'So weird': Newsmax host tears apart MAGA pundit for 'bizarre' Mitch McConnell claims
Source: Alternet.org · Bias: Left
Summary
On CNN panels, GOP strategist Scott Jennings can be highly combative in his relentless defense of President Donald Trump. But on Newsmax, the cable news outlet that prides itself on being to the right of Fox News and Fox Business, Jennings is drawing scathing criticism for an update on the condition of former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) — who has been hospitalized for weeks.In a Tuesday afternoon post on X, Jennings wrote, "I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He's still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible."Jennings' tweet isn't going over well with MAGA Republicans, many of whom deeply resent McConnell for speaking out against Trump in the past. Finnerty, journalist Catherine Bouris notes in the Daily Beast, "found the timing of the call suspicious."Finnerty, on Tuesday night, told Newsmax viewers, "Nobody heard from Mitch McConnell for three weeks, and today, you talked to him about Iran and the history of the vice presidency and the history of the Senate? What?.... I'm sorry, I don't buy that at all."Finnerty argued that it is "bizarre" that Jennings didn't want to speculate about McConnell's condition even though he had "no problem" commenting on former President Joe Biden's health during his four years in the White House.The Newsmax host told viewers, "Suddenly, he doesn't want to comment on Mitch McConnell's health because he's not a medical expert?.... I don't buy it. Something is not right. Something is going on. That was so weird."On the show, Finnerty and his guest, journalist Desirée Townsend, noted reports that McConnell suffered a heart attack.Finnerty said, "We still haven't seen a photo of Mitch McConnell. I don't think it's a conspiracy theory to ask for a photo of a United States senator, anything to prove this guy’s doing OK."When Jennings appeared on CNN, host Kasie Hunt accused Republicans of being secretive about McConnell's condition and told her right-wing colleague, "Would you encourage him or anyone in his position to be more transparent with his voters about his health than he's been so far?”
Related Coverage
- ‘The View’ co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin hits Democrats over ‘botched’ vetting of Graham Platner (Right — New York Post)
- Kentucky governor makes unusual request as mystery deepens over Mitch McConnell's health (Right — Blaze Media)
- 'Are you kidding?' Hometown paper in disbelief over bizarre decision by McConnell's wife (Far Left — Raw Story)
- Nebraska Senate hopeful Dan Osborn rejects claim he helped recruit Platner (Center Right — Washington Examiner)
- McConnell faces fresh calls to come clean about health issues (Right — Latest Political News on Fox News)
- Mitch McConnell 'brain dead' rumor sparks panic as Democrats seize on crisis in major threat to Trump agenda (Right — US Politics: Latest News, Comments and Breaking Stories | Mail Online)
- Watch Live: Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan Sentenced to NO PRISON TIME After Being Found Guilty of Obstructing ICE Agents and More! The WAR Zone Podcast With Wayne Allyn Root Presented by The Gateway Pundit (Far Right — The Gateway Pundit)
- Mike Johnson eyes controversial bill to appease MAGA 'in revolt': report (Far Left — Raw Story)
Daily Analysis
Read the full Parallax Pulse for July 8, 2026 — an AI-powered analysis of how Left and Right media covered the biggest stories this day.
More Headlines From July 8, 2026
- ‘Stupid and lazy’ people won’t get ahead: Bill O’Reilly (Center)
- Breaking down the Graham Platner allegations, pressure from Democrats (Center)
- President Trump Announces the End of Sanctions on Turkey (Far Right)
- Congressional staffers call on leaders to overhaul sexual misconduct rules (Center)
- Iran targets military sites in Bahrain, Kuwait after wave of US strikes (Right)








