The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Episode: Hegseth, beside sleepy Trump, backtracks on boasts about boat strike amid war crimes talk

Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Jen Psaki (MS NOW)
Main Theme:
Jen Psaki unpacks the political earthquake of Tennessee’s special congressional election, deep dives into Democrats’ growing momentum, and confronts the latest military scandal linked to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Through interviews with top Democrats and sharp commentary, the episode captures the current volatility in American politics, questioning Republican dominance, Trump’s strength, and the crisis of leadership and accountability within the administration.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Tennessee Special Election: A Political Earthquake?

• [00:34–02:54] Jen opens on the extraordinary closeness of Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election, which Trump won by 22 points last year.
  • Quote: “A Democrat has absolutely no business winning here... If this race is even close... it will be a big, big, big warning sign for Trump and the Republican Party that their hold on power could be slipping very quickly.” (Jen Psaki, 00:34)
• Democratic nominee Afton Bain joins to describe the campaign’s momentum and voter fatigue with GOP rule.
  • Bain emphasizes the local resonance of affordability, TVA privatization, and broad discontent with the status quo.

Notable Afton Bain Quotes:

• [02:54] “Tennesseans are fed up with the status quo…voters want change rather than the status quo.”
• [03:54] “The privatization of the Tennessee Valley Authority…is really resonating.”

2. Democratic Strategy and Historic Overperformance

• [05:35–14:24] Interview with DNC Chairman Ken Martin:
  • Dems have outperformed in every 2025 election, notably cutting deep into Republican margins—even in red districts.
  • [06:14] “We are overperforming at an average pace of about 16 percentage points."
  • Martin touts running everywhere and focusing on kitchen table issues, primarily affordability.
• Massive Republican spending to hold safe districts signals GOP vulnerability.

Martin on the National Trend:

• [07:33] “If [Afton Bain] comes in within single digits of a plus-22% district…that is a huge red flag for Republicans...”
• [12:03] “What most Americans care about right now is actually putting food on the table…they don’t care about those labels [progressive/moderate], they want champions.”

3. Populism, Progressives, and the National Map

• Analysis of progressive messaging’s surprising success in a deep red district:
  • Bain did not tack to the center, echoing Bernie Sanders’ focus on class and billionaires.
• Martin reflects on candidate diversity:
  • “There’s no one way or one stripe of being a Democrat.” (13:50)
  • Focus: adaptability to local issues, with the core message of economic justice.

4. Republican Victory, Democratic Momentum

• [15:41–22:21] As Matt Van Epps is projected the winner, Psaki, joined by Rep. Ro Khanna, analyze the razor-thin margin as a harbinger for 2026.
• Ro Khanna:
  • Praises Bain’s economically populist campaign; sees 53 more vulnerable districts.
  • [18:04] “She ran on an unabashedly economically populist agenda... It just shows that we can compete everywhere in this country.”
  • Tying Epstein scandals to economic populism as, “the fight between the billionaire and the working class.” (19:32)
• Khanna: The electorate is shifting away from Trump due to broken promises on affordability, health care, and the “culture of corruption.”

5. The Hegseth Scandal & War Crimes Allegations

• [24:37–35:49] Psaki turns to the Washington Post’s bombshell on U.S. military strikes and possible war crimes in the Caribbean/Pacific:
  • Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is caught on record giving a “kill everybody” order, then distances himself, citing the “fog of war.”
• Audio Clip Comparison (26:23–27:14):
  • September: “I watched it live. We knew exactly who was in that boat..." (Hegseth)
  • Today: “I did not personally see survivors... I moved on to my next meeting... This is the fog of war.”
• Psaki’s commentary: “Did he watch the whole thing live or just the first strike? Did he give a verbal order to kill everybody?”

Insights from Senator Mark Warner ([28:27–35:49]):

• Warner eviscerates Hegseth’s leadership and the White House’s dodging of responsibility.
  • "[Hegseth] says he’s going to be tough. The first hint there might be a problem, he’s now trying to throw the admiral…under the bus." (28:27)
  • Warns that U.S. troops could be exposed to international law violations.
  • Drama around “Signalgate” and the administration’s leakiness.
  • Larger theme: undermining the military and intelligence community, and the “culture of corruption” corroding America’s global standing.

6. Republican Instability and Trump’s Health

• Psaki notes Trump’s late-night, near-manic posting spree and his public struggle to stay awake, fueling speculation about his health.
  • White House explanation of Trump’s “preventative MRI” only increases questions.
• Abdul El-Sayed (physician and Michigan Senate candidate) dismisses the notion of a “preventative MRI” as standard.
  • “If you’ve forgotten why you need an MRI, that itself suggests a certain...cognitive deficit...” (39:28)

7. Lessons for 2026 and Democratic Messaging

• Psaki and El-Sayed agree: future Democratic success hinges on authentic, visionary candidates rejecting focus-grouped talking points and overt corporate influence.
  • “Afton didn’t do that…she actually had the courage of her convictions. She painted a vision, and she almost came within the striking distance of actually turning some part of Tennessee blue.” (El-Sayed, 41:40)
  • El-Sayed touts Medicare for All, campaign finance reform, and the boldness to compete everywhere—even as an outsider.

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• Jen Psaki:
  • "[If ] this race is even close, which it's looking to be at a minimum, it will be a big, big, big warning sign for Trump and the Republican Party..." (00:34)
• Afton Bain:
  • "Tennesseans are fed up with the status quo... voters want change rather than the status quo." (02:54)
• Ken Martin:
  • "We are overperforming at an average pace of about 16 percentage points." (06:14)
  • "If she comes in within single digits of a plus 22% district...that is a huge red flag for Republicans..." (07:33)
• Ro Khanna:
  • "She ran on an unabashedly economically populist agenda... It just shows that we can compete everywhere in this country." (18:04)
• Pete Hegseth (clip):
  • "I watched it live. We knew exactly who was in that boat..." (26:26)
  • [Backtracking version] "I did not personally see survivors... I moved on to my next meeting..." (26:53–27:06)
• Sen. Mark Warner:
  • "If everything was okay here, show the whole damn video." (29:00)
  • "[Hegseth] is so beyond his ability to execute, who is Kind of a joke. And frankly, we hear from the military on a regular basis. You know, they don't respect this guy." (32:41)
• Abdul El-Sayed:
  • “If you’ve forgotten why you need an MRI, that itself suggests a certain… cognitive deficit…” (39:28)
  • “Afton didn’t do that…she actually had the courage of her convictions. She painted a vision, and she almost came within the striking distance of actually turning some part of Tennessee blue.” (41:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• TN-07 Election setup & Afton Bain interview: 00:34–05:30
• Ken Martin (DNC): 05:35–14:24
• Race call for Van Epps, Ro Khanna on Dem performance: 15:41–22:21
• Pete Hegseth’s Boat Strike Scandal, Jen’s Analysis: 24:37–28:27
• Sen. Mark Warner on Hegseth, War Crimes, National Implications: 28:27–35:49
• Trump’s Health, Abdul El-Sayed on Healthcare & Dem Vision: 39:28–43:27

Episode Tone and Language

• The episode is urgent, at times incredulous, biting in its critique of Republican leadership, and deeply focused on Democrats’ opportunities for expanding power. Psaki’s exchanges with guests are direct, clear, and at moments wry. Guests speak both pragmatically and inspirationally about the need to compete everywhere and present a clear alternative to Republican rule.

Summary Takeaway

This episode illustrates a dramatic political shift in the country: even “safe” Republican seats are becoming competitive, thanks to energized Democratic campaigns focusing on affordability, local issues, and authenticity. At the same time, the instability in GOP leadership—from Trump’s erratic behavior and health to Hegseth’s alleged war crimes—casts further doubt on the party’s viability and America’s standing. Democratic leaders frame this as a rare moment of opportunity—one that requires bold vision, new types of candidates, and a break with old playbooks.