With Greg Gutfeld leading Fox’s late-night ratings, various hosts have found themselves navigating the Democrats’ efforts to use humor to recapture legacy media and voters following their defeat in 2024.
Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January, corporate media and Democrats have countered administration initiatives, even though the president has won both the popular vote and the electoral college. Gutfeld criticized these efforts on his late-night show, pointing out the clear bias within corporate media as they attempt to reconnect with Democratic voters.
1. Washington Post’s “Journalistic Stroke Work”
In June, the Washington Post featured an article titled “These centrist women in group chats lead Democrats in 2025,” showcasing Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill, and Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin as the party’s “moderate” leaders.
During his show, Gutfeld referenced this piece, emphasizing the irony of Democrats celebrating women’s achievements while promoting biological men who identify as transgender in the same conversation. He referred to the article as a “fluff bomb” that lacked any mention of actual policy positions.
“It seems they’re making profiles without discussing any real accomplishments, like ignoring my bodybuilding awards. Is that the aim? It appears more comfortable to avoid hard stances, especially with their current party dynamics,” he remarked.
“They trade real substance for nicknames or trendy group initiatives. This feels like a false sense of empowerment, hiding a lack of courage. And here’s the kicker—are they really scared? This brings us to a bigger question: Should men compete in women’s sports? I think we all know the answer. But within the Democratic party, it seems like internal reconciliation is a must, leading to vocal minorities dominating discussions.”
The debate over women’s sports highlights a significant divide. Republicans demand that biological men be barred from competing, while Democrats advocate for inclusivity, despite concerns raised regarding the implications for women.
According to a February Harvard-Harris poll, 69% of Americans believe that men who have undergone surgery and hormone treatments should not compete in women’s sports. Notably, 50% of that majority were Democrats, while 86% were Republicans, along with 70% identifying as independent or others.
2. Mamdani’s high school transcript and JB Pritzker’s “bra”
Socialist NYC mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani marked both “Asian” and “African American” on his 2009 Columbia University application, as reported by the New York Times, despite emphasizing his Muslim identity during his campaign.
Even though he didn’t end up attending Columbia, Gutfeld spoke about how mayoral hopefuls seem to gain by playing into the Ivy League’s push for diversity and inclusion, benefiting a wide range of applicants.
“It raises questions, though. How do you argue against preferential treatment while claiming an identity that will push you ahead? Usually, it’s about maximizing your chances, right? Mamdani likely understood that identifying as Black could facilitate admission boosts—this was back in 2009,” he stated.
“When it’s time to showcase heritage, that might not be the best strategy. It’s almost like a gamble to gain social capital. His past choices sometimes seem calculated rather than genuine.”
3. Democrats on American pride
In June, a Gallup poll revealed that only 36% of Democrats felt “very” proud to be American. Gutfeld pointed out this shift in pride, suggesting it seemed contingent on who holds office, especially in the wake of Trump’s return to power.
“Public pride appears to wane when things don’t align with their views. It’s like assessing whether Joy Behar has lost her charm. For many, it seems to correlate with political circumstances,” he commented.
Notably, after Joe Biden’s presidency began, the pride among Democrats rose from 42% in 2020 to 62%. In contrast, Republican pride has fluctuated between 80% and 90%, shooting up to 92% after Trump resumed office.
“On the right, there’s a distinct sense of pride, while the left often views American symbols as tainted. Maybe this split reflects deeper issues, especially once politics shift away from their favor,” he noted.
4. ‘Fat Dexter’ Eric Swalwell
California Rep. Eric Swalwell sparked online mockery after posting a video of himself bench-pressing about 135 pounds during a summer break, linking it to chaos surrounding the Epstein Files. Gutfeld didn’t miss the chance to critique him, proposing a bench-press challenge while making light of Swalwell’s situation.
“Eric, you’ve got to recognize that if you want people to take you seriously, perhaps honesty would be the best route instead of coming off as desperate,” he quipped, poking fun at Swalwell’s previous controversies.
In 2023, Swalwell was removed from the House Intelligence Committee after reports on his ties to an alleged Chinese spy surfaced, leading to long-standing Republican insinuations about an inappropriate relationship.
5. Gutfeld boosts ratings
Nielsen Media Research shows that Gutfeld captivated 1.7 million viewers during his appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” showcasing a significant jump in audience numbers, an increase of about 57% over the show’s typical viewership.
“I remember this one moment where I walked into a bar with my friend Andy, and it was like déjà vu—I saw you across the way, and it felt like we were on a collision course,” he recalled during an engaging anecdote about the past.
Overall, Gutfeld’s segment not only performed well but also drew in a younger demographic, marking an upward trend in engagement.
