KY Gov Demands Health Updates from McConnell Amid Recovery
Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear claimed Sunday that he has received no response from longtime Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell after repeatedly pressing the veteran lawmaker for public details on his health following a weeks-long hospitalization.
Appearing on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Beshear, widely viewed as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful, told fill-in host Ed O’Keefe that he has “heard absolutely nothing back from” the Kentucky Republican.
The governor insisted he harbors no ill will toward the senator.
“I wish him no harm,” Beshear said.
“I actually wish him good health. His boss are the people of Kentucky, and this is why the Senate –– the Republican-controlled Senate — feels so broken. They feel like they’re not accountable to anyone,” Beshear added.
Beshear continued his criticism, arguing McConnell should simply record a brief message for constituents.
“All he needs to do is call into this show for two minutes, or Fox News for two minutes, or do a video for two minutes to the people he’s supposed to serve, but you know what?” the governor asked.
“He absolutely refuses to do so.”
The Democrat then turned his fire on Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota.
“As the leader of the Senate, you’ve got a duty to make sure all of your senators have the capacity to serve,” Beshear said. “And what is he saying? ‘Not my job.’ That’s not surprising.”
McConnell, 84, suffered a fall at his Washington home in June and was hospitalized for an extended period with limited initial information released about his condition.
That scarcity of details fueled media speculation.
His office later confirmed he was discharged from hospital care late last month and continues recovering at a rehabilitation facility, according to the Capitol’s Office of the Attending Physician.
Staff has released periodic updates and photos of the senator during his recovery, though no firm date has been set for his return to the Senate floor.
On July 8, Beshear sent a formal letter to McConnell requesting a health briefing, asserting that Kentuckians “have grown increasingly concerned” and that ongoing media speculation “is not fair to the senator or to Kentuckians.”
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Last month the governor escalated further with what he described as a final ultimatum.
“As Governor of the state you serve, I am calling on you to directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign,” Beshear wrote in the letter.
“Per our research, a vacancy in the Senate occurs when a senator dies, resigns, or is expelled by a vote of the Senate itself,” Beshear added.
McConnell, who has already announced he will not seek reelection in November and will leave office at the end of his current term, has faced previous health challenges over the years.
Fellow Republicans have expressed full confidence that the veteran senator will return to duty before his term concludes.
Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas highlighted McConnell’s lifelong resilience.
“This guy’s battled polio his whole life,” Marshall told journalist Nicholas Ballasy earlier this month. “I didn’t even know he had the problem until I met him in person. But he’ll be back. He’s making progress.”
Other Senate Republicans have similarly voiced assurance in McConnell’s recovery and capacity to finish out his service.
Critics note that personal medical privacy has traditionally been respected for members of both parties, and McConnell’s office has already provided official statements, photos, and confirmation of ongoing rehabilitation.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
