CNN 5 Things
CNN 5 Things
CNN Podcasts
One Thing: Are Lawmakers Taking Medical Privacy Too Far?
24 minutes Posted Jul 12, 2026 at 8:30 am.
0:00
24:34
Download MP3
Show notes
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: Tom Brenner/Reuters
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices