About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of lawmakers' medical privacy and the information they owe to voters.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been hospitalized for nearly a month, but it remains unclear why or what his condition is. His prolonged absence comes just after Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) disappeared for over 100 days, for what he later revealed was treatment for depression. These incidents are reigniting a prickly debate over what information lawmakers owe voters, the limits of medical privacy, and if Congress is just too old.  Note: This episode was recorded before McConnell's statement revealing that his hospitalization was due to a fall. Read more ⁠here⁠. It was also recorded before the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham. ---  Guest: Casey Burgat, The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Tom Brenner/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: David Rind

Guest: Casey Burgat

Topics covered

• medical privacy
• lawmakers
• mental health
• Congress
• public information
• politics

Keywords

• medical privacy
• lawmakers
• Sen. Mitch McConnell
• Rep. Tom Kean Jr.
• Congress
• mental health
• politics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management

More episodes of CNN One Thing

• The Truth About Trump’s New Election Claims · July 19, 2026 · 27 min
• One Week. Two ICE Shootings. Zero Body Cams. · July 15, 2026 · 28 min
• Why FIFA (or Trump) Can’t Spoil the World Cup Party · July 8, 2026 · 26 min
• Why Trump’s Quest to End Birthright Citizenship Isn’t Over · July 5, 2026 · 28 min
• Their Ancestors Helped Found America. Are They Proud of It? · July 1, 2026 · 25 min
• What MLB’s Gay Meltdown Tells Us About LGBTQ Progress · June 28, 2026 · 28 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the CNN One Thing podcast page.