The Briefing with Jen Psaki Hegseth, beside sleepy Trump, backtracks on boasts about boat strike amid war crimes talk
20 snips
Dec 3, 2025 
This week features Senator Mark Warner, a key figure on the Senate Intelligence Committee, who calls for accountability regarding alleged war crimes linked to Pete Hegseth. Ken Martin, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, shares insights on the Democratic strategy and recent election surprises, emphasizing messaging on affordability. The discussion touches on Trump's declining energy and health, raising eyebrows about his MRI results. Additionally, Abdul El-Sayed critiques the political landscape emphasizing healthcare reforms and a grassroots campaign approach.
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Nationwide Democratic Overperformance
- Democrats have overperformed across 2025 special elections by roughly 16–22 percentage points versus 2024 results.
- That shift suggests deep red districts have become competitive and could expand the map for 2026.
Afton Bain’s Local Campaign Surge
- Afton Bain ran energetic local retail campaigning and focused on cost-of-living themes.
- She outperformed expectations in areas where Democrats normally lose and energized voters on the ground.
DNC’s Organize-Everywhere Playbook
- The DNC strategy emphasized contesting every district and focusing messaging on affordability.
- Ken Martin argues disciplined, locally tailored messaging allowed Democrats to cut margins and win unexpected races.
