Robert F Kennedy Jr is the latest of Donald Trump’s controversial cabinet picks to be grilled by Senators as he vies to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
The 71-year-old faced the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday morning, declared war on chronic illness, refuted anti-vaxxer claims, and said he would follow Trump’s lead on abortion despite once being pro-choice. He was repeatedly challenged over his past statements on many topics.
Tomorrow he will go before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
Meanwhile, Trump has offered over two million US government employees eight months’ pay to quit as part of his administration’s ambition to cut $1 trillion from the federal budget.
Federal workers received an email from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management on Tuesday evening. Those willing to accept the “deferred resignation,” which would be effective immediately with pay and benefits through September 30, have until February 6 to decide.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the president’s freeze on federal grants and loans on Tuesday afternoon just minutes before it was scheduled to take effect, setting a hearing for Monday morning.
On Wednesday lunchtime, the White House rescinded the entire order.
Key Points
- RFK Jr says he is not coming after your Big Mac or Twinkie
- White House abruptly backs off Trump's federal funding freeze after lawsuits and outrage
- Trump offers 2 million federal workers pay to resign
- President signs executive order banning gender transition for minors
- Trump tasks Elon Musk to ‘go get’ stranded astronauts ‘as soon as possible’
ANALYSIS: In a chaotic Senate hearing, RFK Jr. insists that some of his best friends are vaccines
20:25
,
Oliver O'Connell
Richard Hall writes:
A former gravesite in Central Park that once contained the corpse of a bear is a testament to the chaos that has followed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. throughout his life. His Senate confirmation hearing for health secretary was no different.
RFK Jr. arrived in the hearing room on Wednesday to cheers of “We love you Bobby!” from his applauding fans in the bleachers, with his long-suffering wife Cheryl Hines alongside him, and his children in tow.
Before long, the proceedings descended into a series of verbal brawls. There were interruptions by protesters, a fight about baby onesies, and a forensic search for the authentic views of a man who has operated on the fringes of health science for most of his life.
Continue reading...
Fed chairman declined to respond to Trump’s call for lower rates
20:15
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Oliver O'Connell
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has not responded to Donald Trump’s call for lower rates. On Wednesday, the Fed announced that short-term rates would remain unchanged.
“I’m not going to have any response or comment whatsoever on what the president said,” Powell told reporters at a Wednesday news conference. “It’s not appropriate to do so.”
Powell said he has had no contact with Trump.
The Fed has wanted to base its choices on short-term rates based on jobs data, inflation, and other economic factors rather than political pressures.
This political independence has meant Powell has not publicly engaged much with Trump’s desire to shape its policies.
Trump said in his first week back in the White House that he wanted the Fed to cut interest rates, howver, the central bank has hit pause for an uncertain duration.
The president argued he understands monetary policy better than those charged with setting it.
“With oil prices going down, I'll demand that interest rates drop immediately, and likewise, they should be dropping all over the world,” Trump told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland by video link.
Full story: Trump says he'll send migrants to Guantanamo Bay hours after idea floated on Fox & Friends
20:09
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Oliver O'Connell
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade ended a Fox & Friends discussion on revoking Venezuelan migrants’ temporary protected status by asking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem if she planned on housing immigrants in a prison facility most known for housing 9/11 terror suspects.
Calling the Guantanamo Bay prison camp an “asset,” Noem said that the administration was “evaluating” that possibility but that it was ultimately President Donald Trump’s decision.
Hours later the president revealed that was exactly what he was going to do, as Justin Baragona reports.
Trump signs Laken Riley Act
20:06
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump has signed the Laken Riley Act.
The bill is named after the Georgia nursing student who was killed by a person in the U.S. illegally while out for a run — an incident that became a rallying cry in his effort to return to the White House House.
Welcoming lawmakers and Riley’s family in the White House East Room, Trump said: “It’s so sad we have to be doing it,” but added, “Her name will live forever in the laws of our country.”
The legislation requires the detention of people in the U.S. illegally who are accused of theft and violent crimes. The bill won bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
“It’s a landmark law that we’re doing today,” Trump said.
President Trump signs Laken Riley Act pic.twitter.com/8DEIJdzZN5
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 29, 2025
Watch: RFK Jr. challenged on false Covid-19 claim
20:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
19:58
,
Oliver O'Connell
General Milley and other former Trump Administration officials continue to face credible, deadly threats from Iran because they carried out President Trump’s order to kill Iranian General Soleimani. It is unconscionable and recklessly negligent for President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to revoke General Milley’s security detail for their own political satisfaction. The Administration has placed Milley and his family in grave danger, and they have an obligation to immediately restore his federal protection.
Indeed, just months ago President Biden said that a foreign assassination attempt against then-candidate Trump would be an “act of war.” Do President Trump and Republicans—who celebrated the Soleimani strike—not believe that U.S. military servicemembers deserve the same protection?
Senator Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth pulling Gen. Mark Milley’s details
Trump signs antisemitism executive order
19:50
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AP
Donald Trump has signed an antisemitism executive order that threatens to cancel student visas for Hamas sympathizers.
The president’s order calls on the Justice Department to “aggressively prosecute terroristic threats, arson, vandalism and violence against American Jews.”
Perhaps most notable is the order’s focus on reports of antisemitism on many college campuses during protests following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that prompted Israel’s war in Gaza.
“To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you,” Trump said in a statement issued by the White House.
“I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before.”
Watch: Trump to order opening of 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay
19:46
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Oliver O'Connell
Trump: Today I'm also signing an executive order to instruct the departments of defense and homeland security to begin preparing the 30,000 person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay pic.twitter.com/2gBXWK4hFz
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 29, 2025
Hegseth strips Mark Milley’s security detail and clearances
19:40
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Oliver O'Connell
Days after he was sworn into office, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revoked a security detail for retired Gen. Mark Milley, becoming the fourth former Donald Trump appointee-turned-critic to be stripped of protections after the president’s return to the White House.
A Pentagon spokesperson said Hegseth also directed the Department of Defense inspector general to investigate “the facts and circumstances” of Milley’s time in office to determine whether to “reopen his military grade review determination,” which could retroactively demote Milley and throw his retirement benefits into question.
Alex Woodward reports.
White House pushes back on recission of funding freeze memo
19:25
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Oliver O'Connell
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is pushing back on reporting on the recission of the memo from the Office of Management and Budget regarding the federal funding freeze.
“This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo,” she wrote on X.
“Why? To end any confusion created by the court's injunction. The President's EO's on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.”
This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 29, 2025
It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo.
Why? To end any confusion created by the court's injunction.
The President's EO's on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.
Warren and RFK Jr spar over vaccine and money-making claims
19:20
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Oliver O'Connell
Robert F Kennedy Jr and Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts got into a heated exchange during the Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Warren began by saying that the two of them agree on one thing – Big Pharma “has too much power in Washington.”
Gustaf Kilander reports on how things went downhill from there...
COMMENT: From grinding up baby animals to freezers full of roadkill: What RFK Jr’s weirdest habits tell us about him
19:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Caroline Kennedy’s letter to the Senate about her cousin’s unsuitability for office is unprecedented and brave. Kat Brown warns that we are in an era where the powerful won’t suffer for the lies they tell, but the public will.
Report: ICE will target this Colorado city next as agents conduct three major raids each week
18:45
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Oliver O'Connell
Immigration law enforcement agents are expected to conduct large-scale arrests in three cities per week and Aurora, Colorado – a city that received attention from President Donald Trump during the presidential election – is expected to be the next target.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are reportedly preparing to begin an operation in the city on Thursday morning, three sources familiar with the planning told NBC News.
That raid would occur after law enforcement began conducting arrests in Chicago on Sunday and New York City on Tuesday.
Ariana Baio reports.
Kennedy hearing adjourns
18:35
,
Oliver O'Connell
After a rapid-fire round of questions from Democrats, RFK Jr’s Senate confirmation hearing adjourned in a hurry as those lawmakers present rushed off to vote.
Stay tuned for our round-up of Kennedy’s first hearing.
Kennedy’s statements about antidepressants were challenged
18:34
,
AP
Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota challenged Kennedy’s unsupported suggestions that rising rates of school shootings could be related to increased prescribing of antidepressants.
Kennedy responded that “I don’t think anyone can answer that question.” And called for more research.
Antidepressants and other prescription drugs are subject to multiple, large clinical trials that evaluate safety and efficacy before they are approved. Additionally, the FDA has multiple systems for monitoring emerging side effects with drugs after they’re on the market.
“These statements you’ve made linking antidepressants to school shootings reinforce the stigma that people who experience mental health face every single day,” said Smith, who added that she benefited from antidepressants as “a young woman.”
Trump's Commerce Secretary nominee, Howard Lutnick, vows to sell his business interests in 90 days
18:30
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AP
Billionaire financier Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Commerce Department, said Wednesday that he would sell all of his business holdings within 90 days.
“I will divest, I will sell all of my interests, my business interests, all of my assets, everything,'' Lutnick said in a confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. ”I made the decision I've made enough money in my life.''
Lutnick, head of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has complicated business dealings. His financial disclosure statement showed that he had positions in more than 800 businesses and other private organizations.
Lutnick was introduced by Vice President JD Vance, who called him "just a good dude.''
Lutnick, who was head of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has emerged as an outspoken supporter of Trump's hardline trade policies.
Full story: White House abruptly backs off Trump's federal funding freeze after lawsuits and outrage
18:24
,
Oliver O'Connell
The White House has abruptly rescinded a directive that threatened to freeze billions of dollars in federal assistance.
The notice from the Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday followed a federal judge’s decision that temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s administration from freezing funds across government agencies, with lawsuits accusing the president of brazenly unconstitutional threats to critical funding.
Alex Woodward reports on this breaking news...
Kennedy pledges to rebuild trust through 'radical transparency'
18:17
,
AP
In a response to Wyoming Sen. Todd Young’s question about public skepticism of healthcare institutions, Kennedy said the reason people don’t trust health agencies is that they “haven’t been trustworthy”
He pledged to rebuild that trust through “radical transparency.”
BREAKING: White House OMB rescinds federal freeze on loans and grants
18:07
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Oliver O'Connell
NEWS: The White House Office of Management and Budget has rescinded the federal freeze on federal loans and grants
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) January 29, 2025
New memo from OMB acting director Matthew Vaeth pic.twitter.com/uTs6hQRjDs
Kennedy asked about previous comments about CDC
18:05
,
Oliver O'Connell
Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia was the latest lawmaker to challenge RFK Jr with his past comments, this time about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Warnock asked: “You have compared the CDC's work to Nazi death camps. You have compared it to sexual abusers in the Catholic Church. Do you stand by those statements?”
“I don't believe that I ever compared the CDC to Nazi death camps,” Kennedy replied.
“Actually, I have a transcript,” the senator said...
Warnock: You have compared the CDC's work to Nazi death camps. You've compared it to sexual abusers in the catholic church.
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 29, 2025
RFK JR: I never said it.
Warnock: Actually, I have a transcript. pic.twitter.com/d56nFEdbO8
People ‘don’t gain any weight’ when they eat pasta in Europe, claims Fox News host
18:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Suggesting that pasta and pizza in Europe are lower in calories than in the United States, Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt claimed that people “don’t gain any weight” when eating those items overseas because they don’t contain “pesticides” like their American counterparts.
Justin Baragona has the story.
'You're making me sound like a shill'
17:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned RFK Jr. about whether he will continue to profit as a private lawyer from his work related to health care and pharmaceutical companies.
“You’re making me sound like a shill,” Kennedy said as their exchange got heated.
A particularly intense back-and-forth came when Warren asked Kennedy, who has profited from an arrangement with a law firm that specializes in suing drug companies, to commit to not earning money from such lawsuits while secretary and for four years afterward.
Kennedy said he would comply with all ethics rules but would not directly answer whether he would forego the income after leaving office.
With reporting from the AP
'Are you supportive of these onesies?'
17:35
,
Oliver O'Connell
Sen. Bernie Sanders tells RFK Jr that he likes “the slogan that you coined — Make America Healthy Again — and I strongly agree with that sentiment.”
That was about as friendly as it got.
Sanders returned to the subject of abortion, telling Kennedy: “I have never seen a major politician flip on that issue quite as quickly as you did.”
Regarding Kennedy’s record on vaccines, the Vermont senator showed a picture of onesies for sale through the Children's Health Defense Fund, which RFK Jr. founded. The onesies read, “Unvaxxed, unafraid” and “No vax, no problem.”
“Are you supportive of these onesies?” asked Sanders.
Kennedy responded that he didn’t have control of that organization anymore and claimed that he is supportive of vaccines.
Here’s that moment:
Sanders: You started a group called the Children Health Defense. On their website, they are selling what's called onesies. These are little things clothing for babies. One of them is titled unvaxed unafraid. pic.twitter.com/HG9RWp73CH
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 29, 2025
RFK Jr says he is not coming after your Big Mac or Twinkie
17:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee for health secretary, said during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that he’s not coming after anyone’s Big Macs or Twinkies if he’s confirmed as secretary of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy is testifying during the first of two Senate confirmation hearings. This is his first public confrontation with senators; his previous meetings have taken place behind closed doors.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Watch: Tense exchange between RFK Jr and Elizabeth Warren
17:12
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Oliver O'Connell
Warren: I'm asking you to commit right now that you will not take a financial stake in every one of those lawsuits so that what you do as secretary will also benefit you financially down the line.
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 29, 2025
RFK JR: I will comply with all the ethical guidelines.
Warren: That's not the… pic.twitter.com/8ZKrfFqMm3
Trump commerce chief pick says he prefers across-the-board tariffs by country
17:08
,
Oliver O'Connell
Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Commerce Department, stated on Wednesday that he has recommended to Trump the implementation of across-the-board tariffs on a country-by-country basis to restore trade reciprocity and fairness.
“My way of thinking, and I discussed this with the President, is country by country, macro,” Lutnick told his Senate confirmation hearing when asked his preference for how Trump should impose tariffs.
“We are treated horribly by the global trading environment, they all have higher tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers and subsidies,” Lutnick said. “They treat us poorly. We need to be treated better. We need to be treated with respect, and we can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness and respect.”
With reporting by Reuters
RFK Jr quizzed over powers of HHS role
17:05
,
Justin Baragona
Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada asked RFK Jr about the inner workings of the department he is nominated to lead.
Trump starts process of appealing New York hush money conviction
17:02
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump files notice with court to start the process of appealing his New York hush money conviction.
Trump has hired lawyers with massive white-shoe firm Sullivan & Cromwell to represent him in his hush money appeal.
His now-former lead criminal defense attorneys Todd Blanche and Emile Bove are at the top of the Justice Department.
US drops classified documents case against Trump associates, court filing shows
16:53
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Reuters
U.S. prosecutors on Wednesday moved to end the criminal case against two associates of President Donald Trump for allegedly helping to obstruct a probe into Trump's mishandling of classified documents, a court filing showed.
The pair, Trump personal valet Walt Nauta and property manager Carlos De Oliveira, did not object to the prosecutor's decision, according to the filing.
The move marks the end of the two prosecutions of Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who resigned from the Justice Department earlier this month ahead of Trump's return to the presidency.
'Frankly you frighten people,' senator tells RFK Jr
16:45
,
AP
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, told Kennedy that “Americans are going to need to hear a clear and trustworthy recantation of what you have said on vaccinations,” including to “never say vaccines aren’t medically safe when they are and making it indisputably clear that you support mandatory vaccinations against diseases where that will keep people safe.”
“You’re in that hole pretty deep,” Whitehouse said. “We’ve just had a measles case in Rhode Island, the first since 2013, and frankly you frighten people.”
Why is abortion a problem for RFK Jr?
16:36
,
Oliver O'Connell
Abortion is something of a thorny issue for RFK Jr in this hearing, given that he used to be pro-choice and now appears to have changed his mind.
Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire asked pointedly: “My question is, exactly when did you decide to sell out your life‘s work and values to get this position?”
Hassan: "You have clearly stated in the past that bodily autonomy is one of your core values ... when was it that you decided to sell out the values you've had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?" pic.twitter.com/OCnwSgugfl
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 29, 2025
Kennedy distances himself from a campaign email celebrating Trump’s pause on health agency reports
16:29
,
AP
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat, questioned Kennedy about a fundraising email his campaign sent Monday celebrating Trump’s freeze on many federal health agency communications.
The email came from an address used by Kennedy’s presidential campaign and was labeled as paid for by his candidate committee.
“This pause will prevent unelected bureaucrats from further undermining our health freedom,” the email read. Then it directed recipients to “chip in” to reduce $2 million in Kennedy’s campaign debt. A hyperlink went to a donation webpage.
Kennedy denied his campaign sent the email, saying, “I don’t think my campaign exists anymore, senator.”
“Somebody’s out there soliciting money for it,” Warner said. “Maybe you ought to find out who is.”
Kennedy says he agrees with Trump's stance on abortion
16:21
,
Oliver O'Connell
RFK Jr. states that he agrees with President Donald Trump that every abortion is a tragedy, and that we cannot be a moral nation if we have 1.2 million abortions each year.
Kennedy also concurs with the president that states should have control over abortion and adds that Trump has informed him of his desire to end late-term abortions, protect conscience exemptions, and eliminate federal funding for abortions both domestically and internationally.
In addition, he said that Trump has asked him to look into the “safety” of abortion drug mifepristone.
“President Trump has asked me to study the safety of mifepristone. He has not yet taken a stand on how to regulate it. Whatever he does, I will implement those policies.”
RFK Jr. says he would direct the NIH and FDA to review the safety of mifepristone, a drug that's been used during medical abortions for decades:
— The Recount (@therecount) January 29, 2025
"Trump has made it clear to me that...he is not taking a position yet on mifepristone...[but] he wants me to look at safety issues." pic.twitter.com/50JR7CgJsU
Kennedy’s plans on addiction are informed by personal experience
16:14
,
AP
Asked by Sen. John Cornyn about equipping primary care doctors to address addiction and substance abuse, Kennedy spoke about his heroin addiction as a young man.
“This is a priority for me,” said Kennedy, who said he still goes to 12-step meetings daily. “Addicts almost always go through a cycle where there is a moment where they hit periodic bottoms where they’re ready to go into treatment. But it’s fleeting and it’s momentary and we have an opportunity to save their lives.”
Kennedy proposed using Graduate Medical Education funding to help medical school students better understand addiction care.
RFK faces tough questions about Lyme disease, Aids, pesticides and Covid-19
16:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
RFK Jr was asked by Senator Michael Bennet whether he said that Covid-19 was a genetically engineered bioweapon that targets black and white people but spared Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people.
Kennedy replies: “I didn't say it was deliberately' targeted. I just quoted an NIH-funded study.”
“I'll take that as a yes,” says Bennet.
Bennet then asked Kennedy whether he had said Lyme disease is a highly likely a militarily engineered bioweapon.
“I probably said that,” conceded Kennedy.
Bennet followed that question by asking: “Did you say exposure to pesticides causes children to become transgender?”
“No, I never said that,” said Kennedy.
Bennet responded: “I have the record that I'll give to the chairman.”
Bennet also asked whether he wrote in a book that it’s undeniable that African AIDS is an entirely different disease from western AIDS. Yes or no?
Kennedy replied: “I'm not sure.”
Again Bennet said he would give the record to the chairman.
RFK Jr says he will strengthen Aids relief program
16:02
,
Oliver O'Connell
“I absolutely support PEPFAR and I will work with you to strengthen the program,” RFK Jr says, referring to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which works to prevent the spread of HIV infection.
PEPFAR was spearheaded by President G W Bush and endorsed by Dr Anthony Fauci to curb the Aids epidemic globally.
The program appeared to fall under the Trump administration’s government funding freeze.
David J. Kramer, executive director of the George W. Bush Institute said: “When a new administration takes over, it’s common to review programs and priorities. One of those programs is the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has saved 26 million lives, including more than 7.8 million babies born HIV-free, over the past two decades. Like all other programs, PEPFAR should be subject to review, but a pause in its funding risks interrupting life-saving access to treatment, potentially placing millions of lives in danger.
He continued: “Presidents from four administrations – including impressive results during President Trump’s first term – have ensured that this program continues to effectively save lives. It’s vital that the Trump Administration exempt PEPFAR from the pause in funding so that it can continue to ensure that those on treatment continue to receive it uninterrupted. A successful, multiyear transition toward full country ownership of the effort has begun, but the mission is not complete. And we can’t stop now, because as President Bush reminded us at the outset of the program, all life is precious.”
A waiver announced Tuesday allowed for the distribution of HIV medicines to resume at least temporarily but its future remains uncertain. If treatment stops, the International AIDS Society says not only will people die but HIV will re-surge, increasing the threat worldwide.
RFK Jr quizzed about stance on measles as cases surge worldwide
15:54
,
Oliver O'Connell
Wyden pressed Kennedy on his stance on measles and his connection with a deadly outbreak in American Samoa in 2019.
Said Wyden: “Measles are in fact deadly and highly contagious, something that you should've learned after your lies contributed to the deaths of 83 people, mostly of them children, in a measles outbreak in Samoa.”
Measles cases have surged worldwide in recent years and Georgia reported its first case this year from an unvaccinated resident in Atlanta.
Wyden attacks RFK Jr's vaccine views
15:47
,
Oliver O'Connell
Sen. Ron Wyden attacks RFK Jr’s previous statements on vaccines, both today before Congress and in the past on podcasts and other media appearances in which he has expressed contradictory views.
‘Are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine or did you lie on all those podcasts?”
RFK says he's been taking out of context: “You know about this Sen. Wyden, bringing this up right now is dishonest.”
Another protester stood and decried Kennedy’s activism on vaccines holding a sign that said, “Vaccines save lives.”
Committee chairman Mike Crapo responded by saying he could put the committee into recess if the hearing continues to be disrupted.
Watch the full exchange between Wyden and Kennedy here:
"Are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine or did you lie on all those podcasts?"
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 29, 2025
Watch exchange between Sen. @RonWyden and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on vaccines. pic.twitter.com/4jYWaWUuzL
Watch: RFK Jr won't take away Trump's cheeseburger and Diet Coke
15:34
,
Oliver O'Connell
RFK JR: I don't want to take food away from anybody. If you like a cheeseburger, a McDonald's cheeseburger, a diet coke, which my boss loves, and you should be able to get them. pic.twitter.com/Ka3XIRwHJc
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 29, 2025
RFK interrupted in opening remarks by protester
15:28
,
Oliver O'Connell
RFK Jr says in opening remarks at his hearing: “News reports have claimed I am anti-vaccine and anti-industry. I am neither.”
A protestor yells out in response interrupting him.
RFK JR: News reports have claimed that I’m anti-vaccine or anti-industry. I am neither
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 29, 2025
Protester: You lie! pic.twitter.com/KSMVOfZAsF
Sen. Wyden gives brutal introductory remarks to RFK Jr hearing
15:23
,
Oliver O'Connell
Ranking Democratic member of the finance committee, Sen. Ron Wyden, gave brutal introductory remarks at the start of the RFK Jr confirmation hearing, saying that his vaccine skepticism fits “the profile” of someone “who chases” money/influence “even if that may mean the tragic deaths of children and other vulnerable people.”
The senator further said: “Mr Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, quacks, charlatans, especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of vaccines. He has made it his life's work to sow doubt and to discourage parents from getting their kids lifesaving vaccines. It has been lucrative for him.”
Wyden further argued that “from abortion to universal health care, Mr Kennedy has changed his views so often it’s nearly impossible to know where he stands.”
Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Kennedy to lead the top health agency has drawn criticism from both abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion forces. Kennedy supported abortion rights during his presidential campaign, although he also expressed support for a national 15-week or 21-week ban in a 2023 interview, after which a spokesperson claimed he misheard the question.
