Podcast Summary: The Five – "Monumental Memorial"

Date: September 22, 2025
Host(s): Dana Perino, Kayleigh McEnany, Harold Ford Jr., Jesse Watters, Tyrus

Overview

This somber episode of The Five centers on the monumental public memorial for Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, who was recently assassinated. The hosts reflect on Kirk's influence, the nation's reaction to his death – especially his widow Erica Kirk's public display of forgiveness – and resulting political debates. Hot-button topics follow, including media controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel, divisive comments in Congress, Gavin Newsom’s mask ban for law enforcement, and a discussion on Kamala Harris’s new memoir and lingering internal Democratic Party issues.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Charlie Kirk’s Memorial and Erica Kirk’s Forgiveness

Segment Start: 00:02

• Scene Setting: Nearly 100,000 people filled State Farm Stadium in Arizona to honor Charlie Kirk. Presidents, officials, and influencers attended or sent condolences.
• Erica Kirk’s Forgiveness: A central moment was Erica Kirk, his widow, publicly forgiving her husband’s killer.
  • Quote (Erica Kirk, 01:57): “I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do.”
  • Emphasized that the response to violence was love and peace, not more violence.
  • Quote (Erica Kirk, 02:28): “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love.”
• President Trump’s Eulogy and Reflections:
  • Trump honored Kirk as “a martyr now for American freedom.”
  • Quote (Donald Trump, 02:42): “He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them.”
  • Trump candidly admitted his struggle with forgiveness, suggesting two perspectives in the country.
• Jesse Watters’ Report From the Memorial:
  • Witnessed a sense of Christian revival: “In the last week I've talked more about Jesus Christ than I ever have in my entire public life.” (03:37)
  • Kirk’s hard work and character recounted: waking up at 5am, not taking a salary, personal humility.
  • Contrasted Erica’s forgiveness with Trump’s stark authenticity: “He’s not going to pretend to be a fake Christian.”

2. Political and Moral Implications

Segment Start: 06:42

• Harold Ford Jr.’s Reflection:
  • Praised Erica Kirk and connected her forgiveness to historical moments like the Emanuel AME Church shooting: “We were reminded of terrible moments... where those… forgave those who caused harm.” (06:48)
  • Criticized certain Democrats for not supporting a resolution honoring Charlie Kirk, framing it as a free speech issue rather than an ideological one.
• Tyrus on Restraint and Higher Standards:
  • Admired the avoidance of calls for violence and the rejection of retribution: “No one's calling for revenge, no one's calling for more heads to roll…That was for them, their family…” (08:42)
  • Suggested anyone, religious or not, could take inspiration from the Kirk family’s conduct.

3. Kayleigh McEnany’s Personal Perspective

Segment Start: 10:10

• As a young mother, Kayleigh identified personally with Erica Kirk.
• Recounted Erica’s account of receiving the news and her faith:
  • Quote (Kayleigh McEnany, 10:29): “She knew the moment that bullet hit him, when he closed his eyes, the next thing he saw was Jesus Christ.”
  • Called September 10 (the day Kirk was killed) “as cataclysmic as November 5th, the day Donald Trump was elected, if not more so.”
  • Predicted a lasting spiritual impact: “…this is a spiritual reawakening happening in the country. …I think she has changed a generation and she'll continue to do so.” (12:28)

4. Jimmy Kimmel’s Controversy and Congressional Rancor

Segment Start: 13:08

• Jimmy Kimmel Returns:
  • Kimmel returns to air after being previously pulled, allegedly for falsely claiming the suspected Kirk assassin was a “MAGA” supporter.
  • Jesse and Tyrus debated whether Kimmel’s removal was a genuine disciplinary action or a calculated ratings ploy.
    • Quote (Jesse Watters, 14:56): “You can't act like Maddow when you're being paid to be Johnny Carson.”
    • Quote (Tyrus, 16:15): “For what would you rather be canceled for, for sucking at your job or the mean president took your job away?”
  • Harold Ford Jr. expressed relief that the government didn’t ultimately dictate Kimmel’s status, calling it a win for free speech.
    • Quote (Harold Ford Jr., 19:55): “The reason the guy at our network… is number one is because people watch him… Markets decide if people should be on air.”
• Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett:
  • Criticized Democratic colleagues for not opposing a resolution to honor Kirk, injected race:
    • Quoted as saying the “rhetoric that Charlie Kirk continuously put out there… specifically targeted people of color.” (13:08)
  • The hosts countered, with Dana and Tyrus defending Kirk’s record and influence – especially citing black conservatives at Turning Point USA.

5. Gavin Newsom’s ICE Agent Mask Ban

Segment Start: 23:24

• Newsom’s “Messaging Bill”:
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a bill banning law enforcement and ICE from wearing masks, comparing ICE to “secret police.”
  • Kayleigh argues the bill endangers ICE’s safety, especially given documented doxxing and threats: “They have to protect their faces to cover themselves. And it's shameful for Governor Newsom to put them at risk.” (24:35)
  • Harold Ford Jr. and Dana doubt Newsom’s legal authority to implement this for federal agents and describe the move as ineffective, empty posturing: “It's a messaging bill. There's no authority to it. There's no power to it.” (27:32)
  • Tyrus: “He’s just posturing, and he has no original… Here’s a couple ideas I have that I think would work, but that's not it. Instead, it's that ridiculous ratcheting up…” (28:31)

6. Kamala Harris Memoir and Democratic Divisions

Segment Start: 30:40

• Overview:
  • Kamala Harris releases a new memoir that airs grievances from the 2024 Democratic campaign.
  • David Axelrod’s critique: “If there's a political strategy here, it's a bad one. There is an awful lot of grievances and finger pointing that really doesn't serve a political agenda.” (30:40)
• Book’s Reception:
  • Tyrus and others see it as a display of poor leadership, focusing on blame instead of self-reflection or party unity: “The biggest thing when you're a leader is you own the loss.” (31:28)
  • Jesse Watters lampoons the book as a “gossip column/cash grab/yolo.”
  • Dana Perino: “You win in politics by adding friends. And she's like, basically subtracting them. This book is like the whole vice presidency. It has no direction.” (34:33)
  • Kayleigh notes that Harris criticizes nearly all her Democratic peers, characterizing the book as defensive and fear-driven.
    • “She was in constant fear of being upstaged... this woman is in constant fear of being upstaged.”
• Future Prospects:
  • Mixed predictions on whether Harris will run again; most agree she’s damaged her standing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Erica Kirk Forgiving the Assassin (01:57):
  “I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do.”
• President Trump on Forgiveness (02:42):
  “He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them.”
• Jesse Watters on National Mood (03:37):
  “In the last week I've talked more about Jesus Christ than I ever have in my entire public life.”
• Harold Ford Jr. on Historical Parallels (06:48):
  “We were reminded of terrible moments in our nation's history where those… forgave those who have caused harm.”
• Tyrus on the Higher Bar Set by Kirk’s Family (08:42):
  “The message from his family has set the bar at such a high level to where… she is taking a bold step, a tough step.”
• Kayleigh’s Reflection on the Memorial (10:29):
  “…she incurred tragedy at the deepest possible level and she chose to turn it into triumph… this is a spiritual reawakening happening in the country.”
• Jesse Watters Criticizes Kimmel’s Return (14:56):
  “You can't act like Maddow when you're being paid to be Johnny Carson.”
• Dana on ICE Mask Law (27:32):
  “It's a messaging bill. There's no authority to it. There's no power to it.”
• Dana on Kamala Harris’ Book (34:33):
  “You win in politics by adding friends. And she's like, basically subtracting them. This book is like the whole vice presidency. It has no direction.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start Time | |---------------------------------------------------|------------| | Memorial for Charlie Kirk | 00:02 | | Erica Kirk forgives assassin | 01:57 | | President Trump’s tribute to Kirk | 02:42 | | Jesse Watters’ reflection from the memorial | 03:37 | | Panel reacts—Ford Jr., Tyrus, Kayleigh | 06:42 | | Jimmy Kimmel’s controversy, Congress debate | 13:08 | | Gavin Newsom’s ICE mask ban | 23:24 | | Kamala Harris memoir, Democratic infighting | 30:40 | | “One More Thing” – lighter news, shoutouts | 40:57 |

Tone & Flow

The episode maintains a serious, respectful tone during the memorial coverage and faith discussions, reflecting the gravity of Kirk’s assassination. The tone becomes more pointed, irreverent, and satirical as the hosts transition to media criticism, California policy, and Democratic party dynamics. Throughout, the conversation blends personal anecdotes, ideological debates, and the familiar banter characteristic of The Five.

Conclusion

This episode reflects on the legacy and national impact of Charlie Kirk’s life and death, highlighting themes of forgiveness, faith, and the ongoing culture wars. The hosts tie current events and controversies to the broader struggle over American values and political divisions — offering both solemn remembrance and sharp-edged conservative commentary.