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

[Polybius]

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

---

Since Rand Paul voted No, the vote would have sunk has 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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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?

[bamagal62]

28. He is dead to me.