Media Supporting Smearing Of U-S Senator John Fetterman

Senator John Fetterman

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), once a progressive darling endorsed by figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has increasingly distanced himself from the progressive label since his 2022 Senate election. 

During his campaign, he called himself “just a Democrat,” rejecting the progressive mantle he once embraced as lieutenant governor and mayor of Braddock, PA. His shift became pronounced after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, with Fetterman offering unwavering support for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a stance that starkly contrasts with many progressives’ calls for conditional aid or criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Fetterman has also taken moderate positions on other issues:

• Immigration: He has advocated for stricter border policies, calling the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border a “crisis” and supporting bipartisan talks on migration control, which has drawn ire from progressives who favor more lenient policies.
• Energy: He reversed his earlier opposition to a Pennsylvania pipeline project, prompting accusations of abandoning environmentalist causes.
• Engagement with Republicans: Fetterman has been notably open to working with President Donald Trump and his administration, becoming the first Senate Democrat to meet Trump at Mar-a-Lago in January 2025. He voted for several Trump cabinet picks, including Pam Bondi for attorney general, despite her election denialism.

These moves have led outlets like NBC News to describe his ideology as an “unorthodox brand of blue-collar liberalism” with “outsider populism,” while others note his views on Israel align more with Republicans. His willingness to break with Democratic orthodoxy has earned praise from GOP figures like Senators Tom Cotton and Dave McCormick, who call him “authentic” and “independent.”

Fetterman’s shift has sparked significant backlash from progressives and some moderate Democrats, who feel betrayed by his departure from the left-leaning platform that fueled his 2022 victory. Critics argue he’s abandoned core progressive values, particularly on Israel and immigration, and his brash style—such as mocking environmentalist Stevie O’Hanlon on video or waving an Israeli flag at pro-Palestinian protesters—has intensified tensions.

Anonymous Source: Philly Inquirer

Media “Hit Pieces” Include: 

• A May 2025 New York Magazine article, citing former chief of staff Adam Jentleson and anonymous staffers, raised concerns about Fetterman’s mental health, alleging erratic behavior and failure to follow his post-stroke recovery plan. Fetterman dismissed it as a “one-source hit piece” driven by “disgruntled staffers.” 
• The article gained traction at CBS News, which labeled the NY Magazine articles as a 'one-source hit piece'.
• An Associated Press report detailed an outburst at a teachers’ union meeting, where Fetterman reportedly shouted and slammed his desk, leaving a staffer in tears.
• Philadelphia Inquirer May 8 article detailed concerns about Fetterman’s disengagement from his senatorial duties, including missing meetings, skipping votes, and an outburst during a meeting with Pennsylvania teachers’ union representatives

In a time of growing ideological division, moderates who seek compromise aren’t seen as models to follow, but as traitors to be condemned.