Fragile Ceasefire With Iran Holding On Day 2

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Five (FOX News Podcasts) — "Fragile Ceasefire With Iran Holding On Day 2" Date: April 9, 2026

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Overview

In this episode, the panel of "The Five" dives deep into the second day of the fragile ceasefire with Iran, the dynamics around Trump's negotiations, NATO’s role in the conflict, and the American political response. They also touch on domestic policy debates from public transportation to gender acronyms in Canada, the state of the Democratic party, and lighter segments on grocery shopping and viral news. The tone throughout is energetic, irreverent, and combative, true to the show’s spirit.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump, Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz

• Ceasefire Update: The panel opens with news of day two of the U.S.-brokered truce with Iran, as marine traffic resumes and oil tankers are passing through the Strait of Hormuz ([00:05]).
• Trump’s Posture: Trump signals optimism about a deal with Iran's leadership ("the mullahs"), but warns "things will get very painful if they don't play ball."
• NATO Criticism: Trump is also criticized for calling NATO "do nothing" regarding their support in the conflict, a point that sets up debate about America's global alliances.

Notable Quotes:

• “[Trump’s] very optimistic a deal will be cut with the mullahs, but threatening things will get very painful if they don't play ball.” — Greg Gutfeld ([00:47])

2. Democratic Response: The 25th Amendment Calls

• Political Backlash: The Democrats are pushing for the 25th Amendment, questioning Trump's fitness as Commander in Chief while referencing past uses of the Amendment for medical absences ([01:27]-[02:14]).
• Panel Pushback: The panel mocks the frequent calls for impeachment and questions the seriousness of these efforts, attributing them to political fundraising tactics.
• Perspective on Strongman Politics: Jesse Waters argues that Trump's "strongman" language is culturally appropriate for regional negotiations and criticizes Democrats for misunderstanding both regional dynamics and Trump’s methods ([02:20]-[04:49]).

Notable Quotes:

• “The Democrats saying that Trump needs to be 25th doesn't make any sense... Trump's talks like a Persian strongman. That's the kind of language they understand: strength, respect, honor.” — Jesse Watters ([03:09])
• “What the President is doing is bat crazy.” — Democratic quoted by Jesse/Gutfeld ([02:00])

3. Who Controls Iran Now?

• Leadership Vacuum: The panel discusses uncertainty about who’s actually leading Iran post-conflict, with the Republican Guard playing a crucial role in ceasefire negotiations ([07:47], [10:22]).
• Truce ‘Fog’: Dana and Emily highlight the ambiguity of negotiating when Iranian leadership is fractured or in hiding.

Notable Quotes:

• “The entire leadership is gone, and whoever is still around is probably in hiding, so I don't know who—we're talking to.” — Greg Gutfeld ([10:22])

4. NATO, Russia, and China: The Bigger Picture

• Strategic Importance: Harold Ford Jr. stresses the need for NATO, warning that withdrawal risks increasing Russian and Chinese influence, particularly as China helps negotiate an end to the Iran crisis ([07:56]-[09:55]).
• Calls for Focus: He urges both parties to move beyond politicking towards actionable strategy.

Notable Quotes:

• "If we withdrew from NATO... we would basically be ceding Europe to Putin." — Harold Ford Jr. ([07:56])

5. Domestic Politics: Polls, Democrats, and Messaging

• Democratic Poll Troubles: The panel riffs on polling showing Democrats trailing Republicans, mocking campaign messaging and media narratives. They focus on Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger as an example of “deception” within the Democratic ranks ([15:19]-[19:12]).

Notable Quotes:

• "Off comes the Bill Clinton skin suit, and underneath it it's Ho Chi Minh in her fright wig. This is not an ideological difference. It is pure deception." — Greg Gutfeld ([17:23])

• Advice for Democrats: Harold Ford Jr. lays out what Democrats should focus on: reducing government size, a real middle-class tax cut, healthcare, educational reform, and clear ideas rather than personal attacks ([19:12]-[20:33]).

Notable Quotes:

• “These are the things we need to be talking about, not the ‘I hate, I can't stand he's a bad guy.’ He's not a bad guy. He has the wrong priorities.” — Harold Ford Jr. ([19:12])

6. NYC Free Bus Plan & Social Policy Debates

• Free Buses Fiasco: The next segment mocks NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s failed promise to provide free buses, citing failed experiments in other cities and fiscal impracticality ([23:28]-[30:58]).
• Equity & Taxation: The discussion pivots to debates about racial equity plans, taxation, and skepticism about redistributive policies.

Notable Quotes:

• "Zoran wants to raise taxes on whites to fund a racial equity plan... This inequity plan is basically mugging the citizen without a knife." — Greg Gutfeld ([25:34])

• Campaign Rhetoric vs. Reality: The panel references Mario Cuomo's quote, “you campaign in poetry and you govern in prose,” to emphasize the gap between promises and implementation ([27:15]).

7. Canadian Gender Acronyms & Wokeness

• Acronym Overload: The show highlights a viral Canadian MP using the acronym "MMIWG2SLGBTQIA," lampooning the proliferation of identity acronyms and the conflation of different causes ([31:31]-[34:36]).

Notable Quotes:

• “This is basically worse than stolen valor. It's stolen victimhood.” — Greg Gutfeld ([34:06])

8. Lighter Segments: Grocery Shopping Genders, Viral Awards, and More

• Grocery Shopping Study: Playful banter on a study showing men spend 5–10% more than women on groceries, leading to jokes about shopping, masculinity, and deals ([34:55]-[37:52]).
• Viral News & One More Thing: Includes fun stories about awards, animal babies at the zoo, indigenous protests, and quirky global happenings ([38:10]-[41:32]).

Memorable Quotes:

• “I love a good black banana.” — Greg Gutfeld ([37:57])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Ceasefire & Strait of Hormuz Discussion: [00:05]–[04:49]
• 25th Amendment Debate & Partisan Reactions: [01:27]–[05:18]
• NATO, Russia, Global Implications: [07:47]–[09:55]
• Uncertainty in Iranian Leadership & "Fog of Truce": [10:22]–[11:35]
• Democrats' Poll Struggles & Messaging: [15:19]–[19:12]
• Policy Solutions for Democrats: [19:12]–[20:33]
• NYC Free Bus Plan & Redistribution: [23:28]–[30:58]
• Canadian Gender Acronym Segment: [31:31]–[34:36]
• Grocery Shopping Genders: [34:55]–[37:52]
• Final "One More Thing" Segments: [38:10]–[41:32]

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Notable Quotes

• On Trump's negotiations:
  "Trump talks like a Persian strongman. That's the kind of language they understand: strength, respect, honor." — Jesse Watters ([03:09])

• On Democratic leadership & deception:
  "Off comes the Bill Clinton skin suit, and underneath it it’s Ho Chi Minh in her fright wig... It is pure deception." — Greg Gutfeld ([17:23])

• On NYC free buses and redistribution:
  "Zoran wants to raise taxes on whites to fund a racial equity plan. This is... mugging the citizen without a knife." — Greg Gutfeld ([25:34])

• On gender acronyms & victimhood:
  "This is basically worse than stolen valor. It's stolen victimhood." — Greg Gutfeld ([34:06])

• On shopping habits:
  "I love a good black banana." — Greg Gutfeld ([37:57])

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Tone, Language, and Style

• Language is direct, often sarcastic, and punctuated by humor and cultural references.
• Panelists trade jabs and analogies (e.g., "Gladiator," “skin suit,” “stolen valor”) to make their points memorable and relatable.

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Useful Takeaways

• The situation with Iran remains extremely fragile, with much negotiation and uncertainty ahead concerning both the ceasefire and regional leadership.
• There is sharp partisan division in the U.S. over Trump’s handling of the situation, with Democrats invoking the 25th Amendment and Republicans defending his approach.
• Domestic policy debates—from NYC transportation to Democratic messaging—reflect deeper disagreements on fiscal policy, racial equity, and the direction of progressive politics.
• Frequent criticisms about political communication, dramatized campaign rhetoric, and the quality of leadership are present throughout.
• Lighter segments keep the podcast engaging with discussions of everyday life (shopping, viral stories) and pop culture references.

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This summary captures the key debates, colorful exchanges, and notable moments from an action-packed episode, offering newcomers a detailed and engaging window into the conversation.

Transcript

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Hi, I'm Greg Gutfeld along with Emily Campagno, Harold Ford Jr. Jesse Waters and she goes scuba diving in a fish tank. Dana Perino, the five. Day two of Trump's temporary truce with Iran. Marine traffic through the straight of Hormuz is steadily increasing with a third oil tanker passing through. And DJT telling NBC that he's very optimistic a deal will be cut with the mullahs, but threatening things will get very painful if they don't play ball. Don is also railing against do nothing NATO for sitting out on the sidelines. But the Sec Gen is trying to smooth it over, admitting that Naito was a bit slow on helping with the war and reminiscent about the good old days of daddy.

[A]

And then daddy has to sometimes do strong language.

[C]

Do you still consider him daddy after yester?

[A]

Well, on the Daddy thing, this is a language problem. I was not calling him my daddy,

[B]

but saying, but of course, Daddy has also a special connotation and I now have to live as this the rest of my life.

[A]

And I own it. And the President owns it because he brought out T shirts, he made a movie, Daddy is home and he returned

[B]

to the United States. It's so funny.

[A]

This is why I like him so much. But hey, yeah, you make mistakes and this is when you are not a native speaker.

[B]

Sorry for, sorry for that. Meanwhile, the Democrats are pushing the 25th Amendment over Iran, which, get this, Dana, has only been used when someone resigned or when others got a camera of the caboose for a colonoscopy. The 25th Amendment must be invoked before it's too late.

[A]

Donald Trump is not fit to be Commander in chief.

[D]

He needs to be removed.

[A]

Including but not limited to the 25th Amendment. Every member of Congress and Senator must be called, calling for Trump's removal. Do I think Donald Trump should be impeached? Absolutely. What the President is doing is bat crazy.

[B]

Donald Trump, who I believe is suffering

[A]

from dementia at this point, we should impeach him.

[C]

We should find a way to get

[E]

cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment.

[B]

Jerry Nadler shouldn't be talking about health problems, man. He's a walking bed sore.

[D]

All right.

[B]

So, Jesse, only in 2026America can you destroy the military of a rogue nation that's kill tens of tens of thousands of people. And a party in your country wants to kick you out of office for that.

[F]

I know. Well, we're not used to winning so fast. So I think they think that's crazy. You're supposed to fight wars forever. But I think what happened was the gay ayatollah woke up from his coma and found out about bridge and power plant day and told his delegates to go cut a deal. And his delegates said, stop bombing and we'll open up the strait. So why is the strait open? It's because the gay ayatollah doesn't run the country. The Republican Guard runs the country. And the Republican Guard lost the war. But they know the last leverage they have is the strait and they need to make money from it. The toll fees, the oil kickbacks. So we're sitting there and it's closed because the insurance companies won't underwrite it. So Trump needs to solve it, either militarily, diplomatically, or get some of the NATO navies to come sail in. Why aren't they? The Brits have a navy. It might be rusty, but let's go exercise it. Let's see if it works. The French have one. Let's do it. So I don't want to break NATO. I just want to strengthen it. We actually do need NATO. We need bases in the Mediterranean so you can project power into the Middle East. And plus they're our biggest trading allies, so you need to have some sort of military alliance there. The Democrats saying that Trump needs to be 25th doesn't make any sense. The cabinet, 25s, the president. The Congress doesn't even do that. They're mad because Trump said he was going to destroy the civilization. What they don't understand is that's the language of the region. Trump talks like a Persian strongman. That's the kind of language they understand. Strength, respect, honor. He's actually more culturally attuned to that neighborhood than the Democrats are. He's been in business with Muslims for decades. He's done deals with wealthy Arabs in Manhattan since the 80s. He's been there in the Middle East. He actually was. The first trip he took after the first. The second term he got elected. Or is it the third time he got elected? I forget. Sometimes it gets confusing. So they don't understand that. And thank God you have someone that can make that point and drive it home because it drove them to the negotiating table. Imagine Kamala Harris as commander in chief. They would totally disrespect her and I would not support that.

[B]

Good for you. You're a patriot.

[F]

I am.

[B]

You know, Dana, Jesse brings up that whole point of communication between cultures. There is something about this 10 point agreement that Trump might understand. It's Nobody issues a 10 point agreement. If you won, like, and the first point being, please Stop kicking our ass. So it's clear that Iran knows they lost, but it's also a face saving thing. It's like give. You got to let them, you got to allow them a way to kind of like pick up their things and go home.

[D]

Yeah, I think that's true. Although I didn't. You know, one of the things I noted yesterday that I thought Caroline did a very good job of was to say that plan that they put forward is a non starter. She said that they actually came up with another plan, another list, another 10 point list. But nobody's seen that list. However, I'm sure. Oh, I'm sure J.D. vance and Witkoff and Jared have seen it and they're looking over it and they have the talks that are gonna happen on Saturday and progress at some point will have to be either made or not made. I mean, progress is gonna happen either way. Progress in meaning that the Strait of Hormuz will open and that's progress and there's moving forward or there's progress in getting the Strait of Hormuz open in a different way. Those are the only two options at this point. But it will be visible. I wanna say on the 25th Amendment thing again, you see that bat signal and it all goes out and then all of a sudden everybody's saying it on the same day. So then check their small dollar contributions today. I would bet that they did some sort of poll test that said if you just say that he needs to be 25th amendment and then, you know, if Johnny went out and asked people what is the 25th amendment, how many people do you think are going to know what that is? But it makes it sound like Johnny doesn't even know something. I think Johnny might know, but the other people don't know. But they're definitely getting money on him. And also it gives them a way out. There's like there's nothing we can do. It's up to his cabinet, but the cabinet's not going to do anything. So it's just another way for them to make money and live another day.

[B]

Yeah. And the funny thing is, Harold, and I find it funny, and I hope you do too, that it is rich to hear Democrats pushing the 25th Amendment. The same Democrats who covered up for a mentally incapacitated president. One that you even admit was demented and have joked about it many times in private with me over coffee.

[A]

It's good to be with you. The. I'd say a couple things. There's been debate amongst Democrats and some Republicans about whether or not there's an agreement here and whether or not we have a ceasefire. I agree with many and some on our network who've been saying that it sometimes takes a few days for a cease fire to take hold. But one of the things we're seeing emerge here, and I'm hoping that this weekend's meetings in Islamabad will clear a lot of this up, is that the parties to this agreement, America, Israel and Iran, they don't seem to be agreeing on what they don't know what they agree to it appears. And when you don't know what you agreed to or there's differences about what that might be, then you clearly can't have the agreement that you, that everyone's promoting or at least the interpretation that each are promoting.

[B]

Is that part of the problem though, Harold, that Iran is headless? We don't really know who's in charge. We don't know who their daddy is.

[A]

Right. So you can't then say you have an agreement if you don't know who you go. You're making. I agree with. That's the point I was trying to make or part of it. Two, I'm glad that Jesse raised the points about NATO because it would be an enormous self inflicted wound if we withdrew from NATO for the trade reasons, security reasons and perhaps as a big part of that security reason, we would basically be ceding Europe to Putin and allowing and sanctioning him doing what he's done and perhaps even giving him a green light to do it in other places which I know we don't want to do. Three, I think when the President talks about being strong and how confident he is and we talk about America being strong when you're strong and confident like you.

[B]

Yes, like you.

[A]

Like you don't have to keep saying it. So I would just encourage the President stop saying it over and over again. It doesn' tit actually undermines us and undermines him when he continues to say that. 4. Who controls the straight tonight? I don't think we do. Who is in charge of, of, of, of the uranium? The Iranians are still. And what, what is the next step? I'm hopeful that the President will give us some sense of what they're thinking about in this negotiation around answers to those questions and then the third being what hap. What will happen to their ballistic missiles? I'm rooting for that. I think it's just 25th Amendment stuff. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to not answer your question. We shouldn't be talking about that. What we should be talking about are ways in which to ensure that they don't have the uranium, that we can get the strait open, and that we limit their ability to launch ballistic missiles. Both sides are dangerously wrong on this thing. Democrats are being political, and some Republicans, and I would argue the White House is being a little political about this. The more we're political about this, the biggest winners will continue to be in the richest. The nations that will become richer and stronger and more important are Russia and China. China, it appears from all reports, is helping to negotiate an end to this. Russia is stronger because we're not focused on them in Ukraine, and we're openly talking about withdrawing from NATO. So I want an answer. I just wish. I hope the Democrats stop with the stuff they're talking about. And I hope Republicans stop complaining about Democrats, Democrats like me, who are asking serious questions about what's next, who controls these things, and what are we going to do to try to wrest that control or wrestle that control from them. I rest my case, your honor.

[D]

That's a lot of rest.

[B]

You may approach the bench. I'm your daddy, Emily. I still say we are in the fog of a truce because I don't see how we know who we're talking to. Like, the entire leadership is gone, and whoever is still around is probably in hiding, you know, So I don't know who, like, I think this is. It's going pretty well, considering we don't know who we're talking to.

[C]

And this is where I think diplomatic relations and the sort of gray area, final chapters of a kinetic action abuts 2026, meaning we have X and we have news, and we have a constant broadcasting and information dissemination about a situation that is unfolding at the pace that it deserves, in a measured pace. We have Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over there engaging in those diplomatic talks. I might not know exactly who it's with, but the whole point is I think everyone is thirsty for immediate gratification and satisfaction. They want an answer immediately. They wanted one bomb dropped, and then it's done. And then a final answer when really these things are taking time. And it's been. We've been at the brunt of almost 50 years of a constant. Do you want to say something?

[B]

No, I agree. Why are you rushing us? You've been pushing this for 50 years. Why are you yawning? What is going on here? Is everybody bored by this war?

[D]

I get up at 4:30 and also,

[C]

I think to the strength point. Imagine how strong America could be if The Dems actually support or not even just supported Trump, but did it actively stab him in the side? I think every day. How? It's totally that scene from Gladiator where the hideous one stabs Russell Crowe in the ribcage and Donald Trump is Russell Crowe. Imagine if he did not have backstabbing going on, if he did not have a press that was acting as an anvil while he swam through peanut butter. We could actually and collectively accomplish so much more if there was not so much backstabbing coming from within. And I think in the face of a culture that is dedicated to the existential eradication of us, it might help every American if the Dems for just one second wouldn't talk about what's wrong or what they think is wrong with the President, especially considering that they give more credence to everything out of Iranians mouth. Oh, Iran said this, the President is saying this and somehow he's the one that's out of control.

[B]

Yeah. Yes. Harold, wait. We gotta go.

[A]

But the President said we won this war three weeks ago and we haven't.

[B]

So.

[A]

I hear you. I agree with the.

[B]

I think we did. I think he.

[A]

Then why isn't the straight open though? And why do they still have uranium?

[B]

This is part of what's going on, man. Lighten up. Gee, they still have a nuclear weapon.

[A]

They got ballistic missiles in. The straight is closed.

[B]

Before we go, President Trump just posted this on Truth Social. Quote. There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz street straight. They better not. And if they are, they better stop now. See Harold? We're in control.

[A]

See how well that works?

[F]

Yeah.

[B]

Coming up next, the one sound bite that explains why everybody hates the Dems.

[D]

I would say if everybody hated me,

[E]

why is everybody putting my face on

[D]

their mailers for the referendum would be question number one.

[E]

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[F]

Time for a reality check for the liberals who think the midterms are in the bag. The latest CNN poll found Democrats trailing Republicans by 4 points total party approval. So why does America hate the Democrats so passionately? Perhaps Dana's former favorite Democrat, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger. Listen, she explains why there was a

[D]

poll out that had your numbers a little unfavorable.

[A]

And then your predecessor Glenn was making

[C]

a podcast run earlier this week to

[B]

taking a couple jabs at you.

[F]

I guess overall on your numbers, what

[A]

do you attribute that to in the most would you say back to Glenn?

[D]

I would say if everybody hated me,

[E]

why is everybody putting my face on

[D]

their mailers for the referendum would be question number one.

[F]

And if you thought that was rough, check out Cory Booker's wife saying that standing almost killed him.

[B]

It's not super safe to stand for 25 hours. Like your body kind of just like

[E]

break down and if you fall over

[B]

you could hit your head. So like those are the things that were going through our head. Like, yes, I wanted him to break

[C]

the record, but I also wanted him

[B]

to not die or like get injured.

[C]

Wasn't going to eat for a really

[B]

long period of time. Like just being dehydrated alone was like worrying me.

[F]

Your name was invoked, Dana, in the intro.

[D]

I will have to wear this forever. I was, I was fooled by Abigail's bamberger. She asked a question. Why do they keep putting my names on these mailers?

[B]

Because.

[D]

Because it's working against the Democrats. That's why they're putting the names on it. And in fact, a friend of mine said that their own polling shows that the most Effective messages against Democrats in Virginia about this redistricting are when they are talking about her and putting her out there in her own words. So the other thing she did is she pulled this trick where she put out a press release saying, look at all these jobs I've created. And then she put this press release and it was like, no, I think some high percentage, like 85% of those jobs were created under Glenn Youngkin. So she's trying to take credit for something she didn't even do.

[F]

I don't know anything about that. Greg, what about you? Why do the American people hate the Democrats so passionately?

[B]

Well, first I want to address Cory Booker's wife. Three words I'd never think I'd see together. But you know, she's right. Standing almost killed him because he's gaining a lot of weight and someone should help him get him on a bike. One with a seat. That would be helpful. All right. Why do you despise Spanberger so much? More so than like AOC or Elon Omar? Because they don't lie about their aims or their level of moderation. Spanberger exploited people who trusted her on good faith. We had to sit here and listen to it. I had to listen to Danny go, oh, you got to hear her out. She's a moderate. She's a moderate level headed Democrat. And then bam, she wins. Off comes the Bill Clinton skin suit, and underneath it it's Ho Chi Minh in her fright wig. This is not an ideological difference. It is pure deception. It's worse than Biden's deception because he was senile. She doesn't have that excuse. But I do not take comfort in this poll because all it takes is one win. And I know Harold knows that the party may be decimated, but it's not like they're just going to fold up their tents and go away. You know, usually from the ruins comes a more intense faction, a more concentrated, angry or defiant faction. Look, when Tucker left 8pm what did we get? Jesse? Democrats weren't like, oh, hooray, this is so much better. We got rid of Tucker. Jesse Waters. See, I could.

[F]

I peeled off Tucker Carlson skin, comes Jesse Waters.

[B]

But people got to vote. The thing is, you could disagree with Trump over Iran and it's pissed off a lot, a lot of people. I don't know how many, maybe loud voices in the podcast world. But if you sit home, then you will see candidates that make Kamala Harris look like Barry Goldwater.

[F]

That's good, Greg. Thank you, Harold. Your name, I think, was invoked somewhere

[A]

Look, I think that I've said on the show this electorate that voters are in right now and candidates are going to be campaigning and this is not a partisan electorate. This is an elected electorate that is curious about how and when prices are going to come down. Some are struggling, some are ailing and some are intensely disappointed and mad that the politicians have made promises they're not delivering on. This is something that happens in American politics. If you think all we canall, you need to do is say we want the 25th amendment or I agree with Dana. I think her face is probably on that mailer because they think it's going to excite the other side. You need answers. I've said a long time ago, many times on the show and just recently as last week, the President got elected because he said he was going to reduce the size of government. They have not. Democrats offer ideas about how we can reduce the size of government at the same time make it responsive to the needs of everyday Americans. Offer a middle class tax cut and not just one for the richest of Americans. Health care. We talk about all the costs of health care and groceries. Offer answers. Lift all the Ask the president to lift all the tariffs. Come up with ideas and answers. Education needs to be reformed because AI is going to impact communities all across the country. These are the things we need to be talking about, not the I hate. I can't stand he's a bad guy. He's not a bad guy. He has the wrong priorities and we ought to lay out our priorities and how we're going to make people's lives better.

[F]

Okay. I mean, sometimes I wish Jessica was here to explain this polling because I don't get this polling. How can you be supposed to be wiping the floor with Republicans in the midterms and be losing to them on being less popular at the same time?

[C]

Well, that's what is so telling that usually of course, they would benefit from the President being unpopular. To them, they are pulling at historic lows and also lower even than last year. So I think it's awesome, you guys. I'm heartened. It's important to vote, but it's also important to run and it's important to donate even if it's just $1. We are seeing the Dems scamming every. Also, by the way, I just saw a commercial airing in Virginia where President Obama was saying that unless you voted for the Democrat that the Republicans would rig the elections. I mean, he used that word. There is such a nefarious. Yes, a nefarious and like theatrical and doomsday approach to all of this. It is so telling, however, that despite the laws and policies that they're putting forth, I mean, they are not like you. Respectfully, no one is saying, oh, we're gonna limit government. They are saying, your kid can tell me in secret if he thinks she's a girl. And I'm not gonna tell the parents. And they are shoving parents out of the door. I mean, they are encroaching on every single one of our constitutional rights. And we're supposed to be like, oh, yeah, Abigail Spamberger's awesome. There is nothing worse than her. That is a toad in blonde clothing.

[A]

She won, though. Policy wise, the Democrats have won every election since January 24th.

[C]

But that's my point. Her saying my face on the mailer means something to me. I think she thinks that once you earn a voter or get a vote, that you somehow have it forever. And the reality is the American people, and especially the Democrats, will turn their backs in an instant. Her approval level eroded significantly. It plummeted immediately. So she has to do something to keep the vote and support, which hopefully will be common sense policies instead of taking away everyone's gun rights and everything else that she's threatening.

[A]

Well, everyone around the table at Least acknowledged since November 24, Democrats have won every single special.

[F]

Yeah, I mean, you won't stop talking about it.

[C]

Not yesterday.

[A]

I'm just saying, which one did we lose yesterday?

[F]

I mean, I was going to say that I didn't mean it. I wish Jessica was here, but now I actually.

[A]

Margaret, the green seat.

[D]

Yes.

[F]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[F]

We good?

[A]

I mean, why are you patting me, man?

[F]

Coming up next, Zo Ron the Destroyer's free bus scam just hit a brick wall.

[B]

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[D]

And New York City's socialist mayor, Zoran Mamdani seems to be slamming the brakes on this central campaign promise.

[A]

And next year begins a new era

[F]

of fast and free buses.

[A]

Make the slowest buses in the country fast and free.

[F]

Making buses free.

[D]

Mayor Mamdani now says free buses won't happen for this year at least. He told Politico, quote, I'm absolutely committed to making buses fast and free. And we're encouraged by the conversations we're having with the governor and legislative leaders to take action on that 2026 as a first step, Jesse, you hate to see it. No free buses.

[F]

Yes. So I asked AI who's done this before. And the only city in the country that's done this is Kansas City. And Kansas City did it in 2020 and they just reinstated fares.

[B]

Why?

[F]

Because they lost so much money and because of passenger behavior. Now what is passenger behavior mean to you? I think we know. And so what happened was it became such an issue because people would ride the bus without a destination. What does that mean to you? It became a homeless shelter on wheels. That's what's going to happen in New York City. But I do like his pothole politics. The man. In the first hundred days, Dana filled 100,000 potholes in New York City. That's the kind of mayor I want. A mayor who fills holes.

[D]

Do you want to take that one?

[B]

I know what he's trying to do.

[C]

Ridiculous.

[B]

He's trying to get a. To get a visit to the boss later after the show. And I'm not going to fall for it. This has got to be confusing to Zoran's backers. They were told they get free buses. How hard is that? Just make them free people. Get on them. You don't have to pay for it. What's the problem? But then he has to explain to them cuz they're stupid. That you know other it's not really free. Other people pay for it. Like your neighbors, your boss, your landlord. Pretty soon they're gonna leave and then you're really screwed. You'll not only be walking to work, you won't be walking to work cuz you won't have a job. I think Zoran is harmful to civil society because he looks at whites and Asians who already pay a vast disproportionate sum of taxes rel to the percentage of the population which all goes through these corrupted social programs. And he's saying they aren't paying their fair share, they need to pay more. Again, if you thought woke is dead. If you thought DEI is dead, it just changed its name and it transitioned. It's on steroids. You're paying for its new tits. Zoran. Zoran wants to raise taxes on whites to fund a racial equity plan. This is to increase the burden on richer and whiter neighborhoods to address inequities elsewhere. Again, how is that fair? You're taxing the people already paying far more than their fair share. Why is he doing this? And this is what we have to focus on. We have to stop the fallacy of Historical harms. The idea that, like affordability is linked to systemic racial inequality of the past. Sorry, I lived in California. I moved to New York 20 years ago. Not my problem, not my fault. I pay more money in taxes than you don't even want to know. This idea, this inequity plan, is basically mugging the citizen without a knife.

[D]

It was also about climate change, because they want people to get out of their cars and onto the bus.

[F]

Yeah, well, if you can't afford the $3 bus fare, you probably can't afford a car.

[D]

Well, I think that's his point, though, that people are struggling and that they need $3.

[C]

Why am I defending Harold?

[D]

There's no such thing as a free bus.

[A]

So campaigns. One of the great governors of this, of our home state here in New York once said that you campaign in poetry and you govern in prose. That was. Mario Cuomo is understanding. Like every politician, when you campaign vigorously around something that when you're not able to get it to work, so what, what do you do? I think when Mr. Mondavan was campaigning, he was talking about ways in which to alleviate economic pressures on middle class and working class New Yorkers. I never understood why you didn't link free busings, free bus rides to people going to work or going to school. If you just have free bus rides. Jesse's point is exactly right. You're going to get people using it for a whole variety of reasons that are going to make it uncomfortable and basically inaccessible to people who really need it. I'd encourage the mayor to go back and figure out ways in which to do this. Why not cut taxes on small businesses across the city? You can't say, he and Governor Hochul, that it's a charitable thing to do to come back to New York and pay more taxes if all you're doing is paying into a system that is not producing better outcomes for New Yorkers. I'd be happy to entertain the idea of paying more taxes if you told me how it's going to improve our schools, how we're going to put more cops on the street, how are you going to deal with the homeless issue and how you're going to make it easier for people to get to work and go to work in New York.

[B]

If they haven't done it in 20 years, are they going to explain it to us?

[A]

We had a president. We had a president named John Kennedy. I think still the defining language of the 20th century after World War II, was asked not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

[B]

I do a lot for this country.

[A]

And then he gave the country, did a lot for people. You can't ask New Yorkers to give away everything free and get nothing in return. I hope the mayor gets that, gets that and understands that you can adjust and give us something better and take care of every working class New Yorker who deserve it.

[D]

Emily, how do you get around the city?

[C]

I take the bus. Actually, it's 275. I first of all, to maintain the bus system here. It's $700 million a year. This entire time I have seen him, he is a senior running for class president. His ideas were jokes. There was zero feasibility. And it really disappointed me how many people in this city felt like he

[D]

ran on no homework.

[C]

Yeah, exactly, exactly.

[F]

I'd vote for that.

[C]

700 million has to go somewhere. And then with the taxes, you know, he went to mom, Kathy Hochul and said, can I have some more money out of the wallet? And she was like, no, honey, go outside and play. And then he goes to his friends and said, it's okay guys, we'll get the money somewhere. It reminds me of, you know, it might be, well meaning in his own head, but it reminds me of like a project that I did where I like designed this plane for firefighters that would, you know, lift all the water up and then go and whatever. The whole I got a horrible grade because it had it defied physics. Like this guy's ideas defy physics. They defy common sense. And as always, he is taking from others to bolster his own thing. But here's the thing. Everyone is seeing. Everyone is seeing that whatever his ambition was, it is lacking. The credibility gap has finally been extinguished. And again, notwithstanding the disappointment I hold for anyone that actually voted for him and thought about it. But here's the thing. I read this line earlier today. I was trying to find who wrote it. I couldn't. But skepticism clings longer than criticism. I wish from the beginning that all of the media that covered him instead of saying what a breath of fresh air and how happy he was and his amazing wife was. I wish they had said what a joke this kid is to try to propose free buses in this city. What a joke. Every policy is out of his mouth in this city that we can't pay for. But instead they propped him up. So now we have to pay for it. I have to pay for it every day I get on the bus because Lord knows that dude doesn't get on the bus.

[B]

You know what? I'm happy about me that you don't design planes.

[C]

I know everyone is happy about that.

[D]

All right, coming up next, what in the world? Canada has a new head spinning gender acronym. We'll show you.

[A]

Oh, Canada.

[C]

One of their lawmakers is going viral after dropping perhaps the most insane gender acronym known to mankind. When the budget was released, I was shocked to find out that Prime Minister

[D]

Carney is cutting $7 billion between Indigenous

[C]

Services Canada and Crown Indigenous Relations. They provided $0 to deal with the ongoing genocide of MMIWG2SLGBTQIA this is abhorrent. It's like Super Califra. Harold, your thoughts?

[A]

I'm confused by it. I mean, if the governor. If the president's making cuts to a budget, maybe he determined that these cuts were legitimate cuts. I don't know. I mean, I've studied this story and I couldn't quite. I was intrigued by how she took it seriously.

[B]

I did.

[A]

I did. I should have called Greg. I didn't know.

[C]

The point is the gobbledygook on the bottom, that's. I don't know what that means exactly. That's the whole point, Jesse.

[F]

I mean, unlike Harold, I did not study the story. And I think the word genocide gets thrown around too much. There's no genocide in Canada. If there was genocide in Canada, we would all know about it.

[B]

Remember, they thought there was and they dug it up and they didn't find any. And there's no.

[F]

There's no genocide, Dana.

[C]

I thought there was a lot of mixing going on, and unfortunately it diluted her point about the missing and murdered indigenous women, which does need a lot of exposure. But she tacked it on to a lot of crimes.

[D]

Yeah. So she undercut her own position. Right. She's basically saying. Saying that. Let's say you're questioning. Okay. That's the cue. And then you are put into the same category with missing and murdered indigenous women. And you have maybe like the mother or the sister of one of the missing or murdered, and then you're all in the same group. That doesn't make any sense. I did think that that would be a better password than using Jasper for everything.

[C]

You need a.

[F]

You need your plus.

[C]

Yeah, you need a. What is that called? Like a guide, but a better word for.

[B]

No. I looked at that. I go, oh, wow, great. Joe Biden gave an Easter greeting. I think that's him saying happy Easter. And then I thought maybe that woman's cat ran across the computer keyboard. But this is. I think, Emily, you're right. This is actually offensive to Real victims, these identity fetishists, they front loaded this acronym with true victims, dead or missing girls. And then they leeched off that valid suffering. This is basically worse than stolen valor. It's stolen victimhood. I mean, imagine creating a group that contains veterans of D day and UPS drivers because they both wore the uniform. That's basically what's going on. Again, this shows you that woke doesn't die. It simply concentrates and gets worse. And it's like baked on grease on the pan. You got all the food out. It's just there. Congealed. By the way. I look at her and I just think, I gotta get Lego. I gotta get some Legos. She's a Lego lady.

[F]

You said you wanted to get.

[B]

No.

[C]

On that note, the fastest is up next.

[F]

Welcome back.

[A]

You could have probably guessed this one, but men bless you. Men are terrible at finding deals. A new report finds that when guys take over grocery shopping duties, families end up paying, get this, about 5 to 10% more than when the wife shops. Inherent in all this is some stuff I don't like. But do you agree with this? Are we?

[F]

Well, you don't like the fact that men go grocery shopping. I agree. I know you never. I go in, I go out if I have to, but I'm not looking for deals. If I see a deal on, I think it's disgusting. I want to pay more.

[A]

I'm with you. I do a lot of grocery shopping. I feel the same way. Dp Does Peter do this?

[D]

No. Well, Peter is more frugal than me. And like I just. I want. I need fast.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

And I also. I have that same thing. It was like, why is it on sale?

[F]

It's a discount sale.

[D]

There's nothing wrong with it.

[A]

Emily, what happens in your house? Does this, your husband resemble this?

[C]

I think men are better deal finders in certain arenas. Like for example, in at Home Depot. Like things that, you know, I'm stereotyping. But it is true. So groceries. Sure. And I definitely. But actually I think I pay more for groceries because I have that same thing. I'm like, get the most expensive thing because it must be healthier for me. Better some way. But I think guys are better at finding deals. My husband's certainly really good at finding. What am I?

[B]

I don't know.

[C]

You know what I mean?

[D]

I just find them hilarious. You could be talking about anything. I'm finding them funny.

[A]

Greg, you are. You've written books about finding deals.

[B]

Have I?

[F]

Oh, you.

[B]

The Art of the Deal. That's right. That's Right. Look again. We are covering a study where the dude is worse at something. We have yet, in the history of this show, ever covered something that said women are worse at something because those studies do not exist.

[D]

I'm gonna be on the hunt.

[B]

You cannot find a study where it goes like, women are slower at math. You will not find that. You will not find it.

[F]

Do you really need a study, though, Greg?

[B]

That's true. Here's why. Men spend more. A guy goes shopping. He's putting stuff in the. In the cart, and it's. Oh, that's nice. Ooh, that's nice. And then he gets up, he gets to the checkout thing, right? And then they run it through the scanner, and all of a sudden, like, 25 bucks for stuffed olives. But you don't want to say, put it back, because there are people behind you, and they start judging. Oh, looks like little talk show hosts can't afford stuffed olives. So I just suck it up and I take the stuffed olives. Olives for 25 bucks. But it all balances out. And I'll tell you why we save money, because we don't throw this stuff out. Expiration dates, as. As everybody knows. Look at the science. Are a scam.

[A]

They are.

[B]

Oh, they're a total scam for something that you opened at a week. For something you haven't opened. You can keep it for a year, two years, it doesn't matter. Expiration. No, they're designed by the.

[A]

Because.

[B]

So you end up having to spend more money. You end up having to spend more money.

[F]

Get it?

[A]

We are fruit.

[B]

Even fruit. No, X. Fruit. The more bruises, the better. I love a good black banana.

[A]

Oh, my God. One more thing is up next.

[B]

And the road goes on forever. One more thing, Dana.

[D]

Well, last night, one of our colleagues got a great award, and that colleague, Paul Morrow, he received the Arty Award from the Retired New York City Detectives Group for outstanding service of law enforcement. Here's one of the lines from his speeches. When this city bottoms out again and they look around the room to see who will save us, they will once again look to the nypd, which has been the one constant that has held this town together throughout its history. Congratulations, Paul Morrow. Well deserved. And it's a great organization, the retired detectives.

[C]

Bravo. Bravo.

[A]

Good job, Paul.

[F]

Congrats.

[B]

They give awards like Best Frisker.

[D]

I don't know. Ask Jesse.

[F]

You should.

[B]

All right, tonight. Cat Timp. Michael Loftus. Madison Allworth. Tom Shalhou. Let's do this. Greg's absolutely disgusting news with Go for it. This is a baby prehensile tailed porcupine. What a hideous little creature it is. It's got hair like the lovely Dana Perino. The teeny porcupet is bounding with his mother, sleeping most of the day, nursing well and growing its first quill.

[F]

Oh, what's that?

[B]

The little one weighed about a pound at birth and is already growing and gaining weight quickly now. About the size of a loaf of sandwich bread. But don't eat it, Harold. I will destroy you, Harold Ford. You are evil. All right, Jesse.

[F]

All right. Let's go to Brazil. Thousands of indigenous people marching to the Capitol. Look at this here. Protesting their violations of land rights by farmers and loggers and miners. 7,000 people. They burned gigantic skulls and wore traditional outfits and created a mosaic of culture.

[A]

Wow.

[F]

The protest apparently happens every year and the five will be broadcasting live from there next year. Tonight, John Fetterman on Jesse Waters Primetime, 8:00pm Eastern. And by the way, tomorrow night, the Artemis 2 is going to be splashing down at 8:00'. Clock.

[C]

So watch that Butch Wilmore, 8:07.

[A]

Say a prayer for that re entry of Artemis. I'm going to watch your show tonight with Fetterman. On a much lighter note, Pope Leo welcomed the Harlem Globe Trotters to the Vatican. And he's a Chicago boy, so he loves Michael Jordan. Look at this. Look at him spend this day.

[F]

No way. Lopez game.

[A]

Not bad. Poor boy from Chicago. God bless you.

[C]

That's awesome. Well, everyone, this is a sort of funny story. So basically this. The Laguna Beach Fire Department gave a firefighter an award, but he then went viral and the whole world has now freaked out. Everyone's setting fires all over the place hoping that this guy will respond. And it's like, hilarious. So congratulations, firefighter Billy Senecal for your award. And now the Internet's new heartthrob.

[B]

What's the big deal? I don't see anything special. Just some dude with a mustache.

[D]

It doesn't seem like a good idea to be lighting fires in Southern California.

[F]

Yeah, that's something women would do.

[B]

Meet people. Studies show that I'm not an arsonist. I'm just lonely.

[F]

I'm just horny.

[B]

Yeah, hot and bothered. All right, that's enough from us. Great show, everybody. All right, have a great night. I wonder if Brett's here. Yeah, I'm here.

[A]

Listen to the 5ad free on Amazon

[B]

Music with your prime membership or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.