has fired FBI director James Comey." "NARRATOR:" "Theadministration faced its biggest challenges" "so far." "FiredFBIDirectorJames Comey wrote a memo..." "JusticeDepartmentappointed a special counsel to..." "NARRATOR:" "Theyresponded with the combative strategy" "that had brought them to power." "Fighting back against the media..." "WhiteHousedenying a bombshell new report..." "NARRATOR:...thecritics..." "Reportersinthemediaare not an accurate portrayal..." "NARRATOR:" "...the establishment." "Lookattheway I'vebeen  treated lately." "You have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight." "Never, ever, ever give up." "NARRATOR:" "Bannon's war continued." "Bannonseesan amazing" "and probably last-in-his- lifetime opportunity" "to really have his worldview come to the fore" "in American politics." "He wants to see this out as much as he can," "to see what can actually be accomplished" "with a populist president." "...Itcomeswithoutwarning" "and is sending shock waves" "across Washington this evening..." "Gotopbs.org/frontline" "to explore extended interviews with Kurt Bardella." "Steveistheguidingright hand, the Karl Rove," "if you will, of the Trump campaign." "AlexMarlow..." "Stevegravitatestowards" "countercultural conservative figures that..." "Andothers." "Then visit our Watch page, where you can stream" "more than 200Frontline documentaries." "Connect to theFrontline community on Facebook" "and Twitter, then sign up for our newsletter" "at pbs.org/frontline." "Allthestuffyou learned about in medical school" "is really just a tiny little bit of what it means" "to be good at doing our job." "Based on the best-selling book by Atul Gawande..." "SomanypeopleIsee, their death comes as a surprise." "Frontlinetakesyouinto the difficult conversations" "between doctors and patients." "Ijustwaswantingsomething positive to say." "The reason I regret it is because I knew it was" "a complete lie." "Formoreon this and otherFrontline programs," "visit our website at pbs.org/frontline." "Frontline's "Bannon's War" is available on DVD." "To order, visit shopPBS.org or call 1-800-PLAY-PBS." "Frontline is also available for download on iTunes."