'Get a better job': Bernie Sanders and the Fox News reporter who asked about Platner

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen Bernie Sanders, on Thursday, May 21, brushed off questions about Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner in a tense Capitol Hill exchange, redirecting attention away from the controversy and delivering a pointed remark at a Fox News Digital reporter who pressed him on resurfaced online posts linked to the Maine candidate.

The interaction comes as Platner’s past Reddit activity continues to circulate in political circles, adding pressure to an already closely watched Senate race in Maine.

Bernie Sanders loses cool at Fox reporter

The moment unfolded when Sanders was approached and asked directly whether he was concerned about Platner’s resurfaced posts and the potential political fallout for Democrats supporting him.

Instead of engaging with the substance of the question, Sanders immediately shifted focus to the reporter.

“Who do you work for?” he asked. When the reporter responded that they were with Fox News Digital, Sanders responded with a sharper jab aimed beyond the journalist.

“Why don’t you talk to your owner, Mr Murdoch and ask him for a raise so you can get a better job,” Sanders said.

He did not offer any further comment on Platner or the controversy surrounding his online history, ending the exchange shortly after.

The confrontation stood out because Sanders had previously backed Platner politically, having endorsed him in August 2025 as part of a push within progressive circles to support the Maine candidate’s Senate bid.

That endorsement is now drawing renewed attention as old online material linked to Platner becomes a growing point of political friction.

Resurfaced posts put Graham Platner under scrutiny

The controversy centers on a series of old Reddit posts tied to the username 'P-Hustle', an account Platner has acknowledged owning.

The material, which spans multiple years, has recently re-emerged in political reporting and includes content that critics describe as deeply inappropriate for a candidate running for federal office.

Other resurfaced entries attributed to the same account have been described in reporting as politically inflammatory, with critics arguing that the archive raises questions about the candidate’s past judgment and suitability for office.

The material has become a focal point in discussions around Platner’s campaign as scrutiny intensifies ahead of the election cycle.

Platner has previously acknowledged ownership of the Reddit account and has sought to contextualize the posts by pointing to a difficult period in his life following military service.

He has said that his behavior online reflected personal struggles after serving multiple combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder.