Selena Simmons-Duffin
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
I should say the rollout of these firings has been chaotic and Kennedy has not seemed to be terribly familiar with what and who have been cut and what remains. He said the speed of the firings was necessary to not lose, quote, political momentum.
I should say the rollout of these firings has been chaotic and Kennedy has not seemed to be terribly familiar with what and who have been cut and what remains. He said the speed of the firings was necessary to not lose, quote, political momentum.
Well, definitely there'll be questions about the overhaul. As I said, whole centers at CDC were eliminated, including violence prevention, reproductive health, workplace safety, including services for coal miners with black lung. At FDA, food safety labs were hit. Some routine inspections have been delayed or canceled.
Well, definitely there'll be questions about the overhaul. As I said, whole centers at CDC were eliminated, including violence prevention, reproductive health, workplace safety, including services for coal miners with black lung. At FDA, food safety labs were hit. Some routine inspections have been delayed or canceled.
Well, definitely there'll be questions about the overhaul. As I said, whole centers at CDC were eliminated, including violence prevention, reproductive health, workplace safety, including services for coal miners with black lung. At FDA, food safety labs were hit. Some routine inspections have been delayed or canceled.
And even though the overhaul was billed as being about administrative redundancies, many core functions of the agency, including those required by Congress, are now in limbo. And lawmakers may have a lot of questions about that. There are other big questions, too, like measles in West Texas is still a big problem. There are growing concerns about bird flu.
And even though the overhaul was billed as being about administrative redundancies, many core functions of the agency, including those required by Congress, are now in limbo. And lawmakers may have a lot of questions about that. There are other big questions, too, like measles in West Texas is still a big problem. There are growing concerns about bird flu.
And even though the overhaul was billed as being about administrative redundancies, many core functions of the agency, including those required by Congress, are now in limbo. And lawmakers may have a lot of questions about that. There are other big questions, too, like measles in West Texas is still a big problem. There are growing concerns about bird flu.
Kennedy's approach to autism, I'm sure, will be asked about. And the cuts to biomedical research will definitely come up as well. This isn't just shrinking the staff and budget of the National Institutes of Health. It's also slashing funding to universities. And that research can be an economic driver in communities all over the country, including in red states like Alabama.
Kennedy's approach to autism, I'm sure, will be asked about. And the cuts to biomedical research will definitely come up as well. This isn't just shrinking the staff and budget of the National Institutes of Health. It's also slashing funding to universities. And that research can be an economic driver in communities all over the country, including in red states like Alabama.
Kennedy's approach to autism, I'm sure, will be asked about. And the cuts to biomedical research will definitely come up as well. This isn't just shrinking the staff and budget of the National Institutes of Health. It's also slashing funding to universities. And that research can be an economic driver in communities all over the country, including in red states like Alabama.
So I'm curious to hear whether there's a bipartisan objection to Kennedy's moves there.
So I'm curious to hear whether there's a bipartisan objection to Kennedy's moves there.
So I'm curious to hear whether there's a bipartisan objection to Kennedy's moves there.
Yeah, I actually reached three former secretaries. One of the ones I talked to was Tommy Thompson. He was secretary under President George W. Bush. He said he didn't want to criticize Kennedy for making cuts, but... I wish they would learn a little bit more. He said it's up to Congress to decide whether all of these cuts should stay.
Yeah, I actually reached three former secretaries. One of the ones I talked to was Tommy Thompson. He was secretary under President George W. Bush. He said he didn't want to criticize Kennedy for making cuts, but... I wish they would learn a little bit more. He said it's up to Congress to decide whether all of these cuts should stay.
Yeah, I actually reached three former secretaries. One of the ones I talked to was Tommy Thompson. He was secretary under President George W. Bush. He said he didn't want to criticize Kennedy for making cuts, but... I wish they would learn a little bit more. He said it's up to Congress to decide whether all of these cuts should stay.
And we'll know a lot more after hearing from lawmakers how much they plan to push back on Kennedy's overhaul.
And we'll know a lot more after hearing from lawmakers how much they plan to push back on Kennedy's overhaul.
And we'll know a lot more after hearing from lawmakers how much they plan to push back on Kennedy's overhaul.