Latest news with #OrrinG.HatchFoundation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Battleground senators condemn antisemitism at Hatch Foundation event after terror attack
Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and David McCormick joined together to condemn antisemitism at a bipartisan event just a day after police say a terror attack in Colorado was the latest in a series of increasing acts of antisemitism in the U.S. Fetterman, a Democrat and staunch ally of Israel, and McCormick, a Republican in his first term, joined the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation for its Senate Project Series on Monday. They admitted that while they disagree on many things, they both stand against the 'horrific rise of antisemitism across our country and the world.' That includes in their home state, where a man broke into Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's mansion in April and threw in two Molotov cocktails, starting a fire. No injuries were reported, but Shapiro had celebrated Passover with his family just hours before the attack. Police later said the suspect cited the war in Gaza as a reason for the attack. The Hatch Foundation series is intended to bridge the gap between parties, create dialogue between lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle in the Senate and build on the relationship between former Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican, and former Sen. Ted Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat. Fetterman and McCormick's conversation, moderated by Fox News' Shannon Bream, came just a day after a terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, where police arrested a suspect after he used a 'makeshift flame thrower and threw an incendiary device' into a crowd of people participating in a walk for the hostages held by Hamas. Witnesses said the man yelled 'Free Palestine' as he carried out the attacks. Fetterman, who has been one of the most outspoken Democrats backing Israel in the ongoing conflict, highlighted the attack in Boulder while speaking to the crowd at the event Monday. 'What happened yesterday in Boulder, it's astonishing, you know, the kinds of, the rank antisemitism … out of control,' Fetterman said. The attack comes as a rise of antisemitism occurs across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza that began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. According to the Anti-Defamation League's Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, assault and vandalism increased significantly in 2024 and overall antisemitic incidents increased 5% from the year before. The FBI has reported that hate crimes for all races, religions, sexual orientation and gender were on the rise in 2023. The senators noted how there's been a rise in their state of Pennsylvania, too, evident in the attack on Shapiro. McCormick said he visited the University of Pennsylvania campus, where pro-Palestinian protests occurred, including a 16-day encampment in 2024 as part of a larger wave of demonstrations at universities across the country. 'You started to see these huge … rallies and this antisemitist … hate,' McCormick said Monday. 'Hatred really spewed at places like University of Pennsylvania and others. I actually went to University of Pennsylvania, saw these demonstrations. This wasn't free speech. This was intimidation, and in some cases physical violence.' 'We see this deeply seeded in our society and it's something that we have to stand up against with complete moral clarity,' he later said. The state also grieved after a gunman killed 11 people during Shabbat morning services in the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. The shooting anniversary was where Fetterman said he and McCormick met for the first time. 'From the Tree of Life massacre down the road from where we live, to Boulder yesterday, D.C. the week before, and so many more horrific accounts,' Fetterman said in a post online. 'We both see the way antisemitism has impacted communities across Pennsylvania, the country and the world—and we must call it out.' While the two senators agree that antisemitism is wrong and should be stopped, they didn't point to concrete ways to reduce it across the country, Bream told her fellow Fox News hosts after the panel. However, they did share support for Israel in its offensive against Hamas, and for securing the country's southern border, among other issues. Matt Sandgren, the executive director of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, said the Senate Project works to prove Hatch's belief that the Senate works best when lawmakers can disagree respectfully. 'The Senate Project continues to prove that principle can thrive even in these divided times,' Sandgren said in a statement, noting the foundation was thankful to the senators for 'showing that serious, respectful debate still has a place in American politics.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania senators find common ground despite style preferences, party differences
One is a Democrat sporting a hoodie, the other is a Republican wearing a tie, but bipartisan Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick stand on common ground. The two first-term senators from the critical swing state participated in the sixth installment of The Senate Project series on Monday. It was organized by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and moderated by Fox News' Shannon Bream. Sitting across from one another in a full-sized replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber at the Kennedy Institute in Boston, Fetterman towered over McCormick in his signature Carhartt sweatshirt, basketball shorts and sneakers. While Fetterman strutted on stage with an approachable wave to the audience, McCormick emerged from the double doors in a well-fitted suit and tie and immediately shook hands with his Democratic counterpart. Knives Out For Fetterman: Maverick Senator Joins Long Line Of Dems Punished For Breaking From Left Fetterman, who suffered a stroke and struggled with his auditory capabilities during his 2022 Senate campaign, has again found his health topping national headlines amid renewed concerns about his mental health. Read On The Fox News App Leaks To Media About Fetterman Are A Coordinated Smear Campaign, Hill Colleagues Say But Fetterman again dismissed the slew of media reports as a "smear campaign" on Monday. And Republicans have surprisingly rallied behind the Democrat, who has gained a reputation for bucking his own party on top issues like immigration and Israel. It's not just their wardrobes that set the senators apart. While McCormick speaks like a true politician, the Republican is only a few months into his first term serving elected office. McCormick's background is in the U.S. Army, as under secretary of the treasury for international affairs for President George W. Bush and as CEO of Bridgewater Associates. Fetterman may have started his career in the insurance industry, but the Democrat has been in politics for almost a decade. He began his political career as mayor of Braddock before serving as lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. Despite Fetterman's years of experience in politics, his wardrobe choice and casual speaking tone set him apart from McCormick's polished speech. Style points aside, the bipartisan senators found more common ground than not on Monday. They may have different deliveries, but the content of their arguments seem aligned. Both Fetterman and McCormick condemned the attack in Boulder, Colorado, this weekend, which authorities are investigating as an act of antisemitism. The Pennsylvania senators have been steadfast supporters of Israel and united to condemn what they call the rise of antisemitism on college campuses. They also agreed with President Donald Trump that Iran should not have nuclear capabilities. Swing State Senators Come Together In Rare Show Of Bipartisanship, Dems Aren't Happy About It On Trump's steel deal that allows Nippon Steel to invest in U.S. Steel in Pennsylvania, Fetterman and McCormick said they didn't initially agree but were able to find common ground and deliver a deal for Pennsylvania workers. "We sat down within a week or two after I got elected and talked about a bunch of things," McCormick said. "There's a number of things we agreed on. We had both taken different positions on this, but we agreed the most important thing was the workers in Pennsylvania. There are a lot of things we disagree on, but the thing we agreed on was [protecting] those jobs in western Pennsylvania." McCormick said it's a bipartisan strategy the Pennsylvania senators have tried to adopt since they started working together this year. "We're looking for ways to find common ground," McCormick said. "When we disagree, we disagree. But when we can agree, we agree." When pushed by Bream about Senate reconciliation on Trump's "big, beautiful bill," McCormick indicated he would vote in favor of the bill while Fetterman said he's a "no," highlighting concerns over Medicaid reform. "We both represent the most purple part of America," Fetterman said before adding, "We are going to disagree and vote on different things, but for me, it's about trying to find the things we can win together and deliver those kinds of wins for Pennsylvania and ultimately for America."Original article source: Pennsylvania senators find common ground despite style preferences, party differences
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fetterman breaks ranks, praises Trump's Middle East policies: 'Did the right thing'
Sen. John Fetterman, the battleground state Democrat known for bucking his party, praised President Donald Trump's policies in the Middle East on Monday. During The Senate Project series discussion, organized by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and co-hosted by FOX Nation, Fetterman and his fellow Pennsylvanian Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican, discussed key issues impacting Americans. Conflict in the Middle East was chief among those topics, as the bipartisan senators have found unlikely common ground in their support for Israel. Fetterman admitted he is the sole Democrat willing to admit Trump's success in the Middle East. "I wasn't really allowed to disagree, politically, with the original agreement on Iran," Fetterman said. Knives Out For Fetterman: Maverick Senator Joins Long Line Of Dems Punished For Breaking From Left Trump ended U.S. participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran and re-imposed sanctions against them in 2018. As a Democrat, Fetterman said it was politically unpopular to support Trump backing out of the Iran deal. Read On The Fox News App Fetterman Calls For Bombing Iranian Nuclear Facilities: 'Waste That S---' Fetterman, now abandoning the Democratic playbook, admitted on Monday, "I really do think, now, Trump did the right thing to break that agreement." Fetterman told The Washington Free Beacon in April that the Trump administration should destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities with a military strike. The event's moderator, Fox News' Shannon Bream, anchor of "Fox News Sunday," asked Fetterman about his comments during the Boston, Massachusetts, event on Monday. "Iran attacked Israel, and it's very clear they lack the capabilities to really project that kind of––and then Israel struck back and destroyed the batteries that protect their nuclear facilities, and they also hit the nuclear lab as well, too. So now, Israel understands that we have a window here to attack that." The Pennsylvania Democrat said his party isn't willing to engage in these nuanced conversations about the United States' approach to conflict in the Middle East. "I think it's once in a generation to destroy that facility," Fetterman said, doubling down on his comments. Fetterman also praised Trump for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem during his first administration. "That's absolutely put me really the only one left in the Democratic caucus talking on these kinds of things," Fetterman said, referring to his support for moving the embassy. "When Trump changed the embassy to Jerusalem, people thought… the region was going to burn. I mean, none of that happened… Some good things have happened there," Fetterman said. Fetterman was the only Democratic senator willing to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago ahead of his inauguration and has been steadfast in his support for Israel, one of several instances of Fetterman bucking his own article source: Fetterman breaks ranks, praises Trump's Middle East policies: 'Did the right thing'


Fox News
4 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Senate showdown: Fetterman and McCormick set for high-stakes Pennsylvania forum
PROGRAMMING ALERT: THE SENATE PROJECT SERIES DISCUSSION WITH SENATORS JOHN FETTERMAN AND DAVID McCORMICK MODERATED BY FOX NEWS SUNDAY HOST SHANNON BREAM WILL BE STREAMED ON FOX NATION AND FOX NEWS DIGITAL MONDAY, JUNE 2 LIVE AT 9 AM ET. Battleground Pennsylvania senators – Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dave McCormick – will face off at a Fox News co-hosted forum to debate key issues affecting Americans. The two first-term senators from the crucial northeastern swing state are taking part Monday in the sixth installment of The Senate Project series, organized by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation. The event, which will be moderated by Fox News' Shannon Bream, anchor of "Fox News Sunday," will take place at 9 a.m. ET in a full-sized replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber at the Kennedy Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. Fox News Media is the exclusive media partner for the Senate Project and the conversation, which will be livestreamed on FOX Nation. The Senate Project series brings together sitting senators from opposing parties for civil dialogue about current political issues, with the goal of identifying solutions and bridging partisan divides. The series reflects the shared mission of the Kennedy Institute and Hatch Foundation to advance bipartisanship. "Vigorous and open dialogue is an essential part of our democracy and having these two senators from opposite sides of the aisle discuss important issues of the day is a valuable contribution to the public discourse," Kennedy Institute Chairman Bruce A. Percelay said in a statement. Matt Sandgren, the Hatch Foundation's executive director, added: "The Senate Project series continues to underscore the importance of bipartisan dialogue. This unique partnership between the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute is a model for achieving civility and solutions." Previous installments of the series have featured GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a champion of the progressive movement; Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa; and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware and then-Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who now serves as secretary of state in President Donald Trump's second administration.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SENATORS JOHN FETTERMAN AND DAVID McCORMICK TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SENATE PROJECT SERIES AT THE EDWARD M. KENNEDY INSTITUTE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE
FOX News Media's Shannon Bream Will Moderate the Discussion, Co-Hosted bythe Kennedy Institute and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation BOSTON, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation announced that the sixth installment of The Senate Project series will feature US Senators John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) and David McCormick (R-Pennsylvania). The discussion will be held Monday, June 2 at 9AM/ET in the Kennedy Institute's full-sized replica of the United States Senate Chamber. Shannon Bream, anchor of Fox News Sunday, will moderate the conversation, which will be live streamed on FOX Nation with FOX News Media as the exclusive media partner for The Senate Project. "Vigorous and open dialogue is an essential part of our democracy and having these two senators from opposite sides of the aisle discuss important issues of the day is a valuable contribution to the public discourse," Kennedy Institute Chairman Bruce A. Percelay said. Hatch Foundation Executive Director Matt Sandgren added, "Now entering our sixth installment, The Senate Project series continues to underscore the importance of bipartisan dialogue. This unique partnership between the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute is a model for achieving civility and solutions. We are thrilled that Senators McCormick and Fetterman have agreed to participate." The Senate Project series brings together sitting US Senators from opposing parties for civil dialogue about current political issues, with the goal of identifying solutions and bridging partisan divides. The series, reflecting the shared mission of the Kennedy Institute and Hatch Foundation to advance bipartisanship. The format will be an Oxford-style exchange of ideas conducted in front of a live audience seated on the Institute's replica Senate floor and in galleries above. Previous installments have featured Senators Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, and Bernie Sanders, the liberal Vermont Independent; Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, and Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa; and Marco Rubio, then a Republican Senator from Florida, and Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware. Media who wish to cover the event should request press credentials by emailing Joe Zarbano at jzarbano@ with their name, outlet, and coverage details by Thursday, May 29. Location: Edward M. Kennedy Institute 210 Morrissey BlvdOn UMass campus directly across from The John F. Kennedy library Media Contacts: Joe ZarbanoRegan Communications JZarbano@ Connor SmithFOX News View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Fox News Network, LLC Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data