Why Mitch McConnell Mystery is Getting Even Darker
Podcast: The Daily Beast PodcastPublished On: Sat Sep 19 2026
Description: Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty discuss Mitch McConnell’s mysterious return to the Senate after 92 days away, the disturbing questions surrounding his health, and the obscure Senate rules that may be keeping his condition out of public view. They examine the growing cracks in the Republican Party as longtime conservatives turn against Donald Trump, from Karl Rove’s decision to back a Democrat in Texas to the political backlash over immigration enforcement in Florida and beyond. Plus, ICE’s leadership chaos, the fallout from Pete Hegseth’s tumultuous tenure at the Pentagon, and the growing influence of his wife, Jennifer, who has earned some very revealing nicknames inside the department. And as questions mount about Trump’s own health and the strange bulge spotted beneath his jacket, Joanna and Hugh take a closer look at the White House’s refusal to provide answers, the administration’s attacks on The Daily Beast, and what may be happening behind the scenes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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