Fired CDC director who clashed with RFK Jr. set to testify in Senate

Linda McMahon and RFK Jr.: Children need natural sources of mental health
Washington Post 9.10.25

Summary: Overzealous use of therapy can cause the crises it claims to cure. The article pins some of the problems on social media and screen addiction.

Analysis: The HHS and Education secretaries opine that medicalizing the behavior of children can create new stigmas and they don’t all need to get treated as patients.

FDA Chief Says No Solid Evidence Supporting Hepatitis B Vaccine At Birth
Zero Hedge 9.10.25

Summary: FDA’s Marty Makary said there is no strong evidence supporting the administration of a hepatitis B vaccine to infants. “I personally don’t believe that the evidence is solid to say the Hep B shot needs to be given at birth.”

Analysis: The article includes insights from Sen. Roger Marshall and Dr. Monique Yohanan who question when Hep B shots should be given.

The CDC Can Help Those Disfigured by ‘Gender-Affirming Care’
Wall Street Journal 9.9.25

Summary: “Activists and physicians steal children’s identities when they push them to take experimental chemicals and undergo irreversible surgeries—and then erase their experiences by denying the possibility of regret.”

Analysis: The opinion article asserts the CDC needs better tracking for individuals affected by “gender affirming care” that wind up causing adverse consequences.

I wish RFK Jr.’s hearing was ‘more productive,’ FDA chief says
Fox News 9.8.25

Summary: Dr. Marty Makary goes into detail on vaccine policy, describing members of the ACIP committee while defending some vaccines and citing others known to have caused harm.

Analysis: The FDA Commissioner highlighted what he believes are a number of accomplishments at FDA, HHS and those of the MAHA agenda.

Fired CDC director who clashed with RFK Jr. set to testify in Senate
Washington Post 9.9.25

Summary: The 9.17.25 hearing would give Susan Monarez a high-profile opportunity to respond to RFK Jr.s claims about her ethics and their conversations about vaccines.

Analysis: We will keep our eye on GOP Sens. Rand Paul and Roger Marshall who are likely to take a more aggressive tack on questioning the CDC director. It will be interesting to see if their comments get covered in the media.

Trump 1.0 FDA Commissioner on vaccine policy
CNBC 9.9.25

Summary: Dr. Scott Gottlieb describes RFK Jr. as being at odds with President Trump’s position on vaccines and with Senators. And he said there is an increase in certain diseases coinciding with reduced immunization.

Analysis: Yet Gottlieb does not see RFK Jr.’s job as HHS Secretary being under threat and believes “he can stay there as long as he wants.”

PBS looks into just-released MAHA report
PBS Newshour 9.9.25

Summary: The plan focuses on reducing the consumption of highly processed foods and reviewing vaccines.

Analysis: Includes remarks from RFK Jr., FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and the heads of EPA and Agriculture. The report suggests ways to move MAHA forward.

Doctors group recommends COVID-19 vaccine for all adults in break with government
The Hill 9.9.25

Summary: The American Academy of Family Physicians is recommending that adults 18 and older, children and pregnant women receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Analysis: The move follows other groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology issuing their own recommendations.

Health Officials Hunt for Cases Connecting Covid Shot and Harm in Pregnant Women
Wall Street Journal 9.9.25

Summary: HHS officials are compiling examples of harmful effects of Covid shots on pregnant women to share with the public, furthering the administration’s scrutiny of vaccines.

Analysis: This announcement comes on the heels of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary seeking to investigate presumed deaths of children due to Covid vaccines.

> Media_Navigator 9.10.25

Summary: Leading the news, fired CDC director Susan Monarez to testify before Senate. Actions of key government officials like RFK Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary highlight a skepticism toward established vaccine protocols, such as questioning the Hepatitis B vaccine for infants and investigating adverse effects of COVID-19 shots, reflecting the administration's scrutiny of vaccine policy.

Analysis: The former CDC Director will add fuel to the fire on so-called "chaos" at the CDC, keeping vaccine policy front and center on the media agenda and giving voice to former agency officials who resigned in the wake of Monarez's ouster.

Who Is MAHA Even For?
New York Times 9.10.25

Summary: This anti-RFK Jr. piece mentions public health funding cuts, CDC controversies, and past statements on downplaying COVID from people like the current NIH director.

Analysis: Among the numerous insights in this lengthy article are recent comments from Trump’s former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb who has warned recent actions, “could take down the whole pediatric vaccine enterprise.”

As Florida moves to end vaccine mandates, pediatricians fear more states could follow
PBS Newshour 9.8.25

Summary: Pediatrician reacts to Florida’s decision to end vaccine mandates and she feels “demoralized, disheartened and frustrated.”

Analysis: PBS asserts that doctors across Florida are warning that this change could put children and their communities at risk.

RFK Jr. weighs adding critics of coronavirus shots to key vaccine panel
Washington Post 9.8.25

Summary: RFK Jr. has been weighing whether to appoint new members to the CDC vaccine committee, most of whom appear to have been highly critical of coronavirus vaccines.

Analysis: WP reporters profile several potential new ACIP members and delves into their backgrounds to find anti-vaxx positions.

Researchers Shift Tactics To Tackle Extremism as Public Health Threat
KFF Health News 9.8.25

Summary: In many cases, extremist activities over the past few years have been driven by the deepening chasm of political partisanship and disinformation-driven rebellion against responses to the covid-19 pandemic.

Analysis: KFF Health News reporting states that public demonstrations of bad behavior should somehow be considered a public health threat. Articles like this dilute both the importance of public health and healthcare journalism.

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