Meet the Press Meet the Press NOW — August 29
Aug 29, 2025
Demetre Daskalakis, former director at the CDC, shares why he resigned amid political turmoil, emphasizing the clash between science and loyalty. Paul Offit, a prominent infectious disease physician, joins to discuss the impact of vaccine misinformation on public trust. The conversation dives into the urgent need to maintain integrity in health messaging, especially during political upheavals. They also reflect on the community's heartache after a tragic shooting, adding a poignant layer to an already charged political landscape.
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Presidential Push Tests Agency Independence
- The White House is replacing independent agency leaders with loyalists, testing presidential power boundaries.
- That shift risks politicizing historically apolitical agencies and altering policy independent of scientific evidence.
CDC Official Resigned Over Ideological Shift
- Demetre Daskalakis resigned after seeing CDC transformed into an organization pursuing ideological goals.
- He said he left because he could no longer fulfill his Hippocratic oath without causing harm.
Cross‑Check CDC Guidance With Clinicians
- Cross-check CDC guidance with your clinician and professional medical societies during leadership turmoil.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist about pediatric and pregnancy vaccine guidance from relevant professional organizations.