Hi there, everyone. It's 4 o'clock in New York. Among the most essential responsibilities of any government is the health and well-being of its people. It is why today's hearing in front of the Senate's health committee was so important to all of us,

and yet most of the time so deeply disturbing.

The witnesses, Susan Menaris, she is now the former head of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention,

and Deborah Aury, the agency's former chief medical officer,

who abruptly resigned after Minaris was fired by Donald

Trump a few weeks ago at the behest of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In fact, it was that firing that was under the microscope at today's hearing, specifically,

in August 25th meeting between RFK Jr. and Dr. Minaris,

in which Dr. Minaris testified that Kennedy asked she commit in advance to essentially

rubber stamping every recommendation of the CDC's vaccine advisory panel, quote,

regardless of scientific evidence, in addition to firing

certain officials responsible for vaccine policy.

Here's what Kennedy said about that same meeting two weeks ago and how Minaris responded today.

I told her that she had to resign because I asked her, are you a trustworthy person?

And she said no.

So if you had an employee who told you they weren't trustworthy, would you ask them to resign, Senator?

So I'm sorry, but this is not what she has said publicly. She has said she was to

her. So you're saying she's lying. Yes. Regarding trustworthiness, I cannot define that word for Secretary

Kennedy. I made commitments to this committee that I would lead with integrity, transparency,

purpose, and work with Congress

to maximize health outcomes and protect the American people. Secretary Kennedy told me he could not

trust me. I had refused to commit to approving vaccine recommendations without evidence,

...