Podcast Summary: The Five – August 19, 2025

Overview

This episode of The Five tackled the hottest political and cultural topics of the day, blending analysis, banter, and skepticism as only the panel can. Dominant themes included President Trump’s efforts toward a Ukraine-Russia peace deal, Democratic attempts to mimic MAGA political style, Hollywood’s anti-Trump sentiments, and lighter moments around viral videos and national fitness campaigns. The panel—Emily Compagno, Harold Ford Jr., Jesse Watters, Dana Perino, and Greg Gutfeld—debated the merits, motivations, and optics of each story with their characteristic candor and humor.

Key Discussions

1. Trump’s Pursuit of a Ukraine-Russia Peace Deal

[00:19–13:14]

• Trump’s Statement and “Ticket to Heaven”:
  Trump’s rationale for seeking peace is both noble and humorously self-aware:

  “If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s pretty… I want to try and get to heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well.” —Donald Trump ([00:43])

• Progress and Criticism:
  European leaders appreciate Trump’s progress toward negotiations, but mainstream media and Democrats remain skeptical, suggesting Trump is being manipulated by Putin.

  • Greg Gutfeld commented on critics’ misplaced priorities:

    “You’re in a dark place when you’re rooting against peace because you hate the guy who’s brokering it.” ([02:37])

  • Dana Perino pointed out that the previous Democratic administrations also “gave Putin a platform,” so criticism seems ironic:

    “When they oversaw two incursions from Russia into Ukraine... now they have the gall to say, oh, he’s kissing up to Putin.” ([04:37])

• Negotiation Dynamics:
  Trump is praised for bringing parties to the table but criticized for ruling out U.S. troop involvement. Harold Ford Jr. highlights that negotiating with adversaries is standard presidential conduct, referencing Nixon-Mao, FDR-Stalin:

  “There’s nothing wrong with meeting with Vladimir Putin. Biden did it. Obama did it.” —Harold Ford Jr. ([08:59])

• Media Perceptions & Motivation:
  Panelists debated whether Trump’s personal motivations matter if the outcome is positive. The consensus: achieving peace, regardless of motive, is beneficial.

2. Democrats Attempt to Capture MAGA Energy

[14:59–24:14]

• Democrats Mimicking Trump’s Style:
  Analysis of how Democratic figures, led by Gavin Newsom, are attempting to imitate Trump’s combative, meme-centric style on social media, often without authenticity.

  • Dana Perino critiqued this move:

    “If it’s not authentic and you’re trying to do somebody else who you say is Hitler... it’s just not funny.” ([17:00])

• Lack of Substance:
  The panel agreed that Democrats’ focus on style over substance fails to address real issues. Solutions—not just slogans—are needed.

  • Harold Ford Jr.:

    “No one’s talking about answers. No one’s talking about what the solution should be.” ([18:10])

  • Greg Gutfeld’s “thought experiment” questioned what Democrats would actually undo if solely in power, illustrating the lack of clear policy alternatives:

    “This is why... you rely on these hypothetical delusional fantasies. That Trump might run for a third term because you can’t actually tackle things that are being done successfully.” ([21:03])

• Critique of Newsom’s Governance:
  Emily Compagno, referencing personal experience, lambasted Newsom for “attention-seeking” and failing to govern effectively:

  “It kills me that he is too busy sleeping with his campaign manager’s wife... to even govern and to watch my state now have been run into the ground.” ([23:00])

3. Hollywood and “Trump Derangement Syndrome”

[24:59–32:14]

• Chris Pratt’s Comments:
  Chris Pratt draws attention for calling out Hollywood’s reflexive anti-Trump sentiment:

  “I’d hate to be so mired in hatred for the president that any success from his administration is something I’d be having an allergic reaction to.” —Chris Pratt ([25:14])

• Hollywood’s Political Self-Interest:
  Greg Gutfeld argues that Hollywood’s open political expressions carry little career risk (unless you’re conservative). He draws parallels between performative wokeness and practical business failures:

  “If a celebrity just offers some common sense, they’re probably conservative. If they never say anything about politics, they’re likely Republican.” ([25:57])

• The Importance of Reason:
  Jesse Watters and Emily Compagno call for reason in public discourse, criticizing Democrats’ leaders for not echoing Pratt's balance.

  “If they really served their constituents, they would see that peace benefits everyone, that a rising economic tide benefits everyone.” —Emily Compagno ([29:31])

4. National Fitness Push: “Making America Fit Again”

[32:53–36:05]

• RFK Jr.’s Fitness Challenge:
  The segment covered a fitness challenge inspired by President Trump, with RFK Jr. and others encouraging Americans to get active. RFK’s habit of working out in jeans sparked lighthearted jokes.

• Panel’s Banter on Fitness:
  Light, relatable anecdotes emerged on old school fitness challenges, weird workout attire, and odd sights in city life (like jogging while smoking cigars).

  “Why does RFK wear jeans when he exercises?... Is he trying to tell people he has good genes?” —Greg Gutfeld ([33:36])
  “I feel like I’ve seen it all in Central [Park]. Like, I saw one guy... literally jogging and while smoking a cigar.” —Emily Compagno ([35:48])

5. Viral Video: Influencers + SUV Crash

[36:35–39:56]

• Shocking Video Discussion:
  The panel react to a viral clip of food influencers nearly being hit by an SUV crashing into a restaurant.

• Jokes and Commentary:
  Despite the dangerous situation, the panel riffs on influencer culture and the monetization of food reviews, veering between wry commentary and gallows humor.

  “They sat for a bite and an SUV... gave them a fright. Boom. Oh, my God.” —Greg Gutfeld ([36:35])
  “Should they leave a tip?” —Greg Gutfeld ([38:58])

6. “One More Thing” & Lighthearted Closer

[40:16–42:46]

• Zoo Animal Guessing Game:
  The panel humorously tried guessing the animal behind odd zoo sounds. The answer: a yellow-casqued hornbill ([41:03]).

• Koala Rescue Story:
  Dana Perino shared a clip of a man helping a koala cross the road—leading the panel to reflect on animal discipline.

• Other Quick Hits:

  • First responder rescues, canine officer retirement.
  • Meta-banter about upcoming shows and podcast plugs.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Trump on Peace & Heaven:

  “If I can save 7,000 people a week... I want to try and get to heaven if possible.” —Donald Trump ([00:43])

• Greg Gutfeld on Media Criticism:

  “You’re in a dark place when you’re rooting against peace because you hate the guy who’s brokering it.” ([02:37])

• Dana Perino on Political Irony:

  “When they oversaw two incursions from Russia into Ukraine... now they have the gall to say, oh, he’s kissing up to Putin.” ([04:37])

• Chris Pratt on Partisan Reactions:

  “I’d hate to be so mired in hatred for the president that any success from his administration is something I’d be having an allergic reaction to.” ([25:14])

• Greg Gutfeld on Authenticity:

  “If a celebrity just offers some common sense, they’re probably conservative. If they never say anything about politics, they’re likely Republican.” ([25:57])

• Greg on Gavin Newsom’s Memes:

  “Gavin aping Trump’s tweets... reminds me of a child putting on his dad’s clothes...” ([19:55])

Conclusion

This episode intertwines sharp political critique, spirited debate, and characteristic humor. The panel scrutinizes the authenticity and substance of political maneuvers on both sides, questions the motivations behind policy moves, and underscores the need for real solutions and reasonable leadership—while also making plenty of room for jokes about RFK’s jeans, influencers dodging SUVs, and the quirks of zoo life.

For listeners looking for political insight with a heavy dose of personality, this episode exemplifies how The Five blends cultural commentary and current events into compulsively listenable panel television.