Fetterman explains why he crossed party lines to support Mullin for DHS chief

[Polybius]

Last edited Fri Mar 20, 2026, 05:09 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman cast the deciding vote Thursday to advance Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to serve as US Department of Homeland Security secretary, crossing party lines to send President Donald Trump’s nominee to the full Senate for consideration.

He explained in a post on X his decision to join Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in backing the Oklahoma Republican senator to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

“In January, I called on the president to fire Noem—and he did. I truly approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with an open-mind,” Fetterman wrote.

“We need a leader at DHS. We must reopen DHS. My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security,” he continued.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/19/politics/john-fetterman-mullin-dhs-vote

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Since Rand Paul voted No, the vote would have sunk had Fetterman not went along.

Trump's DHS pick Mullin advances by one vote after Sen. Fetterman votes yes

[paleotn]

1. Shut up John. Or is that your stroke talking again?

[jfz9580m]

21. Probably the stroke

I was watching that DOGE kid and how he decided which grants to drop based solely on what appear to be triggers for thought terminating cliches.

In fairness, that is a flaw in human cognition that most humans are well aware of.

I would normally say that if Rand Paul is a “No” on something I would likelier to be a “yes” on the same thing than not. But that is danger of reductive thinking reducing everything to one factor or metric. In this case or say wrt the marijuana industry I would agree with even Paul. But he is a still a piece of shit.

Quanta Magazine has some interesting pieces I do not understand, but my osmosis one vaguely absorbs something that makes sense:


I do not think the extremely online ( a group my horrible former adminstrator has forced me to join) know any feminists honestly. They know various online personas and that warps their perception of reality, which is sucky enough, but in a differently shaped way and with different dynamics.

Which will further now be afflicted with a flood of similar aw shucksy takes on reality on top of all the other scourges and nuisances imposed by the dominant narratives which espouse “sensibly” extractive, deregulation friendly, mindless hedonism - a “sensibly” suicidal death spiral of extravagant, even ostentatious stupidity. Work in this view of the world exists to be strenuous and pointless and bent towards the least meaningful and positive outcome of all possible ones at least in the net-however unrealistically utopian or rather dystopian it might be to shoot for things with no redeeming value whatsoever.

[travelingthrulife]

31. Paul voted against him because of a personal slight.

Fetterman voted for him because he is his friend.

What the hell kind of Senate decisions are these?

[jfz9580m]

33. Totally agree

But that is how kakistocracies are..what else is there to go on often?
I am reduced to decisions like that when I look up technocratic types to try and decide which of these unpromising types is minimally insane. And I make decisions going by things like “writes clunky and insipid opeds in Politico but seems well intentioned and could still, for one of these CS guys, be not as insane as some.”
These are not kakistocrats as they are CS majors. But that field needs a reckoning along with the rest of society.
Nstural scientists, doctors and some legitimate workers aside, the fact that these guys did all this restructuring of society absent any serious public comment, in parallel with Trumpism ramping up, pandemics etc. is a sign that field - so key to social engineering the world needs a reality check. It is never the real scientists who are as bad at math as CS majors and economists.
I think treating most living things as externalities and..The funny thing is how bad at math and science they are in any meaningful sense as they data mine and sell drivel.

How does it sell?

[paleotn]

37. Probably part of his no vote...

but then again Paul doesn't seem to be too in synch with the totalitarian bent Pukes have taken under Shitler's reign. He does at least try to stick with his libertarian roots on occasion. Ironically, some of those are the rare times his and our interests coincide. In this case, he's not terribly thrilled with DHS becoming a quasi national Gestapo. Particularly if it's run by a guy he detests. Neither are we on both counts.

[MLWR]

2. I really had once upon a time thought he was a tad smarter than that.

[BlueKota]

3. Of course he did.😡

[AZJonnie]

4. Oh, for fucking fucks sake Fetterman!

Basically he just cast the deciding vote to install this BOZO Mullin.

I know we "must support Dems" per the TOS, but

NOT COOL, man. NOT COOL!

[pat_k]

16. There is no rule against criticizing a Democratic elected.

The support Dems rule is all about elections and the party in general.

No rule against calling for someone to run against a turncoat like Fetterman.

No rule against applauding the actions of someone like NC Chair Anderson Clayton, who awesomely denied Dems who joined Repubs in overriding vetoes (among other things) access to VoteBuilder, helping to sink them.

Do not post support for Republicans or independent/third-party "spoiler" candidates. Do not state that you are not going to vote, or that you will write-in a candidate that is not on the ballot, or that you intend to vote for any candidate other than the official Democratic nominee in any general election where a Democrat is on the ballot. Do not post anything that smears Democrats generally, or that is intended to dissuade people from supporting the Democratic Party or its candidates. Don't argue there is no difference between Republicans and Democrats

[AZJonnie]

36. Thanks for the clarification :)

I try to err on the side of caution when it comes to the ToS, so I didn't rip him as hard as I wanted to

[mdbl]

5. John Manchin Fetterman strikes again

Did someone promise him a yacht?

[mountain grammy]

6. Wow, what a huge slap in the face to his voters.

. This isn’t a good vote.. Mullen is unqualified and not good for the job. That should at least be a consideration.

[Jack Valentino]

14. WHAT Trump 2nd term cabinet nominee WAS qualified for his job????

Practically NONE. What they WERE qualified for, was Trump ass-kissing.

Possibly Rubio was qualified , but if so he was the ONLY one--- although I can't approve of anything he's done since getting the job.

[travelingthrulife]

32. But it's Fetterman's friend and we need a DHS director after all.

I don't think we need DHS at all.

[angrychair]

7. Senator Fetterman

Is an elected Democrat. We need to listen to him as an elected Democrat is always right and in my opinion should never be questioned because we have to support the big tent and we need Democrats that support Trump because how else can we defeat Trump?

[FoxNewsSucks]

10. These posts crack me up

I wish it weren't the case that sheeple actually do think that way.

[Initech]

20. 100% Fox News has dirt on him.

And he can go shove that "Trump Derangement Syndrome" straight up his worthless ass. Yes, we fucking hate Donald Trump. Yes, we think he's horrible and dangerous for this country. Yes, he should have been fired and imprisoned years ago, so deal with it, assholes.

The man is never happy. He shits on and destroys everything he touches like a monkey in the zoo. I am so pissed off. This was a slap in the face and a middle finger to us. Fuck Fetterman, fuck Trump, and fuck Markwayne Mullin.

[flamingdem]

23. What kind of dirt?

Haven't thought of this.. had to be something.

[Initech]

38. Whatever it is must be pretty incriminating.

[Vinca]

8. I guess the fact he is totally unqualified doesn't matter. Fetterman should resign. He's incompetent.

[FoxNewsSucks]

11. He should get out of the way so Shapiro can appoint someone who

will actually support the Democratic Party and OPPOSE the orange piece of shit fascist dictator.

[msongs]

9. fetterman family values? cruel, violent, bully? nt

[Miguelito Loveless]

12. Mullin is a "friend"

This tells me all I need to know.

[not fooled]

24. I wonder whether Fetterman saw the ad from Mullin's plumber days

It was shown on MSNOW yesterday (sorry, can't remember which show). The future senator--spiffily clad in a red shirt bearing the "Mullin Plumbing" logo--demonstrated how to clean your garbage disposal by putting ice into it. His narration was first rate.

While I am all in favor of learning home maintenance tips, nothing evinced "future United States Senator", let alone head of security for the nation.

[Martin68]

13. Fuck Fetterman. Total fake liberal loser.

[pat_k]

15. Out of the frying pan into the fire.

[niyad]

17. hmmmmm, what are the medical odds on a second stroke?

[usonian]

18. Because the anagram for Markwayne is Yam Wanker.

Fetterman's brain is a bit scrabbled.

That's probably a damn high word score. I haven't checked though.

[Initech]

19. This is the final straw. Fuck that guy.

And fuck Markeayne Mullin too.

[Cheezoholic]

22. His "aye's" on his wallet n/t

[not fooled]

25. Apparently drag queens are having a field day

with the "Markwayne" persona.

There's a silver lining to everything, I guess.

[Blue Owl]

26. Floppy Florsheims with saggy sweatpants is a great look for Fetterman

Throw on a red baseball cap and it really brings it all together

[Botany]

27. What John and his wife did in Braddock, PA and in his pre-stroke time in the legislature were awesome...

…. Feeding people, restoring a run down former Steel town, and bringing their powerful presence
for the commons good can’t be taken away but he is now a liability to the people of PA and the
America. The stroke has taken its toll. Is he up for primary this year?

[Polybius]

29. No, he isn't

He's not up for reelection until 2028.

[bamagal62]

28. He is dead to me.

[everyonematters]

30. Senator Van Hollen has put forward a plan to increase taxes on the wealthy.

Senator Warren has a housing proposal. Fetterman seems to making his whole purpose in life to antagonize his own base.

[yardwork]

34. Trump must have something on Fetterman.

This is a Lindsey Graham level of groveling. I don't believe it can all be explained by a stroke or by Fetterman being some kind of maverick. This is a descent into absurdity that is most likely due to Fetterman being threatened by Trump.

Edited to add that for me the tell is that Fetterman is now using MAGAT talking points. He didn't do that before. I think he's being handed a script and told to say this or else.

[republianmushroom]

35. Did he say, "Because I'm a DINO"