Mitch McConnell is not okay

Plus, why Rudy Giuliani’s defamation suit loss matters [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 THE LATEST [Alternate text] [Mitch McConnell can’t ignore his second freezing episode]( By Hayes Brown Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., froze again. This time it was during a news conference Wednesday in Covington, Kentucky. For 30 seconds, he [stood silently at the lectern]( after he was asked whether he intended to run for re-election in 2026. It was the [second time in a month]( that McConnell has been rendered mute and motionless in the middle of answering questions from the media. When it happened last month, neither McConnell nor anyone around him [offered any explanation]( beyond a report from aides that he’d felt “lightheaded.” They gave no indication that the 81-year-old Senate Republican leader had seen a doctor after the Senate GOP leadership’s weekly news conference, where he’d had to be [led away from the cameras](. We’re told that he went right back to work that evening. His not taking time off was meant to be a sign of strength, a signal that the octogenarian would, as he later said through a spokesperson, [continue to serve as the Senate Republican leader]( throughout the current term of Congress. Instead, his refusal to address the issue has brought attention to how difficult it is for Americans to talk openly about aging and the effects it can have. This is a preview of Hayes Brown's latest article. [Read the full column here](.     TOP STORIES [Alternate text] [A photo of Ron DeSantis]( [JARVIS DEBERRY]( [A fatal hurricane battering Florida isn't weird. Florida's governor denying reality is.]( Ron DeSantis denied human-caused climate change. Hurricane Idalia wanted a word. [Read more.]( [A photo of Pope Francis]( [JA'HAN JONES]( [Pope Francis hit conservative Catholics with a truth bomb](//link.msnbc.com/click/32565732.83436/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL3JhY2hlbC1tYWRkb3ctc2hvdy9tYWRkb3dibG9nL25vdy1tdWctc2hvdC1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtdGFrZS1tb21lbnQtcmNuYTEwMTcyMj9jaWQ9ZW1sX21kYV8yMDIzMDgzMSZ1c2VyX2VtYWlsPWQ3ZGM3NDUxNzI5N2IzOTcxYWExNGQ2ZjMzMTEzNWEwODc4ZjhmNjQwZmExYTEwMTlmMTU3YjY1YzFiNWRkMWQ/58292da26e4adc7b0b8b4914B7ddc1c6e A newly released transcript shows Pope Francis being critical of conservatives in the U.S., who he says have replaced faith with ideology. [Read more.]( [A photo of Rudy Giuliani ]( [JORDAN RUBIN]( [Giuliani slammed for stiffing orders in Ruby Freeman, Shaye Moss defamation case]( Judge Beryl Howell said Giuliani gave "lip service" to court orders in the civil suit stemming from 2020 election lies. Now he may have to pay up. [Read more.]( [STACIA L. BROWN]( [My daughter’s first day at her new school was spent in lockdown. This is America.]( My child changed schools to get better support. Her first day was the UNC shooting. [Read more.]( TOP VIDEOS [Alternate text] [DEADLINE WHITE HOUSE]( [Nicolle: Giuliani’s defamation lawsuit ruling ‘a big win for democracy and the truth’]( [ALL IN]( [Hayes blasts ‘deranged’ GOP strategy to 'hurl ourselves into the fire’ on climate change]( [THE LAST WORD]( [Rep. Justin Jones: TN House Speaker is 'an authoritarian who doesn't want to be held accountable']( [MSNBC]( [McConnell appears to freeze again after reporter question about re-election](     MORE FROM MSNBC [Alternate text]   You can now listen to the first two episodes of “Velshi Banned Book Club,” a new MSNBC podcast hosted by Ali Velshi. Each week, the author of a banned book will join Ali — including Margaret Atwood, Nikole Hannah-Jones and more. They’ll analyze the literature and discuss why their work is part of the book banning epidemic. [Listen now.](   In the latest episode of “Prosecuting Donald Trump,” MSNBC legal analysts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord discussed former President Trump’s anticipated surrender to the Fulton County jail after being indicted for 2020 election interference and the serious warnings listed within the bond order. [Listen now.]( MSNBC INSIGHTS [Alternate text] Have you ever wanted to provide MSNBC with your opinion about their TV programs, documentaries, and digital products, such as MSNBC.com, newsletters, and podcasts? Now is your chance! [Join the MSNBC Insights Community.](   [Image] [Image] 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_daily) [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_daily)