DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Mitch McConnell’s Strength Is Tested in Fight for Ukraine Aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Siobhan Hughes | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—The Senate battle over Ukraine aid has become a legacy-defining issue for Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as the Republican is facing questions over his grip on power. The Kentucky lawmaker, a dominant force in Republican politics for two decades, insists that assistance to Kyiv should be part of a broad foreign-aid package, which proponents see as boosting its chances for passage.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Mitch McConnell Organizations: Senate, Republican Locations: Ukraine, Kentucky, Kyiv

☆ Takeaways from Election Day 2023 in America
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Here are the key election night takeaways on a strong night for Democrats:As Ohio goes, so goes the nation? Tuesday night’s election results probably won’t change the equation for Biden in 2024, given Ohio’s recent presidential electoral history. Other state Republican parties might not be so lucky. Andy Beshear won a second term on Tuesday in a state that Trump carried by more than 25 points in 2020. Endorsed by Trump but often described as McConnell’s protégé, Daniel Cameron’s defeat will stir a lot of finger-pointing within the Republican Party.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Joe Biden, Biden, Sen, Sherrod Brown, “, Barrett Marson, Glenn Younkin, Roe, Wade, Youngkin, Youngkin’s, Andy Beshear, Trump, protégé, Daniel Cameron’s, Chris Christie, ” Christie, “ Trump, ” Trump, Beshear, Cameron, it’s, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump’s, we’ve, ” Biden, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Gabe Amo, Rhode, Gabe, ”, councilmember Cherelle Parker, She’ll, – Organizations: CNN, Gov, Virginia Republican, GOP, Democratic, Republican, Democrats, Trump, Ohio Democrat, Buckeye, Ohio Republicans, ”, ” Arizona Republican, “, Virginia, Republican Party, Former New Jersey Gov, Republicans, Florida Gov, South Carolina Gov, The New York Times, Siena College, Kentucky, today’s Republican Party, Philadelphia Government, Democratic Caucus, Representatives, Democratic Congressional Locations: Commonwealth, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Arizona, ” Arizona, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Florida, Colorado, Trump, Rhode Island, Congress, Rhode, Philadelphia

☆ Mike Johnson tests his new power with risky gambit on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —New House Speaker Mike Johnson is already tying Washington in new partisan knots. Johnson surprises by picking Israel funding as his first test of credibilityJohnson’s hard ball play on Israel funding came as a surprise given that some of the urgency for ending the speakership impasse last week was to swiftly clear a funding package following the Hamas attacks. The Biden administration on Tuesday formally threatened to veto the House GOP’s standalone Israel aid bill. The inclusion of the offsets could indicate that Johnson needs to placate his most hardline members even to pass a measure as popular as Israel funding. Some other Senate conservatives are also at odds with their leader, backing the decoupling of Israel and Ukraine aid.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden’s, Mitch McConnell, McCarthy, McConnell, Johnson, ” Beth Sanner, “, Biden, ” Sanner, Johnson’s, ’, Jared Moskowitz, ”, “ I’m, Marjorie Taylor Greene of, Rashida, Greene, George Santos, McConnell –, Donald Trump, –, Vladimir Putin, don’t, Rand Paul, he’s, ” Paul, CNN’s Manu Raju, Chuck Schumer, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Putin, ‘ I’m Organizations: CNN, New, Washington, Republican, Republicans, stoke, Internal Revenue, GOP, Louisiana Republican, Democratic, Senate, National Intelligence, Central ”, White, Israel, National Republican, Extreme, Democrats, Jewish Democrat, “, GOP Rep, Democratic Rep, Democrat, New York Rep, titans, Taiwan, New York Democrat, US, NATO Locations: Israel, Louisiana, Ukraine, China, Russia, Washington, Gaza, Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Palestinian American, Michigan, Kyiv, Kentucky, United States, Moscow, Iran, Tehran, Baltic

☆ Mitch McConnell warns GOP senators they’ll face ‘incoming’ if they back Hawley bill to limit corporate giving in campaigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

According to multiple sources familiar with the Tuesday lunch meeting, McConnell warned GOP senators that they could face “incoming” from the “center-right” if they signed onto Hawley’s bill. On that list of senators: Hawley himself, according to sources familiar with the matter. But there’s also no love lost between McConnell and Hawley, who has long criticized the GOP leader and has repeatedly called for new leadership atop their conference. In an interview, Hawley defended his bill and said that corporate influence should be limited in elections. “I think that’s wrong,” Hawley told CNN.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Sen, Josh Hawley, McConnell, Hawley, there’s, ”, Chuck Schumer, ” Hawley, “, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Mike Braun, Kevin Cramer of North, Marsha Blackburn of, Dan Sullivan, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Susan Collins of, Steve Daines, Thom Tillis, Lindsey Graham of, Katie Britt, Alabama, Lisa Murkowski, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Ted Budd of, JD Vance, Ohio, Ron Johnson Organizations: CNN, GOP, Kentucky Republican, Fund, McConnell, New, New York Democrat, Missouri Republican, Indiana Locations: New York, Ukraine, Israel, Colorado, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Montana, North Carolina, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin

☆ House GOP’s $14.3 billion Israel aid sets up collision course with Senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Haley Talbot | Kristin Wilson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The House has released text of its planned Israel funding bill, appropriating $14.3 billion dollars to aid the country, setting up one of the first leadership tests for newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson. In the Senate, both leaders have pressed to have any funding for Israel combined with Ukraine and border security funding. Johnson has pushed to detach the aid to Israel from the Ukraine aid. And right now, the Senate has a chance to produce supplemental assistance that will help us do exactly that,” McConnell said. Not some of them, but all of them … you can send Israel over by itself, that’d be fine,” he said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Republicans – Thomas Massie of, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia –, Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Oksana Markarova, ” McConnell, “ Israel, ”, Sen, Rick Scott, Missouri Sen, Josh Hawley, Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham of, CNN’s Manu Raju, Sam Fossum, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: Louisiana Republican, GOP, Republicans, Senate, Israel, Fox News, Democrats, House Democratic, Ukraine, ”, Florida Republican, Republican, “ Locations: Israel, Louisiana, Georgia, Ukraine, Gaza, America, Ukrainian, Louisville , Kentucky, Florida, Missouri, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

☆ The consequences of old, powerful politicians refusing to let go
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Most people don’t want to work into their 80s and 90s, but the powerful in Washington refuse to let go. “Anybody who thinks that if I step down, Obama could appoint someone like me, they’re misguided,” she told Elle in 2014. Nikki Haley got some early attention for her presidential campaign when she suggested a mental competency test for politicians over 75. What voters like most of all is what they knowThe most powerful force in American politics isn’t age or ideas, but rather incumbency. Everyone may have to work longer in the futureAmerican life expectancy, despite advances in medical care, was 77.4 in 2020.

Persons: Sen, Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat –, –, Gavin Newsom, Feinstein, Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi, ” Pelosi, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, ”, “ He’s, Mitt Romney, ” Romney, Biden, Donald Trump, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Clarence Thomas –, Thurgood Marshall, Marshall, ” Marshall, Bill Clinton, Ginsburg, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Obama, “, Elle, Barack Obama, Amy Coney Barrett, Antonin Scalia, Nikki Haley, Trump, Haley, Ronald Reagan, Harry Enten, midterms, Charles Grassley, he’d, West Virginia Sen, Robert Byrd’s, Byrd, John McCain Organizations: CNN, California Democrat, California Gov, Capitol, Republican, Republicans, KGO, Utah Republican, Democrat, Former South Carolina Gov, Trump, Senate, Arizona Republican, Social Security Locations: Washington, California, Francisco, Utah, George H.W ., Former, West Virginia

“They’re working as a uniparty up there,” said GOP Rep. Max Miller of Ohio, referring to Republicans and Democrats in the Senate. Their split was also on full display last week when McConnell and Schumer publicly appeared together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Capitol, while McCarthy opted not to. “If you make a deal, you’ve got to stick to the deal,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, a member of Senate GOP leadership, told CNN. “I’m comfortable with the way we put together the Senate bill,” McConnell said. “I don’t see the support in the House,” McCarthy told reporters, referring to the bipartisan stopgap bill.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, McCarthy, wouldn’t, McConnell, Chuck Schumer, –, GOP Sen, John Cornyn of, McConnell’s, ” McCarthy, you’ve, Schumer, Hakeem, Jeffries, Cory Mills, “, Republicans couldn’t, ”, Max Miller of Ohio, Joe Biden, Donald Trump –, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, ” Capito, Schumer –, “ Mitch, “ He’s, Sen, ” McConnell, they’re, it’s, Kevin Cramer, Cramer, ‘, ’ ” Cramer Organizations: CNN —, GOP, Republicans, Democrats, Florida Republican, CNN, ”, Senate, Biden, Capitol, Republican, North Dakota Republican, House Republicans Locations: Washington, John Cornyn of Texas, Ukraine, Russia, Florida, West Virginia

☆ ‘The Devil They Know’: McConnell’s Health Issues Worry Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Carl Hulse | More About Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“He is the devil they know and a very pragmatic leader,” said Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota, about Mr. McConnell and Senate Democrats. He has also made it very clear that he wants to avoid a government shutdown and shares the view of Senate Democrats that federal spending has to be higher than what House Republicans are pursuing. And he has suggested that initiating an impeachment of Mr. Biden is not a great idea. Democrats who often rip Mr. McConnell are refraining from doing so right now. 2 Democrat, who had a lengthy conversation on the floor with Mr. McConnell about his health when the Senate convened Tuesday after a long summer recess.

Persons: ”, Kevin Cramer, McConnell, Mr, Biden, Richard J, Durbin, ” Mr, Barack Obama, Donald J, Trump Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Republican Party, Illinois, Mr, Biden Locations: North Dakota, Ukraine, Kentucky, Washington

☆ Some Republicans Need Convincing on Mitch McConnell’s Health
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Lindsay Wise | Siobhan Hughes | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/some-republicans-need-convincing-on-mitch-mcconnells-health-c7dcd77e

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ McConnell, Dismissing Health Questions, Insists He Will Continue as Leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Annie Karni | More About Annie Karni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Monahan covered the subject fully,” Mr. McConnell said Wednesday, referring to a letter his office released from Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician of Congress. They cast doubt on Dr. Monahan’s assessment that the incidents were merely part of a normal recovery from a concussion Mr. McConnell had sustained in March after falling at a Washington hotel. But on Wednesday, after three consecutive questions about his health, Mr. McConnell abruptly ended the news conference. Famously tight-lipped and difficult to read even in his prime, Mr. McConnell offered his colleagues little more detail in the semi-privacy of the weekly Senate Republican lunch, the first time G.O.P. Mr. McConnell told them that he had only frozen up twice, and simply had the misfortune of doing it both times on camera.

Persons: Dr, Monahan, Mr, McConnell, Brian P, Dr . Monahan, John Kennedy Organizations: Washington, Republican, Mr Locations: Washington, Louisiana

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell shrugged off questions about his health on Wednesday after speculation and concern have run rampant since he appeared to freeze up at an event last week. “I think Dr. Monahan covered the subject fully,” McConnell said, noting that he plans to finish his term in the Senate, which ends in 2027, and as leader. Monahan, in a letter released Tuesday, said he found “no evidence” that McConnell experienced a stroke or seizure or has a movement disorder like Parkinson’s disease. Political Cartoons View All 1146 ImagesThe comments came after McConnell addressed his health at the Senate GOP caucus meeting on Wednesday. But others have cast doubt on the physician’s conclusions, including McConnell’s Kentucky counterpart, Sen. Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist.

Persons: Mitch McConnell shrugged, McConnell, Brian Monahan, “, Monahan, ” McConnell, Sen, Lindsey Graham of, Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia, Mitt Romney, he’s “, Rand Paul Organizations: Capitol, GOP, Wednesday, Senate Republicans, Kentucky Locations: Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, West, Utah

☆ McConnell Releases New Health Assurances From the Capitol’s Physician
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Carl Hulse | More About Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Dr. Monahan cited a similar reason when he issued a letter after Mr. McConnell’s incident last week before having examined him or conducted any tests. So far, no senator has publicly called for any discussion of Mr. McConnell’s health, and most Republicans who have spoken have been supportive of him. “Mitch is sharp, and he is shrewd,” Senator Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota, said Sunday on CNN. I will leave it up to him as to how he wants to discuss that with the American public. But there’s no doubt in my mind that he is perfectly capable of continuing on at this stage of the game.”

Persons: ” Mr, McConnell, Dr, Monahan, McConnell’s, “ Mitch, Mike Rounds, “, ” Organizations: Senate, Republicans, Capitol, Republican, CNN Locations: Washington, South Dakota

A Capitol physician in a letter on Tuesday said he found “no evidence” that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell experienced a stroke or has a seizure or movement disorder like Parkinson’s disease after the Kentucky Republican appeared to freeze up at an event last week. McConnell’s office has attributed the occurrences to lightheadedness. Political Cartoons View All 1142 ImagesBrian Monahan, the Capitol’s attending physician, cleared McConnell last week to continue on with his schedule after an evaluation. “There is no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, TIA or movement disorder such as Parkinson’s disease,” Monahan said in the Tuesday letter, which he said came after several evaluations, including a brain MRI, EEG study and neurology assessment that included consultation with several neurologists. Senate Republicans were quick to come to McConnell’s defense after the latest incident.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Brian Monahan, McConnell, ” Monahan Organizations: Kentucky Republican, Senate Republicans Locations: Kentucky

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s health episodes show “no evidence” of being a stroke or seizure disorder, the Capitol physician said in a letter on Tuesday, offering little further explanation for the apparent freeze-ups that have drawn concerns about the 81-year-old's situation. But the episodes have fueled quiet concern among Republican senators and intense speculation in Washington about McConnell’s ability to remain as leader. Nevertheless, many Republican allies have flocked to McConnell’s side, ensuring the famously guarded leader a well of support. McConnell’s health has visibly declined since the concussion in March, after which he took some weeks to recover. Before freezing up last week, McConnell had just given a 20-minute speech with no issues.

Persons: Mitch McConnell’s, Brian P, Monahan, ” Monahan, McConnell, Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican, Capitol, GOP, Rivals, Republicans, White House, White Locations: Kentucky, Washington, Ukraine, Russia, U.S

The Senate returns Tuesday from a month-long recess as Congress gears up for a rocky September with a whole host of to-dos – including averting a government shutdown – before the fiscal year’s end. Accordingly, congressional leaders have made clear that a stop-gap measure to keep the government funded will be necessary. But even without the demands on the CR, reconciling the House and Senate's spending bills more broadly is expected to be a heavy lift this month, and perhaps beyond. Even so, some Senate Republicans were quick to come to McConnell’s defense. But questions about the leader’s health are expected to run in the background this week as the Senate gets to work on a number of priorities.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, ”, Sen, Susan Collins of, McConnell “, Mike Rounds, McConnell, Joe Biden, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene Organizations: Caucus, Republicans, New York Democrat, Kentucky Republican, South Dakota, CNN, Senate, Georgia Republican, House Locations: Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Washington, Georgia

☆ Mitch McConnell's office releases new health update after second frozen moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s office released an update about the 81-year-old Kentuckian’s health after he froze in front of cameras last week for the second time in as many months. The note from Brian Monahan, the Capitol Hill attending physician, says there is no evidence of a stroke, seizure disorder or movement disorder like Parkinson’s disease. Video Ad Feedback McConnell appears to freeze while speaking with reporters 00:46 - Source: WLWTThe Republican leader’s office had attributed the two frozen moments to “lightheadedness,” and Monahan indicated that it’s “not uncommon” for victims of concussion to feel lightheaded. Video Ad Feedback McConnell freezes during July 2023 press conference 01:07 - Source: CNNMcConnell is expected to make floor remarks about Senate business after the chamber opens at 3 p.m. ET and meet with his leadership team at 5 p.m. for the first time since before the summer break.

Persons: Mitch McConnell’s, Brian Monahan, McConnell, “, ”, Monahan, lightheaded, sidelining, CNN McConnell Organizations: CNN, Republican, Capitol Hill, Senate Locations: Washington

☆ Mitch McConnell’s Health Scares Shine Spotlight on Senate’s ‘Three Johns’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Lindsay Wise | Siobhan Hughes | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/mitch-mcconnells-health-scares-shine-spotlight-on-senates-three-johns-ad0e3831

Persons: Dow Jones, ad0e3831

☆ What Trump thinks of Mitch McConnell's potential replacements
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —It would be a mistake to presuppose these are the final days of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s record-setting run as the Republican leader in the Senate. In January, Trump referred to Barrasso as McConnell’s “flunky” during a radio interview in Barrasso’s home state of Wyoming. Trump views McConnell as an enemyNo Senate leader will be able to maintain a flawless relationship with Trump, but McConnell’s has been particularly fraught. McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, who served in Trump’s administration as transportation secretary, has more recently been the subject of racial insults from Trump. Any successor would have to navigate Trump’s control of the party – and the very real potential that Trump could return to the White House.

Persons: Sen, Mitch McConnell’s, Donald Trump’s, Trump, McConnell, Rich Lowry, “, ”, CNN’s Manu Raju, Raju, It’s, George W, Bush, Lowry, ” Lowry, Johns ” – Sen, John Thune of, John Cornyn of, John Barrasso of, Thune, ’, Tom Daschle, – “, Kristi Noem, Tim Scott of, Cornyn, “ He’s, ” Cornyn, Utah’s Sen, Mitt Romney, Barrasso, McConnell’s, Elaine Chao, Trump’s Organizations: CNN, Republican, Republicans, National Review, Capitol, GOP, New York Times, today’s GOP, Senate, South Dakota Gov, Trump, Republicans ’ Locations: John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, John Barrasso of Wyoming, today’s, Trump, Thune, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Cornyn, Wyoming

☆ Mitch McConnell May Be Experiencing Small Seizures, Doctors Suggest
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Benjamin Mueller | More About Benjamin Mueller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A four-line letter, signed by the attending physician of Congress and released by Senator Mitch McConnell on Thursday, suggested that his recent spells of speechlessness were linked to “occasional lightheadedness” perhaps brought on by his recovery from a concussion last winter or “dehydration.”But seven neurologists, relying on what they described as unusually revealing video of Mr. McConnell freezing up in public twice recently, said in interviews Thursday and Friday that the episodes captured in real time likely pointed to more serious medical problems afflicting the longtime Republican leader. Some of the neurologists, while cautioning that they could not diagnose the minority leader from afar, said that the letter and other comments from Mr. McConnell’s office appeared to fall short of explaining why he abruptly stopped speaking during news conferences in late July and again on Wednesday. “If I gave that tape to a medical student and that was his explanation, I’d fail him,” said Dr. Orrin Devinsky, a professor of neurology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, referring to the account given by the attending physician of Congress on Thursday. “Medically, these episodes need to be taken seriously.”

Persons: Mitch McConnell, McConnell, ”, Orrin Devinsky, “ Organizations: Republican, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

☆ ‘Three Johns’ Top the List of Potential Successors to Mitch McConnell
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Carl Hulse | More About Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Mitch McConnell’s second alarming medical episode before television cameras on Wednesday has renewed scrutiny on his health as well as speculation about possible replacements for the longtime leader should he be forced to step aside. A change at the top would be significant for Senate Republicans, considering that Mr. McConnell has been their leader since 2007 and had been the No. 2 Republican for four years before taking the helm. This year, he became the longest-serving Senate leader in history, a milestone he had long sought. But the spate of incidents, including a fall in March and two sudden bouts of momentary paralysis in public, has turned attention to who might follow him.

Persons: Mitch McConnell’s, McConnell Organizations: Senate Republicans

☆ Capitol physician medically clears McConnell after health scares prompt new questions over his leadership position
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is medically cleared to continue his schedule, the US Capitol physician said Thursday, after he froze for the second time in as many months in public. “I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team. Even if they have a meeting, there’s no mechanism to force a vote on the party’s leadership. “The leader sounded like his usual self and was in good spirits,” said Ryan Wrasse, a spokesman for Senate GOP Whip John Thune, who spoke to the GOP leader. “Obviously his first responsibility is to the voters of Kentucky,” GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota told CNN in July.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, McConnell, “, Dr, Brian Monahan, ”, Monahan, –, hasn’t, McConnell’s, Sen, John Barrasso, Jim Banks, McConnell didn’t, Banks, Joe Biden, neurosurgeons, ” Biden, Ryan Wrasse, John Thune, Kelley Moore, Shelley Moore Capito, “ Sen, Capito, ” Capito’s, GOP Sen, Kevin Cramer of North, ” Cramer, John Cornyn, Cornyn Organizations: Washington CNN, GOP, Capitol, CNN, Republican, West Virginia Republican, Senate, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota Locations: Covington , Kentucky, Indiana, Kentucky, “

☆ McConnell’s frozen moment renews questions about America’s aged leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Also in the Senate, California’s Dianne Feinstein, 90, has been ill and displayed apparent cognitive decline in public in recent months. But given that Biden, McConnell and Feinstein are public officials, voters are entitled to a high level of transparency. Biden, for instance, would be 86 by the time his second term ends, which represents his biggest vulnerability in the 2024 election. Remarkably, in an age where major questions divide on party lines, 69% of Democrats shared that view. Should Biden, if he wins a second term, experience a similar moment to McConnell, questions about the continuity of US leadership would reverberate around the world and offer openings for US adversaries.

Persons: Mitch, “, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, California’s Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, –, Strom Thurmond, Robert Byrd of, Biden, McConnell, Jonathan Reiner, CNN’s Erica Hill, ”, Reiner, Trump, Karine Jean, Pierre, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Tapper, Jean, Nikki Haley, – Trump, Haley, Kamala Harris, Harris, ” Haley, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, they’ve, Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, CNN’s Manu Raju, John Thune, McConnell “, Jim Banks, CNN’s Raju, Sprightly Iowa GOP Sen, Chuck Grassley, who’s Organizations: CNN, Kentucky Republican, Senate, George Washington University, United States Senate, Associated Press, White, White House, Former South Carolina Gov, GOP, Republicans, Biden, Fox News, Democratic, Supreme, Labor, West Virginia Republican, Republican, prudential, Indiana, Sprightly Iowa GOP, California Democrat, Capitol Locations: Kentucky, South Carolina, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Rehoboth Beach , Delaware, Ukraine, Washington, Dakota, Sprightly Iowa, California, It’s

☆ McConnell Releases Letter Declaring Him ‘Medically Clear’ to Work After Episode
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Annie Karni | More About Annie Karni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

After Wednesday’s spell, a spokesman said Mr. McConnell planned to be examined by a doctor before continuing on to his next event, but no update was provided about a diagnosis. But the second public episode, which took place on Wednesday in Covington, Ky., increased the pressure on Mr. McConnell to offer some explanation of what was going on. It also prompted at least one call from the Republican establishment outside Congress for Mr. McConnell to give up his leadership post. Mr. McConnell’s latest medical incident came at the tail end of Congress’s long summer recess, a time when senators are traveling all over the world on official trips. Mr. McConnell spoke with members of his leadership team on Wednesday after the incident, and connected on the phone with President Biden on Thursday.

Persons: McConnell, “, ”, Biden, Jim Banks Organizations: Capitol, Major League Baseball, Republican, Mr, Review, Republicans, Kentucky, Senate Locations: Covington , Ky, Indiana

☆ McConnell Freezes Up a Second Time While Addressing Reporters
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Annie Karni | More About Annie Karni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the longtime Republican leader who suffered a serious head injury in a fall earlier this year, experienced another alarming freeze-up at a news conference on Wednesday in Covington, Ky., the second such episode caught on camera in recent weeks. Mr. McConnell, 81, was taking questions from reporters after an event hosted by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce when he was asked for his thoughts on running for re-election in 2026. Mr. McConnell, who appeared thinner and frailer than he has in recent months, began to answer the question with a slight chuckle when he abruptly stopped speaking, standing motionless behind a lectern with his mouth pursed and his eyes wide. When an aide approached to ask if he had heard the question, he mumbled “yes,” but he seemed unable to continue speaking or to move. It was the second such incident in two months, and the scene intensified questions about Mr. McConnell’s future in the Senate.

Persons: Mitch McConnell of, McConnell, McConnell’s Organizations: Republican, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Mr Locations: Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Covington , Ky

☆ Same old story with aging politicians
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The freeze is not an isolated incidentEarlier this year, McConnell could not hear reporters at a different news conference. Plus, McConnell is known to have fallen at least three times in the past year, according to CNN’s Manu Raju. His fall at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington led to a concussion and broken ribs that sidelined him for weeks. Nikki Haley got some early attention for her presidential campaign when she suggested a mental competency test for politicians over 75. The only other longer-serving senator is Sen. Charles Grassley, who is 89, and who won an eighth term last November.

Persons: it’s Mitch McConnell, McConnell, CNN’s Manu Raju, Raju, Feinstein, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Democratic Sen, Patty Murray, John Fetterman, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden’s, Biden, ’, Donald Trump, Haley, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Harry Enten, midterms, hasn’t, Charles Grassley, he’d, West Virginia Sen, Robert Byrd’s, Byrd Organizations: CNN, Republican, Senate, Hill, Reagan National Airport, Capitol, Feinstein Democrats, Democratic, Pennsylvania, Former South Carolina Gov, Republicans, Trump, Voters, Social Security, GOP, West Virginia Locations: convalesce, Finland, Washington, Kentucky, California, Former

Search resuls for: "McConnell’s"

25 mentions found