In what is already being called the most explosive moment in The Five’s 13-year history, liberal co-host Jessica Tarlov detonated the set on December 3, 2025, with a blistering, unscripted tirade that ended with her ripping off her microphone and storming off live television. The trigger? A heated segment on Trump’s latest cabinet picks spiraled into personal accusations, culminating in Tarlov pointing directly at retired Marine and frequent guest host Johnny “Joey” Jones and declaring, “You perform patriotism on camera while hiding what you really do off-camera.” The studio fell deathly silent. Even Greg Gutfeld’s trademark quip died in his throat.
Sources inside Fox News say the control room was seconds from cutting to commercial when Tarlov kept going: “I’m not afraid of being fired — but I’m going to tell you the truth you’ve been hiding!” She accused the panel of “coordinated talking points” and singled out Jones for allegedly “monetizing wounded-veteran status” while lobbying for defense contractors behind the scenes — a claim Jones immediately denied as “disgusting and beneath you.” Visibly shaking, Tarlov snapped back, “I know you better than you know yourself,” then unclipped her mic, tossed it on the desk, and walked off set mid-segment. The show cut to break 47 seconds early — an almost unprecedented move.
The meltdown has split the internet. Conservative viewers are demanding her immediate termination, with #FireJessica trending at No. 1 nationwide. Progressive corners are hailing her as the “liberal lioness who finally roared,” with #IStandWithJessica already at 1.2 million posts.
Insiders claim Tarlov had been warned twice this month about “staying in her lane” after previous clashes over Trump’s military parade plans. One producer allegedly texted her minutes before airtime: “Tone it down or else.” Her response, per leaks: “Then fire me on air — watch what happens.”
Fox News has declined official comment, but a network spokesperson told Deadline the incident is “under review.” Jones, visibly rattled, posted on X an hour later: “I lost both legs for this country. I won’t dignify lies with a response.” Gutfeld attempted damage control on his late-night show, joking weakly, “Well, at least someone finally made The Five interesting,” but the laughter in the studio felt forced.
Whether this spells the end of Tarlov’s six-year run or the birth of a new era of unfiltered cable combat remains unclear. One thing is certain: at 5:58 p.m. EST on December 3, 2025, American political television crossed a line it can never uncross. And Jessica Tarlov just became the face of it.
