Former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (KY) has faced a series of eyebrow-raising health challenges recently.

“The senator had a concussion from a fall last year and two public episodes where his face briefly froze while he was speaking [at press conferences],” the AP says.

Last week, McConnell tripped after a Senate lunch, resulting in a sprained wrist and facial cut. He’s currently working from home.

These incidents, plus a shoulder fracture from another fall in 2019, have raised concerns about the 82-year-old senator’s ability to complete his term, even as he prepares to step down from leadership in 2026.

If you’ve seen video of McConnell’s freezing incidents especially, you understand just how controversial it is that the Kentucky senator continues in office.

But what are the mechanisms in place — if any — to remove a member of Congress because of inability to perform his duty?

Your Rundown for Monday, December 16, 2024...

McConnell is a Trump Risk

Unlike the presidency, which (supposedly) has safeguards in place for illness-related scenarios, Congress lacks a formal process to replace lawmakers who become severely incapacitated.

While Congress can expel members for misconduct, this power has never been used for medical reasons.

• In fact: “Never has a sitting member of Congress been removed from office due to incapacitation,” says Bipartisan Policy Center. [Emphasis ours]

Although there have been attempts to address the issue of congressional incapacitation through constitutional amendments, none have been successful to date.

Nevertheless, what would happen if McConnell’s seat becomes vacant?

In April 2024, Kentucky's Republican-dominated legislature enacted a law removing Democratic Governor Andy Beshear's authority to fill U.S. Senate vacancies.

The new measure, which overrode Beshear's veto, mandates a special election to fill any Senate vacancy in the state.

Supporters of the bill claimed the legislative shift was unrelated to McConnell’s health, insisting the timing was coincidental.

In November, however, McConnell stepped down from his position as the longest-serving Senate Republican leader.

In a secret ballot election, Senator John Thune (SD), succeeded Mitch McConnell as the Republican leader in the U.S. Senate.

Meanwhile, McConnell has taken on new roles as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and the Senate Rules Committee.

In other words: Not exactly light duty.

And while McConnell publicly endorsed Trump, his policy differences suggest he’ll complicate Trump’s agenda…

1. McConnell has expressed concerns about the MAGA movement's impact on the Republican Party, stating it has “done a lot of damage” and that Reagan “wouldn't recognize” the current GOP.

2. McConnell is launching a preemptive strike against isolationists in the party, which could clash with Trump's “America First” approach.

3. As a senior Republican figure, McConnell's skepticism about Trump's fitness for office could influence other senators.

As Paradigm’s D.C. expert Jim Rickards says: “The anti-Trump resistance movement is not confined to Democrats, progressives and the media.

“The immediate threat,” he says, “comes from [a] block of eleven senators, which is powerful because the Republicans can only afford to lose three Republican votes if they want to win on legislation and confirmations.”

And McConnell — as well as Thune — account for two of these eleven senators.

While McConnell’s health and political future may be under scrutiny, his influence in Washington is undeniable.

Whether shaping Senate dynamics or complicating Trump’s agenda, McConnell is still a force to be reckoned with.

Though for how much longer? That’s anyone’s guess.

Market Rundown for Monday, Dec. 16, 2024

S&P 500 futures are up 0.30% to 6,145.

Oil is down 0.75% to $70.75 for a barrel of WTI.

Gold is up 0.15% to $2,679.80 per ounce.

And Bitcoin is up 0.75% to $104,000.