Post Reports RFK Jr.'s showdown with the Senate
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Sep 4, 2025 David Ovalle, a health reporter from The Washington Post, dives into the heated Senate Finance Committee hearing featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Ovalle discusses Kennedy's contentious defense of vaccine policies and his controversial overhaul at the CDC. The conversation highlights the divide in school vaccine mandates across red and blue states, revealing a fractured public health landscape. They also touch on the growing confusion and misinformation surrounding vaccines and the implications for public trust and health policies.
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Major Shakeup At HHS
- RFK Jr. has cut staff, restructured departments, and shifted HHS priorities toward a 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda.
- These changes center on vaccines and have generated sustained controversy and scrutiny.
Vaccine Policy Overhaul
- Kennedy canceled some mRNA vaccine research and purged a key CDC vaccine advisory committee citing conflicts of interest.
- He replaced members with allies who have expressed anti-vaccine views, escalating concern about future vaccine guidance.
CDC Director Resigns After Pressure
- Newly installed CDC director Susan Menares resigned after she said HHS pressured her to roll back vaccine recommendations.
- Her exit triggered further resignations by senior CDC career officials and intensified turmoil at the agency.