Republican leaders have moved to quash speculation about Mitch McConnell, the former Republican leader in the US Senate, amid a growing revolt over the lack of transparency around his health.

The 84-year-old Kentucky politician, who led Senate Republicans for longer than anyone in history before stepping down last year, was admitted to the hospital on 14 June but his office declined to say what he was being treated for.

The secrecy led to a backlash from Donald Trump’s support base, with some claiming that McConnell’s condition is graver than acknowledged and accusing his office of a cover-up.

On Tuesday, John Thune, McConnell’s successor as Republican leader, sought to quell the anger by claiming that he had spoken by phone with McConnell on Monday. A Thune spokesperson said: “They had a lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security.”

  • Itdidnttrickledown@lemmy.world
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    3 hours ago

    The more noise they make the more apparent that even if the meat that was him is still warm its the machines that are keeping it that way.

  • leadore@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    We need a picture of him with eyes open (without tape) and holding up the current day’s NYT and WaPo papers.

  • cattywampas@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    Andy Beshear says he wants to hold a special election anyway unless Mitch shows proof of life. I say do it.

    • EvilBit@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      I mean, the bar isn’t “alive”, it’s “capable”. If he can talk on the phone, he can object to a special election. I just want him to do it on live video with a copy of that days newspaper.

      • spongebue@lemmy.world
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        3 hours ago

        Shit, I’m naive enough that I’d settle for a 2-minute non-video call to Fox News. If he can talk with others for at least 10x that, surely that’s not too much to ask.

  • ryper@lemmy.ca
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    7 hours ago

    You know who could end the speculation real quick? Mitch McConnell.

  • jaschen306@sh.itjust.works
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    7 hours ago

    Dude is 100% BRAIN DEAD. If he was even remotely alive, they would have did a video call or at the very least they would have gotten on the phone. Nope. Dude is 100% dead.

  • SarcasticMan@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    Easy fix. Unless they are lying shit baskets and no one has actually talked to him he should be able to FaceTime a call to one of the multitude of Press out there and shut everyone up. He won’t though because it’s hard to FaceTime from hell.

    • Today@lemmy.world
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      7 hours ago

      This is my second favorite thing on the Internet today. You’re close behind those retired barn cats.

  • danekrae@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    The 84-year-old Kentucky politician, who led Senate Republicans for longer than anyone in history