Greasy Savior

Summary

The Five – "Greasy Savior"

FOX News Podcasts
Date: December 12, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode of "The Five," panelists Jesse Watters, Kennedy, Harold Ford Jr., Dana Perino, and Lawrence Jones dive into the surging prominence of California Governor Gavin Newsom as the Democratic "frontrunner" amid critiques of his record, particularly regarding California’s affordability crisis and homelessness. The discussion transitions to immigration controversies, including Illinois Governor Pritzker's new policies and the Democrats’ general approach to border security and crime. They also touch on the media’s focus on President Trump’s health (versus Biden’s), growing impeachment talk in Congress, and end with a mix of lighter news and personal announcements.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Gavin Newsom: The "Greasy Savior" and Democratic Frontrunner

• Newsom's Rise: The New York Times puts Newsom in the Democratic spotlight. The panel debates if media softball coverage can withstand the reality of his gubernatorial record.
  • Jesse Watters: “Looks like the Democrats’ greasy savior has risen to the top of the pack.” (00:33)
• Newsom’s Own Words:
  • Gavin Newsom: “Trump is one of the most destructive presidents and human beings in my lifetime. I think this republic is at real risk...” (01:11)
• Affordability and Homelessness: Newsom admits his state struggles and calls poverty “the poster child of our failure as a state.” (01:52)
• Panel’s Take: Slippery Substance
  • Kennedy: Criticizes Newsom for being politically expedient and lacking authenticity. Cites an anecdote about him dodging a tough question in crisis. (02:57)
  • Lawrence Jones: Compares Newsom’s “word salad” rhetoric to cotton candy: “It melts on contact.” (04:10)
  • Harold Ford Jr.: Wants real solutions, like a national crime bill and federal permitting reform, but dings “politicians who lie.”
  • Dana Perino: Warns Newsom’s “superficiality is absolutely not enough.” Looks forward to a primary where other Democrats will “dismantle his record so quickly.” (08:09)

Notable Quote

• “He comes across…as slippery. He's very defensive, and he's talking so quickly. It's like he's trying to get at us, saying what he really thinks.”
  — Jesse Watters (03:56)

2. Immigration, Borders, and Law Enforcement

• Crisis in Illinois: Governor JB Pritzker signs legislation creating more obstacles for ICE, intent on “resisting” federal enforcement.
  • Jesse Watters: Lampoons the “sanctuary apartment” loophole: “A migrant can just lease an apartment 500ft from a courthouse…live in a little sanctuary apartment. It’s insane, and it’s gonna get knocked down.” (15:05)
• Debate Over Policy and Reality:
  • Harold Ford Jr.: States can’t “usurp federal law” but hopes for nuanced legal debate and bipartisan cooperation.
  • Kennedy: Highlights that migrants might attend asylum hearings while facing criminal charges, favoring tough enforcement.
• Partisan Gridlock:
  • Dana Perino: “Neither party wants to do [immigration reform] when they've got the presidency and both houses of Congress…So what we're stuck with is a shifting set of rules based on executive order and immigration trends.” (20:21)
  • Jesse Watters: Emphasizes the challenges caused by sanctuary policies—“New York has released 7,000 criminal migrants into the streets.” (22:14)
  • Harold Ford Jr.: Reiterates consensus around targeting “the worst of the worst” but notes a lack of follow-through from city governments.

Notable Quote

• “If they came in and said, we want the worst of the worst, we'd have every mayor.”
  — Harold Ford Jr. (23:22)

3. Media Coverage: Presidential Health and Authenticity

• Late Night Attacks on Trump:
  • Lawrence Jones: Skewers Kimmel and the “resistance” for suddenly caring about Trump’s health after ignoring concerns about Biden.
  • Kennedy: Observes the double standard—“You cannot say anything about it…because they said absolutely nothing until the President…fell apart on a stage.” (25:36)
  • Harold Ford Jr.: Praises Trump’s energy (“98% of the time this guy is available”), says critiques should focus on policy substance, not personal traits. (27:53)
• Memorable Moments:
  • Dana Perino shares an anecdote about Trump not allowing rest for staff on overseas flights. (27:10)
  • Panelists riff on Gavin Newsom putting “his legs behind his head” for a photo and poke fun at notable politicians’ eyebrows. (29:59)

Notable Quotes

• “The pettiness of the personal stuff I just don't get.”
  — Harold Ford Jr. (28:44)
• “He’s flexible…That’s a Kama Sutra position.”
  — Panel banter on Newsom’s photo (30:01)

4. Impeachment Mania: Cabinet Showdowns

• House Democrat Pushes Impeachment of RFK Jr.:
  • Clip from Rep. Haley Stevens: “RFK Jr. has got to go. Enough is enough…to protect the health, safety and future of every Michigander.” (32:59)
  • Panel: Questions the seriousness and wisdom, viewing impeachment as a political tool; sees RFK Jr. as popular (even among skeptics) and warns such moves inflame rather than unite.
  • Jesse Watters: “He’s fixing the food pyramid…He’s getting the food dyes out…He’s taking away the COVID mandate…loves this guy and we love his pull up form.” (35:11)
  • Harold Ford Jr.: Impeachment should be reserved for the president, not secretaries carrying out executive policy. (36:43)
  • Dana Perino: Thinks this sort of impeachment talk is token PR for primary campaigns, not real legislative action. (34:11)

Notable Quote

• “If you don’t like them, they’re enacting the policies of the President…you don’t punch down in Congress. You impeach presidents, you don’t impeach secretaries.”
  — Harold Ford Jr. (36:43)

5. Lighter Fare: Workplace Culture, Personal News, and More

• Workplace Oddities:
  • Story of a Spanish worker fired for arriving too early, which led to debate about work culture, gaming the system, and clocking in genuinely versus clocking in fraudulently. (39:00)
  • Lawrence Jones: “If you’re not early, you’re late.” (40:04)
  • Panel Banter: Jokes about Spanish women staying late vs. coming in early—playful, tongue-in-cheek.
• Personal Announcement:
  • Kennedy reveals her engagement, sparking heartfelt congratulations from the panel. (41:01)
• Miscellaneous:
  • Dana Perino shares a story of a plane crash survivor and touts Toyota’s safety. (41:42)
  • Light banter about Fox News swag and Major League Soccer MVP Lionel Messi.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:33 — Gavin Newsom as Democratic frontrunner discussion starts
• 01:11 — Newsom’s quote on Trump as “destructive”
• 01:52 — Newsom admits California’s affordability and homelessness failures
• 02:57 — Kennedy questions Newsom’s authenticity
• 04:10 — Lawrence Jones: Newsom’s “word salad” communication style
• 08:09 — Dana Perino on Democratic primary challengers
• 15:05 — Jesse Watters critiques Illinois “sanctuary” rules
• 20:21 — Perino on immigration gridlock
• 22:14 — Watters on sanctuary city fallout
• 27:10 — Perino’s anecdote about Trump never letting staff rest
• 29:59 — Panel jokes about Newsom’s flexibility
• 32:59 — Dem Rep. Haley Stevens introduces RFK Jr. impeachment articles
• 35:11 — Watters lists RFK Jr.’s popular cabinet actions
• 39:00 — Spanish woman fired for arriving early; panel riffs on work and responsibility
• 41:01 — Kennedy announces engagement

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Memorable Quotes

“He comes across…as slippery. He's very defensive, and he's talking so quickly. It's like he's trying to get at us, saying what he really thinks.”
— Jesse Watters (03:56)

“It’s a different version of a word salad…It melts on contact.”
— Lawrence Jones (04:10)

“Neither party wants to do [immigration reform] when they've got the presidency and both houses of Congress…that is what is so incredibly necessary here.”
— Dana Perino (20:21)

“The pettiness of the personal stuff I just don't get.”
— Harold Ford Jr. (28:44)

“If you don’t like them, they’re enacting the policies of the President…you don’t punch down in Congress. You impeach presidents, you don’t impeach secretaries.”
— Harold Ford Jr. (36:43)

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Tone and Style

The show maintains a fast-paced, combative, and at times irreverently humorous tone. Panelists frequently use colorful language (“greasy savior,” “cotton candy,” “Kama Sutra position,” etc.), cut each other off, and pivot quickly between scathing critiques, policy debate, and outright banter.

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Takeaway for Non-Listeners

This episode of "The Five" provides a critical look at the Democratic party’s possible 2028 frontrunner, Governor Gavin Newsom, by highlighting his political flaws and the skeptical view held by conservatives regarding his authenticity and leadership record. The conversation weaves in current hot-button topics—immigration, crime, impeachment politics, and media coverage—while emphasizing the gap between political theater and substantive solutions. The panel’s mix of directness and banter makes clear their distaste for what they see as opportunism, performative resistance, and superficiality in today’s politics. The episode is punctuated with personal moments and satirical jabs, closing with a genuine celebration of Kennedy’s engagement.

Transcript

[Dana Perino]

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[Jesse Waters]

Everybody, I'm Jesse Waters along with Kennedy, Harold Ford Jr. Dana Perino and Lawrence Jones. It's five o' clock in New York City and this is the five. Looks like the Democrats greasy savior has risen to the top of the pack. The New York times anointing California Governor Gavin Newsom as the party's 28th frontrunner as his favorability rating surges in California. The Times giving him a nice softball interview with liberal wonk Ezra Klein. And Greasy's hoping to ride his Trump troll game all the way to the oval.

[Gavin Newsom]

Trump is one of the most destructive presidents and human beings in my lifetime. I think this republic is at real risk. This country being unrecognizable. This guy is reckless. He's a wreck. This country will not have a fair and free election if we don't continue to fight. I'm just I that's what matters to me. Seriously. I'm the future ex governor and who the hell knows what happens the rest of my life. Except one thing I know that matters in the rest of my life is I have to look with my kids.

[Jesse Waters]

In the but the slick haired frontrunner still has to answer for his disastrous run as governor of California. Savage's view is that California is a kind of hellscape. But there are some set of problems that from his perspective are visible that.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

From your perspective are harder to see.

[Gavin Newsom]

Well, I mean the affordability crisis. He's 100% right. The poster child of our failure as a state is the issue of poverty. That's out on the streets and sidewalks as it relates to encampments and homelessness.

[Jesse Waters]

And here's the thing about being on top. There's a whole lot of room to crash and burn. Newsom still can't make the easiest 8020 layup watch.

[Gavin Newsom]

We didn't get into transports. That's an issue no one wants to hear about because 80% of the people listening disagree with my position on this. But it comes from my heart, not just my head. It wasn't a political evolution, it was position. Being that I, I don't think it's I. I want to see trans kids. I have a trans godson. I'm not. There's no governor that signed more pro trans legislation than I have, and no one has been a stronger advocate for the lgbtq. But you have to accommodate the reality of those whose rights are being taken away as we advance the rights of the trans community in terms of the fairness of athletic competition.

[Jesse Waters]

All right, help me understand this. Do you know what he just said about Trent's?

[Kennedy]

I don't. And that's the problem with Gavin Newsom, is that he evolves so much on every single issue, and it doesn't come from his heart. It comes from expediency. And so when you ask him, how did you get here? He can never tell you how he came to a destination. I know we talk about the failures of California. That's the obvious. The homelessness, the drugs that are out there, the needles that the government subsidized, the free cell phones that they give them, the three meals that they give him a day, and they decided they're going to stay in the encampment. But from a national standpoint, when you look at him as a guy, he's just not someone you can believe. I keep saying this because this tells you who the guy is. When the city was on fire and the resident asked him, can I speak to the President of the United States? He says, I'm on the phone with him right now. The resident says, okay, pass the phone. And he says, oh, actually, I don't have any signal. Do you want that to be the guy as your president when you need him? He says, there's no signal. That's the Gavin Newsom we all.

[Jesse Waters]

So he comes across, Dana, to me, as slippery. He's very defensive, and he's talking so quickly. It's like he's trying to get at us, saying what he really thinks.

[Lawrence Jones]

It's a different version of a word salad, right?

[Jesse Waters]

Yeah, you're right.

[Lawrence Jones]

So you're like. You're in a cul de sac, and you keep going around and around, and it's like cotton candy. It melts on contact.

[Jesse Waters]

Yeah.

[Lawrence Jones]

Like, wait, what did he just say? If it's not clear? For example, I remember in 2015, one of President Trump's early rallies, he said, political correctness has gotten out of control in this country. It's a standing ovation. Everybody knows exactly what he means. And that, actually, that's what feels authentic. When you say slippery, I think that's also that feeling of. You get young people saying that to all of us. Older people, you have to be more authentic. And I think one of the issues here is that he is the frontrunner because it's so early in the process. Guess who else was the frontrunner? If you go back to 2015, 2016, it was Kamala Harris.

[Gavin Newsom]

That's right.

[Lawrence Jones]

She was the front runner. She ended up dropping out in December before any votes were cast. So it's one thing to be first, because leadership needs somebody, and the Democrats are looking for someone, and he's certainly out there. But his personality and his style I don't think will be his undoing. If the Democrats think they're going to run as the affordability team. Governor U haul has some answering to do, and I think that he's disqualified out of the gate on affordability, if you're looking at the record.

[Jesse Waters]

Did he just admit that he's disqualified, Harold? I mean, he said that California is the most unaffordable state and there's homeless encampments everywhere.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I think he will have. First of all, it's good to be back with you. I think he's going to have a lot of questions to answer if he decides to run for president. He. I think what he's doing right now is taking a page out of President Trump's book. He is getting a lot of press attention. He's making the case he's suing things, he's suing people, and he's trying to, I think, maybe distract from some of the things that he has done as governor. I'd remind everybody, I'm just. I don't like the fact. I mean, my politics is just different, the way I approach all this. I'm in the business of trying to. And I've always been in the business of trying to solve problems. And I think if you're going to run for president or run for any political office, that should be the organizing principle. That should be where you start from foundationally. I would love to hear Gavin, and for that, Governor Newsom, and for that matter, all of the candidates talk more about a national crime bill. We've talked about it around this table. I'd love to hear them talk about how we pass a federal permitting bill to make it easier to build homes. The number one issue facing young Americans is how do they afford a home. It's the greatest and most important investment most Americans will ever make in their lives. Cut taxes on the first $25,000, federal taxes, zero taxes for people, the first $75,000. We don't give if people earn more than that. But the first 25. Instead of the no taxes on tips, you make it easier for teachers and firemen and law enforcement and first responders to be able to benefit as well. One thing we should understand is the last several years, the back and forth, Democrats win, Republicans win. Democrats and Republicans win for one reason. The country is fatigued with politicians who lie to them. If you say you're going to deliver economically, like, I'm not pleased as a Democrat, I'm not pleased that President Trump's. I don't look at all the poll numbers. Some of the polls today say the president's in the 30s on the economy. I'm not pleased about that. That means he's not delivering for people. I'm not pleased he's in the low 40s on immigration because he's not delivering. Now, does that help my party? Maybe. But what I'm most concerned about is trying to figure out ways to deliver on answers, deliver on problems. From 1944 to 1994, the Congress was controlled by one party. The House was Democrats. 06, 2010, 2018, 2020. It switched five times, four times since 1994. I think that's a good thing in politics. But what it's also saying is people are fed up with politicians not delivering. And if Gavin doesn't deliver, if he's not able to make a case, Jesse, you're probably right. But I tell you this, he's getting a lot of attention. And unfortunately, in our politics today, that's all you have to do is get a lot of attention to get your name out there.

[Jesse Waters]

Right, Right. But eventually it's about substance. And what will he say in a primary is like, I did this in California, like, big ticket item. What would he say?

[Dana Perino]

Well, the nice thing about the primary process is you're going to see a very crowded Democrat stage and you have so many people who are running, and they get very offended when they hear that the Democrats have a shallow bench because they're looking at themselves as the governors of Maryland and Pennsylvania going, actually, you know, we think we're doing a pretty great job running moderate states. And Josh Shapiro is going to look at some of the economic success that they've had in Pennsylvania, and he'll be able to look at the ways that Pennsylvania politicians have to cross the aisle. They have to work with the other side. And he's going to say, this is actually a much better roadmap to success than someone where the middle class will no longer exist in 10 years because they are being taxed out of the state. And they are going to dismantle his record so quickly because right now they're. And I don't know why Ezra Klein and other mainstream liberals are doing this, but they're giving his flaws such a pass. They are looking past the things that really define him, which are his failures, and just focusing on the fact that he looks like a governor who came out of central casting. Well, for people who have suffered through wars, a pandemic, inflation, and a lot of political chaos, superficiality is absolutely not enough. And I very much look forward to his own party doing some political jujitsu. And I don't care if he and Kamala Harris are wounded out of politics forever. Metaphorically, of course, not physically.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, Harold is partly right. Bombast gets you the meeting, but it doesn't get you the deal. People misinterpret. Yeah, he's bombastic. He gets the media's attention, but he also delivers on stuff. You know, all the lists that Harold talked about getting stuff done. Gavin Newsom, if you asked him, what have you gotten done? Crickets. So he's not your guy.

[Jesse Waters]

Yeah, I don't think he has the answer.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I would also, President Trump hadn't done any of this either. No crime bill, no.

[Kennedy]

But he did secure the border. He has brought manufacturing back so he.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Can put on something he has been more affordable.

[Dana Perino]

He has not done that in California.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

He has secured the border. But he said he wants it. I agree with you. He said he's not done those things yet.

[Jesse Waters]

All right, well, we're gonna. We're gonna get crime down. Don't worry, Harold. I got you.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I trust you.

[Jesse Waters]

You got me. Up next, Kristi Noem lays the smackdown on a Democrat downplaying the murder of a National Guardsman.

[Dana Perino]

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[Gavin Newsom]

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[Lawrence Jones]

I'd like to introduce them to you.

[Jesse Waters]

Disruptions of congressional business.

[Kennedy]

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem getting an icy reception from the hecklers and Democrats on Capitol Hill as she answered lawmakers questions about global threats to the United States. One huge moment. Secretary Noem calling out the despicable way one Democrat congressman referred to the deadly shooting of two National Guards members in D.C. watch this. Madam Secretary, you and the gentleman from CTEATS NCTC reference the unfortunate accident that.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Occurred with the National Guardsmen being killed.

[Dana Perino]

You think that was an unfortunate accident?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I mean, it was a terrorist. Wait, wait. Look, I'll get it straight. Then you can.

[Dana Perino]

He shot our National Guardsman in the head.

[Kennedy]

Look, Mr. Chairman, will you direct the witness to allow me to ask my question?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

It was an unfortunate situation. If you're not fired, will you resign?

[Dana Perino]

Sir, I will consider your asking me to resign as an endorsement of my work. Thank you very much.

[Kennedy]

And over in Illinois, J.B. pritzker. The governor has come up with a new way to resist ICE agents in his state.

[Jesse Waters]

I'm here today to sign into law an expansion of legal protections for the people of Illinois. Together, we're sending a message to Donald Trump, to Kristi Noem, to Gregory Bevino and anyone else seeking to terrorize our people. Your divisiveness and your brutality are not welcome here.

[Kennedy]

So, Jesse, we'll get back to the governor later. But I see Democrats passionate when they speak against President Trump. So why not speak out against the murderer of the one that went after two National Guardsmen and not calling it an unfortunate situation.

[Jesse Waters]

It's just an unfortunate situation. Shit's crazy. It's like O.J. simpson that night on Bundy Drive. Just an unfortunate situation. They always have these terms, like what did OMAR say on 9 11? Some people did things where they say Fort Hood was a workplace violence. They can never just call a spade a spade. It's terrorism. Remember the Obama years? We just. We would try to like, wiggle around what we call them. You know we could only give them jobs. They were just poor, hungry people that flew the plane the wrong direction. I'm glad she hit him back. And I can't believe he corrected himself and said the same thing. Benny, my goodness. What's going on in Chicago? Turley, constitutional law professor, who I think is the smartest lawyer around. No offense, Harold. He said this was purely unconstitutional. Not only have the Supremacy Clause, Supreme Court precedent, federal immigration law. Barack Obama went to the Supreme Court to say the federal government controls immigration policy. And he won. Arizona lost. And you cannot set up little enclaves with where it's like. What can. Can Pritzker say in this block? The IRS can't enforce the tax code? No, of course not. The dumbest thing is they have this other little clause that's 1,000ft away from the courthouse. You can't have ICE agents do their job. So some migrant can just lease an apartment 500ft from a courthouse and just sit there and just. He could just live in a little sanctuary apartment. It's insane, and it's gonna get knocked down.

[Kennedy]

Harold, since you're the other legal mind, is it constitutional or not?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

On the face of it, Lawrence, it doesn't. You can't. A state. A governor can't usurp federal law. A governor can try to bring attention to something, but I don't know if this here will stand constitutional muster. But what I don't. What I can't quite figure out. And Vinnie Thompson I've known for a long time. And maybe he was gonna correct himself. That was an obvious attack on two federal law enforcement, two military officers doing their jobs. And I'm sure I'm hoping he feels that way, and I trust he does. I've known him a long time on the Governor Pritzker thing. What I don't understand, Lawrence, is if you are an illegal immigrant or legal, you're here legally and you're showing up at court for your asylum hearing, or you're showing up for some legal adjudication. It doesn't seem fair to me if you are within. You're following the law to be able to be arrested at the courthouse. Now, that may be separate from, as I read what Governor Pritzker seems more sweeping what he has done. And I think Professor Turley may have the law right there. One thing we know, these things will get litigated. All we do is litigate stuff these days. Things are challenged. I've been a believer for the longest of times that these governors ought to go to the White House, sit with the president, to the extent they can, and figure out ways in which to cooperate to get the worst of the people out of here. And where they have differences on the other stuff, let those differences play themselves out. But you asked me a basic question. It sounds like, on the face of it, Professor Turley is right.

[Kennedy]

Well, there are some cases where people show up to their court hearings, asylum hearings, but they have a DUI case as well. So there are criminals that are going through the legal process but have other criminal charges against them as well.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

But they shouldn't be legally, though.

[Kennedy]

They should be arrested.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

No, no, but wait. If you're gonna ask me a question about Professor Turley, you can't go outside of the law. If you have a DUI case, then you have to show up for your DUI case. But if you have an asylum.

[Kennedy]

No, you said that it doesn't make sense if people are going to their legal proceedings, that the administration arrests them. But if you go to your civil proceedings and you have criminal charges against you, I want you gone.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Right. But they're not. Those aren't felt. But anyway, I answered your question on. I was on a level. You're not being on the level there, but I got you. I was on a level with you.

[Kennedy]

Dana Mandami said he was gonna work with the president when it came down to some of the immigrants that was here with ICE and all of that. But now it looks like he's backtracking a little bit. Why is that?

[Lawrence Jones]

Well, I think. I think people do this to. They do in politics a lot. Right. But, for example, you might have to run in your primary to the far right or to the far left. Then you'll want to govern in the middle. But Mandani sort of, like, campaigned in the far left, pretended down at the White House that he was going to work with the president comes back and he cuts a video saying, actually, here's a way that you can get out of going that you don't have to deal with ice. But I think we. I'm willing to wait and see.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Lawrence Jones]

What happens? Maybe. Maybe we'll be surprised. And that would be a good thing. On JB Pritzker, we just talked about Governor Newsom, who wants to run for president. JB Pritzker is also making no secret that he also has that kind of ambition. And I just feel like, wow, Governor Newsom is, like, literally running circles around him. I mean, if you think about Governor, u haul in California. Like, think about Illinois. This is like, Katie, bar the door. Everybody wants to leave the kids can't read. You've been there, you've done all the crime reporting from there. Their investments are horrific, the taxes are terrible, the lawsuits are awful like this. This is not a state you want to emulate. But Governor Pritzker, he spends most of his time talking about immigration to go after Trump. When I actually think when it comes to the things that people are happy about, what Trump is doing on the border, yes, maybe on the other immigration stuff, maybe not so much. But overall, he gets high marks on that.

[Kennedy]

Kennedy. The way I see it is it's an easy deal that can be done. Most people agree with what the President has done at the border, but there's some ambiguity with what's happening with some of the immigrants. So the Democrats, all they have to do is give the President a bill that they can agree on, give him permanent border security so this never happens again. But no one has been willing to take that meeting.

[Dana Perino]

No. It's surprising neither party wants to do that when they've got the presidency and both houses of Congress. But that is what is so incredibly necessary here. And I don't think we're going to see comprehensive immigration policy passed under any Democrat or Republican president for whatever reason. They really don't want to touch it. They don't want the responsibility. So what we're stuck with is a shifting set of rules based on executive order and immigration trends. And the problem is the pendulum is going swinging to such incredible extremes. The people who think that they were playing by the rules and doing the right thing because they were told that are now living under a completely different set of rules and they don't know what to do with themselves. So the problem within the administration is you have people like Tom Homan who want to get the very worst out of these cities. And if that were the strict policy they were adhering to, I think you would have the more moderate governors and mayors agreeing with that and relaxing some of their sanctuary city policies if it could truly make their cities safer, because that is the best selling to their voters. Unfortunately, you do have people in this administration that want to arrest everybody and they want as many bodies and as many deportations as possible because they want to meet some quota. And that means that you are going to be losing Hispanic support because the President appealed to human nature. But unfortunately, you've got with immigration, you've got Democrats who want to extend a halo to every person who's in this country illegally, including the most violent felons. And then you've got people in the administration who want to paint them all as villains. And, you know, most people who are living lawfully, they don't really exist on either side. But you have to be realistic about who has to get out of this country.

[Jesse Waters]

But I wouldn't worry about Hispanic support. We got hit so hard over the head for so many years about that. Trump built a border wall and ran on mass deportations and his Hispanic numbers went up and he could get a little more cooperation in these sanctuary cities. He could go right into the jails and peel these guys out. New York has released 7,000 criminal migrants into the streets. They won't honor detainers. So it makes it difficult. And you have to sweep these neighborhoods. And, yeah, you're going to pick up some people that maybe just broke the law when they broke into the country. If you could do targeted operations with the cooperation of the Democrats, you get out the worst first.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

What Kennedy said is what I agree with. If they played it and articulated the way she just said, if that was the policy. Every mayor and every Democratic governor is saying, we're going to get out the worst of the worst. The challenge has been, and Kennedy said it so well, the hierarchy of deportations. You do have a handful of Democrats that want to just take ignore everyone. You have those in the White House, including senior people, who say we ought to swoop up everyone. If they came in and said, we want the worst of the worst, we'd have every mayor.

[Jesse Waters]

Los Angeles.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

That's not true.

[Jesse Waters]

New York City, Chicago, the three major metropolitan areas will not cooperate with Tom.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Homan because they're not doing anything.

[Jesse Waters]

So why are you saying that you're willing to cooperate when right out of the gate you weren't?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I'm with Kennedy then.

[Jesse Waters]

Okay, be with Kennedy. I'll be right over here.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

We're both, we're on this and I'm.

[Kennedy]

Gonna go to commercials. So ahead, the late night resistance folks like Jimmy Kimmel are questioning President Trump's health after completely ignoring Joe Biden. That's next.

[Jesse Waters]

I said, baby, I'm a dog.

[Dana Perino]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of Jesus.

[Jesse Waters]

A listening experience that will provide hope.

[Gavin Newsom]

Comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Lawrence Jones]

So the late night crew is dusting off the residual resistance playbook once again. So David Letterman just crowned Jimmy Kimmel as the leader of the anti Trump movement. And right on cue, last night, Jimmy Kimmel was raising concerns about President Trump's health, despite previously not questioning former President Biden's watch.

[Jesse Waters]

Something is wrong. The guy who's running our country is being given unscheduled dementia tests. He's been given MRIs. He has mystery bruises. He's covering with Maybelline. And we're supposed to accept this idea that he's some cross between Chris Hemsworth and Albert Einstein? Are aware of the fact that you are the leader of the resistance?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I am the totally ineffective leader of the resistance.

[Jesse Waters]

I'm going to suck up to you because I feel like if I kind of tag along with you, I'll be glorified.

[Lawrence Jones]

In retrospect, that comes as the New York Times continues to lean into this weird coverage of the President's health, despite numerous public appearances. A new opinion piece is titled Trump's approval ratings have Declined. So has his vigor. This is an interesting beat to be on, Lawrence. I feel like watching the Democrats try to generate this narrative about Trump's health is like when, you know, in Little League, when you have a team that's losing by 40 and you still have to pretend you care and you're trying. That's what they're trying to do.

[Kennedy]

It's so sad. And, you know, on the face of it, you see the president every day. He's going cross country. He never sleeps. He's making jokes about people. He's doing press conferences, rallies now. And so the most of the American people, even the ones that may disagree with him, they still think that he's alert there, especially when you compare him to the left. But the second thing is, when you don't address something in your own house, right? And then it happens at your neighbor's house, you can't say anything about it. You cannot say anything about it. Even if the president had some cognitive functions that were off, Democrats in the media lost their ability to talk about it because they said absolutely nothing until the President of the United States literally fell apart on a stage. So I do think it's sad, but I also think it's great for the President because the longer they speak on that and not the issues that matter, it's a win for him.

[Lawrence Jones]

So, Kenny, when you're talking about, like, the president travels around a lot. Last In June of 24, when you had Biden come back from a NATO meeting and then he took 10 days off before the debate. Remember that? People and his team kept saying, well, that's because he has jet lag. And yet the media didn't say anything about It. And then they were shocked on the night of the debate.

[Dana Perino]

Well, also, you know, take into consideration what President Trump does after an international trip. So can I tell a story out of school? Yes. Okay.

[Lawrence Jones]

I mean, we're not on camera, so say anything.

[Dana Perino]

Very good. So I was talking to one cabinet secretary and I asked him, is it true that the president doesn't let people sleep on these international flights, that he wakes people up in the middle of the flight no matter what time it is, no matter what time zone? And he said, and I won't say he said another cabinet secretary took a completely different plane home from Europe because he was so desperate for sleep. He knew that if he didn't, President Trump was going to keep him awake the entire flight asking him questions about what they had just achieved.

[Lawrence Jones]

And then now you can report that, Harold. I guess, I mean, maybe the Democrats think that this is a win, winning issue for them, but it feels very niche and fringe.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I don't think Democrats do. I think I would agree with you. I think the press should be. I agree with you guys 100% if you're gonna be critical of President Trump. This is a guy that takes questions, has an opinion on every issue, including who should merge and not merge in the private sector. He hurls invective with the best of them. He answers questions late at night, holds press conferences in the morning and at night. There's no question as you compare him to any president. In my lifetime, I've not seen a president who has exhibited more energy and more willingness to take on tough questions. There have been one or two times where he's not come forward, but 98% of the time this guy is available. I don't agree with him on a lot of things, but that's not the criticism. If you want to be critical, be critical on the issues. There's enough, I believe, there to ask the president about, including. I listen to Dave Letterman. I love Dave Letterman. I'm 55 years old. He was my late night guy when I was in college.

[Dana Perino]

I failed high school because of him.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

He looks a little different. He did before with the beard, but he's still hilarious. The real leader of the resistance as we sit here today is the Indiana State Senate, which is led by Republicans, which resisted the maps that the President wanted. Republicans joined Democrats. But focus on the issues. I'm just. The pettiness of the personal stuff I just don't get. And particularly when you have egg on your face. You are exactly right. No one, when we all knew what was happening With President Biden, no one raised the question. It took a national debate for us to watch, for us to say, you know what? This is not the guy who should be president for the next four years. Leave that issue alone and get to the substance, to the economics, to the affordability, to people not being able to get their wages a raise. That's what's on people's minds, not whether or not he's healthy. This guy makes himself available like no president we've seen.

[Lawrence Jones]

And I don't think that they actually care about his health. I think that they think it gets under his skin to bother him.

[Jesse Waters]

It does get under his skin, and he's very sensitive. But you know what? The thing is, there's a lot of funny stuff to make fun of Trump about, but there's so much other funny stuff to make fun of the Democrats. Gavin Newsom put his legs behind his head.

[Kennedy]

Did you see that?

[Jesse Waters]

That photo he put out?

[Kennedy]

I thought it was fake.

[Jesse Waters]

Oh, I thought it was real. I mean, it's like a Kama Sutra position. There's a lot of material there. You didn't see it? No, that's real. He's flexible. We are blowing up cocaine boats, Boats filled with kilos of cocaine. And the Democrats are saying, stop. There's jokes there. Sri the Indian congressman that yelled at Noem. He's got eyebrows like caterpillars. You think I haven't noticed those eyebrows? These guys are ridiculous. These are professional comedians thinking it. We're all thinking it. I mean, look at those eyebrows on the street. Not me. I don't know. There's so many funny things. The Somalians are stealing billions of dollars and buying Porsches.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Right?

[Jesse Waters]

These guys write jokes for a living. I mean, I could come up with a joke, but I'm not that funny. But these guys should do it.

[Kennedy]

Did you just talk about that man's eyebrows?

[Jesse Waters]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

While waving your thick eyebrows.

[Jesse Waters]

I just got mine trimmed, too.

[Kennedy]

You're right.

[Dana Perino]

Who trims him? Is that Johnny?

[Jesse Waters]

Johnny trims him.

[Lawrence Jones]

Good job, Johnny.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

There's too much personal stuff in Polly.

[Dana Perino]

Stay with these.

[Lawrence Jones]

What I really like also is you see how stealth Harold is when he drops these little bombs?

[Jesse Waters]

Oh, yeah, yeah. The Indiana Center, Indiana.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

It's good.

[Lawrence Jones]

It's super. And I admire it.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I'm sorry the facts are uncomfortable.

[Lawrence Jones]

I admire it. You're a good counselor. All right, up next, Democrats are flexing their impeachment muscles, and RFK Jr. Could feel the burn.

[Kennedy]

Makes me want to take.

[Jesse Waters]

Makes me want to take back. Hey, Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

You know, one of the perks about.

[Jesse Waters]

Having four kids that you know about is actually getting a direct line to the big man up north. And this year he wants you to know the best gift that you can give someone is the gift of Mint Mobile's unlimited wireless for $15 a month. Now you don't even need to wrap it.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Dana Perino]

Of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month. Required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes if network's busy. Taxes and fees extra.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

See Mintmo.

[Dana Perino]

Well, one cabinet secretary may be taking a holiday. The Maha movement might be in danger. A House Democrat from Michigan. Mm. Introducing articles of impeachment against America's personal trainer, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. No relation. Here's Congresswoman Haley Stevens to explain. Haley, RFK Jr. Has got to go. Enough is enough. And that is why I'm pushing to impeach RFK Jr to hold him accountable and to protect the health, safety and future of every Michigander. Because our health, our science and our future are worth fighting for. Hmm.

[Lawrence Jones]

Very intense.

[Dana Perino]

I feel like I'm watching a bloated Wednesday Addams. What did you think when you were watching that, Lawrence?

[Kennedy]

Well, I'm just. Look, I understand what the President says. Obviously the affordability is not a, a hoax. But if you think if the Democrats get control of government that they're all gonna start focusing on costs or not, they're gonna impeach. That's what it's all about. It's about making it difficult for the cabinet. And so I just think it's a waste of time. I also think MAHA is like one of those movements that a lot of people on the left agree with. You got libertarians, you got a lot of people that are concerned about the health. So why are you a target of him? You're gonna attack Pete Hegseth because he's blowing up the boats that are bringing drugs to the country? I just don't, I don't see the buy in for something like this. And by the way, if you plan on impeaching Donald Trump again, this is like number three. Well, you know, he's emboldened every time you try to go after him using the system.

[Dana Perino]

Yeah, you know, Congresswoman Stevens watches this show. She's like voted. So is this, you know, to Lawrence's point, is this a roadmap? If they win in the midterms, are they, are they just going to go after Cabinet Members say this is revenge for Alejandro Mayorkas.

[Lawrence Jones]

Well, one, I don't. I'm not yet conceding that Republicans aren't going to be able to keep the House or the Senate. I do think that it's a roadmap for now for people who are trying to run for Senate or for higher office, different office, and they're in a tough primary and they're trying to break things out. So I imagine that Haley's Senate bid is not going very well. So she has to figure out, well, what's the thing that I can say that might get me some small dollar donations or perhaps get me on the five. Okay. And so talking about impeachment, that will probably do it. But her mistake is this. If she really believes that RFK Jr. Should not be in the Cabinet and really believes he is that toxic and wants to get him out, this is the exact way to not get thrown because people who might not even like him would rally behind him to avoid this type of a politics going forward. So I think it also depends on who the leadership is next year if they, if the Democrats were to win. I believe that some people might be smart enough to realize that impeachment would be a really bad idea, especially if it's for a PR purpose.

[Dana Perino]

And it seems that that's exactly what this is. Are you surprised that RFK Jr. Is the lightning rod that that he is the prime mover on their list of impeachables?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

You asking me?

[Jesse Waters]

Well, it's probably Hegseth or Bobby Kennedy, but Bobby Kennedy is the most popular member of the Cabinet. Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Are the most popular politicians in the country right now. And so they've never liked him, but he is enacting a very popular and sweeping agenda. He's fixing the food pyramid. Remember they had like pasta at the top and Fruit Loops totally reversed that. And he's getting the food dyes out of the food. He's trying to stop the over medication of children. He's taking away the COVID mandate which was ridiculous. And I think everybody, as you said, loves this guy and we love his pull up form.

[Dana Perino]

I mean you've often said that about his physicality.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I thought she would keep that private between us 10 people.

[Dana Perino]

So if you're looking at the cabinet secretaries, I want you to put your I used to be a congressman hat on. If you're going to impeach anybody in this Trump cabinet, someone that you've really got your eye on, is it RFK Jr or is it someone else so.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

It'S hard for me to even wrap my head around it because I don't think when Republicans tried to impeach and did impeach Mayorkas, I don't remember some of this talk around the table. I don't think he should impeach.

[Jesse Waters]

Well, I mean, he blew up the border.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

So you think there are grounds?

[Jesse Waters]

Yes, there are grounds.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Impeach the secretary?

[Jesse Waters]

Yes.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

So there are people who agree with you, people who didn't agree with you. I don't think you impeach people who work for the president. If you don't like them, they're enacting the policies of the President. Now, I don't necessarily agree with many of the things that Secretary Kennedy is doing around health care. I agree with about 100% of the stuff he's doing around food. I wish he would focus more there that medical stuff. I'm just in the science stuff. I'm just not. I'm just not with him. But I don't mean. Your question is a legitimate question, Kennedy. I just. I don't believe you. Impeachment the messenger. The president is the one setting the policy.

[Kennedy]

Well, the president wasn't there, so we expected him to step in.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

But if RFK does anything that the president doesn't want him to do, the president would ask him to resign. I just don't believe it's. To me, you don't punch down in Congress. You impeach presidents, you don't impeach secretaries. Now, you made the point you all raised a little earlier. I do think Democrats need to get away from this notion that if we are successful next year, that the first thing we're going to do is impeach the President. The first thing we should be doing is trying to pass some of these laws. Now, Lawrence, you said something two segments ago about why don't Democrats pass these laws? I don't disagree with it, but they don't control anything. The Republicans in the House and Senate have allowed the Congress to essentially be muted in this process. They've allowed the President to do whatever he wants. Even when they agree with him a lot or they kind of agree with him or kind of disagree with him, they don't stand up one bit. I think if Democrats are successful next year, it won't be because they're saying they're going to impeach the president. It's going to be because.

[Kennedy]

But I'm not asking Democrats to go through the normal channels of. Through Congress.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Well, where are they supposed to go to?

[Kennedy]

I'm saying Go straight to the President.

[Dana Perino]

Well, you guys are going to have to take your jackets off and fight about this during the.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

No, but you. That. That's not how the process works. The Congress has to pass it.

[Dana Perino]

Thank you.

[Lawrence Jones]

And very, very good points.

[Dana Perino]

The fastest.

[Gavin Newsom]

Dangerous.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Welcome back. A woman from Spain reportedly got fired from her job. Forget this. For showing up for work too early. She would arrive 45 minutes before, and her boss claims she was ignoring instructions. Now, Kennedy, you're one to take orders from guys like that. What would your response?

[Lawrence Jones]

Absolutely.

[Dana Perino]

I would be famous submissive. Well, Spanish courts ruled in her favor.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Yes.

[Dana Perino]

Because she had been told repeatedly stop showing up to work early because she was trying to log in through the business's app so she could get paid more money. And her boss said, no, stop it. Show up on time.

[Lawrence Jones]

She was like, okay.

[Dana Perino]

And kept violating protocol.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Lj, is this a problem? I mean, you nailed it. The facts. But are we not encouraging people to work? Is this. I mean, put Spain out of it. I mean, Europe has their own set of challenges. Should we be thinking about this differently? People that want to work, let them work.

[Kennedy]

Was she working or was she just showing up early, clocking in? That's a difference. If I'm not clocking in and going.

[Dana Perino]

Out for breakfast because, you know, no.

[Kennedy]

One is there to monitor you and you're not really working. You're gaming the system.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Right. But if people.

[Kennedy]

First I feel sympathy for it. Now I'm like, she's stealing.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Well, no, I think. Well, we don't know enough about. We're signing a lot of things. I think people in Europe need to work more. And if somebody wants to work, we all let them work. DP your thoughts?

[Lawrence Jones]

Why would Trump agree on that?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Look, I think the president's right. I wouldn't have attacked him in a national security paper, but I think he's right on that.

[Lawrence Jones]

If you're not early, you're late.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

There you go.

[Dana Perino]

John Wooden. Absolutely right.

[Jesse Waters]

You said in the green room, Harold, that Spanish women, you didn't want them coming in early, you wanted them staying late. You know what I mean?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

No, I don't know what you mean.

[Jesse Waters]

You know what I mean. Never stay late. That's what you said.

[Lawrence Jones]

I don't know what you mean.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

After hours.

[Jesse Waters]

That's what you mean. I don't know. That's what he said in the green room.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I mean, this guy, we have to take him out in the back after we. After the commercial. And one more thing is up next.

[Jesse Waters]

Go blue. As we trim the tree.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

All right.

[Jesse Waters]

Time now for one more thing.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Dana.

[Lawrence Jones]

So this morning Kennedy was on America's Newsroom and she's in the commercial break and then she does something that makes sense. Me cry. And I'm just about to go back on air. My Kenny Kennedy got engaged last night.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Congratulations.

[Jesse Waters]

What? No way. Congratulations. Oh, my God.

[Dana Perino]

Isn't that beautiful?

[Lawrence Jones]

And Fred is such a wonderful guy. You are a wonderful person. I, I am. I, I cried because I'm so happy for you. You are the best. I'm so happy for you. Congratulations.

[Jesse Waters]

Congratulations.

[Lawrence Jones]

Wow. Such well deserved happiness and joy. And we wish you all the best.

[Dana Perino]

Thank you. He is the most beautiful, wonderful human being. And I had totally given up until those elevator doors opened and I met him just out of the blue and he changed my life.

[Lawrence Jones]

Yeah.

[Jesse Waters]

And he proposed at the Fox News Christmas party.

[Dana Perino]

No, it was after.

[Jesse Waters]

Oh, after. Got it.

[Dana Perino]

Yeah, I snuck him in. Don't tell security.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Go ahead.

[Dana Perino]

All right, here we go. A small twin engine Beechcraft 55 crashed on Interstate 95 in Florida after reporting some engine trouble. It struck a Toyota. The female driver and the pilot escaped without harm. I think this is probably the best advertisement for Toyota I've seen in quite some time.

[Jesse Waters]

All right. Still Christmas shopping? Probably. If you're a guy, go to the Fox News shop. We got the swag still ready for you. You got holiday blankets, flags, scarves. Everything has a flag on it. Wine shaped cutting boards. Okay. Tree ornaments. Lots more. If you're still looking for tree ornaments, you're in trouble shop.foxnews.com and tonight, Jesse Waters, Primetime Lifestyles of the Rich and Somali.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Lionel Messi. Lionel Messi has been named Major League Soccer as MVP for the second year in a row. He's my son's favorite, along with Mbappe and Vinnie Jr. And Cole Palmer and Declan Rice. But this guy's changed soccer and I hope he continues to change it, change American soccer in the way we consume it. Congrats to him. My daughter loves Alex Morgan. Jordan.

[Kennedy]

I had enough time for this. Not a speed reader.

[Jesse Waters]

No, definitely not.

[Lawrence Jones]

You just wish I would have skydiver.

[Kennedy]

Oh, there they go.

[Jesse Waters]

Listen to the 5ad free on Amazon Music with your prime membership or subscribe.

[Gavin Newsom]

Wherever you get your podcasts.