Several sources inside the Senate say Dianne Feinstein, who is 87, struggles to remember briefings just after they take place-and that her cognitive decline has been evident for several years.

"They say her short-term memory has grown so poor that she often forgets she has been briefed on a topic, accusing her staff of failing to do so just after they have. They describe Feinstein as forgetting what she has said & getting upset." Reports the LA Times.

This is said to be "a sad but necessary story. Feinstein's legacy and accomplishments deserve respect. But she still represents millions of people, and has clearly been having trouble for a while. Reporters on the Hill know this, and it's really tricky to navigate,"said Emily Loop, a Washington reporter