RFK Jr., Dems face off in feisty hearing

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It’s Thursday. Folks, I am starting my sourdough baking journey today. *Please* send me your tips, advice and words of encouragement 🥖

In today's issue:

Democrats grill RFK Jr. in feisty hearing RFK Jr. doesn’t know COVID death toll Kennedy accused of ‘sabotage’ Trump hosts Zuckerberg, Gates, Cook Giorgio Armani dies

💉 TALK OF THE MORNING

RFK Jr. is in the hot seat:

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is testifying on Capitol Hill this morning — and it’s been feisty, to say the least.

It has been one shouting match after another between Democrats and Kennedy. Senate Democrats have slugged a series of “gotcha” moments, and Kennedy has forcefully shot back.

Why today’s hearing is so newsy: This has been a chaotic stretch for his agency. He pushed out Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Susan Monarez last week over disagreements about vaccine recommendations and public health recommendations. Chaos then erupted at the CDC, including several senior CDC officials quitting.

Top moments from the hearing:

Kennedy says he doesn’t know how many people died from COVID-19: Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) asked Kennedy the number of Americans who died from COVID-19. "I don't think anybody knows that," Kennedy said. Warner was visibly furious by that response. “You are sitting as secretary of Health and Human Services. How can you be that ignorant?” The exchange is worth watching. 📹 Watch the clip
And got into a shouting match with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.): Bennet needled Kennedy on whether he expects fewer children will get seasonal vaccines as a result of his newly remade vaccine panel. Kennedy responded: “I think that parents should be free” to get their children immunized. 📹 Watch their shouting match
He defended the CDC shake-up: Kennedy said it was “absolutely necessary” to restore the agency to its “gold standard.” “That’s why we need bold, competent and creative new leadership at CDC, people able and willing to chart a new course,” Kennedy said.
And another shouting match — this time with Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.): “Where have you produced the data that you relied on … to change those parameters?” Hassan asked about vaccine recommendations. “You did it behind closed doors.” Kennedy repeatedly cut in, saying, "You're making things up to scare people, and it's a lie.”
Kennedy bashed the CDC’s COVID-19 response: “The people at the CDC who oversaw that process, who put masks on our children, who closed our schools, are the people who will be leaving.” 🔎 Read his........

© The Hill