Podcast Summary: The Five

Episode: Kamala Embarks On Media Blitz To Sell Book
Host: FOX News Podcasts
Date: September 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of "The Five," the panel dissects Kamala Harris’s nationwide media promotional campaign for her new book, 107 Days, focusing on her reflections about her loss to President Trump and her approach to accountability. The hosts also touch on President Trump’s encounter at the UN, the Democratic Party’s messaging struggles, the divide in civic discourse, and close with some lighter fare. True to The Five’s style, the conversation is lively, irreverent, and rich with banter, sharp critiques, and memorable one-liners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kamala Harris’s Media Blitz and 107 Days Book Tour

[00:27–14:14]

Main Takeaways:

• Kamala’s Narrative: Harris is promoting her book 107 Days, attributing her electoral loss to factors beyond her control and refusing to self-reflect.
• Group Therapy Critique: The hosts liken her media appearances (on Maddow, The View, GMA) to a "group therapy session," saying she blames everyone but herself.
• Failure to Distinguish from Biden: She claims loyalty to Biden and did not sufficiently differentiate herself, which, according to the hosts, contributed to her defeat.
• Timidity & Excuses: There’s consensus that Harris’s explanations (not enough time, loyalty, risk aversion) are excuses masking deeper flaws in her campaign and leadership style.
• Selecting a Running Mate: Discussion about the controversy over not picking Pete Buttigieg as VP—Harris allegedly cited political risk due to his sexuality, which even led to inconsistencies between her interview statements and the book’s text.
• Reactions to the Book: The panel mockingly critiques the memoir’s lack of detail, the absence of an index, and its self-focused narrative.

Notable Quotes:

• “Watching that episode was like getting into her group therapy, where it's all about herself except for the blame.”
  — Emily Compagno [03:30]

• “She will forever be known as the almost Lady. She almost picked Mayor Pete. She almost sided with parents over trans in sports. This is one of the worst habits a loser can have...”
  — Greg Gutfeld [04:45]

• “If her excuse for everything is 107 days, not enough time...But this wasn't a gestation. She was already fully formed in her incompetence.”
  — Emily Compagno [06:41]

• “I've always maintained that I think that she had too much time...She started to lose ground every single day after that.”
  — Harold Ford Jr. [07:09]

• “She said the race was too important to run with a gay.”
  — Jesse Waters [09:08]

Key Segment Timestamps:

• 00:27 – Intro to Kamala's book and media tour
• 03:30 – Panel first impressions and “group therapy” analogy
• 04:45 – Greg Gutfeld’s “almost Lady” riff
• 06:41 – Criticism of “not enough time” excuse
• 07:09 – Ford Jr. on Harris’s decline after high-profile endorsements
• 09:08 – Pete Buttigieg VP controversy
• 12:17 – Dana Perino on missed opportunity for policy leadership

2. Trump’s UN Escalator “Sabotage” and Speech

[15:13–25:24]

Main Takeaways:

• Escalator Incident: Trump and Melania encounter a malfunctioning escalator at the UN, prompting speculation of intentional sabotage.
• UN Critique: Trump uses his address to lambast the UN, “globalists,” and, notably, the climate agenda, calling global warming “the greatest con job ever perpetrated.”
• Panel Reaction: The hosts both mock and defend Trump, arguing that his bluntness is necessary and criticizing the missed policy opportunities in his speech.
• Ukraine and Foreign Policy: Discussion on Trump’s evolving stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and what the panel considers missed opportunities to demonstrate leadership on defense, tariffs, and AI innovation.

Notable Quotes:

• “This is an insurrection. And what we need to do is either leave the UN or...demolish the building.”
  — Jesse Waters (tongue-in-cheek) [17:02]

• “He told them what they needed to hear, not what they wanted to hear. You guys suck. You guys got to do better. Look what I’m doing. Follow me or get out of this city.”
  — Greg Gutfeld [23:27]

• “I thought he nailed every point so perfectly. The climate pacts, a con job. We have diminished our output by 17%...and it's all China and India. He's like, what is this all for?”
  — Emily Compagno [23:40]

Key Segment Timestamps:

• 15:13 – Trump’s escalator/teleprompter incident recap
• 17:02 – Jesse’s UN conspiracy riff
• 21:03 – Dana critiques foreign policy messaging
• 23:27 – Gutfeld on Trump’s blunt effectiveness

3. Data on Democrats’ Midterm Struggle

[26:26–32:42]

Main Takeaways:

• CNN Data’s Blue Wave Reality: CNN’s data guy points out Republican dominance in polling on economy, immigration, and crime.
• Democratic Messaging Failure: The panel skewers Democrats for lack of clear policy positions, especially on crime and transgender sports participation.
• Self-Destructive Narrative: The hosts argue that Democrats are disconnected from public sentiment and that blaming or demonizing the other side is not a substitute for actual ideas.
• Need for Ideas & Debate: The importance of new ideas and healthy public discourse is emphasized.

Notable Quotes:

• “If anything, at this particular point...it's the Republicans who are running with the ball on the top issues, the economy, immigration and crime. What are you doing, Democrats?”
  — Greg Gutfeld [26:54]

• “There's not any clarity, there's not any force and there's not any credibility around the kind of ideas Democrats have.”
  — Harold Ford Jr. [27:11]

• “...they are living in a bubble with no connection to the real world. And you want to talk about immigration...The Democrats are showing exactly where they stand, which is in no way with the American people. And that's why they will never, ever close that gap.”
  — Emily Compagno [28:54]

Key Segment Timestamps:

• 26:26 – CNN data presented, Republican policy advantages
• 27:11 – Harold on Democrats’ messaging vacuum
• 28:54 – Compagno on Democrats’ disconnect

4. Battle Over Civil Discourse: Bill Maher vs. Rob Reiner

[33:19–38:23]

Main Takeaways:

• Refusing to Debate: Hollywood liberal Rob Reiner says he won’t talk to Trump supporters; Bill Maher objects, emphasizing the necessity of debate.
• Panel Analysis: The Five argues that avoiding debate is a sign of weak arguments and a recipe for civic failure and polarization.
• Value of Engagement: Bi-partisan exchange is crucial for democracy, and demonizing opponents halts progress.

Notable Quotes:

• “If I can't talk to you, if you believe this crazy thing...that kind of keeps him from having to debate. But when you remove debate, what was debate replacing? It was replacing violence.”
  — Greg Gutfeld [34:53]

• “If you're not talking to the other side, you're just talking to yourselves. And that's a sure way to lose.”
  — Harold Ford Jr. [34:53]

Key Segment Timestamps:

• 33:19 – Bill Maher and Rob Reiner clip
• 34:53 – Gutfeld and Ford Jr. on dangers of non-engagement

5. Lighter Segments: Adult Homework and “One More Thing”

[38:51–End]

Highlights:

• Adult Homework Trend: Skepticism over the claim that adults do homework for fun—panel jokes about homework, reading, and drinking as pastimes.
• Sunscreen-flavored Ice Cream: Fun taste test and banter about beach-themed flavors.
• Powerball Winner’s Charity: Dana Perino tells the story of a charitable Powerball winner.
• Wrap-Up: Plugs for other shows, playful banter about snacks, and witty sign-off lines.

Notable Quotes:

• “You know what I do for fun, Harold? I drink like everybody else.”
  — Jesse Waters [39:56]

• “This literally tastes like summer.”
  — Emily Compagno (on coconut ice cream) [41:18]

Key Segment Timestamps:

• 38:51 – On adult homework
• 41:03 – Sunscreen ice cream taste test

Tone & Style

• Irreverent, sarcastic, and combative with sharp humor
• Heavy use of analogies (“almost Lady,” “group therapy,” sports metaphors)
• Panelists frequently speak over/banter with one another
• Pop-culture references and on-the-fly critiques

Memorable Moments

• Greg Gutfeld’s “almost Lady” and “airport bar” monologues [04:45]
• Jesse’s painter anecdote about the VP pick [09:12]
• Fiery riff comparing UN criticisms to bomb threats (satirically) [17:02]
• Bill Maher / Rob Reiner debate on talking across the aisle [33:19]

Episode Takeaways

• The Five views Harris’s book tour as blame-shifting and emblematic of Democratic shortcomings in authenticity and risk.
• The panel praises Trump’s bluntness and critiques conventional diplomacy, favoring “truth bombs” over nuanced rhetoric.
• There is consensus that the Democratic Party is out of touch with voters’ concerns, especially crime and the economy.
• Civil discourse is breaking down—highlighted by the Maher-Reiner debate—and the panel laments a partisan retreat from engagement.
• Lighter segments lend the show balance, with humorous takes on “adult homework” and summer treats.

For listeners who missed the show, this episode is a full-force Five experience: pointed analysis, relentless mockery, some policy substance, and plenty of punchlines.