Podcast Summary: The Five – May 27, 2025 Episode

Released on May 27, 2025, FOX News Radio's "The Five" delves into the pressing political strategies of the Democratic Party, critiques recent administrative actions, and comments on current cultural events. Hosted by Dana Perino, the panel includes Kayleigh McEnany, Harold Ford Jr., Jesse Waters, and Greg Gutfeld.

1. Democrats' Strategic Investment: Codenamed SAM

[01:04] Dana Perino opens the discussion by addressing the Democratic Party's substantial financial commitment to regaining support among young men who previously favored President Trump and figures like Joe Rogan.

• Dana Perino: "Can $20 million buy the Democrats some street cred with the cool kids? Well, they certainly hope so."

The strategy, dubbed Codenamed SAM (Speaking with American Men, a Strategic Plan), involves invasive studies into language and content that resonate within this demographic, including advertising within video games.

2. Authenticity and Messaging Challenges for Democrats

The panel expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of SAM, emphasizing the importance of authenticity over purely strategic messaging.

• Harold Ford Jr. [02:06]: "If the effort is trying to come up with new words or language that may make you seem more masculine... I'm using the terminology they're using. I think not only will you not persuade voters, you'll just continue to confuse yourself."

• Greg Gutfeld [02:53] critiques the Democratic approach: "Democrat men are afraid of offending minorities and women... They smell fear, and it's just all over the Democrat process."

3. Impact of Democratic Rebranding Efforts

The conversation shifts to broader rebranding challenges, with references to Rahm Emanuel labeling the Democratic brand as "weak and woke."

• Kayleigh McEnany [02:53] suggests a return to grassroots engagement: "The Democrats have forgot that maybe we should just talk to people, like people."

4. Biden Administration and 'Proof of Life' Allegations

A contentious topic emerges regarding claims from a new book alleging that Biden aides intended to conceal the President's health status, potentially keeping him in a comatose state controlled by a committee.

• Greg Gutfeld [12:48] questions the credibility: "If you believe... that Donald Trump was an essential threat to democracy, you can rationalize anything, including sometimes doing undemocratic things."

• Kayleigh McEnany [11:29] adds: "You're hemorrhaging all of these podcasters. So what do you do about that?"

The panel debates the implications of these allegations, weighing them against historical Democratic actions.

5. President Trump's Actions Against Harvard

[24:15] Kayleigh McEnany introduces a segment on President Trump's administrative actions targeting Harvard University, accusing it of allowing anti-Semitism and failing to disclose foreign student lists.

• Dana Perino [24:05] questions the clarity of the administration's objectives: "It's not clear what is the problem we are trying to solve."

• Kayleigh McEnany [25:12] highlights the legal and diplomatic tensions: "Bill Ackman... put together a very thoughtful piece about why did you sue Hegseth in his personal capacity?"

The panel criticizes both the administration's methods and Harvard's compliance, suggesting administrative overreach and institutional vulnerability.

6. Critique of Scott Pelley's Commencement Speech

The episode lampoons CBS anchor Scott Pelley's controversial commencement speech at the age of 47, labeling it as an example of biased journalism.

• Kayleigh McEnany [33:18]: "They wanted a sunny speech about going off into their careers and instead they got a load of garbage."

• Dana Perino [36:09] emphasizes the disconnect between the speech's content and the audience's expectations: "Why can't the commencement address be... 'You guys are going to do great.'"

7. Sports Highlights

Transitioning to lighter topics, Harold Ford Jr. [43:14] celebrates the USA Hockey team's historic win:

• Harold Ford Jr.: "USA Hockey team won its first world title in 92 years, beating Switzerland in overtime... Congrats to these boys."

8. Cultural Commentary: Macron's Slap Incident

The panel briefly discusses French President Emmanuel Macron's publicized altercation, speculating humorously about the nature of his relationship.

• Greg Gutfeld [38:39]: "President Macron... claims, 'we were just horsing around.' Do you and Peter horse around like this?"

• Jesse Waters [39:45]: "This is just another example of toxic masculinity. But it could be a misunderstanding."

9. Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

As the episode concludes, the hosts recap the day's discussions, reinforcing their critical stance on Democratic strategies and highlighting the ongoing political tensions.

• Harold Ford Jr. [43:04]: "We are the most innovative country in the world. We have the greatest military... this is what provides us leverage as a nation."

Notable Quotes:

• Dana Perino [01:04]: "Democrats are dropping $20 million on a new project called Codenamed SAM... can you actually buy authenticity?"

• Greg Gutfeld [02:53]: "Democrat men are afraid of offending minorities and women... They smell fear."

• Kayleigh McEnany [24:15]: "The courthouse coworkers still don't have an illegal alien from Guatemala."

• Harold Ford Jr. [02:35]: "Affordability, what's going to make America stronger and smarter over the next 25, 50 years..."

• Jesse Waters [08:34]: "These are basic traits all men have... We like to win. We like to be first, we like to compete."

Conclusion

In this episode of "The Five," the panel incisively critiques the Democratic Party's current strategies to reconnect with disenfranchised voters, particularly young men. They challenge the authenticity and effectiveness of Democratic messaging while scrutinizing recent administrative actions against institutions like Harvard. Balancing political analysis with cultural commentary, the hosts maintain a consistent theme of advocating for traditional American values and questioning the prevailing Democratic approaches.