Jessica Tarlov has a warmer assessment of Jesse Watters away from The Five than their frequent political disagreements might suggest.
During an appearance on The Daily Show to discuss her book, I Disagree, Tarlov described her conservative colleague as enjoyable company, even while making clear that their differences remain.
“You would actually really enjoy him,” she said. “Fun hanging with him. You wouldn’t enjoy the politics part of it.”
Tarlov said Watters’ sense of humor makes him fun to spend time with off camera, despite their heated exchanges on television.
She cited his interview with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed as an example of that lighter approach.
A recurring disagreement over interruptions
Tarlov also addressed an aspect of their working relationship that viewers regularly notice: Watters interrupting her during discussions.
According to Tarlov, audience members have encouraged him to let her finish speaking. She joked that reducing those interruptions has become a recurring commitment he has yet to fulfill.
“It’s been his New Year’s resolution for four years, actually, to interrupt me less,” she said. “Failed every year.”
Tarlov, who said she had spent four and a half years on the program, also described how conversations during commercial breaks can influence what follows on air.
In one instance, she told Watters that Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff was receiving endorsements from Republican mayors because of his work for constituents.
She said Watters later incorporated that explanation into his commentary about Ossoff’s polling advantage. That acknowledgment, however, did not lead her to expect his political support.
“So is he going to be voting for Jon Ossoff? I doubt it,” she said.
Finding common ground without sharing political beliefs
Tarlov connected her experience with Watters to her broader view of conversations between liberals and conservatives.
She argued that conservatives approach politics less seriously than liberals do. In her assessment, that can be troubling when discussions concern issues such as immigration enforcement and its consequences.
At the same time, she said a less solemn approach can make political conversations easier than outsiders might assume.
Tarlov described relationships with political opponents as capable of having several dimensions, rather than being defined entirely by disagreement.
She said those connections can also contribute to engaging television discussions.
Her positive comments about Watters’ personality did not amount to an endorsement of his positions. Throughout the interview, she distinguished enjoying his company from agreeing with his politics.
Her answer on whether colleagues believe their arguments
Asked whether her conservative co-hosts genuinely believe the views they express on television, Tarlov gave a direct response.
“Yes,” she said. “They believe in the project.”
Her account included both the frustrations of debating Watters and the more personable colleague she encounters outside those exchanges. She described interruptions that continue to draw viewer complaints,
