The Five – "Trump To Patrol DC With Police"

FOX News Podcasts — August 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on President Trump's unprecedented decision to join Washington D.C. police and military personnel for a “ride-along” patrol, highlighting his administration's law-and-order crackdown in the capital. The Five panel debates the motivations and impact of this visible intervention, broader questions of urban crime, federal versus local control, and Democratic responses. In the second half, attention turns to high-stakes gerrymandering battles in Texas and California—and speculation around key political figures on both sides. The panel also discusses the effectiveness of Trump’s highly visible leadership approach and closes with lighter, offbeat stories and inside banter.

Main Topics and Key Discussion Points

1. Trump’s Law-and-Order Patrol in D.C.

Segment start: [01:19]

• President Trump publicly announces he’ll patrol with D.C. police and military, intending to witness the effects of his crackdown firsthand and boost morale.
• Dana Perino sets the stage, emphasizing Trump following cabinet members like Vice President Vance and Stephen Miller, who recently visited National Guard troops and faced protest heckling ([01:32]).
• D.C. experiences a “murder-free week" with 77 new arrests amid the federal intervention, per AG Pam Bondi.
• Jesse Watters contrasts National Guard and police presence with left-wing protesters:

  "We're going to ignore these stupid white hippies that all need to go home and take a nap… we're going to get back to the business of protecting the American people and the citizens of Washington." ([02:04])

• Media criticisms arise, with some outlets calling the military enforcement “insulting” to Black communities, which the panel debates.

Panel Analysis & Reactions

• Greg Gutfeld argues Democrats reflexively side with “bad guys” due to “hatred for law enforcement” and presents Trump's ride-along as both tough and ironic:

  "You can paint them in their dark light as evil fascist, but they're the people actually making the city safer." ([03:07])

• Jesse and Greg lampoon media attempts to portray arrestees as victims:

  "In a few hours, we always find out the guy is bad news. I love the ride-along with Trump; he should try to make an arrest, maybe tase a molester." (Greg, [03:40])

• Jessica Tarloff suggests the patrol is engineered for media impact, not genuine concern:

  "They didn't go to Union Station yesterday for fun... They knew there were protesters there. They went there to be on TV." ([02:47])

• Discussion of alleged 'crime stat manipulation' as elections near in D.C.

Key Quote:

“If you've got the political will to enforce the law, you can make even cities like D.C. safe again, and that's what we're demonstrating.”
— Vice President Vance, played at [05:28]

Crime Data Controversy

• Jesse claims institutional downgrading of serious crimes to manipulate stats ([07:46]).
• Jessica counters with arguments about local control (“states rights”), and that both parties exploit numbers when convenient ([08:53]).

Use of Federal Power

• Kennedy expresses skepticism over National Guard use, favoring federal law enforcement over militarization, but concedes local abdication of responsibility for public safety ([10:53]).

2. Trump’s Remarks During the Patrol

Trump’s address begins: [29:37]

• Trump addresses law enforcement and officials at a police station in Anacostia, focusing on:
  • D.C. crime reduction since military/federal intervention.
  • Plans for physical revitalization: road repairs, removing graffiti, landscaping parks, and making D.C. “the best in the world.”
  • Boasts of “unprecedented” investment and economic recovery in his administration—$17 trillion in five months, new auto and AI plants, and ongoing international diplomatic wins.
  • Playful, off-script commentary (praise for grass and golf courses, building a White House ballroom, jokes about tax cuts and energy policy).
  • Expresses thanks to law enforcement, AG Pam Bondi, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and others.
  • Frames himself as a hands-on, “people’s president”:

    "We're not playing games. We're going to make it safe, and then go on to other places, but we're going to stay here for a while." ([around 30:30])

Panel Reflections

• Dana Perino notes Trump’s “personal touch” is effective for morale ([42:39]).
• Greg commends Trump's strategic use of repetition in messaging:

  “There’s three rules to persuasion—repetition, repetition, and repetition." ([42:19])

• Kennedy observes a “softer, more effusive” Trump since the assassination attempt, noting his open affection for cabinet members.
• Jessica says she expected more patrol “action” for meme potential, and challenges Trump's rosy take on D.C.’s restaurant comeback with data ([44:03]).
• Jesse counters with allegations of media “stat juicing” and dismisses critiques labeling Trump’s methods as authoritarian:

  "If that’s authoritarianism, I like it." ([44:58])

3. National Crime & Policing Debate

• Public Safety vs. States’ Rights:
  • Right frames debate as about safety and results; left (per Jessica) wants to maintain local authority and avoid federal power overreach ([08:53]).
  • Kennedy and Jessica debate the right federal/local policing balance, with Kennedy favoring federal law enforcement but not National Guard deployment ([10:53]).
• Crime Data Manipulation: Ongoing debate on the manipulation or honest reporting of crime statistics, with panelists skeptical about sudden drops as election years approach.

4. Gerrymandering Arms Race: Texas vs. California

Segment start: [14:35]

• As Texas passes a redistricting map favoring Republicans, California’s Assembly retaliates with a map aimed at giving Democrats five more House seats.
• Barack Obama supports California’s “responsible response,” but conservatives call it “radical rigging.”
• Panelists mock the cyclical nature of redistricting battles; both sides paint the other as hypocritical and self-interested.

Key Quotes:

“It is clear that the districts they're going after are not only Democratic, but they're mostly black or brown, as part of the racialist and racist agenda of the Trump administration.”
— Jesse, summarizing Democratic critiques ([15:49])

“The Dems are just mad that the Republicans are playing the game that they've been playing.”
— Greg ([18:06])

• Jessica and Greg argue over whether gerrymandering is fundamentally racist and who is really to blame for manipulation ([19:10]).

Gavin Newsom’s Media Gambit

• Discussion on Newsom’s rise in profile, his effectiveness in fundraising, but debated lack of substantive achievements.
• Jesse likens Newsom to “Beto O’Rourke of San Francisco”—media savvy but lacking gravitas ([22:10]).

5. Democratic Bench, Book Tours, and Miscellaneous Political Banter

Kamala Harris’s “107 Days” Book Tour: ([25:21])

• Kennedy and Dana Perino tease Harris’s “loser tour” and the Democrats’ thin 2028 “bench.”
• Jessica defends Harris’s contribution to down-ballot wins, rebuffing the panel’s derision ([27:05]).

Democratic Messaging Critique:

• Jesse ridicules Democrats for focusing on fringe issues instead of core economic hardships:

  “People in the Democratic Party said to me, that's not my Democratic Party. Why are we fighting for that? It's an 80-20 issue. They've got to pick three hard economic issues: interest rates, inflation, tariffs…” ([28:00])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Greg (on crime reporting):

  “If terrorists flew planes into the building, they would blame it on Trump's love for tall buildings.” ([03:07])

• Jesse (on morale and optics):

  “I love that Trump's going out there like a general to inspect the troops. … This is the best episode of Cops we're ever gonna see.” ([06:05])

• Jessica (on the show's spectacle):

  “I think Donald Trump going out on patrol will be a huge win for him. ... It’s made for social media.” ([09:26])

• Greg (on repetition):

  "There’s three rules to persuasion—repetition, repetition, and repetition." ([42:19])

• Kennedy (on militarization):

  “I’ve always had an issue with the militarization of law enforcement.” ([10:53])

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• [01:19] – Start of crime/patrol discussion
• [05:28] – Audio clip: VP Vance pitching law enforcement's success
• [07:45] – Crime stat “juicing” accusation explained
• [10:53] – Kennedy critiques militarization, offers alternative
• [14:35] – Transition to redistricting/gerrymandering
• [25:21] – Kamala Harris’s book tour, Dems “bench”
• [29:37] – Trump’s full remarks from D.C. patrol
• [42:19] – Panel reflects on Trump’s persuasive tactics and approach

Tone & Atmosphere

Lively, combative, and satirical; consistent with The Five's signature banter. Panelists tease one another, intersperse sharp criticism of Democrats, and frequently break the fourth wall with jokes and personal asides. The tone is openly partisan but also self-aware, with moments of levity even in heated debates.

Closing Thoughts

The episode foregrounds the dramatic optics and political maneuvering around Trump’s direct engagement with law enforcement as proof of his “hands-on leadership.” The panel is united in skepticism toward Democratic leadership, crime statistics, and redistricting rhetoric, but Kennedy and Jessica provide internal dissent around the use of federal force and the dangers of spin. Trump’s presence in D.C. is repeatedly held up as both symbolic and substantively effective—a “reality show” leadership style for a polarized era.

For Further Listening

• To hear the panel’s lighter take on porcupines, rogue Roombas, and the peculiarities of branded Fox grandparent merch, refer to the final ten minutes ([46:12–end]).

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a robust, timestamped overview of the episode's core debates, highlights, and recurring themes, with key quotes for reference.