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National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Aug. 9, 2026

2026-08-09T13:01:00-0400 / CBS News

The following is the transcript of an interview with National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Aug. 9, 2026.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by the Director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. Good morning to you, doctor.

NIH DIRECTOR DR. JAY BHATTACHARYA: Good morning.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And we should mention you are also helping to run the CDC until the new director is sworn in as well.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Until next Wednesday, yes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Until next Wednesday. So let me ask you about a number of things that I think people at home are worried about, particularly around the food supply. The cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Mexico is now in 15 states. There were two deaths this week due to it. Yesterday, USDA issued an alert for a range of products that may have salmonella, including meat and poultry. 27 states are affected by salmonella, possibly linked to jalapeños, but cilantro, red onion, avocado, also listed in the CDC notice. Albertsons, a grocery store, just recalled some items. There’s risk of salmonella in eggs in Texas, according to the CDC, and then you have the screwworm outbreak affecting beef. This is overwhelming for someone going into a grocery store right now. Why do they seem out of control?

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Well, the- the cyclospora outbreak is larger than in normal years. I mean, in normal years there actually is a- cyclospora cases. The- the two deaths that you mentioned, they happened in late July- late- late June, early July, before we identified this source. And so, folks that are listening, can rest assured, the CDC and the FDA are working hard to trace back exactly where these outbreaks are occurring from, intervening with the- the sort of suppliers to make sure that they don’t- and doing recalls to make sure that the disease doesn’t- the, you know, condition doesn’t spread. I mean, it’s tough. You go to grocery store, you buy lettuce, and you say, “Okay, can I buy the lettuce?”

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: And what I say to folks listening, we’re working hard to make sure that the contaminated sources don’t get onto the shelves. And if you’re worried, you can buy that- buy the lettuce, but make sure you wash it carefully. You don’t eat outer leaves. And if you’re really worried, just, you know, cook your vegetables.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But we’re not hearing from the FDA. I mean, should there be a restriction on imports from central Mexico right now? It seems like a lot of things are tied back.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Yeah, I mean, I think the key thing is that when we find a contaminated source, we intervene. I can’t speak for the FDA, thank God. It’s just the NIH and the CDC. But, but, but I can say that- that the folks who I have worked with at the FDA are- they’re great team of folks that are- they’re tracking back and finding the source of these outbreaks. And for cyclospora specifically, it’s complicated because for technical reasons, it’s much- it’s more difficult than if it was just a bacteria to find the exact source. But they’ve done a great job finding it, and they’ve been cooperating with the CDC team that I’ve led the last few months to try to identify the source, and you know, it’s- what we know now is because–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: –of that hard work that’s gone on.

MARGARET BRENNAN: –But there are also a number of other health issues, including measles cases now at their highest level in 35 years. The CDC says only 10 U.S. states have measles vaccine coverage rates above the 95% threshold in the prior school year. That is so key because that is, as you know, a marker for basically a way to stop transmission, herd immunity. Do you believe that the federal government needs to make a really full-throated push to tell parents, ‘go get your kids vaccinated with the MMR vaccine?’

DR. BHATTACHARYA: You know, one of the first things I did as CDC director, I think it was back in February of this year, was that there was a big outbreak in South Carolina, and I went on to- went on- I don’t know if TV is the right word, but I went on camera and I recommended that the best way to end the measles outbreak there was to have their parents vaccinate their kids for measles.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: And the outbreak has now ended in South Carolina in part because of that. There’s been a lot of- a lot of outbreaks, not just the United States, but around the world.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: And you know, a lot of that has to do with sort of a collapse in sort of public trust in a lot of science, you know, public health measures that occurred during the pandemic for reasons we can- we can discuss. For me the most important thing is to try to regain that trust.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right, but why not- you can have TV ads. You can have something that’s more of a national push. It was notable last week that Secretary Kennedy went on television and did say parents should get kids vaccinated for measles because it’s effective at preventing infection roughly 97% of the time. That was a change for him. He has not always been that clear, as you know. Why not blast that across the airwaves of America?

DR. BHATTACHARYA: I mean, I think that I’ve done my best to try to do that. Every time anyone’s asked me about vaccinating their kids for measles, I say exactly that. That the best way to protect your kids from measles is to get the vaccine for- for measles. You know–

MARGARET BRENNAN: This country is going to lose its measles elimination status–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: As did Canada, as did Mexico, as did the UK.

MARGARET BRENNAN : But that’s not acceptable, right? The gold standard science–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: But you know, I think the thing is,

MARGARET BRENNAN: –that MAHA wants to–

DR. BHATTACHARYA:–if you look at the actual- what’s happened, like the- the- there’s specific states where you’ve had these outbreaks. Big, big outbreak in Texas, which has now been addressed. Big outbreak in Arizona and Utah, that’s been addressed. South Carolina, that’s been addressed. Now, what we saw was an outbreak in Virginia, again coming down sharply, and now Pennsylvania- is specific communities of people that have- that are the highest risk that we have to focus on, as well as the broader sort of message that it’s important for children to be vaccinated for the measles if we want to address the measles outbreak.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that’s why I brought up herd immunity because it puts everyone at risk, right?

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Yeah.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Not just people. But on- on this issue, you were down in Atlanta this past week. This is one year since that horrific shooting at CDC headquarters. Officer David Rose was honored this past week. He was killed last year protecting CDC employees from a gunman. And we should note he was a combat veteran, a United States Marine who had just graduated five months prior from the police academy. Three kids left behind. The shooter was motivated by misinformation about the COVID vaccine. That is why he shot over 100 bullets into the windows of the CDC. Is enough being done to counter this kind of misinformation?

DR. BHATTACHARYA: I mean, I should start with- I got to talk with Officer Rose’s wife a few months back. The- one of the first things I did is I- you know, to honor him and his sacrifice in protecting the people that work at the CDC, the amazing people who work the CDC was we, you know, renamed the street that leads into the CDC after him, and it was a really nice event. I’ll tell you the- the thing is I want to focus on attention on Officer Rose because I don’t- I think the shooter did was horrific, and I think the- you know, you can talk about why shooters do things, but really fundamentally–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, his father said he was brainwashed about the COVID vaccine and thought it was making him suicidal. That’s what his–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: I mean the thing is, it’s like- to talk about the shooter puts the–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –motivation was when he said he was going to shoot up the CDC.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: –emphasis on somebody who’s- I mean, I think we shouldn’t be putting our emphasis on–

MARGARET BRENNAN: No, I am on misinformation about vaccines.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: I mean, I think the key- the key thing is there’s a loss of public trust in public health that happened in part because of a lot of- frankly, even- even- even on this network and on other networks, there was a particular single point of view put across during the COVID pandemic about how, you know, that led to things that really did cause harm to people. The school closures are probably the number one thing that- that- that–

MARGARET BRENNAN: This is not a productive line of claims. We covered COVID in depth on this program, like no other Sunday show did.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: I’m not blaming you specifically. What I’m saying is, you want to talk about misinformation? The- the- the- the kinds of decisions and sort of the public sort of face of public health during the pandemic led to many people losing trust in public health.

MARGARET BRENNAN: The Trump administration officials.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: No, I mean- I mean, like Biden. So Biden, for instance, censored me–

MARGARET BRENNAN: The pandemic began under the Trump administration, and we put those officials on our air.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: But- but during the- during the- just so we’re clear, the Biden administration censored me, right? They censored- they sent out direct attacks on people who disagreed on- on- on the COVID- on- on sort of whether the COVID vaccine stopped–

MARGARET BRENNAN: RFK Jr. called the COVID vaccine the deadliest vaccine ever made.

[CROSSTALK]

MARGARET BRENNAN: That is misinformation, and we’re not being clear about that. And I think that is dangerous. Wouldn’t you agree?

DR. BHATTACHARYA: People lost their jobs, Margaret, because the- the Biden administration censored people and said, “Look, you can’t even talk about COVID vaccine harms.–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –We’re talking about a shooting.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Yeah, and I’m talking about why you have the the kind of distrust that’s led to the kind of sort of problems that you’re talking- we were talking about earlier in public health. That distrust was not caused by President Trump, it wasn’t caused by Bobby. It was caused by a lot of- sort of really fundamental–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Misinformation–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Yeah, but often spread by the government itself regarding natural immunity, closures of schools, closures- of mask mandates, people lost their jobs because of these vaccine mandates that didn’t make any public health sense. So, if you want to talk about public trust, you have to embrace that fully, right? You can’t just talk about it in a narrow political way.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I’m talking about a shooting at the CDC and an officer, you said you just went to honor. That’s what I was talking about. You’re talking about something else entirely.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: No, no, you’re trying to- you’re trying to- just to be blunt–

MARGARET BRENNAN: I also asked you about the shoring up public [inaud]–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: –What you’re talking about is you’re trying to blame the shooting on Bobby.

MARGARET BRENNAN: No, I’m not. I’m reading you what his father said.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: No, what you’re reading, what you’re- what you’re saying- what you’re implying is that somehow the lack of public trust

MARGARET BRENNAN: I’m not talking about him. I’m talking about your visit.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Yeah.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And is enough being done.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: I think it’s really unfortunate–

MARGARET BRENNAN Since you want to restore public trust, tell me what you’re doing now, because the Washington Post and Bloomberg reported the White House is preparing an executive order on vaccines and autism. What is it going to prescribe? What is it going to do? Why are we seeing another announcement here when I know you are launching research into a plethora of issues that are contributing factors potentially to autism. Why would the White House be saying only look at this thing?

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Well, I don’t- I mean- I would have to ask the president about the specifics–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Because that is going to–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: –of the executive order. I tell you want we’re doing–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you think that’s restoring trust in vaccines?

DR. BHATTACHARYA: The- the purpose of the- whatever the- I mean I- you can ask the president about the executive order, but I’ll tell you what the- the focus of the president has been–

MARGARET BRENNAN: You don’t know about the executive order?

DR. BHATTACHARYA: I- I don’t- I won’t be able to tell you specifically what’s on it because I don’t think it’s done yet. But you can ask the president about it. What I can tell you is that the president cares deeply, as does Bobby, about the rise in autism. I know you do as well. There’s so many families around the country that- that have- that have had, you know, have faced the–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: –issues of this, right?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes, and they want real information.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: And so I, as NIH director, have been focused on making sure that we have science that addresses that- that very complicated question about why we’ve seen a rise in autism. It’s not going to be a simple answer. And I- last year I authorized something called the Autism Data Science Initiative. We’re going to have a big, sort of, early, sort of- sort of, results from it in a couple of weeks from the- the dozen and more scientific teams that have been funded to look at this, with a mandate of thinking very broadly, not just genes, not- not just environmental exposures, but potential interactions. We don’t know- if you ask me as a scientist, do I know why we’ve seen this rise in autism? I’ll tell you, I don’t know the answer to that question.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: And the fact that it gets so tied up with, okay, is it- is it vaccines? Not vaccines. It- what it does is it sends a signal to the scientists that if you work on this topic, you’re going to get destroyed if you get the- the wrong answer.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: I- I tried my hardest. The way you build public trust is allow people to talk and think without that kind of sort of political overlay. I’ve tried my very hardest as the NIH director to make- to allow that to happen–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Which is so key for science. Which is why I’m asking why the president putting out an order specifically focused on one, what seems to be preconceived notion, how that would–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: You’re jumping ahead. I mean, I don’t know exactly what’s in this executive order and neither do you. So it’s- it’s not yet–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, it’s- it’s interesting that you don’t. My colleague Matt Gutman here at CBS asked you last week whether you think vaccines cause autism. You said you don’t know for certain. You said there isn’t evidence that any vaccine causes autism, but you also don’t have evidence that vaccines do not. Parents are preparing to send their kids back to school.

[CROSSTALK]

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Okay, so just- I just want to be very clear what I actually said.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Please be clear. Should parents trust that they can go vaccinate their kids when their doctor tells them to do so for them to go back to school?

DR. BHATTACHARYA: I think- I think that- that parents, for most kids, especially for the measles vaccines, the DTP, all the standard childhood vaccines, it’s very important that parents vaccinate their kids. As far as can they feel confident sending back to schools, you know, I just- just to push back some, it was a tremendous mistake to cause parents to fear that- about sending their kids to school during the COVID pandemic. The kids were better off in school. We shouldn’t be scaring public–

MARGARET BRENNAN: I’m talking about what people do now. It’s August, about to be September, kids are going back to school–

[CROSSTALK]

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Yeah, but Margaret you’re talking about the–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –not talking about 2020. I’m talking about 2026.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: –you’re talking about- we’re talking about the- why people have–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –clarity from the federal government–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Okay just so we’re clear–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –and the top health official–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: If you want clarity, let me give you some clarity.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Please.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: The reason why you have this problem of public trust is because what happened in 2020 has not yet been addressed–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Can these parents trust you and the recommendation that they should–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: Yeah, I think- I mean- the–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –go get their kids vaccinated?

DR. BHATTACHARYA: –the parents should be trusting me. I mean, I’m giving my recommendation. I vaccinated my kids. I don’t think that it is a- I think if you want to protect your kids from these- these- these sort of preventable diseases, yes, you should vaccinate your kids. But it is even more important that these kids go to school. That in no way, shape, or form should this show or any other show like it perpetuate the idea that- that sending their kids to school is worse because there’s going to be some health risk there when it’s just not true, right? If you want to protect your kids from those- those preventable diseases, vaccinate your kids. I’ve been very, very clear about that. But it is- it is a mistake, and it contributes to the lack of public trust if you sort of fearmonger around, ‘oh, if you send your kids to school, well, you might be around unvaccinated kids.’ That’s- that’s a- that’s a tremendous mistake, right? If you vaccinate your kids, you can protect your kids from those- those- those risks, whatever they are. In- in any case, it’s better to send the kids to school because that’s how you keep kids healthy.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes, we want to send our kids to school.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: So, but now addressing what happened in 2020 is part of that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: If you want to say why there’s this loss of public trust, you have to really wrap your arms around that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But you trust the science and the health workers and the vaccines now, is what I understood you were saying, and so that is the message that I think we can–

DR. BHATTACHARYA: I mean, I trust the science. I mean, I’ve looked at the scientific evidence–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –end on here.

DR. BHATTACHARYA: –and there’s lots. I mean, I personally have made decisions for my family around those lines too, so–

MARGARET BRENNAN: That’s good to know. Thank you. We’re going to leave it there because I know we’re running out of time. We’ll be back in a moment.

‘Outsider’ House primary winner sets sights on flipping longtime GOP seat back from Dems: ‘Ready for a change’

The longtime meteorologist is challenging Rep Hillary Scholten in a district Republicans held for decades before 2022

August 9, 2026 1:24pm EDT / Fox News

By Andrew Mark Miller, Kiera McDonald

GOP House hopeful says Michigan voters are ‘ready for a change’

Republican House nominee Terri DeBoer told Fox News Digital why she believes Michigan voters are ready for new representation in Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District.

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WARREN, MIch. – Fresh off her Republican primary win, veteran meteorologist and Congressional candidate Terri DeBoer told Fox News Digital she is ready to flip the state’s Third Congressional District back over to the GOP.

“The one thing that we’re really hearing over and over again is people are ready for a change,” DeBoer said of her bid to unseat incumbent Dem. Rep. Hillary Scholten. “They are ready to be represented by someone who shares the same common sense West Michigan values as they do, and I’m the best candidate to fill the bill.”

DeBoer, a 61-year-old mother of three who worked for several television stations in western Michigan over a 30-year career, is looking to shake up a district that was held by Republicans for decades before Scholten seized it in 2022.

DEMS RALLY BEHIND MICHIGAN PROSECUTOR TO CHAMPION PARTY IN CRUCIAL HOUSE RACE

Fox News Digital spoke to GOP House candidate Terri DeBoer about her race against Dem. Rep. Hillary Scholten in Michigan.(Fox News/Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

DeBoer said the Democratic Party has lost its way and is aligning with candidates who undermine what “makes America so great.”

Looking beyond her own race, DeBoer pushed back when asked whether Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate primary victory signals growing support for a progressive agenda within the Democratic Party.

“What I hear when I knock on doors, when I walk down the street, when I’m at the grocery store, people say, ‘Thank you. Thank you for being willing to step forward in a common sense way to represent our values, because quite simply, the other side is no longer representing the values of West Michigan,’” she said.

El-Sayed, a far-left progressive, narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., in one of the nation’s most closely watched Democratic primaries last week.

“I believe that when people truly understand what is at stake here, the very future of America and the freedoms that we have enjoyed, that I think the choice is very clear,” she said.

ROGERS OPENS DOOR TO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AFTER EL-SAYED’S PRIMARY VICTORY: ‘THERE IS STILL HOPE’

Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed speaks to supporters at an election-night rally at the Majestic Theatre on August 4, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.(Scott Olson/Getty Images)

DeBoer added there is a disconnect between Scholten’s “moderate” image on the campaign trail and her voting record in Congress.

“I believe the biggest point of contrast, quite frankly, is that for the last few campaign cycles she has campaigned as though she’s a very moderate individual, and yet her voting record in Congress is in stark contrast to that,” she said.

Scholten’s vote against the SAVE America Act and her support for “boys in girls’ locker rooms, boys in our girls’ sports” are examples of this contrast, according to DeBoer. Scholten voted against a bill that would ban transgender women and girls from competing on female school sports teams in January 2025, according to U.S. House voting records,

But DeBoer, who previously told Fox News Digital she considers herself an outsider in this race, said her positions are more closely aligned with voters and that she would bring “common-sense values” to Washington if elected.

Turning to the issues driving the race, DeBoer said affordability is the most pressing concern as the costs of groceries, energy, housing and healthcare rise. Her campaign website also lists securing the border, expanding healthcare choice, supporting reliable energy and reducing regulations on small businesses among her priorities.

“People are working harder than ever before and feeling like they’re falling behind everything,” she said.

STEVE MOORE: POLITICIANS ARE BLAMING THE WRONG VILLAIN FOR AMERICA’S RISING FOOD PRICES

The U.S. Capitol Building is seen at sunset on June 6, 2026, in Washington, D.C.(Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

To address the higher costs, DeBoer called for cutting “reckless” federal spending and eliminating government waste, fraud and abuse “that robs all of us of the economic freedom that we have in America.”

“We really need to make America affordable again,” she said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Scholten’s campaign for comment.

Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.

Sen. Bill Cassidy says his vote to confirm Todd Blanche wasn’t a “black or white decision”

2026-08-09 1:49 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said on Sunday that his decision to support Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general wasn’t “black or white,” outlining what informed his thinking ahead of casting the decisive vote.

“If you’re looking for a black or white decision here, you’re not going to find it,” Cassidy said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”

Cassidy announced in a lengthy speech Friday on the Senate floor that he would vote in favor of Blanche, clearing the way for him to be confirmed as attorney general. The Louisiana Republican, who was defeated by a primary challenger earlier this year after the president endorsed his opponent, has been more willing to break with his party in recent months, and his vote had been the subject of intense interest after GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said they wouldn’t support Blanche.

With 53 seats in the upper chamber, and GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky’s continued absence, Cassidy’s opposition would have effectively sunk Blanche’s nomination. But with the announcement of his support Friday, Senate Republicans narrowly confirmed Blanche as attorney general early Saturday morning.

Blanche faced pushback from a number of GOP senators over the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund to provide payouts to people who alleged they were wronged by the federal government, which came as part of a settlement agreement the department reached with the president to resolve a $10 billion civil lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns. Blanche testified in June that the fund was “dead,” but concern persisted among some Republicans — including Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Then last week, the two senators reached an agreement with the DOJ, dropping their opposition to Blanche’s nomination as he issued an order rescinding his directive that established the fund.

Asked about his concerns regarding the DOJ fund, Cassidy reiterated that the decision wasn’t black or white, but a “gradation of gray.” But he stressed that he’s been told that the process to reinstate the fund “effectively is dead.” He cited Cornyn’s comfort with where things stand, noting that the Texas Republican has a background as the state’s attorney general.

“Took him a while to get there, but the fact that John did was important to me,” Cassidy said. “I trust John on that.”

On the settlement providing broad immunity to Mr. Trump’s family, with protection against tax audits and investigations, Cassidy said “that’s totally wrong.”

“No American should be targeted by the law, but no American should be above the law,” he said. “And that, frankly, almost weighed to vote no.”

But Cassidy outlined what he saw as the positives for Blanche, saying he spoke to the U.S. attorneys in Louisiana in conversations that he said weighed “strongly” in Blanche’s favor.

“If you want a DOJ which is actually doing its job, you need stable leadership, and you need leadership which is effective,” Cassidy said. “And in that which is making the greatest difference in my life, in your life, in the American people’s life, there’s a lot of positive things to say about Todd Blanche.”

As for how Blanche would handle the upcoming election, and questions Democrats have posed over whether Blanche will uphold the Constitution, Cassidy said “there’s always this existential anxiety.” But he added, “I am as confident as you can be about the future.”

Cassidy’s decision to support Blanche came more than a year after he likewise cast a decisive vote to advance Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., despite serious concerns over Kennedy’s track record on vaccines. Cassidy, a medical doctor, has since clashed with the HHS secretary on a number of occasions.

The Louisiana Republican appeared emotional during his remarks on the Senate floor as he described the gravity of his decision to support Blanche. He explained Sunday that “sometimes you’re aware of the incredible privilege of representing your state and your nation.”

“As a little boy, I would read history books, and I read about these great decisions on the Senate floor,” he said. “The fact that I, Bill Cassidy, was able to do that, I am so privileged. And whenever I just for a second am hit by the gravity of that and the honor of that, I get emotional.”

Young conservatives reveal what’s top of mind as GOP, Democrats battle for ‘hopeless’ Gen Z voters

August 9, 2026 12:03pm EDT / Fox News

Conservative students say algorithms and social media platforms are creating staunch political divides among Americans

By Elaine Mallon, Fox News

College students attending Young America’s Foundation’s America at 250 conference in Washington, D.C., sounded off on affordability, border security, political polarization and fears that AI and social media algorithms are shaping their generation.

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Both parties see Gen Z voters as a crucial bloc that could help tip the balance in November as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of Congress, with the GOP seeking to keep President Donald Trump’s agenda moving and Democrats pushing to retake Capitol Hill and steer the legislative agenda.

And as the Democratic Party grapples with the growing appeal of democratic socialism among young voters, Republicans are seizing on the trend to rally their own young base.

But conservative college students gathered at Young America’s Foundation’s Freedom at 250 conference in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital that economic pressures — from inflation to the housing crunch — are not only helping drive some of their peers toward democratic socialism but that they themselves share those same concerns.

College students across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for Young America’s American at a 250 conference held between July 6 and July 8.(Young America’s Foundation)

DEMOCRATS LURE ‘POLITICALLY HOMELESS’ GEN Z TOWARD SOCIALISM — A COUNTERATTACK IS TAKING SHAPE

“I think a lot of young people are feeling a little bit hopeless right now, Courtney Graves, a rising senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Fox News Digital. “They want to be able to have a home when they grow up. They want to be able to have a nice life and a good-paying job. And what we’ve been seeing is that when those things don’t come to fruition, people tend to go to the extremes.”

Graves’ comments come as financial milestones such as buying a home, have been perceived as increasingly difficult for younger Americans. A Pew Research Center survey published in July found that 87% of Americans say buying a home is harder for young adults today than it was for their parents’ generation.

A recent report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies found that nearly half of renters spent more than 30% of their income on housing in 2024, and nearly half of Americans ages 18 to 29 received financial help to cover an expense over the past year, according to a Federal Reserve report released in May.

But Graves, who is the granddaughter of immigrants who escaped Communist-controlled Latvia, argued that embracing free-market policies is the best way for people to achieve the American Dream and that the Republican Party needs to work on its messaging to make that case clearer to young Americans.

Housing affordability remains a central issue as the Trump administration touts its economic agenda ahead of the midterms.(Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images)

THE AMERICAN DREAM NOW COMES WITH A ZIP CODE: HERE’S WHERE STARTER HOMES ARE STILL WITHIN REACH

“I think free markets are the way to have a successful and prosperous life,” Graves said. “It’s what leads to job growth, it’s what leads to being able to buy a home at the end of the day, have a family and just overall live a great quality of life and have a strong country.”

While affordability remains top of mind for Americans this midterm cycle, Brody Baker, a University of Iowa student, praised President Donald Trump for bringing more accountability to the White House compared to former President Joe Biden’s presidency.

“I think we get more clarity of what’s happening with the United States as of today,” Baker said.

“With the administration being able to say, ‘hey, we have some criticisms,’ Baker said, “there’s some issues with gas being so high, with how the economy, for some it’s hurting a lot, and for some, it’s hurting a little.”

BESSENT CREDITS TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICIES WITH HELPING RETURN JOBS TO AMERICANS AS WAGE GAINS RESUME

For University of Minnesota senior Jackson Barrick, pocketbook concerns are just one slice of the pie.

He pointed to the country’s immigration and border security policies and foreign policy as issues weighing most heavily on him. Barrick said Trump has done a “fantastic” job with his immigration enforcement agenda.

“I think it’s a really good step in terms of making sure that we have a good future going forward in the United States and protecting the homeland,” Barrick said.

But college students are also worried about a newer issue: artificial intelligence.

Nick Kammerzell, a recent University of Georgia graduate, said AI is the issue that most concerns him about America’s future.

Humans are using laptops and computers to interact with AI, helping them create, code, train AI or analyze big data with fast, cutting-edge technology.(Getty Images/Wanan Yossingkum)

AI CHATBOTS TAKE HEAT OVER LEFT-WING BIAS: ‘NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED NEUTRAL’

“I think that it’s very scary,” Kammerzell said. “I think one of the biggest things that I’m concerned about with the AI issue is censorship and bias within AI. I think a lot of young people are becoming very dependent on it as their source of truth.”

“I think there’s a lot of opportunities for abuse and manipulation with that,” Kammerzell added, arguing the technology could potentially be used to warp people’s opinions.

Young Americans are also more skeptical of AI than older generations. A Pew Research Center survey published in June found that 48% of adults ages 18 to 29 expect AI to have a negative impact on society over the next two decades, compared with 37% of those 50 and older. Younger adults were also more likely to worry that AI could negatively affect their own lives.

Baker also expressed concerns over the algorithms created by social media companies.

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“You are given by Instagram — all these big platforms — your algorithm, your viewings, and you’re leaned towards, and you push towards a certain agenda, or you’re pushed towards a certain idea,” Baker said, arguing this is creating staunch political divides with Americans.

Elaine Mallon is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business covering national politics.

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RNC chair says Talarico’s GOP crossover hopes are a ‘pipe dream’: ‘Nobody is going to follow him’

Joe Gruters says purported crossover supporters are longtime Democratic activists, not genuine GOP voters

August 9, 2026 1:34pm EDT / Fox News

By Eric Mack

RNC Chairman Joe Gruters tells Fox News Digital that James Talarico’s push for Republican crossover support is akin to “White Dudes for Kamala,” arguing Texas voters will reject the Democrat, rally behind Ken Paxton and keep Texas “ruby red.”

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Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico needs to flip some Republican voters this November to win in the largest red state in the U.S., but his opponents are calling out claims of Republicans backing him as inauthentic, if not fraudulent.

“Any chance that Talarico has building any type of Republican coalition is a pipe dream for him,” Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters told Fox News Digital in an interview. “Nobody is going to follow him. He’s completely out of touch with Texans.”

Gruters’ rebuke came after women voters interviewed on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” claimed to be Republican crossover supporters, only to have longstanding ties to Democrats and anti-President Donald Trump groups – not exactly people that would be voting for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton in one of the Senate’s biggest ticket races in the battle for the majority.

“The people that he had come out and say that they were on his team have been proven to be basically Democrat, liberal activists that have been supporting Democrat candidates for 10-plus years,” Gruters continued.

‘FAKE’ MODERATE TALARICO’S TEXAS SURGE TESTS PAXTON IN FIGHT TO HOLD CRUCIAL GOP SENATE SEAT

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico speaks during a press conference at the Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, on July 22, 2026. The discussion comes as data centers have emerged as a major political issue in Texas, with Gov. Greg Abbott calling for stronger oversight of their expansion.(Getty Images)

“I just don’t believe it,” Gruters said. “This is Kamala Harris’ ‘White Dudes for Kamala.’ It just doesn’t exist. It’s a wannabe or an attempt at them to try to build some crossover support.”

Talarico has emphasized building a broad coalition in his campaign, which says it intends to “go everywhere and talk to everyone” ahead of the November election.

But Republicans have seized on the political histories of some of Talarico’s backers as evidence the outreach is less bipartisan than advertised.

FOX NEWS POLL: GOP DIVISIONS SHAPE TEXAS SENATE RACE

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is urging the Republican Party to start spending now in the ballyhooed Senate race in the largest red state.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

One of the women presented as a Republican mother supporting Talarico was identified in subsequent reporting as Mindy McClure. She has Federal Election Commission filings associated with her showing repeated ActBlue contributions benefiting Democratic candidates and political groups dating back to 2018, including Kamala Harris and The Lincoln Project – an anti-Trump political activist group.

“When you have policies like mutilating children, saying that God has six different genders and is non-binary and all this other stuff, you can’t expect that Republicans are going to hop on and think that they’re going to be on board to this liberal clown show that he’s operating down there in Texas,” Gruters said.

The primary-voting history of another woman featured in the campaign’s outreach was exposed by a record showing more participation in Democratic than Republican primaries.

When reached for comment Sunday, the Talarico campaign said the women have no official ties to the campaign, but the spokesperson pointed to the MSNBC interview, noting they had previously voted for Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott – one of which vowed to never do again.

Talarico has also showcased the support of former Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, a longtime Republican who endorsed the Democrat at a recent campaign event.

REPUBLICANS UNITING TO BEAT TALARICO: PAXTON TELLS ‘RUTHLESS’

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, lost a tough primary to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, but remains a steadfast Republican fundraiser in the state, according to RNC Chair Joe Gruters.(Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)

Whitley ran as a Republican judge, but his recent endorsements are on the left. The former county judge endorsed Democrat Mike Collier against Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in 2022 before backing Harris for president and Democrat Colin Allred for U.S. Senate in 2024. All those Democrats lost to Republicans, as did Beto O’Rourke to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, by less than three points in 2018.

That history has given Republicans an opening to argue that Talarico is largely attracting voters who had already broken with GOP nominees before the current Senate contest.

“He’s not Beto: Beto was actually a decent candidate, as liberal as he was,” Gruters said, delivering his oft-used moniker to Talarico for his “freakish” policy positions in a campaign for Senate in the deeply conservative state. “This guy makes Beto look like a conservative.

“Tala-freako has no chance, because people aren’t buying into the stuff that he’s peddling.”

CORNYN PREDICTS TRUMP MIDTERM ‘DISASTER,’ THEN ‘THE MOST MISERABLE TWO YEARS OF HIS LIFE’

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402921901112

Texas is famously a state that Trump says votes on “God, guns and oil,” so the RNC chair says those not on board with Trump or those staples are “not the right candidate for Texas” and “not the right candidates for the U.S. Senate” in the state.

“We don’t need weak members,” Gruters said. “We need strong MAGA warriors. And that’s exactly what Ken Paxton will provide is he will bring: strength to the U.S. Senate on behalf of Texas and will represent them well.”

Paxton survived a potential Texas state impeachment effort just about three years ago. Two of those Republican Texas State House impeachment managers that voted to impeach Paxton in an attempt that died in the state Senate are now campaigning for Paxton.

Republican State Rep. Jeff Leach introduced Paxton at an Allen, Texas, campaign rally last week, and state Rep. Briscoe Cain introduced Paxton at a Houston rally. Both are backing Paxton over Talarico.

THE BALLOT BOX SHOWDOWNS THIS MONTH THAT YOU NEED TO WATCH

There had been some concern Paxton – endorsed by Trump – was not an ideal GOP nominee, having ousted sitting Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who was a four-term senator and won by nearly double digits in 2020. Cornyn was “a great U.S. senator for a long time,” Gruters admitted, stopping short of saying whether Cornyn will stump for Paxton like those impeachment managers that have come home for him.

Fox News Digital reached out to Cornyn’s office for comment.

“I think he is raising money right now for all the Republicans in the Senate, still hosting events, and so I don’t know personally if he’s come out and endorsed Ken Paxton yet, but I’m sure that he is still on board with making sure that we have the MAGA warriors in place to support the president’s agenda moving forward,” Gruters said.

The Trump endorsement is not undefeated in marquee Senate races, as Herschel Walker (Georgia) and Dr. Mehmet Oz (Pennsylvania) lost in 2022 despite Trump’s backing, but those key losses were by non-politicians that do not have Paxton’s state-wide campaign infrastructure.

“You got to remember Ken Paxton won this state a couple of times in the general,” Gruters added. “He won a primary against a strong incumbent [Cornyn] that’s been there for a long time by a couple hundred thousand votes.”

DEMOCRATS BUILD MIDTERM MOMENTUM, BUT REPUBLICANS STILL IN DRIVER’S SEAT IN SENATE MAJORITY BATTLE

Paxton told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” on Sunday that he has “outraised every Republican in the country,” but he urged the Senate Leadership Fund – which has long-running ties to Senate incumbents like Cornyn – now-conservative billionaire Elon Musk and Trump’s $800 million MAGA Inc. coffers need to help him keep the Senate seat.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403113490112

“I’m trying to raise money during the summer in Texas, which is challenging, so we’re hoping the Senate Leadership Fund, Elon Musk, President Trump come in now because we’re trying to accumulate,” Paxton told host Maria Bartiromo. “We’re raising money for October right now and September, not now.

“We don’t have the money for now. So that’s allowed [Talarico] to just keep advertising that he’s a moderate Democrat when he’s, in reality, a socialist.”

Despite long-running Democrat hopes and tens of millions of campaign spending to flip Cruz’s seat, Gruters predicted this Paxton-Talarico race would not be the biggest dollar one of this cycle – that will wind up being North Carolina, he said.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6401670877112

“People want this race to be the biggest race in the country, but it really won’t be because, at the end of the day, Paxton has proven time and time again that he’s a winner – he’s a winner in this state,” Gruters said amid slow-moving funding for Paxton’s campaign against the big Talarico Democrat dollars.

“Texas is ruby red. It’s not going to go left and vote for somebody who wants to mutilate children, put boys in girls locker rooms and who, you know, says he has faith on Sunday then goes woke on Monday. It’s just not going to happen. Texas is a hardcore Republican state.

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“And so, yes, listen, a lot of money, Texas is a massive state, a lot of resources from California are pouring in because these California liberals like Tala-freako. But I don’t think it’s going to help him at the end of the day. Paxton is going to win this race.”

Eric Mack is a breaking news reporter and writer Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET, with a particular interest in stories that lead the news cycle on politics, elections, foreign affairs and government.

Biden-world veteran issues stark warning about Abdul El-Sayed as he crosses party lines

August 9, 2026 12:24pm EDT / Fox News

Michael LaRosa accused Abdul El-Sayed of being too cowardly to confront extremist rhetoric about Sept 11 victims

By Amanda Macias

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403082017112

Lara Trump: It’s almost like Abdul El-Sayed wants Mike Rogers to be Michigan’s next senator

Fox News host Lara Trump criticizes Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and discusses the success rate of Trump vs. DSA endorsements on ‘My View.’

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Former Jill Biden press secretary Michael LaRosa said he won’t support Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, citing the candidate’s refusal to distance himself from far-left streamer Hasan Piker over his past remarks about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

LaRosa, who served as press secretary to former first lady Jill Biden, made the unusually sharp break with his party in a post responding to reports that he was supporting Republican Mike Rogers over El-Sayed.

At the center of LaRosa’s criticism is El-Sayed’s association with Piker, who drew widespread condemnation after saying during a 2019 livestream that “America deserved 9/11.”

EL-SAYED’S SOCIALIST ALLIES REJECT GOP CLAIMS ABOUT DEMS EMBRACING THE FAR LEFT

Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers is making a direct pitch to Michigan Democrats following Abdul El-Sayed’s primary victory.(Sarah Rice/Getty Images ; JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP via Getty Images)

El-Sayed has campaigned alongside Piker and, when pressed about the remark, has argued that appearing with the streamer does not mean he endorses everything Piker has said.

For LaRosa, the controversy is deeply personal. He said the mother of his best friend died on Sept. 11 after jumping from the 95th floor of the World Trade Center rather than remain inside the burning building.

“I won’t defend or support anyone who is too cowardly to stand up to extremists who think the mother of my best friend, who jumped from 95 stories because the alternative was worse, deserved what happened to her,” LaRosa wrote. “Her only crime was showing up to work that morning.”

HASAN PIKER CALLS FOR DEMOCRATS WHO OPPOSE ABDUL EL-SAYED TO BE ‘PUNISHED’

LaRosa concluded by accusing El-Sayed of refusing to stand up to “the guy who says she ‘deserved’ what she got that morning she showed up for work.”

LaRosa’s rebuke is about more than one Democrat refusing to back another.

It highlights a growing fault line within the party over extremism and the boundaries of acceptable political rhetoric. Those divisions could ultimately push some longtime Democrats across the aisle in consequential races.

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El-Sayed is facing Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers for the open seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, setting up a closely watched contest in the battleground state that could factor heavily into the fight for control of the Senate.(Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

That dynamic could prove particularly consequential in Michigan, where the Senate contest could help shape the balance of power in Washington and even a small erosion of Democratic support could matter.

Amanda Macias covers the intersection of business, economics and politics, with a focus on how policy decisions shape markets, businesses and American workers.

Max Miller locked in as Republican nominee after Ohio ballot deadline passes without withdrawal

August 9, 2026 1:07pm EDT / Fox News

The congressman faces Democrat Brian Poindexter in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District despite domestic abuse allegations

By Amanda Macias Fox News

Fox News chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reports on Ohio Rep. Max Miller’s decision to press ahead with his re-election campaign despite mounting calls for him to resign or withdraw following allegations of abuse.

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The deadline for Ohio Republicans to replace Rep. Max Miller on the November ballot has now passed, effectively locking in the embattled congressman as the GOP nominee in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District.

Miller, who has resisted calls to end his re-election campaign, would have needed to withdraw by Saturday evening to give Republican officials enough time to select a replacement and complete the steps needed to meet Monday’s 4 p.m. certification deadline under Ohio election rules.

Instead, Miller is staying in the race despite mounting pressure from fellow Republicans to step aside over domestic-abuse allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno.

Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, attends the Ways and Means Committee hearing on the priorities of the Treasury Department in Longworth building on June 4, 2026.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

As Fox News Digital previously reported, the controversy escalated last week when Sen. Moreno publicly called on his former son-in-law to resign from Congress, bringing a years-long family dispute and contentious divorce into the national political spotlight.

Moreno had previously avoided publicly weighing in on the dispute, but broke his silence after Miller posted a livestream denying allegations of domestic and child abuse. Moreno accused Miller of increasingly “erratic and dangerous behavior” and said he should not serve in the House of Representatives.

Miller has denied the allegations, saying no court or agency has substantiated claims that he committed abuse and that he has never been criminally charged in connection with the dispute. He has also sued his ex-wife for defamation.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, issued a public statement earlier this month calling on his former son-in-law, Rep. Max Miller, to resign from Congress.(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

With the withdrawal window now closed, Republicans have no apparent path to replace Miller on the ballot through a voluntary withdrawal.

The controversy comes as Republicans fight to protect their narrow House majority. Miller represents a district that has generally favored the GOP, with President Donald Trump carrying it by roughly 11 points in 2024.

The showdown comes as Republicans look to defend their narrow House majority in November’s midterm elections, where control of Congress is at stake and every competitive seat could prove critical.(Al Drago/Getty Images)

Miller is now poised to face Democrat Brian Poindexter, a union ironworker, in November, giving Democrats an opportunity to compete for a Republican-leaning seat that otherwise would have been expected to remain in GOP hands.

Amanda Macias covers the intersection of business, economics and politics, with a focus on how policy decisions shape markets, businesses and American workers.

Rep. Max Miller, accused of abuse, will remain in reelection race as withdrawal deadline passes

2026-08-09T18:15:50.366Z / CNN

By Michael Williams

1 hr 4 min ago

PUBLISHED Aug 9, 2026, 2:15 PM ET

Rep. Max Miller, a Republican from Ohio, at a summit in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026.

Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Rep. Max Miller will remain in his race for reelection, despite abuse allegations that have rocked his campaign and prompted growing calls from fellow Republicans for him to drop out.

Miller, who has denied the allegations of abuse from his ex-wife, has consistently maintained that he would remain in the race for Ohio’s 7th District. But now that the deadline for party leaders to replace him on the ballot has passed, his position on the ticket is locked in.

Miller would have had to drop out by Saturday evening. The deadline for Republican leaders to replace him on the ballot is August 10, but two days’ notice is required before party leaders would hold a meeting to pick the candidate.

Miller’s spokesperson told CNN on Sunday that he is remaining in the race.

The controversies surrounding Miller, who represents a district in eastern Ohio, threaten to jeopardize his chances of winning what was once thought to be a safe GOP seat, and could imperil Republicans’ chances of maintaining control of the House in this year’s midterms.

CNN previously reported that party officials led an intense push to get him out of the race, believing he could imperil the GOP’s chances in the district, according to a source familiar with the matter. Allies of Donald Trump also pushed the president to encourage Miller to drop his reelection bid, CNN has reported, amid the abuse claims and pressure from Miller’s former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno.

Moreno has been increasingly vocal about the issue, saying his fellow Ohioan “should not serve” in Congress and calling him “a danger to my daughter.”

The state’s junior Republican senator, Jon Husted, separately called for Miller to abandon his race and to resign from Congress.

In an interview on CNN last week, Miller said he had spoken with Trump about his position in the race.

Trump, Miller said, told him the race would be “tough” and seemed to express doubt about his chances to win.

But Miller remained defiant in the interview that he would remain in the race and clear his name.

Emily Moreno accused Miller of abusing both her and her daughter throughout their marriage, which ended last year. The couple’s divorce and child custody dispute have become increasingly public in recent weeks, especially in the light of a combative livestream from Miller last week in which he sought to defend against his ex-wife’s claims.

After the livestream, Miller posted on social media a link to a file containing hundreds of messages, pictures and videos exchanged between him and Moreno that he said would exonerate him from claims of mistreating his wife and daughter.

But the release of that information generated its own controversy after an attorney for Miller conceded the files inadvertently had contained sensitive details about Miller’s family.

Miller is set to face Democrat Brian Poindexter, an ironworker, on November 3.

CNN’s Ethan Cohen contributed to this report.

NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya says “I trust the science” on childhood vaccines amid measles outbreak

August 9, 2026 / 3:41 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, said on Sunday that “I trust the science” on vaccines, as measles cases have risen to their highest levels in 35 years, sparking concern among some parents about their children returning to school this fall.

“I think that parents,for most kids, especially for the measles vaccines, the DTP, all the standard childhood vaccines, it’s very important that parents vaccinate their kids,” Bhattacharya said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan”.

Bhattacharya, who’s also been serving as acting CDC director in recent months, said “I’m giving my recommendation — I’ve vaccinated my kids.”

“I think if you want to protect your kids from these sort of preventable diseases, yes, you should vaccinate your kids,” he said. “But it is even more important that these kids go to school.”

Bhattacharya pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of trust in public health officials and institutions. He argued that it was a “tremendous mistake” to cause parents to fear sending their kids to school at the time. And as he encouraged parents to vaccinate their children, he said “it is a mistake, and it contributes to lack of public trust if you sort of fearmonger around, ‘Oh, if you send your kids to school, well, you might be around unvaccinated kids.’”

“That’s a tremendous mistake,” he said. “You vaccinate your kids, you can protect your kids from those risks, whatever they are.”

As measles cases have risen to their highest rates in decades in recent years, just 10 states had measles coverage rates among kindergarteners above the 95% threshold required for so-called herd immunity during the 2024-2025 school year, according to the CDC. When pressed by Margaret Brennan about what the administration can do, like a national push to share widely HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s message that he shared on CNN last week that parents should get their kids vaccinated against measles, Bhattacharya said “I’ve done my best to try to do that.”

“Every time anyone’s asked me about vaccinating their kids for measles, I say exactly that,” he said. “The best way to protect your kids from measles is to get the vaccine for measles.”

Bhattacharya noted that one of his first actions as acting CDC director in February was to go on camera and recommend that the best way to end the measles outbreak in South Carolina was for kids to get vaccinated, saying “the outbreak has now ended in South Carolina in part because of that.”

Bhattacharya stressed that outbreaks in specific states have been addressed.

“Big outbreak in Texas, which has now been addressed; big outbreak in Arizona and Utah, that’s been addressed; South Carolina, that’s been addressed,” he said. “Now, we saw there’s an outbreak in Virginia, again coming down sharply, and now Pennsylvania. It’s specific communities of people that are the highest risk that we have to focus on, as well as the broader sort of message that it’s important for children to be vaccinated for the measles.”

Bhattacharya’s comments came after reports the White House is drafting an executive order on childhood vaccines and autism.Bhattacharya deferred to the White House on the details of the executive order, noting that “I won’t be able to tell you specifically what’s on it because I don’t think it’s done yet.” But he stressed that the president and HHS secretary care “deeply” about the rise in autism.

“I, as NIH director, have been focused on making sure that we have science that addresses that very complicated question about why we’ve seen a rise in autism,” Bhattacharya said. “It’s not going to be a simple answer.”

He added, “If you ask me, as a scientist, do I know why we’ve seen this rise in autism, I’ll tell you, I don’t know the answer to that question. And the fact that it gets so tied up with OK, is it is it vaccines not vaccines, what it does is it sends a signal to scientists that if you work on this topic, you’re going to get destroyed if you get the wrong answer.”

“The way you build public trust is, allow people to talk and think without that kind of sort of political overlay,” Bhattacharya said. “I’ve tried my very hardest as NIH director to allow that to happen.”

Kennedy is a longtime critic of vaccines, and has promoted the previously debunked connection between vaccines and autism.

Bhattacharya: “I trust the science” on vaccines

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/nih-director-dr-jay-bhattacharya-says-i-trust-the-science-on-childhood-vaccines/

NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya says “I trust the science” on childhood vaccines

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