The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell Top Senate Democrat: Trump’s HHS Secy. RFK Jr. ‘must be fired immediately'
23 snips
Aug 28, 2025 
J. Michael Luttig, a former United States Court of Appeals Judge known for his conservative legal views, discusses the turmoil at the CDC sparked by Robert Kennedy Jr.’s leadership, resulting in mass resignations. He critiques the politicization of public health and the consequences of vaccine misinformation. Luttig also confronts current gun violence issues and a federal judge's scathing rebuke of the Trump administration, emphasizing the need to preserve judicial independence and accountability in governance.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
CDC Leadership Purge Signals Politicization
- The Trump administration's HHS changes prompted mass resignations at the CDC nearly immediately after RFK Jr.'s appointment.
- Critics say this signals politicization of public health and risks undermining evidence-based systems.
Pressure On CDC Head Over Vaccine Policy
- RFK Jr. pressed CDC Director Susan Menares about rescinding COVID vaccine approvals and urged her to resign when she wouldn't commit.
- Multiple senior CDC scientists then resigned in protest of what they called the weaponizing of public health.
CDC Experts Warn About Censoring Science
- Several high-level CDC officials resigned naming censorship and politicization as the reason.
- They emphasize vaccines save lives and scientific review must remain expert-led and unbiased.