For guidance, the Mercers turned to Bannon. At the time, Breitbart’s online traffic was soaring, validating their faith in the political provocateur. When Mercer hosted Bannon on his 203-foot yacht, Sea Owl—yet another owl—Bannon wore shorts, cursed freely, belched, and held forth like a close relation, according to some people present. Bannon advised the Mercers on which political and media ventures to invest in and escorted potential beneficiaries to Rebekah’s triplex at Trump Place.fn1
