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Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said Tuesday that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) \u201cnever\u201d spoke with him about the ongoing government shutdown, adding that \u201cno one really knows\u201d who is leading Democrats in Congress.<\/p>\n
Fetterman made the remarks during an appearance on Fox & Friends, responding to an Axios report that Schumer had privately urged a group of moderate Democrats in mid-October to keep the government closed until at least the start of the Affordable Care Act open enrollment on Nov. 1.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not in a conversation or I never got any outreach,\u201d said Fetterman, adding that \u201ceveryone understood\u201d his position.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really kind of led the charge [to keep the government open] back in March. And then I said, \u2018I know we\u2019ll be back in September.\u2019 And I said, \u2018I know where my vote will be then, too.\u2019\u201dFetterman was among eight Democrats and Democrat-aligned independents who voted Monday night to reopen the federal government following the longest shutdown in U.S. history, doing so without securing any Republican concessions on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies beyond the end of the year<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always a hard yes to keep our government open,\u201d he explained Tuesday during his Fox appearance. \u201cI mean, that\u2019s my principle, because it\u2019s wrong to shut our government down. And now we knew that we would put [at risk] those 42 million Americans for SNAP and paying our military and, you know, the Capitol Police.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, people have went five weeks without being paid. I mean, that\u2019s a violation of my core values. And I think it\u2019s [a violation of] our party\u2019s [values] as well,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He openly blasted his fellow Democrats for turning the shutdown into a political stunt, calling it an \u201cabsolute failure\u201d and reminding them that \u201cAmericans are not leverage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked by co-host Lawrence Jones: \u201cWho is running the show now in the Democratic Party, in the Senate, in the House?\u201d, the Pennsylvanian made a frank and stunning admission.\u201cNo one really knows,\u201d Fetterman responded. \u201cMy values are reflected in my vote and the things that I support here, and if that might put me at odds with parts of my party, I\u2019m okay with that. I mean, we need to be a \u2026 big tent party.\u201d<\/p>\n
The hoodie-wearing senator has not hesitated to distance himself from certain elements of his party\u2019s left-wing movement, maintaining a strong pro-Israel stance and expressing concern over the aggressive, all-or-nothing tactics favored by many on the party\u2019s extremist flank.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think my party crossed a line of now putting 42 American \u2014 excuse me, 42 million Americans with \u2014 with their SNAP benefits [expiring],\u201d Fetterman said. \u201cAnd making flying less safe and that kind of chaos and not paying our military. I mean, that was a red line for me that I can\u2019t cross as a Democrat.\u201d<\/p>\n
The revised government funding bill approved by the Senate would keep federal operations running through Jan. 30, 2026, and provide funding for SNAP, veterans\u2019 programs, and congressional operations through Sept. 30. The House is expected to pass the measure on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Fetterman was also promoting his new memoir, \u201cUnfettered,\u201d released Tuesday, which details his career in public service and his personal battle with depression.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, you know, my message was very, very simple: if anyone feels lost or they\u2019re in the throes of depression, you know, I beg people, please, please stay in this game, because I promise you \u2014 you will get better,\u201d the senator said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree years ago, you know, I was in the depths of that depression, and now I\u2019ve emerged as a [US] senator.\u201d<\/p>\n
In an escalating political battle, President Donald Trump on Thursday formally joined the chorus of Republican lawmakers calling for the expulsion of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from Congress.His remarks followed a storm of controversy triggered by an interview Omar gave to far-left commentator Mehdi Hasan, in which she appeared to defend the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.In the interview, Omar described Kirk as a radical, suggesting that his inflammatory rhetoric may have contributed to the violent act. Omar’s comments were perceived by many as an endorsement of violence, or at the very least, a downplaying of the severity of the tragedy.The interview has sparked widespread condemnation from Republicans, who now say that Omar\u2019s actions warrant expulsion from Congress, while Democrats are rallying to her defense, citing her right to free speech and the controversial nature of the political debate at hand.<\/p>\n
Omar\u2019s appearance on Hasan\u2019s show, which aired on the far-left network MSNBC, quickly became a lightning rod for criticism. During the conversation, Omar pointed to Kirk\u2019s history of inflammatory remarks, including comments made about school shootings and racial justice.She said, \u201cBut what I do know for sure is that Charlie Kirk was someone who once said, \u2018Guns save lives\u2019 after a school shooting.\u201d She also referenced Kirk\u2019s downplaying of George Floyd\u2019s murder by Minneapolis police, as well as his dismissive stance on slavery and Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.Omar\u2019s comments, however, were widely criticized for taking Kirk\u2019s words out of context. She claimed Kirk had belittled important civil rights issues, but critics argued that her characterization was misleading and unfairly distorted Kirk\u2019s views.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At one point during the interview, Omar disagreed with Hasan\u2019s characterization of Kirk as merely someone seeking \u201ca civil debate.\u201d Omar dismissed this idea as \u201ca complete rewriting of history,\u201d adding, \u201cYeah, there\u2019s nothing more effed up than to completely pretend that his words and actions have not been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so.\u201d<\/p>\n
For many on the right, these words were seen as an endorsement of violence. They pointed out that Omar had effectively demonized Kirk in such a way that it was easy to see why a radical might target him.Omar’s lack of clear condemnation for the assassination, combined with her incendiary comments about Kirk\u2019s views, set off a wave of criticism from conservatives.President Trump wasted no time in weighing in on the matter. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump condemned Omar’s comments and called for her immediate expulsion from Congress.\u201cI think she should be impeached. I think she\u2019s terrible,\u201d Trump declared. \u201cIs she originally from Somalia? So how are they doing it? How\u2019s their government? Do they have a president? Do they have a council? Do they have anything? Do they have police?\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump went on to criticize Omar\u2019s background, citing her Somali origins as evidence of her supposed unfitness to influence U.S. policy. \u201cI love these people that come from a place with nothing, nothing, no anything, and then they tell us how to run our country,\u201d Trump remarked, doubling down on his belief that Omar\u2019s immigrant background made her ill-suited to offer advice on American governance.Trump\u2019s remarks were swiftly amplified on social media, particularly through his Truth Social platform. There, he once again lashed out at Omar\u2019s home country, Somalia, highlighting its ongoing struggles with terrorism, poverty, and political instability. In a post, Trump wrote:\u201cIlhan Omar\u2019s Country of Somalia is plagued by a lack of central Government control, persistent Poverty, Hunger, Resurgent Terrorism, Piracy, decades of Civil War, Corruption, and pervasive Violence.70% of the population lives in extreme Poverty, and widespread Food Insecurity. Somalia is consistently ranked among the World\u2019s Most Corrupt Countries, including Bribery, Embezzlement, and a Dysfunctional Government.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump’s use of Omar\u2019s background in his critique drew backlash from her supporters, who accused him of xenophobia and racism.For many Democrats, this line of attack was nothing more than a distraction from the real issues at hand\u2014namely, Omar\u2019s comments about Kirk and the role of inflammatory rhetoric in fueling violence.Trump, however, was undeterred in his criticism, reinforcing his claim that Omar was unqualified to serve in Congress because of her immigrant status.Trump\u2019s calls for Omar\u2019s removal from Congress reflect a broader Republican push to expel the Minnesota congresswoman over her controversial remarks.Republican lawmakers have expressed growing frustration with Omar\u2019s vocal progressive views, especially her criticism of U.S. foreign policy, her stance on Israel, and her outspoken remarks on racial justice.<\/p>\n
For Republicans, the issue at hand is not just Omar\u2019s recent interview, but a broader pattern of behavior they view as radical and un-American. Many Republican lawmakers argue that Omar\u2019s rhetoric, especially on social media, has consistently crossed the line from political discourse into incitement, and that her actions have endangered national security and the safety of U.S. citizens.\u201cWe cannot allow a member of Congress to openly defend or justify the murder of a fellow American citizen,\u201d said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who has been a vocal critic of Omar for years. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about free speech, it\u2019s about accountability. She should be expelled immediately.\u201dSome Republican leaders are now pushing for a formal resolution to expel Omar from the House, following similar efforts in recent years to remove other controversial members.<\/p>\n
While the push to expel Omar is unlikely to gain traction in a Democratic-controlled chamber, it is emblematic of the growing sense of frustration on the right over what they see as a lack of accountability for members of the progressive left.On the other side of the aisle, Democrats have rallied behind Omar, with many pointing to her comments as part of a broader political debate about the role of free speech and the dangers of political polarization.For Omar\u2019s supporters, the attacks against her are rooted in racism and an attempt to silence marginalized voices in Congress.Omar herself has remained defiant, refusing to back down from her earlier comments. In a series of interviews, she argued that her remarks about Kirk were valid criticisms of his extremist views and that she was merely speaking out against the normalization of hate and bigotry in American politics.\u201cThis is about holding people accountable for their words and actions,\u201d Omar said in an interview following the controversy. \u201cCharlie Kirk is not a victim here. He is someone who has spread dangerous rhetoric that has incited violence and division in our country.\u201dDemocrats also pointed out the hypocrisy in the GOP\u2019s push to expel Omar, highlighting the fact that several Republican lawmakers have engaged in controversial behavior without facing similar calls for removal.They argued that the focus on Omar was a distraction from the real issues facing the country, such as healthcare, climate change, and income inequality.The ongoing clash over Omar\u2019s remarks is not just a battle over her fate in Congress, but a larger struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party. The controversy has exposed rifts between moderates and progressives, with some Democrats arguing that Omar\u2019s confrontational style and rhetoric undermine the party\u2019s ability to build a broad coalition.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Omar has become a symbol for progressive activists who see her as a champion for marginalized communities and a voice for the voiceless. Her critics, however, view her as a radical who has no place in mainstream politics.For Republicans, the effort to expel Omar is part of a broader strategy to align the party with populist and nationalist sentiments. By pushing for Omar\u2019s removal, they seek to galvanize their base and stoke outrage among voters who feel that the progressive left has taken over American institutions.The battle over Omar\u2019s place in Congress is likely to intensify as the 2024 election season approaches. With both sides using her as a political pawn, the stakes could not be higher.President Donald Trump\u2019s calls for Ilhan Omar\u2019s expulsion from Congress have sparked a fierce political battle that cuts to the heart of America\u2019s current ideological divide.For Trump and many Republicans, Omar\u2019s comments about Charlie Kirk and her broader progressive agenda make her unfit to serve in Congress. For Democrats, Omar is a victim of a coordinated effort to silence her voice and discredit her politics.The push to remove Omar is unlikely to succeed in the Democratic-controlled House, but it underscores the growing polarization in American politics and the intensifying battles over free speech, representation, and accountability.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c.files.bbci.co.uk\/33EF\/production\/_106459231_untitl341234ed-1.jpg\")
\\As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the fight over Ilhan Omar\u2019s place in Congress is about far more than one individual\u2014it is about the future direction of American politics and the values that will define the country in the years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said Tuesday that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) \u201cnever\u201d spoke with him about the ongoing government shutdown, adding that \u201cno one really knows\u201d who is leading Democrats…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11792,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t