A trio of Republican senators came to the defense of their Democratic colleague John Fetterman on Friday, accusing the media of a smear campaign. Why it matters: It's unusual to see this level of public defense for a member of the opposing party.

In today’s edition, we examine John Fetterman’s place in the Senate, where the Pennsylvania Democrat is increasingly on an island.

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, the lawmaker known for his unconventional and irreverent brand of politics, is in the news again after a blowup at a closed-door meeting with union allies and former staff aides who aired concerns about his mental health.