Podcast Summary: The Five — "Dems Ditch Michelle Obama’s 'We Go High' Advice"

FOX News Podcasts | October 23, 2025

Overview

In this episode of The Five, the panel dives into how prominent Democrats appear to be abandoning Michelle Obama’s famous “When they go low, we go high” dictum. The conversation covers the rise of inflammatory rhetoric among Democratic officials and strategists, escalating political violence, intra-party Democratic drama, controversies over ICE agent tracking, and the diffuse leadership in the Democratic Party. Through vigorous debate—alternately humorous, critical, and at times caustic—the hosts break down current headlines and offer their conservative perspectives, punctuated by memorable quotes and plenty of banter.

Main Discussion Segments

1. Democrats Abandoning “We Go High” (00:04–04:03)

• Opening Tone & Theme:

  • The show’s classic “When they go low, we go high” slogan is immediately questioned as the panel introduces recent Democratic rhetoric that the hosts characterize as aggressive and vengeful.

• James Carville’s “Vengeance Fantasy” (:39):

  • Carville suggests Trump allies should be publicly humiliated, referencing post-WWII treatment of French collaborators.
    • Quote: “They all ought to have their head shaven... put in orange pajamas... marched down Pennsylvania Avenue... the public should be invited to spit on them.” — Carville (01:39)

• Jolanda Jones’s “Violent Language” (01:19):

  • Texas Rep. Jones describes her “street” approach to a fight:
    • Quote: “If you hit me in my face, I’m not gonna punch you back in your face. I’m gonna go across your neck. You’ve got to hit hard enough where they won’t come back.” — Jones (01:26)

• Newsom and Morality Rhetoric:

  • Highlight of California Gov. Gavin Newsom speculating about Trump allies not going to heaven.

• Panel Reactions:

  • Paul Morrow criticizes the trend: “All of this Nazi stuff comes from ICE… Trump has once again outfoxed them… They took the bait. He’s beaten them again.” (03:29)

2. Democratic Leadership, Violence & Policy Failures (04:03–06:04)

• Kennedy on Newsom:
  • Criticizes Newsom as the “great white hope” who “sucks” and projects moral authority he lacks.
  • Warns that Democrats’ lack of credible policy leaves them only with escalating “violence”—alienating moderate voters.
    • “What Democrats have to do… is take the things that are actually working... say yes, we can find some common ground and go forward. Because the other way leads to government shutdowns, chaos, violence, and ultimately, death.” (05:29)

3. Escalation and Rhetorical Heat (06:04–11:30)

• Jesse Watters:

  • Expresses quasi-resignation to the malevolence he perceives from Democrats:
    • “They want the president dead. I have accepted that… Trump just needs to do what Biden did: just pardon everybody on the way out the door.” (07:03)
  • Calls out Newsom for hypocrisy regarding “what would Jesus do,” citing left positions on abortion, trans rights, etc.

• Greg Gutfeld:

  • Skewers Carville and highlights Dems’ history of ugly rhetoric:
    • “They’ve been calling us… Nazis, Hitlers, authoritarians, autocrats… The gloves have been off forever. You’re down to bone right now.” (09:19)
  • Connects past demonization to real violence (Charlie Kirk incident) and offers meta-humor about the entire escalation cycle.

4. Democrat Plans to Track ICE Agents (12:05–21:51)

• ICE Tracker Controversy:

  • Coverage of House Democrats’ plan to launch an ICE tracking tool and Letitia James’s "snitch line" for reporting ICE operations. LA activist warns ICE agents: “They are not the only ones with guns.”
    • Panel agrees this is encouraging violence against law enforcement, with Kennedy noting “it kind of sounds like you’re calling for violence there” (12:59).

• Trump, San Francisco & Tech Leaders:

  • Trump delays National Guard deployment to SF after tech leaders request it, highlighting new power brokers in Democratic politics.

• Panel Critiques (Paul Morrow):

  • Calls ICE tracker “obstruction of justice,” questions legality, and expects federal supremacy to override local policies (15:42).
  • Recounts 2020 protests and links anti-police measures to real danger for officers and lawlessness in cities.

• Jesse Watters & Gutfeld:

  • See ICE tracking as “imaginary solution” to an "imaginary problem."
  • Warn about escalation leading toward civic breakdown: “It’s going towards a civil war. No one wants that… You can’t have cities, state, and federal agents all at war with each other.” — Watters (18:53)

5. Nazi Rhetoric, Tattoos, and Intra-Dem Drama (22:43–30:43)

• “Nazi” Labeling & Scandal:

  • Discussion of Bernie-endorsed Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who covered up a tattoo resembling an SS symbol, claims ignorance, apologizes.
  • Kennedy and Gutfeld skeptical: “I don’t believe that he didn’t know what this was, especially as an active duty Marine.” — Kennedy (24:42)
  • Gutfeld lampoons the Dems: “I would forgive this guy completely if the Dems hadn’t created a relentless industry based on calling people Nazis.” (27:34)

• Blame & Hypocrisy:

  • Panel notes media double standards, Schumer’s efforts to control Dem primaries, and internal party leaks.

6. Hunter Biden vs. Kamala Harris: Party in Disarray (31:09–36:33)

• Hunter Attacks Kamala Book:
  • Segment mocks Hunter’s criticism of Kamala for “inauthenticity.”
  • Paul Morrow issues a tongue-in-cheek warning to Hunter: “Time to go… There’s no statute of limitations on espionage… Disappear.” (32:06)
  • Jesse and Kennedy note the tragic, codependent Biden family dynamic and the party’s lack of a strong “dad” figure:
    • “The only value that [Hunter] offers now is that he and Kamala are fighting, because… who’s the dad in the Democratic Party? It’s not Joe Biden anymore.” — Kennedy (36:14)

7. Lighter Segment - Beauty Pageant Gaffe (36:50–38:46)

• Miss Grand International mix-up:
  • Panel jokes about the Panama/Paraguay mix-up; riff on beauty standards and self-confidence.
  • Dana Perino: “I admire the confidence. I would never have assumed I would have won.” (38:22)

8. One More Thing – Odd News and Banter (38:53–end)

• Quirky Stories:
  • Escaped hamster delays a Lima flight (Perino).
  • Gutfeld reports on mass crab migration and makes cheeky jokes.
  • Show closes with cross-plugs for hosts’ other appearances, played for laughs.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “They all ought to have their head shaven... marched down Pennsylvania Avenue... and the public should be invited to spit on them.” — James Carville, quoted by the panel (01:39)
• “If you hit me in my face, I’m not gonna punch you back in your face. I’m gonna go across your neck.” — Rep. Jalanda Jones (01:26)
• “Trump has once again outfoxed them… They took the bait. He’s beaten them again.” — Paul Morrow (03:29)
• “They want the president dead. I have accepted that.” — Jesse Watters (07:03)
• "If you have that urge to say Hitler or Nazi, let it pass… maybe you can say something of substance." — Greg Gutfeld (10:32)
• "It’s going towards a civil war. No one wants that... You can’t have cities, state and federal agents all at war with each other." — Jesse Watters (18:53)
• “I would forgive this guy completely if the Dems hadn’t created a relentless industry based on calling people Nazis.” — Greg Gutfeld (27:34)
• "The only value that [Hunter] offers now is that he and Kamala are fighting, because… who’s the dad in the Democratic Party? It’s not Joe Biden anymore." — Kennedy (36:14)

Tone and Style

• Direct, irreverent, and often sarcastic; heavy with panel banter and humor.
• No-holds-barred criticism of Democrats, often merging serious policy critique with extended jokes, personal roasts, and allusions.
• Regular meta-commentary about the nature of modern politics and media dynamics.

Key Takeaways (Quick Reference)

• Main theme: Democratic figures are, in the panel’s view, abandoning civility and adopting the “go low” approach they once derided.
• Rhetorical escalation: Examples cited include Carville’s “public shaming” fantasy and Texas Rep. Jones’s “street” mentality.
• Republican response: Panel sees Democrats walking into Trump’s traps, losing the moderate middle, and trying “revenge” politics.
• Law enforcement: Dem plans to monitor ICE officers presented as both dangerous and ineffective; underlying tensions between state, city, and federal authorities are escalating.
• Party division: Biden family drama and left-vs-center struggles illustrate the Democratic Party’s “dad problem.”
• Satirical moments: Panel mocks Nazi tattoo scandal, pokes fun at political and cultural gaffes, and includes playful ribbing among hosts.

For listeners who missed the episode, this summary provides a comprehensive walk-through of the key themes, debates, signature quotes, and the comedic yet pointed analysis that characterizes The Five.