Philly paper goes all-in against 'unstable' Fetterman in brutal takedown

U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 19, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

In Pennsylvania politics, one of the burning questions surrounding Democratic Sen. John Fetterman is whether he will remain a Democrat, become an independent or join the Republican Party. Some Democratic lawmakers are defending Fetterman, arguing that he has been with them in key voters — while many liberals and progressives are openly expressing their frustration with him. And some of the frustration is coming from the Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board, which attacks him as an "embarrassment" in a blistering editorial.

"News flash: U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is still an embarrassment," the Inquirer writers argue. "The Pennsylvania Democrat enjoys one of the cushiest jobs in America, but he can't perform basic duties like voting, attending committee hearings, or meeting with constituents. Fetterman's disdain for the job — which comes with a $174,000 annual salary, free healthcare, and months off at taxpayer expense — has been well documented. He whined about missing a family beach trip during a lengthy debate last year over Donald Trump's costly and harmful One Big Beautiful Bill. Several major media outlets have chronicled the senator's dysfunction."

The Inquirer board continues, "In May 2025, New York Magazine detailed Fetterman's erratic behavior as staffers expressed concerns about his mental health since suffering a stroke. The New York Times quoted staffers who feared his mood swings and were warned not to get in the car if he is driving."

The Inquirer writers argue that a "devastating" Wall Street Journal article "underscored the senator's disregard for voters and his job."

"The Journal reported that Fetterman also stiffed three disabled veterans who traveled to Washington to meet with him, alleging he was ill, only to appear later that day on Fox News to talk about Israel and the war in Iran," according to the Inquirer board. "Apparently, teachers, healthcare officials, police, and veterans take a backseat while Fox News and the Israel-Hamas war command Fetterman's full attention."

Fetterman is up for reelection in 2028, and many pundits expect an aggressive Democratic primary challenge — in which case, they wonder, will be run as an independent or become a Republican?

The Inquirer is hoping that Fetterman won't seek a second term.

"Like the previous reports," the Inquirer board writes, "Fetterman called the Journal story a 'hit piece.' The sad truth is the reports from his own staffers paint a picture of a lazy, unengaged, and unstable senator who is not up to the job. Last year, this Editorial Board said Fetterman should either do his job effectively or step away. In the private sector, most workers who fail to perform their basic job duties get fired. Unless Fetterman resigns, voters will get their chance to oust him in 2028."

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