Fox News is facing a storm as sliding ratings spark rumors that Jessica Tarlov will be replaced on The Five by Harold Ford Jr., leaving insiders stunned, rivals circling, and viewers bracing for a shakeup that could redefine the network’s most powerful show.

The corridors of Fox News are buzzing louder than ever, and this time, it’s not about breaking headlines or a political scandal outside the studio walls.

Instead, the drama is unfolding from within, as whispers grow into thunder about a possible shakeup on one of the network’s crown jewels — The Five.

According to multiple insiders, Jessica Tarlov, the liberal voice who has sparred with her co-hosts for years, may soon be shown the door, with former congressman Harold Ford Jr.

emerging as the frontrunner to replace her.

The speculation began quietly just weeks ago, when Fox executives first noticed a troubling dip in ratings.

Though The Five has consistently been a ratings powerhouse, drawing millions of viewers in the coveted 5 p.m. slot, numbers from recent Nielsen reports suggested a “sharper than expected decline.”

One insider described the atmosphere at headquarters as “tense, hushed, like everyone knew something was brewing but nobody dared to say it out loud.”

That silence broke after a series of cryptic texts between staffers began circulating, followed by unusual tension in the makeup room before broadcasts.

“You could feel it,” one staffer confided.

“Jessica seemed more isolated than usual.

People weren’t chatting the way they used to.

There was this sense that decisions were being made above everyone’s heads.”

Jessica Tarlov, 40, has been The Five’s lightning rod since her debut, serving as the lone liberal voice in a sea of conservative heavyweights.

Often pitted against co-hosts like Greg Gutfeld and Jesse Watters, she has built a reputation for being sharp, measured, and occasionally fiery.

But the very role that made her invaluable to the format may now be the reason she’s at risk.

Sources suggest that network executives fear her appeal is waning at a time when Fox needs its liberal foil to feel fresh and impactful.

Enter Harold Ford Jr., the 54-year-old former Democratic congressman from Tennessee who has quietly become a fixture on Fox’s airwaves in recent years.

Known for his smooth delivery, moderate stances, and ability to spar without alienating, Ford has won over both producers and audiences.

“He’s the kind of Democrat Fox viewers can stomach,” a senior producer noted.

“He’s articulate, pragmatic, and not afraid to call out his own party.

That plays well here.”

Behind the scenes, the chatter is that the decision is “all but made,” though no official announcement has been scheduled.

Ford, for his part, has remained tight-lipped, refusing to comment when approached outside Fox’s Midtown Manhattan studios earlier this week.

Tarlov, too, has said nothing publicly, though insiders describe her as “frustrated but resigned” to the reality of television politics.

The potential shakeup has sparked a flurry of questions across the industry.

What does this mean for The Five, which has built its dominance on a delicate balance of personalities? Could swapping Tarlov for Ford shift the tone of the show in a way that alienates viewers? And what message does this send about Fox News’ willingness to adapt — or to sacrifice loyalty for ratings survival?

Rival networks are watching closely.

CNN, MSNBC, and NewsNation are said to be “circling,” with some executives speculating that if Tarlov is indeed pushed out, she could be scooped up quickly as a recognizable, battle-tested liberal voice.

“Jessica could land on her feet fast,” one media analyst said.

“She knows the game.

She knows the format.

And she’s got name recognition that most liberal commentators would kill for.”

Meanwhile, within Fox, tensions are reportedly higher than they have been in years.

Emergency meetings have been held with senior producers.

One leaked memo, circulated earlier this week, emphasized the need to “maintain brand stability” while “adjusting to viewer expectations.

” The phrasing, though vague, has fueled the fire among staffers who interpret it as confirmation that a personnel change is imminent.

For viewers, the prospect of such a shakeup feels seismic.

The Five isn’t just another talk show; it is one of the most-watched programs in cable news, often outperforming prime-time heavyweights across the dial.

Losing Tarlov — and replacing her with a figure like Ford — could mark a turning point in Fox’s strategy as it attempts to navigate shifting audience dynamics in an election season that is already testing every network.

One longtime Fox staffer summed up the mood bluntly: “Nobody saw this coming.

But in this business, nothing is ever permanent.

If ratings slip, heads roll.

That’s the reality.”

For now, both Tarlov and Ford remain in place, one in the hot seat, the other waiting in the wings.

But the silence from Fox executives is deafening, and insiders say it won’t last much longer.

A move of this magnitude, after all, isn’t just about one show — it’s about the future of Fox News itself.