TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2026
Watters whips it out: It may be time to seek a diagnosis for our failing society as a whole. We'll start with something from yesterday—something we didn't see in real time.
In a rare act of self-indulgence, we skipped yesterday's edition of The Five, this nation's most-watched "cable news" program.
Yesterday, as the program began, occasional co-host Harold Ford sat in the Jessica Tarlov chair. Also, comedian Tom Shillue sat in the chair of regular co-host Greg Gutfeld.
There would be little point in watching, we incorrectly mused. At any rate, the line-up this day went exactly like this:
The Five: Monday, April 13, 2026
Emily Compagno: co-host, Outnumbered
Harold Ford Jr.: former congressman
Jesse Watters: anchor, Jesse Watters Primetime
Dana Perino: co-host, America's Newsroom
Tom Shillue: comedian; occasional guest, Gutfeld!
There would be nothing to see there, we surmised. But that assessment was wrong.
In the program's second segment, the panel discussed Rep. Swalwell's announcement that he would be dropping his gubernatorial bid.
There was no reason why they shouldn't have been discussing, or at least pretending to discuss, this significant topic. But when moderator Dana Perino threw to Watters, the most-watched star in the Fox News Channel firmament offered these typical comments:
WATTERS (4/13/26): It's a "He said, she said," Dana. And then I read a lot more, and it's like a "He said, she said, she said, she said, she said, she said." Because there are a lo-o-ot of women coming forward here, and it's not all pretty.
One of the allegations was that he sucked on a girl's toes, OK? I just want to say, I mean, guys—do not do that? Ever? OK?
And also, don't just whip it out!
Allegedly, he was just whipping it out—in a car, In broad daylight. In front of the intern.
[Covers his eyes in horror]
Like, that's not the moment you do it! It has to be done in the moment of maybe some passion.
PERINO: Never with an intern!
WATTERS (laughing): Never with an intern!
PERINO: [Rolls her eyes, smirks at the camera]
WATTERS: And also, sending cock-a doodle pics...
As you can see by clicking the link, the superstar halfwit continued from there, at significant length. He did so on the American nation's most-watched "cable news" program, as four co-hosts gazed on.
We aren't going to try explain the problems with Watters' extended advice to the fellas. We'll only say this:
Each evening. on the10 p.m. Gutfeld! show, the presentations tend to get dumber and substantially uglier.
Question One:
Is something wrong with a Red American nation which has made idiocy of this familiar kind the heart and soul of primetime "cable news" coverage?
We'd have to say that there is! But then, we turn to this:
Question Two:
Is something wrong with a Blue America whose journalistic elites refuse to report or discuss the ugliness and the sheer inanity of the Fox News Channel's broadcasts?
Again, we're forced to say that there is! Something is badly wrong with the moral and intellectual profile of our own Blue elites.
With respect to those elites, we call your attention to the lengthy piece by Peter Baker which appears in today's New York Times.
In print editions, it appears above the fold on the paper's front page. Online, Baker's piece appears under this intriguing dual headline:
Trump’s Erratic Behavior and Extreme Comments Revive Mental Health Debate
As the president threatens to wipe out Iran and attacks the pope, even some former allies and advisers are questioning whether he has grown increasingly unbalanced, describing him as “lunatic” and “clearly insane.”
Is something wrong with President Trump? More specifically is something wrong with his mental health in a way which is actively dangerous and which is likely to get even worse?