President Donald Trump is set to hold a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, where he’s expected to face questions about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s role in authorizing a strike against an alleged drug boat in September.
New reporting emerged this week about a September 2 strike against an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. Following an initial strike against the ship, a Joint Special Operations commander overseeing the attack ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions to “kill everybody,” The Washington Post reported.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has since defended the strikes as lawful and said that Hegseth had authorized Admiral Frank M. “Mitch” Bradley to carry out the attacks. Hegseth signaled his support for Bradley on Monday, writing on X that he is an “American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support.”
The actions described in the Post’s report could amount to “war crimes,” some Democratic lawmakers have alleged.
“If that reporting is true, it’s a clear violation of the DOD’s own laws of war, as well as international laws about the way you treat people who are in that circumstance,” Democratic Senator Tim Kaine told CBS News. “And so this rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true.”
Meanwhile, voters will go to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new representative in Tennessee’s 7th district. Polling suggests the race is close, even though the district is typically a Republican stronghold.
KEY POINTS
- The Tennessee race that has Donald Trump scared
- Congressional race in deep-red district will be close
- Who is Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn?
- Who is Republican candidate Matt Van Epps?
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Republicans are going 'all in' on Tennessee race, Democratic strategist says
14:59 , Katie HawkinsonRepublican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn are vying to represent Tennessee’s 7th congressional district.
A Democratic strategist working on the race told Politico that Republicans are going “all in” on keeping Behn out of Congress.
“They’re going all in to try to keep the seat from flipping in a district that should have been there in a walk,” the strategist said. “The Republican groups had to come in and prop [Van Epps] up by throwing some of the red meat culture war stuff to their base.”
A recent Emerson College/The Hill poll shows Van Epps is only two points ahead of Behn, even though the district is typically a Republican stronghold.
Trump goes on late-night Truth Social posting spree
14:43 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump went on a manic Truth Social posting spree Monday night, firing off 150 posts between 7 p.m. and midnight.
These posts ranged from compliments about the first lady to conspiracy theories about Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
Kelly Rissman has the details:
Trump’s wild midnight Truth Social posting binge features over 150 messages
Where is Tennessee's 7th congressional district?
14:29 , Katie HawkinsonRepublican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn are facing off in Tennessee’s 7th congressional district.
The district spans parts of central and western Tennessee. It’s typically a Republican stronghold, but a recent poll suggests Van Epps is only two points ahead of Behn.
Why Republicans are nervous about this congressional race
14:15 , Rhian LubinStrategists on both sides view Tuesday’s race as a major test ahead of the 2026 midterms.
And given November’s results, where Democrats pulled off stunning victories in a handful of states, the mood is especially tense.
“It’s fair to say this Republican is a little nervous,” Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee told the Washington Post.
“It’s an off-year. It’s a special election. It’s around the holiday, and there’s just a lot of things that could play into the Democrats’ favor.”
Analysts noted that this should’ve been an easy win for the GOP, but they have poured millions into retaining the seat.
“It’s interesting that Van Epps isn’t in a strong enough position just to ignore her,” John G. Geer, a Vanderbilt University political scientist, told the Post. “That tells me they’re worried.”
Right-wing networks brand Behn as the 'AOC of Tennessee'
13:55 , Rhian LubinFox News and other MAGA media outlets have focused intently on Tennessee’s 7th District and the Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn.
The networks have included multiple on-air interviews with Matt Van Epps while framing Behn as the “AOC of Tennessee” and a “crazy left-wing radical.”
Fox News anchor Julie Banderas went as far to say that Behn’s “mother did not do a very good job in raising her” and that the congressional hopeful clearly has “mommy issues.”
Justin Baragona has more...
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Fox News host: Dem candidate’s ‘mother didn’t do a very good job in raising her’
Al Gore: 'It’s no wonder that the president’s begun to panic'
13:30 , Rhian LubinFormer Vice President Al Gore said it was “no wonder that the president’s begun to panic” about the special election in Tennessee’s 7th district.
Gore was speaking Monday night on a virtual rally for the Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn, where Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also joined.
“I have never seen the political tides shift as far and as fast as we’re seeing them move in this election,” Gore said, the Tennessean reports.
Gore pointed to November’s races in Virginia, New Jersey, New York and Georgia where Democrats claimed victory, while California voters approved a new congressional map.
Voters “served notice with massive landslides that they’re sick and tired of Trump’s madness and cruelty,” Gore said on Monday’s call. “It’s no wonder that the president’s begun to panic about tomorrow’s election.”
Ocasio-Cortez said that “miracles can happen.”
“This race started off in a very unlikely place. This district is about R+22, or it was R+22, and now we have this race within striking distance, what we call the margin of effort,” she told supporters on the call.
Democratic candidate's 'I hate Nashville' comment comes back to haunt her
13:10 , Rhian LubinRepublicans have seized upon a comment Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn made about Nashville in 2020, which she claims has been “taken out of context.”
On podcast five years ago, Behn said of the country music Mecca: “I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country.”
Behn was asked about those remarks in a recent interview with the civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton on his MS NOW show.
“As a Nashvillian, I think we all get a little annoyed with the tourists that come to town, but that doesn’t mean I [don’t] love my city,” she said.
She told Newsweek the comments were “mischaracterized and taken out of context.”
“I was talking about why I decided to get involved in local elections, which are incredibly important,” Behn told the outlet. “Instead of complaining, I decided to jump in and run for office. I’m a state representative for downtown Nashville, and I couldn’t think of a greater honor than representing the city I love.”
Watch: Trump calls Johnson's cell phone at rally for GOP candidate
12:45 , Rhian LubinPresident Donald Trump dialed in on Speaker Mike Johnson’s cell phone Monday night to speak to a crowd of supporters in Franklin, Tennessee, for Matt Van Epps.
Trump railed against the Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn as Johnson held his cell phone up to the microphone.
“She said two things above all else that bothered me. Number 1: She hates Christianity,” said Trump. “Number 2: She hates country music. How the hell can you elect a person like that?”
NEW: President Trump talks to voters through the phone after calling Speaker Johnson during a rally for Republican Matt Van Epps in the special election race in Tennessee against Aftyn Behn:
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 1, 2025
"She said two things above all else that bothered me.
Number 1: She hates Christianity.… pic.twitter.com/Wh9mhaRVvo
Who is Matt Van Epps?
12:25 , Rhian LubinRepublican congressional candidate Matt Van Epps is an Ohio native and Army veteran.
He grew up in an affluent suburb of Cleveland and moved to Nashville just over 10 years ago.
The 42-year-old served in Afghanistan and Iraq as a combat helicopter pilot before working in Tennessee’s Department of Veterans’ Services under Gov. Bill Haslam, and then moved to the Department of Transportation.
Van Epps has been backed by more than $1 million from MAGA Inc – the first time the Trump-supporting super PAC has spent money on a campaign since last year’s presidential race, according to the Associated Press.
The Republican said he is campaigning on “security, opportunity and prosperity.”
Trump takes to Truth Social to rally support for GOP candidate
12:00 , Rhian LubinDonald Trump has been rallying for Matt Van Epps on Truth Social over the weekend on election eve.
“I am asking all America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District to please GET OUT AND VOTE TOMORROW for a phenomenal Candidate, Matt Van Epps, on Election Day, Tuesday, December 2nd!” Trump posted Monday night.
“You can win this Election for MAGA Warrior Matt Van Epps, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement. HE WILL BE A GREAT CONGRESSMAN and, unlike his Opponent, he cherishes Christianity and Country Music — She has openly stated that she hates them both!” added the president.
He also veered off message Tuesday morning to proclaim, “TRUTH SOCIAL IS THE BEST.”
Who is Aftyn Behn?
11:40 , Rhian LubinDemocrat Aftyn Behn is a progressive state lawmaker and represents Nashville in the Tennessee House.
Behn, originally from Knoxville, said that she decided to run for Congress after a close friend was denied life-saving medication on the state’s Medicaid program.
“That same week she received a letter saying her [Social Security Disability Insurance] benefits were being reviewed and cut. That’s when I knew I had to step up,” Behn told Newsweek.
The 36-year-old has spent her political career campaigning against rural hospital closures and for the expansion of Medicaid.
Her congressional campaign slogan is, “Feed kids, Fix roads, Fund hospitals.”
Trump has accused Behn of “hating Christianity” and country music; claims the Democrat says is because the president “doesn’t have a plan to address the rising cost of healthcare” or groceries.
Behn acknowledged she is the underdog in the race, but added: “But I love an underdog story. We’ve run an incredible campaign.”
Congressional race is on a knife-edge, according to polling
11:15 , Rhian LubinDemocrats have a legitimate shot at flipping the deep-red congressional district in the heart of the South, according to recent polling.
Emerson College and The Hill conducted a poll for the special election in Tennessee’s 7th district.
It puts Republican Matt Van Epps at a slight lead at 48 percent, only two points ahead of Democratic state legislator Aftyn Behn, whom 46 percent of voters support.
It’s within the margin of error.
The Tennessee race that has Donald Trump scared
10:50 , Rhian LubinThe congressional race in Tennessee has become surprisingly competitive, and today’s election could be a big sign of where President Donald Trump stands with the country - and the battle his party could face in 2026.
The Tennessee 7th district is one the president won by 22 points in 2024, but just a year later, a Democrat is putting up a serious bid to wrestle control of the seat from Republicans.
It would not only be an embarrassing defeat for the president, but would move the U.S. House of Representatives closer to a Democratic majority.
Eric Garcia breaks down the significance of the race...
The Tennessee race that has Donald Trump scared: Is a blue wave is on the horizon?
Tennessee voters to head to the polls today
10:32 , Rhian Lubin, APPresident Donald Trump and Republicans will try to recover from recent losses around the country today when Tennessee voters head to the polls and select the next representative for the deep-red 7th House Congressional District.
The special election, which was organized after Republican Rep. Mark Green resigned this summer, saw an unexpected surge of spending in recent weeks, flooding the airwaves and filling residents’ mailboxes with campaign flyers.
Republican candidate Matt Van Epps is up against Nashville Democrat Aftyn Behn, who has been dubbed the “AOC of Tennessee” by the right.
