Podcast Summary: "The Five" – "New Milestone"

Date: February 4, 2026
Host & Panel: Kayleigh McEnany, Jessica Tarlov, Jesse Watters, Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld

Episode Overview

This episode of FOX News’ "The Five" centers on two dominant topics: the White House’s announcement of 4,000 criminal illegal aliens removed from Minnesota under Operation Metro Surge, and major national debates over voter identification, sparked in part by Nicki Minaj’s online activism. The panelists dig into the political fallout of the immigration operation, the ongoing battles over ICE, and the 2026 election landscape—touching on everything from Gavin Newsom’s prospects to viral social media moments, and end with lighter stories from Uber etiquette to frozen iguanas in Florida.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. "New Milestone" in Minnesota: ICE Operations & Political Turbulence

• White House Announcement:
  President Trump is touting the removal of 4,000 "criminal illegals" from Minnesota, focusing on violent offenders (00:41).
• ICE & Local Law Enforcement Cooperation:
  Tom Homan, the border czar, drew down 700 ICE agents after local law enforcement started cooperating more. However, the full pullback depends on ceasing "illegal and threatening" actions against federal agents and removing protest roadblocks (01:49, 02:17).
  • “We will not draw down on personnel... until we see a change in what's happening with the lawlessness...” — Greg Gutfeld (02:17)
• Congressional Hearings & Democrat Response:
  Democrats held a Capitol Hill hearing. The panel highlighted calls for accountability, noting deep partisan divides.
  • "Every single one of them has to be held accountable for the crimes, for the terror and for the murders that are happening to our own people..." — Greg Gutfeld (03:02)
• Debate Over Cooperation & Accountability:
  The conversation highlights a divide: Democrats are pressured by both activists opposed to ICE and a broader base that, according to polling, doesn't want ICE abolished but may endorse reforms (05:41).
  • “I think that when you need something to deescalate, everyone needs a reason to say that they won a little bit...” — Jessica Tarlov (03:46)
• Political Fallout for Local Leaders:
  Jesse Watters, in a pointed critique, argues that if local officials had cooperated earlier, investigations and fatalities might have been avoided (06:06).
  • “If [Governor Walz] could go back in time... he would have done it completely differently.” — Jesse Watters (06:06)

2. Is Cooperation the Only Solution?

• Comparative Data:
  Kayleigh notes that in other states (TX, GA, FL, TN, LA), hundreds of thousands of criminal illegal aliens have been removed without chaos.
  • “Seven of the ten safest cities are places that cooperate with ICE.” — Kayleigh McEnany (12:09)
• Partisan Enforcement Critique:
  Dana Perino points out the perceived flexibility in ICE deployments depending on the political leanings of local leaders, e.g., favoring Susan Collins in Maine (13:49).
• Legitimacy & Errors in Enforcement:
  Dana cites cases where American citizens have been wrongly swept up, advocating for facts over partisan soundbites and noting testimony from victims of overzealous enforcement (13:51).

3. Voter ID Laws & the SAVE Act: Nicki Minaj Weighs In

• Nicki Minaj’s Viral Post:
  Her pro–voter-ID stance sparks panel discussion, supported by polling indicating broad national support (18:02).
  • “According to a Fox News poll, 84% of Americans agree with voter ID... — Jessica Tarlov (18:02)
• Political Framing — Jim Crow 2.0?
  Democrats frame the SAVE Act as an aggressive and unnecessary overreach. Greg Gutfeld scoffs at the “Jim Crow” label, questioning the logic behind resistance to ID laws (18:37).
  • “The tell is the vehement resistance to voter ID... If you’re honest, it wouldn’t mean anything to you.” — Greg Gutfeld (19:10)
• Debate Over SAVE Act Details:
  Dana Perino emphasizes that the proposed requirements (passport or birth certificate, not just a driver’s license) could disenfranchise millions without those documents (23:05).
  • “21 million Americans don’t have ready access to either their passport or their birth certificate.” — Dana Perino (23:56)
• GOP Tactics & Filibuster Threats:
  Kayleigh calls for the GOP to push the bill, even if it risks eliminating the filibuster:
  • "It's time for Republicans to step up...it's the last time you have in the Senate to pass things through." — Kayleigh McEnany (26:08)

4. Democratic Prospects & Gavin Newsom: "Don’t Make America California"

• NY Times Op-Ed’s Concerns:
  The presidency prospects of California Governor Gavin Newsom are scrutinized, with a New York Times op-ed titled “Will Newsom Be the Democrats Next Mistake?” fueling the conversation (26:24).
  • “He’s got all these glaring scandals... fires and all that stuff... He’s counting on the media to carry his bags.” — Greg Gutfeld (28:25)
• State-Level Contrasts:
  Panelists cite negative statistics about California (cost, homelessness, out-migration) as political liabilities, while Jessica and Dana counter that Newsom’s team is pushing back on the op-ed’s data and touting California’s economic prowess (30:44, 30:51).
• Identity Politics Aside:
  Parodying media obsession with identity, Dana jokes about her “straight white man” marriage (32:06).

5. Eric Swalwell's Gym Gossip

• Swalwell’s TMZ Claims:
  Rep. Eric Swalwell claims in TMZ interviews that Republicans badmouth Trump behind closed doors at the congressional gym (33:06).
• Panelists Skeptical:
  The hosts openly mock Swalwell’s credibility and gym attendance, noting his high absenteeism and history of missed votes (35:10).

6. Lighter Fare – Ubers, Ostriches, and Iguanas

• Uber Etiquette:
  Panel mostly agrees polite but minimal interaction is acceptable, with comic relief from Greg Gutfeld (36:39).
• Ostrich “News” & Florida Freeze:
  Greg shares a quirky story about ostriches dancing (39:24), while Kayleigh and Jesse laugh about frozen iguanas dropping from trees in Florida (38:18).
• Clumsy Criminals:
  Dana shares video of an inept burglar who only manages to steal ice cream after slipping up (39:54).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On law and order:

  • “If you had cooperated, we wouldn’t even be doing this. There’d be two people alive if it wasn’t for the fact that you guys wanted them dead.” — Greg Gutfeld (15:49)
  • “You want violence. Maybe they do want violence.” — Jesse Watters (07:54)

• On voter ID:

  • “How can you be against voter ID and claim you’re doing nothing wrong?” — Greg Gutfeld (19:10)
  • “Geraldo said, it is insulting to say that minorities cannot get an id.” — Jesse Watters (21:06)
  • “21 million Americans don’t have ready access to either their passport or their birth certificate.” — Dana Perino (23:56)

• On Newsom & Democratic strategy:

  • "This border tactic reveals a pattern that you’ve seen over and over again. They accuse you of something bad to allow them to do the bad thing.” — Greg Gutfeld (09:29)
  • “It is an effort to do what they tried to do to Kamala Harris, which is Kamalot... but Bret Stephens just truth bombed the media.” — Kayleigh McEnany (29:46)

• Comic Relief:

  • “Absolutely. I love a chatty Uber driver, especially when they’re pleading for their lives. It never works, but I appreciate the effort.” — Greg Gutfeld (36:53)
  • “They flap their wings and spin circles... it’s a courtship ritual. Oh, someone’s ready to party.” — Greg Gutfeld (39:24)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Minnesota ICE Milestone & Local Cooperation: 00:41–08:29
• Debating ICE, Law Enforcement, and Political Responsibility: 08:29–16:50
• Voter ID & SAVE Act: 18:02–26:08
• Gavin Newsom & Dem 2026 Prospects: 26:24–32:23
• Eric Swalwell’s Gym Gossip: 33:06–36:15
• Uber Etiquette & Lighter Stories: 36:39–40:54

Overall Tone

This episode is heated and highly partisan, laced with trademark humor, sarcasm, and energetic debate. The panel pulls few punches—especially on immigration, elections, and Democratic prospects—while also giving time to relatable, lighthearted stories to round out the hour.

This summary thoroughly covers the substantive and memorable discussions on "The Five" for those who missed the episode, retaining the original tone, attributions, and key talking points.