Trump and GOP Panic as Easy Special Election Slips Away!!!

0:01This episode is brought to you by Fox One. Watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup live in 4K for just$19.99 a month with three days free. Build your own multi-view, choose up to three streams, and follow player spotlights. Stay on top of every moment with live stats, highlights, and instant replays. The FIFA World Cup, streaming live on Fox One. Offers a subject to change. See fox.com for complete terms and conditions. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile, with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop. With Mint, you can get premium wireless for just$15 a month.

0:41Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments, but that's weird. Okay, one judgment. Anyway, give it a try at mintmobile.com slash switch. Upfront payment of$45 for three-month plan, equivalent to$15 per month required. Intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available. Taxes and fees extra. See full terms at mintmobile.com. Starting a business can seem like a daunting task, unless you have a partner like Shopify. They have the tools you need to start and grow your business. From designing a website, to marketing, to selling and beyond, Shopify can help with everything you need.

1:14There's a reason millions of companies like Mattel, Heinz, and Allbirds continue to trust and use them. With Shopify on your side, turn your big business idea into... Sign up for your$1 per month trial at shopify.com slash special offer. Are you one of those media strategy people clicking through slides, scrolling spreadsheets? Yes? Good. This is for you. Because on Spotify, there's an audience that's different. Locked in. Loyal. Invested. They're called fans. Fans don't just listen to music. They feel seen by it, like it belongs to them. So when your brand shows up on Spotify, that's who you're talking to.

1:50And you're right next to artists like me, Lizzo. So, are you ready to talk to fans? Spotify Advertising. You're among fans. The grill is shot. The chairs are held together by optimism. And what happened to the rug? Sounds like your outdoor setup is not ready for patio season. Fix it all with Wayfair. Shop Wayfair for grills, rugs, furniture, and more. With 20 million five-star reviews, room of choice delivery, and experts set up on qualifying orders, it's never been easier to do more for less. Get 10 % off your first eligible purchase. Hurry to Wayfair.com or download the app now.

2:28Ben Meiselas:Donald Trump and Republicans are panicking that they may lose a critical congressional special election in Tennessee, which is set to take place on December 2nd. This is for Tennessee's 7th congressional district, and it follows the resignation of Republican Congress member Mark Green. While this congressional district was a plus 22 Trump district, we saw the blue tsunami hit earlier in the month of November, and we're seeing a massive trend in this district right now towards the Democratic candidate. And this was confirmed by an Emerson College poll that was released the day before Thanksgiving.

3:14Ben Meiselas:Emerson College polling is a very solid, reliable poll in this area. And what the poll shows is that the MAGA Republican candidate, Matt Van Epps, is only leading the Democratic candidate, Afton Bain, who is a state representative in Tennessee, by two points. So Matt Van Epps is polling at 48 percent. The Democratic candidate Afton Bain is polling at 46 percent with respect to other potential candidates or people who are on the ballot, 2 percent. And there are 5 % of people who are undecided about this race. And one of the things that we saw with the blue tsunami early in November, the independents, the late breaking voters, the motivated voters who say, you know what, I've got to do something, have ended up voting for the Democratic candidate.

4:10Ben Meiselas:This would be a massive, massive defeat, a massive rebuke of epic proportions for Donald Trump, the Republicans and the MAGA movement. And it could also tip the scale to allow for potentially Democrats to take control of the House of Representatives if we then see a few other resignations take place in the House. But this could begin that spiral following Marjorie Taylor Greene residing last Friday, which Kevin McCarthy, the former Speaker of the House, called a canary in the coal mine that other Republicans are looking to resign. So how do we know also that Trump and the Republicans are panicking?

4:55Ben Meiselas:Well, in this plus 20, plus 22 Trump district, you've got Donald Trump posting the following. I'm asking all American first patriots in Tennessee's 7th congressional district who haven't voted yet, please get out and vote for MAGA warrior Matt Van Epps tomorrow, November 26th, the last day to vote early in person. You can win this election for Matt. Please, please vote for Matt Van Epps, who has my complete and total endorsement. Stay in line. They must let you vote. Stay in line. And again, this is a plus 22 Trump district, ultra gerrymandered, where a Democrat is within striking distance, within two points.

5:38Ben Meiselas:So let me give you the data points about why this Democratic candidate, Afton Bain, is in striking distance. Well, first, let me just give you a little bit of the demographics of the 7th Congressional District. You have Davidson County, which includes areas of Nashville. Very high turnout early vote right now for the Democratic candidate. Then you have Montgomery County, plus 21, plus 22. to Trump now is only plus one Van Epps. We also see low voter enthusiasm among Republicans who feel betrayed by Trump and MAGA. And also we've seen particularly soybean farmers and farmers hit hard in this congressional district by Donald Trump's trade war against the world, which backfired.

6:26Ben Meiselas:Lots of people in this district are suffering. Their health care is being ripped away. Farmers are suffering. People are paying more. People are pissed. Republicans are not motivated to go out and vote for Van Epps. So this combination of the Democratic county vote surging in the Nashville area and the Republican county area, Montgomery, very low enthusiasm and now only plus one Van Epps. That's what we're seeing. Now, in terms of the candidates, though, Matt Van Epps, typical MAGA. You could like engineer this guy is like a MAGA AI candidate. He talks about bathrooms and culture wars, and he loves Trump's tariffs, and he wants to cover up child sex trafficking rings for the Epstein files.

7:11Ben Meiselas:He doesn't want to release those. So this is who this guy is. And then Afton Bain is a very compelling Democratic candidate, state representative, who's been talking about affordability, actually making government work for people, not against people. So let me give you these data points right here. So Matt Van Epps, the MAGA candidate, he's in full support of price skyrocketing tariffs. Play this clip. On Inside Politics, he said President Trump's popularity remains strong across the 7th Congressional District, which includes 14 counties and many rural areas with soybean farmers hit hard by tariffs.

7:50You support tariffs? I do. I think the president is right in doing this. We've been getting ripped off for a long time. It's really put American businesses and families in a previously in a hard position.

8:04Ben Meiselas:When he went on this radio show that he thought would be a very friendly show to him, he said that he supports Trump's budget bill, which he calls the big, beautiful bill. He would have voted in favor of it. And even the host of this radio show is like, I hear you, but don't you think that like it pisses people off that like Donald Trump's out there doing great Gatsby parties and living this lavish life and billionaires are thriving while this screws over like everyday people in Tennessee play this clip where I'm a low tax person. I would have voted for the one big, beautiful now law for the number of, I mean, locking, locking in the largest tax decrease in American history.

8:41The problem with that though, man, is the end of the day, the wealthy, they get to keep all of their taxes permanently. The middle class, all that stuff phases out. And there's the frustration. I think there's this, you know, the populism that Trump came is they're looking around and going, Hey, Trump and everybody else looks like they're getting wealthy. They're having the big parties. He's got this coins and he's making billions. And, and the AI companies and everybody else is going, what about us? The middle class? I thought the whole thing was, the middle class feels like they're getting squeezed out of everything.

9:12Ben Meiselas:Now, here's where Matt Van Epstein said that he would not really, you know, that he avoided the question about the Epstein files, right? Like this guy's created out of like a MAGA lab. Like he's like a typical Trump sycophant who would just further the pain in Tennessee and attack the people in Tennessee. And it seems like he hates the people in Tennessee, frankly, like a MAGA guy. Here, play this clip. You support the full release of the Epstein files. So I think the speaker has a great plan. I support the speaker's plan in this. I'm for full transparency. The speaker has empowered the oversight committee with now with subpoena power and is taking a deliberate approach so that justice is had and so that the victims are supported.

10:00And Republicans are taking a very deliberate approach here because they want to get some Republicans who want it released. President Trump has said there's nothing to see here. Do you agree there's nothing to see? Well, I think the speaker and the president have said that they are supportive of full transparency in this. And that's my position as well. Then should they be released? I guess the full transparency thing, certainly Democrats would say that's not the case. Even some Republicans would say it's not full transparency. So why not just release the files? What is the concern? Well, I think Republicans are taking that approach.

10:36I think the Speaker has that plan and through the oversight committee is doing very deliberate investigative work that's not performative politics that's actually trying to solve this issue. Are you concerned that they were tampered with in some way? I guess the deliberative work that's being done by the speaker is is trying to do what i mean the files are there why not just release them uh i mean i think it's a they're they're taking a that deliberate approach with the subpoena power so that they can fully investigate um into into the situation and hold those accountable that need to be held accountable for the heinous crimes that happen you do hope that at some point it will just be released.

11:20I'm for full transparency.

11:22Ben Meiselas:Now, I want to give a hat tip to your community pack that put this ad up right here that talked about who Matt Van Epps is. They used a little cartoon and showed that he is a puppet. He is a stooge of Trump covering up child sex trafficking rings and hurting the people in Tennessee, ruining the people's lives, supporting Donald Trump's tariffs, and supporting Donald Trump ripping healthcare away from people. Here, play this clip. The Epstein files are locked away. Matt Van Epps will keep them that way. Just a hedge fund puppet for the billionaire elite. Bankrolled by their Wall Street cash, he'll give them tax cuts in a flash.

12:03Ben Meiselas:Sports plan that would cut our social security. Matt Van Epps, a hedge fund puppet. Can't trust a word he'll say. If we want to clean up Washington, we best keep Matt Van Epps away. Your community pack is responsible for the content of this advertising. Are you looking for something simple and delicious to add to your wellness routine? I used to throw regular honey into everything, breakfast bowls, tea, even protein shakes and salad dressings. But once I tried Monocora, regular honey just didn't cut it anymore. Monocora puts every other honey to shame. What sold me first was the richness and creaminess.

12:37It's got this naturally complex flavor that tastes like a treat, but also feels like you're doing something good for your body. And the health benefits are real. The best way to use Monocora, honestly, is straight from the spoon first thing in the morning. That creamy texture melts in your mouth and coats your throat. It is unreal. And this is not your average honey. Monocora honey is rich, creamy, and the most delicious honey you have ever had. It's ethically produced by Monocora's master beekeepers in the remote forests of New Zealand. The bees collect nectar from the Manuka tea tree. That nectar is packed with bioactives, giving this honey three times more antioxidants and prebiotics than your average jar.

13:12There's also a special antibacterial compound called MGO that comes from the tea tree. Monocora third-party tests every single harvest for MGO and makes these results available through their QR system. It's truly a game changer. One heaped teaspoon each morning is all you need to unlock the bioactives. And of course, it's totally fine to enjoy more throughout the day, especially if you're cutting out other sweeteners. It's a honey with superpowers. Now is the best time to try Monocora honey. They are running their biggest sale of the year from now to December 2nd. Head to monocora.com slash Midas to get$150 off your first order with their Black Friday starter kit, which comes with an MGO 850 plus Manuka honey jar, 35 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook.

13:59That's monocora.com slash Midas for$150 off your first starter kit.

14:05Ben Meiselas:House majority pack, right? The leadership pack from Hakeem Jeffries. they're coming in. Here's the spot that they have on TV. Play this clip.

14:39That's Afton Bain. HMP is responsible for the content of this ad.

14:43Ben Meiselas:And can we just contrast these candidates? Here's Afton Bain's video that she made of herself. Selfie style, knocking on doors, being out in the community, speaking to people, right? With passion. Here, play this clip when she says, I woke up and I'm energized. This poll, this latest poll shows that we're within two points. Let's go. Here, play this clip. Good morning, everyone. State Representative Afton Bain. the 7th Congressional District Special Election Democratic nominee. It is cold, which is why my coat is so dramatic here in Nashville, but I woke up with the energy of a thousand Dolly Partons and decided to go canvas because a new poll dropped showing us about two points behind my opponent, which is wild.

15:29And I've got the election excitement wiggles as I do. So I decided to jump out of bed, go out and canvas. It's the last day to early vote across the district. So as you are preparing for Thanksgiving, please head to the polls. In some places, polls close at 12. In Davidson County, it's a little longer than that. And if you are coming home from college, guess what? You have the opportunity of a lifetime to flip a congressional district. So here's what you're going to do. You're going to come home. You're going to hug mom and dad. You're going to kiss your pug, kiss the dogs, and then you're going to figure out where to vote.

15:57If you need information, go to IWillVote.com. Yeah, find your polling place and head out to poll and then sign up for a canvassing shift this weekend. We've got a day of action on the 29th. It's going to be so much fun and I can't wait to see everyone. Oh my gosh. It's wild, wild times out here. It's the wild, wild bang season. Y 'all can relate. The girlies can relate. All right. Love you guys. Let's go out and win this.

16:19Ben Meiselas:And then compare it to Matt Van Epps who's like wearing like his, his vest and he's like, Hey everybody, we don't like bathrooms. Hey, what do you think about the peepee and the poopy in the bathroom. We don't like that. Hey, men's women's sports. What are you doing? Transgender. Hey, we're transgender people. Hey, right. I mean, it's like, what are you doing? People are suffering and you're doing this stick, this MAGA stick that doesn't work anymore. But here's Van Epps play this clip. My opponent wants new and higher taxes to fund her socialist agenda that will skyrocket our cost of living. In her own words, she is very radical.

17:00She supports transgender surgery for minors without parental consent and believes that men can give birth.

17:07Ben Meiselas:Now, I want to show you this. This is what Matt Van Epps wants in Tennessee, that he wants ICE to go into that district, terrorize the community and throw people into concentration camps. I guess he's pro concentration camp in Tennessee. I don't know. Here, play this clip. The American dream starts with law and order. And so I fully support the president and his initiatives and efforts around immigration, fully support ICE and their operations to keep Americans safe and secure. And so I fully support the operation to deport illegal aliens, excuse me. And I think that is a part of keeping our communities safe.

17:49And as a, you know, I believe in legal immigration and coming in the right way and being in line and going through the process as a country that supports law and order, that we've got to keep our borders secure, and we've got to work to execute those objectives that the president has outlined and fully support those.

18:14Ben Meiselas:Matt Van Epps running away from the cameras when he was, typical Matt Van Epps, when he was asked, why don't you stand up for farmers? What are you doing with the Epstein files? Watch him run away. Play this clip. Hey Matt, how are you? I'm going to ask you a couple of questions. Why do you think it's important to keep supporting the tariffs even when farmers and ranchers are begging for them to end? Did you have to promise to keep the Epstein files hidden to get Trump's endorsement? Are you agreeing that Senator Blackburn on funding the snap. Are you going to vote to keep the Epstein files hidden?

18:50Help that cover up, Matt? I understand why you're not answering the questions.

18:58Hey, I'm sorry. This is a private event. We're not allowing any media. You're in a public building. Yeah, but it's a private event. Yeah, that's all right. Matt, why don't you stand up to the farmers and ranchers? Why are you backing the tariffs? How do you pull up$40 billion to Argentina, Matt? $40 billion to Argentina. So all ranchers and farmers struggle. What do you think about that, Matt? Are you going to not answer questions? Matt, have you ever had a booger on your finger? Mark Green at least answers questions every once in a while. He's got a temper, so he answers stuff. Are you going to not answer?

19:32Are you going to be like all these other Republicans that don't have town halls, don't answer questions, really hard to find? Are you just going to hide from everybody? Why did billionaires put$2 million into your primary, Matt? What did you have to promise the billionaires to get$2 million to keep Jody Barrett? They didn't want Jody Barrett. The voucher version is one of you in there. They don't want the tariffs. They don't want a bailout. They want trade, not aid. Why did billionaires put$2 million into your race, Matt? That's the real question. What did you have to promise? Are you going to protect the Epstein files?

20:05Is that why?

20:09Ben Meiselas:And then here, Matt Van Epps, like in his robotic AI voice goes, Thank you, Donald Trump. I said, I am so grateful for your endorsement. Play this clip. Mr. President, when I get to Congress, I will have your back 100 percent. And I am honored to be endorsed by our commander in chief, President Donald J. Trump. You got more Matt Van Epps running away right here. Matt, funny running into you here, Matt. How are you? How are you? I'm good. How are you? So Afton was on with us yesterday and she said that Speaker Johnson is waiting for you to get there so you can cancel out Adelita Grijalva's vote on the Epstein files.

20:46What do you think about that? Does that sound right to you? Do you think that's Speaker Johnson's plan? Why was it so hard for you to answer the Epstein files question, Matt? Is that why they put$2 million into your race so that you would go there and help cover up the Epstein files? This is a simple question. You said you're for transparency. Why not just be strong about that, Matt? Why do you have to hem and haw so much? Do you think that's the plan, Matt, to get you up there to cancel out Adelita Grijalva? The silence thing doesn't work very well. It just makes you look bad. That's what you're going to learn if you get up there.

21:30It's better just to give me the line that they gave you. Whatever line they gave you, you should use that line, Matt, right now. This is the time to do it. Being silent isn't a good look. It doesn't work. It just makes you look guilty. I'm trying to help you. Just say the line. Whatever they gave you to say, just say it. Matt, the Epstein files, even your own people care about the Epstein files.