this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2026
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Republican leaders have moved to quash speculation about Mitch McConnell, the former Republican leader in the US Senate, amid a growing revolt over the lack of transparency around his health.

The 84-year-old Kentucky politician, who led Senate Republicans for longer than anyone in history before stepping down last year, was admitted to the hospital on 14 June but his office declined to say what he was being treated for.

The secrecy led to a backlash from Donald Trump’s support base, with some claiming that McConnell’s condition is graver than acknowledged and accusing his office of a cover-up.

On Tuesday, John Thune, McConnell’s successor as Republican leader, sought to quell the anger by claiming that he had spoken by phone with McConnell on Monday. A Thune spokesperson said: “They had a lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security.”

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[–] WesternInfidels@feddit.online 6 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

Even The Gruniad characterizes this as "rebellion" and "revolt" when what's actually happening is people are talking.

This seems like a very totalitarian view of the world to me. Maybe it's appropriate, given the people we're discussing here.

If we were talking about (say) Elizabeth Warren being AWOL like this, would we expect to see questions from other Democrats characterized as "rebellion?" I don't think we would, but perhaps I'm wrong.

[–] Catma@lemmy.world 9 points 11 hours ago
[–] SnarkoPolo@lemmy.world 17 points 14 hours ago

He just had a 20 minute conversation with Lindsey Graham.

[–] Gates9@sh.itjust.works 5 points 12 hours ago

Gonna be a lot fucking harder now that Lindsey Graham is dead!

[–] GutterRat42@lemmy.world 13 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

You would think it is easy to prove that somebody is alive...

[–] Bakkoda@lemmy.world 5 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

They are still harvesting Grahams organs. Give em some time to get them in McConnell

[–] Manjushri@piefed.social 9 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Nonsense. Mitch would not take gay organs. Besides, what do you think McConnell's wife was doing in China in the days after he went to the hospital? Obviously she was buying top of the line organs for him freshly harvested from young Chinese dissidents.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 4 points 13 hours ago

The horror of that mental image will keep me awake for months...

[–] cattywampas@lemmy.world 110 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Andy Beshear says he wants to hold a special election anyway unless Mitch shows proof of life. I say do it.

[–] EvilBit@lemmy.world 57 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I mean, the bar isn’t “alive”, it’s “capable”. If he can talk on the phone, he can object to a special election. I just want him to do it on live video with a copy of that days newspaper.

[–] spongebue@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Shit, I'm naive enough that I'd settle for a 2-minute non-video call to Fox News. If he can talk with others for at least 10x that, surely that's not too much to ask.

[–] GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world 12 points 16 hours ago

Nah AI voice changer could handle that. I need PROOF.

[–] blitzen@lemmy.ca 115 points 1 day ago (2 children)

McConnell is filibustering death. It's what he would've wanted.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 44 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Filibustering his own death is definitely fitting for him

[–] TheMadCodger@piefed.social 8 points 23 hours ago (1 children)
[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 3 points 13 hours ago

Goes without saying.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 1 points 13 hours ago

No wonder he didn't want to abolish the filibuster. He knew he'd be needing it soon.

He's going to die on August 4th.

The day after a special election can be called.

[–] ryper@lemmy.ca 91 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You know who could end the speculation real quick? Mitch McConnell.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 15 points 13 hours ago

One of the most hilarious things I've seen in a long time was when that MAGA dope on CNN the other day said he'd had a 20 minute conversation with McConnell, and the rest of them ALL jumped in and said "Hey! Since you can get him on the phone, hows about you call him right now, and end all the speculation?"

I've never seen a guy "Hummina, Hummina" so badly in my life.

[–] SarcasticMan@lemmy.world 95 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Easy fix. Unless they are lying shit baskets and no one has actually talked to him he should be able to FaceTime a call to one of the multitude of Press out there and shut everyone up. He won't though because it's hard to FaceTime from hell.

[–] Omgpwnies@lemmy.world 5 points 14 hours ago

Lindsey Graham went to check on him

[–] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

He’d just be doing the Sam Kinison scream after about three seconds. OH! OHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[–] Today@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago

This is my second favorite thing on the Internet today. You're close behind those retired barn cats.

[–] santa@sh.itjust.works 13 points 21 hours ago

Lindsey can’t wait for his Turtle Cuddle.

[–] jaschen306@sh.itjust.works 54 points 1 day ago

Dude is 100% BRAIN DEAD. If he was even remotely alive, they would have did a video call or at the very least they would have gotten on the phone. Nope. Dude is 100% dead.

[–] Itdidnttrickledown@lemmy.world 17 points 23 hours ago

The more noise they make the more apparent that even if the meat that was him is still warm its the machines that are keeping it that way.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 8 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

So they have something to hide. Whatever could that be?

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 4 points 13 hours ago

You want the list chronologically, or alphabetically?

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago

Well, just let some trusted reporters in with the cameras.

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 15 points 1 day ago

This is the dumbest thing. Anyone with a pulse has to assume he's dead or near to it. Shameless.

He's just pining for the fjords.

[–] leadore@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

We need a picture of him with eyes open (without tape) and holding up the current day's NYT and WaPo papers.

[–] slickgoat@lemmy.world 8 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

In these days of AI you will get videos of him tap dancing and backflips.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 1 points 13 hours ago

McConnell with a six-pack and giant biceps riding on the front of a tank with eagles overhead and fireworks in the sky along with the blue angels.

Maga: "He's alive! See, there's proof!"