The Five – Episode Summary (01-30-2026)

Podcast: The Five
Date: January 30, 2026
Panel: Emily Compagno, Harold Ford Jr., Jesse Watters, Kennedy, Greg Gutfeld, Megan Alexander

Overview

This episode of “The Five” tackles a series of hot-button issues: immigration enforcement controversies in Minneapolis, the arrest of Don Lemon, the evolving debate around law enforcement tactics, left-wing and celebrity activism, and Democratic 2028 prospects. The show balances sharp humor, biting commentary, and substantive political discussion, staying true to its trademark panel format.

Key Discussion Points

1. Immigration Enforcement & Minneapolis Protests

• Backdrop: President Trump halts a drawdown of immigration officers in Minneapolis, attributing a crime drop to ICE actions. Anti-ICE protests erupt, which the panelists portray as professional and organized rather than organic.
• Trump’s Framing: The protests are described as “organized, professional and paid.” (Emily Compagno, 00:19)

Notable segment:
Jesse Waters (01:01):
"Do these people really want to have rapists? Do they really want to have drug dealers and people from prisons and murderers? ... It's really insurrectionists and agitators and they're paid and you can tell a lot of reasons."

• DOJ Response: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch announces investigations into left-wing groups as part of a probe into the killing of Alex Peretti, including a civil rights investigation.

2. Don Lemon's Arrest and Media Ethics

• Incident: Don Lemon appears in court, charged under the FACE Act for involvement (and alleged encouragement) in the storming of a Minnesota church during a service.
• Debate: Panelists question Lemon’s journalist defense, with strong consensus that Lemon's involvement went beyond reporting and directly encouraged illegal, disruptive activity.

Greg Gutfeld (03:09):
“He could have waited an hour. Religious services only last one hour, so if he was a reporter, he could very easily have waited to interview people. But his motive was, in fact, to impede the service... The neat thing about Lemon is he collapses the agitation and the media into one ghoulish, comical symbol.”

Jesse Watters (07:01):
"This guy was premeditated. He conspired. He knew the target ahead of the time... No journalist has ever done this before. This is the first time anybody invaded a church, shot it, and then tried to get off because they said they were a journalist. I can't believe he thinks this is fine. I think he's actually going to do time."

3. Immigration Policy: Enforcement vs. Reform

• Tom Homan & Law Enforcement Tactics: Discussion pivots to Tom Homan's role and evolving strategies between federal and local agencies.
• Bipartisan Acknowledgement: General agreement that those who commit violent crimes and are undocumented should be prioritized for arrest and deportation, but debate persists over prioritization and methods.

Harold Ford Jr. (09:53):
"People who are in this country illegally are guests... if they commit a crime, a violent crime, they should be arrested and frankly, deported. Where we have a difference... is the hierarchy in which you do this."

4. Activism & Celebrity Involvement

• Theme: Panelists lambaste celebrities weighing in on ICE and Minneapolis, mocking performative activism from figures like Lady Gaga, Jane Fonda, and Bruce Springsteen.
• Mockery & Critique: The discussion pokes at hypocrisy and the performative aspect of celebrity activism, with both comedic impressions and pointed criticism.

Ricky Gervais (quoted by Megan Alexander, 17:48):
"When he hosted the Golden Globes and he said, come up on stage. Thank your God all of you have less education than Greta Thunberg and just f off. And that's pretty much how I'm feeling now."

• Serious Consequences: PANELISTS cite selective outrage and warn that such activism glamorizes potentially dangerous protest behavior.

Greg Gutfeld (20:54):
"The laziness and the banality of that commentary is so striking... Don't worry that you are encouraging an actual insurrection, not like the fake one on January 6th."

5. Democratic 2028 Prospects

• Carville’s Pick: James Carville predicts JB Pritzker (Illinois Governor) as a dark horse for 2028, dismissing Kamala Harris’s viability.
• Panel Reaction: The panel roasts Pritzker’s appearance and perceived lack of broad appeal, with skepticism about his policies and personal brand.

Harold Ford Jr. (27:29):
"Primaries will play themselves out... If JB Pritzker can get that frame right, perhaps he has a chance."

• Jesse Watters (29:14):
  "He's just too big... We are a shallow country and looks do matter."

• Emily Compagno (30:08):
  "...it's not easy on the eyes... I'm not quite sure why the antidote on the left would be like, yes, let's deposit a 500 BMI individual that traffics in corruption and enjoys large taxes."

6. Lighthearted Segments & Fan Interaction

• “Rubber Ducky” Cleaning Viral Story: Panelists humorously dissect a viral story where homeowners leave mini ducks to test cleaning staff’s thoroughness; reactions are critical and comedic.
• Music Embarrassment Question: Each panelist shares music they're (not) ashamed of liking — a moment of levity.
  • Candlebox, Anthrax, Pantera, and Dr. Demento are mentioned.
  • Jesse quips about "worshiping the devil" after a Pantera phase (38:05).

7. Tribute and Miscellany

• Catherine O’Hara Tribute: Panel pays homage following her recent death.
• Animal Segment: Features on polar bears and deer-calling competitions round out the show with light humor.
• Sports Note: Tony Finau’s hole-in-one at the Farmers Insurance at Torrey Pines receives a mention.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Don Lemon's Motive:
  Greg Gutfeld (03:09): “He is, therefore, his motive was, in fact, to impede the service ... collapses the agitation and the media into one ghoulish, comical symbol. Him. He's both the media and the agitator in one.”
• On Selective Outrage:
  Greg Gutfeld (05:43): “The left and the media never pay attention to heinous murderers until they're on death row facing execution. They don't care about any of the victims, but when it comes to the criminal's time in the seat, they freak out.”
• On Celebrity Activism:
  Emily Compagno (24:02): “They are exploiting the actual heroes of this country and then they have the nerve to mock those people on air.”
• On Democratic 2028 Candidates:
  Jesse Watters (29:14): “He's just too big. ... We are a shallow country and looks do matter.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Topic | |:--------:|:-------------------------------------------| | 00:19 | Trump/Minneapolis protests | | 01:01 | Jesse on Minneapolis/ICE protests | | 02:18 | Don Lemon indictment | | 03:09 | Greg analyzes Don Lemon’s actions | | 06:39 | Jesse on Don Lemon and lawbreaking | | 09:53 | Harold: ICE priorities and strategies | | 12:39 | Megan: Protesters & law enforcement shifts | | 15:58 | Celebrities on ICE/Immigration | | 17:48 | Megan’s Ricky Gervais quote | | 20:16 | Greg: On Homan and panel debate | | 26:35 | Carville’s 2028 prediction | | 29:14 | Jesse & Emily on Pritzker’s chances | | 33:54 | Rubber ducker viral story | | 36:37 | Embarrassing music question | | 39:43 | Catherine O’Hara tribute | | 41:02 | Wildlife/Sports snippets |

Tone and Style

The episode flows with the show’s signature mix of pointed political debate, sarcasm, and comedic asides. Panelists frequently riff on each other’s comments, doubling down on satire while engaging with serious political and social concerns.

Conclusion

This episode of “The Five” dives deeply into current controversies of law enforcement, media responsibility, protest tactics, and political prospects, blending substantive analysis with humor and the show’s trademark irreverence. Whether discussing the legal jeopardy of Don Lemon, the shifting sands of Democratic strategy, or the spectacle of celebrity activism, the panelists deliver a fast-paced conversation designed to both inform and entertain.