A fiery back and forth erupted between Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) Wednesday during the Senate hearing for President Donald Trump's nominee for surgeon general, Casey Means.
Means, a favorite of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an entrepreneur and author, who gave up her medical license in 2018 and did not complete her residency at Stanford University, according to The Daily Beast. The "alternative medicine" blogger has been a controversial pick to lead the nation's public health agency. Her initial confirmation hearing was postponed because she went into labor and rescheduled to Wednesday after she gave birth to her son, Phoenix.
During the hearing, Sanders snapped at Mullin after the MAGA lawmaker criticized the Affordable Care Act and suggested getting rid of it altogether.
"I support a national health care program... You're going to attack me, I'm going to respond," Sanders said.
Mullin continued talking during the committee hearing.
"I ranted too long," Mullin said.
"Yes you did!" Sanders shouted back.
"I'm sorry. I didn't ask your opinion. 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 said.
Sanders had a sarcastic response to Mullin's remarks.
"I've decided not to run for surgeon general," Sanders said.
MARKWAYNE MULLIN: I ranted too long
BERNIE SANDERS: Yes you did!
MULLIN: I'm sorry. I didn't ask your opinion. 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 pic.twitter.com/kdpYJDlTtT
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 25, 2026