In late June, Senator Mitch McConnell had some kind of serious cardiac episode at his home in DC. Someone called 911, and he was eventually taken away in an ambulance. He’s been in the hospital ever since. Rumors are flying around MAGA world, Kentucky media, DC media and beyond. Nothing has been verified, but the independent journalist who broke the story about McConnell’s hospitalization claimed that her sources are saying that McConnell is “brain dead.” Which caused a real commotion, and now McConnell is apparently chatting up political allies from his hospital bed.
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell has been making phone calls from his hospital bed to Republican allies to dispel internet rumors that he’s “brain dead” after 911 dispatch calls revealed the 84-year-old was rushed off “unconscious” from his DC home in an ambulance last month.
The longest-serving Senate leader of either party reached out to his successor, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) as well as ex-adviser and current CNN contributor Scott Jennings following X posts from right-wing firebrand Laura Loomer about an alleged “cover up” of McConnell’s failing health.
“Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital,” a spokesperson for his office said in a statement. “The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”
McConnell’s Senate colleagues issued statements that the retiring Republican was alert — and chatty.
“Leader Thune spoke with Sen. McConnell yesterday by phone,” a spokesperson for the majority leader’s office said. “They had a lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security.”
“Senator Barrasso and Senator McConnell had a lengthy conversation early this afternoon. Their phone call lasted roughly 20 minutes,” a spokesperson for the Republican majority whip also said. “Senator McConnell was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate.”
Jennings added in an X Post that on Tuesday he also “talked for just shy of 20 minutes” with his former boss “about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR [Theodore Roosevelt] Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible.”
Republicans’ 53-47 majority wouldn’t be imperiled should he be unable to finish his term in January 2026, since Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear wouldn’t be able to choose a replacement candidate. Instead, a special election would take place.
Independent journalist Desireé Townsend was the first to uncover the EMS audio of McConnell being taken to George Washington University Hospital on June 14 — after he was found “unconscious” shortly before 9 a.m. Dispatchers on the audio discussed that there was “CPR in progress” for a “cardiac arrest” at McConnell’s residence and referenced medical personnel in an ALS, or Advanced Life Support, ambulance had been sent to the home.
Yeah, I don’t know what to tell you. Either McConnell is sitting up in a hospital bed, calling up colleagues and friends, or this is all some kind of Weekend-at-Bernie’s political mess in which McConnell’s staffers are “handling” all of this. One thing I know for sure is that McConnell’s wife Elaine Chao is not part of the Weekend-at-Bernie’s conspiracy, if there is one. Chao flew to China just days after her husband was taken to the hospital and when pressed about possibly returning to see her ailing husband, she told journalists that McConnell’s condition “did not warrant an immediate return to the US.” Cold as ice.
I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a…
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) July 7, 2026
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
-
- United States Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican of Kentucky) speaks to the media following the weekly Senate policy luncheon. McConnell stopped speaking in the middle of his opening remarks and was escorted away from the podium before returning to answer questions and saying, “I’m Fine” in the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. Featuring: Senator Mitch McConnell Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 26 Jul 2023 Credit: CNP/startraksphoto.com
-
- United States Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican of Kentucky) speaks to the media following the weekly Senate policy luncheon. McConnell stopped speaking in the middle of his opening remarks and was escorted away from the podium before returning to answer questions and saying, “I’m Fine” in the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. Featuring: Senator Mitch McConnell Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 26 Jul 2023 Credit: CNP/startraksphoto.com
-
- United States Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican of Kentucky) speaks to the media following the weekly Senate policy luncheon. McConnell stopped speaking in the middle of his opening remarks and was escorted away from the podium before returning to answer questions and saying, “I’m Fine” in the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. Featuring: Senator Mitch McConnell Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 26 Jul 2023 Credit: CNP/startraksphoto.com
-
- United States Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican of Kentucky) speaks to the media following the weekly Senate policy luncheon. McConnell stopped speaking in the middle of his opening remarks and was escorted away from the podium before returning to answer questions and saying, “I’m Fine” in the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. Featuring: Senator Mitch McConnell Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 26 Jul 2023 Credit: CNP/startraksphoto.com
-
- United States Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican of Kentucky) speaks to the media following the weekly Senate policy luncheon. McConnell stopped speaking in the middle of his opening remarks and was escorted away from the podium before returning to answer questions and saying, “I’m Fine” in the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. Featuring: Senator Mitch McConnell Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 26 Jul 2023 Credit: CNP/startraksphoto.com
“Trust me, bro”
👆👆👆👏👏👏🤣🤣🤣
No one bothered to record even a snippet from one of those calls as a proof of life. I guess they’re getting ready to AI him back to consciousness until the 3rd.
No way! My money is that he’s on life support and they are all a bunch of liars. What an awful end to a horrible man.
I hope it works out that the governor can apoint a person who can make good things happen by the deadline.
Co-sign all this.
What a complete lack of dignity all around. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
I’m going to make a 30 year old callback and wonder if Kevin Kline is up for one more political impersonation.
Sure Jan. No 84 yr old who’s been hospitalized for 3+weeks after a cardiac arrest is having 20 minute conversations with each of these lying snakes. Next they’ll claim that they visited him and played Twister and Spades. Oops, definitely not Spades. Hearts then.
Someone on CNN apparently asked Jennings to have Mitch call in to the network. At that point, Jennings glitched out and broke out in flop sweat. Demand proof of life atp.
Mr. Smith holds the phone up to my dog’s ear so I can tell him he’s a good boy when I’m away. Same idea with vegetable Mitch. Come on. If he can talk to people for 20 minutes, then let’s see it. I’m sure Gov Beshear can stop by.
I think the wife dashed off to China so the one person with power of attorney to unplug him is far far away. I’m sure she has a lot of other business to manage while she’s there.
LMAO
Can’t Chao exercise her power of attorney from any location? She doesn’t pull the plug herself.
Thomas Massie posted a hilarious mockery of the “I just talked to him, just me bro!” posts from the GOP in response to the requests for a proof of life. The theory is that they’ll continue the weekend-at-bernie’s bit with McConnell until some deadline for a special election in Kentucky passes to keep Massie from being able to run in it as an independent. Truly, this country is beyond parody at this point.
honestly it serves McConnell right that at the end of his life, no one gives a shit about anything other than the immediate political expedience in pulling the plug or not.
I don’t know why they’re so frightened of Massie. He just lost a primary to MAGA. Do they think Democrats would vote for him? That’s what would have to happen for him to win a statewide race. A coalition of lots of Dems and Indepenents to overwhelm MAGA. And Massie is not someone I, as a Democrat, would ever vote for.
There’s a credible rumour that Turtle is in a vegetative state and that they’re keeping him alive till the August 3 deadline *ahem* passes.
(Too bad Felon47 is still around…)
Even if there’s a special election, wouldn’t there still be a midterm election in Nov? I guess I’m asking what’s the difference? Just the cost of two elections vs one?
Never mind. I just went down a Reddit rabbit hole. This is confusing AF. I guess it would be less likely to create a constitutional crisis if they keep him on life support till Aug 3.
I saw a post that said Mitch reportedly said “To Blave….”. 🤣
For a while all of the jokes online (Weekend at Bernie’s memes, etc) felt disrespectful when someone may have passed but my anger at the Republicans having no limit to how low they will go now overrules any threshold I may have had for my schadenfreude.
His wife being in China screams loudest of all: if your partner were on the brink of death, would you be anywhere but at their side? Logically, he’s either fine and dandy — odds: 0 — or he’s brain dead.
That’s the wierdest part of this to me. Not that I ever thought this was a love match, but she has to know how bad that looks. And Mitch was already glitching and aphasic before he died, so we’re supposed to believe he’s Chatty Cathy now that he got resuscitated? NO.
The rumors have been that she’s a Chinese spie/his handler. Looks like the mission is over.
How can you tell the difference? I contend. He’s been brain dead for years. Not to mention he’s lived without a heart his entire time in the Senate.
Scott Jennings visited the TR Presidential Library too…so. like Trump, he probably also thought he was having a conversation with the real Teddy Roosevelt. Talking TO an AI hologram or a brain dead person does not mean you are talking WITH them.
If Mitch Mc Connell went on The View, the only one who could hear him would be Whoopi Goldberg. The man is dead. Technically on life support, but his brain is dead. The only people stupid enough to believe otherwise are Trump voters.
The Magat bar is in hell, but somehow they manage to sink it further. Shenanigans are at play… Some of the memes have been fantastic though.
Elaine Chao returned to the US yesterday. Prior to Thune and Jennings’ call to Mitch, Senator Mike Lee of Utah said (I paraphrase) no one had any communication with McConnell.
It’s interesting that one of McConnell’s daughters (he had children?) deleted her social media accounts.
Did she give any reason for her trip? If not…. I’m assuming it was to obtain instructions. Which is creepy AF. That’s actually the creepiest part of the entire situation.
“family’s philanthropic endeavors,” per her office, is the quote from Newsweek, and subsequently referenced in today’s Guardian article regarding McConnell.
Mitch McConnell has been brain dead for a very long time. And I wouldn’t believe Scott Jennings if he told me the sun rises in the east.
It’s a fitting end for such an odious and evil man that clearly no one loves him or cares about him one bit. Not even his kids and certainly not his wife / handler.
ER doctor here. Not a chance he’s sitting up in bed taking calls. IF he’s actually “recovering” he’s likely in pretty bad shape and certainly not physically or mentally fit enough to carry on one 20 minute conversation, let alone multiple. if he was indeed capable his family or staff would have released some “proof of life” photo or statement.
Based on my experience I’d say that the most likely scenario is that he remains comatose, whether induced or otherwise, on life support until the deadline of Augusr 3 passes (the last day allowed for a special election to fill his seat). His already frail state combined with an out of hospital cardiac arrest puts his survival odds at less than 5%, and his likelihood of any meaningful recovery much lower.
What’s your medical opinion on how long a very elderly raving lunatic in severe cognitive decline can live?
Thank you for the explanation as an expert in the field. This is playing out how incompetent, but embiggened white men would intentionally plot a medical drama involving an elderly person and not how a real cardiac emergency with an 84 year old would play out. The redhats want to avoid any possibility of Massey getting the seat in a special election or the KY governor appointing anyone. They are spinning, spinning, spinning based on half assed knowledge from the internet and TV. The realities of CPR and life support are far different than the miraculous outcomes that we have seen on tv. Statistics don’t lie. Magat white men dependent on the tangerine terror to stay out of prison lie constantly.
Is anyone able to explain the significance of the Aug 3rd date. If they announce his death before that I understand that a special election will be called but what happens if it’s announced after that? Is Kentucky just down one senator until the mid term election?