What happened

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon declared war on the Republican Party and characterized President Trump’s decision to fire FBI Director James Comey as the biggest mistake “in modern political history,” during an incendiary, wide-ranging interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes this week. Bannon, who departed the White House in August, accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan of “trying to nullify the 2016 election”—blaming them for failing to repeal Obamacare and warning that establishment Republicans will be “held accountable” if they do not do more to enact Trump’s populist, economic-nationalist agenda. Asked by Charlie Rose if he would use his alt-right digital platform, Breitbart News, to “go to war” with the GOP, Bannon replied: “Absolutely.”

Bannon also shed light on the inner workings of the Trump administration—revealing that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie “was not looked at for a Cabinet position” because he didn’t show enough loyalty when a leaked Access Hollywood tape during the 2016 campaign showed Trump boasting about sexually assaulting women. Bannon also hinted that Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, encouraged Comey’s dismissal in May. He characterized that decision as a huge error that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who has since expanded the Russia investigation to include Trump’s financial dealings and potential obstruction of justice. Without Comey’s firing, said Bannon, “we would not have the Mueller investigation and the breadth that clearly Mr. Mueller is going for.”