Former Trump Strategist Bannon Calls PBS Reporters 'Lying Scumbags' in Fiery Interview

Steve Bannon, former Chief Strategist under President Trump, delivered a vehement and profanity-laden critique of PBS and its reporter Mike Wiser during an interview, responding to questions about President Trump's rhetoric against federal judges. Bannon accused PBS and Democrats of hypocrisy for not condemning the aggressive rhetoric against judges following the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, asserting that the left terrorized justices and calling media and institutions "phony" and "gutless cowards." He defended the toughness and resilience of Trump supporters, contrasting them with what he described as the surrender-prone left and liberal institutions. Bannon urged for public hearings on certain judges' conduct, framing it as a necessary showdown to hold radical judges accountable. The interview, originally recorded months earlier and recently published, reignited discussions about the political and judicial battles since President Trump's second inauguration and the ongoing culture wars surrounding judicial decisions and political rhetoric. This exchange coincided with Justice Elena Kagan's remarks condemning vilification of judges and the broader debate over appropriate criticism of the judiciary.