Podcast Summary: The Five – “Brown University Manhunt Ends With Suspect Found Dead”

Date: December 19, 2025
Host & Panel: Joey Jones (host), Jessica Tarlov, Jesse Watters, Emily Compagno, Tyrus, Brett Baer
Podcast: The Five (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Theme:
A panel breakdown and debate on three major stories: the Brown University shooting manhunt and its aftermath, the DNC’s refusal to release its autopsy report on Democratic Party election losses, and a massive fraud scandal in Minnesota. The episode features sharp takes, pointed humor, and nuanced discussions of public safety, political transparency, and government accountability.

1. Manhunt at Brown University: Suspect Found Dead

[00:36–13:22]

Main Points:

• The manhunt for the suspected Brown University gunman ended after six days, with the suspect found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot in a New Hampshire storage unit.
• The suspect: a Portuguese national, former Brown student, and believed responsible for killing an MIT professor in Massachusetts.
• Officials credited a tip from a homeless man—who posted details on Reddit—as critical to cracking the case; this raises issues about campus security and the effectiveness of university protocols.
• Significant criticism targeted Brown University’s security approach, particularly the lack of cameras and unlocked doors during exam week.
• The panel debated public communication, misinformation, and dangerous conspiracy theories that spread during the unfolding investigation.

Key Discussion Points:

• Law Enforcement Response and Community Tips

  • Authorities praised the Reddit tip, revealing gaps in their surveillance and public communication.
  • Joey Jones: "I hate that [the suspect] was found dead because you want to be able to question someone like this...But there's still more questions than answers on this whole thing." [03:14]
  • Jesse Watters: “Can you believe we have a lottery system for immigration?... That's not how you build the United States of America.” [07:47]

• Campus Security Flaws

  • Only two surveillance cameras outside the crime scene building; doors left unlocked for exams.
  • Critique of administrative statements downplaying the role of cameras and the safety risk.
  • Brett Baer remarks: "I think we're going to have to look back and say, you know, we don't know how this person got in." [02:50]

• Internet Conspiracies and Misinformation

  • Jessica Tarlov highlights the swirl of conspiracy theories and cautions against dangerous speculation:

    “We have to be very careful with the swirl that we put out online. Some very prominent accounts were tweeting things like this...this kind of stuff is incredibly dangerous.” [04:17]

  • Tyrus: “When you don't look at [conspiracies], they don't get out...We need to start leaving it where it is and stop falling for the labels.” [06:00]

• The Diversity Visa System and National Security

  • Panel critiques the randomness of the diversity visa lottery that reportedly let the suspect into the U.S.
  • Jesse Watters: “We spin a roulette wheel for minorities up. We're going to go with a guy in Portugal who got expelled from school.” [07:47]

• On Witnesses and Labels

  • Tyrus criticizes the branding of the witness as a "homeless man": "We are so focused on the label of the story or the label of the person...This person came forward, he saw something, he said something. He should be respected.” [06:30]

Notable Quotes:

• Joey Jones: “Brown University is the most surveilled college campus in the country when it comes to cameras per student. But this building is like this giant black hole of cameras.” [10:43]
• Emily Compagno: “This entire situation would be so hilarious if three people hadn't paid for it with their lives. Because it’s so absolutely ludicrous...” [11:17]

2. DNC “Autopsy” Debate: Transparency vs. Political Fallout

[14:20–22:08]

Main Points:

• The DNC is refusing to release its internal “autopsy” report analyzing what went wrong in the recent Kamala Harris-led 2024 campaign.
• Some party voices demand transparency; leadership claims publicizing the failures would be “counterproductive.”
• The panel humorously draws parallels to sports and prior Republican behavior, discussing lessons lost and political self-preservation.

Key Discussion Points:

• Transparency and Accountability:

  • Obama-era "Pod Bros" and other Democratic figures call for releasing the report.
  • Jessica Tarlov: “I 100% think that it should be out there and I’d be one of those people that would read through it and try to take those learnings.” [16:14]
  • Joey Jones suggests Republicans benefit from the Democrats’ unwillingness to learn: “I think it only benefits Republicans for them to not release it because I don't want [Democrats] to learn anything.” [18:10]

• Comparisons and Metaphors:

  • Tyrus uses sports analogies to stress that revisiting failures is painful: “You think the Atlanta Falcons want to go back and talk about the Super Bowl they almost won?” [19:31]
  • Brett Baer provides historical perspective: “This just shows me that the Democrats…would always prefer to be right in their own name than to be actually right.” [20:42]

Notable Quotes:

• Jessica Tarlov: “I wish that they had released it. I don't think you can give a slew of interviews saying, we need this, we need this...and then tell people it’s okay, it’s going to be fine.” [16:14]
• Brett Baer: “They are digging in their heels…we’re learning from our mistakes, but we don’t want to admit it to you guys. That level of hubris wrapped up in Kamala and Biden, that’s exactly what we’re seeing right now.” [20:42]

3. Minnesota Fraud Scandal: Accountability and Broader Implications

[23:28–32:15]

Main Points:

• Massive Medicaid and welfare fraud in Minnesota: $9–$18 billion allegedly stolen under Governor Tim Walz’s watch, with charges involving a Somali-run home care agency.
• The governor is accused of failing to notice or act on the fraud and deflecting blame onto others—including former presidents.
• The scandal sparks debate about corruption, immigration policy, accountability, and the efficacy of state and federal oversight.

Key Discussion Points:

• Scope and Impact:

  • Tyrus: “The magnitude of the fraud in Minnesota cannot be overstated...it’s eroded our sense of collective statewide self-esteem and confidence.” [23:58]
  • Jesse Watters: “$9 billion is gone. Just gone. That's like more than 10% of your budget. And he had no idea?” [25:15]

• Political and Social Reactions:

  • Panelists mock Governor Walz’s excuses and argue he should resign out of “sheer embarrassment.”
  • Tyrus: “How do you not resign? This has nothing to do with Democrat Republic…all of the ‘they're targeting us’—yeah, they should be. Somebody stole $9 billion.” [27:34]

• Immigration and Integration Concerns:

  • Joey Jones: “You don't start importing those people, you know, haphazardly, even if you're vetting them. That's just not a good thing to do.” [31:10]
  • Jessica Tarlov condemns the exploitation of social services, especially at the height of COVID-19: “Just so deeply un-American and disgusting.” [29:00]

• Systemic Problems:

  • Fraud tourism: Individuals traveling to Minnesota knowing they could exploit generous state programs.
  • Racism allegations used as a shield by perpetrators to dissuade investigation.

Notable Quotes:

• Tyrus: “I think these guys, they keep him [the governor] in the shadows…he talks about stuff and tampons instead of checking everybody's wallet for stuff. Stolen tax funds. It's pathetic.” [27:55]
• Joey Jones: “The useful idiot? That's his defense. This guy wanted to be the Vice President...his best defense is he was too bad at his job to know about it. Spare me.” [31:52]

4. Kiss Cam Scandal Fallout and Other Lighter Segments

[33:12–36:33]

Main Points:

• The “Coldplay Kiss Cam” HR executive speaks out, admitting a mistake after being caught on camera with her married boss—leading to severe personal and career consequences.
• Panelists discuss modern public shaming, social media impact, and standards of accountability.
  • Tyrus: “I think the punishment has way over, way over the crime here. Like, listen, it’s ironic she was HR.” [33:47]
  • Brett Baer: “The fact that she's explaining away what is actually a hideous betrayal and thinks that I'm supposed to be like, oh my gosh, I feel so bad for you. I don't feel bad for her at all.” [35:30]

Notable Quotes:

• Jesse Watters: “I love the word canoodling. I like to say it. I like to do it. Canoodling is such a fresh and beautiful experience. More people should canoodle.” [35:44]
• Joey Jones: “The morality of it is between four people and four people only… The hypocrisy of it is because she was an HR professional and that was her boss and that's why she lost her job.” [36:06]

5. Fan Mail Friday & “One More Thing”

[37:19–41:53]

Main Points:

• The panel answers rapid-fire fan questions with humor and personality, invoking favorite movie lines, embarrassing confessions, and nostalgic TV shows.
• “One More Thing” shares panelists’ personal celebrations and amusing stories—a mix of family pride, shout-outs to events, and lighthearted moments.
  • Tyrus: “My beautiful daughter Georgie…went to Wellington International and my daughter…won an incredible first and third place with her amazing horses Chi Chi…” [39:56]

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps):

• On internet rumors about the Brown shooter:

  Jessica Tarlov: "We have to be very careful with the swirl that we put online... this kind of stuff is incredibly dangerous." [04:17]

• On randomness of diversity visa lotteries:

  Jesse Watters: “We spin a roulette wheel...That's not how you build the United States of America.” [07:47]

• On Brown's campus surveillance:

  Joey Jones: "Brown University is the most surveilled college campus in the country...but this building is like this giant black hole of cameras." [10:43]

• On the DNC hiding mistakes:

  Tyrus: “Some of the worst behind whoopings of your life, you don’t sit down and break out the...Let’s watch the video of when mom left dad at Christmas for his uncle...” [19:31]

• On the breaking fraud scandal:

  Tyrus: “Nine boxes of cookies come up missing [from the Girl Scouts], I would probably step down...I'd probably be under investigation. Those s' mores are delicious. But I digress. The point is…$9 billion is missing. And oh, Tim.” [27:34]

Conclusion:

This episode of The Five blends serious reflection on public safety and institutional trust with spirited, at times irreverent, debate on government accountability. The panel's diverse viewpoints—rooted in humor, policy critique, and real-world anecdotes—provide listeners with a comprehensive, if polemical, take on the week's most urgent headlines, tempered by lighter moments and audience interaction.

End of Summary