Midterms Gift

Summary

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

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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.

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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.”

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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).

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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?”

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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)

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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).

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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).

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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)

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Transcript

[Greg Gutfeld]

Foreign.

[Kennedy]

Hello, everyone. I'm kennedy, along with harold ford jr. Jesse waters, dana perino and greg gutfeld. It is five o' clock in new york city and this is the five. Well, that didn't take long. Republicans are already unwrapping the midterm gifts Democrats so kindly handed to them Tuesday night. That viral moment when the Dems sat on their keisters instead of standing up for Americans over illegal immigrants. Vice President J.D. vance sure had a field day blasting Dems like Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib for scowling like they smelled something bad.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I look over the Congressional Democrats and they're just scowling. They cannot clap their hands for a

[Jesse Watters]

six year old who survived an attack for an illegal alien. What is that?

[Greg Gutfeld]

What kind of a person can't stand

[Jesse Watters]

up and cheer for an innocent young girl who's doing well, who's showing the

[Greg Gutfeld]

entire country strength and resilience?

[Kennedy]

And Republicans wasting no time cutting this ad.

[Jesse Watters]

These people are crazy.

[Kennedy]

But the Democrats, they are ready to die on this illegal immigrant hill by calling the question itself. Drumroll, please. Racist.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I think you can agree with the what, like standing up for American citizens, but I disagree with the how. And so it's always about how do we bring our country together but not stand on the backs of others. There's thinly veiled racist language, anti immigrant language in what he was asking. And that was, that was uncomfortable.

[Dana Perino]

And the President's speech was just very performative.

[Jesse Watters]

If you think you should be supporting American citizens over illegal immigrants, stand up.

[Dana Perino]

You know that's wrong. Right?

[Jesse Watters]

And everybody on that side who stood up knows it's wrong.

[Kennedy]

Might have been performative, but at least he wasn't a talking corpse, like some might say about our last president, which would have been rude. Harold. So let's talk about the what and the how that the Congresswoman was referring to. The what is protecting Americans over illegal immigrants. Do you really believe that she believes in the what? Because I have my concerns.

[Dana Perino]

I don't know. First of all, it's good to be back around the table. I don't know. I don't know the congresswoman, what exactly she was referring to. I mean, there were things the President said in a speech that I would have stood up for. There were things he said that I would not have stood up for. I've been to 10 of these. Ten of those speeches while I was in Congress. Four under President Clinton, six under President.

[Kennedy]

You have abstained from this one?

[Dana Perino]

Six. I would not have, I said on the day of the show on this show and the show leading up to it that I would, I thought it was important to be there. But I remember Kennedy, the six that I went to where President Bush was president and the four for President Clinton. It was not uncommon for Democrats not to clap for President Clinton at times. And it was not uncommon for Republicans, for Democrats not to clap, excuse me, for President Bush at times and for Republicans not to clap for President Clinton at times. Now, I thought there were moments where they should have stood up and clapped. But again, this will pass. What will not pass, I think, are the issues here. There are two things that stood out to me. One is we are. And I'm so hopeful after learning today and encouraged by the positive news that came out of the talks in Geneva between Mr. Woodkoff and Mr. Kushner and their counterparts on the other side, I'm hopeful we don't find ourselves at war. I'm one that believes if we can resolve this without military conflict with Iran, we should. And then two, the economic issues. The President was curious. The president said the affordability issue is solved. I hope he's right. I don't think so. I look at some of the data today and it's important for as we think about this, people earning under $250,000 are people outside of the top 10% earners in the country. And the top 10% earners in the country account for 50% of all of consumer spending activity in the country. Middle class earners and lower class earners, their wages have actually not kept up with inflation. Those of at this, at this table and those earning 250,000 and more, our wages have kept up with inflation, if not surpass it. Our cost of living or should say wage increases have surpassed it. So I hope the president focuses more on affordability. I was encouraged. I didn't necessarily agree with what Vice President Vance said there about Democrats, but I hope that they focus more not only on making things more affordable, but ensuring that middle class, Everybody earning under $250,000 a year have something to brag about as well. But you asked me a basic question. I think they should have stood. I would have attended. And if there are times in which you don't want to stand, don't stand. But don't just sit for everything. There are positive things the President said in that speech that deserve some applause.

[Kennedy]

And there are positive things that the President said that are good for Americans that should always be applauded, regardless.

[Dana Perino]

That's what I was saying. No doubt about it.

[Kennedy]

I'm giving you a high five on that, Harold, because you deserve lot of incoming. So Jesse there, they have crafted this ad. There are more on the way, obviously. And we all know in these political cycles, it can come down to one misstep. It can come down to one moment, how powerful is this compared to the Kamala is for they them ad that the president and his team credits for pushing him?

[Jesse Watters]

It's even more powerful because you can see this one and everybody can agree that they did not stand up for the American people. And it goes to the core of a democracy. 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. It should not be this easy. He's basically going out there and says, stand up if you like pizza more than broccoli. And the Democrats are like this. I mean, it never used to be this easy. Why is it this easy? Is it because the Democrats have gone so loco? Is it because Donald Trump has made the Democrats go so loco? Or all he has to do is look normal or just run the ball right down the middle of the field and score touchdown after touchdown after touchdown? We used to debate ideas. We don't even do that anymore. Now it's just like you're either normal or crazy. 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.

[Dana Perino]

This is.

[Jesse Watters]

We've gotten a little out of control where they're not standing up for widows and war heroes and Olympic winners. Jessica said something yesterday and I actually agreed with her. I couldn't even believe. It's kind of stuck with me. We both agreed that Democrats want nothing to do with the Trump show. Now it's not a show, it's a presidency. And the people wanted this presidency, but call it a show cuz it's very theatrical. They have to be in the show no matter what. If they walk out, they're in the show. If they sit, if they clap, they're in the show. What they still can't understand is that they're extras, they're bit players. Trump is the main character, the director and the producer, and he's making them react to him and then he's merchandising their reaction. Now, I never seen anything like this before and they haven't either. So right now they're just waiting for the Trump show to end and they're Actually leaving before the show's over because they think they can get out of it and they can't because this ad is killer and it's going to live on.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. And this is part of what I call the clap trap, because Democrats continue to fall into it. And here you have, you know, whether it is a widow, a grieving mother, a child who survived a near fatal accident, but all of these stories that should connect with human beings so deeply. And it's not difficult to clap for those things. But what is the fear that's driving them to sit down? Is it the anger at Trump and they just want to prove that by sitting no matter what he says, or is it the fear that if they do stand up and clap and they will be ostracized by their tribe?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I think, I think we don't know that. And I think they don't know that President Trump laid out the bait and they took it hook, line and sinker. They have not learned anything about how to deal with them, and maybe they just won't be able to. And that's part of the thing that I definitely agree with you, Jesse, that they're just sort of like, can we just hold on till this is over? But in a later block, we'll tell you how they're already preparing for. It's even worse than Trump, whatever comes next. There's a theory called strategic ambiguity, Right. And it's like, so the strategy is just to be sort of amorphous, don't rock the boat. They don't put forward policy ideas. They're not figuring out a way to go to him and say, we got an idea. You know who did, though? Mamdani, Today, the mayor of New York said, I'll go talk to him. I got a problem. In fact, I got three problems. I'm just going to surprise, head down there, have a meeting with him, have a nice photo and get my results. And that's what he was able to do today. And I would say that there's so many Democrats that are in Congress right now or governors, they could go to

[Kennedy]

him forever that they should sit down like he wants to make sure.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

If the Democrats chose three things they wanted to ask him to do that were reasonable, they can't be like, ridiculous. But they wanted to achieve three things and they could agree on what those were. Even it was just a small group of Democrats and they went to the President and said, how about we work on these things together? He would probably say, yes. Yes, Greg.

[Greg Gutfeld]

So why did they, why did they not Stand up. Why did they not? It goes back to one word, ego. And it prevents you from actually joining in with other people. Because if it's compared to what you had thought before, it's wounding. This is a party that is governed by status and ego. And it's paralyzing. It's paralyzing their entire progress. They can't do anything, so it makes them appear miserable because they can't participate. It's like when somebody gets in a fight at a party and they don't want to rejoin the party. Come on, have fun. Join us. But they can't. They can't rejoin the party. And this is also why the woke was able to take over and terrify them because they were so concerned about how they were perceived. They could not be perceived as being less compassionate. They could not be perceived as wrong. Whereas as Republicans and independent we are, we have learned politically, it doesn't matter if you're wrong. You just. You just.

[Dana Perino]

You.

[Greg Gutfeld]

If you're proven wrong, you take that as information that improves upon your own position. I talk about that with decriminalization, how my positions have not been proved correct, hardly. I think it's been. I think I'm wrong on that. But I don't sit there and defend it. I'm not defensive. I welcome that. They need to let go of their ego. And when you hear cries of racism, it's like seeing somebody with an iPhone 7. You know, it's like, you know what? Why don't you wear a trucker hat and an Ed Hardy T shirt? Because you are like about 20 years behind. Your kryptonite has worn off. And I'm sure that there are things that are truly racist, but the problem is you created an environment where nothing is credible. And every time you hear somebody do that. Now remember how we were in 2015, if you heard somebody say this is racist, we would go like, we'd get kind of defensive and try to explain it. Now I just picture Tommy Lee Jones and the Fugitive when Harrison Ford says, I didn't kill my wife. And Tommy Lee Jones goes, I don't care. And it's like when someone says, I think this is racist, it's like, I don't care. I would have cared. Now onto this, just this quick thing about the border thing. I think that you're dealing with incredibly ignorant people who think that other countries are different. But if they were to go and try to impose their beliefs in any place, whether it's Japan or China or Russia, even Canada, if they demanded special rights, they would be back here whistling these national anthem in no time. They are just as pro border as conservatives and Republicans are here. You just don't know that because you don't get out. You almost have to speak to them like children. What is a border? It's a boundary that creates a limit. You know, it could be ornamental, it could be geographic. It could be the natural edge of a frontier, like an ocean. It could be a shore. You know, if your toilet does not have a rim, you're gonna fall in. Dana, that's terrible. If you're bored, if you have a beard and it has no border, then you would be covered in hair like Rashida Tlaib. So you have to. So borders define everything in the universe. And without them, there would be chaos. Likewise, a country with no border. Our economy would not be able to keep up with the numbers that were coming in. I think you need to explain it. And that creates a hierarchy that citizens first, illegals further down the chain.

[Jesse Watters]

So poor Rashida.

[Greg Gutfeld]

No. Didn't she scream kkk?

[Jesse Watters]

Yes, that's right. I forgot.

[Dana Perino]

Screw her.

[Kennedy]

And they have a waxing salon at the Capitol.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah. Why did she use that?

[Kennedy]

Coming up next, Greasy Gavin thinks J.D. vance is the boogeyman. But the real horror story, his state just signed off on parole for a child predator monster.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

That's next.

[Kennedy]

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

[Dana Perino]

A listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

And Gavin Newsom seems to be warming up for 2028.

[Kennedy]

He called J.D.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

vance scarier than President Trump.

[Dana Perino]

But Vance, for whatever reason, scares me.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Why almost more than Trump.

[Dana Perino]

I don't know.

[Jesse Watters]

I just.

[Dana Perino]

I mean, talk about a guy who

[Greg Gutfeld]

put a mask on and his face grew into it.

[Jesse Watters]

But JD Is a unique fraud and phony and he's a little more dangerous.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Come up with that.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

But what's really scary is what's happening in his own backyard. A California pedophile dubbed the Monster Parents Fear Most has been approved for release by a California parole board. David Allen Funston was convicted of 16 counts of kidnapping and child molestation back in 1999. He received three consecutive sentences of 25 years to life. But under California's elderly parole program, Funston was eligible for release since he is over the age of 50 and has served 20 continuous years of his sentence. Newsom's office saying in a statement Quote, the Board of Parole hearing is an independent agency and made this decision. The governor asked for PBH Re review its decision. The governor doesn't agree with the outcome. But critics, including the district attorney who prosecuted the case, say the governor is gaslighting, slamming Newsom for signing the bill that lowered the age for release. And the local sheriff is attacking the parole board.

[Dana Perino]

I'm pissed. It is not okay. It is not okay. Why are we dealing with this? It's common sense thing. 99% of voters support him being locked up forever. Lock him up, throw away the key. But in California, they want to let him out and they let others out like him. Compassionate release. Where's compassion for the victims? There is zero compassion for the victims. They don't give a damn about the victims. They care about the suspects doing this, doing these horrific things. We've got to stand up and fight for our kids. This is not okay.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

What's going on in California, Kennedy?

[Kennedy]

Gavin Newsom has totally lost control of his state. Whether it's affordability, taxation, homelessness, it doesn't matter. Anywhere that he has executive authority, he has failed. You know, he has tried to make the point here because he's trying to score political points, that he also agrees that this person shouldn't be paroled, but he really hasn't done anything about it. He hasn't worked with the assembly to amend these laws because, you know, is 50 really elderly in California? No, it's not. And if you go on the sex offender registry websites, a lot of those guys look just like David Allen Funston. You know, they're guys in their 50s and 60s that are very much willing to reoffend and hurt children. And all you have to do is listen to the victims. They're adults now. They were essentially Taylor Swift's age when they were sexually abused by him and lured into his vehicle and. And then held at knifepoint while he abused them. One of them was lured in with a Barbie. And those girls are now adults. They're women. And they will tell you he should be in prison for the rest of his life. There are plenty of people in the California criminal justice system that should receive parole. He is not one of them.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

And Greg, either on that part or Gavin Newsom deciding to figure out a way to get in front of 2028 by saying JD Vance would be even worse than Trump.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I can comment on both of them because I feel strongly about this elderly parol thing. It's a process that only goes in one direction, which is down because it started for people who were 60 that served 25 years. And then in just three years they lowered it to 50 who served 20. So with every progressive thing, what's next after that is it just is. Now it could be age 45, who served 15. And you know what? It doesn't even matter if none of them reoffend, even though some already have. It doesn't matter because the original sentence isn't just for him. It's also for the victims who are going through their own punishment. You know, they trusted the permanence of that sentence. And who is this? A hole judge who has no connection to the crimes, who didn't sit through the trial to come in and go, hey, you know what? This guy can't get a boner anymore. Let him out. This guy has 16 counts. He should be murdered in the chair legally. I love that Gavin is saying Vance is worse than Trump. Cuz it shows you that how Democrats treat Republicans like laundry detergent. You know, it's like now 30% extra evil because, you know, remember Trump was evil, but this is the, you know, he's now with more Nazis. You know, get your whites whiter with Vance, kills more elderly on the spot. But it's a law of diminishing returns because how do you get worse than Hitler when you call someone Hitler, you realize now that it's fake because they did that with Reagan, they did that with Bush, they did that with Trump. How can you get more existential? Extra existential. But the thing that bothers me most about this is that part of this demonization is them predicting what they will do, these evil people will do. But it never arises. But what does arise is the reaction. So it's the left being justified to try to kill Trump or kill Charlie Kirk or go after a Supreme Court justice because these people are Hitler and Nazis. But none of that behavior from the Hitler Nazi side ever materializes. Just their reaction.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Does Gavin Newsom have a problem here? Even though he says that it's an independent board and he's against the sentence.

[Jesse Watters]

Listen, 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? This guy, when everything bad happens in California. Oh, fires. Oh, it's Karen's problem. I just got here. Or men are playing women's sports in California. I never knew about that. I'm against it. Or now like this, he's like, yeah, this is the parole board, dude. You cannot, when good stuff happens, say California sixth largest economy in the world. That's all me. And then when everything falls apart, you're like, it's the deputy district attorney. I'm just finding out about it now. The other thing, rule for men, Dana. Men cannot say another man is scary. Okay? You can't say the word scary as a man. Are you scared, Gavin? You scary for you? Come on. And he's just the next, more dangerous and the next. Like Greg said, this is the line of attack, though he said it about Rubio, too. Rubio and Vance are scarier than Trump, more dangerous than Trump, and they're phonies. And that's what you're going to see because they criticized Donald Trump and now they're in his cabinet. And that's going to be what they'll try to do. And I don't know if it'll work.

[Greg Gutfeld]

We'll see how it shakes out, Harold.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

But how do you think it'll shake out? I mean, because he is certainly out there. He's got a book tour and out and about.

[Dana Perino]

Look, so he won't be governor after this year. So he's got to figure out how you stay, how you stay in the flow. I think it's going to be hard for him or J.D. vance. I'd put my money on them. Neither one of them being the nominee for their respective parties that sit here today. We can talk about it after break, but the proverbial. I don't. I just think it's such a long time between now and 28. You think about the issues that are percolating, the national debt, which we don't talk about anymore, which I think will become more and more of an issue, unfortunately, over the next 12 to 36 months. You think how our politics and our education and our health care delivery system, the disrepair that they're in, how housing for everyday Americans, especially young Americans, is out of reach. I was looking at an old video of Charlie Kirk a few days ago, and as he was speaking at, I think at the convention in Milwaukee for Republicans, he was speaking right to his generation, saying all these things they're saying are out of reach. They're not. We're going to do better. That's the message you got to look forward. And unfortunately, I think some of these candidates continue to look backwards. I agree with Jess. You can't be afraid of anybody in politics. And in fairness to Gavin, I don't know if he was saying he was afraid of him. He's saying he's scarier. And you certainly can't say a guy scary if you're looking to run for president of the United States, we won the 20th century as a country because we won two world wars. We were able to produce things like no other country in the world. We tripled our wealth in this country, and then we won the Cold War. It's important to note, in 1940, America's military was the 19th biggest military in the world. We were one spot behind Portugal. Here we are, 86 years later, the most dominant force on the face of the earth. Thanks I 25, 26 years into, thanks to a lot of people, thanks to a lot of Democrats and Republicans. More importantly, thanks to a lot of Americans. Here we are, 26 years into the 21st century, and a lot of things are in disrepair. If you're going to run for president, stop being scared about other guys. Talk about what it is you want to do going forward. If you're a Republican or if you're

[Harold Ford Jr.]

a Democrat, set up like that, then the contrast is, you know, the brown stuff is hitting the rotating blade. So who do you want to deal with it? Governor, U Haul or the vice president?

[Greg Gutfeld]

We're going to point this out. Three years out, there was one guy screaming about the national debt and the Democrats tried to destroy him, and that was Elon Musk. The whole doge, all of that was about debt. President Trump went after his cars, they went after his dealerships.

[Dana Perino]

President Trump has said at the very beginning, this administration, in the last one, that Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are off the books as we talk about trying to balance. But you have to means test. We shouldn't have. The five of us here should not get Social Security before we're 70 years old. We should means test.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

That's fine.

[Dana Perino]

We should means test it. But no one's doing that.

[Kennedy]

Privatize it. Absolutely.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

All right. Solved ahead. Did the media forget that Team USA won gold because all they want to ask players about is President Trump?

[Dana Perino]

My day kicks off with a refreshing Celsius energy drink, then straight to the gym, Pre K pickup back home to meal prep. Time for my fire station shift. One more Celsius. Gotta keep the lights on when the three alarm hits. I'm ready. Celsius. Live fit. Go grab a cold refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate [e-mail].

[Jesse Watters]

I must tell you, we're gonna have

[Dana Perino]

to bring the woman's team.

[Greg Gutfeld]

You do know that.

[Jesse Watters]

Liberal sports reporters desperately trying to cause a battle of the sexes between the men's and women's gold medal hockey teams. It's all over President Trump's lighthearted locker room talk with the boys. But the players, they don't give a puck.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Don't mean to detract from the celebration, but curious if you had any further comments, anything else you'd like to add about that?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

No, I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate. But what is, is shifting the focus and shifting the narrative of this amazing accomplishment that we all did together.

[Jesse Watters]

The reaction of those players.

[Kennedy]

No, we all know being there, what it felt like to have their support throughout the tournaments to support them. Do you understand, understand how they could feel pretty put down by that moment.

[Jesse Watters]

I have no really other comments other than, you know, for the things that we control.

[Kennedy]

Why would you laugh when they got invited?

[Jesse Watters]

I mean I, I don't really have an answer honestly. I guess caught off guard a little bit. Why would you laugh at a joke like that?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Why would you laugh?

[Jesse Watters]

Oh, you were in the locker room and you were laughing.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Oh my God, I don't know what to do. I have no fun in my life. I don't have any friends. I don't understand jokes. I don't. When people laugh, it makes me sad. I need to go out and throw something at an ice agent. This speaks to the obvious realization that and most sports fans know this, that sports writing and sports reporting has become contaminated by the same virus that contaminated late night tv, entertainment and music journalism. It's unreadable. Academia, it's all this. I mean imagine what you used to think of a sports reporter like a grizzled guy in a hat with a cigarette and a notebook writing about the actual sports. Just get down and try to get get a quote out. But it's been replaced by this insulated, fragile. Those people are lazy pundit class who's who who have skipped the the test that that makes a journalist which is actually reporting on the sport. And they've replaced it with social commentary which is easier because then you can infuse it with your politics and your feelings. And whether mass it's toxic masculinity or it's patriarchal oppression, no sports fans actually read Sally Jenkins. She writes sports for non sports fans. East coast art history grads who think their cats are children. They can't read a box score to save their lives, but they know every athlete.

[Jesse Watters]

Dana, we make jokes about men and women all the time. It's just a joke.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

It's one of my favorite things.

[Greg Gutfeld]

But see, you're a confident woman and you're not brainwashed like those poor saps applauding.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Right. And I do think it's weird about sports journalism. How did that become the place for all the lefties?

[Greg Gutfeld]

It all comes from academia. It's all dei and everybody's scared of being called a bigot. So they let all of these untalented, no Experienced losers and that. I mean, look what happened to Sports Illustrated. Yeah, a shell of a magazine. They put trans. They put other obese on the COVID They're magazine Sports Illustrated.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I think it's also one of the reasons that the point I wanted to make was about how many of the people, not just the media, but how many of the people complaining about how the women were treated by Trump and by the hockey team have ever stood up for women? When women's sports are being taken away by people who want to support men being able to compete in their sports. Like, where have. Where are they? It's just been a weird thing. I've been trying to think about it all day, like. But you can't just stick up for female athletes when it fits your political agenda. If you want to stick up for female athletes, please join us. That'd be great. We would love to have your support.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Harold.

[Dana Perino]

I think I understand. If you're in a locker room, if you've ever been in a locker room, you ever won something in sports, there's a celebration that takes place. Greg was saying it and was making light of it, but I think his point is very serious. And you get the President of the United States on the phone and they can't be held accountable to players for something President Trump said. And many of them probably couldn't hear him. And they laughed. Congratulations to these guys. These guys congratulated their counterparts, the women. The women's hockey team didn't say anything negative about the men's hockey team. They said that they thought the president's joke was distasteful. And they have every right to think that. But for reporters, I disagree with everyi agree with everything been said around the table to try to draw wedge between both of our teams won the goal. The men hadn't won the goal in 46 years. These young men did something that brought the country together. There's no need to try to divide us or bring us apart. Now, if you want to ask President Trump that question during a press conference, that's fair game. But leave these players alone. They've done their part and congratulations to them and their families. And go usa.

[Jesse Watters]

I mean, if a woman is nagging you about laughing at a joke, I mean, that's the kind of thing you break up with her about. But those were male report.

[Greg Gutfeld]

That was a male report.

[Jesse Watters]

Exactly. And I'm not saying this is a gay thing, Greg, but, but, but this is how it feels. It feels like you're getting nagged by a woman you don't like.

[Kennedy]

Then cut the broad loose, Jesse.

[Greg Gutfeld]

That's what you.

[Kennedy]

I will say this. I was at that devil's game last night and Jack Hughes got a hero's welcome singing the national anthem after the ceremony honoring him and Team USA and Thompson from Buffalo, he brought him out and they took in the adoration together for their country, for their team. That was so incredible. Everyone there was singing the national anthem. It started out softly, it built to a crescendo, and people meant it with their hearts. And it felt so good to be so optimistic about something. And then Mikey Sherrill, the Democrat governor of New Jersey, presented Jack Hughes to the state flag and she got booed just mercilessly. That was not her crowd. 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, for the men and the women. They do not want to be lectured to by a scold who might have cheated at Annapolis.

[Dana Perino]

This whole segment should have clapped for the governor, too. They didn't hate.

[Greg Gutfeld]

It's about you can't hate the media enough. And this is another example of what has happened. Everything has to be changed. Get rid of it.

[Dana Perino]

But reporters have asked really dumb questions of athletes for a very, very long time.

[Greg Gutfeld]

So let's not.

[Dana Perino]

This is not, this moment is not isolated political.

[Greg Gutfeld]

This is an ideological shift that's gone on for what, 10, 15 years. These people should not have jobs.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Well, they're about not to have jobs.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Should be farms. They should be on farms.

[Jesse Watters]

Should we deport them?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Making my wallets that I sell in China.

[Jesse Watters]

This is what happens when I just let Greg talk. This could go on. Coming up next, big Gretchen because she commits the ultimate Democrat sin saying something nice about President Trump.

[Greg Gutfeld]

It's a move so forbidden in the Democratic Party that they might send Jerry Nadler to sit on you as punishment. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer just praised President Trump.

[Jesse Watters]

Michigan is open for business.

[Kennedy]

New factories making batteries, cars, chips are opening.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Probably not on the bingo card, but I want to thank President Trump for

[Kennedy]

his work on this. The state of our state is strong and because of you, I know it always will be. Big Gretch out.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Boy, she really ruined that moment, huh? Same Big Gretch out.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I don't know. She's kind of funny. Did you notice she got everybody. I never met her. I do not have a crush on her. Never met her. But she got both sides to clap.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Everybody clapped and they were all happy for those jobs. On the presidential primaries, like people think, like, okay, maybe she's trying. When she went to Munich at the security conference and then they said, what do you think about foreign policy? She's like, oh, yeah, that's not really my lane. I'll defer to him.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Matt Whitlock was Whitaker. Whitaker.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

And Whitlock's a good guy, though Whitaker

[Greg Gutfeld]

used to do my show. I feel bad about it.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Whitaker, so. But presidential primaries are about lanes and the resistance to Trump Lane is crowded.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yes.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

If she could carve out a different lane, she might have a lot of room to run.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I think that is a smart strategy, Harold. You know, TDS is now tda. Maybe it's time to say tata.

[Dana Perino]

Look, I am. I like to consider myself and perhaps it's a heady thing to do, like a walking part of personifying what it means to try to work across the aisle and get things done. I don't believe Joe Scarborough, who is on a rival network, whom I met back when I was a first term congressman because we worked together across the.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Is that the stupid guy in the morning?

[Dana Perino]

He's not stupid, but that's a really stupid guy. We worked on something together that made a difference in our districts and people talking about they thought we were strange to do it, but we did something made our schools better and communities safer. We wouldn't have the Interstate highway system had Al Gore Sr. Not worked with Dwight Eisenhower to make that happen. The Food Stamp act that we had today to tighten eligibility requirements and expanded access. Without Bob Dole and George McGovern coming together, we wouldn't have had that Democrats, a children's health insurance program known as chips. We would not have had it without Teddy Kennedy and Orrin Hatch coming across the aisle to work together. So I applaud Gretchen Whitmer. I agree with you, Dana. If she's able to carve out a lane that says, hey, I want to work with people, my own party and the other party to fix the problems, to fix our disrepair. I hope she does it. I hope someone does it. In fact, I hope they all do it. And if we don't try it, we won't get things like the Civil Rights Act. We won't get things that we've had in the past where bipartisan support has made it not only A reality, but allowed it to sustain itself. So congratulations to her.

[Kennedy]

Kennedy.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I'm a little tired of the bingo card phrase. I didn't see that on my bingo card. That should be a banned phrase.

[Kennedy]

That's as. That's as played as literally, Hitler, like Trump is literally 100%. 100%.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

100%.

[Greg Gutfeld]

100%.

[Kennedy]

I do think that the Democrat nominee is going to come from a more interesting state, like Pennsylvania or Michigan. I don't think it's going to be a left coast, you know, big state governor like Gavin Newsom, who just. His executive track record is awful. And I don't think Gretchen Whitmer is substantial enough to make inroads on the national stage, but she's definitely geographically from the right place. She seems like a decent person, and she's one of the few people who has been brave enough to stand up against her party, appear on stage with Trump, which, if you're going to bridge the divide in this country, you're going to have to do that. You cannot just say that every single thing that he has said and has done is awful. But having said that, she killed as many people as Andrew Cuomo did during COVID with the same mechanism making retirement homes take in COVID positive patients, and it was a deadly disaster. So she should not be forgiven for that.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I didn't see that one. That was not on my bingo card, and it wasn't on theirs either.

[Kennedy]

Not anymore.

[Greg Gutfeld]

We'll be right back.

[Jesse Watters]

Before I get to say anything, Big Gretch, I think, is going to be the VP nominee for the Democrats.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Really?

[Dana Perino]

She's a chick.

[Greg Gutfeld]

She'll be vp. You're so sexist. Wow.

[Jesse Watters]

Fine, she's off. But I like her. I think Big Gretch is good. Her and Mandani have managed to do what they need to do with Trump to bring home the bacon to their states without losing.

[Greg Gutfeld]

He doesn't eat bacon.

[Jesse Watters]

Deliver the goods.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yes. I'm sorry I cut you off.

[Dana Perino]

No, I'm good.

[Jesse Watters]

We gotta go to the fact.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I want to hear more.

[Jesse Watters]

I'm not gonna do what you do. I'll get fired.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Ah, damn it. Fastest.

[Dana Perino]

Up next. Hey, Sal. Hank.

[Greg Gutfeld]

What's going on?

[Dana Perino]

We haven't worked a case in years. I just bought my car a couple,

[Greg Gutfeld]

and it was so easy.

[Dana Perino]

Too easy. Think something's up? You tell me. They got thousands of options, found a

[Greg Gutfeld]

great car at a great price, and it got delivered the next day.

[Dana Perino]

It sounds like Carvana just makes it easy to buy your car, Hank.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah, you're right.

[Dana Perino]

Case closed.

[Kennedy]

Buy your car today on Carvana. Delivery fees may apply.

[Dana Perino]

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

[Greg Gutfeld]

subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.