EXCLUSIVE — Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) defended Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) prolonged absence from the Senate on Thursday, claiming that the “people” who are scrutinizing his health “want to put their name in the news.”

The remark amounts to an apparent dig at Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY), a possible 2028 Democratic presidential candidate. This week, Beshear called on McConnell to provide “proof” of his fitness for office or resign.