r/politics Jul 06 '26

No Paywall Laura Loomer, Reporter Claim Hospitalized Mitch McConnell 'Brain Dead'

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/07/06/laura-loomer-reporter-claim-hospitalized-mitch-mcconnell-is-brain-dead/
28.6k Upvotes

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7.7k

u/travio Washington Jul 06 '26

Wouldn't trust Loomer, but the reporter broke the original hospital story. They have credibility there.

The mainstream media is being very careful with this. Shows how closely McConnell's people are playing it.

There has been talk of an August 3rd deadline in Kentucky election laws, though I'm not versed and seen conflicting accounts. Maybe worried they would lose a special election so they are waiting to pull the plug until after it passes.

Would be a fitting end for McConnell's last days to be used in a cheap political trick to ensure his party remains in power. He dies like he lived.

1.4k

u/SuperFrog4 Jul 06 '26

If there is an August 3rd deadline and I was Governor of Kentucky, I would have this investigated and if found true, then I would immediately invoke the law that allows the Governor to pick a replacement on the grounds that he is brain dead which is a terminal condition.

732

u/LackingUtility Jul 06 '26

Forget investigating. Say he's dead and the position is vacant and appoint a replacement. Naturally, his campaign will oppose and ask a court for a temporary injunction. And the governor should oppose that by saying they lack standing, since he's dead. Leaving them to have to show he's alive and present.

The Kentucky constitution just specifies that the position must be "vacant", it doesn't say "dead", so even if they say he's brain dead, that wouldn't prevent the governor from appointing a replacement.

But we know this won't happen. At best, the governor will appoint a blue ribbon committee to investigate and report back in 6-12 months.

145

u/turquoise_amethyst Jul 07 '26

This is the way to do it, unfortunately nobody has the balls to actually try this.

Announce that he’s dead, appoint a new Congress person, and let his office deal with the burden of proof that he ISN'T dead. 

47

u/Aunt_Vagina1 Jul 07 '26

Why not do this?!?  The people of Kentucky deserve better.   Its absurd that we think the family can shield his state of mind out of some respect for his privacy yet he insists upon still holding a public office.  

70

u/turquoise_amethyst Jul 07 '26

If it was a (D) Senator and an (R) Governor, they would have done it within 24 hours.

Everyone knows he’s either dead or brain dead. Replace him ASAP, let the people vote on it later. 

Although methinks the (R) are less worried about a (D) replacement than Massie running for the seat. I forgot about him, but I think that’s the real worry. 

7

u/cenosillicaphobiac Utah Jul 07 '26

Kentucky took that power away from the Governor. Very recently in fact, and because they saw this coming. KY Governor does not replace dead Senators. First law was "Governor has to pick from a list of 3 provided by the dead guys party" and Beshear signaled he would ignore that, because he doubted it was constitutional. So they passed a "okay then you don't have that power' law.

6

u/LackingUtility Jul 07 '26

And that's likely unconstitutional too. Beshear should just do it, and let them fight it in the court. Stop complying in advance.

46

u/urgerestraint Jul 07 '26

A Republican governor absolutely would do just this if it was a Democrat senator lying braindead. It sucks so much that Dems are too weak willed and scared to fight back.

10

u/CatDadof2 Jul 07 '26

I DO NOT understand why Democrats are so fucking scared to fight back. I really do not get it. MAGA and Republicans are the weakest of the weak. They are easy to attack.

3

u/joox Jul 07 '26

Because theyre just as bought and paid for as republicans. They dont actually want to help people. Democrats have been subverting democracy for years to support corporate interests. Just look at citizens united

2

u/youaintgotnomoney_12 Jul 07 '26

This is the right answer

2

u/cenosillicaphobiac Utah Jul 07 '26

Beshear would do it, if he could. Guaranteed.

Kentucky took that power away from the Governor. Very recently in fact, and because they saw this coming. KY Governor does not replace dead Senators. First law was "Governor has to pick from a list of 3 provided by the dead guys party" and Beshear signaled he would ignore that, because he doubted it was constitutional. So they passed a "okay then you don't have that power' law.

3

u/No-Bother-7699 Jul 07 '26

But they won’t do anything that takes an ounce of courage. Sadly, Dems try to be the good person when the situation requires a gloves off approach. You can’t tell me John Thune doesn’t know exactly what’s going on here. If McConnell has no hope of recovery he needs to be replaced.

6

u/Stefferdiddle California Jul 07 '26

Beshear would be a big damn hero if he did this and the DNC should reward him with their support in 2028.

2

u/cenosillicaphobiac Utah Jul 07 '26

Kentucky took that power away from the Governor. Very recently in fact, and because they saw this coming. KY Governor does not replace dead Senators. First law was "Governor has to pick from a list of 3 provided by the dead guys party" and Beshear signaled he would ignore that, because he doubted it was constitutional. So they passed a "okay then you don't have that power' law.

2

u/DancinginTown Jul 07 '26

They have a law they passed about election for succession if one is taken out by death so that'll be a fight either way. 

1

u/cenosillicaphobiac Utah Jul 07 '26

Kentucky took that power away from the Governor. Very recently in fact, and because they saw this coming. KY Governor does not replace dead Senators. First law was "Governor has to pick from a list of 3 provided by the dead guys party" and Beshear signaled he would ignore that, because he doubted it was constitutional. So they passed a "okay then you don't have that power' law.

57

u/20_mile Jul 07 '26

Say he's dead and the position is vacant and appoint a replacement

Yeah, the nation is begging for Dark Beshear. We want to see people fighting for justice.

I imagine Desi Lydic, of The Daily Show, will have something to say about this when they return from break, as she is from Kentucky.

157

u/ProtectionVirtual225 Jul 06 '26

Because bipartisanship, of course. High road, etc., etc.

This is how we got 2 terms of Trump and the death of democracy.

9

u/POEness Jul 07 '26

All we have to do to stop Republicans is fairly count elections. Considering as of this year they now own all the voting machine companies, welp, that means back to paper only.

6

u/ProtectionVirtual225 Jul 07 '26

Actually, paper is the gold standard. It's the only way to validate and re-count if necessary. Wish it were otherwise, but a safer, hack-proof system hasn't been developed yet.

-7

u/NewDay2517 Jul 07 '26

Election denier.

-12

u/Murky-Possession783 Jul 07 '26

Uh Huh..  and the likes of Dianne Feinstein literally brain dead on the senate floor with her handler telling her on tv "no, no, youre voting this way!" SPARE ME!

12

u/_blue_pill Jul 07 '26

I don’t think you understand the meaning of the word “literally”

10

u/LordSwedish Jul 07 '26

Aside from the fact that you don't seem to understand the words you're using, okay good. Do you think left wing people are happy with the Democrats keeping their craven ghouls in power out of seniority and squashing all younger voices?

31

u/SuperFrog4 Jul 06 '26

I like that idea. Guess it is too bad I am not governor. Lol.

7

u/867-5309Jennie Jul 07 '26

Sad but true. I wish dems would play it like maga would in this instance. Something needs to be done.

7

u/justheretolurk123456 Jul 07 '26

Brain dead means dead.

15

u/LackingUtility Jul 07 '26

The Republicans have never believed that. See, e.g., Terri Schiavo and Donald Trump.

4

u/GunslingerSTKC Jul 07 '26

Yeah say he’s dead and require proof of life lol they can’t do shit if he’s actually brain dead

1

u/sasha_the_impaler Jul 07 '26

They're about to wheel out his ICU bed and just say he's really sleepy from so much physical therapy earlier.

3

u/Melicor Jul 07 '26

Simpler, just demand proof of life.

2

u/sasha_the_impaler Jul 07 '26

"The signs are pointing to the fact that Mitch McConnell is dead. I would like to ask his office for proof of life. Otherwise, I'm moving forward with a new appointment as is my right under Kentucky law," would get a lot more headlines without any risk of being sued if he's not dead somehow.

The news could quote it as "'He's dead' - Kentucky governor claims Sen. Mitch McConnell is deceased."

It doesn't even need to be the governor. Any Democrat lawmaker needs to just step forward and say they think Mitch McConnell is dead or totally incapacitated.

3

u/jojoko Jul 07 '26

Funny thing is republicans knew Mitch was very old and this might happen and changed the law twice! First they changed the law so that the governor must pick a replacement from the same party. Then they took it out of his hands completely and did this special election.

2

u/cerasmiles Jul 07 '26

If he’s brain dead he’s legally dead. There is no ambiguity in brain death.

1

u/Aunt_Vagina1 Jul 07 '26

Yes. Fucking this

0

u/dcoats69 Washington Jul 07 '26

While i support this path, i want to call out the possibility that they leaked this to egg us onto this path, and when they reveal he's alive (for now) it will hurt beshears credibility and make him look like he's kiniving and trying to steal a senate seat.

Definitely should do a bit of investigation first, even if it's a less official route, like hiring a PI.

11

u/Past-Student-5239 Jul 07 '26

The 911 call revealed that he was unconscious and that EMTs were performing CPR. It is next to impossible to come back from that.

7

u/Aunt_Vagina1 Jul 07 '26

Oh no, he got caught trying.  Now people who didnt like him before will continue not liking him.  Oh no.

0

u/cenosillicaphobiac Utah Jul 07 '26

Kentucky took that power away from the Governor. Very recently in fact, and because they saw this coming. KY Governor does not replace dead Senators. First law was "Governor has to pick from a list of 3 provided by the dead guys party" and Beshear signaled he would ignore that, because he doubted it was constitutional. So they passed a "okay then you don't have that power" law.