Latest news with #SenateProject
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fetterman called to ‘step aside' by Philadelphia Inquirer if disengaged or mental health issues too severe
The Philadelphia Inquirer called out Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., in an editorial on Sunday, demanding the senator "perform his job" or step aside, amid reports of concern about his mental health. "Being an elected official comes with public scrutiny. If Fetterman can't handle the attention or perform his job, then in the best interest of the country and the nearly 13 million residents of Pennsylvania he represents, he should step aside," the Inquirer's editorial board wrote. "Being a U.S. senator is a serious job that requires full-time engagement," the editorial board continued. "If Fetterman wants to continue to serve, then he must take his position seriously." Fetterman, who suffered from a stroke in 2022, was the subject of an alarming New York Magazine article last month that cited anecdotes from several former staffers about his issues, which the senator said was a "hit piece." The Philadelphia Inquirer also reported on the ex-staffers' concerns, including one who said, "It's pretty impossible to overstate how disengaged he is." Knives Out For Fetterman: Maverick Senator Joins Long Line Of Dems Punished For Breaking From Left Fox News' Shannon Bream asked Fetterman during an installment of the Senate Project series, organized by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, about how the Democratic senator would respond to the Inquirer. Read On The Fox News App "Well, for me, it's very clear, which is part of like this weird smear, this thing," Fetterman said, pointing to his support for Israel, a strong border and his vote to avoid a government shutdown. "I've continued [to] get more and more kinds of incoming and those things, and all of those things. So, the more kinds of left kind of media continue to have these kinds of an attack, and it's just part of a smear, and it's just not accurate." The Philadelphia Inquirer argued that the senator hasn't had much time for Pennsylvania or Washington, D.C., pointing to multiple trips he's taken to Israel, and his January trip to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President Donald Trump. The Inquirer accused Fetterman of schmoozing Trump. John Fetterman Faces New Spotlight On Health, Family Drama, Sparking Online Uproar "It's time for Fetterman to serve Pennsylvanians, or step away," the Inquirer concluded. A staffer told New York Magazine that he received a message questioning how Fetterman was doing, as he was found sitting at a table alone, silently drinking a soda. The report went on to claim the lawmaker was "nearly struck by a car" and found "wandering" Capitol Hill. "Former and current staffers paint a picture of an erratic senator who has become almost impossible to work for and whose mental-health situation is more serious and complicated than previously reported," the article read. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Fetterman was hospitalized for clinical depression shortly after taking office in 2023. He spent about six weeks in treatment before being released. During his 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign, liberal media outlets aggressively defended Fetterman from concerns about his fitness for office after his stroke, but his pro-Israel stance and more moderate positions on some key issues have alienated some of his progressive supporters since then. Fetterman's office did not immediately respond to a request for article source: Fetterman called to 'step aside' by Philadelphia Inquirer if disengaged or mental health issues too severe
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FETTERMAN, McCORMICK DISCUSS A RANGE OF ISSUES AT EDWARD KENNEDY INSTITUTE
BOSTON, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United States Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and David McCormick (R-PA) embodied bipartisanship today at the most recent installment of The Senate Project series at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. During a wide-ranging and collegial 35-minute discussion in the Institute's full-sized replica of the US Senate Chamber, the Senators touched on — and mostly agreed on — a host of national and international issues. Moderated by FOX News anchor Shannon Bream, the event was the sixth installment of The Senate Project, a joint initiative by the Kennedy Institute and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation of Utah sponsored by FOX News Media. The event further solidified the Kennedy Institute, with its mission to foster bipartisanship, as the premier forum for cross-aisle discussions about pressing national issues. The discussion also gave Fetterman the opportunity, in the wake of recent media coverage questioning his fitness to hold office, to display his engagement, focus, and cogency. Through a series of questions ranging from anti-semitism on American campuses, to Israel's right to defend itself and the threat posed by Iran, to Pennsylvania's steel industry and President Trump's economic bill, Fetterman revealed a bipartisan streak and deep grasp of policy details. Fetterman acknowledged that his support of efforts to secure the border and of Israel have hurt his standing among some Democrats and left-leaning media. He said those positions are behind the "smear" leveled by critics who alleged he is not engaged in his job. "The more, I started to … be following Israel or the border, and now, really refusing to vote to shut the government down, I've continued to get more and more kinds of incoming (criticism)," he said. "So the more left kind of media continues to have these kinds of attacks, and it's just part of a smear and that's just not accurate. I'm here. I'm doing that job … I've always been there." "I'll take the beating, because that's I think what defines leadership," Fetterman said. 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 reflects the bipartisanship embodied by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and the shared mission of the Kennedy Institute and Hatch Foundation to advance cooperation between members of both major parties. "The Senate Project continues to play an important role facilitating dialogue between Democrat and Republican Senators who might not otherwise have the opportunity to discuss and debate critical matters of the day," Kennedy Institute Chairman Bruce Percelay said. "Today's event demonstrates the importance of bipartisan dialogue and we look forward to expanding our role as a convener of leaders from both parties." Hatch Foundation Executive Director Matt Sandgren added, "Senator Hatch believed the Senate was at its best when disagreement was met with respect and conviction was tempered by civility. The Senate Project continues to prove that principle can thrive even in these divided times. We're grateful to FOX News for extending the conversation beyond the chamber, and to Senators Fetterman and McCormick for showing that serious, respectful debate still has a place in American politics." Fetterman and McCormick agreed on several issues, including: The need for sanctions against Russia; Stronger border security; The dismantling of Iran's nuclear program; and Provisions in Nippon Steel's acquisition of US Steel negotiated by the Trump Administration that made the purchase more palatable to the US steel industry. McCormick noted that Republicans have "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to enact their agenda with control of the White House and both legislative bodies. That agenda, he said, must center on tax cuts, a stronger national defense, and showing "we can begin to reduce the cost of government." He noted the House's recent passage of President Trump's economic bill and predicted the Senate will try to make further spending cuts in its version. For his part, Fetterman said he supports parts of Trump's "big, beautiful bill," but does not support cuts to social programs like Medicaid and SNAP. FOX News' Bream opened the discussion by referencing Sunday's alleged hate crime in Colorado directed against participants in a pro-Israel rally. The discussion quickly turned to instances of antisemitism on US college campuses and other common spaces. "People follow me and scream 'free Palestine,' " Fetterman said. "The Jewish community is constantly under assault… That's not free speech. Building tent cities on campus and terrorizing Jewish students, that's not free speech." McCormick agreed that the federal government is right to press universities to combat anti-Jewish attitudes. "We have to require that our institutions extricate themselves from antisemitism," he said. Both Senators credited Israel for degrading the military capabilities of Hamas and Hezbollah and taking actions to counter Iran's efforts to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. They also concurred on the need for stiff sanctions against Russia for its continued aggression against Ukraine. "When I grew up, Russia was always the Evil Empire and that hasn't changed," Fetterman said. He added that the triumvirate of Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which is facing its own existential threat from China "stand for global democracy. And that's always going to be the side where I'm going to remain." The Senators said they have built a great relationship as they represent what Fetterman called one of the "most purple" states in the country. "The same people that elected me elected him for the most part. We've got a lot of overlap," Senator McCormick said, saying both of them care deeply about Pennsylvania and the country. Previous Senate Project installments at the Kennedy Institute 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. -30- Media contact:David ProcopioRegan Communicationsdprocopio@ 488-2886 View original content: SOURCE Edward M Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A Pennsylvania Democrat and Republican come to Boston. Bipartisanship breaks out
The organizers billed it as proof that two people on opposite sides of the political divide could sit in the same room and not tear each other's heads off. And if the face-off between Pennsylvania U.S. Sens. John Fetterman, a Democrat, and Dave McCormick, the Republican, was any indication, they succeeded beyond their wildest imaginings. For just about 30 minutes on Monday morning, the two lawmakers acknowledged that they would occasionally find themselves at cross purposes in the ideological hothouse that is Washington, D.C., but said they hoped they could do so agreeably. 'We both care deeply about Pennsylvania,' McCormick, who won election to the Senate last November by defeating a long-serving Democratic incumbent, said. 'We are working together to do great things.' The excessively civil chat, co-sponsored by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, was live-streamed on FOX Nation and moderated by Fox News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream. It was the sixth such installment of the ongoing 'Senate Project' put on by the two organizations. The 30-minute session, held in the Kennedy Institute's replica U.S. Senate chamber, ranged across the issues of the day, touching on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza; the looming Senate debate over President Donald Trump's deficit-busting 'Big Beautiful Bill,' and the 'blockbuster agreement' between U.S. Steel and Japanese company Nippon Steel that Trump announced last week. Past participants in the program have included conversations between U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; and Chris Coons, D-Del., who faced now U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican. Monday's conversation began with Sunday's terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, where a man wielding a homemade explosive device and shouting invective, was charged with hurling them at a group peacefully demonstrating on behalf of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Fetterman took to the stage in his trademark black hoodie and shorts. McCormick sat next to him in a suit and tie. Both were given commemorative hoodies for their participation, which they displayed proudly. Fetterman, recalling that he and McCormick first met during an anniversary observance for a deadly synagogue attack in Pittsburgh, offered that 'it's astonishing that this antisemitism is out of control.' And he lamented what he said was its spread across American college and university campuses. 'We need to call it what it is,' he said, adding that 'building tent cities on campuses and terrorizing Jewish students, that's not free speech.' McCormick offered a similar sentiment, saying antisemitism is 'something that we have to stand up against [with] moral clarity.' The two lawmakers acknowledged that they will find themselves on opposite sides of Trump's megabill, which looks to make permanent his first-term tax cuts with deep reductions in spending on social safety net programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often referred to as 'food stamps.' 'I don't think I'd ever be in a position to support cuts to Medicaid. The same for SNAP,' Fetterman said, then, referring to his wife Gisele's work feeding hungry people in their hometown of Braddock, outside Pittsburgh, he stressed that people weren't looking for giveaways. They're hungry and need help. 'I see people standing in line for food,' he said. 'It's not just because they want free stuff, it's that they don't have enough to eat.' McCormick stressed the importance of " slowing the growth of the cost of government." " I think that's where the debate's going to be, 'Is how do we pay for these things,'" he said. Fetterman, who has faced recent questions about his mental and physical health, said McCormick supported him against what he described as a 'weird smear' campaign. 'He actually asked me, 'Is it okay to defend you?'' Fetterman recalled. Fetterman suffered a debilitating stroke shortly before the 2022 election and was hospitalized for treatment for depression early in his term. He also has faced criticism for missing votes, but argued that the ones he had missed were 'throwaway' procedural votes that did not require his presence to stand or fall. 'I'm here. I'm doing the job,' he said. Tired of 'TACO?' Here comes the 'Trump collar' Residential retrofitting program turns on high-speed internet for Bay Meadow Apts. in Springfield GOP Mass. governor hopeful Brian Shortsleeve touts 'record' $416K fundraising haul Bill Clinton raises alarm over Donald Trump: 'We've never seen anything like this before' Mass. Gov. Healey's popularity takes a dip in new poll Read the original article on MassLive.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
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. 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. 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. 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."
Fox News
4 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
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. 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. 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 party.
