Free Republic

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman’s brashness toward progressives has expanded beyond the topic of Israel. Fetterman was the topic of a lengthy feature article published by the New York Times on Saturday that highlighted how the senator, who had been on thin ice with progressives for his staunch and unconditional support for Israel in its war with Hamas, has shown that his willingness to make waves within his own party doesn’t stop at the Middle East. Fetterman was seen mocking environmentalist Stevie O’Hanlon, who was trying to speak to him about a Chester County pipeline, in a video that circulated online...

Sen. John Fetterman told Yeshiva University graduates Wednesday that he was “profoundly disappointed” in Harvard University’s inability to address antisemitism on campus before removing the ceremonial crimson academic hood representing his alma mater. The Pennsylvania Democrat expressed his disapproval with the Ivy League school during his commencement address for the private Orthodox Jewish university, which bestowed him with its “Hero of Israel” award, the institution’s highest honor. “I have been profoundly disappointed [in] Harvard’s inability to stand up for the Jewish community after Oct. 7,” Fetterman, 54, told the new grads at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens. “Personally, I do...

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) is set to receive Yeshiva University’s highest honor for his service and global leadership, with the university proclaiming him as the “Hero of Israel.” Fetterman, a staunch supporter of Israel in its war against militant group Hamas, will be awarded the school’s “Presidential Medallion” during the institution’s 93rd annual commencement ceremony Wednesday, the school said in the news release. “Senator Fetterman is one of the true heroes of our time for his unwavering and courageous commitment to moral clarity, which has fortified our community and been a clarion call for our country,” Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman,...

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that President Joe Biden was trying to have “both sides” on the Israel–Hamas war. Anchor Jake Tapper said, “You’ve become famous or infamous depending on your point of view for your stalwart support of Israel since the October 7 attacks, especially, but before then as well, Israel recovered the body of yet another hostage yesterday. That’s for hostage bodies recovered this week. The U.S. is assessing that Israel has amassed enough troops to launch a full-scale ground operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, despite President Biden’s...

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) is issuing an apology for a comparison he made regarding the House of Representatives. On Thursday night, Americans were aghast after watching a drama filled hearing of the House Oversight Committee which featured several minutes of members lobbing personal insults at each other. In a post on X, Fetterman shared a CNN article about the moment and wrote, “In the past, I’ve described the U.S. House as The Jerry Springer Show.” “Today, I’m apologizing to The Jerry Springer Show,” he added. During the hearing on Thursday, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) asked Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)...

On Tuesday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “Special Report,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) stated that while President Joe Biden has been a strong supporter of Israel, the administration delaying arms sales to the country is wrong and the only conditions should be on Hamas and their enablers. Fetterman praised Biden’s speech earlier in the day and stated that Biden “been very supportive [of] Israel, but I don’t agree with him on everything, like, for example, I was public and I said that I don’t think we should be withholding any kind of munitions and I think, I said I...

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said the ongoing pro-Palestinian college protests are “working against peace in the Middle East.” Fetterman has been outspoken about his support for Israel, saying recently that the pro-Palestinian encampments on college campuses were “pup tents” for militant group Hamas. Host Margaret Brennan asked Fetterman on CBS’s “Face the Nation” about the protests on Sunday, asking him whether he considers flying the Palestinian flag during the demonstrations to be antisemitic.

This week police were called in to oust protesters who seized control of Hamilton Hall on the Columbia University campus in New York City, smashing glass doors and windows in the process. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn) hailed the decision to "remove these anti-Semitic thugs from the property. This is no 'peace protest.' It is a demonstration in support of the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered over a 1,200 Israeli civilians last October 7 and demands the elimination of the Jewish presence in the region." Mayor Eric Adams (D) objected to "the trashing of the premises, tearing down the American flag, and...

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) on Thursday reluctantly agreed with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R-FL) move to ban lab-grown meat in his state. “Pains me deeply to agree with Crash-and-Burn Ron, but I co-sign this,” Fetterman wrote in a social media post, commenting on a screenshot of an article headlined “DeSantis signs bill banning lab-grown meat.” “As a member of @SenateAgDems and as some dude who would never serve that slop to my kids, I stand with our American ranchers and farmers,” Fetterman continued: Pains me deeply to agree with Crash-and-Burn Ron, but I co-sign this. As a member of @SenateAgDems and...

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) ripped into the pro-Palestinian protests roiling college campuses, calling the encampment demonstrations “pup tents” for the militant group Hamas. “Now, of course, it’s a great American value to protest, but I don’t believe living in a pup tent for Hamas is really helpful,” Fetterman said in an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.” Protests calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and a halt in U.S. military aid to Israel have persisted for more than a week at a swath of college campuses across the country. Some protesters — including those at Columbia...

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) called on the president of Columbia University to do her “job or resign” amid ongoing unrest and heightened concern for Jewish students’ safety on campus. In a post on social platform X, Fetterman compared aspects of the anti-Israel protests to the infamous Charlottesville rally in 2017, when white supremacists chanted “Jews will not replace us” near the campus of the University of Virginia. “I fully agree with the White House — these ‘protests’ are antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous. Add some tiki torches and it’s Charlottesville for these Jewish students,” Fetterman wrote in a statement Sunday night....

Sen. John Fetterman reiterated his criticisms of activists calling for cease-fire in Gaza, and slammed fellow Democrats for their “crazy” response to the attacks Iran has launched against Israel, in an interview with Fox Digital. “It is not appropriate or legal or helpful to advance your argument if you show up in a Starbucks with a bullhorn and start yelling at people,” he told Fox News Digital in a Friday interview. He also claimed such protests don’t “make you noble.” “It just makes you an (–*&*(,” Fetterman (D-Pa.) said. Since the onset of the war between Israel and terrorist group...

Democrat Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) broke ways with President Joe Biden on Sunday after he said he wouldn’t support Israel if it retaliated against Iran. During an interview with CNN, Fetterman told host Jake Tapper that he disagreed with Biden’s stance, saying he would never "capitulate to the fringe" or “pander” to the Democratic Party. “Do you think that's the right call or should direct U.S. military action, as some of your colleagues in the Senate are suggesting, should that be on the table?" Tapper asked. The president made it clear that he would not back Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin...

"Stop Making Sense" is an album and a documentary by the band Talking Heads. It's also a phrase that comes to mind every time Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman (D) opens his mouth these days.It's not that I want him to stop making sense, it's just that I still can't wrap my head around the fact that this is the same guy who on the campaign trail was barely coherent due to complications from a massive stroke and who came off as someone who would end up on the AOC wing of the party. As if to emphasize that impression, he...

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman ripped the idea of “squatter’s rights” during an exclusive interview with The Post this week. “Squatters have no rights,” Fetterman said, adding that the issue was one he often dealt with when he was mayor of working-class Braddock, Pa. “How can you even pretend that this is anything other than you’re just breaking the law?” “I am not woke,” he warned.

U.S. — Despite holding a narrow lead in the Senate amid a hotly contested election year, Democrats have issued a nationwide Fetterman recall to address documented instances of malfunctions from the Pennsylvania senator. Democratic leaders reportedly held high-level meetings to discuss potential solutions for the issue of John Fetterman failing to advocate for the party's prescribed positions and regularly acting counter to his manufacturer's programming, leading to a full recall being issued. "We thought he'd be a reliable Democrat, but he's just not functioning correctly," said one Democrat official. "Once a product starts to fail in its intended purpose, it...

Three top communication staffers in Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman’s office left for other left-leaning offices, all within the span of a month. The departures come as the Pennsylvania Democrat has made headlines for his stances on Israel and immigration, separating him from his fellow Democrat colleagues. Joe Calvello formerly worked as Fetterman’s Director of Communications both in his Senate office and on his 2022 campaign. A statement released earlier this month by the City of Chicago announced that Calvello would be joining as Chief Strategy Officer in Chicago Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office. “It’s an absolute honor and a privilege...

Top staffers for Democrat John Fetterman are leaving his office for more progressive jobs as the Pennsylvania senator moves more to the center on key issues. The everyman Democrat, who loves Carhartt hoodies and dawning a disheveled goatee, has staunchly supported Israel's war on Hamas and denounced calls for a ceasefire. He's also expressed support for increased U.S. border security, another position that puts him at odds with his party. The freshman Democrat was elected after securing support from some of the most liberal members of Congress in 2022. The towering 6 foot 8 inch senator, previously supported Democrat Socialist...

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) criticized Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday after she indicated Israel should face 'consequences' if they launched a major ground offensive in Rafah. Both Biden and Harris have warned Israeli Prime Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu not to invade Rafah as part of Israel's military goal of rooting out Hamas terrorists in the region and freeing the hostages held in captivity after the October 7 attacks. When Harris was asked by ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott on Sunday whether she would rule out considering 'consequences' for Israel if they invaded Rafah, Harris replied, 'I am ruling...

During an interview with the Fox News Channel aired on Friday’s broadcast of “Special Report,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) reacted to claims that 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war — a claim that has been repeated by President Joe Biden — by stating that number includes a huge number of Hamas terrorists and also said that the war could end immediately if Hamas would surrender and release the hostages. Fetterman said, [relevant remarks begin around 1:55] “I was very disappointed that our caucus wasn’t — we didn’t have the opportunity to do that. I really wanted to...