While she’s best known as the liberal voice on The Five, Jessica Tarlov has quietly navigated a series of high-profile professional and personal challenges, all while holding her own in one of cable news’ most outspoken panels.
Often the lone Democrat at the table, Tarlov has said she takes her role seriously. Speaking on Katie Couric’s Next Question podcast in 2024, she reflected on what that visibility means.
“I think it’s so important to represent the values of this party that I care deeply about in a sane and approachable way.”
Whether debating policy, correcting narratives, or responding to criticism, Tarlov has remained a consistent presence on screen, even when the spotlight turned unexpectedly personal.
Comments from Trump
In early 2023, former President Donald Trump made headlines with a Truth Social post criticizing Tarlov’s commentary on The Five. In the post, he took issue with her on-air delivery and presentation.
“Her facts are knowingly wrong, her jittery presentation is horrendous and, forgive me, her VOICE is grating and unendurable,” he wrote.
Tarlov later addressed the post in an interview with Bustle, saying it initially caught her off guard. But she said she ultimately viewed it as a sign that her commentary was making an impact.
“Someone with so much power was paying attention to what I was doing,” she said. “I was doing a good enough job that he couldn’t focus on the facts, he had to go after a superficial thing.”
She also credited co-host Dana Perino with encouraging her to stay focused on her work and not take the comment personally.
The $30 Million Lawsuit and Its Resolution
In March 2024, Tarlov faced legal scrutiny after an on-air comment about Tony Bobulinski, a former Hunter Biden associate. She mistakenly stated that Bobulinski’s legal fees had been paid by a Trump-aligned political action committee.
Tarlov issued a public clarification the next day:
“What was actually said during the hearing was that the law firm representing Mr. Bobulinski was paid by a Trump PAC. I have seen no indication those payments were made in connection with Mr. Bobulinski’s legal fees, and he denies that they were.”
Despite the correction, Bobulinski filed a $30 million defamation lawsuit. After eight months, the case was dismissed under New York’s anti-SLAPP statute, and the court ordered him to cover Tarlov’s legal costs.
Fox News said in a statement that it was “pleased with the court’s landmark decision.”
Grieving in Private
Tarlov has also spoken openly about personal loss. In July 2021, her father, Mark Tarlov, a filmmaker and winemaker, passed away at 69 following a cancer battle linked to his proximity to Ground Zero after 9/11.
At the time, Jessica was 20 weeks pregnant with her first child. The timing, she said, made the experience even more emotional.
“I lost my father when I was 20 weeks pregnant, and the grief combined with postpartum has created an emotional rollercoaster that’s tough to handle at home, let alone at work,” she told Carry.
In a post on X, she remembered him as a man who gave everything to his family.
“He gave the absolute most to me, my sister, and our Mom, who he loved so completely.”
She added that the hardest part was that he never got to meet her children.
A Steady Voice on a Loud Stage
Through high-profile moments and private grief, Jessica Tarlov has continued to play her part on The Five, often offering a different viewpoint but doing so with steady conviction.
Whether discussing policy or reflecting on personal loss, she remains a familiar face on the panel, proof that, in a space known for debate, consistency and resilience still matter.
