Latest news with #CSPAN
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Wisconsin doctor makes wild measles claims
Pierre Kory testifies in front of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. | Screenshot via CSPAN This story was published in partnership with the Center for Media and Democracy. Last month, Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary and longtime anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended the funeral for the second unvaccinated child in Texas to have died in the ongoing measles outbreak. While in Texas, he met with the two grieving families — along with two local doctors promoting unproven measles treatments, whom he called 'extraordinary healers.' Following the first death, Children's Health Defense (CHD), the anti-vax organization Kennedy led until recently, pushed its own narrative claiming that the 6-year-old Mennonite girl did not actually die from the measles. In this effort, CHD has relied heavily on Pierre Kory, a Wisconsin doctor who has both amplified that assertion and claimed that the measles virus has been weaponized by unknown conspirators. Kory is a Kennedy ally who has been widely criticized for spreading Covid misinformation during the pandemic, including pushing the use of ivermectin as a 'miracle drug' for treating that virus. For years, CHD and Kennedy have promoted the debunked claim that the standard measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine given to almost all children in the U.S. is tied to autism. With an upsurge in the pandemic-era, right-wing embrace of the anti-vax movement — and of Kennedy himself — there has been a notable decrease in routine pediatric vaccinations in the U.S. Now that measles immunization rates have fallen below thresholds to maintain herd immunity in certain parts of the country, outbreaks such as the one in West Texas are expected to become more common. In February, Texas reported the country's first measles death in a child in the more than two decades since the disease was classified as eradicated in the U.S. In response to this death, CHD posted a video on March 19 featuring Kory and Ben Edwards, another Texas doctor Kennedy applauded, discussing the girl's medical records, which her parents released to the organization. Despite having no training in pediatric medicine and having had his board certifications in internal medicine and critical care revoked last year, Kory claimed the child's death was due to incorrect antibiotic management of a bacterial pneumonia infection that had 'little to do with measles.' Edwards — a family doctor who has been treating measles-stricken children in Texas with medications not indicated for measles and was accused of seeing pediatric patients while actively infected with measles himself — concurred with Kory. Without being able to examine the medical records themselves, pediatricians consulted for this article were limited in their critique of Kory's assessment. But they did question his understanding of empiric antibiotic recommendations for pediatric pneumonia. Secondary bacterial pneumonia infections following viral diseases are common, and pneumonia is a well-documented complication of a measles infection. These doctors also questioned the strong personal bias underpinning Kory's assessment and pointed to his history of extreme claims about Covid made online and to right-wing media outlets as evidence against his reliability as an 'expert.' Furthermore, Kory has been inconsistent in his messaging around this measles death when addressing various audiences. When Alex Morozov, founder of the counter-misinformation group Eviva Partners, confronted Kory about his statements regarding the young girl's cause of death at the so-called 'Summit for Truth & Wellness' on March 29, the answer he got was very different. At that event, Kory suggested this was a case of the measles being 'weaponized.' In an audio recording of their conversation published by Morozov, Kory said: Do you want to know the real story on this case? Quite a few of us believe that they weaponized the measles virus. And this measles is more. They're doing this on purpose. She got sicker from the measles probably because they monkeyed with the measles virus…. Do you know how many bioweapons labs there are and what they can do? Like the unfounded claim of an error in medical treatment, this 'weaponized measles' narrative has spread rapidly throughout the online crankosphere. However, this conspiratorial rhetoric has not been accompanied by urgent recommendations for increased vaccinations to prevent infection from a supposedly more virulent strain. Kennedy, who promoted pandemic conspiracy theories along with ivermectin as an alternative to Covid vaccines, has called Kory 'honest, brave, and sincere' and 'a brave dissident doctor.' The doctor appeared with him at various campaign-related events in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, both before and after RFK Jr. suspended his own campaign and joined forces with Trump to launch the 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) movement. As ivermectin proved to be ineffective against Covid, Kory turned on the life-saving mRNA vaccines while cozying up to Kennedy and CHD. Kory and the ivermectin group he co-founded — the Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), now called the Independent Medical Alliance following a pro-MAHA rebrand — have rallied with Kennedy and CHD on multiple occasions, including against Covid vaccine mandates during the deadly Omicron wave in late 2021 and early 2022. Kory has not just turned on Covid vaccines, but routine childhood immunizations in line with Kennedy's and CHD's established anti-vax rhetoric as well. In 2023, Kory appeared in an FLCCC webinar about pediatric vaccines titled 'Your Child, Your Choice.' The same year, despite his lack of pediatric credentials, he served as an 'expert' on the issue of childhood vaccinations for Republicans in Wisconsin. That same year, Kory testified at the Wisconsin Capitol as part of a GOP-led effort to block adding the meningitis vaccine as a state requirement for school-aged children, which is required in many other states and has been recommended by the Center for Disease Control's Advisory Council on Immunization Practices since 2005. (While Kory and company were initially successful, the meningitis vaccine was eventually added to Wisconsin's requirements as of the 2023/24 school year.) During this measles outbreak, both Kennedy and Kory have once again promoted 'alternative' treatments. Kennedy has drawn heavy criticism for pushing vitamin A as a treatment for measles while simultaneously failing to provide a sorely needed, full-throated endorsement of the MMR vaccines. Following the second death, while the HHS secretary correctly called the vaccines the 'most effective way' to prevent measles, he quickly undermined his own statement. In his tweet about the funeral, Kennedy included a shoutout to doctors Edwards and Richard Bartlett, his other 'extraordinary healer' from Texas, for their use of unproven treatments on infected children in the local community. On March 31, Kory appeared in another CHD video about the first Texas child's death, claiming she should have received intravenous vitamin C, which is not indicated for measles-related pneumonia. Of note, prior to his co-authorship of questionable papers on the use of ivermectin to fight Covid, Kory co-authored a since-retracted paper on a Covid hospital protocol that featured vitamin C. Given his past statements on Covid and routine pediatric vaccines as well as his ties to Kennedy and CHD, Kory would have a vested interest in distancing himself from children's deaths from vaccine-preventable illness. But this is dangerous, experts warn, during a measles outbreak where vaccines play a vital role in stopping the spread of disease. A representative for the hospital that treated the first child spoke out against 'misleading and inaccurate claims' about this case being circulated online. 'Our physicians and care teams follow evidence-based protocols and make clinical decisions based on a patient's evolving condition, diagnostic findings, and the best available medical knowledge,' the spokesperson said. CHD did not back down in the wake of the second pediatric measles death early last month. The organization requested hospital records for this case while offering a free e-book — featuring a foreword by Kennedy — on 'secrets the government and media aren't telling you about measles and the measles vaccine.' The book accuses the mainstream media of weaponizing outbreaks 'for political gain.' In an email to their followers on April 7 — the day after the second child's funeral — CHD announced an April 17 webinar event called 'Inside the Measles Deception' featuring Kory, Booker, and Edwards. The restricted event was available only to their donors. On April 8, CHD tweeted, 'Our mission hasn't changed. The MMR vaccine is dangerous and has caused more deaths than measles,' a claim that is totally unsubstantiated. The next day, Kory returned for another CHD video claiming to have reviewed the medical records for the second case and, unsurprisingly, again maintained that the 8-year-old girl did not die from the measles. He said: 'This is just getting exhausting, this constant fear-mongering by the media. I've already lost so much trust in the institutions of society. But to see them rampage like this on inaccuracies and peddling falsehoods and just distortions, it's terrible. It's terrible for our health. They are scaring people into getting what I think is a very dangerous vaccine.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Gulf Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Trump: I Warned Netanyahu Against Iran Strike
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to not attack Iran, or at least to hold off any preemptive action to give more time for Washington and Tehran to forge a nuclear agreement. 'Well, I'd like to be honest. Yes, I did. Next question, please?'…and also: 'I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution,' Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about the issue. Q: "On Iran, did you warn Prime Minister Netanyahu against taking some sort of actions that could disrupt the talks there in a phone call last week?"President Trump: "Well, I'd like to be honest. Yes I did." — CSPAN (@cspan) May 28, 2025 'It's not a warning,' Trump added. 'I said, 'I don't think it's appropriate.' I just said I don't think it's appropriate. We're having very good discussions with them, and I don't think it's appropriate right now.' The question to Trump was prompted by an Axios report published the day prior: President Trump cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call last week not to take any action that could jeopardize negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on a new nuclear deal, a White House official and a source familiar with the details tell Axios. Trump's message was 'he doesn't want him to antagonize at a time when he is trying to solve problems,' the official said. Trump also repeated his tone optimism on the talks, telling reporters, 'We're doing very well with Iran.' The White House's messaging to Israel has been to say 'stay united and let this process play out' – and that the process needs some time. Of course, Trump has still warned that 'other options' are on the table should Tehran refuse to make progress. The Iranians have said they are willing to guarantee (and allow monitoring) that uranium enrichment is only for peaceful nuclear energy production, and will pledge no development of nukes. Critics of Trump point that this was essentially the 2015 JCPOA nuclear which the first Trump administration pulled out of in April 2018. Plenty of indirect 'threats' were peppered into Trump's Wednesday Iran comments: He seems to suggest that his conditions for a deal with Iran include the US being allowed to come in and 'take whatever we want, we can blow up whatever we want.' Seems unlikely that Iran would consent for the US to come in and 'blow up' its infrastructure — Michael Tracey (@mtracey) May 28, 2025 Also on Wednesday, the head of the United Nations' atomic watchdog, the IAEA's Rafael Mariano Grossi, said that 'the jury is still out' on negotiations. 'For the moment, the jury is still out. We don't know whether there's going to be an agreement or not,' Grossi told journalists in Vienna. 'I think that is an indication of a willingness to come to an agreement. And I think that, in and by itself, is something possible,' he added of ongoing read: Trump Sent A 'Free Speech Squad' To The UK To Investigate Erosion Of Rights
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Trump says he warned Netanyahu to hold off on an Iran strike to give US more time for nuclear talks
Trump added that an agreement could come together 'over the next couple of weeks, if it happens.' Q: "On Iran, did you warn Prime Minister Netanyahu against taking some sort of actions that could disrupt the talks there in a phone call last week?" President Trump: "Well, I'd like to be honest. Yes I did." — CSPAN (@cspan) The Israeli prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Trump's comments came as the head of the United Nations' atomic watchdog said 'the jury is still out' on negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up But Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, described the continuing negotiations between Iran and the U.S. as a good sign. Grossi said he's in near-daily conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as well as talking to Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Middle East envoy. Grossi acknowledged one of his deputies was in Tehran on Wednesday. Iranian officials identified the official as Massimo Aparo, the head of the atomic energy agency's safeguards arm. That's the division that sends inspectors into Iran to monitor its program, which now enriches uranium up to 60% purity — a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Advertisement 'For the moment, the jury is still out,' Grossi told journalists attending a weeklong seminar at the agency in Vienna. 'We don't know whether there's going to be an agreement or not.' However, he described the meetings as a good sign. 'I think that is an indication of a willingness to come to an agreement. And I think that, in and by itself, is something possible.' Iran and the U.S. so far have held five rounds of talks in both Muscat, Oman and Rome, mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. A sixth round has yet to be set. Talks focused on Iranian enrichment The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic, closing in on a half-century of enmity. Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's program, if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium. Trump has described Iran as having an American proposal to reach a deal. However, Iran repeatedly has denied receiving such a proposal, including on Wednesday with Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. However, if a deal is reached, Iran might allow the U.N. atomic energy agency to have American inspectors on their teams during inspections, Eslami said. Americans represent the largest single nationality of that agency's employees, a 2023 agency report showed. Iran maintains its own pressure Before Grossi's comments to journalists in Vienna, the head of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard issued a new warning to the U.S. as the negotiations go on. Advertisement 'Our fingers on the trigger, we are in ambush and we are waiting,' Gen. Hossein Salami warned. 'If they make a mistake, they will immediately receive responses that will make them completely forget their past.' Despite the tensions, Grossi said he believed 'there's always a way' to reach a deal between the Americans and the Iranians — even with the disagreement over enrichment. However, he added that any possible deal likely would require a 'solid, very robust' U.N. agency investigation of Iran's program to understand where it stood after years of Tehran restricting inspectors' ability to assess it. 'My conversations with my Iranian colleagues and counterparts, I always invite them to be absolutely transparent,' Grossi said. 'And they tell me that a nuclear weapon is un-Islamic. I tell them, 'Well, yeah. You know, that is perfect. It's a statement that I respect. But in this business, you have to show it. You have to be verified in this.'' And asked about his own political future, Grossi acknowledged his interest in pursuing the post of U.N. secretary-general, which is now held by António Guterres, whose current five-year term expires in 2027. But for now, 'I have a lot on my plate.' Nasser Karimi and Amir Vahdat contributed to this report from Tehran, Iran. Gambrell reported from Vienna.
Toronto Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Donald Trump says 'equalizing' is best way to describe lowering drug prices
U.S. President Donald Trump shows the executive order he signed asking drug manufacturers to lower the cost of medications, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., May 12, 2025. Photo by Andrew Harnik / Getty Images Donald Trump revealed the 'best word' to describe his efforts to lower drug prices for Americans is 'equalizing.' The U.S. President signed an executive order last week asking prescription drug manufacturers to significantly reduce the cost of medications within 30 days. He explained the plan to save Americans from paying outrageous drug fees to reporters in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12. 'Basically, what we're doing is equalizing,' Trump said. 'There's a new word that I came up with, which is probably the best word. We're gonna equalize, where we're all gonna pay the same. We're gonna pay what Europe's gonna pay.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account President Trump signs EO aimed at lowering drug prices: "Basically, what we're doing is equalizing … We are going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. Whoever is paying the lowest price, that's the price that we're going to get." — CSPAN (@cspan) May 12, 2025 According to Merriam-Webster, the first known use of the term was in 1599. Trump said if the deadline wasn't met that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., would formulate new regulations to lower drug prices in line with what the rest of the world pays. 'It's called most-favoured nation,' Trump continued. 'We're going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. Whoever is paying the lowest price, that's the price we're going to get.' This is not the first time Trump has evoked the term equalize. The President mentioned it once during his address to a joint session of Congress on March 5. '(Joe) Biden has authorized more money in this fight than Europe has spent by billions and billions of dollars,' Trump said, referring to the money given to Ukraine in its war with Russia. 'It's hard to believe that they wouldn't have stopped it and said at some point, 'Come on, let's equalize. You got to be equal to us.' But that didn't happen.' Read More Toronto & GTA Sports Sunshine Girls Basketball World
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Watch: Asked about Qatar jet gift, Donald Trump tells journalist to ‘get out'
During a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Oval Office on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump raged at a reporter who asked him about the Qatari government gifting a luxury plane to the United States, calling the journalist a 'terrible reporter' and asking him 'to get out'. As the journalist attempted to question the president about the $400 million 'palace in the sky' Boeing 747-8 jet gifted by Qatar, intended to replace the Air Force One, Trump fumed at the reporter and said 'Why are you talking about that? What are you asking that for? You know, you oughta get out of here.' After President Trump shows videos about genocide, @PeterAlexander asks about jet from Qatar. President Trump: ''What are you talking about? You know, you oughta get out of here…you're a terrible reporter.' — CSPAN (@cspan) May 21, 2025 Trump was asked the question by NBC News reporter Peter Alexander, just seconds after the president played a five-minute video for South African President Ramaphosa, detailing alleged crimes against white South African farmers. Accusing the report and the NBC News network of dodging the controversial subject of crimes against white South African Farmers, Trump asked 'What does this have to do with the Qatar jet? They're giving the United States Air Force a jet. Okay? And it's a great thing.' Trump claimed the purported video clip, played during his interaction with Ramaphosa at the Oval Office, reveals a mass grave site of about a thousand white South African people who he claimed were killed in race-based land confiscations. Following the video, Ramaphosa asked Trump if he could provide more information and location of the sites mentioned in the video clip. Then, raging over the question asked by NBC News reporter Alexander, Trump said 'We're talking about a lot of other things. Is NBC trying to get off the subject of what you just saw?' Visibly irritated with questions over the Qatari jet being gifted to United States, Trump retorted 'You are a real – you know, you're a terrible person. His name is Peter something. He's a terrible reporter. You don't have what it takes to be a reporter. You're not smart enough.'
