Fox News host Jessica Tarlov lost it live on-air during a heated debate with a colleague about the then-looming government shutdown.

Tarlov, a rare liberal voice on the network, accused Republicans of not wanting to actually deal with Democrats.

Special Report host Bret Baier pushed back, saying the situation was actually ‘kind of simple’. He claimed Democrats should hold the blame due to not making enough concessions.

Tarlov, 41, argued that Americans would still see Senate Republicans responsible. The group has since scheduled another round of votes designed to give Democrats a chance to switch sides slated for Wednesday.

The US government began the shutdown process early Wednesday morning. Baier, 55, and Tarlov’s tense argument occurred just before. The GOP has a 53–47 majority and need seven Democrats to vote for a resolution.

‘You know, this is a plain, fund-the-government continuing resolution,‘ Baier told Tarlov.

‘But it’s a clean resolution inclusive of these cuts,’ Tarlov interjected, referring to tax credits set to be repealed. They make health insurance premiums cheaper for millions of Americans and will expire at the end of the year, as is.

‘That affects Democrats just as much as Republicans. And there are a lot of Republicans on Obamacare,’ Tarlov said.

Jessica Tarlov, a Democratic strategist and host of The Five, accused Republicans of not wanting to deal with Democrats. Both parties have engaged in finger-pointing after failing to pass a funding bill for 2026

Special Report host Bret Baier pushed back, saying the situation was actually ‘kind of simple’

She pointed to how some Republicans, like Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley, have warned a shutdown could prove worse than any other outcome, especially when everyday Americans are considered.

Baier continued: ‘It doesn’t stop until the end of the year. So, you fund the government…’

Tarlov erupted: ‘Enough with this! But who’s to say they’re gonna sit down and negotiate with us afterwards.’

The Democratic political strategist pointed to a an AI-generated social media post from the president Tuesday that suggested Democrats were seeking to give healthcare to undocumented immigrants – an outright lie, she said.

‘They came out of that meeting, Trump is posting racist AI videos, saying, “I don’t need to deal with them, at all.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance both pedaled that lie, Tarlov said.

‘[They] are lying about what Democrats are asking, saying we want to fund a health care for illegals – which is impossible and doesn’t happen. It is impossible.

‘They’re saying they want to cut $50billion for rural hospitals. They took $137billion out and then gave us back $50billion and said that it’s our problem.’

A noticeably tense altercation ensued, during which Tarlov repeatedly criticized the GOP and administration

The US government began the shutdown process early Wednesday morning, after politicians from both sides were not able to make a deal. Republicans control the Senate 53-47, and need seven Democrats to vote for a continuing resolution to avert a shutdown

The brush-up ended there, with Tarlov left fuming by the end.

Democrats like her have blamed the shutdown on Trump and the GOP. They say Republicans are refusing to protects millions of Americans’ healthcare.

Democrats are demanding an extension of Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act be included in the funding bill.

The party has been prone to in-fights after House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer cut a deal with Republicans back in March without making any concessions.