In yet another report underscoring the health struggles of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the lawmaker appeared flummoxed by Vice President Kamala Harris presiding over the Senate.

A source told The New York Times that last year Feinstein looked confused when Harris showed up to be a tie-breaking vote, which is one of the powers of the vice president enshrined in the Constitution, and Feinstein asked colleagues, “What is she doing here?” The upper chamber’s website shows Harris, in her role as president of the Senate, has cast 29 tie-breaking votes over a period of more than two years.

At 89, Feinstein is the Senate’s oldest member — and in recent years, some colleagues had begun to raise concerns about her mental fitness and ability to do the job she has had for decades. That scrutiny has intensified after she made a comeback to the Senate in a wheelchair this month, ending a months-long absence during which the lawmaker was receiving treatment and recovering from the shingles.

“Even though I’ve made significant progress and was able to return to Washington, I’m still experiencing some side effects from the shingles virus,” Feinstein said at the time. “My doctors have advised me to work a lighter schedule as I return to the Senate. I’m hopeful those issues will subside as I continue to recover.”

Less than two weeks ago, shortly after Feinstein apparently failed to recall that she had been absent from Capitol Hill for several weeks when a reporter asked about her return, the senator’s office confirmed that Feinstein had more health complications stemming from the shingles than previously known. The complications included Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which affects facial nerves and can lead to facial paralysis, and encephalitis, a condition in which there is inflammation of the brain, per the Mayo Clinic.

“While the encephalitis resolved itself shortly after she was released from the hospital in March, she continues to have complications from Ramsay Hunt syndrome,” a spokesperson for Feinstein said.

In another report underscoring the touchy situation with Feinstein, this one from the Los Angeles Times, staff photographer Kent Nishimura shared that Feinstein’s staff “often form a human barrier” between her and members of the media. The journalist also noted that the Capitol Police and the Senate sergeant-at-arms have taken steps to restrict press access to the senator.

Citing “safety reasons,” Feinstein spokesman Adam Russell said photographers and reporters had been asked to give the senator “space, particularly when entering and exiting her vehicle,” but he denied that Feinstein’s team had asked photographers not take photographs of Feinstein in her wheelchair.

Feinstein announced in February she would not seek re-election in 2024. Three prominent House Democrats — Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee — have announced campaigns to replace Feinstein in the Senate.

But some of Feinstein’s fellow Democrats have called on her to step down before her term is up. That includes Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), though he recently told POLITICO he will give the “situation the benefit of the doubt” and is “hopeful” that Feinstein will be able to fulfill her duties.

Wanda Sykes isn’t happy with her longtime friend and colleague Dave Chappelle making jokes about transgender people.

Chappelle came under fire when his Netflix special “The Closer” came out in 2021. In it, the comedian claimed to be “Team TERF,” an acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist. He also defended “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling, who has been criticized for stating that biological sex is a fact and that men cannot be women.

His statements caused a national uproar and demands for Chappelle to be canceled. Employees at Netflix staged a walkout in protest. 

During a recent interview with Variety, Sykes discussed jokes she made about “inclusive” bathroom policies which allow people to enter whichever bathroom they want depending on the gender they identify with.

“I knew that it’s such a delicate issue to talk about. I’m not trans, but they have my support, 100%,” Sykes told the publication.  

“I wanted to find something where I can shine some light on what they’re going through, to show how just stupid and hateful really it is. I was in a woman’s bathroom one time, and I was like, ‘Who would want to come in here anyway? It was like, I kind of want to go check out the men’s room. Sometimes, it’s even cleaner.’ And that’s how that whole bit started. I’ve always just been grossed out by bathrooms.”

When asked if her bit “balances out” what Chappelle said about transgender-related topics, Sykes claimed the comedian did damage to transgender people.

“Um, I don’t know about balancing it out, because I think what he said was so hurtful and damaging to the trans community. So yeah, the scale is still tipped, I will say, in their favor. But I know I wanted to say something, because so much has been said on that platform,” she said, adding that she’s hoping to fall “on the other side of it.”

When asked if she talked to Chappelle since the drama with “The Closer,” Sykes said she still “loves” him but hasn’t seen him since the show was released. 

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to him. If our paths did cross, I totally would say something,” she told Variety. 

Sykes also said she takes it as a “compliment” when people call her a “woke” comedian.

“It’s pretty funny. If you want to give me the label of a ‘woke comic,’ that’s fine. That’s great. What makes me laugh is that they say that like it’s an insult: ‘Oh, they’re woke.’ Thank you!” she said.