The Five – Day 18 Of Desperate Search For Nancy Guthrie
FOX News Podcasts – February 19, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of The Five covers a whirlwind of the day's most debated topics, ranging from updates in the Nancy Guthrie missing persons case to cultural controversies in late night TV, environmental crises in Washington D.C., Democratic party maneuvering for 2028, dietary trends with RFK Jr., and some lighter legal news about food labeling. The panel—Greg Gutfeld, Emily Compagno, Harold Ford Jr., Joey Jones, and Dana Perino—debate, analyze, and banter about the headlines in their signature style: blunt, witty, and sometimes biting.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Nancy Guthrie Missing Persons Case (00:41–02:16)
- Update & Cross-Border Investigations: The show leads with day 18 of the search for Nancy Guthrie. Matt Finn provides the latest from Tucson, emphasizing the proximity to Mexico and speculation about cartel involvement, though no direct link is established.
- Agency Collaboration: Rumors of friction between local law enforcement and the FBI are dispelled; cooperation is reportedly strong.
- Quote: “The FBI has likely been in touch with Mexico since the start...these agencies are getting along just fine on the ground.” — Matt Finn (01:14)
2. CBS, Colbert, and the Equal Time Rule Controversy (02:16–10:12)
- Background: CBS allegedly blocked Stephen Colbert from airing an interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico due to concerns about FCC’s “equal time” rule. This became a point of media outrage and partisan speculation.
- Colbert's Reaction: Colbert expresses frustration and claims surprise at CBS’ legal caution.
- Quote: “I’m just so surprised that this giant global corporation would not stand up to these bullies. I don’t even know what to do with this crap.” — Stephen Colbert (03:00, paraphrased by panel)
- Panel Reactions:
- Dana Perino calls the incident “unintentionally funny,” noting Colbert’s outrage is likely performative and that the legal issues are routine but rarely enforced.
- Harold jokes about late-night stunts being melodramatic, not actual comedy.
- Panel consensus: The drama benefited Talarico with a “fundraising bump” and media attention.
- Emily: “It made a guy as boring as watching paint dry interesting for a day...there really isn’t a loser here.” (09:32)
3. The Potomac Sewage Spill & Political Blame Game (11:19–18:36)
- Incident: Massive sewage spill (240 million gallons) into the Potomac River triggers outrage, finger-pointing between Trump, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and local authorities.
- Quote: “How do you let 240 million gallons of poop flow into the river and they didn't say anything for a long time?” — Dana Perino (12:55)
- Panel Analysis:
- Dana notes infrastructure failures are mostly state/local issues and criticizes lack of accountability.
- Emily highlights a revolving door of officials from Flint to D.C., questioning systemic management failures.
- Joey: Basic government responsibilities are falling apart due to political blame-shifting.
- “This is not partisan. It should not be about politics. It’s not a political threat. They should treat it as a practical solution.” (16:43)
- Greg’s comedic take links government waste to the actual sewage crisis: “You have all these government officials…we're paying trillions in taxes and we get nothing.” (18:41)
- Broader Grievance: Greg questions if there’s an “invisible trillion-dollar fraudulent economy” fueled by government incompetence and fraud.
4. 2028 Democratic Presidential Hopefuls, Optics & Branding (22:24–30:21)
- Book Releases & Image Rehab: Dem hopefuls like Gavin Newsom, Andy Beshear, and Josh Shapiro are rolling out books and giving themselves physical makeovers (e.g., J.B. Pritzker’s weight talk) as pre-2028 positioning.
- Quote: “I don't care how much weight he loses. I want to see what legislation he has passed...This is reading like brand management, not actual leadership portrayal.” — Joey Jones (28:49)
- Panel Skepticism:
- Dana notes efforts feel shallow—“aspirational at the same time that they're dealing with the brokenness.”
- Greg and Harold riff on the primacy of metrics for men in politics: “Just because we're wrong in your opinion doesn't make us evil...the real weight loss is coming from the party, it's shedding men because their issues become less measurable.” (23:34)
- Emily and Joey mock the performative nature and lack of tangible governance in these early campaigns.
5. RFK Jr., Kid Rock, and Ultra-Processed Foods (31:00–35:29)
- Viral Gym Video: RFK Jr. appears shirtless with Kid Rock, taking on junk food and ultra-processed ingredients with support from a former FDA commissioner.
- Harold: “What Secretary Kennedy is doing around food...is really, really important.” (32:00)
- Greg: “The real story here is the death of the body positivity movement.” (33:11)
- Panel Banter: The rest riff on RFK’s workout choices, Kid Rock’s healthy turn, and the fickleness of health trends like Ozempic.
6. Buffalo Wild Wings Lawsuit: Are ‘Boneless Wings’ False Advertising? (35:48–38:24)
- Legal Oddity: A lawsuit claimed calling “boneless wings” actual wings is deceptive; a judge ruled in favor of Buffalo Wild Wings.
- Dana decries America’s litigious nature: “One of the big problems in America is just the litigiousness of the society…” (36:14)
- Harold speculates: "This is just like the Colbert story. It was orchestrated for free publicity. All you gotta do is get somebody to file a lawsuit...and you end up on the highest rated show." (37:04)
7. One More Thing: Animal, Lava, and Hockey News (38:46–40:54)
- Notable Moments:
- Dana shares the heartwarming story of a rejected baby monkey, Punch, who found a new monkey mom. (39:33)
- Greg discusses Ash Wednesday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. (40:11)
- Emily covers Kilauea’s latest eruption. (40:29)
- Joey reports Team USA Men’s Hockey beats Sweden in the quarterfinals. (40:46)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On the Potomac Sewage Spill:
- Dana Perino (12:55): “How do you let 240 million gallons of poop flow into the river...and they didn't say anything for a long time?”
On Political Image Crafting:
- Joey Jones (28:49): “I don't care how much weight he loses. I want to see what legislation he has passed...This is reading like brand management, not actual leadership portrayal.”
On the Colbert/CBS Saga:
- Dana Perino (04:48): “Colbert was right about that...CBS they are trigger happy lawyers. And then you had Colbert who's like, I could figure out a way to get some attention for this.”
On Systemic Government Waste:
- Greg Gutfeld (18:41): “We're paying trillions in taxes and we get nothing...is there like this invisible trillion dollar fraudulent economy that feeds off the government?”
On Late-Night Comedy:
- Harold Ford Jr. (07:21): “I guess I don't find this story the least bit interesting except how these late night comedy shows have strayed so far from the premise...it's these stunts to stoke some kind of melodrama.”
Timestamps by Topic
- Nancy Guthrie Case: 00:41–02:16
- Colbert/CBS/Equal Time Controversy: 02:16–10:12
- Potomac Sewage Spill: 11:19–18:36
- Democratic 2028 Branding: 22:24–30:21
- RFK Jr. & Kid Rock on Health: 31:00–35:29
- Buffalo Wild Wings Lawsuit: 35:48–38:24
- One More Thing Segment: 38:46–40:54
Language & Tone
The episode flows with the classic irreverence and sharp banter that typifies The Five. The tone is sardonic, direct, at times playful, with skeptical takes on both right and left-wing actors. The hosts swing between serious analysis (on infrastructure and justice issues) and comedic asides or snark.
Summary
Whether you're interested in true crime developments, TV culture wars, government accountability, political preening, or just want to know if boneless wings are actually wings, this episode serves up a full slate of trending topics, strong opinions, and sharp humor—hallmarks of The Five. The hosts skewer political squabbling, media performativity, and superficial branding, with an undercurrent of frustration at both parties' inability to focus on real governance and solutions. Ultimately, the mix of serious news and lighthearted diversions keeps this episode engaging and accessible for listeners from across the spectrum.