Anti-ICE Lunatics Storm Church in MN

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Five

Episode: Anti-ICE Lunatics Storm Church in MN
Date: January 19, 2026
Host & Panel: Dana Perino, Emily Compagno, Jessica Tarlov, Brian Kilmeade, Greg Gutfeld
Source: FOX News Podcasts

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Overview

This episode of The Five dives into several hot-button issues: a controversial protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota by anti-ICE activists; reactions to local law enforcement and ICE operations; deep debates on the Democrats' and Republicans' positions leading up to the 2026 midterm elections; the polarizing trans athletes in women's sports issue; and spiky commentary on cancel culture, media figures, and current polling.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minnesota Church Protest: Anti-ICE Activists Storm Sanctuary

[00:19–07:08]

• Incident Recap:
  Left-wing activists stormed a church in St. Paul, protesting because they thought the pastor was collaborating with ICE. Don Lemon was present during the chaos, reporting as events unfolded.

• Panel Debate:

  • Jessica Tarlov suggests the protestors believe they're acting out of love and community:
    • "We are standing up for one another. You've got neighbors helping neighbors. You've got people uniting and coming together in this beautiful way." (02:00)
  • Emily Compagno robustly argues the protest was criminal and should be prosecuted:
    • "If I were a federal prosecutor, I would charge them with interference of free exercise of religion, violations of the Civil Rights act..." (02:22)
    • Calls for severe consequences up to firing, deplatforming, and social shunning for involved protestors.
    • Praises a woman caught on video calmly praying in the midst of the chaos as the true Christian example.

• ICE Agent Soundbite:

  • "That vehicle right there is honking and impeding our investigations while we're trying to..." (04:28)
  • Jessica interjects: "...arrest a child sex offender. That's who you guys are protecting." (04:32)

• Panel's Consensus:

  • Most argue such protests in a place of worship are counterproductive, making the protestors' cause seem unreasonable to the general public; draw comparisons to climate protesters blocking highways. (04:39, 04:56)

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2. Broader Context: Law Enforcement & Political Reaction

[07:08–09:24]

• Potential Spread:

  • Emily: "It seems like it's just getting started...I think it's gonna spread to other cities." (07:10)
  • Discussion of differing attitudes between police cooperators and non-cooperators with ICE.

• Narrative of Fear vs. Reality:

  • Brian Kilmeade criticizes officials for stoking fears among illegal immigrants and taking insufficient action:
    • "The only reason they're afraid to go to the supermarket is because they're an illegal immigrant. They're not going to get scooped up buying celery at the supermarket." (05:48)

• Statistics Disputed:

  • Kristi Noem cited as noting a high proportion of those ICE targets are convicted or charged criminals.

• Law Enforcement Frustration:

  • Brian laments police not supporting other law enforcement efforts inside the church; calls for standing up for law and order.

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3. Underlying Social Factors: The 'Rescue Fantasy' Argument

[09:48–14:09]

• Greg Gutfeld's Theory:

  • Frames modern protest activity—particularly among white, liberal women—as driven by a "rescue fantasy":
    • "It is about suicidal empathy that is driven by a rescue fantasy. You have all of these young, middle aged women...in this kind of rescue delusion, helping people they don't know, strangers who are guilty of crimes." (09:56)
  • Argues these actions replace traditional sources of meaning with activism—“Your life is meaningless unless you're out there screaming at a cop's face.” (13:08)

• Criticism of Political Leadership:

  • Asserts that local leaders are caving to activists. Greg’s take:
    • "Fry's a pussy. He's scared of these people, or else he would stand up for it, calling it love. There's no such thing as a mob with love." (12:46)

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4. 2026 Midterm Elections: Polls, Messaging, and Party Weaknesses

[15:16–24:01]

• Polling & Predictions:

  • Wall Street Journal poll: Republicans currently trusted more on the economy, foreign policy, even tariffs. (15:16)
  • James Carville is quoted predicting a Democratic sweep—panel is skeptical, calling his track record unreliable.

• Key Issues:

  • Dana Perino: Dems ignoring critical issues like economic security, instead focusing on dogmatic or divisive policies.
  • Jessica Tarlov notes Dems still lead on healthcare, despite poor polling on economy, security, and immigration.

• Turnout vs. Policy:

  • The team agrees that turnout will decide the results, not just policy alignment. Motivation and forgiving previous polling misses are discussed.

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5. Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports: A Culture War Flashpoint

[24:35–31:44]

• ACLU Ad & Dem Contenders' Silence:

  • Dana replays a new advert supporting trans women’s participation in women’s sports; notes the reluctance of 2028 Dem hopefuls to address the topic.

• Emily Compagno:

  • Strongly critical:
    • "Elite voices are not voter voices. And that commercial is so out of touch and it's so deeply offensive..." (25:49)
    • "Fairness is being reframed as hate... The public is ahead of this. Courts and voters have said absolutely not." (26:47)

• Greg Gutfeld:

  • Satirical and cutting:
    • "You know that her entire team was beaten by a team of 15 year old boys." (re: Megan Rapinoe) (27:40)
    • "On this pyramid of identity politics, the man who claims he's a woman is on top." (27:54)

• Debate Over the Issue’s Salience:

  • Panel doubts that mainstream voters are swayed by activist celebrity voices and suspect the Democrats will be out-of-step with the public if they continue to avoid the issue.

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6. Cancel Culture & Forgiveness

[32:36–37:49]

• Matt Damon & Ben Affleck on Joe Rogan:

  • Damon and Affleck lament the permanence of cancel culture:
    • "When you go to jail, you settle your debts. When you come out, society has said, okay, you're ready to come back, but that with Cancel Culture, it's permanent." –Dana Perino paraphrasing Damon (33:25)
  • Emily highlights the isolated pain of social ostracism and loss-of-career over minor offenses.

• Greg Gutfeld:

  • Claims The Five was ahead of the curve warning about this trend:
    • "There was this movement coming up. It was like a population that found joy in hate. And the one thing that they did not have or offer was forgiveness." (36:20)
  • He touts a need for solidarity (“share the risk”) when cancel mobs strike:
    • "If somebody comes after Brian, I will defend him... And that's how it works." (36:55)

• Brian Kilmeade:

  • Notes that Hollywood elites fueled the cancel culture only to be shocked by its blowback on themselves.

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7. Life & Culture: Early Risers, Sleep Health, and More

[38:00–39:57]

• Lighthearted discussion about myths of productivity around getting up at 5 a.m., differences in work schedules, and personal anecdotes on sleep habits.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Emily Compagno, legal fury:
  "If I were a federal prosecutor, I would charge them with interference of free exercise of religion, violations of the Civil Rights act, violations of the Face act..." (02:22)

• Greg Gutfeld, on rescue activism:
  "This isn't about immigration. It isn't about ICE. It isn't about Trump. It is about suicidal empathy that is driven by a rescue fantasy." (09:56)

• Jessica Tarlov, on protest motives:
  "We are standing up for one another. You've got neighbors helping neighbors. You've got people uniting... in this beautiful way." (02:00)

• On cancel culture’s permanence:
  (Dana Paraphrasing Damon, 33:25)
  "When you go to jail, you settle your debts. When you come out, society has said, okay, you're ready to come back, but that with Cancel Culture, it's permanent."

• Greg Gutfeld, on the ACLU & trans athletes:
  "You know that her entire team was beaten by a team of 15 year old boys." (27:40)

• Emily Compagno, on the Dem party’s blind spots:
  "I continue to be shocked by the fact that the Democrat Party seems to not see that the issues that they prioritize...are the ones that are fundamental..." (22:13)

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Timestamps to Important Segments

• [00:19–07:08] — Minnesota church protest, protest motives, and legal accusations
• [07:08–09:24] — Spread of protests, law enforcement debates, ICE and police dynamics
• [09:48–14:09] — Greg Gutfeld: 'rescue fantasy', gender, activism, and culture critique
• [15:16–24:01] — 2026 midterm election predictions, polling analysis, party strengths and weaknesses
• [24:35–31:44] — Men's participation in women’s sports, ACLU ad, Democratic candidate silence, public backlash
• [32:36–37:49] — Matt Damon on cancel culture, forgiveness, panel’s personal takes
• [38:00–39:57] — Early rising and sleep habits of the panel

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Tone & Language

The panel maintains an assertive, conversational, often sarcastic and combative tone, typical for The Five. Speakers do not hold back in their opinions, frequently use humor or derision, and occasionally veer into personal critique or cultural commentary. The broadcast is lively, with quick exchanges and pointed arguments.

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Summary Usefulness

This summary captures the breadth and flavor of the episode for listeners who missed it, highlighting both the main topics and the energy with which they were debated. For listeners seeking a digest of the latest news controversies—with candid views and the trademark Five frisson—this summary delivers both content and context.

Transcript

[Megan Alexander]

Five years ago, the US Brought leaders from Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain together to sign the Abraham Accords. I'm Megan Alexander and this is Middle east. Tomorrow go to partners.foxnews.com met.

[Dana Perino]

Hello, everyone. I'm dana perino along with emily compagno, jessica tarlov, brian kilmeade and greg gutfeld. It's five o' clock in new york city and this is the five. Left wing protesters in Minnesota crossed a major red line. DOJ and local officials are investigating the storming of a Church in St. Paul by left wing activists who believe that the church's pastor was working with ice. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was actually on the scene inside the church as the chaos unfolded.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Don't you think Jesus would be understanding? And we're about love. These folks, we're about spreading the love of Jesus. But did you try to talk to them as a Christian?

[Megan Alexander]

No one is willing to talk.

[Dana Perino]

Lemon says he was there just to do his job.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I had no affiliation to that organization. I didn't even know they were going to this church. Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it and talk to.

[Jessica Tarlov]

The who were involved, which included the.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Pastor, members of the church and members of the organization.

[Megan Alexander]

That's it.

[Emily Compagno]

It's called journalism.

[Dana Perino]

Meanwhile, remember the summer of love in Seattle. Mayor Jacob Fry is selling a winter of love in Minneapolis, seeming to justify the unrest in his city.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I think it's important to tell the whole country that this is not just about resistance here in Minneapolis.

[Greg Gutfeld]

It's about love.

[Jessica Tarlov]

We are showing something far more powerful and consequential here, which is love. We are standing up for one another. You've got neighbors helping neighbors. You've got people uniting and coming together in this beautiful way.

[Dana Perino]

Emily, do the protesters who stormed that church have a legal problem? Possibly, yeah, they have.

[Megan Alexander]

A big one. And if I were a federal prosecutor, I would charge them with interference of free exercise of religion, violations of the Civil Rights act, violations of the Face act, which under Biden, peaceful protesters against abortion sitting down 80 plus year olds were prosecuted under obstruction of federal functions, disorderly conduct, federal trespass, hate crimes, conspiracy to the Civil Rights act, assault, and if Don Levin kept up his charade to a federal agent that he didn't know what was going on, then I would charge him too with lying to a federal agent. And then on the state level, I would charge unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct, trespassing, harassment, intimidation and child endangerment. And here's the thing. If I were an employer there in that city, I would fire anyone, any of them that engaged in that shameful, unlawful, horrific, anti Christian behavior. And if I were a parent there in that city, I would not let any of my children touch the children of those parents that you are seeing right there, if they have children. And I would make it clear it's because they are siding with and standing with child rapists and recidivist sodomizers and convicted murderers over and over again to the tune of 1600 in that city alone that have been, you're welcome, removed. And if I were a tech founder, by the way, I would de platform all the. All of those individuals that you saw in the midst of their engaging in the felonious behavior I just outlined filming everything so that they would not have a platform and they would not get their dopamine hits anymore. And the dopamine dries up. But here's the thing. As a Christian, my real inspiration comes from that one woman that you can see on the video that stood there the entire time praying over those vicious, unlawful, anti Christian, horrific trespassers there. And I pray that their impact remains at zero and that hers covers the world.

[Dana Perino]

Control room, could you play the sound from the ICE agent that is scolding the protesters?

[Greg Gutfeld]

That vehicle right there is honking and impeding our investigations while we're trying to.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Arrest a child sex offender.

[Greg Gutfeld]

That's who you guys are protecting.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Insane.

[Dana Perino]

And Brian, one of the things that this reminded me of is how unpersuasive something like protesting in a church is. It's like the people who would block the highways for climate change to prevent people from going to work for an issue. It just actually makes everybody more angry.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Yeah, I mean, this is a flashback to George Floyd. It's a knockoff of all those things that they were successful at the time, but in the long form, really long term, really hurt them. I think a couple of things. Number one, when there were shootings and attacks in churches, don't they usually come in from the doors from behind and everyone's staring straight ahead? Evidently, these guys and these women got into the church, they sat down, at the one moment, they stood up and started creating havoc in there. And that to me, right away, you're thinking this is going to be one of those attacks on our churches, synagogues that we've seen in Texas and in the Midwest. The other thing we think of is Don Lemon, who's actually there pretending to be a talented journalist. He says that the pastor did a bad job. The pastor should have forgiveness like Jesus while the guy's screaming at you. You see the pastor actually trying to engage these people and they're screaming back, they lost the argument. And not only that, when I see. And I, and I asked Hannah before, did you watch Sunday shows? I watched all of them. Watched them all at once. And this guy, Jacob Fry, sees an opportunity for his moment in the sun. He did every show at Fox News Sunday, and he talks about love, neighbors, helping neighbors. He says, isn't it beautiful that they'll go next door and go shopping for people because they're afraid to go to the supermarket? The only reason they're afraid to go to the supermarket because they're an illegal immigrant. They're not going to get scooped up buying celery at the supermarket. And people, Mr. And Mrs. Johnson, aren't afraid to go to the supermarket. If you are here illegally, you committed a crime, there's a problem. The other thing is Kristi Noem did a really good job. She's on with Margaret Brennan. And she said, Margaret Brennan says most of these people aren't criminals. Only 48%. Just your numbers. Okay, 48% have been convicted and the others have been charged. They're being investigated. You put that together, that's 70%. Others have been picked up because they're with these people that have been sought after by ICE in particular. The only reason they need 3000 because they have 600 cops, is because the cops are not helping the 3000. And reportedly the cops were on the outside of the church, watched those protesters walked in, did nothing when they, when they created havoc, and they did nothing to stop it before it happened. So I have no patience for cops that don't help other law enforcement officials. Guys, I know you have a boss. You gotta keep your job, but you gotta stand up and speak out and stand for something.

[Dana Perino]

Jessica, we're week three into this.

[Emily Compagno]

Any ending soon, it certainly doesn't seem like it. It seems like it's just getting started. And I think it's gonna spread to other cities.

[Jessica Tarlov]

In New York, they're practicing right now.

[Emily Compagno]

I mean, I would practice, frankly, because I think the Trump administration has a particular point of view on this. And they, you know, he's made it clear that he wants to go after liberal cities, especially sanctuary cities, and so would be prepared for it. But Brian o', Hara, who is a police chief in Minneapolis, is not one of those guys who says he doesn't want to cooperate with ice. He did a huge interview with the New York Times. He was on 60 Minutes. Last night as well, talking about the fact that his entire career, from back when he was in Newark to moving to Minneapolis, he has always worked with ice, but the way that ICE is doing it is completely incorrect. He said he's observed behaviors that are absolutely running in the face of what the protocol is on. The entering the church you brought up. It made me think of when there have been attacks. And that was my first thought, too. I was like, what if this is a another shooting?

[Jessica Tarlov]

Yep.

[Emily Compagno]

And we have seen it and there are children in there. And that is just frightening. And so I think Governor Walz was absolutely correct to say you've got to peacefully protest, but you may not go into a house of worship. But this is all happening against a backdrop that is driving this city to the point that there are people standing outside of their homes holding their rifles, saying, like, I'm going to protect my community because of what ICE is doing. And this alarming contrast between how upset Set Harmeet Dhillon is over this and the Trump administration, You know, she's saying that she and Bondi are working around the clock. No right is more sacred than the freedom to assemble and pray to God at the same time. And then you listen to Todd Blanche, who was on with Shannon Bream. She said, hey, are you investigating Officer Ross's actions when he killed Renee good 10 days ago or whenever it was? And he says millions of Americans saw the video. We investigate when it's appropriate. That is not this case here. So we are not investigating.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Got hit by a car.

[Emily Compagno]

Brian. 82% of people saw that video, 53% think that he should be criminally charged for it. And then the Wall Street Journal comes out and they're reporting that there are incentives for ICE agents because they need to meet that insane 3,000 people a day quota that they're getting rewarded even if they bring in people who then get released. These stories of Americans being detained saying, show me your papers. There was a veteran US Veteran who.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Is on a carnival being arrested.

[Emily Compagno]

A US Veteran on a carnival cruise with his wife who is taken out of his cabin. Someone who served this.

[Greg Gutfeld]

What is the percentage? I know math is hard.

[Emily Compagno]

Like, ICE isn't making. I don't even know how many mistakes a day in pursuit of Stephen Miller's 3,000 a day quota and getting paid a chance.

[Greg Gutfeld]

All right, I'm going to focus on the backdrop because you went back to the officer to avoid. I went back to what's really going on.

[Emily Compagno]

Renee. Good.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yes, yes. Because that is actually not the story here. The Story is. Yes. The story is how you got here. And you won't admit that that is the reason why we're. This isn't about immigration. It isn't about ice. It isn't about Trump. It is about suicidal empathy that is driven by a rescue fantasy. You have all of these young, middle aged women going out there because they have some kind of emptiness in their lives that are going out there in this kind of rescue delusion, helping people they don't know, strangers who are guilty of crimes. How can you defend that? This is not protesters going to a church. That is a mob. The people that invented the phrase safe spaces are breaking it up, Frightening kids. Right? These are the people that call us fascists and they're hunting people. These are the people that claim to defend women and yet are defending men who abuse women. These are the people that call us homophobic and yet they want to out ICE guys for using, I don't know, gay sex apps. Let's be honest here. Fry's a pussy. He's scared of these people, or else he would stand up for it, calling it love. There's no such thing as a mob with love. And imagine showing this tape to Don Lemon 10 years ago, 15 years ago, and saying, is this where you saw yourself, Lemon, crashing a church service, scaring kids, attacking a pastor. Was this your hope and dream to do this? Radicalization is gradual. Black Lives Matter is now. Bad guys matter. And now you'll defend anything. You're defending rapists. These are the people you're defending on what? And I'm gonna go back. No, no, no. You had your chance. You brought this up. Where are the police? You know, when you have Hamas supporters and Jewish students, police make the separation. Antifa, proud boys. Police make the separation. Pro life and feminists. Police make the separation. Somehow that separation is not even here. Even when the leaders are framing this as protesters versus persecutors, because that's part of the. This fantasy world that you live in. And yet they decide that they don't need cops to separate it. The ICE agent agents aren't supposed to deal with that. That's what the police do. So you got to ask yourself, why aren't the police there? Because it's a deliberate thing to create this spectacle. And then I'll finish. This is not an isolated thing. These rescue fantasies exist because the real power of women, which is in the roles of community, whether it's wife, mother, work, teaching, that stuff, has been marginalized by our modern leftist culture. That has to be replaced by activism. Your life is meaningless unless you're out there screaming at a cop's face. You have all these sad people out there in this liberation role playing, and you're egging it on. You should not be egging this on, Jessica. You know, we had this. This is a time for brave women. We saw the rise of the Internet, Dad. Whether it was Elon Musk, Jordan Peterson, Mike Rowe, Scott Adams, these are Joe Rogan. These are people that decided to help young men find meaning in life, whether it is through service or hard work, constructive activities. Where is the Internet, mom? The women who step up and show younger women out of this spiritual dead end. Because it is a spiritual dead end. And how apt it is that they end up in a church screaming at people. This activism doesn't produce anything but suffering because it replaces what is truly meaningful in people's lives. And that's what I meant about the backdrop. It is not about good. It is not about the police officer. It's about how we got here and why. We've talked about this over and over again. Whether it was George Floyd, whether it was ice, it's all. Whether it was the. The border guard with the whip. It's all the same. It's a desire to be part of this rescue fantasy because your life's so frickin empty.

[Dana Perino]

The one thing I thought of is that they went into the sanctuary.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah.

[Dana Perino]

To protest.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah.

[Dana Perino]

Which is a little.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Creators of the safe space.

[Dana Perino]

All right, coming up next, James Carville thinks Republicans are headed for a midterm wipeout. But the latest polling says. Not so fast, sunshine.

[Megan Alexander]

Hi, I'm Megan Alexander and this is Middle East Tomorrow. Five years ago, the US Brought leaders from Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain together to sign the Abraham Accords. That historic day ignited a cross border movement of change makers who are joining forces to reshape the region. Join me as I uncover the stories of the people transforming the Middle east today and tomorrow. Go to partners.foxnews.com met.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Dems bracing for a blue wave might wind up red in the face after seeing these numbers. A new Wall Street Journal poll lays out how Americans trust Republicans over the Dems on everything from the economy to foreign policy. The Ukraine, Russia, war. And this one's going to sting Jessica. Even tariffs. Nonetheless, the Bayou Blow Hard thinks Republicans are about to get wiped out.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I'm looking at the 2026 elections and frankly, it's going to be a wipeout. Your viewers need to know that the Democrats are going to pick up at a minimum 25 seats maybe as high as 45. In all likelihood, the Democrats will carry the Senate. So and I think we shaping up very well for the 2028 election. I don't know. 2030 is I'm 81. That might be on the other side of my horizon, to be frank with you.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Speaking of wipeouts, the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, giving Kamala a key to the city, not the liquor cabinet, and declaring Jan.14th as Kamala Harris Day for her many accomplishments. All right, so what?

[Jessica Tarlov]

It's just happening.

[Dana Perino]

That's like one of the shortest days of the year.

[Megan Alexander]

It is.

[Jessica Tarlov]

It is ceremony.

[Greg Gutfeld]

She doesn't want to work too hard.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Don't make up a list.

[Greg Gutfeld]

So here's the thing I, I that I realize Carville's gift and that is if it's kind of a, if it's directionally true because Democrats win more seats when the Russian, when the Republicans are in power, vice versa. So it'll be directionally true. But no one remembers all of the predictions he makes that are wrong, which are legion, including himself. He doesn't remember.

[Dana Perino]

I think there's a lot of lessons in the red wave that did not materialize in 2022 for the Republicans, for the Democrats. Now for so we are in January 2026, but it might as well be January 2024 for the Democrats. They have learned nothing. They continue to do the same types of things. For example, Chuck Schumer said that if they were to take back the majority, the first thing that they would do is reverse all the Doge cuts. Who in that list is saying that's like the priority?

[Emily Compagno]

Right.

[Dana Perino]

They have some good points on affordability that they are driving forward on. They have the ability to try to move forward. But as you'll see in the next block, they cannot help themselves when it comes to the things that people said mattered last time, like they don't want men playing in women's sports. And it's just like so hard for them to get that through their heads. I think we're in a little bit of an interesting time here. You have the fact that the Biden administration put Democrats in such a hole that the Republicans are able to be trusted more on all of those issues, despite the fact that you have a majority of people saying the country's headed in the wrong direction. That's an interesting polling. I think it's too early to say let's go. You know what? It's going to turn. It's going to come down to turnout.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Well done to turn out.

[Emily Compagno]

Yep.

[Greg Gutfeld]

So, Jessica, you look at what Dana said here and she brought up the trans issue. And you see, Republicans are most trusted on issues like economy, foreign policy, the adult issues, the trans issues, like a kids table issue. Is that what the problem is is that the Democrats has put too much of their. Their, what do you call it, eggs in the trans basket.

[Emily Compagno]

I don't think that it's as much of an issue for 2026 as it was in 2024 for sure. But Democrats aren't the big. The big table issues like health care. They're consistently trusted more. And if this is a health care election, like if millions of people are en route to losing their Medicaid coverage and the Obamacare subsidies going up 400,000. 400,000%. No, 400%. Sorry. That would be way too much. It would benefit them. But I'm all for taking this poll very seriously. It's the Wall Street Journal poll, very high quality. I think it's an important call to action for Democrats that just because Donald Trump is very unpopular and he's underwater on issues doesn't mean that you automatically get those voters to come over and say that democr Democrats do it better. What is interesting though, is the contrast between Democrats being down on like the who's best to handle the economy, foreign policy, the border, but still up 4 on the generic ballot. So I would have expected the Republicans to be ahead or for it to be, you know, one or two points there because we have seen surveys that close. There was another poll out that I was paying attention to in the CNN poll. It was about how motivated voters are Dem leaning voters, 67% extremely motivated to vote. GOP leaning just 46%. Danub's point. It all comes out.

[Dana Perino]

I just want to say one other thing about the Obamacare subsidies because again, I don't want to bring it up in one more thing and get a flag on the place.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yes. Still smarting over that is out there.

[Dana Perino]

And then it just goes whipping by. A lot of the disaster that was supposed to befell all of Americans who were on Obamacare in January just really hasn't materialized. And one of the reasons is because there was so much fraud in the system so that people who were getting busted on the fraud didn't re up because they're not eligible.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Wow.

[Greg Gutfeld]

That is a brilliant point. Wow. I'm gonna use that on my show and pretend I came up with it.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Right.

[Greg Gutfeld]

You know, Brian, I was thinking about this Kamala thing.

[Jessica Tarlov]

So many people watch the Five and your show, it's gonna be hard to surprise them.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Well, thank you.

[Emily Compagno]

All right.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Thanks, Brian.

[Megan Alexander]

Yeah.

[Greg Gutfeld]

All right. You know, I see that Kamala gets a key to the city.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Yeah.

[Greg Gutfeld]

If there were a. What city would give you a key?

[Jessica Tarlov]

That's a good point. Let's make it more about me. Massapequa, my town.

[Greg Gutfeld]

That's about it.

[Jessica Tarlov]

But a couple of things about Kamala Harris. The Josh Shapiro looks interesting. It's funny. Kamala Harris sat with him to interview him about being vice president. She complained about being vice president. She says, terrible job. I couldn't get a bathroom in my office and I had nothing to do. No one would clue me into policy decisions. Wait a second. You told us for four years you were at the president's side during all major policy decisions. Then turns out she had no major policy decisions or no role there.

[Greg Gutfeld]

She also. She also asked him if he was a double agent.

[Megan Alexander]

Yes.

[Greg Gutfeld]

For Israel.

[Emily Compagno]

She didn't directly.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Have you ever been. She didn't directly, but she had somebody else do it before asking him if he controlled the weather. Right.

[Jessica Tarlov]

That's news.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Jessica. Right.

[Emily Compagno]

It would be a lot warmer if we were in charge, I can tell you that.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I'm just going to. I'm just going to add a couple of things. There's so much more to play. Number one, Trump's smart. He's going to have his first ever midterm convention. You just watch. He's going to get momentum around. He's going to make himself the center of it. He's going to go to the district center problem, the 34 or 35 that legitimately are in play. We're going to have a natural disaster. We're going to have an unexpected foreign policy situation. Something's going to happen economically that has nothing to do with Republicans and Democrats, and it's going to give both sides a chance to act. Act or react, and that's going to change the game entirely. It's like when you get the preseason street and Smith football guy before the season starts, and you have these experts say this, it all happened, but, you know, it's just a bunch of guys sitting around saying, I think this might happen. But then there's injuries, there's weather, there's coach firings, unbad play calls, and everything changes. So that's why this is so early. And James Carville is the Charles Barkley of politics. He says stuff to get attention, but he doesn't mean it.

[Greg Gutfeld]

And they're both bald.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Good point. Yeah.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Thank you, Emily. I saved the fast for last.

[Jessica Tarlov]

That's.

[Megan Alexander]

You just take it. Take it.

[Dana Perino]

Yes.

[Megan Alexander]

Okay, so I feel like it's not as non obvious as I would like, but I continue to be shocked by the fact that the Democrat Party seems to not see that the issues that they prioritize or have faith in and put their. Yeah, and put their faith in the GOP over Democrat policies are the ones that are fundamental to your point about the big table. They are economic and physical safety and security. Like the reason that economy and inflation, which are both up six, you know, plus six points. It is because the foundation of independence and security comes from economic prosperity, and that stems from lower taxes, deregulation, growth, incentivization. These are things that obviously, yes, are the platform of the conservative movement, but people don't seem to understand that the reason why things are flowing smoother under this administration is because of those policies. Tariffs. Yeah, Because America first. So all of these Democrats that are saying, yes, I trust the GOP more, I hope that they vote with those policies coming up, because otherwise, those vocal ones that say, but vaccines, but trans issues, and they sort of put their fish hooks in these tiny little incremental slivers, it's up to the vocal minority or the quiet majority of the Democrat Party to say, no, you guys don't actually in any way align with us. Like, there will be a massive split. But you're right, if it's all about turnout, then the GOP needs a fire. And if it comes from the midterm convention, great. I'm worried about your prediction, Brian, because I think what we had this time was an actual. I mean, we had a whole season. It's not about preseason portending the actual season. It's that we had the actual season and America kicked butt during that time. So everyone who wants it to stay the same, yes, keep voting GOP and anyone who wants it to look like New York City.

[Jessica Tarlov]

But Emily, I think 26 is the season. I think 25 was the pre game show. 26 is the season. That's what I'm saying.

[Dana Perino]

There's a lot of sports.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Yeah.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah. Although I do like Emily's use of the word portending.

[Dana Perino]

Yeah, that was right.

[Greg Gutfeld]

It was fantastic.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Never used that in a sentence.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I've never actually said that word out loud. Portending. Yes.

[Megan Alexander]

I was a portender as fast as I want.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Coming up next, women's soccer pros demand lockers full of bros.

[Megan Alexander]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of Jesus.

[Jessica Tarlov]

A listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever. Told listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts. All right, it's the 8020 issue that's still a red card for Democrats. Greg loves the soccer references. The ACLU out with a brand new ad featuring soccer star Wokester, Megan Rapinoe and others standing up for the right of men to participate in in women's sports.

[Dana Perino]

On the field, the track, the court. Here you get to be exactly who.

[Greg Gutfeld]

You are because at our core, we're still the kids who just want to play. Supporting trans youth isn't just about sports.

[Dana Perino]

It's about freedom on and off the field. It's more than a game, right?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Freedom.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Except for a woman playing against a man. I digress. Axios quizzing. Nearly 20 Democrats viewed as possible 2028 contenders. Most did not want to talk about trans rights. Does that surprise you? Emily did not want to even bring up the trans rights. These Democrats, how could they not pre think this issue if they're considering running for president?

[Megan Alexander]

Well, because they're cowards. They are giving in to influencers instead of being the influencers themselves and saying, yes, here's what I'm going to do. When I earn your vote and then deserve the salary you pay me. I am going to influence your children for the better by not allowing biological males to compete against little girls. Elite voices are not voter voices. And that commercial is so out of touch and it's so deeply offensive. So I'm gonna listen to Naomi Watts, who got everything that she got because she's Nicole Kidman's bestie and like, secured a couple backdoor auditions and enjoyed Britain growing up, and now she has the nerve to tell me what to do with my daughters. Yeah, I mean, it's shameful. Megan Rapinoe. Rapinoe, Rapinoe. Who got to do this PSA after she was an elite world champion because she didn't have to compete against biological mal had she would not know what it is like to be a world champion because she wouldn't have gotten this far. Fairness is being reframed as hate. And this isn't about sports, obviously. It's about power. And anytime anyone tries to push back, they are told that they are transphobic. That they, that these girls, that their position and their livelihood and their futures matter less than cultural compliance. But the thing is, is that the public is ahead of this. We see it. The courts have said absolutely not. Voters have said absolutely not. But it's about this social influence, this narrative, these dopamine hits. So this is why it's so important to have your kids off of social media and that your local and city and county elections matter so much, that your school board matters so much who sits on it, because those are the ones that have that real power. And if we stop listening to the celebrities and their influence, then we can wipe away what influence they have.

[Jessica Tarlov]

All right, Greg, I know you love talking soccer. That's what we talk about in the break. So Megan Rapinoe in particular.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Rappin Ho player.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Sorry, my Rappin Hoe.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah. You know that her entire team was beaten by a team of 15 year old boys. Yes, yes, yes. In soccer, by the way.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Yeah. That is world champion.

[Greg Gutfeld]

World. It was math as well.

[Jessica Tarlov]

World champion women.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Beaten by 17 year olds.

[Megan Alexander]

Correct.

[Emily Compagno]

Yeah.

[Greg Gutfeld]

But this is another case where you watching people who claim to be for women's rights marginalizing women. You know, they. On the, on this pyramid of identity politics, the man who claims he's a woman is on top. And I don't really count women who become men because they tend to mind their own business. Like they're not. Like it's the men who become the.

[Dana Perino]

Women in the track meet.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yes, exactly. That's why it's kind of a false argument with that. What's that?

[Jessica Tarlov]

Whatever.

[Greg Gutfeld]

The actress from Juno.

[Megan Alexander]

I can't think of the name Elliot.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I don't think it's about rights. I think it's about a revolution. And with revolution it turns everything upside down. Doesn't really matter what happens and it just keeps doing it again. But I, I think to Emily's point, we've kind of wised up on this grift. You can call us transphobe. It's not gonna work. We're just pro biology. You know, I have no idea who this is appealing to. You know, again, it's kind of like that rescue fantasy. In this case you're, you know, you have like straight women defending trans from evil.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Cis.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Cis. Dana, not sis. But these people, they're like jock itch. A sports analogy. I don't know where it came from, but it irritates.

[Dana Perino]

So irritating.

[Greg Gutfeld]

It's very irritating.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Energy.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah. Even like Rappin Ho. Like I don't like, I see her like once a year.

[Jessica Tarlov]

She's like an extra in the Peach.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Pit in Beverly Hills, 90210 and you go, oh, why is she there? I don't know who that is.

[Dana Perino]

It's how she stays relevant.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah.

[Dana Perino]

That's the only way for her to stay relevant is to continue to do this. Hollywood always pulls Democrats to the leftist position. The ACLU is doing the same. The ACLU used to be like, they'll defend anybody, but now they've got all this money and they're doing these things. And so do you think Democrats, do you think that the ACLU paying for these guys gals to do this ad is helpful to your position? Then you have Axios asking 20 possible 20, 28 contenders, and only three will answer. But kind of barely see, they don't have an answer. Like, do you think men should be allowed to play in women's sports? They go, well, I refer you to an interview I did six months ago on npr. You can't answer that. And they're giving themselves false hope. Abigail Spamberger, I always bring her up. She won in Virginia. And this has given Democrats the sense that, oh, you know, transitions don't matter so much anymore. In Virginia, they really won because there's so many bureaucrats and Democrats that work for the government that were mad about Doge and they turned out and they voted. What was her first thing that she did on the job? First thing she did on the job was say, actually, we will not cooperate with ice. Okay, then do not take false hope Democrats and the idea that trans issues don't matter anymore by believing an ad like this.

[Jessica Tarlov]

So 27 states giving them advice, that was good, 27 states banned it, 21 states said, and D.C. said they can do it. The Supreme Court away. And Jessica, what advice would you give those 20 Democrats who want to be president?

[Emily Compagno]

Well, definitely have your answer ready. It's like you don't go into a job interview not knowing what your strength is and what your biggest weakness is. And your weakness can't be that, like, you're always early for everything or whatever.

[Dana Perino]

I mean, but I am.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I care too much.

[Emily Compagno]

What I would say about the ad is, if you listen to what they're actually saying, that ad could have run if it was directed at the correct audience because they say kids who just want to play and trans youth. So if you're talking about prepubescent kids, you're talking about in 5, 6, 7, 8 year old, whatever, that's one thing. But if you're talking about people that are trying to compete after you've gone through puberty, when the real biological changes happen, that's when this issue actually gets more dicey. But in general, I would be thrilled if we were not talking about this issue whatsoever in 2026. And to start out, the economy and health care and national security and all of those kinds of issues.

[Jessica Tarlov]

All right, we'll see. Some people are doubling and tripling down with that ad. So someone's putting money up.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Meanwhile, you own a soccer team, don't you?

[Jessica Tarlov]

Well, put it this way. There's no women playing with men.

[Greg Gutfeld]

But if you had a trans player.

[Emily Compagno]

Do you own a soccer team?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Would you. Would you do it?

[Jessica Tarlov]

If I had a what?

[Greg Gutfeld]

A trans player that made your team better than it was.

[Dana Perino]

No.

[Jessica Tarlov]

You mean a woman that became a man?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yes.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I don't think that's ever happened.

[Emily Compagno]

Oh, man. So became a woman.

[Dana Perino]

Yeah, because that's why this issue is.

[Jessica Tarlov]

That's why it's a dead. You just told me it was a dead issue.

[Megan Alexander]

He doesn't know what a woman.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Up next, Matt Dam is warning about the dangers of Cancel Culture.

[Megan Alexander]

Welcome back. Actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck sitting down with Joe Rogan and blasting Cancel Culture.

[Dana Perino]

Watch here.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I bet some of those people would have preferred to go to jail for.

[Greg Gutfeld]

18 months or whatever and then come out and say, no, but we can't. I paid my debt. Like, we're done.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Can we be done? Like, the thing about that, you know.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Getting kind of excoriated publicly like that.

[Jessica Tarlov]

It just never ends. It just will follow you to the grave. I think there's this, you know, human. Like, we have darked up instincts too sometimes to, like, isolate people.

[Megan Alexander]

All right, so, Dana, I think Matt Damon is making the point that when you go to jail, you settle your debts. When you come out, society has said, okay, you're ready to come back, but that with Cancel Culture, it's permanent.

[Dana Perino]

And I have. I know somebody who went through this and said something similar, that if they had been accused of a crime, been tried by a jury and found guilty, served time and then moved on, then there he. You could have moved on, but. And you know, you could even get a pardon right in this. There's no one to do that. And so you do feel like you're just in. Basically in jail for. In perpetuity. Like, how can you get it to end? There's no way to get it to stop. And so I think that he's probably right on that.

[Megan Alexander]

And, Jessica, to Ben Affleck's point, so he's talking about the dark part that makes us want to isolate people. The reality is that physical isolation has that same impact on your brain as does physical pain. Like, when you ostracize and isolate other humans, that is deeply painful and scarring for them. And yet, to their point, we tend to do it in perpetuity.

[Emily Compagno]

Absolutely. I mean, we've become, you know, so attentive to the loneliness culture or crisis, I should say, quote unquote, and talking about how senior citizens basically just rot, right? Like in whatever, if they're in a nursing home and no one's coming to visit them, et cetera. The thing exists for you no matter how old you are. We're a social species. We want to be around other people. Human touch matters a lot and all of that kind of connective tissue. So I totally agree with that point. And I think that they're also speaking to how many people did things that would like a really minor offenses. They're not talking about someone who went on some sort of sexual assault spree or something, like someone who said the wrong thing and then lost 10 years of their career for it. I also just really enjoy listening to them talking. And I always want to go back and watch Good Will Hunting.

[Megan Alexander]

I know, welcome back. But Kilmeade don't. On the other hand, maybe these people deserve it. Maybe they do do bad things. Maybe this is our way of getting that justice.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Well, they started it. All these Hollywood, all these Hollywood stars who kept looking down, telling us how to act, what to do and what to say. And they decided that in Hollywood, they knew it. They at first went around, I know Nelson Mandela worthy cause. But the first time I ever heard an activist speak on a major stage and I thought, what's that about? I thought you were just going to say thank you for the trophy was when they talked about Nelson Mandela. I thought that's laudable. Next thing you know, they're talking about global warming, talking about all their causes and their pins and we're seeing all this and I'm wondering what is Matt Damon so worried about? This guy is like he's done nothing wrong in his past. I guess he almost got canceled cuz his ex girlfriend, Minnie Driver, he made a comment saying there's a difference with the MeToo movement between someone slapping your butt and child molestation. And then Minnie Driver came out and called him out on Twitter and then he had to go and apologize publicly. And I guess that was traumatizing to him. But I mean, this just shows you where the line was put. And they're the ones who put the line in. They started this all. They pulled the pin off the grenade, threw it and go, wow, that's gonna suck.

[Megan Alexander]

That's great. What do you think, Greg?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Well, we talked about this. I think that not to blow our own horn, but let's blow our own horn. We Were the first show to talk about this stuff probably 10, 15 years ago when the show started that there was this movement coming up. It was like a population that found joy and hate. And the one thing that they did not have or offer was forgiveness. That was the key. It's like what they were talking about is that you pay your debts in jail, but if you were to say I'm sorry in the media, people would actually get more intense because they smell blood. An apology is smelling blood. So. So the one thing that I always talked about, and I said it many times here, is you have to share the risk. And if you share the risk, meaning that if somebody comes after Brian, I will defend him. I won't. But then he will do the same for me. And that's how it works. And then you just kind of give the finger to be. I've been a target like almost like every week of my life. You know, the things that like you would not believe and I wouldn't bore you with, but like people trying to fire me over things that every day I come here, sit down and I talk. And that's just Jesse. Yeah, and that's just Jesse.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Yeah.

[Greg Gutfeld]

But it's like it's, you know, thousands of shows and people will take things out of context and you just have to say, you can't let that ruin your life.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Were you surprised he was so freaked out by it?

[Greg Gutfeld]

No, I wish he freaked out sooner. I mean, I'm better late than never. But there were a lot of people going down and he said nothing.

[Megan Alexander]

All right, guys, the fastest is up next.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I was a ghost.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I was alone.

[Emily Compagno]

Welcome back. Getting up at 5am might be a myth. Sleep experts say it can cause burnout, not breakthroughs. We have a couple very early risers here. 2:30 for you. Kill me.

[Dana Perino]

I mean these people have a nine have a different job and it's fine to have a different job, but get up. Just try to get seven to eight hours of sleep and whenever that works for you.

[Megan Alexander]

Works.

[Jessica Tarlov]

But it's so true when you get up in 2:30, 3 o', clock, what I get up to and when I sleep till say 8:30 on a Saturday, it's like I get hit by a truck.

[Dana Perino]

I don't believe that's true.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I get hit by. I feel. I feel like I might as well have out drank half of Nassau County, Long Island. It takes you a while to snap.

[Emily Compagno]

It takes a lot to out drink Nassau County, Long Island.

[Jessica Tarlov]

It does. It takes you a while to snap out of it. You got to like when you sleep too much after not sleeping enough.

[Megan Alexander]

Totally.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Greg, you can't sleep in. That is like the, it is like the thing that you should never do. It totally messes with your mind. I, you know, I quit drinking. I sleep like a baby. That is the thing. If you have problems sleeping, you have to admit that that is the thing that messes up your body when you're at night. And now if I wait, if I sleep to like 8:30, I'm a complete disaster. I'm like, I don't know what happened but I don't like people who brag about how good they sleep.

[Dana Perino]

Shut up.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Shut up. But they should, they should.

[Jessica Tarlov]

They're gonna live a long time.

[Greg Gutfeld]

But they should definitely have a class in school like how to sleep.

[Dana Perino]

Because it's like it's a 30 parent.

[Greg Gutfeld]

It's a third of your life.

[Jessica Tarlov]

That's true.

[Emily Compagno]

Emily, how's your sleep?

[Megan Alexander]

Well, I had different jobs so like for some I had to get up at 5 and work meals like on the ranch or whatever. Right. And that was sort of interesting because I could nap in between. I think my body prefers the layer like 7Amish Rise. I think I do best then 7am yeah.

[Dana Perino]

You know what I've done by 7am.

[Jessica Tarlov]

But, but, but also.

[Megan Alexander]

And I can go to bed. I can stay up later and hang out with people.

[Dana Perino]

No, I know. I get no hangout. It's really, it's tough.

[Emily Compagno]

Yeah.

[Megan Alexander]

You have to sacrifice.

[Emily Compagno]

One more thing is up next.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Well, the holidays have come and gone once again. But if you've prepared forgotten to get that special someone in your life a gift. Well, Mint Mobile is extending their holiday offer of half off unlimited wireless.

[Greg Gutfeld]

So here's the idea.

[Jessica Tarlov]

You get it now, you call it an early present for next year. What do you have to lose? Give it a [e-mail] Switch limited time.

[Emily Compagno]

50 off regular price for new customers. Upfront payment required 45 for 3 months, $90 for 6 months or 180 for 12 month plan taxes and fees. Extra speeds may slow after 50 gigabytes per month when network is busy see terms.

[Dana Perino]

Oh, sorry. We were having a great conversation. It's time for one more thing, greg.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Tonight at 10:00pm we have Emily Compagno, Tom Shalou and Tyrus. And also if you go to my X account, you can find up at the top there my article on Scott Adams, which I think you'll enjoy.

[Dana Perino]

It's very, very good.

[Emily Compagno]

Thank you.

[Dana Perino]

I'll just do the podcast promo today. Purina on politics with Matt Gorman. We talked news of the day and midterms. And now. Emily, text that to me too.

[Megan Alexander]

Yes, I will. Guys, go see the movie Sheepdog. It just came out this weekend in 600 theaters. It's about veteran suicide and post traumatic growth. It's a great movie. It'll guarantee save lives.

[Dana Perino]

She Jessica.

[Emily Compagno]

Oh, talk about a wild ride. Customs officers in Belarus found a raccoon curled up on a car dashboard. He's alive.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Should he go listen to the 5ad free on Amazon Music with your prime.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Membership or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.