Gutfeld: The chickens are coming home to roost

On a recent episode of his show, Greg Gutfeld delivered a monologue that struck a nerve with audiences across the political spectrum.

Titled “The Chickens Are Coming Home to Roost,” his commentary addressed what he sees as the consequences of progressive policies and cultural shifts that have, in his view, led to an erosion of basic societal norms and expectations.

With his signature blend of sarcasm and sharp wit, Gutfeld dissected the events unfolding in the United States and pointed to what he called a “reckoning” long in the making.

Gutfeld began by highlighting what he described as the collapse of accountability in major institutions.

From local governments to universities, he claimed that leadership structures had traded competence for ideology, and results for rhetoric.

“We were told this was progress,” Gutfeld said.

“We were told this was change.

What it really was, was a freefall.

He pointed to rising crime rates in urban areas, controversial school curricula, and increasing public distrust in the media as examples of the consequences of these shifts.

In his view, many of these problems stem from a culture that no longer values personal responsibility and instead rewards victimhood and grievance.

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The phrase “chickens coming home to roost,” famously used by Malcolm X in a very different context, was repurposed by Gutfeld to signal what he views as poetic justice.

“Everything that was romanticized by the radical left is now backfiring in real time,” he said.

“Crime surging? That’s what happens when you demonize the police.

Kids failing basic literacy tests? That’s what happens when you prioritize ideology over education.

His argument centered on the notion that the cultural and political Left, by championing policies that may have seemed idealistic or fashionable at the time, failed to foresee the real-world impact on everyday Americans.

Throughout the segment, Gutfeld used recent headlines to bolster his case.

He cited high-profile shoplifting incidents in cities like San Francisco and New York, where district attorneys have been criticized for not prosecuting so-called “low-level” offenses.

“These policies weren’t compassionate,” he argued.

“They were careless.

And now, the very people who championed these changes are the ones installing security gates around their homes.

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He drew a contrast between political elites and working-class families, suggesting that those who suffer most from failed policies are rarely the ones who vote them in.

Gutfeld also zeroed in on academia, where he accused university administrators of enabling intellectual laziness.

He mocked the rise of “safe spaces” and “trigger warnings,” suggesting they had produced a generation of students ill-equipped to handle adversity.

“When you turn every classroom into a therapy session,” he quipped, “don’t be surprised when your graduates can’t face the real world.


He pointed to declining enrollment and financial instability at several liberal arts colleges as further proof that a correction was underway.

Another target of Gutfeld’s monologue was the media, which he accused of fueling hysteria and division rather than reporting facts.

He criticized the coverage of various social movements and claimed that many journalists act more like activists than reporters.

“In their rush to be on the ‘right side of history,’” he said, “they forgot to be on the side of truth.Gutfeld argued that the public’s growing skepticism toward mainstream outlets is not a symptom of ignorance but of betrayal.

The comedian-turned-pundit also took aim at Hollywood and the entertainment industry, mocking what he called the “self-destructive embrace of wokeness.He cited recent box office flops and ratings declines for awards shows as evidence that audiences are rejecting what he sees as moral lecturing disguised as storytelling.

“People watch movies to escape, not to be scolded,” he said.

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“When everything becomes about identity politics, nothing becomes about story, character, or fun.According to Gutfeld, the entertainment industry is learning the hard way that alienating half your audience isn’t a sustainable business model.

He concluded his monologue by offering a warning rather than a celebration.

“Yes, the chickens are coming home to roost,” he said.

“But that means we all have to deal with the mess.

It’s not enough to say ‘I told you so.It’s about rebuilding trust, restoring common sense, and re-learning the basics of how to live together.

While his tone remained unapologetically critical, Gutfeld urged viewers not to give in to despair but to use the moment as an opportunity for course correction.

His message resonated with many viewers, especially those who feel disillusioned with current political and cultural trends.

However, critics of the segment argue that Gutfeld’s commentary was overly simplistic and unfairly targeted progressive ideals without offering nuanced alternatives.

Some pointed out that not all urban crime increases can be directly linked to progressive policies and that challenges in education and media trust are complex and multifaceted.

Others took issue with his use of Malcolm X’s phrase, suggesting it stripped the quote of its original historical and racial context.

Nonetheless, the monologue sparked a widespread conversation on social media, with clips circulating widely and reactions pouring in from both supporters and detractors.

Whether seen as a searing truth-teller or a partisan provocateur, Gutfeld managed to do what few in political commentary consistently achieve—command attention and stir debate.

In an age of echo chambers and tribal politics, that alone is no small feat.

And as the headlines continue to pile up, many are wondering whether the reckoning Gutfeld warned about is already here—or if the chickens are still circling overhead, waiting to land.