Podcast Summary: The Five

Episode: “Democrats Lit The Fuse Of Hatred Against ICE”
Date: October 7, 2025
Hosts: Jesse Watters, Paul Morrow, Jessica Tarlov, Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld

Episode Overview

This episode centers on escalating tensions and violence surrounding U.S. immigration enforcement, specifically focusing on threats against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents. The panelists examine how political rhetoric and government action—or inaction—toward law enforcement, as well as broader issues like protests, crime, and political strategy, are fueling dangerous environments. In signature style, they also turn to pop-culture topics and intra-party political analysis, blending serious debate with satirical observations.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Violence Against ICE and Political Rhetoric

• Main Story: The show opens with the revelation that a gang leader ("Monkey") put a $12,000 bounty on ICE Commander Gregory Bovino, with accusations that Democratic leadership has fostered an environment allowing such threats. The Illinois governor, J.B. Pritzker, is criticized for naming Bovino publicly, seen as escalating risks for federal officers.

  • Quote, Bovino on Threats:
    “I was a little disappointed that it was only 12,000. But on a more serious note, that was an illegal alien that was comfortable enough living here. The governor or the mayor are talking about they are the reason that gang members feel comfortable enough to do something like that…We won’t stop the mission.”—Gregory Bovino, (00:56)

• Discussion: The panel links the permissive climate for anti-ICE activism and attacks with Democratic leadership's rhetoric and policies on immigration. Multiple references are made to local and national officials failing to support federal law enforcement, with analogies to historic uses of the Insurrection Act.

  • Quote, Paul Morrow:
    “To me, this is the arsonists blaming the firemen.” (04:40)

Timestamps:

• [00:04–02:14] — Opening details on threats, reactions from officials
• [02:14–05:07] — Panel commentary on law enforcement under siege

2. Media, Protests, and Perceptions of Violence

• Media Spin: Satirical criticism is lobbed at mainstream media’s descriptions of riots as “mostly peaceful” and their distance from the real impacts of crime and immigration crises.

  • Quote, Paul Morrow:
    “Your tolerance for a problem increases in direct proportion to your distance from it.” (03:27)

• Virtue Signaling to Violence Signaling: Greg Gutfeld presents the idea that what began as “virtue signaling” has become “violence signaling”—with activists rewarded for intimidation and aggression, linking anti-ICE sentiment to broader social unrest and anti-Semitism (e.g., protests post-October 7).

  • Quote, Greg Gutfeld:
    “We talk a lot about virtue signaling. That has changed. It is now violence signaling. This is a result of a decade of dehumanizing rhetoric.” (09:24)

Timestamps:

• [02:14–06:48] — Media coverage and the gap between perception and reality

3. Debates Over Immigration Enforcement and Use of Force

• ICE Actions: The role of ICE in apprehending dangerous criminals is defended, but Jessica Tarlov raises concerns about excessive force and militarized tactics, referencing a disputed shooting involving ICE in Chicago.

  • Quote, Jessica Tarlov:
    “They should totally be doing that. They just shouldn't be doing the rest of the stuff that they're doing, like bringing Black Hawk helicopters to Southside apartment complexes in Chicago and pulling people out of their beds.” (07:04)

• Panel Clash: Tarlov and Gutfeld spar over facts of specific incidents, the accuracy of initial media narratives, and the politicization of law enforcement incidents. Gutfeld warns against “blowing stories up” prematurely.

Timestamps:

• [06:48–11:59] — ICE’s job scope, use of force, and media narratives

4. Political Messaging and Appeals to Men

• AOC, Stephen Miller, and “Mocking MAGA Men”: The panel laughs at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez mocking Trump adviser Stephen Miller’s height and “insecure masculinity.” The discussion then pivots to Democrats’ strategies to connect with young men, including media appearances and targeted messaging.

  • Quote, Greg Gutfeld:
    “AOC is doing a really good thing. This is a vast improvement over her Democrat allies who demonize us. She's pointing her allies to a far less harmful path of ridicule. I want her to call me names…because that means she's not calling me Hitler.” (14:25)

  • Quote, Jesse Watters:
    “Men who are high value, men like Stephen Miller, take risks. They're brave, they're unafraid, they're confident, and they're on a mission. And they have younger wives with beautiful children. I think I just gave him, like, a dating recommendation.” (17:49)

• Panel Humor and Sarcasm: The exchange is playful, poking fun at both sides' stereotypes of gender and political appeal.

Timestamps:

• [13:07–21:27] — AOC’s remarks, male voter outreach, and partisan ribbing

5. Accusations of DOJ Weaponization against Republicans

• Pam Bondi’s Testimony & Metadata Scandal: The panel discusses revelations that Special Counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed metadata on Republican senators during the January 6th probe, drawing comparisons to Watergate and warning of government overreach.

  • Quote, Dana Perino:
    “It seems to me that there was this overreach by the Biden team, and it was a little bit here, a little bit there, a little bit over here. And so then if you…pull on that thread, you find out, oh, wow, they were actually tracking senators phone calls.” (27:20)

  • Quote, Jesse Watters:
    “The Democrat reaction to January 6th was worse than January 6th. …They cracked into these phones. That means you know where the senator was, exactly who was calling him, who he called, how long the phone conversation was. And that's an incredibly abusive overreach.” (25:30)

• Debate Over Surveillance: Jessica Tarlov clarifies what “metadata” means versus wiretapping, contending the surveillance was targeted for public-interest reasons given senators’ involvement in election challenges.

Timestamps:

• [22:30–31:00] — DOJ’s actions, overreach, and privacy concerns

6. Political Fearmongering & Hollywood’s Influence

• Rob Reiner’s “Year Left of Democracy” Claim: Hollywood director Rob Reiner’s recent prediction that Trump will “take away democracy” in one year is debated and satirized. The panel discusses whether such dire warnings shape electoral messaging or alienate voters.

  • Quote, Dana Perino:
    “The idea that Trump is going to cancel the 2028 election is actually gaining hold with more people than you think…But maybe from Rob Reiner.” (32:08)

  • Quote, Jesse Watters:
    “It’s a lot of conspiracy theories with the left. They’re constantly hooked on these conspiracy theories…And this is coming from me. I like conspiracy theories. I seek them out, and they're usually right, and…the dumb ones are coming from the left.” (33:46)

Timestamps:

• [31:24–35:31] — Political messaging, conspiracy theories, Hollywood’s role

7. “Disarming” James Bond: Culture War Satire

• Amazon Removing Guns from Bond Posters: In a lighter segment, the removal of James Bond’s gun from promotional images is mocked as overreach and a symbol of changing cultural norms.

  • Quote, Greg Gutfeld:
    “Let's be honest about James Bond. A violent, misogynistic, cisgendered beneficiary of white privilege…Why are we talking about this?” (36:33)

  • Quote, Dana Perino:
    “Well, it's ridiculous, because who stops bad guys with guns? A good guy with a gun. And that's what Bond is. Unless you don't believe that anymore.” (37:41)

Timestamps:

• [35:50–38:22] — Pop culture, media edits, and 2nd Amendment symbolism

Memorable Quotes & Standout Moments

• Paul Morrow (on Democratic immigration policy):
  “This is the arsonists blaming the firemen.” (04:40)
• Greg Gutfeld (on violence signaling):
  “It is now violence signaling. …This is a result of a decade of dehumanizing rhetoric. …They're like a guy in the shallow end of a swimming pool who thinks he has it safe because the people pooping in the pool are in the deep end. No, that pool is the Democratic Party, and you're swimming in this shit.” (10:00)
• Jesse Watters (on political masculinity):
  “Men who are high value, men like Stephen Miller, take risks. They’re brave, they’re unafraid, they’re confident, and they’re on a mission. And they have younger wives with beautiful children.” (17:49)
• Dana Perino (on Hollywood anxiety):
  “Everything that I'm watching right now is very dark and I could use a little romantic comedy.” (32:08)
• Jessica Tarlov (on messaging to men):
  “The economy is what matters to men and to women, but particularly the men say it's the most important issue. They are giving Trump bad marks on that. That is the opening for the Democrats.” (19:38)

Overall Tone & Takeaways

• Tone: Combative, sarcastic, playful, and occasionally deeply critical. The show mixes genuine concern about law enforcement and civil society with episodes of satire and levity.
• Notable Moments: Strong analogies (“arsonists blaming the firemen”, “people pooping in the pool”), frequent interruptions and arguments, especially on facts behind law enforcement actions, and candid admissions of political and cultural strategy.
• Central Message: The panel blames rising danger to federal officers and a breakdown of civil enforcement on Democratic leaders’ rhetoric and permissive policies, warning these may backfire politically and socially. The panel also treats with skepticism the left’s messaging on threats to democracy and sees cultural moves (such as “disarming Bond”) as symbolic of misguided progressivism.

Segment Timestamps

| Topic | Timestamp Start | Timestamp End | |---|---|---| | ICE under fire, political rhetoric | 00:04 | 05:07 | | Media coverage & protest optics | 02:14 | 06:48 | | ICE enforcement, disputed incidents | 06:48 | 11:59 | | Political messaging, masculinity, AOC-Miller | 13:07 | 21:27 | | DOJ weaponization, metadata, Bondi | 22:30 | 31:00 | | Hollywood, fearmongering, Reiner’s “one year” | 31:24 | 35:31 | | James Bond & pop culture satire | 35:50 | 38:22 |

This summary covers the core debates, significant moments, and original tone of the episode, providing clarity and context for listeners interested in the intersection of immigration, law enforcement, and media narratives in American politics.