United States loses measles-elimination status after 12 months of continuous spread
Summary
- The United States has lost its measles elimination status, held since 2000, after a Pan American Health Organization panel found more than 12 months of continuous measles transmission.
- More than 5,400 measles cases were confirmed in 2026, the most since 1991, and state health departments have reported 10 measles-associated deaths.
- Outbreaks spread across states including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New York, Utah, South Carolina and Texas, driven by falling childhood vaccination rates.
- Kindergarten measles vaccination fell to 92.4 percent in the 2025-26 school year, below the 95 percent needed for herd immunity.
- Scientists and many state officials link the resurgence to vaccine skepticism under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which administration spokespeople dispute.
- Regaining the status requires halting transmission for at least 12 months, which experts say could take years.
Reactions
- Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard attributed the resurgence to vaccination gaps that opened years before the current administration.
- White House spokesperson Allison Schuster said President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. repeatedly encouraged measles vaccination and facilitated vaccine deployments.
- Kennedy asked CDC director Erica Schwartz not to count Pennsylvania's measles deaths in the federal tally, a dispute with Governor Josh Shapiro over death classification.
- Experts including Jennifer Nuzzo called the loss a preventable reputational hit and a wake-up call; Peter Hotez called it "incredibly embarrassing" and said measles is back.
- Walter Orenstein said re-establishing elimination will be difficult in the current political climate; William Moss said regaining it will not be easy given diminished trust in vaccines.
- The Department of Health and Human Services said Kennedy and CDC director Erica Schwartz continue to recommend MMR vaccination and would work to regain elimination status if it was removed.
Timeline newest first
The United States officially lost its measles elimination status after more than 12 months of continuous measles spread, a decision by a Pan American Health Organization expert panel.
The Pan American Health Organization concluded in November 2026 that measles had reestablished regular transmission in the United States, with a public announcement planned for November 17.
Measles-associated deaths in the United States reached 10 after Pennsylvania and Wisconsin each reported another death; Pennsylvania logged 1,542 confirmed cases in 2026 and Wisconsin 651.
A Utah preprint study published in August 2026 showed the same measles strain had circulated in Utah for more than a year, causing more than 600 cases between June 2025 and June 2026.
According to people familiar with the matter, the Pan American Health Organization revoked the United States' measles elimination status; regaining it requires halting spread for at least 12 months.
The CDC recorded six measles deaths in 2026, double 2025, after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked CDC director Erica Schwartz not to count Pennsylvania's deaths and the agency changed its death-count data source.
A Johns Hopkins University tool estimated the economic cost of the 2026 measles outbreaks at nearly 83 million dollars, including about 56 million in public health response costs.
An eight-member Pan American Health Organization commission met in Washington the week of November 10; HHS said it would work with partners to document interrupted transmission and regain elimination status if it was removed.
An analysis of measles genetic data found the virus had circulated continuously in the United States for over a year, with transmission chains traced to a Texas outbreak.
Wisconsin reported an infant's measles death, its first in more than three decades, amid an outbreak of 431 cases in 13 counties.
Sources newest first
- The U.S. Just Lost Its Measles Elimination Status. Here’s Why That’s Such A Big Deal.
HuffPost reports that the United States has lost its measles elimination status, awarded in 2000, after a Pan American Health Organization panel found more than 12 months of continuous spread, with over 5,000 cases this year, eight measles-related deaths, and outbreaks in several states. Doctors including Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo and Dr. Nuwan Gunawardhana call the preventable loss a reputational hit and warn it signals declining vaccination rates and weakened trust, urging people to get vaccinated and for the country to change course.
US Has Lost Measles Elimination Status, Global Health Authorities Say - KFF Health NewsKFF Health News reports that the United States has officially lost its measles elimination status, a milestone held since 2000, after a Utah outbreak passed the one-year mark, with the Pan American Health Organization's decision based on CDC and independent analyses. The article ties the resurgence to falling childhood vaccination rates and, per many scientists and unnamed CDC officials, the Trump administration's suppression of outbreak reports and vaccine misinformation.
U.S. loses measles elimination statusaxios.com· 10h
Axios reports that, per multiple news outlets, an international health organization has determined the United States lost its measles elimination status. Axios calls the loss an official recognition of how far U.S. public health has deteriorated amid a rolling series of outbreaks since early the year before.
Surging measles cases are forcing doctors to treat conditions they’ve never seenLena H. Sun's Washington Post article reports that the nation's largest measles outbreak is pushing doctors to treat a disease most have never seen, with Pennsylvania infectious-disease specialist John Goldman — two cases in more than 30 years — caring for about 50 infected patients in a single year. Commenters on the article blame the Trump administration and RFK Jr., citing declining vaccination rates as driving a public health crisis.
U.S. loses measles-elimination status, erasing a landmark public health achievement
Measles-associated deaths reach 10 in US after two more deaths reportedMeasles-associated deaths in the United States have reached 10 in 2026 after Pennsylvania and Wisconsin each reported one more, with Pennsylvania logging 1,542 confirmed cases this year and Wisconsin 651. Al Jazeera reports that Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr asked the CDC not to count deaths its director was told to exclude from the federal tally of six, a dispute experts warn breaks with longstanding WHO and CDC tracking practice, as the country risks losing its measles elimination status.
U.S. Loses Measles-Free Status After Continued Spread Of The Disease, WSJ ReportsHuffPost carries a Reuters report that, citing the Wall Street Journal, the Pan American Health Organization has revoked the United States' measles-elimination status, ending a 26-year run, after determining continuous transmission lasted more than a year. The 2026 outbreak has reached 5,182 confirmed cases across 45 states, New York City and Washington, D.C., surpassing 2025's total of 2,289, amid falling immunization rates under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom Reuters says has spread doubts about vaccine safety.
After 26 years, the US has lost its measles elimination status | CNNCNN reports that the US has lost its measles elimination status after 26 years, a determination attributed to an independent commission advising the Pan American Health Organization after a preprint showed one strain circulating in Utah for more than a year amid record case counts. Experts call the loss a public health setback and expect regaining the status to be hard.
Exclusive | U.S. Loses Measles-Elimination Status as Historic Resurgence Sickens Thousands
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Pan American Health Organization has revoked the U.S. measles-elimination status after outbreaks in states including Utah, Texas, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania, with the CDC reporting more than 5,400 cases in 2026. The acceleration coincides with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s tenure as health secretary, and regaining the status would require halting spread for at least 12 months.
U.S. measles deaths rise to 10 after new reports in Pennsylvania and WisconsinAn NBC News article reports that U.S. measles deaths rose to 10 on Nov. 13, 2026, after new deaths in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin amid an outbreak of about 5,400 cases, the most since 1991. Health officials attribute the outbreak to falling vaccination rates, and the Pan American Health Organization is to rule Tuesday on whether the U.S. remains measles-free.
U.S. reports at least 10 measles deaths in 2026The Washington Post's live-updates page reports the U.S. measles death toll has reached at least 10 after a child died in Wisconsin — its second death, amid 649 cases — and an unvaccinated Montour County resident died in Pennsylvania, its seventh, amid 1,542 cases. The page also covers a record marine heat wave off California, Pope Leo XIV's Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, Jensen Huang's resignation over an affair, Mid-Atlantic tornadoes, and a Moscow car bombing that injured pro-Kremlin commentator Sergei Zavorotny.
US had eliminated measles. RFK Jr. helped bring it back | Opinionusatoday.com· 36h
In a USA TODAY opinion column, Rex Huppke blames vaccine skeptics and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom he calls the author of anti-vaccine writings, for measles surging to more than 5,000 US cases since January 2026. He writes the country, measles-free since 2000, is about to lose its elimination status, with an announcement expected November 17, 2026.
More Measles Deaths Reported as U.S. Cases Top 5,400medpagetoday.com· 45h
MedPage Today reports new measles-associated deaths in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania as U.S. cases top 5,412, with state health departments recording 10 deaths total and 97% of cases in unvaccinated people, per the CDC. The article says the outbreaks will likely end U.S. measles elimination status, first attained in 2000, and cites officials' vaccine skepticism as sowing doubt over the MMR shot.
CDC reports six measles deaths in 2026 as US battles worst outbreak in 35 yearsThe Guardian reports the CDC has recorded six measles deaths in the US in 2026, double 2025's toll, amid the country's largest outbreak since 1991, with Pennsylvania hardest hit. It says Robert F Kennedy Jr asked the CDC's director not to count the Pennsylvania deaths, and the US could lose its measles elimination status.
Yhdysvaltain tautikeskus vahvistanut kuusi tuhkarokkoon liittyvää kuolemaa
yle.fi· 2d
The CDC confirmed six measles-related deaths in the United States, double the previous year's toll, with more than 4,800 infections registered by the end of the prior month. YLE reports the country is facing its worst measles epidemic in 35 years, and New York state recorded its first measles death in three decades.
US could lose measles-free status soon as RFK Jr’s pushes anti-vaccine agendaThe Guardian reports that the US could lose its measles elimination status this week, with a Pan American Health Organization panel weighing evidence amid an outbreak of more than 5,400 cases. The article cites Robert F Kennedy Jr's interference in CDC reporting and vaccine misinformation, alongside doctors' warnings to locate vaccination proof.
Measles is surging in the U.S. — and outbreaks can cost millionsA CNBC article reports that the U.S. is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with over 5,100 cases and eight deaths in 2026, and that outbreaks carry heavy costs beyond treating the sick. A Johns Hopkins tool estimates nearly $83 million in economic costs for 2026, and the U.S. is expected to lose its measles elimination status.
The Vaccine DivideAn NBC News data investigation finds U.S. childhood vaccination rates sliding, with about 70% of counties and jurisdictions in 31 states below the target rate for community protection and hundreds of students quarantined amid measles outbreaks. The investigation warns the United States could lose its measles elimination status, and reports on outbreaks in West Texas, Minnesota, and the Short Creek community on the Utah-Arizona border.
America defeated measles in 2000. Vaccine opposition brought it roaring back.An NBC News data investigation with Stanford, part of "The Vaccine Divide," reports that measles, eliminated in the United States in 2000, has returned through falling vaccination rates: 75% of counties with kindergarten data are below the herd-immunity threshold, and the CDC counts 43 outbreaks, more than 5,000 cases, and eight deaths in 2026, with outbreaks spreading among mostly unvaccinated Amish families in Pennsylvania. A Pan American Health Organization commission is weighing whether the United States has lost its measles-elimination status, which experts expect it to revoke, while HHS says Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. still recommends MMR vaccination.
US poised to lose measles elimination status—what does that mean?umn.edu· 4d
A CIDRAP News article by Sarah Boden explains what it means that a Pan American Health Organization commission meeting in Washington, DC, is set to reconsider the United States' measles elimination status, held since 2000. Experts expect measles to be deemed endemic again amid more than 5,100 cases and at least eight deaths in 2026, though they agree higher vaccination rates could reverse course.
The U.S. may be on the cusp of losing its measles elimination statusscientificamerican.com· 4d
Scientific American reports that the Pan American Health Organization is meeting November 10–13 to decide whether enough endemic measles spread has stripped the U.S. of the elimination status it has held since 2000. Public health experts say the country almost certainly no longer deserves the designation and could lose it that very week, calling such a loss a public health failure of the highest degree.
The U.S. Has Lost Its Measles-Elimination Status, Data SuggestsA New York Times analysis of measles genetic data finds the virus has circulated continuously in the United States for over a year, with transmission chains traced to a Texas outbreak, as a Pan American Health Organization panel weighs revoking the country's elimination status, achieved in 2000. Nearly 5,200 cases and eight deaths were reported in 2026, all unvaccinated, amid vaccine skepticism that experts link to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The vaccine limbo in the US is worsening the measles outbreakA Guardian analysis by Melody Schreiber argues the limbo over US vaccine advice is worsening the measles outbreak, which claimed three lives in a week, including a seven-month-old in New York and a postpartum woman in Pennsylvania. Former ACIP members say RFK Jr's dismantling of the advisory committee left vaccination recommendations stalled as cases and deaths rose.
Upcoming meeting could determine if US loses its measles elimination statusabcnews.com· 4d
An ABC News article by Mary Kekatos reports that a Pan American Health Organization meeting from 10 to 13 November 2026 will determine whether the United States has lost its measles elimination status after outbreaks marked by at least 5,182 confirmed cases in 2026 and 11 deaths. Experts including Dr. Paul Offit and Dr. Peter Hotez call such a determination likely a formality, while Dr. Offit calls losing the status a tremendous loss.
How word of mouth is helping an Amish community's fight against measlesnpr.org· 4d
NPR's Maria Godoy reports on Pennsylvania's quiet word-of-mouth campaign to vaccinate Amish families during the country's worst measles outbreak in 35 years, which has brought six deaths and more than 1,500 cases in the state, over 500 of them in Lancaster County. Nurse Dale Weiser has given more than 400 MMR doses in Amish homes, and health officials say the patient, personal approach is building trust even as the false rumor that the vaccine contains aborted fetal parts keeps some families hesitant.
Pennsylvania tops 1,500 measles cases as the U.S. could lose its measles elimination status this weekinquirer.com· 5d
Sarah Gantz's Inquirer Health section article reports Pennsylvania has topped 1,500 measles cases — the nation's largest outbreak in decades — as Pan American Health Organization leaders meet the week of 9 November 2026 to decide whether the U.S. keeps its measles elimination status, and state officials confirm a sixth measles-related death. The page also covers CVS Health's plan to split off its pharmacy business, Jefferson Health Plans' $43 million lawsuit over Medicare Advantage ratings, Philadelphia jails dropping the addiction-treatment shot Brixadi for a cheaper pill, and the Inquirer's court effort over sealed measles death records in Franklin County.
In America’s measles epidemic, RFK Jr. is now on trial
politico.com· 6d
Politico reports that eight Pan American Health Organization officials will decide the week of 8 November 2026 whether the U.S. still counts as having eliminated measles, after more than 7,000 infections since January 2025 under vaccine-skeptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has sought to downsize the childhood vaccine schedule. The article calls the decision legacy-defining for Kennedy, whose mixed messaging and conflicts with Governor Josh Shapiro over Pennsylvania's Amish outbreaks have drawn calls for his removal.
In America’s measles epidemic, RFK Jr. is now on trialpolitico.eu· 6d
Politico examines Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s handling of America's measles epidemic as Pan American Health Organization officials weigh this week whether the United States still deserves its measles-elimination status, held since 2000. More than 7,000 infections have been reported since January 2025, kindergartener vaccination coverage has slipped to 92.4% since Kennedy took over, and the article argues his legacy and future ambitions hang on the outcome.
The CDC has recorded more than 5,000 measles cases this yearA Washington Post live blog reports the CDC's count of 5,182 measles cases in 2026, the most since 1991, with deaths in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York. It also covers Stephen Miller's naming as White House chief of staff, a fatal Learjet crash near West Palm Beach, majority-Hispanic counties' shift toward Democrats in the midtimes, and the new Iron Gate task force targeting Iran's land routes.
US reports over 5,000 measles cases, the highest in 35 yearslemonde.fr· 7d
Le Monde, with AFP, reports the United States has recorded 5,182 measles cases in 2026, the CDC's highest count since 1991, with at least eight deaths, as declining vaccination fuels the disease's comeback since its 2000 eradication. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, is accused of fanning distrust of health authorities.
CDC reports more than 5,000 measles cases, highest number in 35 yearsAl Jazeera reports that the CDC has recorded 5,182 confirmed US measles cases in 2026, the highest since 1991 and more than double 2025's total, with children and teens accounting for about 59 percent and Pennsylvania reporting 1,487 cases. The federal death count of four sits at the centre of a dispute between Governor Josh Shapiro and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, after the CDC removed Pennsylvania's two August deaths when Kennedy, a vaccine sceptic, questioned whether measles caused them.
Größter Masernausbruch in den USA seit 35 Jahren – Säugling gestorbenspiegel.de· 7d
A news article on spiegel.de reports the largest measles outbreak in the United States in over 35 years, with 5182 cases confirmed in 2026 and, according to the authorities, an infant in Wisconsin dead of the disease — the first such death there since 1990. The CDC recorded four measles deaths in 2026, New York reported its first in 30 years, and Spiegel comments that anti-vaccination propaganda, whose instigators include Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., endangers diseases like measles staying rare.
US measles cases exceed 5,000, hitting a 35-year high in 2026euronews.com· 8d
US measles cases have reached 5,182 in 2026, more than double the 2,289 recorded in 2025 and the highest the CDC has reported since 1991, with at least eight deaths including among very young children. Paediatric specialist Adam Ratner calls the deaths tragic and completely preventable and says the burden will fall on children, who are not making these decisions.
US Measles Cases Top 5,000 for the First Time Since the 1990sbloomberg.com· 8d
Bloomberg reports that US measles cases have topped 5,000 for the first time since 1991, with 5,182 CDC-confirmed infections across 45 states as falling vaccination rates erode herd immunity, and that the US likely faces losing its measles-elimination status, which the Pan American Health Organization will review in the week after November 6, 2026. Pennsylvania has been hardest-hit with 1,467 cases, and a dispute over its six reported measles deaths has pitted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has questioned the deaths and touted unproven remedies, against Governor Josh Shapiro.
U.S. Hits Awful Measles Record as RFK Jr.’s CDC Hides Death Totalsnewrepublic.com· 8d
The New Republic's live blog reports that the CDC confirmed 5,182 measles infections across 45 states, the highest U.S. case load since 1991, while acknowledging just four deaths that Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin health agencies contradict, and judges that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has refused to fight the outbreak with vetted science. It also covers House Democrats' planned probes of Trump-allied firms, county-level leftward shifts in the 2026 midterms, Doug Burgum's AI investments, and Vivek Ramaswamy's smear advert against Amy Acton.
Wisconsin reports infant measles death, first in more than three decadesWisconsin health officials report that an infant died of measles — the state's first measles death in more than three decades — amid an outbreak that has grown to 431 cases in 13 counties and hospitalized nine people. Health Secretary Kirsten Johnson called the death a heavy-hearted first, noting measles can cause serious illness and death.
Child dies of measles in Wisconsin's first such death since 1990mprnews.org· 9d
An MPR News article reports Wisconsin officials' announcement that an infant in southwestern Wisconsin died after contracting measles — the state's first such death since 1990 — as the state reports 431 cases, all but three in unvaccinated people. With US vaccination rates below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks, the CDC has confirmed four measles deaths this year, though state health departments report higher counts, including five in Pennsylvania.
Wisconsin reports its first measles death in decades, the third in the U.S. this weekAn infant in Wisconsin has died of measles — the state's first such death since 1990 and the third in the U.S. that week, according to its health department — bringing 2026's measles-associated death toll to eight, the highest since 1991, amid a rise to 4,852 cases linked in part to declining vaccination rates. Pennsylvania is grappling with the country's largest outbreak, approaching 1,500 cases across 45 counties, and Wisconsin recommends an early vaccine dose for infants as young as 6 months at increased risk of exposure.
Another child dies of measles as CDC reportedly holds up health alertarstechnica.com· 11d
Another child has died of measles, health officials in New York announced Monday — the state's first measles death in more than 30 years and the seventh reported in the US in 2026, six of them in Pennsylvania's outbreak of over 1,430 cases. Ars Technica's report adds that the Washington Post says CDC scientists have been blocked from issuing an urgent alert on measles risks in pregnancy, while the agency, under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has reported only three of the seven deaths and changed how it counts them. Governor Kathy Hochul ties the child's death to Kennedy's anti-vaccine activism, and the article links the surge — more than 4,850 cases across 47 states, the worst since 1991 — to slipping vaccination rates.
New York child dies from measles in state’s first fatal case in 30 yearsA child in rural Lewis county, New York, has died of measles, the state's first fatal case in 30 years, amid a national resurgence that has seen the CDC report 4,588 US cases in 2026. Governor Kathy Hochul, who declared a disaster emergency in October, called the death "a devastating reminder" of the stakes as Washington, in her view, erodes vaccination progress; RFK Jr's policy changes have drawn criticism.
New York reports its first measles-associated death in more than 30 yearsWashington Post reporters Rachel Roubein and Lena H. Sun write that New York and Lewis County health officials said a child died of measles, the state's first such death in more than 30 years, and in a joint statement they said they were deeply saddened and asked that the family's privacy be respected. Commenters on the article blame Donald Trump and RFK Jr. for measles' resurgence.
Child Dies From Measles in New York State’s First Fatal Case in 30 YearsA child in New York's North Country died after contracting measles — the state's first fatal case in 30 years — health officials announced, though they shared few details; the child died in Lewis County, which had recorded 15 measles cases this year. Gov. Kathy Hochul says she is heartbroken and blames eroding confidence in pediatric immunizations on Trump administration policies.
Pennsylvania Reports 6th Measles-Associated DeathPennsylvania's Health Department says an unvaccinated 21-year-old Amish woman from Jefferson County died after testing positive for measles, the state's sixth measles-associated death amid what officials call its largest outbreak in more than three decades. The live updates also cover a vote on Trump's D.C. arch, Leon Black's defamation suit against Rep. Robert Garcia, bomb threats diverting European flights, and Cristiano Ronaldo retiring from Portugal's national team.
‘The Child Is Terrified’: Doctors on the Front Lines of a Measles Comeback Speak Out - KFF Health NewsKFF Health News' July 24, 2026 article draws on six Utah doctors describing a measles comeback that has hit a 35-year U.S. high, with nearly 400 hospitalizations and three deaths in 2025–2026 and the nation at risk of losing its elimination status. The doctors attribute outbreaks to vaccine hesitancy fueled by distrust and bad information, describe treating terrified, struggling children, and urge rebuilding trust through compassion and consistent public messaging.
Meeting on U.S. Measles Status Is Delayed Until NovemberA New York Times article by Teddy Rosenbluth reports that the Pan American Health Organization's meeting to review the United States' measles elimination status — held continuously since 2000 — has been postponed until November, with H.H.S. spokesman Andrew Nixon saying U.S. officials requested the delay to finish analyzing data from 10 outbreaks in 2025. Some public health experts and Dr. Walter Orenstein find the timing, which pushes a likely loss of the status past the midterm elections, awfully coincidental, though retired microbiologist Paul Rota says the extra time might be warranted as a small team also battles a South Carolina outbreak that has sickened 985 people.
Background newest first
NEWS: Trump Absent as Ground Stop Impacts Millions, Americans are Furious—US loses Measles Elimination Status, Bomb in Illinoissubstack.com· 5h
Aaron Parnas's news roundup reports that every U.S. departing flight was grounded for over four hours Friday — only the third such national stop — after a malfunction officials trace to overloaded routers at Chicago Midway, leaving thousands of flights delayed or canceled, and that the United States has lost its measles elimination status for the first time in more than 25 years amid an outbreak centered in Pennsylvania, where 1,542 cases and seven deaths are recorded. It also reports a credible bomb threat at a Peoria, Illinois, ethanol plant forced more than 5,000 people from their homes, and Parnas says President Trump was nowhere to be found during the ground stop.
Judge in golf course case says inquiry into DOJ lawyers will proceedThe Washington Post's developing-stories page reports that U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes said an inquiry into Justice Department lawyers' conduct in the East Potomac Golf Links case would proceed despite the department's objections, with a ruling expected Saturday on preservation groups' request to stop the course's closure. It also covers Microsoft's restoration of a global outage that hit hospitals and schools, two more measles deaths bringing the 2026 toll to at least 10, California's record marine heat wave, Elon Musk's call for Jensen Huang's reinstatement at Nvidia, and phone charging advice.
MAGA'S flying circus: $50 billion, zero answers
Steve Schmidt's Substack post attacks the Trump administration's response to a nationwide FAA ground stop that disrupted thousands of flights, mocking Sean Duffy's and Markwayne Mullin's press conference as political theater while questioning Duffy's $50 billion ask and the FAA's contract and possible ownership stake in Air Space Intelligence. He also targets Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the loss of measles elimination status, calls Hegseth's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier visit disgraceful, backs Van Hollen's challenge to Schumer, and forecasts two frightening years ahead.
Microsoft says all services restored after global outageThe Washington Post's live-updates page follows the global Microsoft outage, which the company says has been fully restored, attributing it to a network upgrade rather than a cyberattack or AI, and which disrupted hospitals, schools, courts and Japanese traders forced onto fax. Other items cover California's record marine heat wave, a U.S. measles death toll of at least 10 in 2026, Jensen Huang's resignation over an alleged affair — drawing Elon Musk's support — Pope Leo XIV's Mass in Chiclayo, and Rear Adm. Brian Monahan's departure from Congress's physician office, plus tips on charging devices faster.
This 1 Group Of Adults May Need A Measles Booster As Cases Reach A 30-Year HighA HuffPost health article explains which adults may need a measles booster amid a 30-year-high 2,289 U.S. cases in 2025, up from 285 in 2024. Citing doctors, it says adults vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 may need another dose, two MMR doses are about 97% effective, and those without records can safely get a booster or check state registries.
Trump’s wrecking ball has left the US in ruins. But the repair work starts nowprospectmagazine.co.uk· 15h
In a Prospect opinion piece, Alan Rusbridger catalogues the damage he says Donald Trump has wrought — from withdrawing from more than 60 international bodies and gutting USAID and Voice of America to Robert F Kennedy Jr's public health record — and argues the restorative work, from rejoining the WHO and Paris Agreement to investigating Trump's alleged corruption, must start now.
This Western state is experiencing its most severe marine heat wave on recordThe Washington Post's live page leads with Ben Noll's report that California is experiencing its most severe marine heat wave on record, with coastal waters up to 50 miles offshore at severe Category 3 levels or beyond and over 10°F warmer than average, per climate scientist Daniel Swain. It also tracks two new measles deaths in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Elon Musk's petition to reinstate Jensen Huang at Nvidia, Pope Leo XIV's open-air Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, Rear Adm. Brian Monahan's departure from the Office of Attending Physician, rare Mid-Atlantic tornadoes, and a Moscow car bomb that seriously injured pro-Russian commentator Sergei Zavorotny.
Musk joins calls for Jensen Huang to be reinstated as CEO of NvidiaThe Washington Post's live blog reports Elon Musk calling for Jensen Huang's reinstatement as Nvidia's chief executive, a day after Huang resigned over an alleged affair, with vocal support also coming from President Trump. The blog also covers California's record marine heat wave, new measles deaths in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Pope Leo XIV's homecoming Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, the departure of Congress's attending physician, rare Mid-Atlantic tornadoes, and a Moscow car bombing that seriously injured a pro-Kremlin commentator.
More than 1.5 million people welcome Pope Leo XIV in northern PeruThe Washington Post's live page reports Pope Leo XIV's homecoming Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, where Vatican estimates put more than 1 million people on the streets and 500,000 at the Mass in the city where he worked over eight years. It also covers two new measles deaths, tornadoes in the Mid-Atlantic, a car bombing in Moscow, and a tanker striking a cruise ship docked in New Orleans.
Brian Monahan out as attending physician to Congress amid Pentagon probeBrian Monahan had led the Office of Attending Physician since 2009, and his departure came the same week a Defense Department inspector general report found insufficient oversight of the office and its pharmacy. The page also reports two more measles deaths in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Jensen Huang's resignation as Nvidia's chief executive, Pope Leo XIV's homecoming in Chiclayo, Peru, a record marine heat wave off California, rare Mid-Atlantic tornadoes, and a Moscow car bombing that seriously injured Sergei Zavorotny.
Ukraine critic injured in Moscow car bombing, Russia saysThe Washington Post's live blog leads with a Moscow car explosion that left Sergei Zavorotny, 72, a former adviser to Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, in critical condition; Azarov accused Ukrainian intelligence of targeting him over his criticism of Ukraine, without evidence. The blog also follows two more measles deaths bringing the 2026 U.S. toll to at least 10, Pope Leo XIV's Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, California's record marine heat wave, Rear Adm. Brian Monahan's exit as Congress's attending physician, rare Mid-Atlantic tornadoes, and Elon Musk's call to reinstate Jensen Huang at Nvidia.
Senators probe RFK Jr.'s reason for Samoa trip after letter refuting his testimony publishedpbs.org· 45h
Two Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Angela Alsobrooks, are investigating whether Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lied to Congress about his 2019 Samoa trip, after Associated Press and Guardian reporting in August 2026 published a letter in which he mentioned vaccines eight times despite telling senators the visit had "nothing to do with vaccines." The senators wrote to Children's Health Defense that they intend to hold Kennedy accountable for any false statements to Congress, while the Department of Health and Human Services has called claims that he lied outright defamatory.
RFK Jr. is about to have a very bad timedailykos.com· 45h
Daily Kos's Lisa Needham writes that Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Angela Alsobrooks have begun investigating Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 2019 Samoa trip, seeking documents from Children's Health Defense on the trip, his campaign, and his confirmation. Kennedy testified the trip had "nothing to do with vaccines," but he had written Samoa's prime minister on Children's Health Defense letterhead questioning MMR vaccines, and the trip was followed by 5,697 measles cases and 83 deaths; Needham expects the inquiry could later ground impeachment.
Kennedy’s Future: Will Democrats Try to Impeach Him, or Actually Work With Him?A New York Times article by Sheryl Gay Stolberg examines whether congressional Democrats, newly in the majority after the 2026 midterms, will pursue impeaching Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or work with him, with some Democrats like Senator-elect Annie Andrews calling for impeachment while others, such as Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, propose cooperating on health policy. The article reports measles has killed 11 people since Kennedy took office, that many MAHA activists feel betrayed by Trump's glyphosate order, and that Kennedy, who posted "It's time to unleash the Kraken," seems unbowed and may now have a freer hand.
Senators probing RFK Jr.'s testimony on Samoa trip after AP and Guardian showed documents refute it
apnews.com· 2d
Two Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Angela Alsobrooks, are investigating whether Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lied to Congress about his 2019 Samoa trip, after The Associated Press and The Guardian published documents refuting his testimony that the visit had nothing to do with vaccines. Their letter to the anti-vaccine nonprofit Children's Health Defense, which Kennedy formerly chaired, demands documents by December 4, 2026, and the inquiry is among many Democrats plan into the Trump administration after regaining Congress; the department calls any claim Kennedy lied outright defamatory.
Senator opens investigation into evidence RFK Jr ‘unlawfully lied’ to CongressRon Wyden, the incoming Senate finance committee chair, has opened an investigation into evidence that health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr unlawfully lied to Congress, seeking records from his anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense about his 2019 Samoa trip and giving it a 4 December deadline. Letters obtained by the Guardian show Kennedy told the Samoan prime minister before the trip that he wanted to study the MMR vaccine, contradicting his confirmation testimony, though Kennedy denies the allegations and the health department has not commented.
DAY AHEAD - My Daily Editorial NoteScott MacFarlane's daily editorial note reports that four departing House Republicans joined 214 Democrats to force a vote on releasing the Epstein Files, millions of pages of which remain withheld, and flags a brewing clash as Team Trump appears poised to defy incoming Democrats' subpoenas, hearings, and depositions. It also covers Scott Colom's Mississippi Senate win, measles cases topping 5,000, a $3 billion heating-aid push, Iran-war fallout, and the Kennedy family's court bid to halt Trump's Monumental Arch.
She’s delivered 2,000 babies. The measles outbreak changed her mind about vaccines.An NBC News article profiles Roberta Devers, an unlicensed traditional midwife in Pennsylvania's Lancaster County who, after decades of doubting vaccines, says watching measles strike the Amish mothers she serves changed her mind — though state law bars her from administering the shots. The piece reports 1,505 measles cases in Pennsylvania, at least two baby deaths, falling vaccination rates nationwide, and health officials' calls to work through trusted midwives.
Live updates: Senators investigate whether Health Secretary RFK Jr. lied to Congress about Samoa tripThe Associated Press's live updates follow two Democratic senators' investigation into whether Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lied to Congress about his 2019 Samoa trip, after documents showed he wrote the prime minister about studying the measles vaccine, contradicting his testimony that the trip had "nothing to do with vaccines." Updates also cover Scott Colom's win making him Mississippi's first Black senator since Reconstruction, Jensen Huang's resignation as Nvidia CEO over an affair with an alleged Chinese spy, and veterans compensation bills.
A Failed Impeachment, for NowJoyce Vance's Civil Discourse posts a video in which Congressman Dan Goldman, once lead counsel in Trump's first impeachment, explains how House Republicans tabled Thomas Massie's impeachment resolution against Pete Hegseth, whose eight articles range from unlawful strikes in the Caribbean and Venezuela to retaliation against Senator Mark Kelly, and what a proper impeachment inquiry would involve. Vance calls the Republicans' election losses a shellacking, expects Democrats to take both chambers in January, cites reporting that Todd Blanche's Mississippi trip disrupted affidavit-ballot voters and that measles may no longer be eliminated in the U.S., and urges readers to watch the video.
John Cornyn says he’s looking for a job: ‘People who retire die’A Washington Post live-updates page covers several developing stories: retiring Sen. John Cornyn tells TMZ he's looking for a job, saying "People who retire die," and met successor James Talarico; Nvidia hires prosecutor Joon H. Kim to investigate CEO Jensen Huang's admitted affair; Cranbury Township, N.J., defends withholding its $26 million theft until after the election; experts weigh whether the U.S. loses its measles-elimination status; the FDA will require GLP-1 labels to warn of a rare vision-loss risk; and Massachusetts State Police pays Karen Read $100,000 to settle her lawsuit. Ben Noll forecasts a potential nor'easter bringing the season's first mountain snows.
Nvidia taps former federal prosecutor to probe CEO’s affairThe Washington Post's 7LIVE roundup reports that Nvidia hired former federal prosecutor Joon H. Kim to investigate CEO Jensen Huang's affair with an alleged Chinese spy after Huang admitted infidelity. It also covers John Cornyn's Senate exit, Cranbury Township's withheld $26 million theft, the U.S.'s at-risk measles-elimination status, a new GLP-1 vision-loss label warning, Karen Read's $100,000 settlement, and a forecast nor'easter.
Police chief defends timing of N.J. township’s wire-fraud announcementThe Washington Post's developing-stories page "The 7" rounds up the day's news: Cranbury Township, N.J., leaders defend withholding a $26 million wire-fraud loss until after an election, with about $17.5 million recovered; Nvidia hires prosecutor Joon H. Kim to investigate CEO Jensen Huang's affair; Sen. John Cornyn winds down his Senate career after losing to Ken Paxton, who lost to James Talarico; U.S. measles-elimination status is under review after 5,182 cases in 2026; the FDA orders GLP-1 labels to warn of vision-loss risk; Massachusetts State Police pays Karen Read $100,000 to settle her suit; and Ben Noll forecasts a potential nor'easter and the season's first mountain snow.
The U.S. could lose a decades-old public health achievementThe Washington Post's "Developing stories" briefing leads with international health experts meeting to decide whether the United States will lose its measles-elimination status, a 2000 achievement, amid a resurgence of 5,182 cases in 2026 and at least nine deaths. It also covers John Cornyn's Senate exit to James Talarico, Nvidia's probe of CEO Jensen Huang's affair, Cranbury Township's withheld $26 million theft, new GLP-1 vision-loss label warnings, Karen Read's $100,000 settlement, and a possible Northeast nor'easter.
Coastal storm to bring season’s first snow to parts of NortheastThe Washington Post's live blog leads with Ben Noll's forecast that a nor'easter will bring the season's first snow to mountains including the Adirondacks, Catskills, and Poconos Thursday into Friday, followed by unusually cold air. It also covers John Cornyn's Senate transition to James Talarico, Nvidia's investigation into CEO Jensen Huang's admitted affair, the $26 million theft from Cranbury Township, a review of the U.S. measles-elimination status, the FDA's new vision-loss warning for GLP-1 labels, and Massachusetts's $100,000 settlement with Karen Read.
The FDA has a new warning about GLP-1s and vision loss. Should you worry?The Washington Post's live-updates page leads with the FDA's new rule requiring GLP-1 labels to warn of a potential vision-loss risk, which ophthalmologist Manjot Gill calls very rare and says is outweighed by the drugs' benefits. Its other items include Jensen Huang's affair admission, Cranbury Township's $26 million theft, the U.S.'s imperiled measles-elimination status, Karen Read's $100,000 settlement, Sen. John Cornyn's exit, and a potential nor'easter.
House Democrats’ majority approaches a modern recordA Washington Post roundup leads with House Democrats' projected majority of roughly 260 seats — their largest this century — and also covers the U.S. possibly losing its measles-elimination status, an FDA warning on GLP-1 label risks of vision loss, Karen Read's $100,000 settlement, Gallup's record-low death-penalty support at 49 percent, Pete Buttigieg's book announcement, and a forecast Northeast snowstorm.
‘A complete repudiation’: public health won big in US midterm electionsThe Guardian reports that candidates who made public health central to their platforms won big in the November 2026 US midterms, with doctors and Covid-response figures like Annie Andrews, Amy Acton, and Abdul El-Sayed elected and voters rejecting abortion restrictions. Defend Public Health's Julie Scofield calls the outcome a complete repudiation of Trump's policies, and experts say the changes will reshape action on abortion, gender-affirming care, and vaccines.
DAY AHEAD - My Daily Editorial NoteScott MacFarlane's DAY AHEAD newsletter for 9 November 2026 surveys the arrival of new Democratic members of Congress — including pastor Adam Hamilton, minister Lakesha Womack, and upset winner Fred Wellman — a Scalise-Jordan fight for House GOP leader, and Scott Colom's growing Mississippi Senate lead over a defiant Cindy Hyde-Smith. It also tracks Judge Tanya Chutkan's halt of the Monumental Arch, Wisconsin's first measles death since 1990, and warnings to grocery stores about hacks of commercial refrigeration systems.
Tearful father of young Florida crash co-pilot aims to protect her legacyThe Washington Post's live-updates page leads with Allan Filgueiras tearfully defending his co-pilot daughter Nathalia, who died with eight others when their Learjet crashed near West Palm Beach, saying she fought to the last minute. It also tracks Stephen Miller's naming as White House chief of staff, majority-Hispanic counties swinging to Democrats in the midterms, a new U.S. task force targeting Iran's weapons routes, 5,182 U.S. measles cases in 2026, and New Zealand's too-close-to-call election.
ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and VideosThe ABC News homepage rounds up breaking headlines led by the midterm elections: Democrats flipped statehouses and won the redistricting war, world leaders weighed the power shift, and President Trump named Susie Wiles out as chief of staff. Elsewhere, five died in a Polish market square shooting, measles topped 5,000 US cases, and Jay Rockefeller died at 89.
Democrats to RFK Jr.: Resign Now or Be Prepared to Testify Before Congresstruthout.org· 7d
Truthout reports that after Democrats won control of Congress in the 2026 midterms, several physicians elected to the Senate, including Abdul El-Sayed, are demanding that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. resign or face hearings in 2027. Speculation surrounds his future as Trump and Republicans search for scapegoats, with Senator Angela Alsobrooks writing, "RFK Jr. must resign or be fired."
Florida’s most Venezuelan city put the Republican Party on noticeThe Washington Post's live blog reports midterm fallout, led by Doral, Fla., where the Venezuelan-immigrant community known as "Doralzuela" swung 14 points to Democrat Angie Nixon, who still lost to Senator Ashley Moody — a shift the Post ties to Trump's Maduro promise, the loss of Venezuelans' temporary legal status, and immigration raids; Doral's Republican mayor said the party should listen and reflect. It also covers Stephen Miller's naming as White House chief of staff, majority-Hispanic counties' big leftward swings, a new task force targeting Iran's borders, the nation's worst measles year since 1991, and New Zealand's too-close-to-call election.
What parents need to know as measles outbreaks spread across the USABC News explains what parents should know as measles spreads in the US, where the CDC reports nearly 5,200 cases across 45 states and eight deaths, and describes the virus's symptoms, complications, and contagiousness. Dr. Andrew Handel, who is extremely concerned, says the MMR vaccine is the best protection, and parents are advised to discuss vaccination with a medical provider.
Democrats want RFK Jr’s ‘head on a platter’ after midterms triumphindependent.co.uk· 8d
The Independent reports that after Democrats' 3 November 2026 midterm victory, party leaders plan to pursue Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with investigations, impeachment calls, and resignation demands, as Senator Angela Alsobrooks posts, "RFK Jr must resign or be fired." The results cost Kennedy's MAHA movement at least 64 of the 97 candidates it endorsed, deepening a rift between Trump's MAGA and MAHA that allies like Joseph Ladapo say may even be a good thing.
Why Congress Should Impeach RFK Jr.gizmodo.com· 8d
Gizmodo's Ed Cara argues the next Congress should impeach HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing his gutting of the public health infrastructure, the worst U.S. measles outbreaks in more than 30 years, and lawsuits from medical groups and at least 19 states over his vaccine and staffing decisions. Writing that Democrats will hold a clear congressional majority from January 2027, he says conviction would still require GOP senators—some already criticizing Kennedy—but that a trial would signal the country's rotting public health system can still be mended.
Measles, mumps and misinformation: how Crunchy Moms became ‘the most dangerous’ group on FacebookA Guardian investigation finds that Crunchy Moms, a Facebook group of more than 490,000 members that Meta's AI summarizes and its algorithms recommend into users' feeds, is a hotbed of false medical claims — that vaccines cause autism, that measles is harmless, that black salve cures cancer — despite Meta's own policies barring such posts. The Guardian reported 56 items there with no response, and experts warn children could be hurt as parents turn away from medicine.
This is an age of anti-vaccine unreason – and even NHS staff are not immune | Polly ToynbeePolly Toynbee's Guardian column laments an age of anti-vaccine unreason, citing that fewer than half of England's frontline NHS staff got the flu jab and that children's routine vaccination rates have fallen below the WHO's 95% herd-immunity threshold. Blaming Robert F Kennedy Jr's messaging and post-Covid mistrust among staff, she argues vaccination should be compulsory for NHS workers, calls for a national vaccination day, and wants Edward Jenner's statue returned from Kensington Gardens to his Trafalgar Square plinth.
Trump Promotes Stephen Miller as He Doubles Down on Extreme AgendaThe New Republic reports that Trump announced on Truth Social that Stephen Miller, the architect of his hardline deportation agenda whom Republicans had leaked criticism of earlier in the week, will replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, a move the magazine writes shows Trump is unrepentant after historic 2026 midterm losses. The article also covers the nation's worst measles outbreak since 1991 amid Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine guidance, Doug Burgum's millions in AI investments while pushing data centers on public lands, Democrats' plans to investigate Trump's corporate donors, and a Ground News map showing 94 percent of counties shifted left.
Trump Plans to Accuse Nonprofits of Having Terrorist TiesA New Republic roundup leads with The Wall Street Journal's report that Trump is weighing an executive order branding some nonprofits as having terrorist ties and stripping their nonprofit status, an approach the magazine calls its standby strategy of calling targets terrorists. The post also covers Abdul El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim U.S. senator, deaths of immigrants in ICE detention, Stephen Miller replacing Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, and the U.S. nearing the loss of its measles elimination status.
Dem senator presses call for Kennedy to ‘resign or be fired’ after electionthehill.com· 9d
A Hill article reports that Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, a Maryland Democrat, renewed her call for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to "resign or be fired" after the 2026 election, continuing a push she began with more than 20 Senate Democrats in September 2025 over his handling of public health agencies. She has accused him of spreading vaccine misinformation, and with Sen. Ron Wyden released a February 2026 report on his decisions; Sen. Mark Warner quoted Kennedy saying of COVID-19 deaths, "I don't know how many died."
DAY AHEAD - My Daily Editorial NoteScott MacFarlane's daily newsletter maps the day after the Democrats' 2026 midterm sweep: House Republicans face a leadership fight with Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan lobbying for the top job, Hakeem Jeffries circulates his Speaker-campaign memo on affordability, and incoming Democratic committee chairs plan probes into the Trump administration. It also tracks legal battles over Trump's Monumental Arch and Kennedy Center changes, new governors' first days, measles cases topping 4,800, and whispers about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's future.
ProPublica Event: Making America healthy? Examining the raw claims and real risks of MAHA.propublica.org
ProPublica is hosting a virtual event on 10 November from 4:00 to 5:00 pm EST in which deputy Midwest editor Steve Mills moderates reporters Duaa Eldeib, Annie Waldman, and Patricia Callahan discussing how the Make America Healthy Again movement affects children. ProPublica says measles cases have hit 35-year highs, infants have bled to death after parents declined the vitamin K shot, and raw milk E. coli outbreaks have left children with permanent kidney damage, while a health department spokesperson said vaccine mandates eroded trust during COVID-19 and that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. believes in rebuilding it through honesty and individual choice.
Amy Acton Won't Speak To Election Loser Vivek Ramaswamy After His 'Terrible And Despicable' AdHuffPost's live politics blog leads with Ohio Governor-elect Amy Acton winning more than 52% of the vote and saying she won't speak to Vivek Ramaswamy after his ad, in which her estranged mother calls her a "liar," omitting that the mother lost custody after the stepfather was indicted for abusing Acton as a child and later fled with him as a fugitive. The blog also rounds up post-midterm news: Justice Department resignations, uncalled Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska, Adam Smith's pledge to cut funding for Trump's Iran war, a Wisconsin infant's measles death, better-than-expected October jobs, and Elon Musk saying Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production.
Jamie Raskin: Subpoenas Coming For Law Firms Who Capitulated To TrumpRep. Jamie Raskin says law firms that capitulated to Donald Trump's early-term pressure deals, including Paul, Weiss, can expect subpoenas once he chairs the House Judiciary Committee, after none complied with his letters demanding details of the alleged coercion. HuffPost's live updates also report Trump declaring of Pete Hegseth, "I have every intention to keep him," as impeachment articles loom, Manhattan arguments over Trump's hush money conviction, a Pennsylvania measles death, bomb threats diverting European flights, and Cristiano Ronaldo's plan to retire from Portugal's national team.
Billionaire Leon Black Sues Top House Democrat Over Epstein CommentsHuffPost's live updates lead with billionaire Leon Black's defamation suit against Rep. Robert Garcia over comments on Black's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, alongside a sixth measles death in Pennsylvania, bomb threats against European flights, Trump's Manhattan hush money appeal, and Cristiano Ronaldo's plan to retire from Portugal's team. Zohran Mamdani said Democrats can work with Trump, and allies of Ro Khanna have launched a draft committee for a potential 2028 run.
Doc In Christa Pike’s Botched Execution Hadn’t Placed Central IV Since 2013, Oversaw Another Failed Execution: ReportHuffPost's rolling politics blog leads with Tennessee's botched executions: Dr. Mark Fowler, appointed lead physician for both Christa Pike's and Tony Carruthers', reportedly hadn't placed a central IV line since 2013, and Carruthers' execution was called off after his team struggled to insert IVs while he complained of pain. The blog also covers Trump demanding Alaska's votes for "the REAL Dan Sullivan," Russell Brand's rape conviction, a sixth measles death in Pennsylvania, Trump's hush money appeal, and allies drafting Ro Khanna for 2028.
Cybertrucks Winding Down Production In Texas After Years Of Poor SalesA rolling HuffPost live-updates politics article leads with Elon Musk's Friday announcement on X that Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production in Texas after years of poor sales, citing weakening demand, recalls, and backlash over Musk's politics. Other items cover Thomas Markle Sr.'s arrest, October's 165,000 jobs added, a measles-linked infant death in Wisconsin, a court block of Trump's memorial arch, and uncalled Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska.
Maternal Measles Antibodies Wane by 6 Monthsmedscape.com· 5w
A Medscape Medical News article reports research presented at IDWeek 2026 finding that maternal measles antibodies fall below the limit of detection in most infants by 6 months, leaving fewer than 1 in 5 seropositive and making babies susceptible sooner than thought. C. Buddy Creech says earlier vaccination, around 9 months, might be warranted amid the US's highest measles incidence since 1991, while pediatrician Nathan Boonstra says the findings should give pediatricians confidence that earlier immunization is likely protective when exposure risk exists.
RFK Jr lied in Senate confirmation hearings, newly revealed documents indicateThe Guardian reports that newly obtained letters indicate Robert F Kennedy Jr lied in his 2025 Senate confirmation hearings when he said his 2019 Samoa trip had nothing to do with vaccines: a letter to the Samoan prime minister mentions vaccines repeatedly and proposes assessing MMR vaccines months before a measles outbreak killed 83. A health department spokesperson called any claim he lied outright defamatory.
RFK Jr.’s Toxic Worldthebulwark.com· 11w
Alan Elrod's Bulwark essay reads Todd Haynes's 1995 film Safe — a housewife's undiagnosable ailments driving her from suburban Los Angeles into isolation at a desert wellness camp — as a picture of the world that produced Robert F. Kennedy Jr., alongside Elrod's own obsessive-compulsive disorder and its fear of a dangerously contaminated world. He traces Kennedy from court-ordered Hudson River cleanup at the Natural Resources Defense Council, which has since repudiated him, to Children's Health Defense and MAHA, quoting remarks that after vaccination "their brain is gone. This is a holocaust" and that autistic children "will never throw a baseball," and calls Kennedy's individual-blaming worldview quackery in a Darwinian register.
The Horrors That Could Lie Ahead if Vaccines VanishProPublica reports on modeling by Stanford researchers Mathew Kiang and Nathan Lo estimating that if the vaccines for polio, measles, rubella, and diphtheria vanished, over 25 years an average of 23,000 people could be paralyzed by polio, about 290,000 could die of measles, 41,000 babies could be born with congenital rubella syndrome, and 138,000 could die of diphtheria. The article ties the scenario to ProPublica's claims that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering changes that could prompt vaccine makers to stop selling shots for American children.
How Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Vaccine Agenda Risks a Resurgence of Deadly Childhood PlaguesPatricia Callahan's ProPublica investigation argues Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is eroding both pillars of America's vaccination system — parents' trust and children's access — risking a return of preventable plagues like Hib, which left unvaccinated New York infants severely ill. It traces past resurgences in the Soviet Union, Japan and Nigeria, and reports a measles surge of more than 3,600 cases across 46 states, while HHS defends Kennedy's overhaul as rebuilding trust through open review.
