Staff Reports
Senate Democrats often lead the charge against any nominee President Trump puts forth, but there’s a surprising twist in the tale of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Reports suggest that Pennsylvania’s Sen. John Fetterman and Vermont’s Sen. Bernie Sanders might consider giving him a pass. This unexpected camaraderie among unlikely allies highlights just how far the political landscape has shifted and raises an eyebrow about what’s in store for the Democrats’ usual resistance rhetoric.
Kennedy, who recently halted his independent presidential bid to back Trump, has become a candidate for the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. While some Democrats typically grab their pitchforks at the mere mention of a Trump nominee, Fetterman and Sanders appear to be taking a step back to evaluate Kennedy on his own merits. It would seem that a shared distaste for the overwhelming influence of large corporations in food production has opened an unlikely door to cooperation, adding a bizarre twist to the usual party lines.
RFK Jr. states he has the votes to be confirmed as the new HHS 🏆. pic.twitter.com/WZxn09FAj5
— Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) January 3, 2025
The outlook on this collaboration could be illuminating for many. The Democratic duo is mulling over the implications of Kennedy’s nomination, apparently interested in using the confirmation process to shed light on the flaws of modern industrial food systems. One might even say it’s a refreshing, if somewhat ironic, potential partnership driven by the desire to cut through the corporate smog surrounding food regulations. Who knew politics could resemble a strange farm-to-table operation, where even the most unlikely of candidates can leave their ideological barn doors ajar?
Fetterman has made headlines recently with his statement about considering nominees with an “open mind.” He asserts that conversing with Trump’s picks is simply part of his responsibility as a U.S. Senator. With meetings set up with other prominent Republicans, including former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Fetterman’s bipartisan approach signals a curious pivot for a man whose party tends to favor a more staunchly oppositional stance. The carefully crafted public displays of open-mindedness may just be a strategy to soften his image amid an ever-deepening wedge among his party.
Adding further intrigue to the storyline, Fetterman has already labeled his support for Elise Stefanik, Trump’s choice for U.N. ambassador, as a “hard yes.” It seems that the Senator doesn’t just cheer for the home team; he’s ready to suit up alongside them. His support for defunding entities with alleged ties to Hamas sends a clear message to his party’s left wing: he’s on team accountability, and he’ll likely take some flak for it.
In a political environment known for its rigidity and resistance to compromise, this potential crossover of bipartisan support signals that not all Democrats are locked into a reflexive opposition to everything Trump. With Kennedy’s nomination and Fetterman’s surprising openness to collaboration, it remains to be seen how many more in the Democratic ranks might choose to step away from the repressive confines of hardline partisanship and explore cooperative avenues, however unconventional they may seem.
