Former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has yet to return to the chamber after he was hospitalized on June 14.

As of this writing, the long-serving Kentucky Republican is reportedly continuing to

recover from a fall and pneumonia, per a statement he released earlier this month on X, along with a photo of him and his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

Despite the apparent seriousness of the situation, however, a columnist with a Louisville publication felt the need to rip McConnell and his career in what he called a “pre-obituary” last week.

Joseph Gerth, a columnist at McConnell’s hometown paper, also aimed at the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who passed away suddenly earlier this month.

Gerth did not attempt to present himself as neutral.

He described McConnell as a “detestable figure” and said he intentionally wrote the column while the senator was still alive so that no one could accuse him of speaking ill of the dead.

He claimed that McConnell, 84, dismantled civil rights that he once championed and ‘enabled’ President Donald Trump, as though the Kentucky senator was somehow responsible for Trump’s two election victories.

“Unlike Nixon, McConnell never paid for his sins that have damaged our nation’s trust in government, destroyed the country’s ability to have meaningful dialogue and cemented our nation’s politics as an arena in which winning is the only thing that matters,” Gerth wrote in what could also be said about Democrats.

Gerth said the ‘inspiration’ behind his column was the death of Graham.

“That got me thinking about Sen. Mitch McConnell, who was rumored to be dead or on life support or in a coma or whatever and was the odds-on favorite to beat Graham to the gates of hell in the days before Graham’s death,” Gerth wrote.

“And, so with McConnell allegedly on the mend, I figured I’d go ahead and tell you what I think about McConnell now — when no one can complain, ‘How dare you write that about a dead guy?’” he added.

McConnell has served in the Senate for 42 years. He’s won reelection

six times. He had already announced, however, that he would be retiring after his current term, which expires in January.

“He had more guts as a young man than he had as an old man,” Gerth wrote.

“It seems somehow fitting for the ultimate shape-shifter, who wrote about accompanying Sen. John Sherman Cooper to see Johnson sign the Voting Rights Act into law, that the court he created was the court that struck down the last remaining significant provision,” he added.

McConnell released a statement along with his and his wife’s photo featuring him sitting in a hospital bed fully clothed.

“When you elected me to a seventh term and made me our Commonwealth’s longest serving Senator, you did so trusting that I’d keep showing up to fight for you every day. And over the past several weeks, Elaine and I have appreciated both your well wishes and your honest questions about what was keeping me away from the Senate,” he wrote.

“You all know how folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older. Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct – I can’t help it,” he added.

“But at the same time, I’ve had more than my share of experience with physical vulnerabilities. Surviving childhood polio meant spending my entire life with mobility challenges.

“They haven’t exactly gotten easier to manage with age. And last month, I took a fall which landed me in the hospital,” he noted further.

““My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages,” he said.

“But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia,” the statement added.

Indiana Rep. Jim Baird’s wife, Danise, died early Sunday from “complications” related to more than a dozen fractures she sustained in a hit-and-run car crash in early January.

The congressman and his wife were both originally expected “to be okay”

after a “pretty bad” car crash while returning to Washington, DC on Jan. 5, President Trump announced ahead of a House Republican policy retreat the following day.

Baird’s office confirmed the matriarch’s passing in a heartbreaking statement shared Sunday morning.

“Congressman Baird and Danise were married for 59 years, building a life centered on faith, family, and service. A devoted wife and loving mother of three, she was the foundation of their family and will be deeply missed. We ask that you keep the Congressman and his family in your prayers during this difficult time,” his office wrote.

The couple, who were “high school sweethearts,” have three children together, according to the biography on the Republican’s congressional office website.

Following a devastating crash, both were hospitalized. Baird, 80, was released from the hospital on January 6 but had to wear a neck brace for a few weeks afterward. Danise, who suffered an astonishing 15 fractures and breaks, was discharged on January 12, as confirmed by their son Beau Baird in a Facebook post.

Beau — who claimed his father’s Indiana legislative seat when the elder Baird departed for the US House of Representatives — posted on Feb. 1 that Danise had taken her “first assisted steps” since the crash. In the optimistic post, he noted that the family knew “there’s still a road ahead.”

Beau said that he’d primarily been sharing updates on his father because Danise “is a very private person” with “a long recovery ahead of her.”

Then, on Sunday, Beau posted: “3/1/26 6:31:10 am” — the date and time of Danise’s passing — ahead of his father’s official confirmation of her death, the New York Post reported.

Several members of Congress and other politicians offered up their condolences.

“Jim’s wife Danise was often by his side as he worked so

hard in Congress on behalf of his constituents. They are salt of the earth people and Jim and his family have sacrificed so much for our country,” New York Rep. Elise Stefanik wrote on X.

“Our sympathies and condolences to Jim and his family. We admire them both and their 59 years of marriage. I enjoyed getting to know Danise, and we’ll hold Jim in our prayers,” Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon wrote.

“Join me in praying for [Jim], my good friend [Beau] and their entire family. May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding wash over them today and in the weeks and months ahead,” Indiana State Rep. Jake Teshka added.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday said it would keep New York’s current congressional map in place, temporarily blocking a lower court ruling that had found the map violated the Constitution by diluting the voting power of black and Latino residents.

The unsigned emergency order did not include a vote count or written reasoning, which is typical for decisions issued on the court’s emergency docket. The decision allows the existing map to remain in place while appeals continue, making it likely the map will be used in the upcoming midterm elections, the New York Times reported.

The ruling was a victory for Republicans and could help them retain control of a closely divided House of Representatives.

Representative Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican whose district includes Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn, filed the emergency application after a state judge ordered her district to be redrawn.

In a statement, Malliotakis said the justices had “stopped the voters on Staten Island and in southern Brooklyn from being stripped of their ability to elect a representative who reflects their values.”

The case centers on New York’s 11th Congressional District, the only district in New York City currently held by a Republican.

Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen resigned Friday under mounting pressure from Republican leaders, stepping down effective immediately despite an earlier finding that misconduct allegations against her were unsubstantiated.

Gov. Spencer Cox announced Hagen’s resignation, which comes after weeks of scrutiny

tied to claims she had an improper relationship with an attorney who had a case before the court. The allegations were reviewed by the state’s Judicial Conduct Commission, which dismissed them as “speculative, overstated, and misleading,” The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Still, Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Schultz and Senate President J. Stuart Adams, pushed for further investigation, saying questions remained unanswered. The Utah Republican Party also launched a campaign urging voters to remove Hagen in an upcoming retention election. In her resignation letter, Hagen said the personal toll of the situation ultimately drove her decision. She wrote that public service comes with heightened scrutiny but said her family should not bear the consequences.

“But my family and friends did not choose public life,” Hagen wrote. “They do not deserve to have intensely personal details surrounding the painful dissolution of my thirty-year marriage subjected to public scrutiny,” she said. Hagen added that she would have preferred to continue serving but could not do so at the expense of her loved ones or the judiciary’s independence. “I would love nothing more than to continue serving the people of Utah as a Supreme Court Justice,” she wrote, “but I cannot do so without sacrificing the privacy and well-being of those I care about.”

Schultz and Adams said in a joint statement that Hagen’s resignation was “in the best interest” of the court and confirmed no further investigations into the specific allegations would be pursued.

At the same time, state leaders, including Cox and Chief Justice Matthew Durrant, said all three branches of government would work together on potential reforms to the Judicial Conduct Commission. They said the goal is to ensure accountability and maintain public confidence.

Durrant, in a separate statement, said he was “saddened” by Hagen’s resignation

and praised her contributions to the judiciary. He highlighted her past work prosecuting the kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart and her efforts supporting crime victims and mentoring young attorneys. The controversy stems in part from a Utah Supreme Court case in which Hagen participated, involving a dispute over legislative authority to repeal voter-approved ballot initiatives. One of the attorneys in that case, David Reymann, was cited in the complaint alleging an inappropriate relationship.

The complaint originated from claims made by Hagen’s ex-husband and was later filed with the Judicial Conduct Commission. After reviewing the matter, the commission’s bipartisan members voted to dismiss it.

However, the issue gained renewed attention after the commission’s report was released through a public records request, prompting calls from Republican leaders for an independent investigation. Legal and advocacy groups have raised concerns about how the situation unfolded. The Utah State Bar said Hagen’s resignation represents a significant loss to the judiciary and suggested she had been unfairly scrutinized despite the dismissal of the complaint.

A nonpartisan organization focused on judicial independence also criticized the pressure campaign, warning it could have broader implications for the courts. The judiciary has faced increasing tension with the Legislature in recent months following a series of rulings against Republican-backed policies. Earlier this year, lawmakers approved adding two new seats to the state Supreme Court, a move critics described as an attempt to shift the court’s balance.

Hagen, who was appointed by Cox in 2022 and previously served on the Utah Court of Appeals, now leaves behind a vacancy that the governor will fill. With her departure, there will be a third open seat on the court, further shaping its future direction.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is ripping four GOP senators who voted against a motion to effectively add the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act to a $70 billion budget reconciliation package, saying he doesn’t know why fellow Republicans would vote against a voter ID law.

Four Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Lisa Murkowski

(Alaska), and Thom Tillis (N.C.) — voted against a motion to waive all budgetary procedural objections to an amendment on the SAVE America Act offered by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

The rules for adding amendments to the Senate’s budget reconciliation require overcoming a number of procedural hurdles unless the Senate unanimously agrees to waive them.

The amendment requiring documented proof of citizenship when registering to vote and showing identification when voting fell 12 votes short of the 60-vote threshold needed to be added to the package.

Hawley said he was disappointed in his GOP colleague’s opposition to the amendment, noting that voter ID requirements are common in many states and have overwhelming public support in the United States.

“I guess it’s frustration,” Hawley told Fox News Digital when asked about the failure to attach the SAVE America Act to the budget reconciliation package.

“Listen, we’ve been doing this in Missouri for years. I mean, voters in my state put it in our constitution,” he said.

“Voter ID is the most popular thing out there,” he said.

“There’s reason for that. People want their elections to be safe, they want them to be fair. And to me, you can’t explain it to me, why you wouldn’t vote for voter ID. I just don’t understand it,” Hawley added.

Senate Republicans have struggled to advance President Donald Trump’s voter ID and citizenship verification legislation.

However, a late-night vote in the chamber revived a proposal many had considered all but dead.

During the Senate’s marathon vote-a-rama on the GOP’s $70 billion immigration enforcement

package, Republicans made two attempts to attach the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act to the broader measure.

Both efforts fell short, as a group of Republicans joined Senate Democrats in opposing the amendments offered by Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Mike Lee of Utah.

The proposals faced steep odds regardless, as they needed to overcome the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold to advance.

Graham’s amendment sought to attach a revised version of the SAVE America Act that included several additional policy provisions, including a ban on biological males competing in women’s sports, a measure Trump had pushed for months.

Four Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina — voted against the proposal.

Their opposition kept the amendment from reaching the 50-vote threshold Republicans would have needed to pursue a talking filibuster strategy.

Lee’s separate amendment, however, did secure 50 votes after Collins switched her position and backed the original version of the SAVE America Act.

As the vote-a-rama continued, Lee celebrated the result on X, noting that with Vice President JD Vance available to cast a tie-breaking vote, the SAVE America Act would have enough support to pass the Senate, Fox News reported.

“That means that but for the Zombie Filibuster, the House-passed SAVE America Act would now be on its way to the White House for President Trump’s signature,” Lee said.

Lee and some other Republicans have been leaning on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to launch a talking filibuster to grind down Democrats and advance the measure by a simple majority vote.

Senate Republicans previously mounted a lengthy floor effort in March to force debate on the SAVE America Act, but momentum behind the legislation has waned considerably in the months since.

Nobody saw this coming. And nobody should dismiss it.

Spencer Pratt — yes, that Spencer Pratt — just posted a ten-minute

video about California’s election system that every Republican politician in the country should be forced to watch before they’re allowed to complain about election integrity again. Not because Pratt is a political genius. But because he said something simple, honest, and exactly right that the professional political class has been mangling for years.

The fraud isn’t in the counting. It’s in everything that happens before the counting.

This is the argument that gets conservatives laughed out of the room when they lead with “the machines were hacked” — because California’s tabulation is, as Pratt put it, robotic in its accuracy. The machines count what they’re given. The problem is what they’re given. NGO workers swarming homeless encampments on Skid Row, harvesting ballots, telling people who to vote for — which is illegal under California’s own laws, laws that California has simultaneously stripped of any enforcement mechanism. A system so deliberately stripped of safeguards that, as Pratt said plainly, “there’s no way to actually validate” whether fraud is occurring.

And here’s the part that the “there’s no widespread fraud” crowd never engages with honestly: it doesn’t matter. “In judicial ethics, the mere appearance of potential fraud is disqualifying,” Pratt said. He’s right. A system that cannot prove it’s clean is a system that has already failed — regardless of what the actual ballot counts say. When voters believe their votes don’t count, they stop voting. When they stop voting, the people who engineered the appearance of chaos win twice: once at the ballot box, and once in the demoralization of the opposition.

WATCH:

Pratt also said something that Republican politicians almost never say because it

I didn’t get cheated.

You did. pic.twitter.com/ihDoZeEh9J

— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) July 9, 2026

requires admitting uncomfortable truths: it’s too late for his race. The window closed. He lost. And instead of storming ballot processing centers or holding rallies, he’s doing actual investigative work — turning evidence into proof, because evidence without proof is just noise, and noise doesn’t put anyone in handcuffs. “You don’t get evidence by going to rallies,” Pratt said. “You get evidence by doing real work.”

Read that sentence to every Republican who has spent the last four years screaming about stolen elections at rallies without producing a single prosecutable case. Pratt has videos of homeless people admitting they were paid for their votes. He got those by doing the work. He’s now building the evidentiary record that turns those videos into charges.

“Commie animals and handcuffs,” he said. “That’s how this ends if we do it right.”

He’s right about that too. California’s election system isn’t broken by accident. It was engineered this way, deliberately, by people who understand exactly what they built and why. The only way to fix it is the hard way — proof, prosecution, and reform before the next election.

Spencer Pratt just showed Republicans what that looks like. Take notes.

In a surprising turn of events, Brad Pitt’s daughter has spoken out publicly for the first time, sharing emotional details about her relationship with her famous father. Her statements have sparked widespread discussion among fans and media outlets, as she opened up about experiences that had remained private for years. Many were caught off guard by her honesty, describing her words as both heartfelt and revealing.

Fans around the world have reacted with a mix of empathy and curiosity. Social media has been flooded with messages of support, with many praising her courage for addressing such personal matters. Others have expressed hope that this could mark the beginning of a more positive chapter between her and her father.

Family Matters and Moving Forward

As the story continues to unfold, both Brad Pitt and his daughter are being urged to handle the matter privately and with compassion. Their story serves as a reminder that behind fame and success, real families face real struggles – and that openness, when handled with care, can be the first step toward reconciliation.

Weeks after former GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was hospitalized for a reportedly serious heart condition, there has been much speculation about his current condition. Rumors are also swirling about whether he can complete his term, which ends in January. Initially, reports said that McConnell suffered a “cardiac arrest” and was administered CPR – a health condition that is normally fatal, even for victims much younger than McConnell, who is 84 and has an extensive history of health problems. But later, in one of the few public updates on the Kentucky Republican’s condition, his staff only said that he was receiving “excellent care.”

However, others who should know more about McConnell’s condition don’t. That includes the president of the United States. Libby Dean, the White House correspondent for NewsNation, tweeted on Wednesday: “President Trump says he has ‘no idea’ how Sen. Mitch McConnell is doing and says he hasn’t spoken with the Kentucky Republican since McConnell’s hospitalization.” Now, the governor of the Bluegrass State has grown concerned enough that he has reached out to the senator to inquire about his health. “As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health,” Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who is seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender, wrote in a letter to McConnell on Wednesday.

“As public officeholders, we have made a commitment to our constituents to do our best to represent them and to always be transparent,” Beshear’s letter continued. “I believe this requires clear communication about one’s ability to serve,” he added. Several top Republicans were asked about McConnell’s condition on Tuesday, and their responses were not reassuring. Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee has said that even members of Congress are in the dark about McConnell’s current condition.

McConnell Health Concerns Mount

Speculation has surrounded the health of the 84-year-old McConnell since the Kentucky senator was found unconscious and required CPR at his home in Washington, D.C., weeks ago. McConnell’s staff has provided no significant update on his condition since he was hospitalized June 14. The secrecy has fueled speculation that there is an effort to keep the full extent of the Republican’s condition from the public and has raised questions about whether he will be able to return to office.

On Monday night, MAGA social media user Mila Joy wondered why other senators haven’t spoken out about McConnell’s condition. “Because they are ALL in on it together. That’s why,” Joy posted to her 571,000 X followers. In reply, Sen. Lee posted: “Many of us aren’t speaking about Mitch McConnell’s condition because we know nothing about his condition.” But Lee’s assessment contradicts earlier comments from Senate Majority Leader John Thune after McConnell was first hospitalized. Thune said he had spoken to the 84-year-old and that he “sounded good.”

“He wants to be back, but I’ll defer to his staff on when,” Thune said on June 15. Popular conservative activist Laura Loomer claimed recently that sources told her that McConnell is in a “vegetative state,” dismissing Thune’s version of events. Things with McConnell have gotten worse by the day. Since the reported incident, McConnell’s office has provided scant details on the former Senate GOP leader’s health condition, except to say that he allegedly “appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital.” His office last week also said the 84-year-old senator “continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”

A series of high-profile events this week intensified scrutiny inside one of America’s largest police departments. As questions continued to grow, city leaders moved quickly to address mounting concerns over leadership and public confidence.

The developments followed days of public criticism surrounding a deadly act of violence that left a community searching for answers. Behind the scenes, pressure continued building until a major personnel decision was made.

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned Thursday after Mayor Katie Wilson accepted his departure following days of criticism over his handling of the response to Sunday’s deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival.

Wilson’s office announced Thursday evening that Barnes’ resignation had been accepted and named Deputy Chief Andre Sayles, a law enforcement veteran with more than 20 years of experience, as the city’s interim police chief.

According to FOX 13 Seattle, Barnes was asked to resign during a meeting with Wilson after he left a silent vigil for the victims of the shooting, although city officials have not publicly confirmed that account.

In a statement announcing the leadership change, Wilson thanked Barnes for his service and praised Seattle police officers for their response following the attack.

‘Chief Barnes has served this department and this city with dedication, and I am grateful for his service,’ Wilson said.

She added that the officers’ ‘courage and professionalism’ deserved recognition and said she hoped the city could return its attention to addressing youth gun violence and improving public safety.

Barnes also released a statement calling it an ‘honor’ to lead the Seattle Police Department and praising officers for their work in the aftermath of the shooting.

‘I am proud of the work we have done, believe in the direction the city is headed, and have full confidence that the department will achieve success in tackling its most urgent public safety challenge, addressing youth gun violence and preventing more tragedies,’ Barnes said.

The controversy surrounding Barnes intensified after reports highlighted that he was attending a conference in Dallas when gunfire erupted Sunday evening outside the Seattle Center Armory during the Bite of Seattle festival.

Authorities said seven people were shot in the attack, including three who died and four others who were hospitalized.

Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis delivered the department’s first public briefing several hours after the shooting while Barnes remained out of town, a delay that prompted criticism from some residents and local officials.

When asked earlier this week about reports that he frequently spent weekends away from Seattle because his family lives in Chicago, Barnes disputed those claims during a tense exchange with a reporter.

‘Those reports are wrong, do you understand?’ Barnes said before a staff member stepped between him and the reporter.

Barnes later defended being away during the shooting, saying, ‘I wish that I had a crystal ball, and we could schedule gun violence, but we can’t.’

The resignation came as community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and the MLK Coalition, planned a protest outside Seattle City Hall related to Barnes’ leadership.

Barnes had served as Seattle’s police chief for approximately one year after being selected through a nationwide search and previously led the police department in Madison, Wisconsin, while also serving in leadership roles in Chicago, Greensboro and Salisbury.

During his tenure in Seattle, Barnes promoted what he described as a ‘Seattle-Centric Policing’ strategy that emphasized data-driven policing and partnerships among law enforcement, businesses, schools, government agencies and community organizations, Fox News reported.

The department now enters another leadership transition while detectives continue investigating one of Seattle’s deadliest recent shootings, with authorities saying a 15-year-old has been arrested and charged in connection with the attack as investigators continue seeking additional evidence and any other individuals who may have been involved.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt presented a compelling statistic about how accessible President Donald Trump has been just a year into taking office and how little the public ever saw former President Joe Biden during his term.

While speaking at a media event hosted by Axios co-founder Mike Allen, Leavitt highlighted the contrast between President Donald Trump’s accessibility and that of Biden. She also pointed out that many in the media overlooked Biden’s avoidance of the media and his largely “hiding” behavior during his four years in office.

“You have tailed access to the ‘Associated Press,’ which reaches half the world’s population every day. The most definitive photo of President Trump, the fight, fight, fight photo after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, was made by Evan Vucci, who’s the chief photographer in Washington for the ‘Associated Press.’ Do you worry about history being lost with these new restrictions?” Allen asked Leavitt.

Trump Administration Media Access Changes

“There are thousands of outlets who have White House press credentials. There are hundreds that actually show up every day and cover the beat. Why should a single outlet have the privilege of being in that 13 person press pool every single day. And so the changes we’ve made have actually created more transparency, more accessibility, and greater access for a broad variety of outlets and a diversity of journalists, which I think is a good thing. And we’ve seen that play out,” Leavitt added.

“I mean, we started this. I think you’re all still getting your news, right? You’re still hearing about what the administration is doing every single day, because we have good journalists who are in that room covering the president every single time,” Leavitt said.

Allen jumped in and asked: “The counter to that is in a White House Correspondents Association’s statement about the White House changes to the position of wire services in the pool. And the statement says the government should not be able to control the independent media that covers it. Do you agree with that statement?”

Equal Access for All Media Outlets

“Well, I think that a small group of journalists who comprise the board of the White House Correspondents Association should not dictate who gets to go into the Oval Office and who gets to ride on Air Force One. There should be equal access for all outlets,” Leavitt responded.

“And that’s exactly what we’re doing. And if we were trying, by the way, to create positive press for the president, if we were trying to make it easier on him or on the administration, we wouldn’t allow some of these fake news leftist outlets in. But we continue to do that. No one has been restricted. We’ve just given more spots to more outlets and more voices,” she said.

Leavitt concluded, “It’s not about ideology. It’s just about increasing the wide variety of outlets that have access. And we live in a digital age, and we’re recognizing that at the White House. The president ran a nontraditional media campaign, which propelled him back to the highest office in the land. And we felt it was our responsibility to continue that in our coverage at the White House.”

Biden’s Record Media Evasion

In July, Axios published a story titled “Biden’s media evasion,” revealing that the Democrat held fewer press conferences and media interviews than any of the last seven presidents at the same point in their term. At that time, Biden had conducted only 164, compared to Trump’s 468. The next lowest were George W. Bush with 248 and Ronald Reagan with 262.

Trump delivered a stunning admission live on CNN’s own airwaves Sunday, telling anchor Jake Tapper that his administration is actively working to steer the direction of the network, a statement that immediately set off alarm bells about press freedom in America.

Trump did not even try to hide it.

“We’re trying to have CNN go on a normal path, and we’ll do that,” he said.

A sitting president, on live national television, openly stating that he is working to control the coverage of an American news network. And instead of pushing back, Tapper thanked him.

“Well, I’m on a normal path right here, sir, and I appreciate your time. And thank you for calling in,” Tapper replied.

Trump had phoned in to discuss the sudden passing of Senator Lindsey Graham and declined to answer questions on any other subject, including the latest U.S. strikes on Iran. Tapper accepted every limit without objection, closing by telling the president “we would love to have you back sometime.”

The backlash was immediate and brutal. Viewers flooded social media calling Tapper an “enabler” and a “sycophant.” One wrote that it is not up to the president “to direct the ‘path’ any news organization follows,” adding that if CNN is buying into this, it should “close their doors, or officially merge with Fox.” Another put it plainly: “Admitting they are trying to control the media.”

The timing makes the admission even more chilling. The Justice Department just approved Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company, a merger that depends on staying in the administration’s good graces. When a president talks about putting a network on a “normal path” while holding leverage over its owners, that is not a slip of the tongue. That is a warning.

Just months ago, Tapper himself declared on air that CNN’s job “is not to try and please the president or only report the statements he likes.” On Sunday, Americans watched him do exactly that, and they made clear the free press answers to the public, not the president.