Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, covering the intersection of health + D.C. | Signal = JournoLiz.80 | Email = liz.whyte@wsj.com
NEW At a lunch at his northern Virginia golf course in May, president Trump told his health secretary RFK Jr. that he had the yips. Our look inside Trump's push to get Kennedy to do more on vaccines: www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Trump Turns Up the Heat on RFK Jr. to Cut Back Childhood VaccinesThe president is focused on the shots’ alleged tie to autism, even though White House advisers wanted to tone down attention to the issue ahead of the midterms.www.wsj.comNEW from me & stellar colleagues: Inspectors found bacteria and many other problems at Abbott's baby formula plant. DOJ opened a criminal probe. Now it's been closed -- a sign of the times as the Trump admin opts for civil penalties against corporations. 🎁🔗 www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Exclusive | The Baby Formula Probe Produced a Pile of Evidence. Then the DOJ Dropped the Case.Some prosecutors believed they had enough to charge Abbott Laboratories, but senior officials opted for civil settlement.www.wsj.comNEW Grocery affordability concerns are bogging down RFK Jr.'s food agenda gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
America’s Affordability Crisis Is Jamming Up RFK Jr.’s Food AgendaBehind the scenes, some food companies and Trump administration officials are pushing to consider costs associated with potential regulations.www.wsj.comNEW The FDA has launched a study of the safety of the abortion pill. The effort was kicked into high gear after complaints from anti-abortion advocates and an October court deadline. Results are expected at the end of the year. (After the midterm elections.) 🎁🔗 www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | FDA Launches Study of Abortion Pill Safety as Opponents Push for LimitsThe effort is expected to take about six months, meaning its results would come after the midterm elections.www.wsj.comNEW exclusive - HHS has found a new lever (using existing law + AI) to cut off potentially billions in funding it believes is wasteful Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | HHS Launches Crackdown Using AI to Detect Medicaid Fraud and WasteThe department plans to examine annual audits filed with the federal government, and recipients could lose funding if they don’t address concerns about weak oversight.www.wsj.comNEW from me and Josh Dawsey- Inside Marty Makary's downfall at the FDA Lots of juicy detail in here Gift link: www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Inside Marty Makary’s Downfall at the FDASenior administration officials concluded that the Food and Drug and Administration commissioner was out of step with President Trump’s priorities.www.wsj.comNEW - Trump has signed off on a plan to fire his FDA Commissioner, Dr. Marty Makary. www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Trump Planning to Fire FDA Commissioner Marty MakaryThe doctor, a MAHA advocate, has had a tumultuous tenure that has included clashes over vaping, abortion and vaccine policy.www.wsj.comSCOOP- Trump upbraided FDA Commissioner Marty Makary over the weekend for not moving quickly enough to approve flavored vapes. Makary has been on thin ice with his superiors in the administration in recent days, according to people familiar with the situation. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
NEW: RFK Jr. debuts moves aimed at weaning some Americans off antidepressants www.wsj.com/health/welln...
RFK Jr. Wants to Wean Some Americans off AntidepressantsHealth department will encourage doctors to consider lifestyle changes, not drugs, to treat depression.www.wsj.com❗️LOTS of exclusive details in my story on MAHA evangelist Casey Means, including: “Not going to burn capital on Casey” - text from a WH staffer to a GOP staffer trying to schedule her hearing t.co/MfXHLCLZCf
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/casey-means-surgeon-general-what-happened-19417c9e?st=ZiFrd6&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalinkt.coTakeaways from Kennedy's seven hearings before lawmakers over the last week: (gift link) www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Lawmakers Grilled RFK Jr. Seven Times in a Week. Here Are the Key Takeaways.President Trump’s health secretary sparred with Democrats over budget cuts and faced questions about vaccines from both sides of the aisle.www.wsj.comlol bad iphone photos! but love that this is now my most famous photography
Charlotte ClymerIncredible shots of the exchange between Rep. AOC and RFK, Jr. at today’s congressional hearing. (image credit: WSJ reporter @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social)
NEW - HHS is weighing replacing its vaccine advisers After a judge said RFK Jr.'s remake of the ACIP was unlawful, finding a new slate of members is an option on the table www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
HHS Weighs Replacing CDC Vaccine AdvisersA federal judge in Massachusetts this week declared RFK Jr.’s panel appointments unlawful.www.wsj.comA senior FDA official on a press call attacked an experimental treatment for a rare disease. An HHS official later told me the company behind the treatment, Uniqure, "lied." www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Federal Health Officials Attack Rare-Disease Drug, Say Company LiedThe FDA is already under fire from lawmakers for recent delays and rejections of new drugs for rare diseases.www.wsj.comInside the turmoil and leadership vacuum at the CDC The Trump administration intends to nominate a permanent director soon One person already turned the job down NEW [gift link] www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Turmoil Takes Hold at CDC as Top Officials Keep LeavingTrump plans to nominate a new director at the nation’s top health agency following months of upheaval.www.wsj.comFDA's decision to review Moderna flu shot, after initially refusing, came after discussions with HHS and WH officials www.wsj.com/health/healt...
FDA Reverses Course and Will Now Review Moderna’s Flu ShotThe company’s mRNA flu shot, if approved, could be available for the 2026-27 flu season.www.wsj.comNEW- Our interview with Dr. Rick Pazdur on why he left FDA less than a month after his promotion to lead its drugs division And his concerns about the agency's future “This wall between the commissioner’s office and the review staff has been breached" www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Top FDA Scientist Explains Why He Quit After Getting a Promotion From RFK Jr.Richard Pazdur, a longtime regulator, said politics risks outweighing science at the agency.www.wsj.comNEW: RFK Jr.'s health department is studying the health effects of cell phones 📳 and has removed FDA web pages saying cell phone radiation is not dangerous www.wsj.com/health/rfk-j...
RFK Jr.’s Health Department Is Studying Health Effects of CellphonesGovernment webpages saying cellphones aren’t dangerous have been quietly removed.www.wsj.comNEW: Top RFK Jr. confidante Calley Means is taking a permanent role in the Trump administration www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | Top Kennedy Adviser Calley Means to Join Trump AdministrationThe MAHA leader will take on a senior role at the Department of Health and Human Services.www.wsj.com