More Voters Can Go to More Polls in Tennessee for a Special Congressional Election

Summary

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Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update (December 2, 2025), hosted by Dave Anthony and Ainsley Earhardt, delivers a fast-paced roundup of breaking national and global news. The coverage centers on Tennessee's special congressional election, escalating controversy over U.S. military actions abroad, severe winter weather, diplomatic negotiations, religious events, a corruption case, and sports updates.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Tennessee Special Congressional Election

• Context: Polls open across Tennessee to fill a vacant U.S. House seat in a typically Republican district.
• Main Candidates:
  • Matt Van Epps (GOP): Frames his opponent as supporting "new and higher taxes to fund her socialist agenda." ([00:12])
  • Afton Bain (Democrat): Promotes herself as a candidate for those upset "about the cost of living and the chaos of Washington." Reaches out to voters irrespective of past voting behavior. ([00:28])

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Van Epps: "My opponent wants new and higher taxes to fund her socialist agenda." ([00:17])
• Afton Bain: "If you were upset about the cost of living and the chaos of Washington, Washington, then I'm your candidate. Doesn't matter who you voted for." ([00:28])

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2. U.S. Military Operation Controversy

• Incident: Scrutiny over a U.S. military strike on Venezuela's coast targeting narco-traffickers.
• Key Developments:
  • Congress to investigate an airstrike, which resulted in the deaths of two people after the initial strike ([00:47]).
  • Administration maintains legality and necessity of the operation, emphasizing trust in Admiral Frank Bradley ([01:06]).
  • Secretary of War Pete Hegseth expresses public support for Admiral Bradley ([01:20]).

Notable Quotes:

• Mark Meredith: "The strike was notable though, because multiple shots were fired, killing two people who appeared to have survived the first strike." ([00:47])
• Secretary Caroline Levitt (as reported): "Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law." ([01:11])
• Dave Anthony: "Secretary of War Pete Hegseth later posted on X that Admiral Bradley's an American hero and has his 100% support." ([01:20])

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3. Nationwide Winter Weather

• Affected Areas: From Indiana, through North Carolina to New England, with significant snow and icy road conditions.
• Pittsburgh Focus: Up to 5 inches of snow expected, causing widespread school delays and cancellations ([01:37]).

Notable Quotes:

• Ainsley Earhardt: "We could see up to 5 inches of snow in Pittsburgh and it's really their first big snow storm of the season. So we've got the school delays, we've got cancellations not only here but all over the place." ([01:37])
• Dave Anthony: "There are also more than 900 delays." (regarding flights) ([01:48])

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4. International Affairs

• U.S.–Russia: U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow pressuring Putin to accept a Ukraine peace proposal ([02:04]).
• Pope Leo in Lebanon:
  • Held a waterfront mass in Beirut with 150,000 attendees ([02:35]).
  • Urged unity and hope amid Lebanon's ongoing crises.
  • Included a silent prayer at the 2020 Beirut port explosion site.

Notable Quotes:

• Jonathan Savage: "Pope Leo has spent much of this trip urging Lebanese people to unite to make things better. Today, he told them to find ways to remain hopeful and grateful." ([02:35])

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5. U.S. News Briefs

• Giving Tuesday: Encouragement to donate after the shopping-heavy weekend ([03:11]).
• California Police Scandal: Officer Jose Garcia allegedly extorted money during traffic stops, faces criminal trial ([03:23]).

Notable Quotes:

• Gary Baumgarten: "It was highway robbery, literally... Prosecutors calling the West Covina cop's actions a profound betrayal of the badge, a badge he no longer carries pending outcome of his criminal trial." ([03:23])

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6. Financial and Sports Highlights

• Stocks: Stock futures edge up after a recent sell-off ([03:50]).
• NFL: New England Patriots secure their 11th win, defeating the New York Giants ([03:50]).

Notable Moment:

• "Drake May threw two TD passes on ESPN, leading the Patriots to a 33–15 win over the New York Charger Giants, who lost for the seventh straight week." ([03:50])

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Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Start Time | |-----------------------------------------|------------| | Tennessee Special Election | 00:03 | | U.S. Military Strike Controversy | 00:34 | | Winter Weather Across U.S. | 01:20 | | International Affairs (Russia, Lebanon) | 02:04 | | Police Corruption Case (California) | 03:23 | | Financial/Sports News | 03:50 |

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Tone & Style

The episode keeps a brisk, fact-heavy tone, true to the Fox News radio style: concise, assertive, emphasizing key quotes and statements from notable political and public figures.

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Memorable Moments

• Direct criticism exchanged between congressional candidates in Tennessee, reflecting a highly polarized race ([00:12]–[00:28]).
• Ongoing fallout from a controversial U.S. military operation, with the administration standing firm ([00:47]–[01:20]).
• Heartfelt call for hope and unity by Pope Leo to war-weary Lebanese at a major mass event ([02:35]).
• A vivid report of a police officer's “highway robbery” as called out by prosecutors ([03:23]).

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This episode offers a whirlwind overview for listeners who want a succinct update on U.S. politics, international diplomacy, severe weather, and developing scandals—all in under five minutes.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

Some polls are just opening now in Tennessee. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News. Others will in the next two hours for a special election to fill a vacant seat in Congress. It's typically a red district, but GOP candidate Matt Van Epps is facing a tough blue challenger, telling Fox my opponent wants new and higher taxes to fund her socialist agenda. He's talking about Democrat Afton Bain trying to win in the 7th House District. President Trump won by 22 points last year.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

If you were upset about the cost of living and the chaos of Washington, Washington, then I'm your candidate. Doesn't matter who you voted for.

[Dave Anthony]

The president will hold a cabinet meeting this morning and may address the growing controversy around the US Military operation on Venezuela's coast. Blowing up boats, trafficking illegal drugs, killing so called narco terrorists. One of those attacks will get an investigation in Congress.

[Mark Meredith]

The incident under review, which happened three months ago today, the administration says it did not break any laws after carrying out an airstrike on a boat. The strike was notable though, because multiple shots were fired, killing two people who appeared to have survived the first strike.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Mark Meredith also reports from the White House what press secretary Secretary Caroline Levitt says it was the decision by.

[Mark Meredith]

Admiral Frank Bradley, who they believe should have their full support in carrying out his work.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

On September 2, Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law.

[Dave Anthony]

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth later posted on X that Admiral Bradley's an American hero and has his 100% support. It's not going to be an easy day to drive in a lot of areas of the country with wintry weather from Indiana to North Carolina to New England. Fox Weather Katie Byrne is in Pittsburgh.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

We could see up to 5 inches of snow in Pittsburgh and it's really their first big snow storm of the season. So we've got the school delays, we've got cancellations not only here but all over the place.

[Dave Anthony]

And there are those Also at airports, 111flights canceled. There are also more than 900 delays. America's listening to FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Dave Anthony]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts. Special envoy Steve Witkoff is in Moscow and we'll talk today to Russian leader Vladimir Putin trying to get him to agree to a peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. Pope Leo is in Lebanon and held a huge mass on the waterfront in Beirut.

[Jonathan Savage]

The Vatican says 150,000 people turned out to hear the pope gave mass in Beirut. Lebanon, where just under a third of the population is Christian, has been beset by problems, economic crises, corruption and war. Pope Leo has spent much of this trip urging Lebanese people to unite to make things better. Today, he told them to find ways to remain hopeful and grateful. The mass followed a silent prayer on the site of 2020's port explosion in which more than 200 people were killed. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

This is Giving Tuesday. We're urged to donate after all the shopping. Black Friday through Cyber Monday. In California, a police officer is accused of forcing people to give money to him. He's on administrative leave due in court next month.

[Gary Baumgarten]

It was highway robbery, literally. 38 year old Jose Garcia charged with ringing up cash during traffic stops, including $600 from just one driver. Prosecutors calling the West Covina cop's actions a profound betrayal of the badge, a badge he no longer carries pending outcome of his criminal trial. Gary Baumgarten, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

On Wall street, stock futures up modestly after a big sell off that started December. On Monday Night Football, the New England Patriots won their 10th straight game. And here's one downfield and caught for the touchdown. Drake May threw two TD passes on ESPN, leading the Patriots to a 3315 win over the New York Charger Giants, who lost for the seventh straight week. New England, the first NFL team with 11 wins this season. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News.