Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Steve Bannon and Matt Gaetz Talk '4000 Shock Troops' to Take Over the Government—and It's Chilling AF

Steve Bannon and Matt Gaetz Talk '4000 Shock Troops' to Take Over the Government—and It's Chilling AF
@thetonymichaels/Twitter
Make us preferred on Google

At all levels, the Republican party has continued to embrace the idea of a militarized overthrow of the United States government to install a far-right regime.

Right-wing representatives Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia have both cited the spilling of blood as necessary to regain what they believe to be freedom. Far-right Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio compared the "battle" against Democrats to the battle against Nazis and slavery in America's past. Republican Senator of Ted Cruz wouldn't rule out an eventual secession of Texas from the Union.


The rhetoric is even more incendiary at the local level, with Northampton County Executive candidate Steve Lynch calling for the help of "20 strong men" to storm local school boards and forcibly remove members from their positions.

And this past week, far-right Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida—who's currently at the center of a child sex trafficking investigation—appeared with white nationalist Steve Bannon, where the pair fantasized about "4,000 shock troops" occupying government positions as soon as a Republican takes office.

Watch below.

Gaetz told Bannon:

"People didn't like that Donald Trump raised his voice but sometimes you've got to raise your voice to raise a ruckus and to raise an army of patriots who love this country and will fight for her. We're going to operationalize the performance to go right after the people who are imposing the vaccine mandates, who are enriching themselves and who are selling out the country."

Bannon agreed:

"Understand, this is a theory of governing. It's fresh and it's new. This is Trumpism in power. That's when we went to the 4,000 shock troops we have to have that's going to man the government. Get them ready now. Right? We're going to hit the beach with the landing teams and the beachhead teams and all that nomenclature they use when President Trump wins in 2024 -- or before. You're going to have those as the 4,000 political appointees ... No more powderpuff derby. This is going to be hardcore accountability at every [congressional] committee."

Gaetz responded:

"Yes, and we're going to go after this administrative state and we're going to start at the Department of Justice and the FBI. That's the job I want. You know, send me over to the Judiciary Committee and their sphincters will tighten because they have been doing a lot of corrupt things over there."

This is at least the second time Bannon has invoked the idea of "shock troops." This past October, while speaking to a conservative social club, Bannon insisted they were necessary to "take over the administrative state and deconstruct it" the second a Republican takes office.

The rhetoric raised eyebrows on social media.






People are demanding something be done.



Bannon is currently in litigation after being charged with contempt of Congress for his refusal to answer questions about his involvement in the January 6 insurrection.

More from News

Montana Jordan and Emily Osment
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

'Young Sheldon' Star Explains Why She Asked For An Intimacy Coordinator On The Show—And It Makes Sense

Entertainment journalist and Glamour magazine Senior West Coast Editor Jessica Radloff's new book, Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw’s-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy, shared a story about actor Emily Osment joining the show in its fifth season that's drawing praise for her consideration for her fellow child star, Montana Jordan.

Osment, who began acting at age five, is one of a rare breed in Hollywood—a child star turned successful adult actor. It's a journey many kids have infamously stumbled on, but that Jordan has also successfully navigated perhaps in part thanks to Osment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Participants at the meeting of the furry scene Eurofurence in the Hotel Estrel in Berlin, Germany
Jens Kalaene/Picture Alliance via Getty Images

Texas GOP's Bizarre Text Warning Voters About 'Weirdo Furry Socialists' Sparks Mockery

A Texas political action committee sparked online mockery after multiple people independently told the San Antonio Current they received a text message urging Texans to vote Republican to keep so-called "furry Socialists" from choosing their leaders.

The message was sent Saturday alongside a photo purportedly showing a man wearing a fox-tail accessory as he left a polling location in Collin County. The message identified its sender as Texans for Common Sense, a political action committee funded entirely by Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC, a far-right organization backed by West Texas oil billionaire Tim Dunn.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nicki Minaj
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Nicki Minaj Is Now Being Floated As A Possible White House Press Secretary—And It's Beyond Parody

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung had critics rolling their eyes after he shared a video of himself with rapper Nicki Minaj and floated her as the next press secretary.

Cheung's post comes as the White House continues to hunt for a replacement for Katie Zacharia, who was fired after just five days on the job.

Keep ReadingShow less
Alexander Skarsgård attends the Los Angeles premiere of Black Bear's "Wicker" at Directors Guild Of America.
Maya Dehlin/WireImage

Alexander Skarsgård's Unexpected Confession About Finding The Grinch Hot Sparks Hilarious Reactions

Some people want a man who's tall, dark, and handsome. Alexander Skarsgård prefers green, hairy, and someone who hates Christmas with a passion.

It all went down during a Bustle interview promoting Wicker, when Skarsgård and co-star Olivia Colman got into a “hear me out” discussion that took an unexpectedly naughty turn.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump in the Oval Office surrounded by Catholic Bishops and Archbishops
@MargoMartin47/X

Catholic Leaders Slam Trump White House For Turning Private Prayer Into Political Photo Op

On the afternoon of Thursday, October 22, MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor Margo Martin posted a video of Catholic leaders praying with the POTUS in the Oval Office.

Martin, who has been with Trump since his first term, captioned the video:

Keep ReadingShow less