Sen. Paul raises serious concerns about McConnell's health — then accuses Capitol physician of 'misinformation'



Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is publicly questioning the health of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

What is the background?

McConnell, the 81-year-old Kentucky Republican, has grabbed attention for two scary episodes in which he appeared to "freeze up." McConnell's office blamed the incidents on light-headedness, while Capitol physician Dr. Brian Monahan blamed dehydration.

On Tuesday, Monahan said he conducted several tests on McConnell after the second incident but found no underlying neurological issues.

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. 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.

What did Paul say?

Paul, a medical doctor trained at the prestigious Duke University School of Medicine, is not buying what Dr. Monahan is selling.

"I've practiced medicine for 25 years and it doesn't look like dehydration to me," Paul, an ophthalmologist, said. "It looks like a focal neurologic event."

Sen. Rand Paul says its an 'inadequate representation' to say McConnell froze due to dehydration www.youtube.com

"When you get dehydrated you don’t have moments where your eyes look in the distance with a vacant look and you’re sort of basically unconscious with your eyes open. That is not a symptom of dehydration," Paul said.

Importantly, Paul explained that an electroencephalogram — otherwise known as an EEG study — cannot and should not be used to rule out a seizure disorder.

According to Paul, about 25% of people who experience a brain injury will experience seizures afterward, but 83% of those won't show up on an EEG test because they are too small and the test is not being conducted while a seizure is happening.

"When someone tells you, 'Oh, he has a normal EEG, therefore he doesn't have a seizure disorder,' that's not good medicine," he explained.

Paul clarified that his problem is not with McConnell or his fitness to serve — in fact, Paul explained that thanks to medicine, people function normally in high-profile jobs all the time despite experiencing neurological problems — but what he believes is a clear lack of transparency from Dr. Monahan.

"My point is that I'm just trying to counter the misinformation from the Senate doctor. It is basically not believable to come up and say that what's going on is dehydration," Paul said. "It makes it worse in the sense that by saying something that is obviously untrue, it leads to more distrust of the situation."

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Capitol attending physician speaks out about McConnell's health after latest freeze-up incident



The Capitol's attending physician, Brian Monahan, said Tuesday that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) did not suffer a stroke or seizure when he appeared to freeze up last week.

What is the background?

While speaking with reporters in Kentucky last week, McConnell froze up for about 30 seconds after a reporter asked about his plans to run for re-election in 2026. He is 81 years old.

The scary episode came about one month after McConnell froze up mid-sentence in July while speaking with reporters on Capitol Hill. McConnell's office attributed both incidents to the Republican leader feeling "lightheaded" and denied that anything was wrong.

What did Monahan say?

After the Aug. 30 incident, Monahan conducted several medical examinations on McConnell, including a brain MRI and an electroencephalogram, and consulted with neurologists.

But there was no evidence of any neurological episode, Monahan said.

"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," the doctor explained in a letter. "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."

That is welcome news for the Republican leader. But it likely will not slow down questions about McConnell's fitness for office.

Despite Monahan medically clearing McConnell last week, calls for McConnell's resignation intensified. However, McConnell's office has provided no indication that he plans to step down before his term ends.

Still, McConnell's top allies are defending him, saying publicly that McConnell is reassuring the Republican conference that he remains in good health.

"I spoke with Mitch yesterday afternoon ... and he was in good shape," Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said Sunday on CNN.

"He was direct. He said he fell. He said: 'I had that concussion.' And he said: 'They warned me that I would be lightheaded in the future and that I have got to be aware of it.' He said: 'It happened twice.' He said: 'It just so happens I'm doing it in front of reporters,'" Rounds continued. "But he felt good yesterday. He said he's got to watch his hydration levels."

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After latest freezing incident, 81-year-old Mitch McConnell deemed 'medically clear' to maintain schedule



Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, 81, had another public freezing episode on Wednesday, but attending physician to Congress Brian Monahan said in a Thursday statement that the senator is "medically clear" to maintain his schedule.

"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. Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration," Monahan noted.

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Earlier this year, McConnell was treated for a concussion after tripping and also was said to have suffered a rib fracture.

Back in 2019, the long-serving legislator tripped, suffering a fractured shoulder.

The recent freezing incident occurred on Wednesday after McConnell had been asked about his thoughts on running for re-election in 2026. Initially, McConnell indicated that he had trouble hearing the questioner. The questioner tried a second time, but McConnell replied, "What are my thoughts about what?" After the questioner asked a third time, McConnell seemed like perhaps he was going to say something, but he then proceeded to stand silently while staring off blankly.

Mitch McConnell appears to freeze when asked about re-election www.youtube.com

McConnell, who has served as a U.S. senator for more than three decades, had previously frozen up in a similar manner last month.

GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has claimed that McConnell, President Joe Biden, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania are not fit to serve.

"These politician’s staff and family members should be ashamed of themselves by enabling and allowing their loved ones to remain in office all to hold power," Greene asserted in a post on X.

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Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota similarly posted, "For goodness sake, the family, friends, and staff of Senators Feinstein and McConnell are doing them and our country a tremendous disservice. It's time for term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court, and some basic human decency."

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Mitch McConnell's latest freeze-up sheds light on a MUCH BIGGER issue



We talk a lot about politics on here, but when it comes to Sen. Mitch McConnell, politics need to be set aside.

Back in July, McConnell froze mid-speech at a news conference, and unfortunately, it wasn’t a one-time incident.

This past Wednesday in Covington, Kentucky, McConnell froze again when reporters asked him whether he was planning on running for re-election.

Like him or not, the man clearly has glaring health concerns that should prevent him from serving.

“This is not about politics. It's about our country,” says Glenn Beck. “For the love of Pete, resign.”

“The man is clearly suffering,” adds Stu Burguiere.

But Mitch McConnell’s unfortunate situation sheds light on a much bigger issue.

“It shows you the power of the machine,” says Glenn. “They'd rather have somebody like him who's no longer capable of doing it themselves because then they can just do what they want.”

But the reality is that term limits are “among the most popular policy proposals in our discourse— we're talking about 80% support across the board,” says Stu.

And Republicans are not the only ones who are pushing for policies that will prevent Mitch McConnell and Dianne Feinstein-like situations from happening; Democrats and Independents are as well.

Unfortunately, with the way things are currently set up, “Mitch McConnell could run today, and they'd still vote him in,” says Glenn.


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Mitch McConnell's latest FREEZE reveals the BIGGEST ISSUE with our government

Mitch McConnell's latest FREEZE reveals the BIGGEST ISSUE with our government

Old people need to stop running our country



Mitch McConnell’s term runs through 2026, but many aren’t so sure he should be in office at all.

The internet was set ablaze yesterday when McConnell was recorded speaking to reporters at a press conference and then suddenly stopped speaking at all.

The Kentucky senator halted mid-sentence and appeared to stare blankly into the distance before stepping back from the podium and being led away.

“This is what happens when you stay in office forever,” Pat Gray comments, adding, “They’re hell-bent to drop dead in office.”

However, McConnell did make it back to the podium where he faced a few questions regarding what had happened.

A reporter asked McConnell what happened at the beginning of the press conference and earlier this year when he had suffered a concussion.

“I’m fine,” McConnell responded.

“You’re fully able to do your job?” The reporter pressed further.

“We’ve got so many of these situations in Congress. In the presidency, okay? Starts right at the top with Joe Biden. You’ve got Nancy Pelosi who’s been compromised. You have Dianne Feinstein who’s 90, and everybody admits that she’s deep into dementia of some sort,” Gray continues.

Even John Fetterman, who isn’t quite up there in age, has his issues.

Gray believes something needs to be done about this.

“It’s not good for the country. So, maybe we should take that into consideration. Start, I don’t know, being honest that you can’t stay in office indefinitely,” he says.


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Mitch McConnell uses scary freeze-up incident to troll Joe Biden: 'Gotta watch those sandbags!'



Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) trolled President Joe Biden after his scary freeze-up incident on Wednesday.

While speaking to reporters after the incident, McConnell said that Biden had called to check on him and he used the moment to troll the president.

"The president called to check on me. I told him I got sandbagged," McConnell recounted. "Gotta watch those sandbags!"

The reference to sandbags refers to the scary moment last month when Biden tripped on stage after delivering a speech at the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony. While walking away from the lectern, Biden tripped over sandbags that were keeping a teleprompter in place. Biden, fortunately, was not injured in the fall.

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It's not clear what happened to McConnell, who froze mid-sentence at a press conference. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said McConnell "clearly had some kind of neurological event."

McConnell did not say whether he had spoken to a doctor and provided no additional insight into what happened. He simply told reporters, "I'm fine." His office declined to provide further details.

Since the freeze-up, NBC News reported that McConnell experienced a scary fall less than two weeks ago. On July 14, McConnell reportedly fell on his face when exiting a plane. The incident was not previously disclosed, and McConnell was reportedly not injured in the fall. McConnell also fell while visiting Finland in February, CNN reported.

McConnell's office, however, has only disclosed one previous fall: a March incident in which he was hospitalized and treated for a concussion.

Additionally, NBC News reported that McConnell has been recently using a wheelchair to navigate airports. McConnell is 81 years old and has served in the U.S. Senate for nearly 40 years.

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