The Five – Episode Summary

Date: August 27, 2025
Episode Title: 2 Children Dead, 17 People Injured In MN Shooting
Podcast: The Five (FOX News Podcasts)
Hosts: Jesse Watters, Kennedy, Harold Ford Jr., Emily Compagno, Brian Kilmeade

Episode Overview

This episode of The Five centers on breaking coverage of the horrific shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, which resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to 17 others. The panel discusses the tragedy’s details, explores issues of crime, gun control, mental health, and the politicization of crises. Other key topics include media coverage of illegal immigrant crime, the Cracker Barrel branding controversy, Vanity Fair staffers rebelling against a Melania Trump cover, and a viral Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce engagement.

1. Minneapolis Church Shooting: Tragedy & Its Aftermath

[00:33 – 03:41]

• Incident Summary

  • A 23-year-old gunman, Robin Westman (formerly Robert), attacked a Catholic mass, killing two children (ages 8 and 10) and injuring seventeen others before committing suicide.
  • FBI is investigating the act as domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.
  • Westman had legally purchased multiple firearms and left behind a manifesto, now under FBI review.

• Host Perspectives on Trauma

  • Emily Compagno shares a child’s account:
    • "My friend ran... Someone helped him like run out. He saw him. He was wearing all black and he had a ski mask on." [03:03]
  • Kennedy adds:
    • "My friend Victor, he was like laying on top of me, like making sure I was safe, and he got hit. So that was really brave of him." [03:17]
  • Police report all surviving children are expected to recover physically, but psychological trauma is a concern.
  • President Trump issues a proclamation for flags at half staff.

2. Crime in America: Politics, Policy, and Public Safety

[03:41 – 06:54]

• Law & Order Discourse

  • Jesse Watters highlights a poll: "81% of Americans say crime in large cities is a major problem, and that same poll has President Trump’s approval on crime at 53%." [03:41]
  • The role of Democratic policies in crime rates is debated.
  • Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser admits Trump’s federal crackdown reduced carjackings by 87%. [04:23]

• Brian Kilmeade’s Commentary

  • Challenges the mayor’s focus on trans community concerns over victims.
  • Brings up the shooter’s mental health and possible connection to transition medications:
    • "Is there something to be learned by the type of transition drugs he may or may not have been on as they made this move?" [05:32]
  • Draws parallels to previous shootings with trans perpetrators.

3. Gun Control, Mental Health, and Legislative Needs

[06:54 – 11:27]

• Harold Ford Jr.’s Appeal

  • "The common denominator in all this is guns... at some level, the sanctity and the misapplication of the Second Amendment can't supersede every conversation about the lives of our kids, the lives of our family members." [07:27]
  • Calls on leaders to convene gun manufacturers and policymakers for actionable solutions, not just rhetoric.

• Balancing Rights and Safety

  • Kennedy opposes broad gun restrictions, supports self-defense rights for trans people and all Americans:
    • "Taking guns away from good people who deserve self-protection... it's not the answer." [10:58]
  • Harold seeks extended background checks for flags like mental illness without full prohibition:
    • "I'm only saying we ought to have a longer background period to investigate all these things..." [10:58]

4. Media, Personal Experience & Public Perception

[11:43 – 14:17]

• Emily Compagno on Crime Statistics vs. Experience
  • Shares the story of journalist Iris Tao’s gunpoint robbery in D.C.
  • Argues lived trauma isn’t captured by statistical improvements:
    • "When people ask her, she says... I don't know about statistics, but let me tell you about my experience." [13:04]
  • Notes Tao is moving out of D.C. while pregnant due to safety concerns.

5. Selective Media Coverage & Illegal Immigration Debates

[16:03 – 25:02]

• Tale of Two Illegals: Media Bias?

  • Kennedy notes, "ABC, CBS, NBC... all refuse to cover the illegal immigrant truck driver charged in a deadly U-turn crash that killed three people in Florida... but they spent a precious 17 minutes on the accused MS-13 gangbanger" [16:03]
  • Jesse slams producers for agenda-driven story selection, suggesting this hurts media credibility:
    • "When you ignore stories that are important to the American people, the American people are going to ignore you." [17:42]

• Truck Driver Case Discussion

  • 2.2 million sign a petition for leniency for the non-English-speaking truck driver.
  • Emily: "At the time, everyone said [requiring English proficiency for truckers] was racist... Well, sir, I think it’s pretty obvious. You would be able to read a sign that says no U-turns." [20:11]
  • Critiques view that English proficiency is about race, saying it’s about public safety.

• On Kilmar Abrego Garcia (Accused Human Smuggler)

  • Harold points out Garcia entered under Trump’s presidency, not Biden’s, in response to partisan blame-shifting.
  • Calls for reform so asylum is not granted too easily.

6. Cracker Barrel Rebrand & the DEI Debate

[25:58 – 31:56]

• Cracker Barrel reverts to its old logo after Trump criticism.
  • Jesse: "If we had just put our foot down years ago... Look what they took from us, Emily. Never again." [29:44]
• DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Critique
  • Kennedy: "Please just keep your George Soros money away from the rest of rational Americans who are absolutely sick of this stuff." [26:52]
  • Harold Ford Jr. corrects: "There’s no... I don’t see DEI in the Bible. I read the Bible every day." [28:09]
  • Brian: Points out Cracker Barrel’s business troubles were the real motivator for the rebrand.

7. Vanity Fair & The Melania Trump Cover Controversy

[33:01 – 38:24]

• Vanity Fair staff threaten to walk out if Melania Trump is put on the cover.
  • Brian Kilmeade: "This is the first lady in the United States, a supermodel on the cover of a magazine... that’s what you should be doing as an editor, maximizing viewership." [33:46]
• Emily: "They put Michelle Obama three times on Vogue, they put Jill Biden on Vogue, and Vanity Fair can’t see that this is a first lady who, who has these platforms..." [36:04]
• Harold: Wants substance, not a superficial feature, but notes Melania has accomplished serious things.

8. Pop Culture: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Engagement

[39:05 – 41:44]

• Swift/Kelce engagement sparks intense social media and mainstream coverage.
  • Brian: "You have the artsy community…following Taylor Swift, and then you have Travis Kelce...and they brought two worlds together." [39:47]
  • Kennedy: Cynical about timing, calls it “staged” for new album and NFL season. [40:24]
  • Jesse: Jokes “he’s going to have a bad year because he’s going to be distracted.” [41:23]

9. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the shooter’s alleged motivations:

  • "One of the lines [in the manifesto] was, ‘I didn’t ask to be born and they didn’t ask to die.’" – Brian Kilmeade [04:59]

• On gun violence and the Second Amendment:

  • "The sanctity and the misapplication of the Second Amendment can't supersede every conversation about the lives of our kids..." – Harold Ford Jr. [07:27]

• On media bias:

  • "When you ignore stories that are important to the American people, the American people are going to ignore you." – Jesse Watters [17:42]

• On DEI and rebranding:

  • "Please just keep your George Soros money away from the rest of rational Americans who are absolutely sick of this stuff. But about Cracker Barrel, the CEO is not going to survive this..." – Kennedy [26:52]

• On Vanity Fair staff revolt:

  • "I think that Vanity Fair leadership needs to terminate all those children that can’t see beyond their progressive flags." – Emily Compagno [36:04]

10. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Minneapolis Shooting Discussion – [00:33 – 03:41]
• Trump, Crime, and Mayor Bowser – [03:41 – 06:54]
• Gun Control & Mental Health – [06:54 – 11:27]
• Personal Impact of Crime (Emily/Iris Tao) – [11:43 – 14:17]
• Media & Illegal Immigrant Cases – [16:03 – 25:02]
• Cracker Barrel, Rebranding & DEI – [25:58 – 31:56]
• Vanity Fair & Melania Trump – [33:01 – 38:24]
• Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Engagement – [39:05 – 41:44]

11. Tone and Style

The episode aligns with The Five’s trademark mix of outrage, humor, sharp debate, and emotionally charged reactions—blending news analysis, political hot takes, and quick-witted banter reflective of FOX News’ style.

Summary Takeaway

This episode powerfully weaves together heartbreak over an appalling act of church violence, renewed scrutiny over crime and gun policy, frustration with perceived media bias, and debates about cultural trends from corporate rebrands to celebrity news. The hosts repeatedly stress the human cost of policy failures while sparring about ideological blind spots on both sides, maintaining an energetic, sometimes combative, but consistently engaging roundtable spotlighting America’s most contentious conversations.