Podcast Summary: The Five – "The Democrat Brand Is Getting Worse"

Release Date: June 3, 2025
Host: FOX News Radio

In the June 3, 2025, episode of "The Five", FOX News Radio hosts Jesse Watters, Greg Gutfeld, Lara Trump, Harold Ford Jr., and Dana Perino delve into the deteriorating brand of the Democratic Party. The discussion navigates through various facets contributing to the party's decline, touching upon political strategies, policy failures, and leadership crises.

1. The Decline of the Democratic Brand

Jesse Watters opens the conversation by highlighting the repetitive negative headlines surrounding the Democrats, emphasizing the party's struggle to maintain its former connection with the middle class. He contrasts this with President Trump's dominance in the news cycle, suggesting that Democrats are distracted with trivialities like "cringe taco videos" instead of addressing substantive issues.

"Every day is like Groundhog Day for the cringe Democrats waking up to the same humiliating headlines about how their brand's in the toilet."
— Jesse Watters [00:34]

Greg Gutfeld questions how Democrats, despite positive economic indicators like a booming stock market and declining unemployment rates (unrelated to the transcript but inferred context), find themselves trailing in the political arena.

"After all the recession, after the stock market's been doing all of this, after all the terrorists that Americans are against, and Republicans still hold an 8?"
— Greg Gutfeld [01:24]

Harold Ford Jr. responds by addressing internal party conflicts, specifically the "Trump derangement syndrome," and advocates for a more strategic and measured approach rather than reactive hysterics.

"There are those in team resistance who feel like we should react hysterically to everything that Donald Trump says or does."
— Harold Ford Jr. [01:24]

2. Leadership and Strategic Direction

Dana Perino critiques the Democratic Party's focus on issues that voters deem less critical, such as climate change, while neglecting pressing concerns like immigration, education, and job creation. She points out the lack of a strong, identifiable Democratic leader to revive the party's fortunes.

"Nobody could name the head of the DNC, nobody could say who the head of the Democrats is. Nobody is emerging yet."
— Dana Perino [02:56]

Harold Ford Jr. shares historical insights, comparing the current Democratic predicament to past political eras, and underscores the necessity for the party to innovate and reconnect with the middle class. He advocates for bold policies and a clear ideological stance to regain voter trust.

"We have to remember he lost Iowa, lost New Hampshire. It wasn't until Super Tuesday that basically the biggest group, the most reliable group of voters in the Democratic Party, black voters, gave him victories in big states across the south and really rekindled his campaign."
— Harold Ford Jr. [04:14]

3. The Impact of Misinformation and Political Scandals

Greg Gutfeld discusses the damaging effects of perceived lies and scandals within the Democratic Party, referencing Joe Biden's so-called "auto pen" incident. He argues that such events erode public trust and exacerbate partisan resentment.

"The Democrats always thrived on hoaxes, assuming that by the time the big lie would be exposed... But the reveal is so spectacular. And the result is resentment, bitterness, disgust over the actions of a party who thought they could pull this off."
— Greg Gutfeld [08:11]

Jesse Watters and Lara Trump explore the implications of Biden's alleged use of an "auto pen" for signing presidential pardons, suggesting a lack of direct involvement and raising questions about the legitimacy of such actions.

"There is this White House opinion that the only pardon that would count is one that the President signed himself."
— Lara Trump [13:35]

4. Immigration and National Security Concerns

A significant portion of the discussion centers on immigration policies under the Biden administration. Lara Trump and Harold Ford Jr. express alarm over the administration's handling of border security, citing recent incidents involving illegal immigrants committing heinous crimes.

"They spent so much time on climate change that they weren't dealing with the things that people really care about, jobs."
— Dana Perino [02:13]

Jesse Watters draws parallels between current immigration policies and post-9/11 security failures, asserting that unchecked immigration poses existential threats to national security and societal stability.

"If you were taking a time machine from now to go right after 9/11... you would think that the party was committing suicide."
— Jesse Watters [22:18]

Harold Ford Jr. urges the Democratic Party to collaborate more effectively with local law enforcement and utilize advanced technologies like AI to identify and deport individuals involved in criminal activities.

"We have to use every tool to try to make sure we fight because there are a lot more of these guys out there."
— Harold Ford Jr. [28:07]

5. Internal Party Challenges and Future Outlook

Harold Ford Jr. emphasizes the need for the Democratic Party to undergo substantial restructuring and adopt a more moderate and strategic approach to regain its lost foothold among voters. He expresses optimism about revitalizing the party but acknowledges the significant challenges ahead.

"We are still smart on taxes and the economy and education. We just got to be bolder. And if we're not bold, we're going to be having this silly conversation for a much longer time than I want to."
— Harold Ford Jr. [04:14]

Lara Trump supports the call for a balanced approach within the party, advocating for a blend of reasonable policies and the tempering of radical elements to make the party more palatable to the broader electorate.

"Maybe there's a counterbalance with some reasonable flag folks on the left, because I think that's the best thing for this country."
— Lara Trump [06:42]

6. Conclusion: The Path Forward

The episode concludes with a consensus among the hosts that the Democratic Party must confront its internal issues, refocus on critical voter concerns, and develop strong leadership to reverse its declining brand. The hosts express a sense of urgency, underscoring that without significant changes, the party risks prolonged political irrelevance.

Notable Quotes:

• "The momentum is on the side of hysterical hyperbolic resistance."
  — Harold Ford Jr. [02:09]

• "The brainwash has worn off. You know, Trump didn't just make the red hats, he made the red pills."
  — Greg Gutfeld [11:14]

• "Obama, remember this? Clinton got tough on crime. He put 100,000 cops on the street. The last balanced budget we had was in 1998."
  — Harold Ford Jr. [19:37]

• "Identity politics as well. It's based on envy and resentment. What do these people have that I don't have that makes you bitter?"
  — Greg Gutfeld [31:44]

Final Thoughts:

"The Five" presents a critical examination of the Democratic Party's current state, attributing its struggles to ineffective leadership, misaligned policy priorities, and a failure to resonate with the middle-class electorate. The hosts advocate for a strategic overhaul, emphasizing the need for boldness, genuine policy focus, and cohesive leadership to restore the party's credibility and electoral viability.