The Five – "Epic Fury" (March 10, 2026)

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Panel: Kayleigh McEnany, Harold Ford Jr., Jesse Watters, Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld

Episode Overview

The March 10, 2026 episode of "The Five" is dominated by discussion of Operation Epic Fury, the United States and Israel's ongoing military campaign against Iran. The hosts analyze the impact and public perception of the strikes, debate media credibility, address threats of sleeper cell activation, and critique various political figures and policy priorities. The panel also finds time for lighter segments on pop culture and social trends, including humorous banter about "queering the map" and a nostalgic look at mall culture with Gen Z.

1. Operation Epic Fury: US & Israel vs. Iran

[00:34–13:27]

Key Points

• Military Progress:
  • The US and Israel have struck over 5,000 targets in Iran, damaging or destroying 50 Iranian vessels [Kayleigh, 00:34].
  • The aim: end Iran's capability to threaten the US, particularly removing their ballistic missile arsenal and preventing nuclear advancement [Kayleigh, Jesse, 00:47].
• Leadership and Messaging:
  • President Trump’s approach is contrasted with previous administrations. The hosts cite his claim that “no other president had the guts to do it” [Kayleigh quoting Trump, 02:00].
• Media and Perceived Bias:
  • The panel is critical of mainstream media, especially coverage framing the operation for partisan or conspiratorial angles ([Greg, 02:25]; [Dana, 03:28]).
  • Greg Gutfeld laments the collapse of media credibility:

    “Nothing I get from mainstream media comes. It’s like rain hitting the windshield of a Humvee. It just. I don't feel it.” [Greg, 04:38]

• Iran’s Retaliation and Ground Reality:
  • The IRGC is expected to fight back, but US and Israeli operations reportedly have diminished Iran's offensive capacity [Jesse, 06:01].
  • Communications blackout inside Iran limits outside understanding of the situation [Dana, 07:55].
• Political Ramifications:
  • Significant uptick in support for Trump among Republicans and the MAGA base, as shown by new polling [Kayleigh, 08:14].
• Strategic Patience and War History:
  • Greg places the operation in historical perspective — advocating for patience and contextualizing past military campaigns’ durations

    “We took 10 years to nail bin Laden... Hitler died after six years. We got this guy in 50 seconds. You have to acknowledge how great that was.” [Greg, 09:39]

• Calls for Unified Messaging:
  • Harold Ford Jr. urges the administration to centralize its messaging and avoid sending mixed signals about war duration and objectives [Harold, 10:51].

Notable Quotes

• “No other president had the guts to do it.” — Donald Trump (quoted by Kayleigh McEnany, 02:00)
• “If the media had been honest... they could offer credible criticism and we could listen. But they didn't and we can't. So it doesn't matter.” — Greg Gutfeld, 05:26
• “The majority of the country, and I’m not part of that majority, is not in favor of the President. I think you have to be in favor of a president when we’re at war.” — Harold Ford Jr., 11:33

2. US Security & Activation of Sleeper Cells

[14:32–20:29]

Key Points

• DHS Shutdown:
  • Democrats are blamed for the DHS shutdown, which the panel suggests weakens US defense at a precarious time given threats from Iranian sleeper cells [Greg, Jesse, Kayleigh, 14:32–15:01].
• Terror Cell Coverage in Media:
  • CNN’s coverage of an attempted bombing in New York is scathingly critiqued, including a mocking breakdown of their soft-pedaled tweet [Dana, 15:56].

  • “By the time you get to the throwing of the homemade bombs, you're not sure whether you just read a crime or a short story in the Atlantic.” — Dana Perino, 16:11

• Security Gaps:
  • The connection between current threats and the Biden administration’s border policies is highlighted [Kayleigh, 19:25].
  • Emphasis is placed on the need for bipartisan cooperation to reopen/fund critical national security agencies [Harold, 20:29].

Notable Quotes

• “It's just naked political partisanship above national security.” — Kayleigh McEnany, 20:17
• “If Democrats have to eat a little crow, if the president has to eat a little crow to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security opens up, please, for the sake of the country, do it.” — Harold Ford Jr., 21:50

3. Democratic Party Woes—Kamala, Donors, and Calls for "Normal"

[22:56–31:33]

Key Points

• Kamala Harris’s Prospects:
  • Kamala Harris is depicted as politically weak and self-involved; her remarks at Jesse Jackson’s funeral are criticized [Harold, Kayleigh, 24:23–26:05].
• Democratic Troubles:
  • The party is said to lack a viable “normal” candidate, with donors reportedly biding their time due to a shallow bench (mentions of Harris, AOC, Gavin Newsom, Mayor Pete) [Greg, 30:17].

  • “You can't give it to Harris. She's cut off. You can't trust her. Do you give it to AOC? ...Do you give it to Gavin? Not a serious guy selling knee pads.” — Greg Gutfeld, 30:26

• Desire for Normalcy:
  • Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld discuss the difficulty Democrats have defining or embracing “normalcy” due to culture war dynamics [Dana, 28:12].

Notable Quotes

• “She got up there, she made it all about herself... Helen Keller could have read that room better.” — Greg Gutfeld, 29:23
• “They want the abnormal to be mainstream, but if it’s mainstream, it’s no longer abnormal.” — Greg Gutfeld, 28:24

4. Ridiculing "Queering the Map" & Biden’s Grant Priorities

[32:15–36:08]

Key Points

• "Queering the Map":
  • The hosts poke fun at a Biden-era grant supporting an LGBT-oriented map of Czechia and Slovakia.
  • Mockery ensues regarding the project's purpose, with a comedic list of country name puns [Greg, 34:19].
• Critique of Grant Spending:
  • Suggestion that these grants are “not for American interests” but for woke initiatives abroad [Dana, 33:25].
• Broader Criticism:
  • Kayleigh frames this as part of a larger trend of woke policies in US institutions under Biden [Kayleigh, 35:48].

Memorable Moment

• Greg’s List:
  • “The straight of Hormuz is the gay of Hormuz... Madagascar, Mada Ascar... France, Prance... Taiwan, Tie me up Juan...” [Greg Gutfeld, 34:21]

5. Gen Z, Mall Rats, and Nostalgia

[36:48–38:49]

Key Points

• Mall Culture Revival:
  • Gen Z's return to malls is seen as positive social development, sparking nostalgia among the hosts [Harold, Jesse, Dana, Kayleigh, 36:48–38:45].
  • Anecdotes abound about the mall as a social hub, with references to food courts, department stores, and the novelty of in-person shopping.

6. Lighter Segments & "One More Thing"

[39:03–41:51]

Highlights

• Funny Animals & International Sports:
  • Greg introduces video of a “Sexy Bear” at the zoo [Greg, 39:05], and England's wife-carrying race [Greg, 41:01].
• Human Interest:
  • Harold spotlights Oksana Masters, a successful Paralympian [Harold, 41:26].
• Biblical Diplomacy:
  • Jesse shares the story of the US Secretary of State returning a crucifix to Bolivia, honoring a 36-year promise [Jesse, 39:53].
• Fox programming plug:
  • Kayleigh recommends Fox Nation’s "David: King of Israel" [Kayleigh, 41:51].

Key Timestamps

• Iran Campaign & Media Critique: 00:34–05:49
• Military Impact & International Response: 06:01–10:41
• Messaging, Clarity, & Polls: 10:51–13:27
• Concerns Over Sleeper Cells/DHS: 14:32–21:50
• Kamala, Donors, Search for "Normal": 22:56–31:33
• "Queering" the Maps Segment: 32:15–36:08
• Gen Z & Mall Nostalgia: 36:48–38:49
• One More Thing/Lighter Fare: 39:03–41:51

Quotes of the Episode

• Media Distrust:

  “Nothing I get from mainstream media comes. It’s like rain hitting the windshield of a Humvee. It just. I don't feel it.”
  — Greg Gutfeld [04:38]

• War Effort vs. War:

  “You can disagree with the war, but not the war effort.”
  — Greg Gutfeld [08:33]

• On the Changing Democratic Base:

  “They want the abnormal to be mainstream, but if it's mainstream, it's no longer abnormal.”
  — Greg Gutfeld [28:24]

• CNN’s Tone-Deaf Reporting:

  “By the time you get to the throwing of the homemade bombs, you're not sure whether you just read a crime or a short story in the Atlantic.”
  — Dana Perino [16:11]

Tone & Style

The panel maintains a signature mix of sarcasm, blunt criticism, and playful banter—especially in their treatment of current political adversaries and controversial cultural topics. There is a strong conservative bias with heavy skepticism toward Democratic leadership and mainstream media, contrasted with support for aggressive US action abroad and traditional social norms.

Summary

This edition of The Five delivers a hard-hitting analysis of the US and Israel's action against Iran—lauding decisive military strategy, panning perceived media failures, and highlighting a polarized political climate where conservative voices see themselves as vindicated. The episode is punctuated by humor and ridicule (notably over federal grant priorities), nostalgia for the pre-digital era, and the usual assortment of quick-hit human-interest and oddball news to close the show.