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RFK Jr. advances toward Health Secretary confirmation vote

RFK Jr. advances toward Health Secretary confirmation after Senate committee vote, despite vaccine safety concerns from Democrats.

Published

12 months ago

February 5, 2025

ticker NEWS

RFK Jr. advances toward Health Secretary confirmation after Senate committee vote, despite vaccine safety concerns from Democrats.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for the Secretary of Health and Human Services has advanced after a pivotal vote in the Senate Finance Committee. The development is crucial for his potential confirmation by the full Senate.

The support from swing Republican Senator Bill Cassidy followed extensive negotiations with Kennedy and the Trump administration. These discussions resulted in commitments to uphold current federal vaccine recommendations and maintain information on vaccine safety on CDC websites.

WATCH: Sen. @BillCassidy statement on his support for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be HHS Secretary. pic.twitter.com/fifoWxBZoC

— CSPAN (@cspan) February 4, 2025

Cassidy asserted that he would actively prevent any attempts to restrict access to vaccines without robust scientific evidence. The committee’s vote concluded with a narrow margin of 14 to 13 in favour of Kennedy, signalling a smoother path to confirmation.

In the full Senate vote, Kennedy may afford to lose up to three Republican votes if all Democrats oppose him. His confirmation vote has yet to be scheduled but could occur next week.

Kennedy, who briefly ran for president before endorsing Trump, has sparked concern among Democrats due to his controversial views on vaccines and their safety. Critics have expressed fears that his confirmation could undermine public health initiatives.

Despite these concerns, Kennedy’s supporters, including some Republicans, have rallied behind him, suggesting he could develop a cooperative relationship with the Senate. If confirmed, he would oversee a significant department responsible for a vast array of health-related matters and a $1.7 trillion budget.

News

Ukraine and Russia set for U.S.-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi

Published

20 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that new peace talks with Russia will take place in Abu Dhabi later this week. The discussions are part of U.S.-led efforts to find a path toward ending the ongoing war.

Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine is prepared for meaningful dialogue aimed at achieving peace. The announcement comes after weeks of uncertainty over the timing of the meeting.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff described prior discussions with Russian officials as productive, though major disagreements over territorial issues remain unresolved.

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News

Tensions rise as Iran threatens conflict and U.S. increases naval forces

Iran warns of regional conflict, labels European armies terrorists; U.S. boosts naval presence as both sides consider negotiations.

Published

22 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Iran warns of regional conflict, labels European armies terrorists; U.S. boosts naval presence as both sides consider negotiations.

Iran has warned of a potential regional conflict if the U.S. launches an attack, while labelling European armies as terrorists. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted that threats from President Trump will not intimidate the Iranian people.

The U.S. has ramped up its naval presence in the Middle East in response to mounting threats, amid speculation over Iran’s next moves. Iranian officials have denied claims of imminent naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, adding to global uncertainty.

#MiddleEastCrisis #IranUS #Geopolitics #NavalTensions #Trump #AyatollahKhamenei #EuropeanUnion #GlobalConflict

News

Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest man to complete career Grand Slam

Carlos Alcaraz, at 22, stuns tennis by winning the Australian Open, defeating Djokovic, and celebrating with a kangaroo tattoo.

Published

22 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Carlos Alcaraz, at 22, stuns tennis by winning the Australian Open, defeating Djokovic, and celebrating with a kangaroo tattoo.

Carlos Alcaraz has stunned the tennis world by winning the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam at just 22 years old.

The world number one beat Novak Djokovic in a thrilling four-set match, finishing 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. Djokovic missed out on claiming his 25th Grand Slam title. To mark the milestone, Alcaraz revealed he plans to add a new tattoo of a kangaroo on his leg, joining his existing Eiffel Tower and Wimbledon strawberry tattoos.

#CarlosAlcaraz #AustralianOpen #GrandSlam #TennisHistory #NovakDjokovic #SportsNews #TennisTattoo #YoungChampion