The David Pakman Show — December 2, 2025

Episode: "Panic in Tennessee election as Trump spends night posting"
Host: David Pakman

Episode Overview

This episode of The David Pakman Show dives into the political chaos surrounding a special congressional election in Tennessee's 7th District—a deep-red district suddenly up for grabs—while also unraveling a series of White House scandals and shocking right-wing rhetoric. David Pakman analyzes what the Tennessee race signals for GOP prospects, exposes the Trump administration’s admissions to war crimes, discusses extreme vetting failures, addresses Donald Trump’s bizarre online behavior, and critiques alarming authoritarian proposals from Republican officials and media figures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shockwaves in Tennessee: From Safe GOP to Toss-Up

• Special Election Dynamics

  • Deep-red Tennessee 7th District (Trump +22 in 2024) now a toss-up between Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Afton Ben.
  • Latest Emerson polling: Van Epps 48%, Ben 46% — within statistical margin of error ([05:20]).
  • GOP panic: High-level interventions from Trump, Don Jr., and Speaker Mike Johnson.
  • Pakman notes: “If the Democrat doesn’t win, but it’s a narrow Republican victory in single digits, this is a major warning shot. A red district drifting blue for the first time in decades means 2026 could be very dark.” ([09:25])

• Underlying Causes

  • Demographic changes and “fatigue with economic conditions”; cost of living, housing, and health care all up despite Trump’s promises ([08:00]).
  • Afton Ben’s campaign: “I feel your frustrations about affordability. I understand the economic stress that this causes. I understand what Washington hasn't delivered…” ([08:45])

• Implications for 2026

  • Pakman warns the outcome foretells GOP midterm prospects: “Forget about 40 seats that Republicans might lose. We could be talking 60 or 70. This could be a blowout…” ([10:30])

2. Trump Administration Admits to War Crimes, Flails to Justify

• Shocking Confession at Press Briefing

  • Press Secretary Caroline Levitt admits the U.S. carried out a “second strike” against survivors in the water off South America—previously denied as “fake news” ([11:03], [15:27]).
  • Levitt claims: “Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement…” ([15:27])

• Evasive and Contradictory Messaging

  • Just prior, Trump, Pete Hegseth, and others denied involvement—clip montage exposes the pivot from denial to open admission ([11:52], [12:23], [12:49]).
  • Pakman: “If it was so legal and so cool, why can’t they cite the law that allows this? Because we can cite the law that doesn't.” ([18:01])

• Notable Exchange

  • Reporter presses Levitt: “What law is it that allows no survivors?” Levitt offers vague appeals to “self defense” and “law of armed conflict” ([17:37]).

3. Media Manipulation & “Fake News” Gaslighting

• Levitt’s Gaffe

  • Caroline Levitt complains, “The fake news that we see pumped out of this building… it's honestly overwhelming…”—ironically affirming the White House generates much of the “fake news” it decries ([23:03]).

• Double Standards on Pardons and Prosecutions

  • Trump pardons ex-Honduran president (alleged drug trafficker), targets Venezuela’s Maduro, then rationalizes both contradictory decisions as not politically motivated ([24:31]).
  • Pakman: “For all the talk about restoring… law and order…they don’t give a damn about it. All they care about is what’s politically advantageous at the time.” ([25:48])

4. Bizarre Deflections on Trump’s Health & Working Hours

• Trump’s MRI Mystery

  • After months of confusion, Levitt claims Trump underwent routine preventive MRI imaging, reading a “summary” that sounds like propaganda: “President Trump’s cardiovascular imaging was perfectly normal. No evidence of arterial narrowing…” ([30:12])
  • Pakman highlights the oddity: “MRI is not a first line tool for routine cardiovascular and abdominal screening… None of it makes any sense.” ([31:40])

• Denial of Reduced Schedule

  • Levitt refutes New York Times reporting on Trump’s “limited schedule,” insists “He is the most accessible president in history”—while holding up news articles and disparaging legacy media ([33:46], [34:36]).

5. Overnight Trump Social Media Meltdown

• Hundreds of Truth Social Posts

  • Pakman scrolls through Trump’s posts: “Attacking Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi, Ilhan Omar… reposting conspiracies… praising AI videos… Make Christmas Great Again…” ([36:44])
  • “This is not normal behavior for anyone… The presidency has become a guy losing a Facebook argument with his friends and relatives.” ([38:42])

• Analysis of GOP & Media Silence

  • Pakman: “I don’t think Republicans think this is fine, I think they’re just terrified of him… The leader of the United States raging at imaginary enemies… Republicans are silent.” ([39:10])

6. Vetting Failures and Slapdash Policy Shifts

• Kristi Noem Admits Extreme Vetting Never Happened
  • Secretary Kristi Noem admits DHS will “start” extreme vetting now, after having previously claimed it was in place since Trump’s first term ([45:40]).
  • Pakman: “So you’ve been lying about the extreme vetting all along…Trump’s immigration agenda has really just been a marketing campaign.” ([47:08])

7. Megyn Kelly's Shocking Bloodlust & Legal Impunity

• Unapologetic Endorsement of Torture

  • Megyn Kelly, on her podcast, says: “Not only want to see them killed in the water... I'd really like to see them suffer. I would like Trump and Hegseth to make it last a long time so that they lose a limb and bleed out a little…” ([52:08])
  • Pakman: “She’s comfortable calling for illegal extrajudicial killings, which are obviously anti-American…. Do we just not give a damn about the law anymore?” ([52:46], [54:23])

• Contrast With Law and Founding Principles

  • Pakman draws jury analogy: “You are here to apply the law to the facts… The foundation of American law is the government doesn't have the right to torture and murder people outside of due process just because it feels righteous or because you lack sympathy for the people…” ([54:35])

8. Authoritarian Drift: Kristi Noem’s Nativist Rant

• Calls for Total Travel Ban
  • Noem tweets: “full travel ban on every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches and entitlement junkies…” ([57:24])
  • Pakman deconstructs: “When you describe an entire population as parasites, you're not talking about policy anymore. You're talking about ethnic cleansing as a vibe… If they were able to do it, [these proposals] would mean the end of the United States of America as a functioning country.” ([58:20])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Tennessee Election:
  • "If the Republican barely squeaks it out in a deep red, blood red district, that is a major reversal that corroborates what we already saw in New Jersey and Virginia... Don't fall for that one." —David Pakman ([07:42])
• On War Crimes Admission:
  • "Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement..." —Caroline Levitt ([15:27])
  • "If it was so legal and so cool, why can't they cite the law that allows this? Because we can cite the law that doesn't." —David Pakman ([18:01])
• On Megyn Kelly’s Rant:
  • "I'd really like to see them suffer. I would like Trump and Hegseth to make it last a long time so that they lose a limb and bleed out a little..." —Megyn Kelly ([52:08])
  • "She is comfortable calling for illegal extrajudicial killings, which are obviously anti-American in a generic sense. They are unconstitutional. They're forbidden under the laws of armed conflict." —David Pakman ([54:23])
• On Trump’s Truth Social Binge:
  • "Stable genius binge posting conspiracy theories until midnight and then bragging about your social network before 6am is not stable genius. It's not a campaign strategy. It's not political messaging. It is merely a meltdown." —David Pakman ([38:42])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [05:20]: Tennessee’s special election breakdown and polling
• [11:03]: First White House admission of war crimes (Levitt press briefing)
• [12:23]: Hegseth/Trump media denials montage
• [17:37]: Press asks Levitt about legality of strike on survivors
• [23:03]: Levitt’s "fake news" self-own
• [30:12]: Trump’s “perfect MRI” summary and Pakman’s fact check
• [36:44]: Trump’s overnight Truth Social meltdown
• [45:40]: Kristi Noem admits extreme vetting failures
• [52:08]: Megyn Kelly’s torture fantasy quote
• [57:24]: Kristi Noem’s "full travel ban" tweet

Conclusion

This episode unveils stark warning signs for the GOP, exposes White House and administration lies and contradictions, and illustrates the increasing authoritarian and lawless rhetoric from MAGA-aligned politicians and media. The Tennessee race’s outcome and the administration’s brazen admissions are treated as bellwethers for American democracy and the rule of law in the looming 2026 midterms. The gravity and absurdity blend with Pakman's sharp analysis and pointed commentary, making this a can't-miss installment for understanding America’s evolving political landscape.