Podcast Summary – The Five

Episode: Anti-ICE Mob Takes Over NYC Hotel Lobby
Date: January 29, 2026
Host/Panel: Kayleigh McEnany, Jessica Tarlov, Jesse Waters, Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld
Special Guest: Melania Trump

Overview

This episode of The Five centers around the recent anti-ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) protests that escalated in New York City, resulting in dozens of arrests and wider political fallout. The panel passionately debates the causes and responses to anti-ICE sentiment, the role of sanctuary cities, political rhetoric likening ICE and Republicans to Nazis, legal battles surrounding federal immigration enforcement, and related scandals. Later, the panel shifts focus to a wide-ranging interview with Melania Trump about her upcoming documentary, her life in the White House, and her ongoing projects. The episode concludes with lighter segments on economic boycotts, cultural commentary, and viral news.

Anti-ICE Protests & Sanctuary City Chaos (00:20–15:12)

Major Events & Political Fallout

• Kayleigh McEnany opens with news: Two federal agents involved in a controversial shooting placed on leave as protests surge in NYC. NYPD arrested 66 agitators after they stormed a hotel lobby over mistaken reports ICE agents were staying there. Parallel unrest and arrests in Minneapolis covered by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
• Panel critiques leftwing rhetoric linking ICE with Nazis.
  • Greg Gutfeld: “Nazi ideology was outlawed through denazification. One day we will see the demagification of this country. It will come.” (01:23)
  • Jesse Waters: “This is a small bunch of wannabe Nazis. If we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities.” (01:52)
• Jessica Tarlov criticizes local political leaders (Walz, Fry) for losing control:
  “Nobody’s listening to reason... The city deserves better. The state deserves better... a murderer amongst your prison who should be deported — we would like that access to that person, please.” (02:55–03:13)
• Kayleigh McEnany and Jesse Waters argue for abolishing sanctuary cities and increasing cooperation with federal immigration law:
  • “The legislature needs to get around abolishing sanctuary cities because they're very dangerous... When Trump has tried to bring down the temperature over and over... here comes Fry: 'We will not enforce federal immigration laws.'” (05:20–05:43)
• Jesse goes into granular detail about legal and political jeopardy facing Minnesota officials over ICE obstruction and Somali fraud investigations. Suggests Trump has leverage via pardon power:
  • “If the Democrats think they're winning or Trump's retreating, it's only just begun.” (08:26)
• Megan Alexander: Stresses nuance between criminal deportees and law-abiding migrants:
  “We want regular hombres who may have entered illegally but are living good, productive lives in America... and also for American citizens not to be detained and not to be shot.” (09:01)
• Debate over ICE's legal overreach and high-profile incidents; Jessica and Megan highlight data about illegal detentions.
• Greg Gutfeld’s impassioned monologue:
  • “I can't believe that we're still talking about this. Here's three pages of women who have been murdered by illegal aliens… This is the Democrat Party's mess that we are trying to clean up.” (12:19–14:50)

Notable Quotes:

• “Why is it that the cities that aren't sanctuary aren't having any violence? Why is it that the rate of violence in Minneapolis is five to seven times higher than cities that are three or four times larger? Why is that?” – Greg Gutfeld (13:30)
• “When Molly Tibbets is murdered, they think, how does it affect my public persona? ... We don’t care. You can call me a monster... I don’t care about any of this performance anymore. Jessica, it's done. And you know what? Neither does Trump.” (14:14)

Melania Trump Interview & Documentary Discussion (16:35–25:55)

Life as First Lady & White House Insights

• Greg Gutfeld and Jesse Waters welcome Melania Trump, discussing her experience ahead of her new documentary’s release.
  • Melania on the unpredictability of the presidency: “I always thought... one day he might go and run... and here we are again.” (17:39)
  • Asked about Trump’s YMCA dance:
    “I like it at certain times. Some days was not appropriate and I told him so. But it's his dance and people love it... It brings happiness and fun.” (18:26)
  • On Trump as a unifier:
    “He’s unifier not just here [in the] United States, but around the world. He stopped many wars and as well here in United States, it’s a lot of opposition and that’s the problem.” (19:44)
  • On documentary process:
    “My life... from morning till evening... organizing, moving back to the White House, my family preparing for inauguration, my business, my philanthropy... It’s day to night. It’s nothing that you do a double take because you cannot do that.” (20:40)
  • On Barron Trump’s role:
    “He’s 19, almost 20 years old. I’m very proud of him... he was very involved in the campaign. He gave him all the ideas, who he needs to talk to, all of YouTubers and, you know, podcasts. So he was really a smart mind behind it.” (22:19)
  • Favorite time of day:
    “It’s morning, morning, very early morning, quiet... checking all the emails, preparing for the day I like the best.” (23:58)
  • Philanthropic work/legislative ambitions:
    “Not yet. I’m working and I think I will have a lot of support. Like, I had it with the previous one, so. But I’m working also reuniting more children.” (24:40)
  • Privacy and public image:
    “They will see how I work, who I am, how I communicate... I know they know I’m very private person and a very selective person.” (25:22)

Hollywood, Boycotts, & The Politics of Protest (26:51–31:17)

Economic Strike Calls & Performative Activism

• Jesse Waters: Mocks Hollywood's call for an economic strike, quoting Edward Norton.
• Megan Alexander: Breaks down the rationale — discussion about America's wealthy boycotting discretionary spending as protest.
• Greg Gutfeld: Satirizes Hollywood hypocrisy:
  “They know no one's gonna do what they say. I’m kind of grateful... because it won't kill anybody. But... you’re a pattern recognition machine... Trans, the free Britney movement... they care until it goes to hell, then they've already left the building.” (28:20)
• Jessica Tarlov: Draws parallel to the anti-Kavanaugh movement, noting lack of mainstream follow up when initial “shocking” headlines are tempered by detail (e.g. ICE agent shooting a human trafficker).
• The panel agrees: Boycotts are more about awards-season virtue signaling than actual impact.
• Kayleigh McEnany: Asserts economic progress under Trump versus Biden, citing specific statistics:
  • “You are doing better in the Trump economy than the Biden economy... 30-year mortgage rate below 6%... GDP in the third quarter was 4.4%. 8% was GDP growth in the first quarter of 2024.” (31:17)

Other Major Topics

RFK Jr., Synthetic Dyes, and "Mama" Voters (31:26–35:25)

• Jessica Tarlov introduces the idea that RFK Jr.’s campaign against synthetic food dyes is gaining traction and may sway “mama” voters.
• Debate on whether food dyes are an actual wedge issue compared to more effective culture-war topics.
• Jesse Waters: Notes Kennedy's popularity, especially versus other Democratic figures and his policy victories.
• Greg Gutfeld: Calls for “moms” to become more politically active and responsible on “empathy with rules.”
  • “The woke capitalized on empathy, but it was empathy without rules or facts... now we gotta get the moms back in the picture... that means for, you know, young women and people and victims as opposed to the people who victimize.” (34:38)

Martha Stewart’s Pre-Gym Shower Habit (35:54–38:15)

• Lighthearted segment on Martha Stewart revealing she showers before going to the gym.
• Panelists share their own gym routines and preferences, with humorous asides about Equinox gyms and appearance.
• Greg Gutfeld jokes:
  “I actually shower during the workout... Bring in some hand weights... I get into the stall, I’m completely naked and I just do curls. Every now and then I’ll ask for a spot, but I know that makes people self conscious.” (36:44)

Closing & "One More Thing" (38:31–41:03)

• Mini-segments on:
  • Viral animal stories, e.g., “Sexy Seal News” about a harbor seal at the Oregon Zoo. (38:36)
  • Scottish fire festival and pirate parades in Tampa for Gasparilla. (39:23–40:47)
  • Guinness world record for a 2-year-old snooker player from Manchester. (39:57)
  • Quirky story about a family dog riding a makeshift snow mattress. (40:47)
• Hosts promote upcoming interviews and episodes, e.g., Kayleigh’s interview with Cash Patel.

Structure & Tone

• Flow: The show alternates between serious debate (heated at times, especially from Gutfeld and McEnany) and playful camaraderie.
• Tone: Direct, sometimes combative, with signature sarcasm and humor—particularly from Gutfeld and Waters. Emotional undercurrents around national identity, border security, and justice are clear.
• Quotes: Frequently pointed and often self-referential; panelists both challenge and riff off each other.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Greg Gutfeld: “One day we will see the demagification of this country. It will come.” (01:23)
• Jessica Tarlov: “Nobody's listening to reason... The city deserves better.” (03:13)
• Kayleigh McEnany: “Sanctuary cities are unpopular... The legislature needs to get around abolishing sanctuary cities.” (05:20)
• Jesse Waters: “Trump has so much leverage because he has the pardon power and he's not afraid to pardon a Democrat.” (07:41)
• Megan Alexander: “We want regular hombres... not bad hombres.” (09:01)
• Greg Gutfeld: “This is the Democrat Party’s mess that we are trying to clean up.” (12:19–14:50)
• Melania Trump: “He’s unifier not just here United States, but around the world. He stopped many wars.” (19:44)
• Greg Gutfeld: “They know no one's gonna do what they say... when the open borders have turned into like 400 murders a year, they're gone.” (28:20)
• Jesse Waters: “This guy is a weapon. Deploy him.” (34:34)
• Greg Gutfeld: “I actually shower during the workout. I get into the stall, I'm completely naked and I just do curls.” (36:44)

For listeners who missed the episode:
This installment of The Five combines intensive debate on border enforcement and sanctuary cities with exclusive access to Melania Trump's insights, before wrapping with zippy cultural commentary. The episode is both a snapshot of the fierce national immigration debate and a peek into the lives and personalities of America’s political and media elite.