Fetterman: 30,000 Dead Palestinians Number Cited by Biden Is Dishonest, Hamas Could End War Right Now

>> Rich: senator John Fetterman is not a typical politician. Is he known for unconventional style. He has fought physical and mental health issues. He has also frustrated colleagues by straying from the party line on a number of issues. Including his attire. Tonight, he talks with senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram.
>> Well, thank you for joining us here. In your short period of time in the Senate you have sometimes plowed a different road than some of your democratic colleagues on different issues. Talk about how you arrived at those decisions that differ from what some people expected from you politically when you came to the Senate.
>> Yeah. I know that some people are caught by surprise, and, you know, even when I just said, you know, in passing that I’m not a progressive. And I have been saying that for years, actually.
>> Well, no, honestly, I’m overwhelmed.
>> I mean, I have just really been committed to really being on what I thought was like the right side on these things and maybe politically it might be less popular with, you know, parts of our base.
>> It kind of seemed like when we saw the change, or when you and I first talked it was on the border and border security that that was something that you differed from some of your democratic colleagues.
>> Well, sure, and then when you started just following the numbers that are coming, again, and then when you have reached 200,000 or 250,000 folks, that are, you know, encounters on the border, I mean, that’s astonishing. And then just putting that into context of Pennsylvania. I was like my goodness, that’s he will nearly the size of pittsburgh. And that’s our second largest city. And right now it’s like you can be very pro-immigration but also demand and require that we have are a secure border, too. I don’t know that I that’s controversial for a Democrat or any American to be pro-immigration.
>> Chad: another area where you differed was the Middle East and I guess the other day you had talked to some of the Republicans couldn’t you sit in on the meeting when they had a virtual meeting meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu. Who did you approach on that? What did they say?
>> No. I was very disappointed that our caucus wasn’t — we didn’t have the opportunity to do it. I really wanted to hear from Netanyahu. In fact, even asked the Republicans, you know, back channels hey, can I just sit there? I don’t even have any questions. And I have always been incredibly surprised why we are not talking about where this was because of Hamas. And the things that they have done. And that why aren’t there is a protest kind of a surge to demand that Hamas so remember re surrender on this. If you really want to end all of the, you know, just the misery and the death and the destruction, just, if they would just surrender and tomorrow release everybody, send them home. And that’s been very frustrating. And then we’re talking about now there’s 31,000 Palestinians that were killed. And well you are not talking about 13,000 or more are actually Hamas fighters on that. So, why aren’t you breaking that out as well, too. And then if you do, and talk about the — the casualty ratio, it’s actually very clear that this isn’t genocide or that Israelis are targeting civilians. In fact, the only ones that target civilians, that’s Hamas here’s a name and I want you to respond.
>> Timely hearing unfolding the circumstances in Egypt.
>> Bob Menendez.
>> Well, at this point, it’s almost moot. His trial is less than two months from now. And, again, it’s gonna be — that’s going to address that I can’t imagine how with the kinds of evidence and, I mean, I have — everybody to remember that this is his second trip to the prom. Ha ha, you know, and he barely just got out from that. And now he has been out credibly accused of being a foreign agent for three nations, in fact, two of them are critical negotiation partners in Gaza situation with Hamas. And how is this individual allowed to attend classified briefings on that? It’s astonishing. And it’s been frustrating where if someone is more concerned about I could wear a hoodie then it’s why this seems to be more urgent from making sure that the Senate’s reputation isn’t damaged.
>> Chad: why do you think that members have kind of not called for him to be expelled or gone as far as you have? You have been the most outspoken person when it documents menendez.
>> I don’t know. But what I can say is that Santos was expelled and Republicans did the right thing on that. That cost them a seat. I thought that was a principled stand.
>> Chad: when you came into the Senate you had the health issues on the campaign trail and who wanted for a while. Talk about the challenge that that posed as you were trying to represent the people of Pennsylvania, take on this new job, understanding the ways of the Senate and that’s a lot.
>> Of course, but, you know, all those health issues was weaponized and it was categorized that something that really wasn’t actually true. I like to think we are having very normal conversation. I’m using captioning right now to fully participate. No different than, you know, you have glasses. It’s — I’m able to process that fully. And all of these other parts.
>> Chad: show viewers how this worked. We talked about this in the hall. That translates what I’m saying.
>> Yeah.
>> Chad: and then with you, you see what you are saying as well?
>> Yeah, exactly. And this allows me just the way, perhaps, if you wear your glasses to read because you can’t really, you know, and for this, it’s like the fully process things. I want to make sure so I can be precise when you ask I have the captioning. And that’s just a tool. And that allows me to fully participate on interviews or conversations with my children or with my colleagues or anywhere.
>> Chad: give us a sense of how you are feeling now compared to last February, last January, when you came in, all the stress of joining the Senate, being hospitalized, and then how you feel now a year later?
>> Well, I feel great. I feel very fortunate every day to be a part of this. And I just hope that anyone with a stories or some of the things that I have gone through can I help somebody and that’s part of that message and you know, sometimes where there has been positions that I have whether it’s on Israel or the border that where some people that are in the more progressive or the left side aren’t happy but I do think it’s important in these kind of situations to really lean in on that because I really want to follow what I think is the truth not whether how it might be polls or anything like that. I think that’s what’s critical.
>> Chad: senator Fetterman, thank you for your time.