Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), on the “All-In” podcast, said he no longer knows what the Democratic Party stands for, arguing it has become increasingly anti-Israel, intolerant of dissenting views, and led by “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” “We don’t have one,” Fetterman said of a party leader. “I think the TDS, that I think that’s the leader right now. You know, right now our, our party is, is governed by the TDS, and now it’s made it virtually impossible without being punished as a Democrat to agree.”

DAVID FRIEDBERG, CO-HOST: What do you think the Democratic Party used to stand for? What does it stand for today? And what do you think it should stand for? SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA): I honestly, I don’t know. But what I will say, as I would refer to to your listeners is like, listen to what the people that are running for the Senate as Democrats, watch what they’re saying and doing. And that’s becoming more and more anti-Israel, openly hostile to Israel. And now that becomes part of the litmus, litmus purity test. I’m not going to take any of their money. I’m going to denounce that. And I was the only Democrat that [said] absolutely, Netanyahu has done the right thing to break the that access there. Hezbollah and Hamas are now attacking also Houthis as well. So, I mean, so do you know where what Democrats stand for? See who’s running for the Senate. And now Plantner, the Nazi tattoo guy, you know, on top of being an avowed communist and now said incredibly offensive things about women and sexual assault and now refers to rural people as stupid and racist. So is that what Democrats want? I guess we’ll see that. But, you know, you see in all these different things also in Michigan, too, a guy that really, as far as I know, has refused to condemn Hamas. And he led the, you know, no, the no. What was the no committed? It’s like, forget what that stupid thing was called. But it was like, you know, no vote, no vote for uncommitted, uncommitted, uncommitted. You know, we’re not going to vote for Kamala Harris. And now they help deliver Trump for Michigan. So that’s like, look who’s running and look who’s being competitive. So that’s you want to know where Democrats are. Look in those kinds of races. FRIEDBERG: You know, it’s interesting. We used to have the ability to agree on some things and disagree on other things. It seems nowadays, whatever the other side is doing or saying, you have to take the opposing view. And in many cases, it seems like that might force folks to kind of contort into these weird positions that don’t even make logical sense. Why did we get to this point? What happened that everything had to be polar? There was never the ability for us to, there’s no longer the ability for us to agree on some things while disagreeing on other things. What caused this change in this country? And can we get back from it? FETTERMAN: I don’t know. Like, part of my party’s become so inflexible. What I’ve discovered that, you know, you are not allowed to be a proud, unapologetic standing with Israel, but it’s okay. It’s not a big deal if you have a Nazi tattoo on your chest and you have people in now in my party now are trying to normalize that or to excuse that. I mean, like it’s, that’s kind of where we are. And now I know what’s toxic as a Democrat to disagree with. But for me, those are, I think our core values, you know, the kinds of values in Israel, kinds of the core value that we have always used to say, never, ever shut our government down. That’s always wrong. You’re going to punish union members. You’re going to punish, you know, everyday Americans. Now here we’re doing those same things. And now I think our border, for example, I think secure our border, deport all the criminals, but now never, ever have the kind of tragedies like we had in Minneapolis. That’s not what anyone really voted for anything supports. So, you know, if I’m more popular with Republicans, I don’t really know. But, but I also that I, I treat everyone with respect and I don’t refer to Republicans or members of MAGA. They’re not Nazis. They’re not fascists. They’re not trying to destroy our country. No, I know. And I love many, many people that voted for or support President Trump. I’m going to treat anybody with respect. I don’t attack members of their families. I don’t use those kinds of attacks. We have to find a better way forward. And that’s what I’ve been maintaining. FRIEDBERG: Who do you think leads the Democratic Party today? FETTERMAN: Oh, we don’t, we don’t have one. I think, I think the, the TDS that I think that’s the leader right now. You know, right now our, our party is, is governed by the TDS and now it’s made it virtually impossible without being punished as a Democrat to agree. Something’s good or I agree with the other side. And I, I would define that by epic fury. I am literally the only Democrat in America in Congress that I’ve come across that’s saying, I think it’s a great thing to break and destroy the Iranian regime. I think it’s entirely appropriate to hold them accountable. And what’s strange to me that every single Democrat that’s run for president and anyone that I know in Congress says we must never allow them to acquire a nuclear bomb. When that happens, why not celebrate that or acknowledge that? I have only witnessed just criticism and this kinds of, this kinds of attack. Like, yeah, you don’t have to agree on every single thing, but when a good thing happens, just because it comes from the different party, that, that tells me that you’re choosing the demand of the base or the party over country or what, what’s really, I think, appropriate in that circumstances. Now, I would say now, you know, to any country, any country, do you consume oil? Yes, of course we do. Well, then that makes it your problem too. That makes you part of your responsibility. I don’t know why, you know, like Israel and, and our nation did the heavy leaving, excuse me, the, the heavy, the heavy work to, to, to destroy the Iranian military apparatus. You know, now why not, wouldn’t you not, you know, help us to reopen the straits? Because you consume oil.You all could be the ability to, why not part, participate that? That’s, that’s strange to me. So I think everyone, why can’t you get behind? The only ones that aren’t are China and Russia. Those are the same kinds of, especially in Europe, you know, what they’re doing to Ukraine for over four years. And we all know what the goals of China is. So to say it’s not our war, it’s like, yeah, well, it’s our cause. And if you consume oil and you all do, you know, that effectively makes us all part of this responsibility.

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