Latest news with #TheSenateProject
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Sen. John Fetterman calls for US to supply anything Israel needs for Iran attack
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., expressed staunch support for Israel's assault against Iran, calling for the U.S. to back Israel's efforts by providing the ally with anything it needs. 'Our commitment to Israel must be absolute and I fully support this attack. Keep wiping out Iranian leadership and the nuclear personnel. We must provide whatever is necessary—military, intelligence, weaponry—to fully back Israel in striking Iran,' Fetterman asserted Thursday night in a post on X. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reposted the senator's post. It also shared a post in which U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed support for the U.S. ally. 'Israel IS right—and has a right—to defend itself!' Johnson declared. 6 U.S. Senator John Fetterman during the sixth installment of The Senate Project. Getty Images 6 Senator Fetterman 'fully supports' the attack. Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested that if Iran targets U.S. interests, America should execute 'an overwhelming response' that annihilates the foreign country's oil infrastructure. 'People are wondering if Iran will attack American military personnel or interests throughout the region because of Israel's attack on Iran's leadership and nuclear facilities,' Graham noted Thursday night in a post on X. 6 Debris and workers at the site of a damaged building in Tehran, Iran. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 6 Satellite image showing damage to Iran's Natanz nuclear facility. Airbus defense and space. 'My answer is if they do, America should have an overwhelming response, destroying all of Iran's oil refineries and oil infrastructure putting the ayatollah and his henchmen out of the oil business.' Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Thursday night that the U.S. was 'not involved in strikes against Iran' and declared that 'Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.' 6 A building that was hit by Israeli air strikes north of Tehran. ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 6 A destroyed car following the airstrike. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Shutterstock President Donald Trump issued a Truth Social post on Friday morning in which he urged Iran to agree to a deal, apparently referring to a nuclear deal. 'I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to 'just do it,' but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn't get it done. I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come – And they know how to use it. Certain Iranian hardliner's spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!' Trump warned in his post. 'There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fetterman Hits Back at ‘Weird Smear' After Call to Step Aside Over Mental Health
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman pushed back against criticism as he faces ongoing questions about his mental health and job performance in Washington. The Democratic lawmaker appeared alongside his fellow Pennsylvania Senator David McCormick on Monday and rejected accusations that he is not engaged in his job. 'For me, it's very clear, it's just part of this weird, this weird smear,' Fetterman said. The senator said he's been getting 'incoming' over his stance on Israel, the border, and not voting to shut the government down. He pushed for the conversation to move during his appearance in Boston at 'The Senate Project', which aired on Fox Nation. 'I'm here. I'm doing my job. I'm defending on all those things, and all of those important votes, I've always been there,' Fetterman said. 'And for me, if I miss some of those votes, I mean some of those votes, I've made 90 percent of them, and we all know those votes that I've missed were on Monday. Those are travel days, and I have three young kids,' Fetterman continued. He dismissed counts he had missed as 'throwaway procedural votes,' which were not important. Fetterman's comments came after a scathing op-ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday in which the paper's editorial board wrote he 'must take his position seriously.' It noted the series of recent reports of erratic behavior, the senator missing and canceling meetings, and not showing up for more votes than nearly every other senator in the past two years. 'If Fetterman can't handle the attention or perform his job, then in the best interest of the country and the nearly 13 million residents of Pennsylvania he represents, he should step aside,' it wrote. The editorial is the latest in an avalanche of Fetterman criticism since a bombshell New York Magazine report a month ago detailed former staffers raising alarms over the senator's mental state. Fettrman blasted it as a hit piece. On Monday, Fetterman claimed Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Patty Murray missed more votes than him. 'Why aren't the left media yelling and demanding them and claiming they're not doing their job?' Fetterman asked. According to tracking by Fetterman missed 174 out of 961 roll call votes, or 18.1 percent of votes from February 2023 to May 2025 and more than 21 percent of the votes in the last Congress. It noted that it is much worse than the median of 2.9 percent of votes senators have missed. Since taking office in 1993, Murray has missed 2.6 percent of votes, and 1.6 percent of votes in the last Congress. Sanders has missed 13.4 percent of votes since 1991, or 9.4 percent of votes in the last Congress.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sens. Fetterman, McCormick find common ground in FOX Nation debate
(WHTM) — Pennsylvania's two first-term senators sat in stark contrast to each other as they shared a stage Monday, but they found common ground. Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dave McCormick participated in FOX Nation's 'The Senate Project,' an Oxford-style debate that brings legislators together to discuss topics. The event took place in Boston. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now McCormick and Fetterman both expressed support for Nippon Steel's proposed investment in U.S. Steel. Previously, both senators were vocal about their opposition to the Japanese company's initial proposal to purchase the company. They also agreed on 'getting tough' on Russia and Iran, as well as sealing the border. Fetterman took aim at his own party for its handling of the issue. In recent days, the Democratic Senator has found himself on the receiving end of party attacks. Fetterman dismissed criticism from former staffers over missed votes in the Senate. He said he missed those votes because they were on Mondays. 'Those are travel days,' Fetterman said. 'I have three young kids, and those are throwaway procedural votes that were never determinative, or they weren't important, and that's a choice that I made. If you want to attack me for that, go ahead, but I'd like to point out that Bernie and Senator Murray missed more, so why aren't the left media yelling and demanding them or claiming they're not doing their job? Be genuine on that.' Fetterman claims media trying to 'smear' him over missed votes, absences Sen. Fetterman said he will be present to vote on President Donald Trump's spending plan. He said he is a 'likely no' because of its changes to SNAP benefits. McCormick said he will vote yes on the bill because it will root out waste, fraud and abuse. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FETTERMAN, McCORMICK DISCUSS A RANGE OF ISSUES AT EDWARD KENNEDY INSTITUTE
BOSTON, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United States Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and David McCormick (R-PA) embodied bipartisanship today at the most recent installment of The Senate Project series at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. During a wide-ranging and collegial 35-minute discussion in the Institute's full-sized replica of the US Senate Chamber, the Senators touched on — and mostly agreed on — a host of national and international issues. Moderated by FOX News anchor Shannon Bream, the event was the sixth installment of The Senate Project, a joint initiative by the Kennedy Institute and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation of Utah sponsored by FOX News Media. The event further solidified the Kennedy Institute, with its mission to foster bipartisanship, as the premier forum for cross-aisle discussions about pressing national issues. The discussion also gave Fetterman the opportunity, in the wake of recent media coverage questioning his fitness to hold office, to display his engagement, focus, and cogency. Through a series of questions ranging from anti-semitism on American campuses, to Israel's right to defend itself and the threat posed by Iran, to Pennsylvania's steel industry and President Trump's economic bill, Fetterman revealed a bipartisan streak and deep grasp of policy details. Fetterman acknowledged that his support of efforts to secure the border and of Israel have hurt his standing among some Democrats and left-leaning media. He said those positions are behind the "smear" leveled by critics who alleged he is not engaged in his job. "The more, I started to … be following Israel or the border, and now, really refusing to vote to shut the government down, I've continued to get more and more kinds of incoming (criticism)," he said. "So the more left kind of media continues to have these kinds of attacks, and it's just part of a smear and that's just not accurate. I'm here. I'm doing that job … I've always been there." "I'll take the beating, because that's I think what defines leadership," Fetterman said. The Senate Project series brings together sitting US Senators from opposing parties for civil dialogue about current political issues, with the goal of identifying solutions and bridging partisan divides. The series reflects the bipartisanship embodied by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and the shared mission of the Kennedy Institute and Hatch Foundation to advance cooperation between members of both major parties. "The Senate Project continues to play an important role facilitating dialogue between Democrat and Republican Senators who might not otherwise have the opportunity to discuss and debate critical matters of the day," Kennedy Institute Chairman Bruce Percelay said. "Today's event demonstrates the importance of bipartisan dialogue and we look forward to expanding our role as a convener of leaders from both parties." Hatch Foundation Executive Director Matt Sandgren added, "Senator Hatch believed the Senate was at its best when disagreement was met with respect and conviction was tempered by civility. The Senate Project continues to prove that principle can thrive even in these divided times. We're grateful to FOX News for extending the conversation beyond the chamber, and to Senators Fetterman and McCormick for showing that serious, respectful debate still has a place in American politics." Fetterman and McCormick agreed on several issues, including: The need for sanctions against Russia; Stronger border security; The dismantling of Iran's nuclear program; and Provisions in Nippon Steel's acquisition of US Steel negotiated by the Trump Administration that made the purchase more palatable to the US steel industry. McCormick noted that Republicans have "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to enact their agenda with control of the White House and both legislative bodies. That agenda, he said, must center on tax cuts, a stronger national defense, and showing "we can begin to reduce the cost of government." He noted the House's recent passage of President Trump's economic bill and predicted the Senate will try to make further spending cuts in its version. For his part, Fetterman said he supports parts of Trump's "big, beautiful bill," but does not support cuts to social programs like Medicaid and SNAP. FOX News' Bream opened the discussion by referencing Sunday's alleged hate crime in Colorado directed against participants in a pro-Israel rally. The discussion quickly turned to instances of antisemitism on US college campuses and other common spaces. "People follow me and scream 'free Palestine,' " Fetterman said. "The Jewish community is constantly under assault… That's not free speech. Building tent cities on campus and terrorizing Jewish students, that's not free speech." McCormick agreed that the federal government is right to press universities to combat anti-Jewish attitudes. "We have to require that our institutions extricate themselves from antisemitism," he said. Both Senators credited Israel for degrading the military capabilities of Hamas and Hezbollah and taking actions to counter Iran's efforts to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. They also concurred on the need for stiff sanctions against Russia for its continued aggression against Ukraine. "When I grew up, Russia was always the Evil Empire and that hasn't changed," Fetterman said. He added that the triumvirate of Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which is facing its own existential threat from China "stand for global democracy. And that's always going to be the side where I'm going to remain." The Senators said they have built a great relationship as they represent what Fetterman called one of the "most purple" states in the country. "The same people that elected me elected him for the most part. We've got a lot of overlap," Senator McCormick said, saying both of them care deeply about Pennsylvania and the country. Previous Senate Project installments at the Kennedy Institute have featured Senators Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, and Bernie Sanders, the liberal Vermont Independent; Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, and Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa; and Marco Rubio, then a Republican Senator from Florida, and Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware. -30- Media contact:David ProcopioRegan Communicationsdprocopio@ 488-2886 View original content: SOURCE Edward M Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania senators find common ground despite style preferences, party differences
One is a Democrat sporting a hoodie, the other is a Republican wearing a tie, but bipartisan Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick stand on common ground. The two first-term senators from the critical swing state participated in the sixth installment of The Senate Project series on Monday. It was organized by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and moderated by Fox News' Shannon Bream. Sitting across from one another in a full-sized replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber at the Kennedy Institute in Boston, Fetterman towered over McCormick in his signature Carhartt sweatshirt, basketball shorts and sneakers. While Fetterman strutted on stage with an approachable wave to the audience, McCormick emerged from the double doors in a well-fitted suit and tie and immediately shook hands with his Democratic counterpart. Knives Out For Fetterman: Maverick Senator Joins Long Line Of Dems Punished For Breaking From Left Fetterman, who suffered a stroke and struggled with his auditory capabilities during his 2022 Senate campaign, has again found his health topping national headlines amid renewed concerns about his mental health. Read On The Fox News App Leaks To Media About Fetterman Are A Coordinated Smear Campaign, Hill Colleagues Say But Fetterman again dismissed the slew of media reports as a "smear campaign" on Monday. And Republicans have surprisingly rallied behind the Democrat, who has gained a reputation for bucking his own party on top issues like immigration and Israel. It's not just their wardrobes that set the senators apart. While McCormick speaks like a true politician, the Republican is only a few months into his first term serving elected office. McCormick's background is in the U.S. Army, as under secretary of the treasury for international affairs for President George W. Bush and as CEO of Bridgewater Associates. Fetterman may have started his career in the insurance industry, but the Democrat has been in politics for almost a decade. He began his political career as mayor of Braddock before serving as lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. Despite Fetterman's years of experience in politics, his wardrobe choice and casual speaking tone set him apart from McCormick's polished speech. Style points aside, the bipartisan senators found more common ground than not on Monday. They may have different deliveries, but the content of their arguments seem aligned. Both Fetterman and McCormick condemned the attack in Boulder, Colorado, this weekend, which authorities are investigating as an act of antisemitism. The Pennsylvania senators have been steadfast supporters of Israel and united to condemn what they call the rise of antisemitism on college campuses. They also agreed with President Donald Trump that Iran should not have nuclear capabilities. Swing State Senators Come Together In Rare Show Of Bipartisanship, Dems Aren't Happy About It On Trump's steel deal that allows Nippon Steel to invest in U.S. Steel in Pennsylvania, Fetterman and McCormick said they didn't initially agree but were able to find common ground and deliver a deal for Pennsylvania workers. "We sat down within a week or two after I got elected and talked about a bunch of things," McCormick said. "There's a number of things we agreed on. We had both taken different positions on this, but we agreed the most important thing was the workers in Pennsylvania. There are a lot of things we disagree on, but the thing we agreed on was [protecting] those jobs in western Pennsylvania." McCormick said it's a bipartisan strategy the Pennsylvania senators have tried to adopt since they started working together this year. "We're looking for ways to find common ground," McCormick said. "When we disagree, we disagree. But when we can agree, we agree." When pushed by Bream about Senate reconciliation on Trump's "big, beautiful bill," McCormick indicated he would vote in favor of the bill while Fetterman said he's a "no," highlighting concerns over Medicaid reform. "We both represent the most purple part of America," Fetterman said before adding, "We are going to disagree and vote on different things, but for me, it's about trying to find the things we can win together and deliver those kinds of wins for Pennsylvania and ultimately for America."Original article source: Pennsylvania senators find common ground despite style preferences, party differences
