And I used 'this' world quite deliberately because there is speculation swirling that the frail former Senate majority leader may have already exited to another plane of existence, if you get my drift.
Well...huh.
Two weeks ago, on June 14th, Kentucky's senior senator was hospitalized, and all anyone was told was that he was receiving 'excellent care.'
That was the sum of the report from his staff.
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, the former head of the chamber's Republican majority, was admitted to hospital Sunday morning, a spokesman said in a statement.
McConnell's spokesman, David Popp, did not elaborate on why the Republican lawmaker from Kentucky was hospitalized, and did not provide an update on his condition. He said in a statement that McConnell "is receiving excellent care."
There really hasn't been any word on McConnell since, other than a Politburo-type release a week later. That stilted blurb said McConnell was 'working closely' with Thune and others on legislation as he recovered from... well... whatever it was that ailed him, but did note that he wouldn't be voting.
That bit of news did throw a wrench into Senate plans.
Sen. Mitch McConnell will not return to the Senate this week, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Republican said Monday.
“Senator McConnell is still working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery. However, he will not be voting this week,” said the spokesperson, David Popp.
McConnell’s ongoing absence means planned Senate Appropriations Committee markups scheduled for later this week will be canceled, according to a committee aide who was granted anonymity to speak ahead of a formal announcement.
Two days ago, a Louisville, Kentucky CBS affiliate station started what has turned into a media version of 'Where's Waldo' by asking the obvious question - how has it been two solid weeks with the most senior Republican in the Senate supposedly hospitalized, and nary a peep about his condition?
How about an update on the man, sports?
WHERE'S MITCH-O?
Sen. Mitch McConnell's condition remains unclear 2 weeks after being hospitalized
It's been more than two weeks since Sen. Mitch McConnell was admitted to the hospital, and there's still few details surrounding his condition or why he's there.
A spokesperson for McConnell's office told WLKY Sunday night that there are "no updates at this time" regarding the senator's condition.
The office reiterated its same message from last week saying, "Senator McConnell is still working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery."
They even queried fellow KY senator Rand Paul, who could only say he'd 'heard' McConnell was 'doing better.'
Pretty frickin' vague, to be sure.
Today the Louisville Courier Journal was asking, too. It seems McConnell is the latest of US senators to go missing without a note, and they'd appreciate an explanation. They'd be happy with knowing as little 'new' information as whether he was even still in the hospital or resting at home.
As Tom Kean returns, Mitch McConnell's absence now DC's biggest mystery
While one member of U.S. Congress who had been missing due to a lengthy and unexplained absence returned this week, questions remain about the status of another from Kentucky.
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's representatives told media on June 14 that the 84-year-old senator had been hospitalized and was receiving "excellent care." Few details were included in that statement, and his office has had little to say since then — the next day, his representatives said he remained "fully engaged with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters," and on June 22 a spokesperson told reporters McConnell is "still working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery" but would not be voting that week.
McConnell's office did not provide an update on his condition when contacted by The Courier Journal on June 30. Spokespeople have not said why he was hospitalized, whether he's been released and what kind of care he's currently receiving. The Senate is currently in recess and is not scheduled to reconvene until July 13.
While McConnell's status has now been in question for more than two weeks, another federal lawmaker's lengthy absence ended on June 30 as U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. returned to the Capitol.
Sorry - no answers for you.
WHERE'S MITCH-O?
And now speculation has reached a fever pitch thanks to the release of the 911 call from two weeks ago, which paints a dire picture of what was happening at the McConnell home when paramedics - not EMTs - were summoned.
...Punchbowl News reported, "Just before 9 a.m. on June 14, the dispatcher directed an ALS (Advanced Life Support) ambulance to the address of the former Senate GOP leader's home. Audio of the EMS dispatch was circulating online earlier this week and was posted by journalist Desiree Townsend."
Later on the same day, McConnell spokesperson David Popp said the senator was hospitalized and "receiving excellent care." On June 22, Popp said that McConnell was "working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery."
No update has been provided on whether the senator remains hospitalized. According to several GOP senators, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, they have spoken with McConnell. Thune is "dialed in" on Senate happenings.
The 911 operator's accent is as thick as molasses on the recording - which is reportedly a huge problem with District of Columbia 911 dispatchers - but you can, if you listen closely, make out what sort of emergency response she's directing to the McConnell residence.
Thank God for the call's transcript subtitles.
This emergency dispatch recording was obtained from Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS dispatch and captures the call on June 14, 2026 at 8:36 a.m. requesting an Advanced Life Support (ALS) response after Senator Mitch McConnel was reported unconscious. According to the dispatch,… pic.twitter.com/ABv97WXJhz
— Desirée Townsend (@Cheering4Change) June 30, 2026
... According to the dispatch, paramedics were sent to the Senator's residence near Capitol Hill.
After the release of this call, I think there are going to be howls to produce proof of life coming from many quarters, and quasi-chipper assurances that he's 'the best Mitch ever' are going to fall flat as a pancake in this post-POTATUS day and age.
“Best Biden Ever” - Morning Joe pic.twitter.com/f7pHCp9j92
— HOT SPOT (@HotSpotHotSpot) March 7, 2024
UH, YEAH
I mean, it's so bad that Snopes is fact-checking 'Is he dead yet?' rumors, and they have nothing to run with.
...It was not possible to independently verify McConnell's health status. On June 30, a member of his team said via email that the Kentucky senator was recovering and still working closely with his staff. Until we know more, we will keep this claim unrated.
In an email regarding McConnell's health, spokesperson Stephanie Penn directed us to a statement from June 24, ahead of the Senate gaveling out of session, that read: "Senator McConnell is still working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery. However, he will not be voting this week."
Penn did not have any more updates on his health, as of this writing.
No one's buying what anyone's selling anymore.
We wish Mitch the best, but he and his family have a responsibility to the people of this country and the office he holds to be upfront.
Kentucky has to hold a special election to replace him if he's physically unable to continue, so it's not like Gov. Andy Beshear can plop a Democrat in that seat.
So...what's going on?
WHERE'S MITCH-O?
.
