Live updates: RFK Jr., Trump’s HHS pick, testifies at Senate confirmation hearing Lawmakers to grill on vaccine views, business entanglements, and more

https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/29/rfk-jr-confirmation-hearing-vaccines-abortion-climate-change-conspiracy-theories/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8ti25GP9Hr5pDUe5s184aE_pMYXoI-eV4pyZ00Ga7tV_2zPxF5JlSAKR5ypG8DZ2zKFeBwgOTFuIDkBbA1Wj0TC4HUfA&_hsmi=344625380&utm_content=344625380&utm_source=hs_email The day before Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Senate confirmation hearing, his niece shared with STAT a trove of private emails between the two in which he expresses his respect for vaccine critics and antipathy toward scientific institutions like the CDC, pharma companies, and health leaders like Anthony Fauci. The emails span more than two years, starting at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Kerry Kennedy Meltzer, a primary care physician, tried to be respectful in her responses to her uncle. “I love you Bobby,” she wrote. “I just wish I could take you to my ICU, and show you how much destruction this disease has caused.” Kennedy picks and chooses his arguments like the lawyer he is, but also includes untrue claims about the dangers of the Covid-19 vaccinations and questions the value of the annual flu shot. Read more on the illuminating emails. There’s also a follow-up story in which STAT’s Matt Herper contextualizes and fact-checks some of the most notable exchanges. Kennedy Melter is the second Kennedy relative that has commented on him this week. Former congressman Patrick Kennedy — his cousin — offered an unexpected defense of the HHS nominee yesterday, arguing that, “on addiction policy, I believe he is the leader we need to meet this moment.” Read more on that from STAT’s Lev Facher. https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/rfk-jr-emails-to-niece-vaccine-criticism-stat-annotates/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--fsfyE3yiq6O3JmJQxUEZAPRajNTUe5i7M3INGHOKJ5XX8DK2qRI5bj3o-DEMZujSAUIm4Xk0l2jQBSCbPLjvvZYz5Pw&_hsmi=344625380&utm_content=344625380&utm_source=hs_email RFK Jr.’s views on addiction win a surprising endorsement: his cousin Patrick Letter suggests RFK Jr. would be open to use of addiction medications as well as ‘wellness farms’ https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/rfk-jr-addiction-patrick-kennedy-buprenorphine/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--pN_6FOQ2y72UyWlG54qeyRz9XooQWZTJy06AlykVcobxbFhqLf13ijlyrFnqmISOIN2x0ueVaSJ-yD71uVX4e6OuzBQ&_hsmi=344625380&utm_content=344625380&utm_source=hs_email