CNN ran with a quote from a parody account during a segment about Republicans who say they have spoken with ailing former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) during his recent hospitalization.
Host Audie Cornish introduced the segment, which came as speculation continues to swirl about McConnell’s health. Cornish noted that several prominent Republicans had spoken up in recent days to say that McConnell was still recovering but doing well.
“You have a lot of Senate Republicans coming out, we’re going to show some onscreen, all saying, ‘I talked to him,’ ‘I talked to him,’ ‘I talked to him for 20 minutes,’ ‘I talked to him for 45 minutes,'” she said. “We’re hearing these pundits talk not just about his potential health, but what they think the issue is: a special election deadline.”
WATCH:
OOPS: CNN This Morning cites parody account of fake congressman @RepJackKimble on list of quotes about Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health. pic.twitter.com/GBXJ37bkoe
— Nick (@nspin310) July 8, 2026
But as Cornish spoke, the posts on the screen were from former McConnell adviser and CNN commentator Scott Jennings, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Majority Whip John Barrasso. A fourth post, attributed to “Rep. Jack Kimble,” was found to be a parody account.
The quote that appeared on the screen read, “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 45 minutes.”
But the full quote posted by the parody account took the joke a bit further: “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 45 minutes. He’s so sharp. Just like always he let me do all of the talking. He’s a great listener. After that we prayed silently for awhile and had a staring contest. Just like always, he beat me. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible.”
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 45 minutes. He’s so sharp. Just like always he let me do all of the talking. He’s a great listener. After that we prayed…
— Rep. Jack Kimble (@RepJackKimble) July 7, 2026
Other posts from Kimble’s account might have given it away as a parody as well.
July 6: “Donald Trump had no choice but to get Balogun reinstated. He’s a birthright citizen and The Supreme Court just ruled we can’t take away their citizenship or give them red cards. Blame the liberal judges.”
June 30: “The Supreme Court is just a regular court with sour cream.”
Kimble’s X bio should also have given CNN a clue, as it claims that he represents California’s 54th Congressional District. The state of California only has 52 Congressional Districts.
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