The New York Times landed in hot water after publishing a story about Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) health.
Writer Sara Luterman shared a screenshot of part of the story that stated, “As Mr. Fetterman adjusts to his new life, the Senate and his colleagues are also adjusting to his special needs.”
Luterman reacted, tweeting, “Wow, I hate this. FYI [NY Times], [John Fetterman’s] needs are not ‘special.'”
She added, “Here’s the article, if you want to read the whole thing. The context does not help. Being a disabled reporter and reading how my colleagues think about people like us continues to be a trip.”
https://twitter.com/slooterman/status/1624055187538051072
Luterman shared she uses “captions every day at work. If somebody called me ‘special needs’ I would go to HR.”
https://twitter.com/slooterman/status/1624059641775751170
The tweet sparked several replies.
Journalist Abigail Higgins responded, “This plus what feels like constant insinuation in their reporting — if not outright statement — that he is barely capable of doing his job, and that at any second now he may not be at all is so immensely tiresome.”
This plus what feels like constant insinuation in their reporting– if not outright statement — that he is barely capable of doing his job, and that at any second now he may not be at all is so immensely tiresome.
— Abigail Higgins (@abbyhiggins) February 10, 2023
One user replied, “Totes normal needs.”
Totes normal needs
— Sowell Goodman (@BettrCallSowell) February 10, 2023
Another tweet stated, “I get so sick of seeing this again and again. Patronizing bullshit.”
I get so sick of seeing this again and again. Patronizing bullshit.
— Andy Kopsa 🇨🇿🇺🇸 (@andykopsa) February 10, 2023
Luterman then shared an update, saying, “‘Special needs’ has been removed. Thank you for making the correction, [NY Times]. I’m still kind of shocked it made it through in the first place.”
https://twitter.com/slooterman/status/1624078663573438466
On Thursday, it was reported that Fetterman stayed at a hospital overnight Wednesday after suffering from lightheadedness, according to his team.
The 53-year-old suffered a stroke in May, but communications director Joe Calvello said “initial tests did not show evidence of a new stroke.”
Calvello said Fetterman is “being monitored with an EEG for signs of seizure — so far there are no signs of seizure, but he is still being monitored.”
He added, “He is in good spirits and talking with his staff and family.”