Pennsylvania's Democratic Senator John Fetterman has been vocal about his struggles with depression and his strained relationship with Governor Josh Shapiro, a fellow Democrat. In an interview with NPR, Fetterman spoke candidly about the challenges he faced during his 2022 campaign for senator, including a near-fatal stroke that left him hospitalized.
Fetterman revealed that after suffering a severe stroke, he struggled with depression so severely that he could not get out of bed. He likened it to a "dark gift" and described the experience as one where he couldn't shake off feelings of hopelessness and despair. Despite his struggles, Fetterman credited talking openly about his experiences with helping him recover and connect with others who have gone through similar battles.
Fetterman's relationship with Governor Shapiro has been rocky since 2021 when Shapiro was state attorney general and Fetterman was lieutenant governor. They disagreed on pardoning cases involving inmates seeking mercy before the Board of Pardons, a difference that led to tension between them. According to Fetterman, Shapiro's caution in handling these cases led him to question whether his decisions were influenced by politics rather than principle.
In the interview, Fetterman claimed that he and Shapiro have no working relationship and don't speak anymore due to their ongoing disagreements. However, they do participate in meetings and fundraisers together.
Fetterman has also been criticized for his willingness to work with Republicans on legislation and adopting a position on immigration that is more aligned with the GOP than his own party. He defended his voting record, stating that he follows his caucus 90% of the time but denied any intention of switching parties.
Fetterman's stance on Israel and Gaza has also drawn controversy, particularly after former Vice President Kamala Harris labeled President Donald Trump a fascist during the 2024 campaign. Fetterman disagrees with this characterization, saying it alienated voters who had previously supported Democrats and did not respect their values.
When asked about his relationship with Israel, Fetterman stated that while some people might disagree with his stance on the issue, he believes in supporting Israel's response to threats from Hamas and Hezbollah. He questioned whether some Democrats have unfairly blamed Israel for the violence in Gaza or attributed it solely to Iranian proxies rather than acknowledging Hamas' role.
Fetterman concluded the interview by emphasizing the importance of finding common ground among politicians and voters, particularly when discussing issues like immigration and national security.
Fetterman revealed that after suffering a severe stroke, he struggled with depression so severely that he could not get out of bed. He likened it to a "dark gift" and described the experience as one where he couldn't shake off feelings of hopelessness and despair. Despite his struggles, Fetterman credited talking openly about his experiences with helping him recover and connect with others who have gone through similar battles.
Fetterman's relationship with Governor Shapiro has been rocky since 2021 when Shapiro was state attorney general and Fetterman was lieutenant governor. They disagreed on pardoning cases involving inmates seeking mercy before the Board of Pardons, a difference that led to tension between them. According to Fetterman, Shapiro's caution in handling these cases led him to question whether his decisions were influenced by politics rather than principle.
In the interview, Fetterman claimed that he and Shapiro have no working relationship and don't speak anymore due to their ongoing disagreements. However, they do participate in meetings and fundraisers together.
Fetterman has also been criticized for his willingness to work with Republicans on legislation and adopting a position on immigration that is more aligned with the GOP than his own party. He defended his voting record, stating that he follows his caucus 90% of the time but denied any intention of switching parties.
Fetterman's stance on Israel and Gaza has also drawn controversy, particularly after former Vice President Kamala Harris labeled President Donald Trump a fascist during the 2024 campaign. Fetterman disagrees with this characterization, saying it alienated voters who had previously supported Democrats and did not respect their values.
When asked about his relationship with Israel, Fetterman stated that while some people might disagree with his stance on the issue, he believes in supporting Israel's response to threats from Hamas and Hezbollah. He questioned whether some Democrats have unfairly blamed Israel for the violence in Gaza or attributed it solely to Iranian proxies rather than acknowledging Hamas' role.
Fetterman concluded the interview by emphasizing the importance of finding common ground among politicians and voters, particularly when discussing issues like immigration and national security.
Fetterman's openness about his struggles with depression is a game-changer 
. It shows that leaders don't have to hide behind the curtain, and that being vulnerable can be super powerful 
. He's not afraid to speak up and share his experiences, even when it's uncomfortable 
. But, at the same time, he needs to work on building those bridges with Shapiro, aka finding some common ground 
. And, let's be real, maybe taking a step back and re-evaluating that whole Israel situation wouldn't hurt 
.
it takes a lot of courage to share that kind of vulnerability especially in a public setting. His willingness to speak up and connect with others who've gone through similar experiences is really inspiring 
, you know, mental health is just as important as physical health and we need more people like him breaking the stigma around it 
So I'm thinking about John Fetterman's situation and how he's been going through a lot lately... Like his near-fatal stroke was super serious and it's crazy that he struggled with depression so bad he couldn't even get out of bed 
It's wild to think about how much pain and struggle people can go through, but at the same time it's awesome that he's been able to talk openly about it and connect with others who have gone through similar stuff 
It's super complicated and I can see why Fetterman would want to take a more nuanced approach to this issue. Like, just because someone might disagree with his stance doesn't mean they're disrespected or something 
HE'S SHOWING US THAT EVEN THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE CAN STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND IT TAKES COURAGE TO SPEAK UP ABOUT THEM 
. His stance on Israel is definitely a topic of debate tho...I'm not sure I agree with him but I also don't wanna jump all over him 
. Can we just have some civil discourse instead? 
his honesty is honestly the best policy when it comes to mental health awareness 
Fetterman's all about finding common ground and working across the aisle, not stirring up drama or alienating ppl 
Fetterman's openness about his depression is so inspiring, it really shows that talking about mental health can be a game changer 
.
. His record of following his caucus 90% of the time is notable, but it's also understandable that he'd want to make an impact 
, but having those kinds of conversations can lead to real progress and understanding 
.
. We need more bipartisan cooperation in Washington! And I agree with him that we should be focusing on finding common ground, especially when it comes to issues like immigration and national security 
. Anyways, can we just have some real, open discussions in politics? You know, without all the backroom deals and party lines? 
. But hey, at least he's not afraid to share his thoughts and listen to others' perspectives 
.
.
It keeps things interesting, right? And Fetterman's willingness to work with Republicans on immigration is definitely... eye-opening 
.
. He's trying to find a middle ground that acknowledges Hamas' role in the violence 
. That's how we build trust and find common ground 
like i've been there too, where u just wanna stay in bed 4 days straight and can't even get out of ur own apartment lol. anywayz, i think its great that he spoke up and shared his experiences cuz its really helpin him connect with ppl who r goin thru similar stuff