<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) said Democrats appear to be espousing &#8220;cynical, short-sided politics&#8221; in a feud over addressing the southern <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/border-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">border crisis</a>.
In Senate floor remarks on Monday, McConnell delivered a retort of sorts to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> Majority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chuck-schumer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chuck Schumer</a> (D-NY) after the New York Democrat issued a warning to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-johnson-israel-ukraine-immigration-gop-agenda-e4054f12f83cfaa09044aa3d087396a8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republicans</a> who hope to link national security funds to U.S. border security reforms.
&#8220;Unfortunately, Senate Democrats have already suggested they want to condition urgent resources for one of our top security priorities on not addressing another one,&#8221; <a href="https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=3F6F54EC-DE8D-45CF-A37E-18C8C674E862" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McConnell said</a>. &#8220;Apparently, our colleagues are considering putting support for Israel on the chopping block unless we promise not to fix the border crisis they helped create.&#8221;
McConnell added that &#8220;this sort of cynical, short-sighted politics has denied the American people real border security too many times&#8221; and emphasized that he believes the &#8220;challenges facing America are connected. And the time to address them — each of them — is now.&#8221;
After rejecting a House bill to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-gop-proposes-israel-aid-offset-by-irs-budget-cuts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offset $14.3 billion</a> in aid for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel</a> in its war with Hamas by slashing the same amount of funds meant for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/internal-revenue-service-irs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Internal Revenue Service (IRS)</a>, Schumer <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/dear_colleague_112623.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Sunday that he aims to have the Senate consider President Joe Biden&#8217;s request for <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/whats-bidens-106-billion-supplemental-funding-request-2023-10-20/#:~:text=Oct%2020(Reuters)%20%2D%20U.S.,Indo%2DPacific%20and%20border%20enforcement." target="_blank" rel="noopener">roughly $106 billion</a> in <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/20/fact-sheet-white-house-calls-on-congress-to-advance-critical-national-security-priorities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">funds for Israel, Ukraine</a>, Taiwan, border security, and more &#8220;as soon as the week of December 4th.&#8221;
The &#8220;biggest holdup&#8221; to the supplemental national security package, Schumer argued, is the &#8220;insistence&#8221; by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-johnson-israel-ukraine-immigration-gop-agenda-e4054f12f83cfaa09044aa3d087396a8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republicans</a> to link aid to Ukraine, which is fighting against Russian invaders, to &#8220;partisan&#8221; U.S. border security policy.
&#8220;This has injected a decades old, hyper-partisan issue into overwhelmingly bipartisan priorities,&#8221; Schumer said. &#8220;Democrats stand ready to work on common-sense solutions to address immigration, but purely partisan hard-right demands, like those in H.R. 2, jeopardize the entire national security supplemental package.&#8221;
In the House, Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) has signaled openness to funding national security concerns raised by the Biden administration, including <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mccarthy-denies-zelensky-opportunity-to-address-joint-session-of-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more money</a> for the Ukraine defense effort, as long as <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4329407-speaker-johnson-says-hes-confident-ukraine-israel-aid-will-pass-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">border security is also addressed</a>.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/releases/senate-republicans-unveil-solutions-for-southern-border-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have said</a> they are drawing elements from H.R. 2, which the GOP-led House <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/dear_colleague_112623.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed earlier this year</a>, to develop a proposal that includes bumping up pay for border agents, resuming <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/senate_republican_working_group_one_pager.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">construction of a border wall</a>, asylum reform, and parole reform.
McConnell thanked his GOP colleagues for their efforts and touted how Senate Republicans &#8220;have been laser-focused on actually fixing our broken asylum process, not just pouring more money into a system that’s simply not working.&#8221;
&#8220;Our Democratic colleagues would do well to take these efforts seriously,&#8221; McConnell said. “The bottom line is simple: We don’t have the luxury of addressing glaring threats to our national security one at a time. Crises don’t solve themselves just because Washington can’t muster the political will to address them.&#8221;

Mitch McConnell

McConnell Rips Dems For Refusal To Link ‘Real Border Security’ To Other Challenges

McConnell Rips Dems For Refusal To Link 'Real Border Security' To Other Challenges

Border Crisis

Chuck Schumer

Congress

National Security

Politics

U.S.

U.S. Senate

Threats to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United States</a> are &#8220;intertwined&#8221; and should not be ignored, Senate Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) said on Tuesday, calling for Washington to rally behind allies such as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel</a> and Ukraine as lawmakers consider the Biden administration&#8217;s latest request to bolster them financially.
The top Republican <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?531496-1/senate-session&amp;vod&amp;start=1582" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke on the Senate floor</a> about how U.S. adversaries Iran, Russia, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China</a> &#8220;share interests,&#8221; which can be seen from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine-russia-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine</a> to Iran&#8217;s support of groups that wreak havoc on Israel.
&#8220;They see themselves in conflict with the West and especially with America,&#8221; McConnell said. &#8220;Russia would love to see Iranian-backed terrorists in the Middle East weaken America and our allies. Iran would love to see a Russian victory against Ukraine that divides the West and deepens its own defense cooperation with Moscow. And China for its part would love to see America&#8217;s resolve to stand with European and Israeli allies and reestablish actual deterrence against Russia and Iran crumble.&#8221;
He added, &#8220;So at the risk of repeating myself, the threats facing America and our allies are serious and they&#8217;re intertwined. If we ignore that fact, we do so at our own peril.&#8221; The Kentucky Republican also urged his Democrat colleagues &#8220;to show some common sense by working with Republicans to stop the border crisis, rebuild American military strength, and stand with our friends in Ukraine, Israel, and Asia.&#8221;
Congress is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/leftists-disrupt-blinken-during-hearing-on-aid-for-israel-ukraine-border" target="_blank" rel="noopener">currently grappling with</a> President Joe Biden&#8217;s request for roughly <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/us/politics/bidens-funds-israel-ukraine.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$106 billion</a>, including $14.3 billion for Israel — which is fighting Iran-backed Hamas following its deadly terrorist attacks on Israeli soil earlier this month — $61.4 billion for Ukraine, as well as money for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific, humanitarian assistance, and border security.
In the Senate, which is narrowly controlled by Democrats, <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/10/24/congress/bidens-big-bill-in-trouble-ukraine-israel-border-00123292" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talks have gotten underway</a> about whether to link Israel aid to more financial support for Ukraine. At least a few Republicans are needed to reach the 60 votes needed to clear the filibuster. While some GOP senators favor individual packages, others have signaled they are willing to consider Biden&#8217;s request with concessions, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-republicans-seek-concessions-bidens-106-billion-request/story?id=104259837" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to ABC News</a>. The U.S. has already designated <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mccarthy-denies-zelensky-opportunity-to-address-joint-session-of-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than $100 billion</a> in aid to Ukraine as it fights Russia and there is <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-republican-opposition-ukraine-aid-grows-threatening-funds-war-ra-rcna117406" target="_blank" rel="noopener">growing GOP opposition</a> to allocating more funds to the cause.
House Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-gop-proposes-israel-aid-offset-by-irs-budget-cuts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> a plan on Monday to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel while rescinding the same amount of funds allocated to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/internal-revenue-service-irs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Internal Revenue Service (IRS)</a>. House Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) told Fox News that he hoped for bipartisan support for the measure, but acknowledged that the proposal was a <a href="https://twitter.com/kayleighmcenany/status/1719077935238222161" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;first draft.&#8221;</a> He also said the United States is &#8220;not just going to print money and send it overseas.&#8221;
A statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre suggested the House GOP proposal was a &#8220;nonstarter,&#8221; adding that &#8220;demanding offsets for meeting core national security needs of the United States — like supporting Israel and defending Ukraine from atrocities and Russian imperialism — would be a break with the normal, bipartisan process and could have devastating implications for our safety and alliances in the years ahead.&#8221;
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In remarks on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said he was &#8220;deeply troubled&#8221; by the House Republicans&#8217; &#8220;partisan&#8221; legislation not having funds for Ukraine, humanitarian assistance for Gaza, and the Indo-Pacific. Schumer also said the House GOP plan contained <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1719361623612113379" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;poison pills&#8221;</a> that benefit the wealthy &#8220;tax cheats&#8221; and would increase the deficit.

McConnell Warns Of ‘Intertwined’ Threats Amid Debate Over Israel And Ukraine Aid

McConnell Warns Of 'Intertwined' Threats Amid Debate Over Israel And Ukraine Aid

China

Iran

Israel

Russia

Ukraine

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said during an interview over the weekend that he has &#8220;completely recovered&#8221; from some health issues that he recently experienced.
McConnell made the remarks during a Sunday interview with CBS News&#8217;s Margaret Brennan on &#8220;Face The Nation,&#8221; which primarily focused on foreign policy issues involving wars overseas.
&#8220;People wonder about your health, how are you feeling?&#8221; Brennan asked. &#8220;How are you doing?&#8221;
The questions came after McConnell fell a couple of times earlier this year, hitting his head during one fall. In subsequent incidents, McConnell froze up while speaking to the media after becoming dehydrated and lightheaded.
&#8220;I&#8217;m fine. I&#8217;m completely recovered, and I&#8217;m just fine,&#8221; he answered.
&#8220;You and your office felt the need to share and disclose some of the details about your health because of some of these public incidents,&#8221; Brennan responded. &#8220;And the doctor here said there was no evidence of Parkinson&#8217;s disease or a stroke or a seizure.&#8221;
&#8220;And I wonder, is there anything the public should know that wasn&#8217;t disclosed?&#8221; she asked.
McConnell answered, &#8220;I&#8217;m in good shape, completely recovered and back on the job.&#8221;
Brennan continued to press on the matter, asking, &#8220;Does that mean that you think you are able to continue serving, and you want to continue serving here at a time when we are talking about incredible dysfunction in Washington?&#8221;
&#8220;I think we ought to be talking about what we were talking about earlier, rather than my health,&#8221; McConnell said.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
After <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderMcConnell</a> had health episodes in public following a concussion, <a href="https://twitter.com/margbrennan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@margbrennan</a> asks if there&#39;s anything about his health &quot;the public should know that wasn&#39;t disclosed.&quot;
&quot;I&#39;m in good shape, completely recovered and back on the job,&quot; McConnell says. <a href="https://t.co/Coi528ssxi">pic.twitter.com/Coi528ssxi</a>
&mdash; Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1716110623866499571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Senators Meet For Policy Luncheons On Capitol Hill

Senator McConnell Fires Back At CBS News Host For Peppering Him With Health Questions

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tom-cotton-says-federal-law-requires-dhs-to-deport-foreign-nationals-who-expressed-support-for-hamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Cotton</a> (R-AR), who works closely with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said Friday that President Joe Biden’s request for $105 billion in foreign aid doesn’t stand a chance to pass the Senate in its current form.
Biden announced the foreign aid package that sends $60 billion to Ukraine and includes $3.5 billion for Gaza during his address to the nation on Thursday. The president touted the package as vital support for Israel as well, but the majority of the funds would go to Ukraine. While Ukraine would receive $60 billion under the aid package, Israel would be sent $14 billion for “sharpen[ing] Israel’s military edge,” to replenish its Iron Dome, and to send a message to Iran that the U.S. stands with Israel, Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-addresses-nation-in-oval-office-speech-about-wars-in-ukraine-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. 
“President Biden’s slush fund proposal is dead on arrival, just like his budgets. We will not spend, for example, $3.5 billion to address the ‘potential needs of Gazans,’ essentially functioning as a resupply line for Hamas terrorists,” Cotton said in a <a href="https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-biden-supplemental-spending-proposal-is-dead-on-arrival" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. 
“We will also not spend $11.8 billion to fund the Ukrainian government’s own non-war spending, such as funding retirement pensions for Ukrainian government employees,” the senator added. “Nor will we spend $4.7 billion for housing, transportation, and ‘services’ for illegal aliens in the United States rather than deporting them.” 
Biden sent his $105 billion request to Congress Friday hours after his Oval Office address. As the House continues to search for a speaker after Republicans’ failed attempts to elect Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Senate Democrats will quickly move to pass Biden’s budget request. 
“This legislation is too important to wait for the House to settle their chaos,” he said. “Senate Democrats will move expeditiously on this request, and we hope that our Republican colleagues across the aisle will join us to pass this much-needed funding.” 
McConnell (R-KY) signaled his support for the aide package but <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4267710-mcconnell-urges-action-spending-israel-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the Senate “must produce our own supplemental legislation that meets the demonstrated needs of our national security.” He encouraged his colleagues to work quickly as &#8220;a number of serious challenges to the U.S. national security require the Senate’s urgent attention.&#8221; 
Another Republican senator, John Cornyn of Texas, expressed that he supports aid to Ukraine and Israel, but added that “without meaningful and substantive policy changes that will address the #BidenBorderCrisis such aid is in serious jeopardy.” Meanwhile, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) said the funding request from Biden will provide the administration with “more money to fuel its disastrous open-borders resettlement operation” and “worsen the border crisis.” 
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In his statement, Cotton promised that Biden’s proposal would be blocked, and Republicans would get to work crafting a better bill. 
“The Biden proposal is going nowhere, and Senate Republicans will take the lead on crafting a funding bill that protects Americans and their interests,” he said.

Sen. Tom Cotton

Tom Cotton Says Biden’s $100B Request That Includes Aid For Gaza Is ‘Dead On Arrival’

Biden Administration

Gaza

Hamas

Joe Biden

Senate

Tom Cotton

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) voiced support on Wednesday for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> to get rid of the mechanism by which Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-CA) was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mccarthy-ousted-from-speakership-after-democrats-side-with-matt-gaetz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removed</a> as speaker.
The Kentucky Republican described the &#8220;motion to vacate&#8221; as being unproductive after a handful of Republicans joined with Democrats to oust McCarthy from his leadership role on Tuesday.
&#8220;I hope whoever the next speaker is gets rid of the motion to vacate. I think it makes the speaker&#8217;s job impossible, and the American people expect us to have a functioning government,&#8221; McConnell told reporters.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
“I hope whoever the next Speaker is gets rid of the motion to vacate. I think it makes the Speaker&#39;s job impossible, and the American people expect us to have a functioning government.”
— Sen. Min. Leader McConnell&#39;s one piece of advice to House Republicans on Speaker vote <a href="https://t.co/pWXrVgwTry">pic.twitter.com/pWXrVgwTry</a>
&mdash; The Recount (@therecount) <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1709642657713000480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
At least one House Republican, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), fired back at McConnell.
&#8220;Someone let [McConnell] know (or his comms director since that’s who is writing his tweets) we don’t take orders from the Senate and he should stay in his lane,&#8221; she <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLuna/status/1709643320513728547" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X.
Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/matt-gaetz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Gaetz</a> (R-FL) filed a &#8220;motion to vacate the chair&#8221; this week after the GOP-controlled House passed a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown. Gaetz and seven other Republicans then voted with Democrats to remove McCarthy as speaker, citing frustrations with his leadership.
Lawmakers had <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/motion-vacate-key-sticking-point-gop-speaker-battle/story?id=96241364" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changed the rule</a> in 2019, as Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) began her second stint as speaker, to do away with a one-member threshold in favor of requiring <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mccarthy-motion-to-vacate-rule-speaker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a majority</a> of either party to bring a motion to vacate to the House floor after Republicans <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/03/what-is-motion-to-vacate-speaker-mccarthy-explainer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filed one</a> against then-House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) in 2015 before he eventually stepped down.
But the House rules package <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/motion-vacate-key-sticking-point-gop-speaker-battle/story?id=96241364" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> for this session of Congress, agreed upon in negotiations that originally secured McCarthy the speaker&#8217;s gavel after 15 rounds of voting in January, restored the ability of a single member to trigger the process that could lead to a no-confidence vote in the speaker.
McConnell released a <a href="https://www.republicanleader.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/mcconnell-statement-on-speaker-kevin-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Tuesday night praising McCarthy and thanking the California Republican for his service as speaker.
&#8220;I am particularly grateful to the Speaker for our close working partnership. As Congressional Republicans continue the essential work begun during his tenure, Speaker McCarthy’s unapologetic patriotism and unshakeable optimism will remain a valuable guide,&#8221; McConnell said, in part.
Candidates <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jim-jordan-enters-race-for-house-speaker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are now stepping up</a> to enter the race to become the next House speaker, a role which is currently being held in a temporary capacity by Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC). A simple majority will be needed to secure victory.
So far, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) have announced candidacies.
There has also been some chatter about former President Donald Trump taking on the role, as the Constitution <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/29/opinion/kevin-mccarthy-house-speaker-vote.html">does not require</a> a speaker to be a sitting member of the House, even while Trump is running a 2024 campaign for a second term in the White House.
While Democrats are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-democrat-floats-potential-candidates-for-speaker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">likely to rally</a> behind someone such as Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for speaker, one House Republican said he would not support any candidate until there is a commitment to reform the motion to vacate.
&#8220;The coup against Speaker McCarthy was DESPICABLE &amp; must never happen again. No one can govern effectively while being threatened by fringe hostage takers,&#8221; Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepCarlos/status/1709611565169725641" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X.
Gaetz <a href="https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1709642137480937490">responded with a post</a> that said, &#8220;So the way moderates want to punish me is by making it harder to remove Speaker Jordan or Speaker Scalise? OH NO! ANYTHING BUT THAT!!!!&#8221;

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

McConnell Advises Next House Speaker To Get Rid Of Motion To Vacate

Kevin McCarthy

Matt Gaetz

U.S. House of Representatives

Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of &#8220;The Breakfast Club,&#8221; praised Republican presidential candidate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nikki-haley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nikki Haley</a> for pushing for age limits and mental competency tests for elected officials.
Haley&#8217;s push for age limits and mental competency tests comes after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) had another episode last week where he froze in front of cameras while speaking to reporters.
During a Sunday interview on CBS News&#8217; &#8220;Face The Nation,&#8221; Haley <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nikki-haley-floats-having-mental-competency-tests-for-the-entire-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>: “I think there should be mental competency tests. And I don’t care if they’re for everybody 50 and older. I don’t care if they’re for the entire Congress.”
Haley also said, “They should also give a notice from the doctor that tells about their mental capacity.”
Charlamagne praised Haley on Tuesday for her position on the issue, saying: “Nikki is absolutely right. She ain’t say one damn thing wrong.”
“I’ll stop her when she stops telling the truth,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;We need term limits. And, you know, if you are going to stay in, you definitely need mental competency tests over the age of whatever.&#8221;
Co-host Tezlyn Figaro was also impressed by Haley, saying: “I like Nikki Haley. I like the fact that she made sure she included Democrats and Republicans in, you know, in her comments so that it was even across the board. And I just think she’s a smart lady and she’s also going up in the polls as well on the Republican side.”
“And we wouldn’t be having these conversations if there wasn&#8217;t an obvious cognitive decline,&#8221; Charlamagne added. &#8220;Folks aren’t just saying this because these people are older. It’s because it’s obvious something is wrong.&#8221;
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WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Charlamagne praises Nikki Haley pushing for age limits in politics
READ: <a href="https://t.co/5OfTk0H5dc">https://t.co/5OfTk0H5dc</a> <a href="https://t.co/OU0AGALWh8">pic.twitter.com/OU0AGALWh8</a>
&mdash; Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) <a href="https://twitter.com/dcexaminer/status/1699059783981297673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

2023 Black Effect Podcast Festival

Charlamagne Tha God Praises Nikki Haley’s Push For Mental Competency Tests, Age Limits For Elected Officials

Charlamagne Tha God Praises Nikki Haley's Push For Mental Competency Tests, Age Limits For Elected Officials

2024 Election

Charlamagne Tha God

Dianne Feinstein

Elections

Nikki Haley

Senate Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) announced on Wednesday that he intends to stay in office for the remainder of his term after the lawmaker&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-appears-to-freeze-again-during-presser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second freeze-up</a> last week.
The 81-year-old lawmaker, standing before a group of his GOP colleagues on Capitol Hill, brushed off a reporter who asked him to respond to people who are calling on him to step down and whether he had plans to retire.
&#8220;I have no announcements to make on that subject,&#8221; McConnell said with a chuckle. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to finish my term as leader. And I&#8217;m going to finish my Senate term,&#8221; he added, cutting off a follow-up question, before walking away.
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&quot;I&#39;m going to finish my term as leader. And I&#39;m going to finish my Senate term.&quot;
&#8212; Mitch McConnell <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderMcConnell</a> <a href="https://t.co/WI5tLZUPcT">pic.twitter.com/WI5tLZUPcT</a>
&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1699500084713418901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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McConnell, whose current term ends in January 2027, was briefly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-discharged-from-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hospitalized</a> with a concussion in March after falling at a hotel in Washington, D.C.
Over the past several weeks, he appeared to momentarily freeze and struggle to answer questions while speaking to the press, first last month on Capitol Hill and then last week during an event in Kentucky.
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BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Mitch McConnell appearing to have another scary episode in the media gaggle in Covington today. Aides had to step in to help him out and repeat questions. He was eventually lead away. We&#39;ll have the full video on <a href="https://twitter.com/WLWT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLWT</a> <a href="https://t.co/q9ex5MHxLV">pic.twitter.com/q9ex5MHxLV</a>
&mdash; Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) <a href="https://twitter.com/HannahPThomas/status/1696936240040321474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The leader&#8217;s office has released two notes from Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of the U.S. Congress, over the past several days.
In the first memo, Monahan said he evaluated McConnell&#8217;s most recent incident and informed the leader that he was &#8220;medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned.&#8221; Monahan also noted that occasional &#8220;lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/capitol-physician-says-no-evidence-of-mcconnell-having-stroke-or-seizure-disorder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The second memo</a>, this one released on Tuesday as the Senate returned from its summer recess, offered a more detailed explanation.
&#8220;My examination of you following your August 30, 2023 brief episode included several medical evaluations: brain MRI imaging, EEG study and consultations with several neurologists for a comprehensive neurology assessment,&#8221; Monahan said.
&#8220;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,&#8221; the physician added. &#8220;There are no changes recommended in treatment protocols as you continue recovery from your March 2023 fall.&#8221;
Despite the notes, there has been a torrent of speculation about <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/health/mitch-mcconnell-health-seizures.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McConnell’s condition</a> and <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/02/who-replaces-mitch-mcconnell/70730662007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">future in Congress.</a>
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6336695710112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emerged</a> from a closed-door lunch meeting on Wednesday and told Fox News that the minority leader explained to his GOP colleagues that he has been given a &#8220;clean bill of health&#8221; by medical experts.
The &#8220;only person in the Milky Way who can make Mitch McConnell step down is Mitch McConnell,&#8221; the senator added.

McConnell Says He Will Finish Senate Term After Freeze-Up Scares

Health

John Kennedy

Senate Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) does not appear to have endured a stroke or have a seizure disorder, the attending physician of the U.S. Congress said in a new update on Tuesday after the lawmaker&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-appears-to-freeze-again-during-presser">second freeze-up</a> last week.
&#8220;My examination of you following your August 30, 2023 brief episode included several medical evaluations: brain MRI imaging, EEG study and consultations with several neurologists for a comprehensive neurology assessment,&#8221; Dr. Brian Monahan said in a note released by McConnell&#8217;s office.
&#8220;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,&#8221; the physician added. &#8220;There are no changes recommended in treatment protocols as you continue recovery from your March 2023 fall.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Mitch McConnell appearing to have another scary episode in the media gaggle in Covington today. Aides had to step in to help him out and repeat questions. He was eventually lead away. We&#39;ll have the full video on <a href="https://twitter.com/WLWT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLWT</a> <a href="https://t.co/q9ex5MHxLV">pic.twitter.com/q9ex5MHxLV</a>
&mdash; Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) <a href="https://twitter.com/HannahPThomas/status/1696936240040321474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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McConnell, 81, was briefly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-discharged-from-hospital">hospitalized</a> with a concussion in March after falling at a hotel in Washington, D.C.
Over the past several weeks, he appeared to momentarily freeze and struggle to answer questions while speaking to the press, first last month on Capitol Hill and then last week during an event in Kentucky.
In a note released on Thursday, Monahan announced that he assessed the most recent incident and determined that McConnell was clear to continue working.
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&#8220;I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team. After evaluating yesterday’s incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned,&#8221; Monahan said in his note last week.
&#8220;Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration,&#8221; the physician added.
McConnell is part of a cadre of older politicians at or over the age of 80 who have drawn health concerns and pressure to retire, including President Joe Biden and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). He is up for re-election in 2026.
Amid a torrent of speculation about <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/health/mitch-mcconnell-health-seizures.html">McConnell’s condition</a> and <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/02/who-replaces-mitch-mcconnell/70730662007/">future in Congress</a>, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-senator-provides-update-on-mcconnell-after-second-freeze-up">told CNN on Sunday</a> that the minority leader would return to Washington, D.C., and discuss the matter with his colleagues after the summer recess.
“Mitch is sharp, and he is shrewd. He understands what needs to be done. I will leave it up to him as to how he wants to discuss that with the American public,” Rounds said, adding, &#8220;But there’s no doubt in my mind that he is perfectly capable of continuing on at this stage of the game.&#8221;

Capitol Physician Says No Evidence Of McConnell Having Stroke Or Seizure Disorder

Kentucky

Governor Andy Beshear (D-KY) has so far not committed to replacing Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) with another Republican, should the Senate Minority Leader&#8217;s health become a persistent problem.
Beshear <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/09/03/andy-beshear-noncommittal-about-replacing-mitch-mcconnell-with-goper/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">evaded the question</a> about a possible Senate vacancy — pointing out the fact that McConnell has given no indication he intends to retire before the end of his current term — during a Thursday press conference.
&#8220;There is no Senate vacancy. Senator McConnell has said he’s going to serve out his term, and I believe him, so I’m not going to speculate about something that hasn’t happened and isn’t going to happen,&#8221; Beshear said.
The governor&#8217;s comments come amid speculation about <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-senator-provides-update-on-mcconnell-after-second-freeze-up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McConnell&#8217;s health</a> and calls for his resignation after he froze up on camera on at least two instances. But McConnell, who recently suffered a concussion as the result of a fall, has said that he has simply experienced a few brief moments of light-headedness.
&#8220;He was in good shape,&#8221; Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.C.) said. &#8220;He was direct. He said he fell. He said, &#8216;I had that concussion.&#8217; And he said, &#8216;They warned me that I would be lightheaded in the future and that I have got to be aware of it.&#8217; He said, ‘It happened twice.’ He said, ‘It just so happens I’m doing it in front of reporters.&#8217; But he felt good yesterday. He said he’s got to watch his hydration levels.&#8221;
But should McConnell choose to vacate his seat, Beshear is bound by a <a href="https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/21RS/sb228/bill.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 law</a> to replace him with a member of his own party — a law that was passed over Beshear&#8217;s protests and his veto.
Beshear&#8217;s complaint was that the law, which also lays out the procedure for special elections, was unconstitutional.
&#8220;The bill therefore upends a century of precedent by delegating the power to select the representative of all Kentuckians to an unelected, unaccountable committee of an organization that represents only a fraction of Kentuckians,&#8221; he said.

President Biden Welcomes Governors From Across The Nation To The White House

Kentucky’s Democratic Governor Won’t Commit To Replacing McConnell With A Republican

Kentucky's Democrat Governor Won't Commit To Replacing McConnell With A Republican

Andy Beshear

Democrat

Republican

Senate Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) is &#8220;perfectly capable&#8221; of continuing to serve after appearing to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-appears-to-freeze-again-during-presser">freeze up</a> for the second time in a month, a GOP colleague said on Sunday.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) told CNN&#8217;s Dana Bash that he spoke with McConnell on Saturday and informed the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kentucky">Kentucky</a> Republican that he wanted to touch base before doing the interview.
&#8220;He was in good shape,&#8221; Rounds said. &#8220;He was direct. He said he fell. He said, &#8216;I had that concussion.&#8217; And he said, &#8216;They warned me that I would be lightheaded in the future and that I have got to be aware of it.'&#8221;
Rounds added: &#8220;He said, &#8216;It happened twice.&#8217; He said, &#8216;It just so happens I&#8217;m doing it in front of reporters.&#8217; But he felt good yesterday. He said he&#8217;s got to watch his hydration levels.&#8221;
CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/politics/mitch-mcconnell-multiple-falls-this-year/index.html">reported</a> that McConnell, 81, had fallen multiple times this year and sustained a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-returns-home-after-treatment-for-fall-concussion">concussion</a>. The report came out in late July after McConnell appeared momentarily <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-freezes-up-during-press-conference-trolls-biden-after-returning">unable</a> to respond to questions during a press conference on Capitol Hill.
Following a second incident last week — this one in Kentucky when McConnell paused for about thirty seconds when asked about his thoughts on <a href="https://www.senate.gov/senators/Class_II.htm">running for re-election in 2026</a> — the attending physician of the U.S. Congress released a brief note.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Mitch McConnell appearing to have another scary episode in the media gaggle in Covington today. Aides had to step in to help him out and repeat questions. He was eventually lead away. We&#39;ll have the full video on <a href="https://twitter.com/WLWT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLWT</a> <a href="https://t.co/q9ex5MHxLV">pic.twitter.com/q9ex5MHxLV</a>
&mdash; Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) <a href="https://twitter.com/HannahPThomas/status/1696936240040321474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team. After evaluating (Wednesday&#8217;s) incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned,&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/physician-releases-mcconnell-evaluation-after-second-freeze-up-scare">said</a> Dr. Brian Monahan. &#8220;Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration.&#8221;
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Amid a renewed torrent of speculation about McConnell&#8217;s future and who might take his place as GOP leader in the Senate, Rounds insisted that McConnell would come back to Washington, D.C., and discuss the matter with his colleagues after the summer recess, during which the Kentucky Republican has been fundraising.
“Mitch is sharp, and he is shrewd. He understands what needs to be done. I will leave it up to him as to how he wants to discuss that with the American public,&#8221; Rounds said.
&#8220;But there&#8217;s no doubt in my mind that he is perfectly capable of continuing on at this stage of the game,&#8221; Rounds added. &#8220;And he&#8217;s got a good team around him. He&#8217;s done a good job of developing that leadership team. They have been supportive of him. During the time in which he was out of the center for a while, the team did a great job. My seatmate, John Thune here in South Dakota, picked up the reins and worked it well. And he had a great team around him as well. So I&#8217;m not worried about that at all. We have got a good team in place, and Mitch is there, and I think Mitch will be able to answer any questions that may come up.”

GOP Senator Provides Update On McConnell After Second Freeze-Up

Republicans

Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley raised the alarm over the aging U.S. Senate, calling it “the most privileged nursing home in the country.”
Haley’s comments on the Senate came during a Thursday <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nikki-haley-calls-senate-most-privileged-nursing-home-country-mcconnell-freeze-sad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Fox News, one day after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) froze for nearly 30 seconds during a press conference. McConnell’s freeze on Wednesday was the second time in the last month the GOP leader has had a health episode while speaking in front of the press. 
Haley praised McConnell’s leadership, saying he has “done some great things,” but added, “you have to know when to leave.” 
“No one should feel good about seeing that, any more than we should feel good about seeing [California Democratic Sen.] Dianne Feinstein, any more than we should feel good about a lot of what’s happening or seeing [President] Joe Biden’s decline,” Haley <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4182440-haley-the-senate-is-the-most-privileged-nursing-home-in-the-country/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “What I will say is, right now, the Senate is the most privileged nursing home in the country.”
The 51-year-old presidential candidate said she supports mental competency tests for politicians who are 75 years old and above, and said she &#8220;wouldn’t care if they did them over the age of 50.”
“[T]hese are people making decisions on our national security. They’re making decisions on our economy, on the border,” Haley said. “We need to know they’re at the top of their game.&#8221;
A video clip posted to X from NBC affiliate WLWT on Wednesday <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-appears-to-freeze-again-during-presser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">showed</a> the 81-year-old McConnell struggling to respond to a question about his thoughts on running for re-election in 2026.
“That’s uh…” he began to say in response before going silent for a few moments. A woman rushed to McConnell’s side and asked if he heard the question.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Mitch McConnell appearing to have another scary episode in the media gaggle in Covington today. Aides had to step in to help him out and repeat questions. He was eventually lead away. We&#39;ll have the full video on <a href="https://twitter.com/WLWT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLWT</a> <a href="https://t.co/q9ex5MHxLV">pic.twitter.com/q9ex5MHxLV</a>
&mdash; Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) <a href="https://twitter.com/HannahPThomas/status/1696936240040321474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The Republican leader was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/physician-releases-mcconnell-evaluation-after-second-freeze-up-scare" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cleared</a> by a doctor to continue working the next day. The physician said, “Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration.” 
McConnell sustained a concussion after a fall earlier this year, and reports came out after the top Republican’s news conference freeze in late July that he had fallen at least two other times in the preceding months.
Feinstein, who recently turned 90, was away from the Senate for 10 weeks earlier this year as she recovered from the shingles virus. The Democratic senator must now be pushed around Capitol Hill in a wheelchair, and immediately following her return to the Senate, Feinstein <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feinstein-doesnt-recall-being-absent-from-the-senate-she-was-gone-for-10-weeks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">didn’t recall</a> her 10-week absence. 
“I haven’t been gone. You should … I haven’t been gone. I’ve been working,” Feinstein told a Los Angeles Times reporter.
“You’ve been working from home is what you’re saying?” the reporter asked.
“No, I’ve been here. I’ve been voting. Please, either know or don’t know,” Feinstein said.
President Biden, 80, has also worried voters and members of Congress about his mental capacity. Biden has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-falls-on-stage-at-air-force-graduation-ceremony" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fallen</a>, appeared <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1572698287974776832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1572698287974776832%7Ctwgr%5Eafbfe49109693b3a874a53908f50046eaa71be19%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fvideo-why-does-biden-constantly-wander-around-aimlessly-after-speeches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a>, and said <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/joe-biden-just-described-america-in-a-single-word-asufutimaehaehfutbw-5423917.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">undistinguishable words</a> multiple times while appearing in front of crowds and the press.   
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this report.

Nikki Haley Calls Senate ‘Most Privileged Nursing Home In The Country,’ Says Politicians Need To ‘Know When To Leave’

Nikki Haley Calls Senate 'Most Privileged Nursing Home In The Country,' Says Politicians Need To 'Know When To Leave'

2024 Primaries

Senate Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) is cleared to continue working, the attending physician of the U.S. Congress said in a brief note on Thursday — roughly 24 hours after the lawmaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-appears-to-freeze-again-during-presser">appeared to freeze up</a> at a press conference for the second time in a month.
&#8220;I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team. After evaluating yesterday’s incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned,&#8221; said Dr. Brian Monahan.
&#8220;Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration,&#8221; the physician added.
McConnell, 81, struggled to respond to a question about his thoughts on <a href="https://www.senate.gov/senators/Class_II.htm">running for re-election in 2026</a> during an event in Kentucky on Wednesday, as shown in a video clip posted to X from NBC affiliate WLWT. He was assisted by two people in the room, and after a pause, McConnell appeared to be able to take a couple more questions before he ended the press conference.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Mitch McConnell appearing to have another scary episode in the media gaggle in Covington today. Aides had to step in to help him out and repeat questions. He was eventually lead away. We&#39;ll have the full video on <a href="https://twitter.com/WLWT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WLWT</a> <a href="https://t.co/q9ex5MHxLV">pic.twitter.com/q9ex5MHxLV</a>
&mdash; Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) <a href="https://twitter.com/HannahPThomas/status/1696936240040321474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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McConnell &#8220;felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today,&#8221; a spokesperson for the minority leader told The Daily Wire on Wednesday.
&#8220;While he feels fine, as a prudential measure, the Leader will be consulting a physician prior to his next event,&#8221; an aide added.
After the tense moment, President Joe Biden <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1696963887617212521">said</a> he planned to call his &#8220;good friend&#8221; McConnell to check up on the senator. On Thursday, Biden <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1697313574459220475">said</a> they had a conversation and that McConnell &#8220;was his old self on the telephone.&#8221;
Several weeks earlier, McConnell momentarily froze while speaking to the press on Capitol Hill. After being escorted away from the podium, McConnell returned a short time later and said he was “fine.”
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While it was already known that McConnell sustained a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-returns-home-after-treatment-for-fall-concussion">concussion</a> after a fall earlier this year, reports came out after the top Republican&#8217;s news conference freeze in late July that he had fallen at least <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/politics/mitch-mcconnell-multiple-falls-this-year/index.html">two other times</a> in the preceding months.
McConnell is part of a cadre of older politicians at or over the age of 80 who have drawn health concerns and pressure to retire, including Biden and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

Physician Releases McConnell Evaluation After Second Freeze-Up Scare

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