What to know today
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a grilling from Republicans and Democrats alike about vaccines, fluoride and DOGE cuts during two congressional hearings. He also testified on the White House's budget request.
- President Donald Trump met with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia this morning and urged him to recognize Israel's statehood. Trump then left for Qatar, the second leg of his Middle East trip, where he attended an arrival ceremony at the Amiri Diwan Royal Court and took part in a bilateral meeting. The White House said that the president signed a $1.2 trillion economic deal with Qatar, though it did not provide documentation to support that figure.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also received bipartisan pushback today on reductions in his department's programs and staff during his testimony at a separate House hearing on the administration's budget.
- The incoming director of the Justice Department's "Weaponization Working Group" revealed he was under investigation by D.C.'s Office of Disciplinary Counsel, accusing the official in charge of investigating bar complaints of "weaponizing his role."
Milwaukee judge accused of obstructing ICE from detaining undocumented immigrant seeks to dismiss case
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is seeking to dismiss the federal charges against her for allegedly obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials from detaining an undocumented immigrant in her court room.
In a motion filed today, attorneys for Dugan argued that the "government has no basis in law to prosecute her," given her judicial immunity, calling the attempt "virtually unprecedented and entirely unconstitutional."
"The problems with this prosecution are legion, but most immediately, the government cannot prosecute Judge Dugan because she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts," the filing states.
Dugan's attorneys pointed to a Supreme Court ruling last year establishing immunity for some of Trump's actions in office in arguing for protections they say the government must afford her.
"Immunity is not a defense to the prosecution to be determined later by a jury or court; it is an absolute bar to the prosecution at the outset," Dugan's attorneys wrote. "Judges are entitled to absolute immunity for their judicial acts, without regard to the motive with which those acts are allegedly performed."
Dugan was arrested last month and charged with obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States, and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest.
The maximum penalty for the counts is a total of 6 years in prison and up to $350,000 in fines.
Trump’s ‘weaponization’ chief accuses D.C. disciplinary counsel investigating him of weaponization
Reporting from Washington
The incoming director of the Justice Department’s “Weaponization Working Group” revealed today he was under investigation by D.C.’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel, accusing the official in charge of investigating bar complaints of “weaponizing” his role, according to an letter viewed by NBC News.
Outgoing Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin, in a going-away email to his staff, complained about the actions of Disciplinary Counsel Hamilton P. “Phil” Fox III, who serves as chief prosecutor for disciplinary matters for attorneys who are members of the D.C. Bar.
“Please know that I will continue to fight against the systemic abuse of our prosecutors by [Public Defender Service], the Judges, and especially the DC Disciplinary Counsel,” Martin wrote in the email to staff. “It is an outrage how they treat us and I will continue the fight against the weaponization of our law licenses against us. Please see the attached — I am taking on Mr. Fox head on. His conduct is personally insulting and professionally unacceptable.”
Several outside organizations and members of Congress have sought investigations into Martin over his actions while he was U.S. attorney, and Fox had previously declined to take further steps on at least one of the requests. Most requests sent to Fox’s office are turned away, but Martin’s letter indicted that at least one probe was moving forward, which has been given a disciplinary docket number: 2025-D047.
Republican tensions escalate to a boiling point on ‘SALT’ tax fight in Trump’s big bill
Reporting from Washington
House Republicans are locked in a tense standoff over how to tackle the federal deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT, a sticky issue that could make or break the party’s big bill for Trump’s agenda.
The ongoing fight has not only pitted Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., the chair of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, against a determined bloc of House Republicans from high-tax blue states; it has also created divisions between the pro-SALT Republicans, undercutting their negotiating leverage and complicating the path to a deal.
While some of them are willing to accept an offer from Smith to raise the cap to $30,000, another faction flatly rejects that figure as insufficient. And they’ve grown increasingly frustrated with some of their colleagues for, in their view, settling for a low-ball offer.
Those tensions came to a boiling point yesterday when pro-SALT Republicans met in Speaker Mike Johnson’s office to discuss strategy, and asked Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y. — a member of the Ways and Means panel who’s supportive of the $30,000 cap — to leave, according to two sources in the room.
Like 'church': Lawmakers defend napping during proceedings
After going viral for getting caught falling asleep while pulling an all-nighter during a committee markup, Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, told reporters, "I feel good."
Told his nap during the House Ways and Means Committee markup was very relatable, Moore said, “I think so."
"My wife said it’s like yeah, it’s no different than him at church. So, you know, this is definitely not first time she’s seen it,” he said.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., who was also caught on camera with her eyes closed during a marathon House Energy and Commerce markup of the GOP reconciliation bill, said she'd been burning the candle at both ends.
"I was awake all night. I was one of the most active members of the committee," she said. "I’ve been up since 4 a.m. yesterday morning. That’s how many hours. So, you know it’s I’ll take, I would invite anybody to spend the day with me and keep up with me here or in Michigan."
Asked if the next step for her was sleep, she said, "Yes. Real sleep."
HHS backtracks on firing hundreds of federal health workers
The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday reinstated 328 federal employees who faced terminations, including those involved in screening for “black lung” disease in coal miners and for health issues in 9/11 first responders.
The reinstated employees are part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is focused on preventing and responding to work-related illnesses.
The Trump administration previously aimed to eliminate the majority of NIOSH’s more than 1,300 employees, part of a broader plan to downsize the federal workforce.
Hundreds of NIOSH staffers received termination letters in April and May, though some were temporarily brought back to complete certain tasks, while their terminations remained in effect for June. HHS’ acting chief human capital officer, Tom Nagy, told some employees yesterday that their terminations were “hereby revoked,” according to a memo obtained by NBC News.
Qatari prime minister says his country 'will not do anything illegal' regarding luxury jet
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during a CNN interview that Qatar would "not do anything illegal" when asked about giving a luxury jet to Trump that the president plans to use as Air Force One.
Al Thani was asked during the interview if the offer would be withdrawn if it was deemed illegal. He responded: “Yeah, of course. I mean, we will not do anything illegal.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has said that the $400 million jet would be “legally permissible,” a conclusion that has been challenged by some Democrats.
Al Thani also pushed back on claims of foreign influence during the interview.
"It is a government-to-government transaction, it has nothing to do with personnel," Al Thani said. "Why would we buy influence in the United States? If you look just, you know, in the last 10 years of the U.S.-Qatar relationship, Qatar has been always there for the U.S."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has condemned the jet, writing in a post on X after news of the jet became public that it's an example of “premium foreign influence with extra legroom."
House Democrat backs off forcing impeachment vote after objections from party leaders
Reporting from Washington
Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., backed off his threat to force a vote today on his resolution to impeach Trump, acceding to Democratic leaders who had warned the effort served as a distraction.
Thanedar said he still believed that Trump has committed impeachable offenses, including planning to accept a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar.
But in a statement, he added: “[A]fter talking with many colleagues, I have decided not to force a vote on impeachment today. Instead, I will add to my articles of impeachment and continue to rally the support of both Democrats and Republicans to defend the Constitution with me.”
Ben & Jerry's co-founder among protesters arrested at RFK Jr. hearing
Ben Cohen, a co-founder of the ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's, was one of seven people arrested today at a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing that included testimony from Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a spokesperson for the U.S. Capitol Police told NBC News.
Police physically removed seven pro-Gaza protesters from the hearing this afternoon, and charged all with crowding, obstructing and incommoding — a misdemeanor offense. It is against the law to protest inside congressional buildings.
All but Cohen also faced charges of resisting arrest and assault on a police office, a spokesperson for Capitol Police said.
Cohen has since been released from police custody.
Ben & Jerry's leadership has been critical of the Israeli government over the years. In 2021, the company said it would stop selling its ice cream in the occupied territories.
“We believe it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the company said in a statement at the time.
House Committee on Energy and Commerce advances reconciliation section after 26-hour markup
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced its section of reconciliation on a party line vote after a markup that took more than 26 straight hours.
The vote was 30-24. The committee worked from 2 p.m. Tuesday until just before 4:30 p.m. today.
The Budget Committee will meet on Friday morning to combine the various sections from the different committees back into one bill. Then the bill will be sent to the Rules Committee before going to the House floor for a vote.
The House Ways and Means Committee finished early this morning with the tax portion of reconciliation. The last committee that is still working on its markup is the House Committee on Agriculture, which started last night but took a break and resumed this morning.
Meanwhile, the House just canceled votes this Friday. That will not affect the Budget Committee’s markup.
Bipartisan talks on crypto bill continue in Senate
Reporting from Washington
Democratic and Republican senators restarted discussions today on legislation that would create the first U.S. regulatory framework for issuers of stablecoins, a privately issued digital token pegged to real-work currencies like the dollar.
Several people familiar with the discussions told NBC News that the group made progress this week and plans to soon release an amendment in an effort to secure Democratic support the the bill.
Republican Sens. Bill Hagerty, of Tennessee, and Cynthia Lummis, of Wyoming, have been negotiating with Democratic Sens. Mark Warner, of Virginia; Kirsten Gillibrand, of New York; Angela Alsobrooks, of Maryland; and Ruben Gallego, of Arizona, since last week to come to a compromise with the handful of Democrats who voted for this bill in committee earlier this year.
Last week, Senate Democrats unanimously opposed the legislation, arguing it needed tougher provisions that would explicitly bar members of the executive branch, including Trump and his family, and special government employees like Elon Musk from owning or trading cryptocurrencies.
The underlying text of the legislation, the GENIUS Act, includes a provision that would “prohibit any member of Congress or senior executive branch official from issuing a payment stablecoin product during their time in public service,” but some Democrats have argued it needs to be stronger, and language should extend to family members and special government employees, an apparent attempt to target Musk.
This may be included in the amendment the group plans to soon release, according to one of the people involved in discussions.
Text of the amendment could come as soon as today but could also be pushed to next week, the sources said.
Lummis told NBC News this morning that until Senate Democrats come out and publicly support the GENIUS Act, she will not tell Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to put the bill on the floor.
Sen. Alsobrooks says Kennedy is 'wrong person' for HHS job
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as he testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee this afternoon, suggesting that he was unsuitable for the Cabinet job.
"I've been sitting through this hearing all day today, and have noted that you've been unable, in most instances, to answer any specific questions relating to your agency," Alsobrooks said.
Kennedy responded by saying he hasn't "been given time."
"Well, no, you have been given time," Alsobrooks pushed back. "You've been unable to answer specific questions, sir. You are the wrong person for this job."
Alsobrooks filed a resolution of disapproval yesterday against Kennedy and called for his resignation.
The Trump franchise is expanding in the Middle East — and so are ethical concerns
Reporting from DOHA, Qatar
President Donald Trump brushed off questions today over ethical concerns about the growing Middle East footprint of his family business, as his trip in the region takes him to three countries with Trump-branded ventures.
Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he didn’t know how an Emirati-backed firm had struck a deal with the Trump family company’s digital coin for $2 billion.
“I really don’t know anything about it,” Trump said, adding that he is a big cryptocurrency fan and if the U.S. doesn’t lead in crypto and AI, China will. Zach Witkoff, a co-founder of the World Liberty Financial crypto venture and the son of the president’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, announced the investment at a conference in Dubai earlier this month.
RFK Jr. says he would support bill to repeal the tax deductibility of pharmaceutical advertising
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said that he's introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation today that would repeal the tax deductibility of advertisements released by pharmaceutical companies.
Asked if Kennedy supports the measure, he said he 100% supports it.
Hawley had said that under current law, pharmaceutical companies can deduct their advertising costs as a business expense.
Kennedy said he thinks it's time to change that and he has reached out to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss the issue.
"I'm working very hard on this issue, and we expect to come out with a policy within the next few weeks," he said.
Persian Gulf to stay Persian Gulf, as Trump backs away from name change
The Persian Gulf will remain the Persian Gulf on U.S. maps, as the White House is no longer considering announcing a shift to the “Gulf of Arabia,” as had been reported in the week leading up to the trip, according to a senior White House official and another source familiar with the discussions.
The idea of shifting the name to match the usage of several Arab Gulf nations and that of the Pentagon had been discussed, but “never seriously advanced,” according to the source familiar.
The discussion of the name change, and its subsequent abandonment, comes amid sensitive efforts to advance nuclear negotiations with Iran, which opposed the change.
When reports emerged that the U.S. was considering the shift away from the Persian Gulf, Iranian leaders made their opposition loudly public.
“While any short-sighted step in this connection will have no validity or legal or geographical effect, it will only bring the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life and political persuasion in Iran, the U.S. and across the world,” Iran’s foreign minister posted on X.
That same day, Trump was asked about the possible name change in the Oval Office, telling reporters: “I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. I don’t know if feelings are going to be hurt.”
GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy corrects RFK Jr.'s vaccine comments
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, corrected comments that Kennedy has made about vaccines.
"The secretary made the statement that no vaccines, except for Covid, have been evaluated against placebo. For the record, that's not true," Cassidy said.
"Rotavirus, measles and HPV vaccines have been, and some vaccines are tested against previous versions. So just for the record, to set that straight," said Cassidy, a former doctor.
Sen. Chris Murphy calls out RFK Jr. for vaccine comments at confirmation hearing
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., called out Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for not following through on vaccine-related promises he made at his confirmation hearing earlier this year for his nomination to serve as Health and Human Services secretary.
"You didn’t tell the truth. I find that to be really dangerous for our relationship," said Murphy, who noted that during Kennedy's confirmation hearing testimony, he told lawmakers he wouldn't impound, divert or reduce funding appropriated by Congress for vaccination programs.
"That is not what happened. You’ve done the opposite. You canceled $12 billion in grants to the states, including my state, that are used to administer and track vaccines," Murphy said.
Murphy said that as soon as Kennedy was sworn into his position, he announced new standards for vaccine approvals.
"You have consistently been undermining the measles vaccine. You told the public that the vaccine wanes very quickly. You went on the Dr. Phil Show and said that the measles vaccine was never fully tested for safety. You said there’s fetal debris in the measles vaccine," Murphy said.
Kennedy rejected the senator's comments and said that what he was saying wasn't true.
Murphy said that this morning, Kennedy told lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee that he wouldn't recommend that kids get vaccinated for measles. "You said you would just lay out the pros and cons. So this is the summation of everything that you have said to compromise people’s faith in the measles vaccine," Murphy said.
Asked if Kennedy recommends the measles vaccine or not, Kennedy said, "I’m going to tell the truth about everything we know and we don’t know about vaccines. I am not going to just tell people everything is safe and effective if I know that there are issues. I need to respect people’s intelligence."
RFK Jr. says some people will lose Medicaid under the GOP reconciliation bill
During an exchange with Sanders, Kennedy denied that the Republican reconciliation bill would cut Medicaid.
Sanders said that the legislation is estimated to cut more than $715 billion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act if implemented and would eliminate health insurance for 13.7 million Americans.
"I haven't seen that number," Kennedy said. "I've seen the number 8 million ... The cuts are not true cuts. The cuts are eliminations of waste, abuse and fraud.
"I can go through the people who will lose it. A million people ... there are a million people," Kennedy continued before being cut off by Sanders.
The reconciliation bill, however, would impose limits on Medicaid, which critics say would make it harder for people to obtain the program's benefits.
Speaker Mike Johnson backs congressional stock trading ban
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters today that he's in favor of banning members of Congress from trading stocks to avoid “any appearance of impropriety.”
Johnson said he is sympathetic to lawmakers who make investments in the stock market, noting congressional salaries have been “frozen since 2009.”
"But on balance, my view is we probably should do that, because I think it’s been abused in the past, and I think sadly, a few bad actors discolored for everyone," Johnson said. "And look, we have no tolerance for anything even resembling insider trading, or any of this kind of advantage that anybody could take, zero tolerance for it."
Trump and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffrries, D-N.Y., have also voiced support for a congressional stock trading ban. The effort has received renewed focus in recent weeks after the markets soared last month following Trump's decision to pause many of his new tariffs. Hours before the announcement, Trump said on Truth Social: "THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!"
Protesters disrupt Kennedy's opening remarks at Senate hearing
Protesters interrupted Kennedy's opening remarks to senators just minutes after the afternoon hearing kicked off. The protesters were removed by Capitol police.
The protesters' sudden shouts visibly startled Kennedy as police officers leapt to quickly remove them.
"RFK kills people with AIDS," the protesters yelled. One protester talked about Gaza, but his exact words were unclear as people talked over one another.
"That was a made for C-SPAN moment," said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., after the protesters were removed.
The hearing resumed soon after.
Sanders to introduce legislation that mirrors Trump's order on prescription drugs
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said at the second congressional hearing today with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that he plans to introduce legislation that would mirror Trump's recent executive order seeking to lower prescription drug costs.
"This is a concept that I personally strongly support," said Sanders, who added, "This executive order, like Trump's previous executive orders on the subject, will likely be thrown out by the courts, and we will be back to exactly where we are today, paying by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs."
Sanders, the ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said the way forward is through legislative action. "If you and President Trump are serious about significantly lowering the outrageous price of prescription drugs in this country, as I hope you are, I would very much appreciate both of you working with me and other people on this committee and in the Senate on legislation that I will soon be introducing which accomplishes exactly the same goal as you and the president talked about."
Kennedy suggested he would be interested in collaborating with Congress on this issue.
Marco Rubio working on major changes to National Security Council
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his new add-on role of national security adviser, is expected to significantly scale down the size of the National Security Council and make a drastic change to how it works, four people with direct knowledge of the plans told NBC News.
Shrinking the staff at the NSC would be in part designed to more closely align how it operates with the way Trump makes decisions, these people said. Rather than a large staff generating policy recommendations for the president, the idea is to create a version along the lines Trump prefers — more top-down, with the president directing the national security adviser who then leads the staff to carry out those orders, two of the people said.
White House says Trump has signed a $1.2 trillion economic deal with Qatar
The White House said today that Trump has signed an agreement with Qatar worth at least $1.2 trillion, though the White House didn't provide documentation to support that figure.
NBC News is unable to verify its accuracy.
"President Trump also announced economic deals totaling more than $243.5 billion between the United States and Qatar, including an historic sale of Boeing aircraft and GE Aerospace engines to Qatar Airways," the White House added.
Trump is in Qatar today as part of his first trip abroad of his second term.
Dingell responds to video of her closing her eyes during markup
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., defended herself today in response to a video shared on X showing she had dozed off at a congressional markup that has been ongoing since yesterday.
Conservative website Townhall.com shared a video on X of Dingell with her eyes closed during the House Energy and Commerce markup of the GOP reconciliation bill.
"Been up for 31 hours straight fighting Republicans trying to gut Medicaid," she said about the overnight markup. "Closed my eyes to think about an America where everyone has access to quality, affordable health care."
Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, also fell asleep during the House Ways and Means Committee markup.
Kennedy sidesteps vaccine questions: ‘I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me’
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sidestepped a question about vaccines and whether he would choose to vaccinate his children today against a number of diseases, saying “I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.”
Kennedy’s comment was in response to Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., during a House Appropriations Committee hearing this morning.
Amid an ongoing measles outbreak in west Texas and other parts of the U.S. that’s killed two children and one adult — all unvaccinated — Kennedy has pushed unproven remedies, including a steroid called budesonide, an antibiotic called clarithromycin and cod-liver oil, a supplement high in vitamin A.
Democrat says she's 'horrified' RFK Jr. won't encourage vaccinations of kids and blasts proposed NIH cuts
In her closing remarks, top Democratic appropriator Rosa DeLauro told Kennedy that she is "horrified" that he won't encourage families to vaccinate their children against measles, chicken pox or polio.
"Vaccines are one of the foundations of public health. Vaccines, yes, save lives, and the fact that the secretary of Health and Human Services refuses to encourage children to be vaccinated is a tragedy, and we have already had two children in the United States who have died needlessly from measles," DeLauro said.
DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, also criticized what she said was the administration's plan to withhold funds for lifesaving research at the National Institutes of Health.
"The OMB director has indicated that you are going to illegally impound billions of dollars of congressionally appropriated funding for NIH research in 2025," DeLauro said. "To make matters worse, you are proposing to cut NIH funding by $20 billion in 2026. You do not have the authority to do what you are doing."
"We can't eliminate some of these programs," DeLauro added. "The havoc that we are going to cause in dealing with research and cutting back on research is going to put lives at risk."
Harder and RFK Jr. argue about Medicaid work requirements
Rep. Josh Harder, D-Calif., stated that about half of people in his district are on Medicaid and that the budget reconciliation package that Republicans in Congress are considering would leave 50,000 of them without health insurance.
"Why do you think that a community like mine doesn't deserve access to that same basic health care provided by Medicaid that you benefited from?" Harder asked.
"I don't know if you understand this, or whether you're just mouthing the Democratic talking points, the cuts to Medicaid are for fraud, waste and abuse, and I'll tell you what that means," said Kennedy, who said that DOGE determined that people were claiming Medicaid benefits from multiple states. "That's illegal. It's theft."
Kennedy suggested that people who are "adults who are able-bodied, who refuse to look for a job, to volunteer, to get a job" shouldn't have access to Medicaid.
"That is absolutely not true," Harder said. "The vast majority of folks in a community like mine who are on Medicaid are working. They want to work."
Coleman and RFK Jr. have heated exchange over cuts to health programs aiding Black communities
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., expressed frustration with the Trump administration's moves to target federal programs that help Black communities.
"It should not be controversial to make right a health care system that was not built to help people like me to take my concerns, my pain, my health very seriously in this country," said Watson Coleman, who is Black.
The congresswoman asked how eliminating minority health offices and other programs that are designed to review the disparities in health care makes the public healthier.
"President Trump's vision of this country is the same as Martin Luther King's — that we should have color-blind administration," Kennedy said.
"I don't need this rhetoric about Donald Trump and the lie that he cares about me and Black people," the congresswoman said.
Kennedy said that he's spent a lifetime working on minority health and said "the commitment is there."
Watson Coleman asked Kennedy for his rationale for eliminating a program that was formed to specifically address the needs of low-income and minority families with heating and air conditioning.
"My time has expired," he said.
"Well then, so has your legitimacy," she responded.
Frankel and RFK Jr. spar over cuts to health agencies
Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., sparred with Kennedy over health agencies during her line of questioning, though first she started by making a statement.
"Draconian abortion restrictions are killing and maiming women, and that is a tragedy. You don't need to respond to that. I want to thank you for being here. I just want you to know I'll try to ask my questions as kindly as possible. Do not take them personally," she said.
"I won't take your kindness personally," Kennedy responded.
"Well, whatever," Frankel responded. "They say, if you can't take a joke, don't go into politics."
She then criticized the cuts happening at HHS and asked, "So your decisions, were they based on merit or generated by an algorithm?"
"I disagree with your entire characterization," said Kennedy, who denied cutting thousands of scientists and clinical trials. "Everything you said was essentially dishonest ... don't take that personally."
Kennedy dodges questions about vaccines: ‘I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me’
Asked whether he would vaccinate his kids today for measles, Kennedy paused briefly before answering that he would "probably" vaccinate them.
"My opinions about vaccines are irrelevant," he said.
"I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me," the health secretary added. He said his team aims to lay out "pros and cons."
Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., asked Kennedy if he would vaccinate his kids today for chickenpox and polio. The HHS secretary declined to answer.
"I don't want to give advice," Kennedy said after being asked about chickenpox. He reiterated that he did not want to give advice on polio vaccines.
All three vaccines are considered safe and effective.
Kennedy, a top anti-vaccine activist before he joined the Trump administration, has pushed unproven remedies for measles, including a steroid called budesonide, an antibiotic called clarithromycin and cod liver oil, a supplement high in vitamin A. None are proven treatments for the measles, experts say. High doses of vitamin A can cause nausea, vomiting and liver damage, especially in small children.
GOP congressman pushes back against RFK Jr.'s move to ban artificial food dyes
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., pushed back in his questioning against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s move to ban synthetic dyes in food.
The colors currently allowed for food have been approved by the FDA and have "been deemed safe for many years," Fleischmann said. He said he represents manufacturers of various snacks, including M&Ms, in his district.
"But on a very serious note, we want to make sure that FDA has done due diligence to ensure the safety of these replacement colors," the congressman said about new color additives approved for the food supply. "Will you work with me on that? Because, candidly, I think these [current] dyes are safe."
Kennedy said "good science" has linked synthetic dyes to neurological injury and cancer. He announced last month that the federal government would phase out all artificial dyes from the food supply by the end of the year.
Duffy faces bipartisan pushback minutes into his testimony
Just 10 minutes into a subcommittee budget hearing, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is already receiving bipartisan pushback to Transportation Department cuts to staff and programs.
Duffy's testimony comes as Newark Liberty International Airport has seen dozens of delays and cancellations that have snarled air traffic amid Federal Aviation Administration staffing shortages and technology outages.
The chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee, Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., voiced concerns over "efforts to restructure the department without congressional approval."
"I want to make something clear," Womack said. "Efforts to restructure the Department of Transportation without congressional approval, to not execute programs appropriated by this committee, or to not give proper congressional notification when awarding or amending grants concerns me."
Subcommittee ranking member Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., also said he was "deeply concerned" about the administration withholding funds and reducing the department's workforce.
Thune and Schumer reintroduce the Kids Online Safety Act
The top Republican and Democrat in the Senate, John Thune, R-S.D., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are joining Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to reintroduce the Kids Online Safety Act.
Notably, Apple has now backed the measure, which has faced significant opposition from tech companies who lobbied members of Congress to block the bill, which would give parents more control over what their children can access online.
Several parent groups are involved in advocating for the passage of the bill.
GOP congressman, a former dentist, questions Kennedy's push to remove fluoride from water
Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, who worked as a dentist before being elected to Congress, questioned Kennedy's push to remove fluoride from drinking water.
"I am concerned about the fluoride issue. I've seen the benefits, having been a practicing dentist for 22 years," Simpson said at the appropriations hearing.
Simpson said he saw the news that the FDA plans to begin the process of removing prescription fluoride drops and tablets for children from the market.
"We better put a lot more money into dental education, because we're going to need a whole lot more dentists," Simpson said, adding that he wants to see the studies pushed by Kennedy that claim fluoride is more harmful to children.
Kennedy defended his position on the issue, arguing that research suggests fluoride might affect kids’ IQs, but that research was based in countries with higher fluoride levels than what’s permitted in the U.S. The mineral has been used in the U.S. water supply for decades, as well as mouth rinses and toothpastes, to help prevent tooth decay.
Top Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat presses Bondi on Qatari jet
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, sent a new letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi asking how she came to a conclusion that the Qatari gift of a $400 million jet to Trump would be “legally permissible” and pressing her to provide the committee with information about whether the Justice Department determined there were no potential conflicts of interest.
In the letter, provided first to NBC News, Durbin asks Bondi if she recused herself from decision-making related to the matter because Bondi previously worked as a lobbyist for Qatar.
“There are serious questions about whether you should have recused yourself from this matter,” Durbin writes in the letter, noting that Bondi “did not list the State of Qatar as a conflict of interest on your Senate Judiciary Questionnaire, despite serving as a lobbyist for this foreign government prior to your confirmation as Attorney General.”
The letter asks Bondi to provide the Senate Judiciary Committee the following info by May 28:
- The memorandum Bondi produced concluding that the acceptance of this gift is “legally permissible.”
- The names and titles of the department ethics officials with whom Bondi consulted on her potential conflict of interest in this matter and any records or materials related to this consultation.
The letter comes as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on Bondi to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, saying he will put a procedural hold on Trump’s Justice Department nominees until she does.
“As reported, this gift clearly violates the Constitution and the statutory regime enacted by Congress to govern such gifts,” Durbin wrote in his letter to Bondi. “The Constitution unequivocally bestows on Congress the power to control whether any officer of the United States, including the President, may accept a gift ‘from any King, Prince, or foreign State.’”
DeLauro slams Kennedy over DOGE cuts
The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, of Connecticut, slammed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a hearing this morning over the cuts the administration's cost-cutting initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency, has made to the nation's health agencies.
"You and Elon Musk have fired or driven out nearly 5,000 personnel, including some of the world’s most pre-eminent scientists, frozen billions of dollars in research to develop cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, women’s health, and the list goes on," DeLauro said about cuts at the National Institutes of Health.
"Mr. Secretary, you are gutting the life-saving work of the Department of Health and Human Services and its key agencies while the Republicans in this Congress say and do nothing," she said.
DeLauro said Kennedy and DOGE have eliminated scores of prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including ones that address HIV, tobacco use, asthma, lead poisoning and gun violence.
"Why on earth are these the places you are terminating for so-called waste?" she asked.
"I’m worried about a future public health crisis that emerges," DeLauro said, calling the cuts already made to the agencies "dangerous" and warning that people would likely die as a result.
Democratic-aligned candidate defeats Omaha mayor in presidential battleground territory
OMAHA, Neb. — Omaha’s first female mayor has conceded the mayoral race to a man who will likely be the community’s first Black mayor.
Voters in Omaha were making history yesterday by either re-electing the city’s first female mayor to a rare fourth term or electing the community’s first Black mayor.
The race between Mayor Jean Stothert and challenger John Ewing primarily revolved around local issues such as street repairs and garbage service, but in the final stretch the campaign touched on more national, hot-button issues such as Trump’s administration and transgender rights.
Democratic congressman says party has 'probably not fully' grappled with Biden's role in 2024 loss
Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., told MSNBC that his party has “probably not fully” grappled with former President Joe Biden’s role in the party’s 2024 election loss.
“I think that Joe Biden said he was going to be a transition president, and he was. I don’t think he should have run for re-election,” McGarvey, 45, who's in his second term in Congress, said when asked about a new book that focuses on concerns with Biden's health.
He added, "I do think that it put the party in a much tougher spot to win, which — we needed the best person on the field, right?, Because we knew what was at stake."
Pressed on whether the party would have been better served with a primary, McGarvey said it would have.
DNC to fly 'Qatar-a-Lago' banner over Mar-a-Lago today
The Democratic National Committee announced plans to fly a banner over Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida today mocking his ties to Qatar and the Middle East.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, a banner that says "Qatar-a-Lago" will fly over the president's Palm Beach resort as Trump visits Qatar on his first trip abroad of his second term.
Trump has come under fire for his administration's potential acceptance of a luxury jet from Qatar designed for use as Air Force One. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said yesterday that he would delay consideration of Justice Department nominees while he presses for more information on the gift.
The president and his family also have real estate, golf and other business ventures all over the Middle East.
In a statement, DNC Chair Ken Martin accused Trump of using the presidency to personally enrich himself.
"His corruption is a slap in the face to the millions of Americans who are struggling to get by and put food on the table," he said. "Today, the DNC is highlighting what foreign autocracies around the world already know: Trump has no loyalty to the American people, national security, or the Constitution — his only allegiance is to his bank account and his billionaire buddies."
The White House did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment about the DNC banner and criticisms of the president's willingness to accept the new plane and his business ties in the Middle East.
Lower U.S. and Chinese tariffs take effect
Reporting from Hong Kong
Lower U.S. and Chinese tariffs on each other’s goods took effect today, after the world’s two largest economies agreed to drastic reductions that Trump administration officials say could lay the groundwork for a broader trade deal.
“We have the confines of a very, very strong deal with China,” Trump said in a Fox News interview aboard Air Force One on his way to Saudi Arabia that aired last night.
Under the terms of an agreement announced Monday, the U.S. will lower its tariff rate on Chinese imports to 30% from 145%, while China will lower its tariff rate on U.S imports to 10% from 125%. The tariffs, which amounted to a trade embargo between the two countries, had rattled global markets.
Also as of today, the “de minimis” tariff on packages from China worth less than $800 is reduced to 54% from 120%, with a minimum flat fee of $100, giving China-linked e-commerce sites such as Temu and Shein time to ramp up shipments from China and restock their U.S.-based warehouses.
House Republicans advance tax portion of GOP reconciliation measure
The House Ways and Means Committee advanced the tax portion of Republicans' reconciliation bill on a party-line vote this morning after a markup that took more than 17 hours.
The committee voted 26-19 to send the tax section to the full House. All of the various committee sections will be combined into one bill for consideration on the House floor.
The markup started yesterday at 2:30 p.m. and wrapped up at 8 a.m. today. The committee did not take a break overnight.
The lack of sleep caught up to Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, who missed his name being called by the clerk during an amendment vote as he dozed off in his chair. Rep. Michelle Fischback, R-Minn., who was seated next to him, had to touch Moore’s arm to wake him up.
Meanwhile, the Energy and Commerce markup is still going on. That started at 2 p.m. yesterday.
In pictures: Trump arrives in Doha
Trump has landed in Doha, Qatar, on the second day of his Middle East tour. He was greeted by the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who hosted a welcome ceremony.
Trump teases 'good news' coming out of tomorrow's Russia-Ukraine talks as he meets with Qatar's emir
Trump and Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, briefly spoke before reporters to kick off the second leg of the president's Middle East trip.
Trump praised Al Thani, saying the two have been friends for "a long time." The president also said he thought there could be "good news" about the Russia-Ukraine war soon.
"I think we're having some pretty good news coming out of there today and maybe tomorrow, and maybe Friday, frankly, but we'll see about that," Trump said.
Al Thani said the two leaders would discuss investments, energy, military and security cooperation issues, and peace efforts in the region. Qatar has previously acted as a mediator in talks over the Israel-Hamas war.
Trump again suggests he could attend Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey
Trump told reporters traveling with him that he was still considering traveling to Turkey tomorrow for Russia-Ukraine talks, sharing that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants him to be there.
"I don't know if he's showing up," Trump said of Putin. "I know he would like me to be there, and that's a possibility. If we could end the war, I'd be thinking about that. Tomorrow we're all booked out, you understand that."
Responding to a reporter's questions about tomorrow's talks, Trump said the full schedule "doesn't mean I wouldn't do it to save a lot of lives and come back." He added that he doesn't know if Putin would be there if he did not attend.
Trump previously floated the idea that he might attend the talks, but yesterday he said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would go. A senior White House official told NBC News yesterday that special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg also would attend.
Noem’s claim that Afghan refugees can safely go home is ‘just absurd,’ advocates say
The Trump administration says Afghan refugees can safely return to Afghanistan despite warnings from rights groups and lawmakers that Afghans who worked for the U.S. military face the threat of persecution, imprisonment and even execution by the Taliban regime.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday it had stripped legal protections for thousands of Afghans in the U.S., saying that the security and economic situation in Afghanistan no longer justified granting them temporary protected status, or TPS.
“We’ve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.
“Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer” prevents Afghans from returning to their home country, she said.
Trump leaves Saudi Arabia for Qatar
Trump has left Saudi Arabia and is en route to the next stop on his Middle East trip, Qatar.
After landing in Doha, he begins his state visit with an arrival ceremony at the Amiri Diwan Royal Court, followed by the introduction of delegations, a ceremonial tea and coffee, a bilateral meeting, a working lunch and a signing ceremony.
Analysis: Lifting of sanctions is hugely significant for Syria and the region
Reporting from Tehran
Syria has always been the heart of the Middle East as its cultural capital. This development is hugely significant both for Syrians and for the Middle East in general.
The gulf is the business center, it’s where the oil and gas are in the kingdoms and the emirates, and it’s the commercial engine that drives the region.
But Syria is the home of the ancient capitals. It has two of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on the planet in Aleppo and the capital, Damascus, and it is dotted with ancient palaces: Roman, Byzantine and Islamic ruins and art. It has a fantastic layered history.
This vital country has been gone since the civil war began more than a decade ago. After that, it became a no-go, chaotic death-zone, one of the most dangerous places on the planet. Former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime was dropping chemical weapons, it became a hornet's nest of different militia groups, and the ISIS caliphate was there exporting terrorism around the world.
Now, it is being brought back to its rightful place at the center of the Middle East.
On a geopolitical level, it’s very important. During the civil war, the country fell more and more under the sway of Iran, Russia and Hezbollah.
Now, it is coming back to the Arab world. The fact that Trump lifted these sanctions with help from Saudi Arabia shows where the country is going. It is coming back to the Middle East.
Trump’s trade war wins so far: More talk, uncertainty and deadlines
More than a month after Trump’s tariff-focused “Liberation Day,” just about all America has won is more deadlines and assurances of ongoing talks.
With China, the U.S. has secured no major changes other than offsetting step-downs of recent import duties and import restrictions.
And an accord with the U.K., announced last Wednesday, offered little beyond improved access for U.S. meats and ethanol.
The White House has said both agreements are starting points. While it’s been enough to soothe international markets and restore U.S. stock gains, the Trump administration has little to show in the way of concessions gained from the agreements.
U.S. exploring normalizing ties with Syria, Trump says
The U.S. is exploring the possibility of normalizing relations with Syria, Trump said.
“We are currently exploring normalizing relations with Syria’s new government, as you know, beginning with my meeting with President Ahmad al-Sharaa,” he said at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a grouping of six Gulf nations.
Trump had earlier met with al-Sharaa, a former rebel leader who became Syria's president in January after the ouster of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad.
U.S.-Syria diplomatic relations were suspended in 2012 after the start of Syria's civil war.
Birthright citizenship dispute at the Supreme Court has broad implications for Trump’s agenda
Reporting from Washington
The Supreme Court could give a major boost to the Trump administration’s muscular use of executive power when it hears arguments tomorrow over his plan to end birthright citizenship.
The court is not actually using a trio of cases before it to give the final word on whether Trump can radically reinterpret the long-understood meaning of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. Instead, it will focus on the power of judges to block presidential policies across the country.
Trump’s plan to limit birthright citizenship to people born to at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident is likely to ultimately be struck down, most legal experts say. The 14th Amendment states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”
But for now, the Supreme Court — which has a 6-3 conservative majority, including three Trump appointees — is focusing only on the question of whether lower court judges had the authority to block the policy nationwide, as three did in different cases.
Trump encourages Syrian president to recognize Israeli statehood
In a meeting this morning in Saudi Arabia, Trump encouraged Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to recognize Israel's statehood, according to a White House readout.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was also present and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, joined by phone. The readout said both leaders praised Trump's decision to lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, where al-Sharaa became president in January after the fall of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Trump told al-Sharaa that he had "a tremendous opportunity to do something historic in his country," the readout said. He urged the Syrian leader to sign on to the Abraham Accords, a framework for Arab states to recognize Israeli sovereignty that the U.S. mediated during Trump's first term.
He also advised al-Sharaa to tell foreign terrorists to leave Syria, deport Palestinian terrorists, help the U.S. prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State terrorist group and assume responsibility for ISIS detention centers in Syria's northeast.
Al-Sharaa affirmed his commitment to Syria's 1974 disengagement with Israel and invited American companies to invest in Syrian oil and gas, the readout said.
Trump meets with Syrian president in Saudi Arabia
Reporting from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia this morning, a day after saying he plans to lift longstanding sanctions on Syria.
Trump announced the sanctions rollback yesterday during a speech at a Saudi investment forum, saying it was intended to give Syria “a chance at greatness” after the ouster last year of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad.
“Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” Trump said in reference to Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler.
Al-Sharaa, who became Syria’s president in January, had previously led a rebel group that helped overthrow Assad, whose family ruled the country with an iron fist for more than 50 years. But he faces major challenges in uniting a country divided by 14 years of civil war.
After his 33-minute meeting with al-Sharaa, Trump was set to join a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, made up of Saudi Arabia and five other Gulf countries, before continuing on to Doha, Qatar, for a state visit. He will also visit the United Arab Emirates during his four-day Middle East trip, the first planned trip of his second term.
Duffy to testify on Capitol Hill
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will testify today on Capitol Hill, where he is certain to face tough questions about persistent problems with the air traffic control system at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Duffy will testify before the House Appropriations Committee in the morning to defend the White House budget proposal for his department.
Kennedy to testify on Capitol Hill for first time since confirmation hearing
Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to testify today in both the House and the Senate to discuss the White House budget proposal.
It will be the first time he has testified before a congressional committee since his confirmation hearing for his Cabinet post.
When he speaks before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, it will be the first time in two decades that an HHS secretary has testified about the president’s budget, according to the panel.
The hearing is likely to shed light on the status of Kennedy's relationship with committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who had expressed concerns about Kennedy's nomination over his attitude toward vaccines.
During the confirmation process, Kennedy had agreed to appear before the committee on a quarterly basis, if requested, to secure Cassidy's support.
Asked whether Kennedy had kept his commitment to not spread misinformation or sow distrust in vaccines, Cassidy recently said: “All I'll say about the commitments is that so far, he's lived up them.” Cassidy also said he had a “good working relationship" with Kennedy.
Other Senate Republicans who were on the fence about supporting Kennedy have had positive things to say about him keeping them in the loop.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said she often texts the secretary, but still plans to press him on cuts to the National Institutes of Health.
Democrats are also likely to focus on the NIH cutbacks, as well as the measles outbreak, cuts to medical research, prescription drug costs and his vaccines policy, according to multiple senators.
Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., told NBC News that Kennedy should be prepared to answer questions about "some of the alarming statements that he’s made over his tenure as secretary."
Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said that he might take a more generalized approach "and just ask him, does he think America is investing enough money in science?"
Yesterday, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., who sits on the committee, filed a resolution of disapproval against Kennedy and called on him to resign, citing concerns about cuts to cancer research, the National Firefighter Cancer Registry and IVF. Alsobrooks is expected try to pass the resolution on the Senate floor this week via unanimous consent, but a Senate Republican will most likely block that effort.