Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) confronted independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont over the nation’s healthcare system during a confirmation hearing for President Trump’s Surgeon General nominee, Dr. Casey Means, on Wednesday.
While Bernie didn't appreciate being called out, he made his thoughts clear, and Mullin made it equally clear that he didn't much care for the curmudgeonly senator's opinion. At all.
All of which led to one of the greatest lines you'll ever hear regarding failures of an entrenched politician like Sanders.
Following Bernie's questioning of Means, Mullin began his allotted time by noting the former presidential candidate's love of the Affordable Care Act, which he correctly reclassified as "unaffordable."
"No, I support a national healthcare program which would cut the —" Sanders said before Mullin countered: "I'm sorry, it's my time."
"You're going to attack me, I'm going to respond," Sanders insisted.
"Nah, I'm pointing out facts!" Mullin continued. "You can say what you want, I'm just pointing out facts."
Mullin continued on with his comments before pivoting to asking questions for the Surgeon General nominee.
"I ranted too long," Mullin paused.
"Yes, you did!" Sanders shouted.
The old man should have opted not to yell at the clouds. Because Mullin absolutely hammered him in response.
MULLIN: “ACA is unaffordable.”
— Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) February 25, 2026
BERNIE SANDERS: “You’re attacking me.”
MULLIN: “If I cared about your opinion, I would ask you, but I don’t—you’re part of the problem—because you’ve been sitting here longer than I’ve even been alive!” 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ug6ogSwYPr
READ MORE: Bernie Sanders Was Asked About Growth — And His Socialism Fell Apart
"I'm sorry. I didn't ask your opinion on that. And if I cared about your opinion, I would ask you, but I don't care about your opinion. You're part of the system. You're part of the problem. You've been sitting here longer than I've even been alive," Mullin fired back.
"This is your problem. You should have fixed this a long time ago," he said of the woefully broken health care system. "You've been ... on it so long, what have you been doing?"
Having been soundly pummeled, Sanders' only option was to deflect attention by joking that he had "decided not to run for surgeon general."
He got embarrassed. And he knows it.
Pretty much.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 25, 2026
Bernie was running for office (1972) before Markwayne Mullin was even born! (1977)
And the problem has only gotten WORSE.
Sanders' enthusiastic backing of the Affordable Care Act helped enact a law that has been a disaster for American families. Health insurance premiums have exploded. Millions of patients have been forced off their preferred plans and shifted away from their preferred doctors.
The ACA, which Sanders championed, represents the failure of expansive government intervention in healthcare, burdens taxpayers, and falls short on its core promise—affordability.
But then, government failure, taxpayer burdening, and falling short on promises have pretty much defined his extensive career that began in the '70s. Mullin was born in 1977.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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