Steve Bannon’s Battle for the Soul of MAGA

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Warning: This episode contains strong language.

From the outside, the political movement created by Donald J. Trump has never seemed more empowered or invulnerable.

But Steve Bannon, who was the first Trump administration’s chief strategist, sees threats and betrayals at almost every turn, whether it’s bombing Iran or allowing tech billionaires to advise the president.

Jeremy W. Peters, a national reporter at The Times, talks to Mr. Bannon about those threats and why, to him, the future of the MAGA movement depends on defeating them.

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Background reading

• Steve Bannon said he told President Trump to investigate Elon Musk as an “illegal alien.”

• The president’s supporters are warring over two dueling campaign promises: to steer clear of foreign wars and to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

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Fact-checking by Susan Lee.

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