Podcast Summary: "Democrats Pushed To Get Meaner, Louder"
Podcast: The Five (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: November 14, 2025
Panel: Julian Turner (host), Emily Campagno, Harold Ford Jr., Jesse Waters, Greg Gutfeld
Overview
This episode revolves around the emerging trend among some Democrats and left-leaning media personalities to adopt a more aggressive, less civil approach in political discourse, contrasted with the Trump/MAGA movement and its media coverage. The panel debates the rise of "wine mom" podcasts, escalating rhetoric on both sides, the fallout from BBC’s doctored Trump footage, and the politics of affordability after the 2024 election. The episode concludes with lighter segments on workplace annoyances, prank calls, and news oddities.
Key Discussion Points
1. The Rise of "Meaner, Louder" Democratic Rhetoric
- Trigger:
- Panel discusses The Telegraph profiling the "I've Had It" podcast (hosted by Jennifer Welch), hailed by some liberals as a sharp, foul-mouthed counterweight to Joe Rogan.
- Clip from "I've Had It" heard denigrating Republicans with aggressive insults and mockery.
- Democratic Voices Escalating:
- Comedians Samantha Bee and even Hunter Biden advocating that Democrats need to "stand up and scream" and that "civility is overrated".
- Panelists note the undercurrent that some on the left are abandoning civility for cathartic rage and viral moments.
- Notable Quote:
- “You never want to date a woman like this ... She makes Andrew Dice Clay look like a choir boy. This is like insult comedy without the comedy. It’s an hour of hate speech… If a right winger was saying this, they’d be de-platformed.” – Jesse Waters (04:25)
- Skepticism About Podcast Popularity:
- Debate ensues over whether "I've Had It" is as influential as claimed; Harold Ford Jr. challenges its Apple Podcast ranking status.
Timestamps:
- [01:05] – Introduction to topic; emergence of trash-talking wine moms in liberal media
- [04:09–05:42] – Panel skewers podcast’s tone and impact
- [06:01] – Comparison with Joe Rogan's style and audience
2. Politics of Escalating Rancor & Emotional Outlets
- Civil Discourse vs. Outrage:
- Panel splits between advocating civil debate (Harold Ford Jr.) and accepting/criticizing the new "louder, meaner" stream as entertainment or political projection (Gutfeld, Waters).
- Psychology of Anger:
- Greg Gutfeld provides a deeper analysis that the rage and outrage in these podcasts is “a relationship that tricks you into the idea that there’s nothing else out there... it’s kind of sad. We get content out of this, but it’s not an enjoyable life for them.” (07:21)
- Emily Campagno calls the phenomenon “just hysteria … and the only good hysteria is Def Leppard’s album.” (13:44)
Timestamps:
- [07:02–08:33] – Gutfeld and the panel dissect the motivations behind the escalation in rhetoric
3. BBC’s January 6th Edit and Trump’s Legal Threat
- Background:
- BBC edited Trump’s January 6 speech, allegedly splicing parts 50+ minutes apart to make it appear he was inciting violence.
- BBC apologizes but rejects defamation claims.
- Discussion:
- Emily Campagno (legal analysis): “This was clearly actual malice. At a minimum, reckless disregard... Splicing together two statements 54 minutes apart... BBC made it as if his entire conclusion, the entire thesis, was one of violence.” (16:04)
- Jesse Waters: "This wasn't criticism; it was deception. ... This network must be crushed." (19:22)
- The incident is framed as an example of media bias and defamation, affecting not just Trump but all his supporters.
- Notable Quote:
- "If Trump was as bad as everybody tells you, why do they have to make stuff up?" – Jesse Waters (20:38)
Timestamps:
- [14:59] – Segment introduction
- [16:04–19:22] – Legal, media, and political implications
4. Affordability Crisis & Blame Game Post-2024 Election
- J.D. Vance Clip:
- Trump administration blames inherited inflation, debt, and housing crisis on Democrats; also blames illegal immigration for housing shortages ([22:34]).
- Democrat Response – Going "Full Communist":
- Panel mocks Seattle’s new socialist mayor’s proposal for “public option grocery stores” as an unrealistic, socialist solution to food deserts ([23:17]).
- Gutfeld derides socialism as promising lofty goals without functional plans.
- Panel Analysis
- Harold Ford Jr.: Voters want real solutions over party fighting. The panel agrees accountability for "affordability" is shifting as voters’ patience expires.
- Back-and-forth on whether “affordability” messaging resonates, and how young progressive politicians are often inexperienced in the real-world economics behind their policies.
Notable Quotes:
- "Whenever you confront a lefty about their goals, then you ask them about how to get there. What do they say? ‘Let's have a conversation.’ That is their way of saying they don't have any way to get there." – Greg Gutfeld (27:00)
- "They morphed equality into equity. They morphed equity into affordability… Ask: Affordability for whom, from whom?" – Gutfeld (27:50)
Timestamps:
- [22:23–23:36] – Vance on roots of affordability problem
- [23:36–30:00] – Critique of progressive economics and messaging
5. Lighter Segments and Banter
Target's "Mandatory Smile" Policy
- Panel jokes about Target’s new requirement for workers to smile and greet customers. Perspectives range from calling it “creepy” (Gutfeld) to bemoaning society’s declining etiquette to mocking Fox News’ own friendliness culture.
Timestamp:
- [32:06–34:38] – Target smile policy discussion
Work Annoyances & Prank Calls
- Rapid-fire Q&A on habits that annoy coworkers, personal quirks, and childhood prank call memories.
- "The thing that annoys me about you is every time I see you, you flip me off." – Jesse Waters to Emily Campagno (35:24)
- Jerky Boys, whoopee cushions, and prank pizza deliveries feature prominently in the nostalgia.
Timestamp:
- [34:48–39:05] – Banter and interactive questions
Quirky Headlines
- Guessing game about criminals in a car, stray commentary on AI robots, and tribute to a heroic police dog provide a humorous close.
Timestamp:
- [39:32–41:47] – Offbeat news and sign-off
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the new “trash talking wine moms” movement:
- “She makes Andrew Dice Clay look like a choir boy. This is like insult comedy without the comedy.” – Jesse Waters (04:25)
- "This is just hysteria. And the only good hysteria is Def Leppard's album." – Emily Campagno (13:44)
- "It's a relationship that tricks you into the idea there's nothing else out there... it's kind of sad." – Greg Gutfeld (07:21)
- On BBC's Trump edit:
- “This wasn’t criticism, it was deception. ... They created, deliberately, a narrative that Trump led an insurrection... This network must be crushed.” – Jesse Waters (19:22)
- On progressive economics:
- “Affordable healthcare is way costlier than the alternative. ... When socialism starts with a goal, it ends in a disaster.” – Greg Gutfeld (27:00)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------|---------------| | Rise of wine mom podcasts | 01:05–06:06 | | Motivations & impact of outrage media | 06:01–08:33 | | BBC/Trump legal wrangle | 14:59–21:34 | | Affordability politics | 22:23–30:00 | | Target smile policy | 32:06–34:38 | | Office habits & prank calls | 34:48–39:05 | | Q&A/quirky news wrap-up | 39:32–41:47 |
Tone & Takeaways
The panel delivers a blend of sarcasm, legal/media analysis, and cultural skepticism about the “meaner, louder” direction in left-leaning politics, ultimately seeing it as performative, emotionally driven, and disconnected from policy solutions or coalition-building. The conversation also frequently veers into banter and lighthearted ribbing, consistent with the show’s personality-driven format.
For Listeners:
If you want sharp commentary on the shift in Democratic messaging, skepticism toward viral outrage media, critical takes on progressive economic fixes, and the usual dose of “The Five” humor, this episode covers it all with a mixture of snark and substance.
