HomeNext Mitch McConnell health: MS NOW host raises eyebrows at latest updates on Senator, ‘if I’m struggling in a hospital…’ Amid concerns for Mitch McConnell's health, Joe Scarborough questioned Republican claims of lengthy phone conversations with the senator.
Published on: Jul 8, 2026, 23:13:10 IST By Shweta Kukreti Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link An MS NOW host expressed surprise at the recent developments concerning Mitch McConnell.
Joe Scarborough seemed perplexed by the remarks made by Republican lawmakers, who claimed they had a 20-minute phone conversation with the 84-year-old senator from Kentucky, who was admitted to the hospital after being discovered unconscious in his residence on June 14.
MS NOW's Joe Scarborough reacted to Republican assertions of speaking with hospitalized Mitch McConnell for 20 minutes. (REUTERS) McConnell's team has offered minimal updates about his health over the past three weeks, mostly reverting to a statement from July 2 that said that McConnell is thankful for the significant support he is receiving during his recovery in the hospital.
“The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session,” the statement added.
As worries and conjectures increased, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Whip John Barrasso, and former McConnell aide-turned-CNN panelist Scott Jennings all asserted that they had communicated with the ailing senator this week.
“They give you this card and your entire day—at least mine and most members that I know—were split in 15-minute increments, right?
8:15, 8:30, 8:00,” Scarborough said.
“Mitch McConnell’s yesterday was split in 20-minute increments because it seems every Republican on Capitol Hill or any right-wing person on television seemed to have talked to Mitch McConnell for 20 minutes.” “If John Thune and John Barrasso say they talked to him for 20 minutes or whatever, I believe they did.
But I’m telling you, if I’m struggling in a hospital, I’m not talking to people for 20 minutes.
I go, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ And move on,” the MS NOW host added.
A representative for Thune previously informed the Daily Beast that he and McConnell had a detailed phone conversation on Monday, discussing a range of subjects, including national security.
Barrasso’s office also indicated that he had a conversation with McConnell on Tuesday.
“Senator Barrasso and Senator McConnell had a lengthy conversation early this afternoon.
Their phone call lasted roughly 20 minutes,” communications director Kate Noyes stated.
“Senator McConnell was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate.” The statements have bot clarified the reasons for McConnell's continued hospitalization and provided no information regarding his potential discharge date.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shweta Kukreti Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics.
She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk.
She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events.
Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives.
She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics.
In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team.
She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World.
Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work.
Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC).
She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi.
If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh.
She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family.
