Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(70,702 posts)
Wed Sep 17, 2025, 05:25 AM Sep 2025

Fired CDC chief will testify Kennedy pressed her to endorse vaccine recommendations without evidence

Fired CDC chief will testify Kennedy pressed her to endorse vaccine recommendations without evidence

The Associated Press
September 16, 2025, 10:09 PM


FILE - Susan Monarez, President Donald Trump's nominee to be director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arrives to testify before the Senate HELP Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez will tell senators that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to endorse new vaccine recommendations before seeing scientific evidence, according to a copy of the testimony she plans to give during a Wednesday hearing.

According to a copy of the prepared remarks, obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, Monarez will tell senators that Kennedy gave her an ultimatum: “Preapprove” new vaccine recommendations from a controversial advisory CDC panel that Kennedy has stocked with some medical experts who doubt vaccine safety or be fired. That panel is expected to vote on new vaccine recommendations later this week.

Monarez, initially handpicked by Kennedy and nominated by President Donald Trump, was fired just weeks into the job over disagreements on vaccine policies. She is set to appear before the Senate’s powerful health committee to discuss her firing.

“Even under pressure, I could not replace evidence with ideology or compromise my integrity,” Monarez will say in her opening testimony to senators. “Vaccine policy must be guided by credible data, not predetermined outcomes.”

{snip}

Associated Press writers Mike Stobbe in New York and Lauran Neergaard in Washington contributed.

Copyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Fired CDC chief will testify Kennedy pressed her to endorse vaccine recommendations without evidence (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2025 OP
RFKJr is allowed to commit legal murder. Irish_Dem Sep 2025 #1
It's about to start. mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2025 #2
I love people with a spine. Passages Sep 2025 #3
And Collins makes a motion to swear in the witnesses Just_Vote_Dem Sep 2025 #4

Irish_Dem

(82,312 posts)
1. RFKJr is allowed to commit legal murder.
Wed Sep 17, 2025, 05:57 AM
Sep 2025

I wonder if he gets paid for each American killed by his policies?

mahatmakanejeeves

(70,702 posts)
2. It's about to start.
Wed Sep 17, 2025, 10:01 AM
Sep 2025

Go to YouTube, search for “CDC testimony,” and you’ll have your choice of channels.

I couldn’t one with closed captions yesterday during Kash Patel’s debacle. Moreover, Associated Press interrupted their stream with commercials.

This morning, I have on Fox News YouTube feed, of all things. I expect the feed will be unfiltered and commentary-free, just like everyone else’s.

So far, no commercials.

Update: I’m not getting any sound from them. I’ll have to try CNN-News18. Okay, the sound is on now.

For more streams, look here:

https://www.joemygod.com/2025/09/live-video-fired-ex-cdc-director-testifies-about-rfk/

Just_Vote_Dem

(3,672 posts)
4. And Collins makes a motion to swear in the witnesses
Wed Sep 17, 2025, 10:38 AM
Sep 2025

And Bernie makes the point that no one testifying to the Health committee-including Kennedy-has ever been sworn in.

Good on Bernie for not taking shit from Collins.

Kick in to the DU tip jar?

This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.

As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.

Tell me more...

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Fired CDC chief will test...