For those of us on the outside looking in, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) appears to be one of the last sane elected Democrats left in the party, at least on the Senate side. Though he's quick to point out that it wouldn't make sense for him to switch parties because he still holds what he calls "core" leftist positions, he has indicated there is a "red line" that would cause him to leave it: If Democrats completely turned their backs on Israel.
"My long-term concern has been with the Democratic Party, as I am a member of that, is that our party is going to back away and turn their back to Israel," he said during the Hill Nation Summit in Washington, D.C. earlier this month, as RedState reported. "If our party ever becomes, and just makes it official, the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me."
SEE ALSO: Fetterman Torches His Own 'Anti-American' Party — and He's Naming Names
In addition to standing with Israel and for a secure southern border, positions that are increasingly at odds with the modern Democrat Party, Fetterman has also been unafraid to call out the "crazies" in his party, particularly its growing socialist wing. He was never a Graham Platner fan and is not a fan of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
El-Sayed, as RedState also reported, has grown increasingly arrogant the closer he gets to the August 4 primary, stating to donors on a recent call that the far-left wing of the Democrat Party primarying truth-tellers like Fetterman would send a message. "Ideally you put one ogre on a pike, and then everyone else gets the message."
Fetterman appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box on Tuesday morning, where he had a chance to talk with co-host Joe Kernen about El-Sayed, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the influence of the DSA in general. He did not hold back, telling Kernen that, whether primaried or not, it was important for him to stand up to the party's extremism.
Watch:
John Fetterman does NOT CARE what Democrats do to him:@JoeSquawk: You're gonna get primaried!
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 28, 2026
John Fetterman: I would rather be honest. I would rather stand up to this extremism...I sleep great! I just couldn't lie. pic.twitter.com/d3puZw1MvS
Fetterman also compared El-Sayed to Platner, calling him the "Pontiac Platner" and suggesting he's auditioning to be the leader of the "emerging pro-Hamas" wing of the Democrat Party. He also ripped Sanders for admitting he had "no regrets" about supporting Platner through all the various scandals:
"I never worked out in male modeling. Call me Senator Shrek. Whatever! This guy is really the Pontiac Platner!"
"And now he's running to be the head of our emerging pro-Hamas wing here in the party!"
"Some of the things that he's done or said are unacceptable to me."
"I'm not really sure what I've really done or voted for that has offended the little guy so much."
"These same people like Bernie Sanders...created that Platner disaster!"
"He has no regrets...? Supporting an accused rapist...a guy with a Nazi tattoo on his chest...roughed up his ex girlfriends."
"There's a level of arrogance and they believe they feel like they have some weird mandate!"
Watch:
Senator John Fetterman responds to El-Sayed attacking his appearance, calling him an "ogre on a pike."
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 28, 2026
"I never worked out in male modeling. Call me Senator Shrek. Whatever! This guy is really the Pontiac Platner!"
"And now he's running to be the head of our emerging pro-Hamas… pic.twitter.com/R4awVDepR8
Fetterman then referenced the DSA's extremist platform, where they advocate for abolishing the northern and southern borders, prisons, and the Senate, and correctly called it for what it is: CRAZY.
Watch:
Senator John Fetterman calls Zohran Mamdani a "clown" on live television:
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 28, 2026
"These are CRAZY people!"
"They're behaving in TRULY bizarre ways and that seems like what the DSA wants more and more."
"Why aren't more Democrats...Police your own ranks!" pic.twitter.com/tNtzHedXFO
"Policing your own ranks" in the Democrat Party these days is akin to begging to be primaried. Thankfully, Fetterman isn't letting that possibility keep him from telling it like it is.
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.
Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member