Podcast Summary: The Five — "Midterms Gift"
Date: February 26, 2026
Podcast: The Five (FOX News Podcasts)
Panel: Kennedy (Host), Harold Ford Jr., Jesse Watters, Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld

Episode Overview

This episode of “The Five” dissects major political developments in the aftermath of the recent midterm elections. The panel zeroes in on viral moments from the week, such as congressional reactions to illegal immigration, the Democratic Party’s handling of performative politics, and evolving campaign advertisement strategies. They also delve into hot-button topics: California's criminal justice controversies, growing animosity in sports media, and rare bipartisan praise as Michigan’s governor thanks President Trump. The tone is sharp, satirical, and passionate, as panelists analyze, mock, and sometimes clash on America’s political temperature.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Midterm "Gift" to Republicans: The Democrats' Viral Sit-down (00:04–07:50)

• The Moment: Democrats’ refusal to stand and clap for a young girl who survived an attack by an illegal immigrant during a prominent address sparked outrage and instant Republican campaigning.
• Republican Response: Vice President J.D. Vance and GOP strategists quickly weaponized the image in ads spotlighting Democrats allegedly prioritizing “illegal immigrants” over Americans.
• Performance vs. Principle: Dana Perino and Harold Ford Jr. discuss the history of selective applause (02:34–04:56), noting that both parties have historically refused to clap for the other side.
• Democrats on Defense: Ford Jr. challenges the use of "thinly veiled racist language" in framing the issue, warning it risks dividing the country (01:34).
• Jesse Watters:

  “You elect a politician to represent you. And Donald Trump has showed the Democrats want to represent criminals, trans and illegals. And he made it look easy.” (05:27)

• Satirical Take: Gutfeld mocks Democrats for being paralyzed by “ego,” unable to perform basic acts of unity for fear of tribal backlash (09:50).
• Strategic Blunder: The panel repeatedly underscores that Democrats have fallen into a "clap trap," making themselves look out of touch in a media-savvy era (07:50).
• Memorable Quote:

  “If your toilet does not have a rim, you’re gonna fall in.” (Greg Gutfeld, 12:06) — using humor to explain the necessity of boundaries, like borders.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jesse Watters (05:27):
  “Donald Trump's like, I want a strong border. They're like, we want no borders. Donald Trump's like, I want to lock up prisoners. They're like, bail out Everybody. He's like two genders. They're like 2,000.”
• Greg Gutfeld (09:50):
  “Why did they not stand up? It goes back to one word — ego. And it prevents you from actually joining in with other people. … This is a party that is governed by status and ego. And it's paralyzing.”

2. California Justice Controversy: The “Elderly Parole” for a Child Predator (14:13–19:34)

• News Item: The panel discusses the furor over the parole board's decision to release a convicted child molester, David Allen Funston, under reformed “elderly parole” rules.
• Political Fallout: Gavin Newsom is lambasted for enabling such reforms, with the governor attempting to distance himself by blaming the independent parole board (14:38).
• Passionate Reactions: Dana Perino voices outrage over lack of victim advocacy:

  “It is not okay. Why are we dealing with this? … Where’s compassion for the victims? There is zero compassion for the victims. They don’t give a damn about the victims.” (15:33)

• Panel Consensus: Several panelists see Newsom’s handling of criminal justice, affordability, taxation and homelessness as a string of failures (16:07).
• Broader Take: Gutfeld calls early release “a process that only goes in one direction — down," arguing any softening of the justice system fails victims and undermines faith in sentencing (17:27).

3. Gavin Newsom vs. J.D. Vance & The 'Scarier than Trump' Frame (14:13–23:14)

• 2028 Presidential Chess: Newsom’s comment that J.D. Vance is “scarier than Trump” sparks derision — the panel mocks the habit of escalating attacks on Republican figures.
• Laundry Detergent Analogy: Gutfeld likens Democrats' rhetoric to advertising “now with 30% extra evil" (17:27).
• Electability Debate: Panelists speculate about likely 2028 candidates, noting that real challenges may come from unconventional states and figures, not usual suspects (21:06).
• Memorable Exchange:
  Jesse Watters (19:40):
  “Is Gavin the princess of California or the governor, right? Does he have real power or does he wear a little crown and have a wand and do ribbon cutting ceremonies and drink tea?”

4. Campaign Issues & Economic Concerns (23:14–23:47)

• Means Testing Social Security: Dana Perino proposes means-testing for entitlement programs, voicing bipartisan concern about America’s financial health.

  “We should means test it. But no one’s doing that.” (23:44) “Privatize it. Absolutely.” (Kennedy, 23:45)

5. Sports Media & the Political Arena (24:34–29:41)

• Hockey Gold & Trump: The panel criticizes liberal sports reporters for overshadowing Team USA’s win by fixating on a joke President Trump made during a call with the men’s hockey team.
• Media Critique:
  Greg Gutfeld (25:44):
  “Sports writing and sports reporting has become contaminated by the same virus that contaminated late night tv ... It’s been replaced by this insulated, fragile … lazy pundit class.”
• Dana Perino defends athletes:
  “There’s no need to try to divide us or bring us apart … the men hadn’t won the gold in 46 years. These young men did something that brought the country together.” (28:33)
• Mockery of Media 'Outrage': The panel lampoons questions about whether laughing at a Trump joke is “appropriate,” joking about breaking up with someone over nagging (29:35).

6. Rare Bipartisan Moment: Gretchen Whitmer Thanks Trump (31:58–36:08)

• The Moment: Michigan’s Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, publicly thanks President Trump for work on new manufacturing plants in Michigan.

  “I want to thank President Trump for his work on this. The state of our state is strong and because of you, I know it always will be. Big Gretch out.” (32:18)

• Panel Reactions: Harold Ford Jr. praises bipartisan gestures as much-needed, referencing legislative accomplishments achieved through cross-party cooperation (33:40–34:46).
• Historical Perspective: Ford and Perino cite examples from past generations (Ike/Gore Sr., Dole/McGovern, Kennedy/Hatch) to show the value of working across the aisle.
• Skepticism: Kennedy lauds geographic positioning but questions Whitmer’s national potential, sharply criticizing her handling of COVID (36:02).
• Vice President Speculation: Watters anticipates Whitmer as the likely Vice Presidential candidate for Democrats (36:10–36:21).

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Jesse Watters on Dems Campaign Ad Impact:
  “It can come down to one moment, how powerful is this…compared to Kamala’s ‘they/them’ ad?” (05:03)
• Greg Gutfeld on Weaponizing Racism Accusations:
  "When you hear cries of racism, it's like seeing somebody with an iPhone 7. … Your kryptonite has worn off…" (10:55)
• Kennedy on Crowds:
  "That was a crowd of people who love this country, who are forward looking and who love the win for the United States hockey program … They do not want to be lectured to by a scold who might have cheated at Annapolis.” (29:57)
• Dana Perino on Bipartisan Accomplishments:
  "If we don't try it, we won't get things like the Civil Rights Act... where bipartisan support has made it not only a reality, but allowed it to sustain itself." (34:46)

Important Timestamps

• 00:04–07:50 — Discussion on the viral congressional sit-down, midterm campaign fallout
• 14:13–19:34 — California’s parole controversy, Newsom’s leadership
• 19:40–23:14 — Newsom vs. Vance, presidential race speculation
• 23:14–23:47 — Means testing and entitlement reforms
• 24:34–29:41 — Media politicizing sports, Team USA’s hockey gold
• 31:58–36:08 — Gretchen Whitmer’s bipartisan praise, panel’s take

Memorable Moments

• The “Clap Trap”: Kennedy coins the term for Democrats being baited into refusing applause, setting themselves up for negative campaign ads.
• Analogy Overload: Gutfeld’s elaborate metaphors, from party fights to toilet rims, add comedic bite to policy debates.
• Mocking Scare Tactics: Gutfeld’s lines about “30% extra evil” detergent and “now with more Nazis” mock predictable partisan demonization.
• Sports Segment Satire: Panel mimics exasperated athletes facing absurd media questions, then skewers sports journalism for its leftward turn.
• Bipartisan Nod with an Edge: Rare praise for a Democrat (Whitmer) is quickly leavened with reminders of COVID-era decisions and intra-party resistance to Trump cooperation.

Conclusion

This episode of The Five is a case study in partisan media analysis and political theater, dissecting reactionary moments, campaign tactics, and the ever-shifting winds of American politics. The tension between performative politics and substantive policy solutions runs through every segment — all delivered with sharp wit, historical references, and unsparing critique.

For listeners interested in the finest details of the week’s hot stories — and seasoned with robust, often satirical banter — this episode covers the ground with both depth and attitude.