Podcast Summary: The Five (05-20-2025)
Host: FOX News Radio
Release Date: May 20, 2025
1. President Trump's Intervention on Capitol Hill
Timestamp: [00:04] - [02:00]
The episode opens with Jesse Watters highlighting President Trump's proactive efforts to influence Capitol Hill in the passage of the "big beautiful bill." Trump is praised for his hands-on approach, attending multiple camera stakeouts to ensure the legislation's success and exert pressure on Republican holdouts.
Notable Quote:
- Jesse Watters ([00:04]): "President Trump blitzing Capitol Hill to save the day on the big beautiful bill and smacking Republican holdouts into line."
Greg Gutfeld indicates an intention to investigate the matter further, emphasizing the significance of Trump's actions in the legislative process.
2. Biden's Border Legislation and Health Concerns
Timestamp: [00:35] - [05:51]
The discussion transitions to President Biden's handling of border legislation. Jessica Tarlov expresses skepticism about the signage of legislation that appears to open borders, initially attributing it to Biden himself before clarifying that it was "auto penned" by radical left elements. The panel debates the authenticity and intent behind the legislation, suggesting a possible cover-up or manipulation by the Democratic establishment.
Notable Quotes:
- Jessica Tarlov ([00:38]): "Who signed legislation opening our border. I don't think he knew."
- Jesse Watters ([05:03]): "According to a spokesman, Joe Biden's last known prostate specific antigen test was in 2014 and his first cancer diagnosis was last Friday."
The conversation delves into Biden's alleged prostate cancer diagnosis, questioning the timing and transparency surrounding his health issues. Martha MacCallum and Jessica Tarlov discuss the implications of Biden's health on his presidency, with Tarlov criticizing the politicization of his diagnosis.
Notable Quote:
- Jessica Tarlov ([05:03]): "Scott Adams, who's a good friend of Greg's and created Dilbert, who is unfortunately also dying of the same cancer, he posted a video saying he was going to pass away this summer and he's no fan of Joe Biden, but he said it is completely feasible that they did just find out about this and then it wasn't some big cover up."
3. Democratic Accountability and Biden's Health
Timestamp: [05:51] - [14:54]
Kennedy provides an in-depth analysis of how media personalities like Joe Scarborough are handling Biden's health revelations. She argues that the Democrat establishment is attempting to downplay Biden's cognitive decline and cancer diagnosis to protect his post-presidency prospects. The panel critiques the Democrats for politicizing personal health issues and questions the integrity of Biden's continued leadership.
Notable Quotes:
- Kennedy ([11:45]): "It is incredibly inconvenient for his post presidency because the other post presidencies have been very lucrative in modern history and he will not get to enjoy that."
- Jessica Tarlov ([14:18]): "It's political intimidation, and I'm looking forward to my day in court."
Greg Gutfeld echoes these sentiments by alleging that Biden's alleged debilitation was in the Democrats' interest, facilitating the advancement of progressive policies without strong presidential oversight.
Notable Quote:
- Greg Gutfeld ([09:37]): "If you have a feeble CEO, then the underlings can do exactly what they wanted. And it answers that huge paradox that we were wondering for four years. How did a candidate running as a reasonable centrist, a moderate, end up as the most left wing progressive president in history? I just told you the answer. The debilitation was deliberate."
4. Trump’s Criticism of Congresswoman McIver and ICE
Timestamp: [11:45] - [19:18]
The conversation shifts to President Trump's recent confrontation with New Jersey Democratic Congresswoman Lamonica McIver, who was charged following a clash with ICE agents at a Newark facility. The panel criticizes McIver's actions as politically motivated and portrays the incident as an example of Democratic overreach and law enforcement's overzealousness.
Notable Quote:
- Jessica Tarlov ([13:06]): "We're going to have law and order. President Trump going off on New Jerssey Democratic Congresswoman McIver after she was charged with assaulting two officers over that now infamous ICE clash at the Newark facility."
Greg Gutfeld characterizes the incident as "complete political theater," suggesting that the Democrats are manipulating such events to their advantage while simultaneously undermining law enforcement efforts.
Notable Quote:
- Greg Gutfeld ([14:35]): "This is typical of the Justice Department trying to intimidate anybody who might oppose them, whether they be an elected official, a judge, or anybody else."
5. Critique of ICE and Political Actions
Timestamp: [15:13] - [19:05]
Kennedy and Martha MacCallum discuss the broader implications of the McIver incident, highlighting systemic issues within ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. They argue that unlawful detentions and the mistreatment of immigrants have become rampant, fueling public skepticism and resistance against the current administration's immigration policies.
Notable Quote:
- Martha MacCallum ([16:44]): "We are finding out that there are people who are being detained unlawfully, that they should not be in there, that they are innocent if they came here illegally, that they actually went through the asylum system, that they were due their day in court."
Jessica Tarlov emphasizes the politicization of immigration enforcement, blaming Democrats for creating chaos and undermining due process.
Notable Quote:
- Jessica Tarlov ([18:15]): "But there's no question. Look, the scuffle outside appears to be quite messy on both sides of it... So what outcome are they actually trying? Trying to produce here? It's unclear."
6. James Comey's Public Statements and Mockery
Timestamp: [23:06] - [30:30]
The panel critiques former FBI Director James Comey for his recent public statements and social media activity, which they perceive as insincere attempts to shift blame from his actions post-tenure. They mock his explanations regarding a beach photo that allegedly contained a political message, suggesting that Comey's actions are orchestrated for personal gain rather than genuine concern.
Notable Quote:
- Jessica Tarlov ([27:32]): "I don't buy his excuse that it was innocent and they had no idea and his wife thought it was someone's address. And he's like, well, it might be a political message. It's so orchestrated."
Greg Gutfeld further derides Comey, questioning his authenticity and motives, and drawing parallels to how conservatives are treated unfairly by the media.
Notable Quote:
- Greg Gutfeld ([25:27]): "And I get how people say this is overblown, and that's completely fair if it's coming from the right. But no one on the left can criticize this... So once in a while we can say, this guy's a fruitcake, a goofball, a nut job, a wacko. And those are the medical terms."
7. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Primaries
Timestamp: [30:30] - [35:04]
The discussion shifts to Bernie Sanders and the state of Democratic primaries. The panel accuses the Democratic establishment of rigging primaries against genuine candidates like Sanders, arguing that the party's processes have been stacked to favor centrist candidates over progressive ones. They suggest that this manipulation has led to disenfranchisement among Democratic voters and hindered the party's growth.
Notable Quote:
- Greg Gutfeld ([34:23]): "Ostensibly, there hasn't been a fair primary for the Democrats since 2008... Bernie Sanders has never been able to get a strong base of support with black voters in this country."
Jesse Watters attributes the shift in voter allegiance to how both Trump and Sanders were handled by their respective parties, leading to the migration of passionate supporters to the opposite end of the political spectrum.
Notable Quote:
- Jesse Watters ([35:04]): "Young people because Trump populism breathed new life into the party... They stunt the growth and it creates a lot of animosity and it actually moves Bernie Bros over to the right."
8. Denzel Washington's Interaction with Paparazzi
Timestamp: [36:16] - [40:20]
The panel briefly discusses Denzel Washington's recent altercation with paparazzi at the Cannes Film Festival. Greg Gutfeld criticizes the invasive nature of paparazzi, suggesting that Hollywood events have become hostile environments due to aggressive media behavior. Jessica Tarlov defends Washington, noting his exhaustion from work and dismissing the incident as an overreaction.
Notable Quote:
- Jesse Watters ([37:58]): "I don't care if Denzel slept with that guy's wife. He was just so in his face with his finger. I felt like I was in the movies."
Kennedy humorously downplays the incident, highlighting the absurdity of the situation and mocking the invasive tactics of the media.
Notable Quote:
- Kennedy ([38:07]): "She wanted to meet a guy... The final journey of the forgotten warriors."
9. Closing Remarks
Timestamp: [40:11] - [41:20]
As the episode draws to a close, the hosts briefly touch upon upcoming segments and advertisements, maintaining the show's characteristic blend of political commentary and lighthearted banter.
Notable Quote:
- Jesse Watters ([40:23]): "Sorry. Tonight, Jesse Waters, primetime. Johnny caught up."
Conclusion
This episode of The Five delves deeply into critical political issues, primarily focusing on President Trump's influence on legislative processes, concerns surrounding President Biden's health and transparency, and critiques of Democratic strategies and internal processes. The panel also touches upon high-profile incidents involving public figures like James Comey and Denzel Washington, blending serious political discourse with moments of satire and mockery. Notably, the conversation underscores ongoing tensions within American politics, emphasizing partisan divides and the challenges facing both major political parties.
