This is an audio cast of the Frontline Program,

Bannon's War, premiering May 23rd on PBS and PBS.org slash Frontline.

Tonight.

Another day, another bombshell out of Washington,

breaking moments ago from the Justice Department.

It's supposed to be a special counsel to investigate.

With the White House reeling from crisis,

no politician in history has been treated worse.

Frontline looks at the president's top strategist.

Steve Bannon's theory was,

and, and, and keep Washington off the balance.

One of the greatest strategic minds that I've ever been around.

Nobody else speaks to Trump's base as powerfully as Steve Bannon does.

That's not something Jared Kushner can do.

That's not something Ivanka Trump could do.

It's a hardline nationalist.

It's America first, in the most literal sense.

Steve gravitates towards countercultural conservative figures

that resonate with Middle America.

Who promised disruption?

What Bannon said was,

we are going to do everything we can to take your power away

...