A prominent political pundit as well as at least two sitting senators say they’ve spoken to Sen. Mitch McConnell by phone after rumors that he was ‘brain dead’ and not likely to ever recover.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he had spoken with McConnell by phone on Monday and that the two had a “lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security,” according to The Associated Press.
Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 Senate Republican, also claimed to have had a 20-minute conversation with McConnell on Tuesday.
While McConnell’s team has recently said he has been “improving” since his June 14 hospitalization, the scant details and absence of proof have led to a swirl of rumors about his current condition. Reports claimed he was unconscious and in a vegetative state.
CNN’s conservative commentator Scott Jennings said that he had spoken to the former Senate leader and had found him in good spirits.
“I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky,” Jennings wrote.
“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.”
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…
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) July 7, 2026
Jennings was challenged by fellow CNN anchor Kasie Hunt whether McConnell would be willing to dial into the studio from his hospital bed to set the record straight.
“As we wrap up here, do you think he’d be willing to call into the show? Could we get him on the phone now?” Hunt asked.
Jennings was evasive.
“I wasn’t really expecting him to call this morning, to be honest so when the phone rang and I was able to talk to him, I was frankly pretty grateful,” he said.
“I mean, as I said, I’ve known him since I was a teenager. If it hadn’t been for Mitch McConnell and the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville, you know, I would never have been able to go to college. He’s been my mentor, and he changed the trajectory of my life.”
“So, you know, when things happen to him and happen to people in your life that you really care about, you just sort of naturally feel extremely worried,” Jennings continued.
“So when I heard his voice today, and he was clearly keeping up with stuff, that made me happy to hear from him because like everybody else, I’ve been, you know, somewhat in the dark about it, but to hear him talking and to know that he’s also talking to the Senate leadership, it made me pretty happy.”
Take a listen —
So either Mitch McConnell is not brain-dead or Scott Jennings is lying!
I believe Scott, what about you?
pic.twitter.com/tuePQRRlV3— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) July 7, 2026
Hunt asked Jennings whether he felt the senator’s team had been honest about his longterm hospitalization.
“I sometimes wonder, like, if I were laying in a hospital bed, would I want a bunch of people around photographing me?” he fired back.
“Probably not. Particularly if I were an 84-year-old person who’s normally private about his health. Probably not.”
“But, look, I take the criticism. I think it’s a fair question about transparency. I think it’s a fair question about whether they’ve done enough. But ultimately, these office holders, you know, they’re in charge of their own operations.”
Hunt signed off by saying: “Our phone lines are open here at The Arena should he wish to call in.”
“Long time listener, first time caller,” Jennings joked.
McConnell was admitted to the hospital on June 14, according to a statement from his office that only said he was “receiving excellent care.” He has not been seen or heard from by the public since then.
This is an ongoing story. Check back for updates.