this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2026
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The Pennsylvania senator dismissed the demand for further investigation as “moot.”

Senator John Fetterman appeared not to understand why Democrats want to investigate the deadly strike that killed dozens of Iranian children.

During an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Wednesday night, Fetterman was asked to explain why he hadn’t signed onto a letter from Senate Democrats that questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the February 28 strike on Shajarah Tayyebeh, a girls’ primary school miles from Tehran. The strike killed 175 people, many of them young girls.

“Well, because we all agree that it’s a tragedy having the school hit, and we all agree now for an investigation,” Fetterman said. “What I don’t agree with the rest of my colleagues in the House is that it’s a war of choice, or it’s dumb, or all the things my colleagues have described, you know, this operation. I think it’s a good thing, and I support that.”

Fetterman was referring to a line in the letter describing Donald Trump’s military campaign as “a war of choice without Congressional authorization.” The letter did not describe the war as “dumb.”

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[–] Kirk@startrek.website 155 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (5 children)

The headline is misquoting him, the full quote is:

“Well, because we all agree that it’s a tragedy having the school hit, and we all agree now for an investigation,” Fetterman said. “What I don’t agree with the rest of my colleagues in the House is that it’s a war of choice, or it’s dumb, or all the things my colleagues have described, you know, this operation. I think it’s a good thing, and I support that.”

Still glaringly stupid, but the headline makes it seem like he's in denial it happened. He didn't say the words ~~"leftist" or~~ "craze"

Edited for accuracy!

[–] Glide@lemmy.ca 40 points 2 weeks ago

Appreciate this.

Trump's political supporters say and do enough batshit, immoral things that we don't need to be lying just to make our points.

[–] ianhclark510@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 points 2 weeks ago

bad vibes to John Fetterman but also bad vibes to the journalist who misquoted the title

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

He did say the word "leftist". He doesn't say crazed, but he does say:

"The Leftist media seem more angry and talking about the deaths of these dead school girls than they were about Iran killing tens of thousands of their own young people a couple of weeks ago"

The clip is here: https://x.com/Acyn/status/2031906677365358825

All I did was search the rest of the article for the term "leftist" notice it was used, then goto the link the New Republic provided. The question the interviewer is posing is why did all the Senate Democrats signed a letter condemning the US action in Iran except for John Fetterman.

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[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 2 weeks ago

He says that, but then votes against the investigation. Fuck this guy.

[–] margaret_erine@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

What game are they trying to play here 🤔?

[–] Kirk@startrek.website 15 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

New Republic is definitely left leaning but they are typically factual (citation). This is not their typical fare.

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[–] MerryJaneDoe@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

This is 100% a click-bait post.

Here's the full interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zE4v--qcPs

Skip the comments, though, unless you enjoy reading bots and spam.

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[–] Theprogressivist@lemmy.world 47 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Motherfucker should have just been a Trumper. He's as stupid as everyone else in the administration and would fit right in.

[–] akilou@sh.itjust.works 23 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Looking back, it's like what the fuck, it was this guy or Dr Oz? Like did Pennsylvania even actually have a choice?

[–] foodandart@lemmy.zip 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

He was a lot less insufferable before the stroke.

Brain injuries absolutely DO change people.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

There's a fan theory about the show King of the Hill.

I think it was season 2 that Peggy Hill went sky diving. The parachute doesn't open, and she seeminly falls to her death. Except then you find out that she survived, and is now in a full body cast.

Fans noticed that before those events she wasn't very aggressive, or stuborn, or stupid. But after the fall, those are the traits that would define her character going forward.

The theory is, the brain damage from the fall changed her. And thats a good in show way of saying "the writers hadn't found her personality yet".

[–] SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

They blame the stroke he had just before the 2024 primary for his personality change, but there were clues that this was really him all along. Another excuse I've seen which I find slightly more believable (but only because the groundwork for it was already there) is that he became highly dependent upon social media - and thereby more radicalized - after his stroke prevented him from communicating normally.

[–] MerryJaneDoe@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

His "brain injury" was indeed caused by a stroke. It was the stroke of a pen, signing off on that big, fat check that someone gave him in exchange for his vote.

[–] mthomson@forum.macaque.social 35 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Can the Democrats sanction and eject this senator? He seems to be a Trumper in disguise.

[–] Soup@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

That would involve actually doing something, and 90% of them are utterly useless.

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[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 31 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Does anyone on any side think this brain-damaged flip-flopper has anything important to say?

The right seems to like a lot what he says, probably consider him one of the "good ones" until it's time to pair down on who to shoot next.

[–] heiligerbimbam@lemmy.wtf 29 points 2 weeks ago

I say John Fetterman is an amoralic peice of shit and will go to hell.

[–] The_Almighty_Walrus@lemmy.world 26 points 2 weeks ago

John Fetterman had medically confirmed brain damage.

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 20 points 2 weeks ago

Go jump into the Potomac you brain damaged traitor.

[–] GuyIncognito@lemmy.ca 18 points 2 weeks ago

John Fetterman lives under a bridge and eats any traveller who can't answer his riddles

[–] MercuryGenisus@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

"dozens" is a really weird way of spelling "over a hundred".

[–] thatKamGuy@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 weeks ago

It is, indeed.

FFS, even saying a “dozen dozens“ would be underselling the actual death toll of that particular war crime.

The world honestly would be a (slightly) better place if that stroke was just a smidge more fatal…

[–] NihilsineNefas@slrpnk.net 15 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

WHICH ONE OF THE SIX SCHOOL BOMBING STRIKES IN IRAN, FETTERMAN? WHICH FUCKING ONE DOESN'T DESERVE INVESTIGATION?

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

When it comes to Fetterman, I wonder how many people get brain damage and suddenly become more progressive instead of regressive?

I know some people say this is who they suspect he always was, but....

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[–] cmbabul@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago

Shame that stroke didn’t finish the job

[–] 1orangecat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 2 weeks ago

This man is among the worst.

[–] NoForwadSlashS@piefed.social 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Looking like Mike Myers in a cross between Dr. Evil and Fat Bastard there

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[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 10 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

This guy has been a major disappointment, but I want to remind everyone, that if Fetterman had t won his election, we'd be listening to Dr Oz run his fraud mouth.

Guys like Manchin and Sinema and Fetterman piss us off, but they contribute to the Democratic seat count, which is really really close right now. In past close party counts, sometimes the majority is only because of a DINO. They may not vote how we'd like, as much as we like, but their registration as Dem means that Dems control the chamber, the investigations, the legislation, etc.

So while he's a pain in the ass, he still has value to the party. Right now, the MAGA majority in the House is so thin, that if only one more Republican resigns effective immediately, the majority will swing to the Dems, BEFORE THE MIDTERMS EVEN HAPPEN.

If I were the Dems, I'd be offering huge rewards to any Republican willing to retire immediately. Want a cushy, high paying gig with a lobbying firm? We can make that happen. MAGA will scream, but who cares? That's always entertaining anyway.

[–] Wakmrow@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago

He just said killing school children is a leftist conspiracy wtf are you talking about

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[–] ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Why does the headline claim he said something that he didn't in fact say?

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[–] bibbasa@piefed.social 9 points 2 weeks ago

fuck this guy

[–] pjwestin@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

If the Democrats were a functioning opposition party, they would have forced Fetterman out when his staffers started reporting his erratic behavior. But Chuck Schumer needs Senators to, "go against him," and thwart any legitimate opposition the party can muster, so we let this brain damaged, mentally ill man occupy one of fhe highest positions of power in the nation.

[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

This dude is definitely a pedofile

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[–] bblkargonaut@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

I wish I could go back in time and vote against him in the primary, but he was cool back then flying the weed flag at the state capital. He also ran against Dr Oz, who is worse but I had high hopes for him. Now I just feel betrayed everytime he makes the news. I never felt so ashamed to have given anyone my vote as him.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I have come to the conclusion, after this being the 3rd thing I've seen about the man within the last 30 minutes, that Fetterman is a piece of shit.

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[–] Uranus_Hz@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Brain damaged fool says what?

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[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

Meaning everybody who is not a "leftie" is a psychopath.

[–] MuskyMelon@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

Crazy fuck

People who look crazy like this fuckhead shouldn't throw stones.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I never thought I’d hate a senator more than Manchin.

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[–] BassTurd@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Fetterman gets off to dead kids.

[–] areakode@riskeratspizza.com 7 points 2 weeks ago

I heard he's in the Epstein Files. Release them if you want to try and change my mind.

[–] dotCody@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

What a fuckin 180 this douche canoe did. Must have been that cameo in the Christian bale movie.

[–] archonet@lemy.lol 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

I choose to blame the stroke.

Actual, factual brain damage is no joke, and there was a reason he won the election he was in. He was genuinely not insane/traitorous before his stroke.

The more cynical option is that he was always like this and merely wanted to screw over the leftists of Pennsylvania by running under a D ticket, but frankly I think brain damage from stroke leading to sudden onset fascist sympathies is both more likely (brain damage can have really fucking weird effects) and way funnier in a certain context

[–] bus_factor@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

I've seen comments claiming to be from his local area saying he was always a bit like this. I don't think he ran a particularly leftist campaign, though, he just looked leftist compared to Dr. Oz.

I don't think Fetterman was a full bait and switch like that snake Kyrsten Sinema.

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