Missing Republican Rep. Sending Out “Creepy and Weird” Newsletters |
Missing Republican Rep. Sending Out “Creepy and Weird” Newsletters
Representative Thomas Kean Jr. has been missing for two months, but his office is still sending out emails like nothing’s wrong.
New Jersey Republican Representative Thomas Kean Jr. hasn’t voted on a single bill since March 5, but his constituents might be none the wiser.
Kean’s office has been blasting out cheery newsletters, written in the congressman’s voice, despite his long-standing absence.
“In Congress, I am focused on delivering real results for our law enforcement and local communities,” read one recent e-letter. “I will always stand with our men and women in blue.”
The letter was quickly called out by other politicos. Aaron Fritschner, chief of staff to Democratic Representative Don Beyer, wrote on X that “Tom Kean’s office is still sending out constituent newsletters like the guy hasn’t vanished off the face of the earth.”
CNN journalist Andrew Kaczynski called the newsletter’s tone “creepy and weird,” given Kean’s inexplicable disappearance.
Kean consultant Harrison Neely fired back, claiming that the charge was “rich” coming from a “‘journalist’ who has called the Congressman’s daughter and family members of staff.”
In return, Kaczynski snarked: “Consultants for Tom Kean are now attacking reporters for inquiring about his whereabouts.”
Kean was missing in action for weeks before he offered any explanation. His meager response was the culmination of a small pressure campaign fronted by journalists, his constituents, and his tristate Republican allies.
Last month, Kean told House Speaker Mike Johnson over the phone that he was dealing with an unspecified “personal health matter.” Neely told Politico that Kean will be “back on a regular full schedule very soon.”
Since then, Johnson has confessed he doesn’t know when Kean will return, while aides to GOP leadership have said they “don’t have any idea what’s going on” with Kean.
Kean was elected to represent New Jersey’s 7th congressional district in 2022, and is months away from being thrust into a contentious midterm reelection cycle. He is currently unchallenged in the Garden State’s Republican primary, scheduled for June 2, but is likely to face tremendous opposition from Democrats come November. Over the last several months, New Jersey’s 7th congressional district has shifted from a “lean Republican” advantage to a total toss-up, according to an analysis by the Cook Political Report.
His absence in the race has apparently inspired his competition: The topic practically consumed his potential competition during a Democratic debate on May 12, according to the Bergen Record.
Trump Admits He Knows His War Is Unpopular—and Wrecking the Economy
The president’s justification for the Iran war has somehow gotten even more unbelievable.
President Trump’s grasp of the Iran war is becoming more unhinged.
Speaking to the press outside of the White House Tuesday with his prized ballroom under construction behind him, Trump bragged about the economy in his first presidential term, claiming that it was “the best economy we’ve ever had” and that “this term is going to blow it away, I think,” even with the Iran war.
“I thought the market would go down 25 percent, and I was OK with that to get rid of a nuclear potential holocaust. Would have been a nuclear holocaust. So, going down 25 percent’s OK when you get rid of a nuclear holocaust, so, uh, most people agree with me,” Trump said.
Trump: "I thought the market would go down 25%, and I was okay with that to get rid of a nuclear potential holocaust. Going down 25% is okay if you get rid of a nuclear holocaust. Most people agree with me." pic.twitter.com/A4AYX9b6Kf— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 19, 2026
Trump: "I thought the market would go down 25%, and I was okay with that to get rid of a nuclear potential holocaust. Going down 25% is okay if you get rid of a nuclear holocaust. Most people agree with me." pic.twitter.com/A4AYX9b6Kf
Trump went on to brag about how the war is being received by the American people, telling reporters, “Politically, I’m doing good.
“Everyone tells me [the war] is unpopular, but I think it’s very popular. When they hear that it’s having to do with nuclear weapons, weapons that could take out Los Angeles, could take out major cities, very quick, when they hear that—I tell you what, when we explain it to people, I don’t really have enough time to explain to people. I’m too busy getting it done,” Trump said. “I think it’s frankly very popular, but whether it’s popular or not popular, I have to do it, because I’m not going to let the world be blown up on my watch. Not gonna happen.”
Trump on his war against Iran: "Everyone tells me it's unpopular, but I think it's very popular. When they hear that it has to do with nuclear weapons that could take out Los Angeles, when we explain it to people-- I don't really have enough time to explain to people." pic.twitter.com/F2rtnBFazQ— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 19, 2026
Trump on his war against Iran: "Everyone tells me it's unpopular, but I think it's very popular. When they hear that it has to do with nuclear weapons that could take out Los Angeles, when we explain it to people-- I don't really have enough time to explain to people." pic.twitter.com/F2rtnBFazQ
In reality, the war is so unpopular that it has brought down Trump’s approval rating to its lowest level ever, according to a recent New York Times poll. The same poll found that most Americans think the war isn’t worth the cost or that the economy is going to improve. Meanwhile, Trump goes back and forth between threatening to break the ceasefire with Iran and claiming a deal is close. It’s little wonder that most Americans lack confidence in the........