The Five — "New Bombshell Evidence"

FOX News Podcasts | September 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of "The Five," the panel tackles two major themes resonating in current American politics: the aftermath and rhetoric following the deadly attack on an ICE facility in Dallas and the persistent challenges Democrats face with young male voters. The group delves into the implications of inflamed political language, the responsibility of leaders to de-escalate, shifts in campus culture, and the state of progressive versus conservative messaging in both traditional and social media spheres.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Evidence in the Dallas ICE Attack

• Major Revelations:

  • The FBI released details about the motives and planning behind the attack, including evidence from the suspect's phone and manifestos indicating intent to terrorize ICE employees ([01:04]).
  • The shooter's rhetoric labeled ICE personnel as part of "human trafficking" and vowed to maximize lethality.
  • Notably, the attacker was allegedly inspired by right-wing extremist tactics but appeared aligned with left-leaning ideology—a reversal that spurred complex discussion.

• Panel Insights:

  • Greg Gutfeld questioned the use of tactics previously associated with white supremacist violence by someone seemingly opposing the right ([02:13]):

    "Why you would use a tactic that a famous white supremacist...would do that...It does appear that people are moving in that direction because they want people to know what they're doing and why."

  • Jesse Waters tied rhetorical escalation on the left to real-world violence ([03:06]):

    "They're saying things and they're really dumb people. It's going to get worse. And ultimately it's going to go back on them."

  • Greg Gutfeld underscored the difference between petty insults and dangerous demonization ([06:21]):

    "It's not words like moron or fat ass or liar that gets people killed...it's Nazi; it's fascist; it's Hitler. Those are the words."

  • Kennedy lamented Democratic reliance on inflammatory rhetoric instead of genuine voter outreach, warning of unintended consequences ([07:07]):

    "They have grown numb to this kind of language. And you have to offer them so much more than hysteria...you have made the political tenor and climate in this country so incredibly dangerous."

  • Jessica Tarlov highlighted the dangerous copycat effect, suggesting bipartisan support for stronger domestic terrorism laws ([09:31]):

    "That means that we have our first case of an inspired shooting, right?...there is soothing that this country needs desperately at this moment."

2. Political Language and Its Consequences

• The episode featured a montage of anti-ICE rhetoric, with comparisons likening ICE agents to the Gestapo and "slave patrols," which the panel denounced as potentially contributing to violence ([03:33], [03:48]).

• The team dissected the cycle of demonizing political opponents:

  • Greg Gutfeld:

    "Liberal leaders need to see that you are playing with fire. You have a repetitive, inflammatory messaging that you've released into the wild, and you have followers who will act on it." ([05:32])

  • The panelists agreed that such language fosters an environment ripe for unstable individuals to act violently.

3. The Challenge of Winning Back Young Male Voters & Hillary Clinton’s Comments

• Hillary Clinton’s Interview: Addressed Democratic struggles with young male voters, questioning the nostalgia for "white male dominance" ([16:11]).

  • Panel Reaction:

    • Greg Gutfeld ridiculed Clinton’s tone as disdainful towards white men, lamenting Democrats' approach ([17:02]).
    • Jesse Waters pushed back:

      "We just don't want you to discriminate against straight white male Christians. And we will not discriminate against you. We want a country where no one discriminates against anyone." ([18:52])

  • The panel argued that instead of self-critique, Democrats blame men for leaving the party. They also credited conservative success on social media and podcasting as partly a response to being shut out from other platforms ([20:24]).

  • Dana Perino:

    "[Liberals] felt like they had a complete lock on all the social media platforms...so maybe liberals felt like they didn't have to try too hard." ([20:24])

  • The team suggested that the left’s approach to gender and masculinity—such as the Gillette “toxic masculinity” campaign—further alienated men ([22:58]).

4. Campus Culture Shifts Post-Assassination of Charlie Kirk

• Georgetown University flyer controversy—mocking the assassination of Charlie Kirk as a symptom of radicalization on campus ([26:44]).
• In contrast, conservative student engagement is on the rise, with Turning Point USA events attracting large, energized crowds.

  • Dana Perino:

    "And one after another...They are calm, articulate, thoughtful, and really emulating what they saw in Charlie Kirk." ([27:13])

  • Kennedy:

    "There are so many people who have to exist in college as closet conservatives...this was something that galvanized young people in a way that will create a generation of conservatives..." ([28:07])

5. Petty Insults vs. Dangerous Demonization

• Greg Gutfeld’s Thesis:
  • Advocates for a return to “pettiness” (petty name-calling) rather than life-or-death demonization. He contends that personal slights, while immature, are less likely to incite violence than branding opponents as Nazis or fascists ([23:28], [26:26]).

    "This is petty and it's silly and it's harmless. And that's the whole point." ([40:26])

  • The group bantered about this theme throughout, contrasting it with extreme demonization.

6. Kamala Harris's Book Tour & Left-Wing Infighting

• Harris’s attempts to promote her book were repeatedly disrupted by far-left protesters demanding action on Gaza ([34:07]).

  • Jessica Tarlov:

    "The way that the left eats its own is so irritating." ([34:38])

  • Kennedy questioned Harris’s strategy—burning bridges rather than bringing innovative ideas ([37:19]).

  • Jesse Waters critiqued Harris’s response—claiming powerlessness—even as a figure of national importance ([36:51]).

7. Petty Trolling & The "Auto Pen" Incident

• The White House's playful "auto pen" portrait of Biden was praised across the panel as harmless political humor ([39:30]).
  • Greg Gutfeld:

    "This is petty. Yeah, but it's not a swastika. It's not a picture of Joe Biden with a Hitler mustache. This is petty and it's silly and it's harmless." ([40:26])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Greg Gutfeld ([02:13]):
  "Why you would use a tactic that a famous white supremacist...would do that...It does appear that people are moving in that direction..."
• Jesse Waters ([03:06]):
  "They're saying things and they're really dumb people. It's going to get worse. And ultimately it's going to go back on them."
• Greg Gutfeld ([06:21]):
  "It's not words like moron or fat ass or liar that gets people killed...it's Nazi; it's fascist; it's Hitler."
• Jessica Tarlov ([09:31]):
  "That means that we have our first case of an inspired shooting, right?...there is soothing that this country needs desperately at this moment."
• Kennedy ([07:07]):
  "They have grown numb to this kind of language. And you have to offer them so much more than hysteria..."
• Jesse Waters ([18:52]):
  "We just don't want you to discriminate against straight white male Christians. And we will not discriminate against you. We want a country where no one discriminates against anyone."
• Greg Gutfeld ([26:26]):
  "I'm not calling her a bigot, and I'm not calling her a Nazi. I'm just saying she's old and smelly and ugly. That's where I say the path for America is petty insults, not demonizing people."
• Dana Perino ([27:13]):
  "They are calm, articulate, thoughtful, and really emulating what they saw in Charlie Kirk."
• Kennedy ([28:07]):
  "This was something that galvanized young people in a way that will create a generation of conservatives..."
• Greg Gutfeld ([40:26]):
  "This is petty and it's silly and it's harmless. And that's the whole point."

Important Segment Timestamps

• News on Dallas ICE attack: [01:04] – [04:06]
• Discussion on inflammatory rhetoric: [04:06] – [07:07]
• Copycat shooting + national response: [09:31] – [12:31]
• Hillary Clinton on male voters: [16:11] – [18:52]
• Campus culture & Turning Point USA: [26:44] – [29:33]
• Petty vs. dangerous language theme: Throughout, notably [23:28], [26:26], [40:26]
• Kamala Harris book tour protests: [34:07] – [38:42]
• Auto Pen trolling discussion: [39:30] – [40:26]

Conclusion

This episode of "The Five" examined the explosive consequences of political scapegoating and the dangers of inflamed rhetoric in the wake of targeted violence. The panel stressed the urgent need for both parties—especially Democrats in their view—to lead with de-escalation rather than demonization, and reflected on the cultural and political realignment visible among younger voters and on social media. Blending humor and seriousness, the group advocated for a return to "petty" political banter over all-consuming hatred, suggesting this shift could help defuse the nation's partisan crises.