“Detained” Hoax

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Five

Episode: “Detained” Hoax
Host: Martha MacCallum, with Paul Morrow, Jessica Tarlov, Jesse Watters, and Tyrus
Date: January 24, 2026

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Overview

This episode of “The Five” tackles headline news, focusing primarily on the alleged ICE detention of a five-year-old boy in Minnesota—a story the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has called a “horrific smear." The panel dissects media narratives, political reactions, the complexities of immigration law enforcement, and the state of public discourse around such incidents. The show also pivots to national politics, the state of the economy, “woke” moments in sports reporting, and ends with lighter banter about snowstorms, vacations, and fan mail.

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Key Discussion Points

1. The “Detained” Hoax: ICE, Media, and Political Spin

• [00:00-06:34]

  • The show opens with reports claiming ICE agents kidnapped a five-year-old boy and used him as bait, debunked by DHS, which says the boy’s father ran, abandoning him during arrest.
  • Panelists share incredulity over the “bait” narrative and criticize how media and politicians, including VP Kamala Harris, have latched onto the story.
  • Quote [01:39] Martha MacCallum:
    “Here come a bunch of scary looking guys in masks with guns and they're taking this little boy. I mean it's just, it's over the top. It's like outrageous.”

• Paul Morrow and Jesse Watters stress that the child’s welfare was maintained and call media reporting irresponsible, linking it to larger trends of ‘hoaxes’ and misinformation.

  • Quote [03:07] Paul Morrow:
    “That five year old remains with his family. Well, what about the angel moms?... We will continue unabated in our mission to ensure there are no more Rachel Morins separated from her five children.”

• Tyrus delivers a personal fatherhood perspective.

  • Quote [12:41] Tyrus:
    “There is not any situation in my lifetime whether I was convicted for assault, manslaughter, whatever... to where I would run and abandon my child.”

2. Contradictory Accounts and Systemic Issues

• [06:34-11:22]
  • Jessica Tarlov introduces conflicting statements from the detained father’s lawyer, detailing the asylum process via the CBP1 app and ongoing court appearances, casting doubt on the official account.
  • Tarlov also highlights reports of problematic ICE behavior and civil rights issues, referencing statements from Minnesota law enforcement officials about profiling and poor detention conditions.
    • Quote [07:39] Jessica Tarlov:
      “If Greg were here, he would say, let's take a step back and look at the bigger picture... All of them have been people of color. There are new court documents out... talking about contained food with mold and worms, not enough water.”
  • Jesse Watters objects, defending the ICE agents and the credibility of the facilities, claiming complaints are fabrications.
    • Quote [10:29] Jesse Watters:
      “These detention centers are amazing. You get dental care, you get free health care.”

3. Broader Immigration and Policy Perspectives

• [11:22-13:23]
  • Tyrus and Paul Morrow call for policy improvements—distinguishing between legal and illegal immigration, and encouraging administration-led positive citizenship events.
    • Quote [05:44] Paul Morrow:
      “What I'd like to see is them do something like as the head of the executive, he can swear in new citizens, do it nationally... You want legal migrants.”

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4. National Politics and the Coming Midterms

• [14:42-22:18]

  • The conversation shifts to President Trump’s campaign intentions, with Chief of Staff Suzy Wiles quoted as saying he’ll campaign as if he’s on the ballot.
    • Quote [15:21] Paul Morrow (on midterms):
      “...You take all the three letter agencies... and you throw them at the high crime cities... of course it's going to go down. It's not rocket science.”
  • Jessica Tarlov tempers celebration over reported crime drops, noting the trend began before Trump; highlights negative polling for the administration across various issues despite lower murder rates.
    • Quote [16:19] Jessica Tarlov:
      “The rest of it is a disaster, though.”

• Tyrus and Martha MacCallum discuss voter focus on the economy and the significance of local candidates over national figures in off-year elections.

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5. Sports & “Woke” Reporting: Tennis Players and Political Questions

• [23:03-28:38]

  • Segment features a liberal reporter at the Australian Open asking American tennis players loaded political questions about the US climate under Trump.

  • Amanda Anisimova and Taylor Fritz deflect these questions with grace, refusing to be drawn into controversy.

    • Quote [23:40] Jessica Tarlov (as Anisimova):
      “I don't think that's relevant.”
    • Quote [24:00] Paul Morrow (as Fritz):
      “Whatever I say here is going to get put in a headline and it's, it's gonna get taken out of context.”

  • Panelists critique the reporter’s motives and approach, expressing exasperation over politicizing sports events.

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6. Lighthearted Topics: Weather, Vacations, Collections

• [28:54-36:08]

  • Snowstorm Preparation: Jokes and practical tips about “Snowmageddon” and whether people over-prepare.

    • Quote [29:41] Martha MacCallum:
      “I'm always amazed when people are, like, running to the grocery store and filling up their carts... you really think you're gonna starve over the next two days?”

  • Skillcations: Banter about vacationing to learn new skills (or not).

    • Quote [32:05] Jesse Watters:
      “I want to come home dumber. It's not like I need to. I mean, I sit next to you, Jessica. It's like taking candy from a baby.”

  • Fan Mail Friday: Panelists answer questions about class reunions, things loaned/collected, favorite albums and bands, and medium readings, mixing humor and personality.

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7. Closing “One More Thing”

• [38:11-Episode End]
  • Features quirky news stories (sheepskin hats, deer in a bank, freedom plane with historical US documents, police chased by a chainsaw-wielding assailant), more jokes, and goodbyes.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:39] Martha MacCallum: “Here come a bunch of scary looking guys in masks with guns and they're taking this little boy. I mean it's just, it's over the top.”
• [03:07] Paul Morrow: “That five year old remains with his family. Well, what about the angel moms?”
• [12:41] Tyrus: “There is not any situation in my lifetime... to where I would run and abandon my child.”
• [10:29] Jesse Watters: “These detention centers are amazing. You get dental care, you get free health care.”
• [23:40] Jessica Tarlov (as Anisimova): “I don't think that's relevant.”
• [29:41] Martha MacCallum: “I'm always amazed when people are, like, running to the grocery store and filling up their carts...”
• [32:05] Jesse Watters: “I want to come home dumber. It's not like I need to. I mean, I sit next to you, Jessica.”

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00-06:34 – ICE “Detained” Hoax: Breaking down the accusations, DHS response, and media reaction
• 06:34-11:22 – Disputed facts, lawyer’s account vs. DHS, Jessica’s arguments, and systemic complaints
• 11:22-13:23 – Policy alternatives, citizenship ceremonies, and fatherhood in the context of law enforcement
• 14:42-22:18 – Trump post-Davos, midterm strategy, crime rates, and economic outlook
• 23:03-28:38 – Sports, politics, and “woke” journalism: tennis player interviews
• 28:54-36:08 – Snowstorm jokes, vacation learning, and collections
• 38:11-End – Quirky news, fan mail, and wrap-up

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Summary Takeaway

This episode centers on the power of media narrative, political spin in high-profile immigration enforcement stories, and the emotional and practical complexities at the US border. The hosts expose and debate the factual discrepancies, the motivations behind different responses, and broader consequences for public debate and policy. The show’s remaining segments provide a mix of political update, cultural commentary, and the friendly, comic banter that defines “The Five.”

Transcript

[Martha MacCallum]

Five years ago, the US Brought leaders from Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain together to sign the Abraham Accords. I'm Megan Alexander and this is Middle East. Tomorrow go to partners.foxnews.com met grab your butt. Hi everyone, I'm martha maccallum along with paul morrow, jessica tarlov, jesse waters and tyrus. Five o' clock in new york city and this is the five. A lot of pushback on this. DHS debunking a quote, horrific smear, they're calling it, that ICE agents kidnapped a five year old boy and used him as bait in a Minneapolis targeted enforcement operation. Officials say the child was not arrested. Rather he had been abandoned in the freezing cold by his father, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador who had fled as agents tried to arrest him. Fox News has obtained this photo of the father. His attorneys claiming that he entered using this Biden era CBP app, but DHS has no record of that. Democrats and the media running wild with accusations, jumping to lots of conclusions like this. ICE is using a five year old.

[Jesse Waters]

Boy, a five year old boy.

[Paul Morrow]

They took him and used him to.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Lure his father out.

[Tyrus]

Kidnapping 5 year olds that are using them as bait.

[Martha MacCallum]

Detained a 5 year old boy to bait his father into coming out.

[Paul Morrow]

Five year old boy would be taken alone for 24 hours by these masked armed ICE agents.

[Martha MacCallum]

Here come a bunch of scary looking guys in masks with guns and they're taking this little boy. I mean it's just, it's over the top. It's like outrageous. He could be any of our little boys or nephews or grandchildren.

[Jesse Waters]

Peace is not spraying irritants and chemicals at peaceful protesters.

[Tyrus]

It's not detaining a 5 year old.

[Martha MacCallum]

Kamala Harris piling on, she tweeted this quote, Liam Ramos is just a baby. He should be at home with his family. Not used as bait by ICE and held in a detention center in Texas. I'm outraged, she writes, and you should be too. But where was the outrage when 300,000 migrant children got lost in the document shuffle? Nobody knew where they were under the Biden administration. And heartaching scenes like this. A terrified 10 year old boy unaccompanied in tears at the border during the previous President, Vice President J.D. vance and Border chief Greg Bevino setting the record straight on behalf of their agencies today. Watch this.

[Jesse Waters]

The five year old was not arrested that his dad was an illegal alien.

[Tyrus]

And then they went, when they went.

[Jesse Waters]

To arrest his illegal alien father, the father ran. So the story is that ICE detained a five year old. Well what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a five year old child freeze to death?

[Paul Morrow]

That five year old remains with his family. Well, what about the angel moms? Now, how many victims of illegal aliens that should not be here in the United States are causing family separation for American citizens? We will continue unabated in our mission to ensure there are no more Rachel Morins separated from her five children.

[Martha MacCallum]

Where, where is the weeping and the tears for these individuals? I talked to Joe Abraham today. His daughter Kat was killed by someone who was here illegally. And her friend, they were both in the car and he said, you know, I'm already in the grave with her. What else can they do to me? So, Paul Morrow, in terms of procedure, I thought it was interesting when Vice President Vance says, what are they supposed to do with this child? The father takes off. Obviously they're going to stay with the child until they can figure out the best thing to do going forward.

[Paul Morrow]

Of course they will. And there are all kinds of procedures for this. You're going to take the child, you can do everything you can to make sure the child feels secure, feel safe, because obviously it's a five year old. And now it looks like they're going to put the child with the father. And they're both in detention relative to being deported, which is just a procedure. I can't count the number of lies in those clips. Like for instance, Fry says not launching poison at peaceful protesters is what peace looks like. Peaceful protesters. They're shooting fireworks, they're throwing ice balls, they're blocking the streets. I don't know what city it is he's governing. Look, let's run down the chain here real quick. Relative to this canaria, that's obviously the word bait was put out, right? That's the word they all got to go with. Now, the child was bait. And that has become the narrative. Fine, people hoax, hands up, don't shoot. Covid from a wet mart. Laptop is fake. The border is secure, crossed by a hurricane. Trump is a Russian asset. Biden is fine. Cops shoot unarmed black men in the thousands every year. They're all lies. But they all get perpetuated because this is the media narrative that we're supposed to buy into. And look, even if you don't like what's going on, relative to the way ICE is enforcing, that's the law. And if you don't like it, fair enough. But to lie about it is to tell. If you actually had something to stand on, you wouldn't be conjuring myths like they Used a child as bait. You do that when you have anything else to stand on. Now, I want to make one quick point just to undercut all that a little bit. I do think it's time for the Trump administration to lead into carrot because we see a lot of stick. Okay. This is all about enforcement. Well, let's remember the Trump administration came in saying big beautiful door along with the big beautiful wall. What I'd like to see is them do something like as the head of the executive, he can swear in new citizens, do it nationally, do 10,000 new citizens by zoom in cities across the country. Because you got to show it's not all stick. We want legal migrants. You want to make that distinction because very clearly you're not going to get anything but this narrative from the unfriendlies in the media.

[Martha MacCallum]

Yeah, it's a good point. And there's some reporting that the administration isn't, you know, that some of this is problematic for them. But nonetheless, Jessica, you know, you go back to the original policy which was, you know, you have an opportunity to self deport and we'll give you $2,600 if you decide to go through that process. If you don't, this is what DHS said and you're here illegally, you will be eventually removed from the country.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Sure. And a lot of people have taken that opportunity. I think hundreds of thousands, maybe over a million people have self deported. But the story that the family lawyer for this particular guy in question gave flies right in the face of what DHS is claiming. And if this lawyer is lying with this level of specificity, specificity saying he came through a port of entry, he entered the asylum system, he has an application through the CPU CBP1 app, he has been going to court appointments. I mean, that's a striking amount of detail for someone that's making it up.

[Martha MacCallum]

Over to the agency. Well, I don't know. I don't find the. Fine, here's my papers, I'm in the process. Why would he.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Well, first of all, these agents don't seem to care about any of that. And on top of it, there was a school official who was driving her own children to school, who saw what happened. And apparently there were voices coming from inside the house, people who lived with this boy who were saying, leave him with us. And I don't know, she heard that from afar. She got out, that woman, and she gave it an.

[Martha MacCallum]

The agent said they were trying to get anyway back into the house and they wouldn't open the door.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Anyway, there's a lot of conflicting information about this particular case.

[Jesse Waters]

There sure is.

[Jessica Tarlov]

It doesn't.

[Martha MacCallum]

But it doesn't actually look like Jacob jumping all over it.

[Jessica Tarlov]

It actually doesn't matter. If Greg were here, he would say, let's take a step back and look at the bigger picture. So I think what we should do is we should listen to what law enforcement themselves are saying about how ICE is carrying out these operations in Minneapolis, St. Paul and all over the country. The Minnesota Department of Corrections does a press conference. DHS is spreading persistent misinformation regarding ICE detainers. They need to set the record straight. Hennepin County Sheriff ICE agents are racially profiling U.S. citizens, including off duty cops. Brooklyn Park Police Chief I've received endless complaints about civil rights infringements, including being stopped with. No cause has happened to off duty cops too. All of them have been people of color. There are new court documents out with these new lawsuits about the conditions that these kids were being held in. Talking about contained food with mold and worms, not enough water. A Texas medical examiner just ruled a death of a detainee in ICE custody a homicide. He was choked so hard that blood vessels burst in his eyelids.

[Jesse Waters]

That's fake news.

[Jessica Tarlov]

And then in Maine, it's fake.

[Jesse Waters]

Jessica.

[Jessica Tarlov]

An ICE agent is talking to a woman who's an illegal observer. And he says, why are you taking pictures? And she says, why are you taking pictures? And he says, because we have a nice little database. And now you're considered a domestic terrorist. We know they want to use administrative warrants, which is not how the fourth Amendment works, to be able to break down doors. ICE is out of control. And if you don't want to believe the stories about what, you know, the women are blocking traffic. And it's about crazy protesters with blue hair and wine moms who don't have anything better to do, Listen to law enforcement that are saying that ICE is not operating properly.

[Martha MacCallum]

Jesse.

[Jesse Waters]

Well, first of all, of course.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Of course what?

[Jesse Waters]

Of course they detained this kid. What are they supposed to do, Jessica?

[Jessica Tarlov]

Deal with all the.

[Jesse Waters]

Shove them into an orphanage? Of course we all agree. We don't do family separation. We keep families together. So when an illegal is apprehended, you deport the entire family together. And the guy was given an opportunity to leave and he didn't take it, so this is on him. And these ICE agents took this kid to lunch. They spent a lot of time with them. They're very experienced. Because so many of these illegals came across with children. They're dealing with a lot of These illegal alien families, and a lot of these ICE agents have families themselves, and they all have very big hearts. The lawyer lies. That shouldn't surprise you. When a lawyer who we pay for through an NGO is assigned an illegal alien, he just acts like a defense attorney and says they came through an app, and there's no record of that. You're also saying that someone was murdered at a detention facility. It's already been debunked weeks ago. The guy was trying to commit suicide, and the people were trying to save his life.

[Martha MacCallum]

All right.

[Jesse Waters]

These detention centers are amazing. You get dental care, you get free health care. Have you ever seen the kind of concierge health care services?

[Jessica Tarlov]

I saw alligator facilities. Yeah.

[Jesse Waters]

It's where you go from. This guy from Ecuador without any running water. Jessica, he's lucky to have these types of services. Let me just understand your position. Your position is that anybody in the world can cross into this country illegally with a kid and then stay here until they commit a crime. But then if they committed in a sanctuary city, we're not allowed to go get him because you guys protect them.

[Jessica Tarlov]

He didn't commit a crime. He had no deportation order.

[Jesse Waters]

Yes, he did. And I'm saying even if they do commit crimes, you still don't want us to deport them. Yes, you do. You guys are protecting these people.

[Jessica Tarlov]

You didn't deal with anything that I said. Jessica.

[Martha MacCallum]

Yes, I just.

[Jesse Waters]

I just went down the list. Jessica.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Really?

[Tyrus]

What about that? Let's say that everything Jessica's saying is true. All the more reason to self deport. All the more reason to come in this country the right way, because if you do it the wrong way, the monsters are going to get you. But let's forget about all this. Let's take an American city. Let's take me, say I have a suspended driver's license and my tags aren't paid for, and I'm driving with my children, and I get pulled over and I could get a ticket or I could go to jail. And my son's in the back seat in his little baby seat, and when I get out of the car and the police officer comes over to me and I take off running. Are any of the. And then I'm arrested and my kid ends up in social services for the night. Are any of these people going to come run to my aid? Because I really didn't commit a rough crime. I just didn't. I just didn't pay my parking tickets for five years. So again, it doesn't matter. As a father, this. You, that you guys love to support the dead. You are the party of the deadbeat dads. There is not any situation in my lifetime whether I was convicted for assault, manslaughter, whatever I was selling drugs, whatever I was doing to where I would run and abandon my child, I would have said, you got me. Fellas, before you arrest me, can I make a call so I can get my child some more? That's what a father does. That's the guy that I would support. That's the guy. Like, yeah, he didn't come in the right way, but he. Listen to this guy. He cares about his kid. He took off running. He didn't look back. He was out. If you can run from your child in the snow, from what supposedly is the biggest monster ever, I would die defending my children before I would run and abandon them and leave them to this horrible monster. So I don't care what the argument is based man to man, father to father. You may the reason why your son's where he is is because you ran. Period. If you had all these things, those are easy things to prove. Well, I did this. I was in a song. Thanks for coming, guys. I get the misunderstanding officer. Here's my paperwork. I'll get it straightened out. That's not what he did. He said he took off running. And anyone knows if you run, if you run from the police, that you usually have a reason to.

[Paul Morrow]

If he was genuine through the app, he wouldn't have run.

[Tyrus]

Exactly.

[Martha MacCallum]

All right, thank you. I think Paul's idea is really interesting of taking 10,000 people who are on the list and saying, okay, you know what, we're gonna have a huge ceremony. You're gonna become citizens of this country.

[Paul Morrow]

Those things are emotional, right?

[Martha MacCallum]

No, I think it's a really interesting idea. All right, coming up next, from racking up wins in Davos to tackling his domestic agenda, President Trump is now focusing on beginning to campaign for the midterms. And he says he's going to do that like it's 2024.

[Jesse Waters]

Show me the way I want you show me away.

[Martha MacCallum]

Hi, I'm Megan Alexander and this is Middle East Tomorrow. Five years ago, the US Brought leaders from Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain together to sign the Abraham Accords. That historic day ignited a cross border movement of change makers who are joining forces to reshape the region. Join me as I uncover the stories of the people transforming the Middle east today and tomorrow. Go to partners.fox news.com met.

[Jesse Waters]

President Trump back from Davos and ready to get his midterm Mojo back Chief of Staff Suzy Wiles saying this. He's going to campaign like it's 2024. He's going to behave as though he is on the ballot. 47 is going to hit up Iowa next week where he'll have plenty to boast about. Jessica. The murder rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1900. And the economy is bouncing back after years of Biden era disappointment. Trump says it's all a mind game.

[Tyrus]

I'm going to do a lot of campaign traveling. I hate to tell you guys, but.

[Jesse Waters]

It'S going to keep you employed now.

[Paul Morrow]

We're going to work hard.

[Jesse Waters]

The only problem with that question is whatever reason, it's a deep down psychological reason. Sitting presidents don't seem to do well in the midterms. I guess over a 50 year period, they won twice. You'd have to ask really a psychiatrist about that, but we should do great. All right, Jessica, I'm going to give you the opportunity to praise the president for overseeing the greatest drop in the murder rate of all time.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Well, I would go like 75% there. Obviously, the trend line started before Donald Trump came into office and it was embarrassing when everyone on the right was tweeting that graph that ended in 2024 and they were like, I think it started with his sons. They were like, yay, dad. And it was actually Biden's work. But I love a drop in a homicide rate. I love less overdoses. I think this is all good things. The rest of it is a disaster, though.

[Tyrus]

Okay.

[Jessica Tarlov]

The New York Times Santa poll was so bad for him that he's suing the New York lowest approval rating, -17. Immigration, -18 on the economy, -19 on foreign relations, -29 on cost of living. And for those of you that care about the Epstein files, which is a lot of people, -44. The coalition from 2020 is back intact. So young voters, black voters, Latino voters, back to usual levels of support for the Democratic Party. And J.D. vance's speechwriter, I think, hates him because he was talking about the economy and he had this line, you don't turn the Titanic around overnight. But we all know what happened to the Titanic.

[Tyrus]

Oof. Oof.

[Jesse Waters]

We do.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Sick burn.

[Jesse Waters]

Paul. The murder rate, we haven't seen it this low since 1900. How old were you back then?

[Paul Morrow]

I was probably 47. And you know, that's in those days, they were like keeping those numbers with a feather quill. Look, the thing that's really significant about it is the fact that it's not necessarily the 1900 number, but the fact that in last year's, you know, parameters, it dropped over 20%. That's the most ever, Ever. And if you look at the articles that come out about it in all of the legacy media, it's hysterical. You just watched a couple of first paragraphs where they talk about these metrics and then the next word you get is either but or however because then they go into but. Really it started a couple of years ago. Trump didn't really do anything. Of course they did. Look, it's common sense. You take all the three letter agencies who were doing all kinds of nonsense and you throw them at the high crime cities, atf, dea, hsi, FBI. You tell them make big cases against violent recidivists, of course it's going to go down. It's not rocket science, it's just intelligence led policing. Who's being arrested and deported using ICE is recidivists because there is a criminal class. Most people aren't criminals. A lot of people who get arrested, it's one time, whatever the criminal class is, what they've said, okay, that's what we're going to get out. And of course you get this result. It's just not really very hard to figure out. Bongino was talking about it last night on Hannity. He just said essentially what I just. That statistic is legitimate. Just want to close real quick because I thought Harold Ford made a very important point the other night. The real issues here though, that Americans are going to vote on in the midterms, it's going to be two things and generally in this order, it's going to be the economy and safety. He's got good news on safety. He's got to make sure the economic piece starts to hum or at least gets that narrative out. He's going to have to really fight them on that because they're not going to want to say he's doing well because Americans don't vote on foreign policy. Whatever happens in Iran, Cuba, et cetera, it's great historically, we like to talk about it. Nobody votes.

[Jesse Waters]

You're right about that. But he does have record low migration, record low homicide. What do you say on the economy if he hits the trail hard?

[Tyrus]

Well, what I would say is be patient and trust the process which we're seeing. He's trying to undo basically four years of absolute crazy spending, lawlessness, investigations, billions disappearing here and there. It's a lot what's going on, the American people. Listen, gas prices are good. I drive this weekend and I was like, hey, thanks, Mr. President. It's always nice when I'm not paying five bucks a gallon or four bucks a gallon or even $3.25 and I drive diesel. So, you know, it's. I think the problem is this is what I hate, the fact that the President has to do this. Where are the Republican stars? Where are the guys who have been able to benefit over the things that the president and his team and his administration has done? Clearly, we're seeing positive changes now. Look, I don't care about polls from New York Times. Wonder who they called when they the American, how people feel, how the country feels, the general feeling. For those of us who travel from state to state, moods are pretty good. People expectations are high. They're not talking about, at least they know one way or the other how things are going. Because before they had no clue. You had to get all your answers from an Easter Bunny. Now you get directly from the source. The president will tell you, you can take it, do what you want with it. But I just think that him campaigning doesn't help the Republicans who are running because the American people, they're like, well, the president's not in this, so they're not voting for him. And then they have to be. People have to start voting their neighborhoods and their communities because most people don't care. They want to vote for the President because they think he can make everything better, but they're not thinking about if he doesn't have the House and the Senate, given how much the other side spends their entire life existence trying to tear him down, he's not going to be able to do his job. So it's important that these Republican and these guys are running for House and Senate. But get out and do work. Show him that you can carry it on your own, because if you can't, you're not going to get votes.

[Jesse Waters]

Midterms. Martha, what are you seeing?

[Martha MacCallum]

Well, I think Tyrus is right that, you know, it's mid January and the election is in November. That is, there's a lot of time between now and then. And I do think that the administration's bet is that in the first three months of this year, first quarter, you're going to start to see some of these tax cuts kick in in a meaningful way. And certainly the gas prices is a huge part of this story because it puts more money in people's pockets. It is definitely about the economy. It is not about foreign policy. I would not be at all surprised to see a very laser focus on the economy as the president goes out to Iowa next week, and as he starts to campaign, we have seen in the past, though, that it is the candidates on the ground that matter. No one is a better campaigner than President Trump. No one's a better message pusher than President Trump. In these environments, it is very difficult. When he's not on the ballot, it is a different story. And he is historically likely to lose some seats in the course of this election, but that will change the dynamic so dramatically. He understands that he, you know, his presidency is on the line in the sense that if he can't hold at least the Senate, he's going to fall into the impeachment trap that we saw a million times last time around.

[Jesse Waters]

Another impeachment trap.

[Martha MacCallum]

Yeah, but he predicted it himself. He's like, you know what's gonna happen because they don't really have any other card to play. So it is, it's a very delicate dance and I think it's going to be very interesting to watch.

[Jesse Waters]

Real quick, would you advise the Democrats impeaching if they take the house?

[Paul Morrow]

Jessica?

[Jesse Waters]

No, no.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Govern well, but don't threaten me with a good time.

[Tyrus]

Okay?

[Jesse Waters]

Coming up next, American tennis pros swatting down a woke reporter.

[Jessica Tarlov]

This is Ainsley Earhart.

[Martha MacCallum]

Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Tyrus]

Jesus, A listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Paul Morrow]

So a liberal reporter was serving up some tds at the Australian Open, asking politically loaded questions to American tennis stars in the hopes that one of them would trash President Trump. But it looks like he got served by star player Amanda Anisimova.

[Jesse Waters]

I've been asking a lot of the American players just how it feels to play under the American flag right now. And I'm curious how you feel. Yeah, I mean, I was born in.

[Jessica Tarlov]

America, so I'm always proud to represent my country.

[Jesse Waters]

Sort of in the context of the last year, of everything that's been happening in the, in the U.S. does that complicate that feeling at all?

[Jessica Tarlov]

I don't think that's relevant.

[Martha MacCallum]

Good for her.

[Paul Morrow]

And Taylor Fritz basically said, game set, no comment.

[Jesse Waters]

There's a lot happening back home in the US and kind of has been for a lot of the last year. And I'm just kind of wondering how you're feeling about all of it.

[Paul Morrow]

I don't know.

[Jesse Waters]

I feel like.

[Paul Morrow]

Whatever I say here.

[Jesse Waters]

Is going to get put in a headline and it's, it's gonna get taken out of context.

[Paul Morrow]

So I, I'd really rather not do something that's gonna cause a big distraction for me in the middle of the tournament. So I thought they handled that with a lot of poise. I really did. They're overseas, they're young, and all of a sudden they get hit with this kind of stuff. Jessica, I gotta ask you, there's no universe under which the right does this kind of stuff where they say, tell us about what's going on under Barack Obama or under Joe Biden. Why does the left feel compelled to do this kind of thing?

[Jessica Tarlov]

I'm not. I have not watched the tape of every interview that has existed. But I think that this was inelegant at best, what this reporter was doing. And once you get a no comment or someone pushing by it, don't try it again. And I think what Taylor Fritz said is really important, where he said, it's gonna be a distraction in the middle of the tournament. And tennis is one of these games that if you are not psychologically locked in for every single moment when you are competing, you don't have teammates to help you out. Right. Like, you can open your eyes and suddenly you've lost the first set. 6, 0. And I, I. It's just not a sports story at that moment. If you get someone that wants to talk about it and people do volunteer it sometimes, then you follow that lead and you have a conversation with them. But I, I am not a fan.

[Paul Morrow]

Cyrus, you're the closest thing we have to a male athlete on this panel. So that said, should this guy be thrown out of the reporter pool for trying to politicize this and maybe taking these athletes, which are, you know, the edge is very small in this kind of professional competition for taking them out of their game.

[Tyrus]

No. I mean, his voice was so compelling, one usually has to go to Starbucks and have a messed up coffee order to hear that. Are you. You didn't even ask a question about the tournament. I mean, it's embarrassing that. That's the best. That's where journalist is at. I mean, apparently there wasn't a long line of questioning. I mean, that guy is. He's. It's embarrassing. And the best part is, is like, nobody in the room followed up. Like, oh, man, that's an amazing question. His whole point was he, his disservice to them is he wasn't even there to tell the story of the athletes in the tournament and what they're going. He was there to try to get clickbait. He was trying to there to get someone to say something so everyone will click on his site. And the problem is is that too many people click on his site. You want good journalism. That guy should not be allowed. He should not be allowed in another sports interview again, because he was like, all right, well, first of all, the voice was annoying. But to ask that question, great answers. But they still, even their answers, we're still talking about it. And that's the problem. This is a non story other than the fact that one day the bass is going to come into his voice and maybe he can ask a better question. And Jesse's an athlete. Had he not had the yachting incident, his life would have taken a much different turn.

[Jesse Waters]

I slipped and blew out my knee.

[Tyrus]

Yes.

[Jesse Waters]

I've never recovered.

[Paul Morrow]

Never really the college hacky sack days.

[Jesse Waters]

I never could do that either. But I can't knock this guy because I used to do this. I used to go to non political events and ask politically charged questions.

[Paul Morrow]

But we rest our case.

[Jesse Waters]

But you're right, and you're right, there is an art to this. You actually have to ask a tennis question first to reel them in. And then you don't say, is there anything you'd like to criticize about Trump? That's just inelegant. Again, I'm agreeing with Jessica. You say something like, if you could change one thing about America, you know, what would it be? And then you got him cooking. And then if Kamala and Trump played tennis together, who do you think would win? Just something like that. But little mission creep, this is how.

[Martha MacCallum]

You cut your teeth in the business. And no, I think you're last dismissed. Right. About how you have to lure them in. But I think this was a cheap shot. It's a stupid question. I just think to myself, where were the reporters? You know, where was this guy last time around? Was he standing there going, do you think that President Biden is mentally fit for office? No, of course he wasn't. Of course he wasn't. And yes, these players are dignified and they realize that they're not, you know, and they have to be so focused they're not going to take the bait. But I think this guy succeeded in getting attention. I think he works for the New York Times. Other than that, I'm not sure who he is, but it was more about him than it was about them.

[Paul Morrow]

Yeah, of course. And it was done with maximum vocal fry, as you say. Right.

[Jessica Tarlov]

So of course, vocal fry haters gonna hate on vocal fry.

[Paul Morrow]

I don't know where that comes from. All right, coming up next, good luck getting any milk or toilet paper this weekend. The snow apocalypse is upon us. Boom, boom, boom. I am just a monkey.

[Martha MacCallum]

Mont.

[Jessica Tarlov]

No, that's abusive. Welcome back. Stock up on your toilet paper while you can because the snowmageddon is upon us. Store grocery shelves are getting. Martha getting wiped out as a massive monster winter storm barrels east over the weekend. 200 million people in 40 states are in the path of this beast, expected to bring snow, ice, and life threatening cold temperatures and tons of airport cancellations. Tyrus, are you trying to fly this weekend? I feel like you're always on a plane.

[Tyrus]

I'm going the other way. I'm going to beautiful, sunny Florida. And I'm a little worried because word on the street is it might be 79 this weekend with a few spotted clouds in there.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I'm talking to you.

[Tyrus]

So I don't know. I'm just really concerned about the weather.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Marc, are you guys, like, stock up people, or.

[Martha MacCallum]

No, I'm like a doomsday snow prepper. No, no. I'm always amazed when people are, like, running to the grocery store and filling up their carts with all this stuff. I'm like, you really think you're gonna starve over the next two days? I mean, come on.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Not two days, but I don't know.

[Martha MacCallum]

It's always overblown. These things are always, always overblown. And I probably have enough tuna fish to last at least five days just in my pantry alone.

[Jessica Tarlov]

It's a lot of tuna in the.

[Martha MacCallum]

Pantry, but people, I mean, I mean, stuff, right? Like, you have a few things in the pantry. Like, you wouldn't. You wouldn't starve.

[Jessica Tarlov]

There's a lot of people go to.

[Martha MacCallum]

The store for three days.

[Jesse Waters]

Martha, we're on television. You have to sell this. This is a historic storm. Yeah, we've already stocked up. Emma stocked up, and I looked at the fridge. It's all fruit. Why are we buying fruit?

[Jessica Tarlov]

It's only three days.

[Tyrus]

There's always time for.

[Martha MacCallum]

You're gonna feel great at the end.

[Jesse Waters]

Come back skinny.

[Martha MacCallum]

You're gonna feel good after.

[Jesse Waters]

We're gonna go back. I'm gonna buy steak.

[Martha MacCallum]

I love a good snowstorm.

[Paul Morrow]

My wife's worried about water. She's like, we gotta buy water. Snow is water. If we get two feet of snow, I know where we can get some water in a pinch. Not for nothing, but, you know, everybody's panicking over this. I gotta tell you. Like, when I was a kid, I don't know it seemed like it snowed a lot more. You loved it. Nobody cared. But I gotta tell you, at school, you had school, you had to go, but it was fun. You had snowball fights. You threw some snowballs at the teachers, you hid behind a car and all of that. But I gotta say, like, you know, every time it snows in New York, it. I'm like Charlie Brown with Lucy because I fall in love with it the first day coming up for the football, for the kick, right? And then the next day, it's black and it's soot and it looks horrible. And I say, why was I hoping for the snow? What's wrong with me? What am I going to learn? So it's going to be nice for a day, and then New York is going to look big.

[Jesse Waters]

Test for Mandani. Can he plow it? Can he handle it?

[Paul Morrow]

That's right.

[Tyrus]

Remember de Blasio blew that based off his bench press display. He should probably stay away from plows.

[Martha MacCallum]

He's got the salting trucks lined up, I hope.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Yeah, well, he's on the John Lindsay example. Okay. Instead of hitting up the beach, folks are taking skillcations trips where you learn a trade or two and come back smarter. Axios described it as, quote, experiences ranging from gourmet cooking to mastering mah jong. The idea is to leave refreshed and enlightened. Jesse, what kind of skillcation would you take?

[Jesse Waters]

So we're going to go down to South America in the spring, and I'm going to learn how to dance. Like salsa dancing.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Really?

[Jesse Waters]

No, I'm not totally making that up. I would never do anything. I want to come home dumber. It's not like I need to. I mean, I sit next to you, Jessica. It's like taking candy from a baby. But I'm not there to learn. I'm there to experience, but I'm not there to learn a new skill. I could do that here. Anything you can do everywhere else.

[Jessica Tarlov]

We're just going to let you keep, like, hanging yourself.

[Tyrus]

I agree with. This is ridiculous. If you're going on vacations, you should already have your skills. That's what got you the vacation.

[Jesse Waters]

There you go.

[Tyrus]

You should already have your skill set. You go, I'm gonna go learn something new. That's virtue signaling. Yes. You know, like, you're gonna show up someplace for three days in the grand. You're gonna completely learn how to do things. I'm gonna basket weaving tech after I come back from a holiday vacation. It's ridiculous. Your skills got you to the Dance. And when you get there, you're supposed to be spreading knowledge to the people. Like, hey, man, how are you affording this wonderful vacation? Well, I'm glad you asked. Here's my skill set and you can buy my book.

[Paul Morrow]

Boom.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Martha, what about you?

[Martha MacCallum]

Well, I do think that traditional, like lie on the beach vacations are sort of not as popular as they used to be. And I think that I like an adventure vacation. Like, I like to climb something or hike or go skiing. I like to be active on vacation. So I kind of, I kind of get it. But it also sounds very type A to me. Like these annoying people who get up at six in the morning on vacation and be like, oh, I just learned how to, you know.

[Jesse Waters]

All right, Martha, let's just say I go on vacation with you and we're at the beach or we're at the pool and I get my book out and I got my shades and I got my drinks coming. Are you gonna be annoying? Are you gonna be like, let's go.

[Martha MacCallum]

Do this, let's go do this? Are we gonna be like, ooh, come on, there's a yoga class at noon.

[Jesse Waters]

You wanna go?

[Paul Morrow]

See, that's the exact. That's the point right there. This is the perfect scenario for your wife to ruin a vacation. That's why they said, hey, listen, we gotta get up at 6am because we gotta go learn how to crochet, you know, or something like that. Just terrible.

[Jesse Waters]

You don't want deadlines on vacation.

[Paul Morrow]

I'm running away from the few skills I have on vacation. The only upside to this is it might keep you out of the bar for a couple hours. Right? Other than that.

[Martha MacCallum]

Colada on the beach.

[Paul Morrow]

Go to the beach. Forget life. That's it.

[Jessica Tarlov]

All right, Fan mail Friday is up next.

[Tyrus]

Dmx. Jess, I know you were trying to figure that out. It's fan mail Friday. Hey, your yacht had rims on it, all right? And it's Tyrus, which, you know, it's speed round quick answers. All right, we're just going to start from the top. All right, Number one. Have you ever attended your class reunion?

[Martha MacCallum]

Absolutely all the time, Jess.

[Jesse Waters]

Not once. Five year high school reunion.

[Tyrus]

Never again, Jess.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I think only once, Chael.

[Tyrus]

Paul.

[Paul Morrow]

No, I'm afraid of how I will look at them all and realize how we're all falling apart from.

[Tyrus]

Well, when I left, I said, you guys watch, I'm gonna be a winner one day. So I won, so there's no reason to go back. All right, number two. What is the last thing you Loaned to someone. And did you get it back?

[Martha MacCallum]

Probably a book.

[Jesse Waters]

And probably not my pistol and.

[Paul Morrow]

Oh, that's a good idea.

[Jessica Tarlov]

What?

[Tyrus]

Say no more. Jess.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Yes, I lent my sister a really, really, really nice bracelet, and it has been lost.

[Tyrus]

The old lost.

[Martha MacCallum]

She's not harboring any ill feelings about it.

[Paul Morrow]

I loaned rather book to Gutfeld. And as for whether I got it back, that's a question that answers itself.

[Tyrus]

Exactly. I loan my brother money. Still, I got something to look forward to. All right, number three. Instagram question from Sherry. Do you have a collection of anything?

[Martha MacCallum]

Yes.

[Tyrus]

Okay, cool.

[Jesse Waters]

How many collections do you have, Martha?

[Martha MacCallum]

I have several collections.

[Jesse Waters]

Art collections, jewelry collections.

[Martha MacCallum]

Yes, I collect a lot of things, including, like, royal commemorative things from all the different stories I cover.

[Jesse Waters]

No collections. I think that's a little effeminate.

[Tyrus]

All right, we'll come back to that. Jess.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Yes, I collect Swatch watches.

[Jesse Waters]

Really?

[Paul Morrow]

Oh, wow, that's really nice.

[Martha MacCallum]

I love that collection.

[Paul Morrow]

They give me these coins, you know, the challenge coins. All the law enforcement. But I give them away, you know, I got no place to put them. There are people who really like these. And I got some really exotic ones. So I got a buddy in Nashville. I give them to him.

[Tyrus]

I got a giant flag I put him on. Yellow wooden flag.

[Paul Morrow]

Yeah, he has that thing. Yeah.

[Tyrus]

Yep. And I have collections. Just skulls and backbones for my opponents. I like to keep them. All right, cool. Number four. If you had one record to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?

[Martha MacCallum]

Probably Bob Marley.

[Tyrus]

All right.

[Jesse Waters]

I'm gonna go with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

[Martha MacCallum]

All right, good one.

[Jessica Tarlov]

I'd go Beatles.

[Tyrus]

I thought you were gonna say Jesse's audiobook, but that works.

[Paul Morrow]

Stones, Exile on Main Street. Cause it's a double album, so keep me entertained longer. Oh, smart.

[Tyrus]

I would go with AC dc. Can't go wrong with that. All right.

[Paul Morrow]

Whew.

[Tyrus]

We're gonna keep. All right. What is your favorite band in high school?

[Martha MacCallum]

Probably like Phil Collins.

[Jesse Waters]

Oh, dmx.

[Martha MacCallum]

I don't believe you.

[Paul Morrow]

Something punk, I would think Sex Pistols. Always Costello. That kind of thing.

[Tyrus]

NWA with Ice Cube was mine. All right, cool. Have you ever been read by a medium?

[Martha MacCallum]

No, I don't like that stuff.

[Jesse Waters]

Yeah, he knew my pin on my bank card.

[Martha MacCallum]

Oh, that. Well, that's totally different.

[Jessica Tarlov]

Yeah. And, yeah, we're very into it. And my mom has someone who connects with my dad really well, so she.

[Paul Morrow]

I have a good answer for this. I arrested her and she read me.

[Tyrus]

Nice. You read her her rights? Me? No, I don't believe in that stuff. Life. Life. I'm black. We don't have time for that. All right. One More Thing is up next.

[Martha MacCallum]

And it's time for one More thing. Jesse.

[Jesse Waters]

Hi, Martha. Around the world with our cultural festivities. Here we go. Croatia. The villagers breaking out the sheepskin hats that reach the sky. Celebration's called D Me Kamisnika.

[Jessica Tarlov]

DD yeah.

[Jesse Waters]

Giant sheepskin hats five feet tall. It removes spells from cattle. Do blacks believe in that?

[Tyrus]

No.

[Paul Morrow]

No.

[Jesse Waters]

Tonight, Jesse Waters, primetime Greg Bevino, he's the he's Jessica's nightmare.

[Jessica Tarlov]

8Pm So a lot of people's nightmares. Jessica. Let's do one more thing, though. Check out this crazy video. Dash cam video shows a Florida state trooper and a deputy nearly getting struck by a car. Yeah. Close on the side of the highway. They dove right out of the way just in time and avoided any injuries. Dangerous stuff out there. Florida story with no alligator. Oh, that's a. I don't think we've had that before.

[Martha MacCallum]

Terrible Tyrus.

[Tyrus]

It's time for Jesse's part of the show Tyrus Planet Tyrus Comedy Tour coming to a city near you. We got we're already well underway. We'll be a Melbourne farm at Venice, Florida baseball and your favorite place, Decatur, Illinois. Illinois. All right. And talk about a wild buck. Speaking of Jess, check out this deer going on a rampage inside a bank. They did not.

[Martha MacCallum]

Oh, my gosh.

[Tyrus]

They said insufficient funds on his ATM and he was not having it.

[Martha MacCallum]

Oh, my God.

[Jesse Waters]

I hate insufficient funds.

[Martha MacCallum]

That poor thing. Oh, that's terrible.

[Jesse Waters]

Oh, that's the name of my yacht. Insufficient funds.

[Tyrus]

I like that. Yes.

[Martha MacCallum]

All right. So this is pretty cool. For the 250th anniversary, there's going to be a freedom plane that flies across the country to several cities and it's carrying some of the most treasured American documents, including a rare draft of the Constitution which has handwriting on it. From there's George Washington documents. You see the little signatures all around the edges are Aaron Burr, George Washington. So it's going to travel to the city so people get to see these documents in person, which I think is great.

[Paul Morrow]

That's pretty cool.

[Tyrus]

Wonder if anybody doodled on them like, you know, like.

[Martha MacCallum]

I think they did a little bit.

[Jesse Waters]

The founders doodled big time doodlers.

[Paul Morrow]

We got a video. So the cop went to arrest this guy. This guy wasn't having it and decides he's going to chase the cop with a chainsaw.

[Martha MacCallum]

Oh, my God.

[Paul Morrow]

So apparently ultimately he failed at this. The cop ran for his life. I don't think. Cop had a gun. This is over in England. And so he got away. This guy is currently under arrest. And this just in. Jacob Price says this peaceful protester must be released. Sorry about that. Anyway, the guy got. Got arrested. Everybody's safe and that's the end of that.

[Martha MacCallum]

All right, thanks for joining us tonight, everybody.

[Tyrus]

Dress warm, everybody.

[Martha MacCallum]

Yeah. Here comes the it's going to be an enormous storm watch all weekend.

[Tyrus]

Martha.

[Martha MacCallum]

That's it for us.

[Paul Morrow]

It's not even going to listen to.

[Tyrus]

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