Panic in Tennessee election as Trump spends night posting

The David Pakman Show - December 2, 2025

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Today’s special election in Tennessee’s 7th District is drawing national attention as a possible early sign for 2026. Once a solidly Republican district, the race between Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn is unexpectedly close, with polls showing a near tie. Demographic changes, economic pressures, and voter frustration are helping the Democrat connect locally. Even a narrow Republican win would be a warning for the GOP and for Trump-aligned candidates in the midterms.

The Trump administration has gone from denying to openly justifying a controversial second strike on survivors in the water. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed it was authorized through defense leadership and pinned it on Adm. Frank Bradley while insisting it was lawful. This reversal came after attacks on the press for reporting the incident. Footage of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying he watched it live suggests officials knew about the strike all along.

The administration’s handling of Trump’s MRI has been opaque. Leavitt framed it as routine preventive screening with “perfect” results, but MRIs are not standard first-line tools, and no clear medical reason was given. The vagueness and dismissal of reporting on Trump’s workload reinforce the impression of propaganda rather than transparency.

Donald Trump flooded Truth Social with hundreds of posts from evening to midnight, attacking political rivals, reposting extremists, promoting AI hoaxes, and urging votes in the Tennessee special election. The behavior was erratic and obsessional, more like a late-night internet binge than strategy, while Republicans remain silent out of fear.

The Trump administration’s “extreme vetting” promises have mostly been performative. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem admitted DHS is finally implementing thorough vetting, nearly a year into Trump’s second term. Past claims that extreme vetting was already in place were false.

Megyn Kelly delivered a rant fantasizing about survivors of a U.S. strike suffering and bleeding out. She was not talking about combatants but alleged drug smugglers in international waters. Her rhetoric rejects due process and the laws of war, framing bloodlust as “strength.”

Finally, Kristi Noem tweeted a call for a “full travel ban on every country,” which would be unconstitutional, economically disastrous, and impossible. Her dehumanizing language calling immigrants “killers” and “leeches” echoes dangerous authoritarian propaganda. Proposals like this are less about policy than signaling cruelty.

On today’s bonus show:

Kevin Hassett is the favorite to be the next Fed chair, Quebec to ban prayer in public places, the DOJ is preparing to charge James Comey again, and much more...

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