| | | |  | | By Bethany Irvine | Presented by American Advancement | |  | THE CATCH-UP | | PROGRAMMING NOTE: President Donald Trump’s interview from the U.K. with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum will air at 3 p.m. tomorrow. Follow along with all the latest from Trump’s state visit with POLITICO’s live blog
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In defiant testimony, former CDC Director Susan Monarez alleged that she was removed because she was “holding the line on scientific integrity." | Francis Chung/POLITICO | THE DOCTOR IS IN: Susan Monarez, who was dramatically ousted from her post as CDC director, sat before the Senate HELP Committee to give her side of the story in the first public appearance since her August firing. With HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. under intense scrutiny for his changes to national health policy, Monarez's hearing served as a barometer of how lawmakers feel about Kennedy — and America’s top health agency as a whole. In defiant testimony, Monarez alleged that she was removed because she was “holding the line on scientific integrity” and pushing back on Kennedy’s demands that she pre-approve vaccine recommendations from a panel of outside advisers. “I told the secretary that if he believed he could not trust me, he could fire me,” Monarez told lawmakers. She also said that while she was still director, Kennedy instructed her not to speak with members of Congress, per POLITICO’s David Lim. Monarez received a mixed response in the room from Republicans. Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) openly questioned whether there was something the Senate “should have done differently” in confirming Monarez. When grilled by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) over whether her scientific philosophy made her suitable for the position, Monarez held firm: “If I am put in a position of having to say, ‘I will cede scientific integrity to retain my job,’ then I’m not the right person for the position.” Aside from Monarez’s contentious ouster, much of the hearing focused on the CDC’s childhood vaccination recommendations — and reports of Kennedy’s planned changes to the recommended vaccine schedule. After Kennedy told lawmakers during his confirmation not to expect changes to vaccine recommendations, he has since revisited the issue, stoking the ire of several GOP lawmakers in the process. When asked by Cassidy whether Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, discussed changes to vaccination policies, Monarez testified that Kennedy plans to alter the schedule as soon as this month, despite Kennedy lacking “any data or science” to support the decision. “As a matter of fact, we got into an exchange where I had suggested I would be open to changing childhood vaccine schedules if the evidence or science were supportive. But he responded that there was no science or evidence associated with the childhood vaccine schedule.” On the flip side: Throughout the hearing, Kennedy allies pressed the former director on her willingness to reconsider vaccine guidance. “The burden is upon you and the people you wouldn't fire to prove to us we need to give our 6-month old a Covid vaccine and that we need to give our 1-day-old a Hep B vaccine,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said. “I actually agree with you and I was open to the science,” Monarez responded, “I just would not pre-commit to approving [changes] without the science.” More from POLITICO’s Amanda Friedman Agenda setting: Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a vocal critic of Kennedy’s moves on vaccines, asked Monarez about the impact of politicizing CDC policy moves: “It really concerns me,” Monarez said. “These are very important, highly technical discussions that have life-saving implications for our children and others who need vaccines.” Also testifying: Debra Houry, the CDC’s former chief medical officer who resigned after Monarez was fired, also blasted the Trump administration’s politicization of health policies, saying that CDC leaders were “reduced to rubber stamps supporting policies not based in science and putting American lives at risk.” FWIW: Kennedy has repeatedly denied Monarez’s version of events, claiming that she is lying about their interactions and that she was fired for undermining Trump’s health care agenda. Good Wednesday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at birvine@politico.com.
| | | | A message from American Advancement: Democrats have a three-part plan for 2026: take back Congress, stop Trump's momentum, and erase his agenda. If Republicans lose the majority, President Trump's historic achievements vanish. Extending premium tax credits helps working families afford health care—and it's how Republicans keep promises that earned their majority. Republicans must protect these credits to protect the majority and the MAGA agenda. The choice is clear: defend our families, defend our future and defend our majority. Learn more. | | | | | | 9 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW | | | 
FBI Director Kash Patel testified before the House Judiciary Committee this morning. | Getty Images | 1. PATEL IN THE HOT SEAT: FBI Director Kash Patel sat for his second oversight hearing in as many days, testifying before the House Judiciary Committee this morning about his leadership of the agency and the investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein files. Patel claimed that various court decisions surrounding the files have prevented him from releasing any files that are in the custody of the FBI, POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney reports. When asked by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) why he hasn’t released more files, Patel responded that he’s “not going to break the law to satisfy your curiosity.” The director later “cited other sealed orders and protective orders from Epstein and [co-conspirator Ghislaine] Maxwell’s criminal cases that he said barred the release of additional information.” In a particularly heated exchange, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) argued that the “the court calls bullshit” on Patel’s claims his hands are tied. After a tense back-and-forth, the two men erupted into a shouting match, with Patel responding: “I’m going to borrow your terminology and call bullshit on your entire career in Congress. It has been a disgrace to the American people.” Watch the clip via CSPAN 2. FED UP: Today is the final day of the Federal Reserve’s two-day rate-setting meeting, and all eyes will soon be on Chair Jerome Powell’s announcement set for 2:30 p.m. It’s widely predicted that Powell will announce the first cut to interest rates since December, as the central bank balances a sluggish national economy and poor job numbers, POLITICO’s Victoria Guida reports. “Wednesday’s rate cut will be the central bank’s first move to reduce borrowing costs this year, with Powell arguing that the slowing job market is now a bigger risk than the potential that Trump’s sweeping tariffs will lead to spiraling price increases.” Rules for thee: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent labeled two different houses as a “primary residence” on mortgage documents back in 2007, Bloomberg's Anthony Cormier and Zachary Mider report, “the same kind of contradictory pledges that President Donald Trump has been using to try to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.” 3. LAW AND ORDER: All 13 Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are urging Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) to convene a hearing on the Trump administration’s deployment of military forces in American cities, per NBC’s Courtney Kube. In their letter to Wicker, the senators raise questions about the cost, impact on military readiness and the legal and public trust implications of using troops for law enforcement. “These deployments could have devastating effects on our military readiness and trusted relationship between the public and the servicemembers who are meant to protect them from external threats,” the letter says. The Memphis move: Tennessee GOP Gov. Bill Lee said yesterday that he wasn’t certain when Trump’s ordered National Guard deployment to Memphis would take effect, but that it would be “sooner than later,” he told the Daily Memphian. “Part of our plan is just to make sure people know when we know … The more we tell Memphians, the better off it’s going to be.” 4. WAR OF WORDS: Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) is drafting articles of impeachment against Patel and AG Pam Bondi as a dramatic series of dueling censure efforts play out in the House this week, POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu scoops. “Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) took aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for comments made after the killing last week of activist Charlie Kirk. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) immediately countered with a measure targeting Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) who is subject to an ethics investigation and a restraining-order proceeding.” What Veasey said: “If [Mace] (soon to be a sucker and loser in her governors race) wants to strip [Omar] of her committees for words she never said, MANY people are saying we should impeach the incompetent Kash Patel and Pam Bondi for the lies they ACTUALLY TOLD!!” Veasey wrote on X.
| | | | Introducing Global Security: POLITICO’s weekly briefing on the policies and industrial shifts driving transatlantic defense. We track how decisions in Washington, Brussels and beyond ripple across borders — shaping the future of security and industry. Sign up today for the free preview version. | | | | | 5. RUSSIA-UKRAINE LATEST: Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is hoping to secure a meeting with Trump during his upcoming visit to the U.S. to attend the UN General Assembly in New York, which Zelenskyy will use to push for continued global support for his war-torn country, the Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Hodunova reports. 6. HURRY UP AND WAIT: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee this morning narrowly voted to send Mike Waltz’s nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the UN to the full Senate, per NBC’s Frank Thorp. But due to a procedural delay that cropped up after his initial committee vote in July, it’s unlikely Waltz will “be confirmed in time for the annual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly this month, arguably the most important gathering for the ambassador,” per NBC’s Melanie Zanona and Monica Alba. 7. GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Another day, another bid for the Georgia governor’s race. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger — who first gained national prominence by pushing back against Trump’s calls to overturn the 2020 election results — announced a GOP bid to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp, POLITICO’s Gigi Ewing reports. Raffensperger joins a host of state officials in the race, with AG Chris Carr and the Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones already declared. Raffensperger’s announcement focused on a vow to make Georgia “affordable, safe, and strong,” and he said he would work with the Trump administration “to bring jobs back to Georgia, deport criminal aliens, and restore law and order.” 8. THE CLIMATE CRISIS: “Climate change ‘beyond scientific dispute,’ National Academies report says,” by POLITICO’s Alex Guillén: “In sharp contrast to the Trump administration’s report, NASEM’s 135-page review of climate science says that our understanding of climate science has only improved since EPA in 2009 formally declared greenhouse gases a threat to human health and welfare. … That includes long-term observations that ‘confirm unequivocally’ that human emissions are warming the planet, that climate change is already harming the health and welfare of U.S. citizens and that the severity of climate change increases ‘with every ton of greenhouse gases emitted.’”
| | | | Want to know how policy pros stay ahead? Policy Intelligence Assistant — only with POLITICO Pro — merges trusted reporting with advanced AI to deliver deeper insights, faster answers, and powerful report builders that drive action. Get 30 days free. | | | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at the U.S. Capitol Historical Society’s ceremony honoring Patrick McHenry in Statuary Hall yesterday: Kevin McCarthy, Reps. French Hill (R-Ark.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.) and Addison McDowell (R-N.C.) and Jane Campbell. — SPOTTED at the March On! Festival celebrating civil rights and culture, The Gala honoring yesterday Senator Cory Booker, Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith. Guests were treated to dinner, cocktails and a funk-inspired dessert and dance reception, inspired by Nelson and Smith’s new film We Want the Funk. SPOTTED: Tiffeny Sanchez, Susan Rice and Ian Cameron, Helene Gayle, Anthony Coley, Isisara Bey, Barry Macon, Nancy and Harold Zirken, Mignon Clyburn, Sanders Adu, Ben and Rachel Lieber, Hillary Baltimore, Denielle Pemberton, Christian and Meg Clerc, Suzanne Lambert, Samara Foxx, Ryan Smith, Nicole Venable, Kim Callinan, Joyce Brayboy, Patriece Webb, Nathan Daschle, Blair Watters, Channelle Hardy, Larry Duncan, Kendra Brown, Michael Collins, Lata Reddy, Tim Lynch, Harry Dunn, Kris Staaf, Angela Davis and A’Lelia Bundles. — Jonathan Silver and Melissa Moss hosted a party for Marissa Silver’s new book, “At Last,” ($28), yesterday in Georgetown. SPOTTED: Mara Liasson, John Philips, Linda Douglas, Roger Ferguson, Patrick Steele, George Conway, Tom Amos, Jennifer Von, Bismark, Anne Lewis, Hattie Babbitt, Betsy Fisher Martin, Rita Braver, Didem Miscanci, Susie George, Ann Brown, Michael Crowe and Judge Paul Friedman. WHITE HOUSE DEPARTURE LOUNGE — White House principal deputy comms director Alex Pfeiffer is joining Watchtower Strategy, Axios’ Mike Allen scoops: “Pfeiffer, 29, quietly departed in early September after three years with the Trump operation — starting with the MAGA Inc. super PAC in 2022.” TRANSITION — Amber Allman is joining National Rural Electric Cooperative Association as a vice president of advocacy, press and member comms. She previously worked at AlliantGroup. Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Zack Stanton, deputy editor Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
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