Ex-Trump surgeon general slams RFK's ‘tepid' response to CDC shooting
In an opinion piece published by Stat on Saturday, Adams wrote it was 'clear' that the shooting was a 'a dire reflection of ever-escalating threats public health workers face in a climate increasingly shaped by misinformation, politicization, and inflammatory rhetoric.'
Last Friday afternoon, a shooter whom authorities have identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White shot at the Atlanta headquarters of the CDC, killing DeKalb County police officer David Rose. White's father reportedly told police his son had been fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine.
In his op-ed, Adams, who served in the first Trump administration, lambasted Kennedy for waiting 18 hours before issuing a statement, writing that he himself heard from staffers at the CDC within that time frame who felt 'already demoralized.'
'Leadership in moments of crisis is critical. Kennedy's delayed and tepid response, coupled with his own record of inflammatory claims, has only deepened the wounds and amplified a dangerous sense of betrayal among America's frontline public health workers,' Adams wrote.
He also noted other recent violent incidents, including a shooting at a Pennsylvania hospital and the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
'What ties these events together is not just the violence — but the context that enables it,' wrote Adams. 'Repeated rhetoric from influential voices, including Kennedy and his supporters, has portrayed health professionals as corrupt, untrustworthy, or outright malicious. They've been labeled 'grifters,' 'enemies of the people,' and worse.'
He called on federal leadership to condemn rhetoric that vilifies public health professionals, to stop scapegoating public frustration onto health professionals, protect health care workers and to fund actionable solutions instead of just messaging.
Appearing on CBS News's 'Face the Nation,' Adams continued his criticism of Kennedy, noting the secretary's past remarks villainizing the CDC.
'He said no one should be harmed while working to protect the public. There's an out there,' said Adams. 'If you don't believe that people are working to protect the public, then that means it's okay to commit violence, at least in some people's eyes.'
Writing on social media following the shooting, Kennedy said, 'We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others. We are actively supporting CDC staff on the ground and across the agency. Public health workers show up every day with purpose — even in moments of grief and uncertainty.'
'Secretary Kennedy has unequivocally condemned the horrific attack and remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of CDC employees,' HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon said in a statement Monday. 'He extends his deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Officer David Rose, who was tragically killed. Officer Rose's sacrifice to protect the CDC on its darkest day will never be forgotten.
'This is a time to stand in solidarity with our public health workforce, not a moment for the media to exploit a tragedy for political gain,' Nixon added.
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New York Post
30 minutes ago
- New York Post
CDC shooter Patrick Joseph White broke 150 windows and fired 180 shots in Atlanta attack
NEW YORK — The man who attacked the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday fired more than 180 shots into the campus and broke about 150 windows, with bullets piercing 'blast-resistant' windows and spattering glass shards into numerous rooms, according to information circulated internally at the agency. It may take weeks or even months to replace windows and clean up the damage, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention personnel said. A Georgia man who had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal opened fire late Friday, killing a police officer. Advertisement 5 Community members leaving flowers at a memorial for David Rose, the police officer killed in the shooting at the the Center of Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta on Aug. 11, 2025. REUTERS No one at CDC was injured. The shooter was stopped by CDC security guards before driving to a nearby pharmacy and opening fire late Friday afternoon, a law enforcement official has told the AP. The official wasn't authorized to publicly discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity. Advertisement The 30-year-old man, Patrick Joseph White, later died, but authorities haven't said whether he was killed by police or killed himself. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. toured the CDC campus on Monday. CDC security pointed out broken windows across multiple buildings, including the main guard booth, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services statement. Advertisement HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill and CDC Director Susan Monarez accompanied him, according to the statement. Kennedy also visited the DeKalb County Police Department, where he met with the police chief. Later. He also met privately with the widow of the fallen officer, David Rose. Monarez posted a statement on social media Friday night that said at least four CDC buildings were hit in the attack. 5 Bullet holes seen in a windows at a CDC building. ERIK S LESSER/EPA/Shutterstock Advertisement 5 Police vehicles near Emory University and the CDC after the shooting on Aug. 8, 2025. REUTERS 5 A bullet hold in the door of a CVS pharmacy near the shooting in Atlanta. AP The extent of the damage became more clear during a weekend CDC leadership meeting. Two CDC employees who were told about what was discussed at the meeting described details to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to reveal the information. Details also were also in an agency memo seen by an AP reporter. Building 21, which houses Monarez's office, was hit by the largest number of bullets. CDC officials did not say if her office was hit. CDC employees were advised to work from home this week. Kennedy issued a statement Saturday that said 'no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others,' and that top federal health officials were 'actively supporting CDC staff.' Advertisement 5 A poster set up for Officer David Rose at the scene of the shooting. REUTERS He did not speak to the media during his visit Monday. A retired CDC official, Stephan Monroe, said he worried about the long-term impact the attack would have on young scientists' willingness to go to work for the government. 'I'm concerned that this is this is going to be a generational hit,' said Monroe, speaking to a reporter near the corner where a poster had been set up in honor of Rose. Advertisement Kennedy was a leader in a national anti-vaccine movement before President Donald Trump selected him to oversee federal health agencies, and has made false and misleading statements about the safety and effectiveness of about COVID-19 shots and other vaccines. Years of false rhetoric about vaccines and public health was bound to 'take a toll on people's mental health,' and 'leads to violence,' said Tim Young, a CDC employee who retired in April. Dr. Jerome Adams, the U.S. surgeon general during President Donald Trump's first administration, said Sunday that health leaders should appreciate the weight of their words. 'We have to understand people are listening,' Adams told 'Face the Nation' on CBS. 'When you make claims that have been proven false time and time again about safety and efficacy of vaccines, that can cause unintended consequences.'
43 minutes ago
CDC union condemns vaccine misinformation after shooter blamed COVID vaccine for depression
A Georgia man who had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal has been identified as the shooter who opened fire late Friday on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, killing a police officer. The 30-year-old suspect, who died during the attack, had also tried to get into the CDC's headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards before driving to a pharmacy across the street and opening fire, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday. The man, identified as Patrick Joseph White, was armed with five guns, including at least one long gun, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of not being authorized to discuss the investigation publicly. A union representing workers at the CDC said the shooting was not random and 'compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured." It demanded federal officials condemn vaccine misinformation, saying it was putting scientists at risk. Here's what to know about the shooting and the continuing investigation: Police say White opened fire outside the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, leaving bullet marks in windows across the sprawling campus. At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said on X. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was fatally wounded while responding. Rose, 33, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, had graduated from the police academy in March. White was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC campus and died at the scene, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said. The police chief added that 'we do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted.' The Georgia Bureau of Investigations said the crime scene was 'complex' and the investigation would take 'an extended period of time." The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, said the CDC and leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services must provide a 'clear and unequivocal stance in condemning vaccine disinformation.' Such a public statement by federal officials is needed to help prevent violence against scientists, the union said in a news release. 'Their leadership is critical in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accurate, science-based information prevails,' the union said. Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off CDC employees, has said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is directly responsible for the villainization of CDC's workforce through "his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust.' Kennedy reached out to staff on Saturday, saying 'no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.' In a statement provided Monday, HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon said Kennedy 'has unequivocally condemned the horrific attack and remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of CDC employees.' Nixon added that Rose's 'sacrifice to protect the CDC on its darkest day will never be forgotten.' Thousands of people who work on critical disease research are employed on the campus. The union said some staff were huddled in various buildings until late at night, while more than 90 young children who were locked down inside the CDC's Clifton School. The union said CDC staff should not be required to immediately return to work after experiencing such a traumatic event. In a statement released Saturday, it said windows and buildings should first be fixed and made 'completely secure." 'Staff should not be required to work next to bullet holes,' the union said. 'Forcing a return under these conditions risks re-traumatizing staff by exposing them to the reminders of the horrific shooting they endured.' The union also called for 'perimeter security on all campuses' until the investigation is fully completed and shared with staff. White's father contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter. The father said his son had been upset over the death of his dog and also had become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the law enforcement official. A neighbor of White's told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White 'seemed like a good guy' but spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines in unrelated conversations. 'He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people,' Nancy Hoalst told the Atlanta newspaper. 'He emphatically believed that.' But Hoalst said she never believed White would be violent: 'I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC.'
National Geographic
2 hours ago
- National Geographic
Does high-potency cannabis impair mental health?
Photographs by Sergiy Barchuk This article is part of The New Cannabis, a National Geographic exploration into the most critical questions raised by today's stronger, stranger, ever more accessible weed. Learn more. Once upon a time, getting high from marijuana entailed smoking a joint, a pipe, or a bong. Those days are gone. Now there are numerous routes of consumption, some of which deliver a more potent buzz—but carry a risk of more serious side effects. In the latter category are dabbing and vaping, which are most prevalent among adults ages 18 to 24, according to a 2025 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With vaping, cannabis oil or flower is heated to a temperature that releases cannabinoids as vapor to inhale. Some vaping devices can be loaded with dry herb or cannabis flower, while others are intended to be used with high-potency concentrates like oil or resin. One reason it appeals to teens and young adults: 'Vaping is a discreet way to use cannabis in a public space—there's a convenience factor,' says Deepak Cyril D'Souza, professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and director of the Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. 'One hit can deliver a lot, and get you high very quickly.' With dabbing, by contrast, people inhale vapors from highly concentrated THC-based oils—such as wax (a gooey form of hash oil) or shatter (a solid, glasslike version)—that have been heated, often using a blowtorch and a modified bong or a water pipe called a dab rig. Dabbing isn't as discreet as vaping because 'with dabbing, you need paraphernalia,' D'Souza says. Handheld dab pens are simpler alternatives—but some dab fans suggest dab pens can sacrifice flavor. Making such devices smaller, simpler, and cheaper is a major focus of the increasingly innovation-driven cannabis industry. From left to right: DISTILLATE VAPE CARTRIDGE Oil; THC potency as high as 95 percent. THCA SAND Concentrated tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA); converts to 75 to 90 percent THC when heated. INFUSED JOINTS Pre-rolled joints blended with or coated in a concentrate product; varied potency. CANNABIS TOPICALS Balms and creams applied to skin; nonintoxicating, typically low THC content. MARIJUANA FLOWER THC potency can reach nearly 35 percent; average closer to 15 percent. Back in the 1960s, the THC concentration in cannabis was around 4 percent, D'Souza notes. Currently, it's around 18 percent, with some products made from cannabis bud at 35 percent. But 'concentrates that are vaped could have THC concentrations that are 65 to 95 percent. With that comes greater risk,' says D'Souza. THC concentrations in dabs can also range from 60 to 90 percent. A major concern is that using cannabis with high THC concentrations could have harmful effects on mental health, especially with repeated or chronic use. This includes a risk of developing anxiety, depression, paranoia, hallucinations, or psychosis, says Akhil Anand, an addiction psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor at the Cleveland Clinic. These approaches are 'very dangerous. Patients are putting themselves at high risk for psychotic symptoms.' 'It's not the method per se that's risky. The main issue is that dabbing and vaping are associated with very high levels of THC,' adds D'Souza. 'We know that negative consequences of THC are dose-related. The more you're exposed to the higher concentrations of THC, the more likely there are to be negative consequences.' Meanwhile, some of the mental health risks are especially high for teens. A study in a 2024 issue of the journal Psychological Medicine found that adolescents who used high-potency cannabis weekly had an 11 times greater risk of developing a psychotic disorder. Young adults over the age of 19 did not have an increased risk. Part of the vulnerability is because teen brains are still developing and undergoing changes related to pruning, a process in which the brain eliminates unnecessary neurons and neural connections, D'Souza says. 'This process leads to maturation of the brain,' he explains. Regular use of high-potency THC can disrupt these physiological processes in the brain. 'In younger people, being exposed to these potent psychoactive substances can affect cognitive skills such as memory, concentration, attention, analytical thinking, and impulsivity,' Anand says. 'It's bad for everybody, but it's devastating in younger people because these effects can be permanent.' Research has also found that people who experience cannabis-induced psychosis at any age have a 47 percent higher risk of developing schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In addition to these mental health risks, there are potential consequences for physical health. Use of vaping concentrates can lead to 'popcorn lung' (aka bronchiolitis obliterans, a disease that affects small airways in the lungs), shortness of breath, a nagging or persistent cough, and wheezing, says Robert Welch, a pharmacist and director of the National Center for Cannabis Research and Education at the University of Mississippi. Over time, chronic irritation of lung tissue could increase the risk of long-term damage to the lungs. And dabbing can expose people to contaminants, including heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides. Among Gen Z consumers of legal cannabis—those born between 1997 and 2009—sales of vaping products exceed all other categories, including edibles and flower, according to the industry data firm Headset. Who's at risk for addiction? With these high-potency forms of cannabis consumption, there's a greater risk of developing cannabis use disorder—'which boils down to a loss of control of cannabis use even though it interferes with your personal life, academic life, or professional life,' D'Souza says. Generally, 'most people who are using these high levels of THC started at a lower level, with milder THC potency, and developed a high tolerance so they need more, more, more,' Anand says. 'People can develop an addiction where they need it or crave it.' This is a greater concern with today's high-potency cannabis. 'We used to think the risk of cannabis use disorder was less than one in 10—that's because the cannabis used to be much weaker,' D'Souza says. 'In the current cannabis landscape, the rates of cannabis use disorder are closer to one in three. And the younger brain is much more likely to develop addiction because the brain undergoes its greatest changes in early to mid adolescence.' In fact, research has found that teens are at significantly higher risk of developing cannabis use disorder within the first year after starting to use cannabis than adults are. 'There's this misconception that you can't get addicted to cannabis,' Welch says. 'That's just not true, especially with regular or high use' of today's high-potency cannabis. Perhaps counterintuitively, concerns about high-potency pot have prompted calls for the federal government to remove cannabis from its most restrictive class of illicit drugs. Legal limits on THC content vary at state levels, and moving cannabis from the Drug Enforcement Administration's Schedule I to Schedule III would allow for federal regulations on potency. This reclassification was initiated in 2024, during the previous presidential administration, but it's now in limbo. A version of this story appears in the September 2025 issue of National Geographic magazine. Set Design: Mat Cullen, Lalaland Artists
