Ousted CDC head says she was pressured to preapprove vaccine panel recommendations

Ousted CDC head says she was pressured to preapprove vaccine panel recommendations

(Reuters) -Former U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez said on Thursday she was pushed to rubber-stamp the decisions of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s hand-picked vaccine advisory committee, calling her ouster part of a broader push to weaken U.S. vaccine standards. Monarez was fired in late August, barely a month into her tenure, following a series of clashes with Kennedy, including disputes over vaccine policy and her refusal to dismiss senior CDC staff. Four top officials resigned in protest after her firing. Medical groups and former CDC leaders have since voiced alarm, warning that political interference could jeopardize vaccine programs. In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece on Thursday, Monarez said she was pressured to "preapprove" the recommendations of the revamped vaccine advisory panel. All 17 members of the panel were fired by Kennedy in June. Several of their replacements have publicly expressed anti-vaccine sentiment. Monarez said she refused to comply, insisting that vaccine recommendations must be reviewed rigorously on scientific grounds, not rubber-stamped for political purposes. "The CDC cannot fulfill its obligation to the American people if its leader cannot demand proof in decision-making," she wrote, stressing that evidence, not ideology, must guide public health policy. She warned against stacking advisory committees and removing scientific staff, calling it "sabotage." Monarez concluded that she was ousted for "holding the line" on science. "I lost my job. America's children could lose far more." Her short tenure also saw a deadly shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta. Investigators linked the attack to vaccine distrust. Monarez said the incident underscored the urgent need to rebuild trust in public health institutions. Kennedy is testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday on President Donald Trump's healthcare agenda, where he will likely face questions on the administration's vaccine policies and recent upheavals at the CDC. (Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in BengaluruEditing by Rod Nickel)

byMario Satorik

in

September 04, 2025

Ousted CDC head says she was pressured to preapprove vaccine panel recommendations

Ousted CDC head says she was pressured to preapprove vaccine panel recommendations (Reuters) -Former U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Pr...

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Macron says 26 countries pledge troops as a reassurance force for Ukraine after fighting ends

Macron says 26 countries pledge troops as a reassurance force for Ukraine after fighting ends

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that 26 of Ukraine's allies have pledged to deploy troops as a "reassurance force" for the war-torn country once fighting ends in the conflict with Russia. Speaking after a meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing" in Paris, Macron said the countries had committed to deploying troops in Ukraine — or to maintaining a presence on land, at sea, or in the air — to help guarantee the country's security the day after a ceasefire or peace is achieved. Earlier Thursday, Macron and other European leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the the U.S. envoy for peace talks, Steve Witkoff, to discuss ways of ensuring long-term military support and continued American backing for Ukraine once the conflict ends. Zelenskyy's office said he also held a closed-door meeting with Witkoff. The European leaders — some of whom joined the meeting virtually — said Russia must now work toward ending the fighting, and the German government suggested European sanctions on Russia would increase if Moscow drags its feet. The European leaders also later spoke by phone with U.S.President Donald Trump. Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who lead the group, have insisted that any European "reassurance" force in Ukraine needs the backing of the United States. Starmer's office said after the meeting that the British prime minister "emphasized that the group had an unbreakable pledge to Ukraine, with President Trump's backing, and it was clear they now needed to go even further to apply pressure on (Russian president Vladimir) Putin to secure a cessation of hostilities." Starmer's office also mentioned a decision from the coalition to supply long-range missiles to Ukraine "to further bolster the country's supplies." Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, said Thursday after meeting Witkoff and other national security advisers that the security guarantees "must be strong and effective — in the air, at sea, on land and in cyberspace." Trump phone call Some leaders took part in person in the Paris talks while others joined virtually. They were set to speak with Trump over the phone after the meeting. Some leaders took part in person in the Paris talks while others joined virtually. They spoke with Trump over the phone after the meeting. "They expressed the hope that the United States would continue to make a substantial contribution to the joint efforts to support Ukraine, formulate security guarantees, and shape a productive diplomatic process," German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said in a statement. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who attended virtually, laid out three "areas of action," including working toward a summit that would include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and "a ceasefire must be agreed there." "If the Russian side continues to play for time, Europe will increase the pressure of sanctions to increase the chances of a diplomatic solution," the statement said. Positive signals In a policy shift earlier this month, the U.S. sent positive signals over its readiness to support security guarantees for Ukraine that resemble NATO's collective defense mandate, Zelenskyy said. It is unclear what that support would look like in practice. Ukraine is hoping for continued U.S. intelligence sharing and air support. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who attended the meeting virtually, said that a broad coalition of nations is needed to support Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression, but also to strengthen Europe to deter further military action by Moscow. Citing European military and intelligence officials who have warned of Russian plans to strike other European countries, Rutte said that "we have to make sure that our deterrence is such that they will never try, knowing that our reaction will be devastating." Rutte also called for the world to "not be naive about Russia." "We know what Putin tries to do and and the evidence is there in Ukraine as we speak," he said. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, Russia fired 112 strike and decoy drones across the country overnight Thursday, according to Ukraine's Air Force morning report. Air defenses intercepted or jammed 84 drones, the statement said. Russia on Thursday announced that it was expelling an Estonian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move after Estonia declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata last month. ___ Petrequin reported from London. Associated Press reporters from across the globe contributed to this report.

byMario Satorik

in

September 04, 2025

Macron says 26 countries pledge troops as a reassurance force for Ukraine after fighting ends

Macron says 26 countries pledge troops as a reassurance force for Ukraine after fighting ends KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — French President Emmanuel...

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Ranking Deion Sanders’ worst clock-management blunders at Colorado

Ranking Deion Sanders' worst clock-management blunders at Colorado

BOULDER, CO —Coloradofootball coachDeion Sandersgot a little defensive this week when asked about the final 67 seconds of his team's27-20 loss against Georgia Tech on Aug. 29. It's a sore subject – clock management. "Let's just get the cat of the bag, all right?" Sanders said about it at a news conference Tuesday. Even the best coaches have struggled with clock managementin the NFLandin college football. In this case, Sanders had two timeouts leftbut didn't use themafter his team fell behind 27-20 with 1:07 left. If Sanders had used those timeouts, the Buffaloes (0-1) could have had more time to get in better position to tie or win. USA TODAY Sports consulted with a football clock-management expert to explain why and also analyze other clock-management issues under Sanders, whose teamhosts Delaware on Saturday. "It sounds like he needs to read my book and appoint a clock assistant who ensures that my best practice rules are always adhered to," said John T. Reed, who wrote a book entitledFootball Clock Management. Here are six times since 2023 that clock-management issues could have cost Sanders the game, ranked by severity. This onenearly ended in disasterfor the Buffaloes in their season opener in 2024. They had a 31-26 lead with 2:19 left when they got the ball at their own 25-yard line. All they needed to do is run out the clock to end the game. Running the ball and staying inbounds is a good way to do that. But quarterback Shedeur Sanders instead threw five passes on his first six snaps, including a deep throw on first down with 1:41 left, which fell incomplete to stop the clock at 1:34. The Buffs then punted the ball back to North Dakota State, who got one last chance to win the game with 31 seconds left at their own 8-yard line. "You run the ball on first down… game could be over right now," ESPN announcer Roddy Jones said. It wasn't. The Bison ran six plays for 88 yards in 31 seconds, including a 49-yard Hail Mary completion that ended four yards short of the end zone as time expired. Colorado won, 31-26. Afterward, Deion Sanders said his son Shedeur was trying to spread the love to his receivers when he should have killed the clock. "Every second you leave on the clock unnecessarily may be the one your opponent uses to beat you," says the book by Reed, a graduate of West Point and Harvard Business School. Down 27-20 with 1:07 left at its own 25-yard line, Colorado had achance to tie or win. On first down, quarterback Kaidon Salter threw a short pass to running back Micah Welch, who was tackled inbounds for a 2-yard loss with 1:02 left. Instead of using one of his two timeouts to stop the clock, Colorado allows the clock to tick down to 45 seconds left before the next play. "Do you call a timeout there?" Deion Sanders said Tuesday. "No, you're right there. You don't call a time out there. You gotta go. You gotta go. You're running tempo, right? " The next play – another pass – goes for 11 yards, with the receiver being tackled inbounds with about 39 seconds left and one yard short of the first down. Then on third-and-1 , the play doesn't start until 29 seconds are left. Salter got the first down on a run but took some extra time running toward the sideline out of bounds with 18 seconds left. "The clock stopped, OK?" Sanders said. "Scramble play, he ran out of bounds. The clock stopped, right. Now we throw the ball out of the end zone. Clock stopped. So when was the time to call timeout?" Reed said he "should have called timeout after the two inbounds plays" at the beginning of the drive. Nearly 30 seconds ticked off without it. Colorado ended up throwing a failed Hail Mary pass from the 50-yard line as time expired and lost the game. Sanders never used his two remaining timeouts. Colorado was down 7-3 andgot the ball at its own 4-yard line with 49 seconds left before halftime. If the Buffs had kept the ball on the ground and run out the clock, that would have been the score at halftime. Instead, quarterback Shedeur Sanders attempted two passes that fell incomplete on first and second down before handing the ball off for no gain on third down. This gave the Beavers time to score after they took a timeout with 36 seconds left. After Colorado punted the ball back to Oregon State, the Beavers returned the punt 28 yards and then got a 20-yard touchdown catch on the next play, helping them stake a 14-3 lead with 16 second left in the half. Colorado lost the game, 26-19. "That's on me," Deion Sanders told ESPN at halftime. Reed said Colorado "should have stuck to inbounds running plays, maybe even taking a knee." "On your own 4 with :49 left before half in a game where you had not been moving the ball, your win probability, while probably below .500 will be best preserved by conservative runs to get away from the end zone," Reed said. Colorado fell behind 34-7 in the second quarter but came back in the second half, only torun out of time in a 48-41 loss. Colorado had used its final second-half timeout with 6:44 left in the game. Then when they got the ball down by 48-34 with 5:58 left, they appeared to lack urgency and ran five running plays on a 10-play touchdown drive that took 4:15 off the clock. USC got the ball back with 1:43 left and ran three plays to end the game. Deion Sanders indicated afterward he burned a timeout earlier in the half because of personnel issues. "I'd rather take a timeout than risk six points not having 10 people on the field," he said. He added that "in those moments, the now is more important than the future." Utahwon this game, 23-17, after getting the ball with 7:25 left in the game and then running out the rest of the clock. That's half of a quarter with Utah just sitting on the ball and averaging 37 seconds per play on that last possession – 12 plays for 49 yards, including four first downs. The game ended as time expired and Utah facing third-and-14. With better clock management, Colorado might have gotten another chance. Obviously, it would have helped if the Buffs had stopped Utah on defense in the end to get the ball back. But Colorado also didn't help itself in the third quarter, when the Buffs burned two of its three second-half timeouts in the first 10 minutes of the half, including one after their first play of the second half. As a result, Colorado ended up with only one timeout at the end, which it used with 1:41 left. Sanders said he burned that early timeout to avoid a 5-yard penalty related to player substitution. "Burning a timeout to avoid a 5-yard penalty is a clock management mistake," Reed said. That's because he said a timeout can enable a team to start as many as seven plays that each themselves can stop the clock, with each play taking about six seconds. "I hate burning time outs in odd-numbered quarters and raise hell about them," Reed said. ""They are best used late in the half." The Buffs led 29-0 at halftime and then watched as Stanford scored on every single possession in the second halfto force overtime before winning, 46-43. That's poor defense and poor offense. But guess how many timeouts the Buffs used to stop the bleeding in the second half? Zero. All they needed was one stop. A strategic timeout or three could have helped kill Stanford's momentum. Colorado's next game against Delaware kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on Fox. Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer@Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Deion Sanders' clock management at Colorado scrutinized

byMario Satorik

in

September 04, 2025

Ranking Deion Sanders’ worst clock-management blunders at Colorado

Ranking Deion Sanders' worst clock-management blunders at Colorado BOULDER, CO —Coloradofootball coachDeion Sandersgot a little defensiv...

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After deadly bus crash, Brazilian football team rebuilding and drawing inspiration from NFL

After deadly bus crash, Brazilian football team rebuilding and drawing inspiration from NFL

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Seconds after Elisa Richter and 5-year-old daughter Helena arrived at the football field in the back of an abandoned racing track in southern Brazil, a flock of emotional fans of the Coritiba Crocodiles team came to hug them. That Saturday afternoon home game was one more step toward rebuilding their team and their lives after months of toil and tears. Richter is the widow of Daniel Santos, who died at age 44 as the Crocodiles' captain after the team's bus crashed last September during a trip to play in Rio de Janeiro. Players Lucas Barros, 20, and Lucas Padilha, 38, also were killed. Several others spent months recovering from their injuries, which forced the team out of Brazil's national and state football competitions in 2024. The Crocodiles, who play American-style tackle football, were founded in 2003 and are three-time Brazilian champions in a competition that today involves teams from the Amazon to the country's impoverished Northeast region. The team has just won its 12th Parana state title. The recent Saturday afternoon in the city of Curitiba that brought Richter and Crocodiles fans together was one of the first games since the team was reassembled in January. All players are amateurs, hardcore football fans and ambassadors pushing for the sport's growth in Brazil — a market that has drawn major interest from the NFL. "This is like family to us. We feel Daniel's presence here. And the team coming back is a wonderful thing," said Richter, who learned football from her husband, a Washington Commanders fan who was also keen on the Green Bay Packers. "They love to do this, they don't play for money. And they are playing for them three. There's nowhere else I could be." Richter and Santos met in Curitiba, a city 860 kilometers (530 miles) south of Rio, while the two other players who died had families in other states of Brazil. The name Coritiba Crocodiles comes in part from a local soccer team, Coritiba Foot Ball Club. The team's return coincides with the second NFL game in Brazil's history, which will take place at the Neo Quimica Arena in São Paulo on Friday when the Los Angeles Chargers face theKansas City Chiefs. Last year, thePhiladelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packersat the same stadium. Richter was there with her husband, who wept after kickoff. "It will be different now, but that's another place to feel his presence. So I am excited," she said. Reorganizing and recovering Since the beginning of the year, the NFL has been shooting a documentary about the recovering Crocodiles, and the moves have been dramatic since the crash. Veteran Crocodiles players who wanted to retire postponed their decision after the Sept. 21 accident. Coach Johnny Mitchell Jr., a former tight end who played with the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, returned to the team, where he was successful years prior. Members of youth teams quickly rose to the senior level, and several players changed positions. A large flag with drawings representing the three fallen men was added to the decorations at Croco Stadium weeks ago, reminding players and coaching staff of what they play for. That includes the team's vice president, Delmer Zoschke, one of many not expected to play this year so he could spend more time with his family and focus on his career as a project manager. "We understood what happened, we are feeding on that emotion, working with friends, speaking to psychologists and putting it all out in the sport. I am glad this is a contact sport so we can let everything out," Zoschke said after a 21-0 victory against local rivals Brown Spiders. "It is an honor to continue doing this to honor their memory as this sport grows so much." Since their return, the Crocodiles have won their four matches in the Brazilian league and secured their place in the semifinals. They also won six to secure the state league title. Last year, they did not play the last two games of the regular season, which took them out of the playoffs. As some of the players quit the team, others continue to play despite lingering injuries. Many broke bones, suffered lacerations and endured suffering before rescuers arrived at the bus after the crash on a mountain road. A police investigation has yet to be completed, but players celebrate the driver as a hero for guiding the bus away from a cliff after it lost its brakes. Many members of the Crocodiles traveling that day said they quickly fastened their seatbelts as the vehicle slid. Their bus flipped, which crushed the three who died. Players say the alternative would have been a fall into a forested abyss. "I was one of the players who suffered most, it took a long time to return to training. Last week, I removed more shattered glass from my face," said 33-year-old Cleverson Kvas. "But I had to come back, football is great for my mental health. We were still meeting at barbecues, parties, but there was a void inside of me. I needed the sport." Kvas is taking his parents to the Chiefs-Chargers game in São Paulo as a way to celebrate his own life one year after the tragedy. Several other Crocodiles players will also attend. "I had trouble sleeping, I often cried about all that happened, the three friends I lost, the fear of not seeing my son grow. I was so close to losing them. Now I am 100% doing whatever I am doing," said Kvas, a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "This time I will go to São Paulo not as a tourist, but feeling I am a part of this. It is great to know the NFL sees us." NFL push Ado Rodrigues, 39, president of the Crocodiles, added that "players who were not injured were in poor mental state after the accident." "We didn't really know when to return, it was an enigma for us. But the football community in Brazil was really supportive. They felt our grief, put themselves in our place," said Rodrigues, who is also a player. "Now we have an extra push with this game. We can't underestimate the good that having this game here will do for us, for people who really needed to reignite their love for the game." Mitchell, who has 35 years of experience in sports and titles earned with the Crocodiles, agrees the team's recovery can get a push from Friday's NFL game. "They have had a lot of psychological issues. Players wanting to quit, people really messed up by the accident," said Mitchell. "I've been on when guys got paralyzed on the field during high school. I was there whenDennis Byrdwas paralyzed (playing for the Jets in Nov. 1992). It is part of life." "You got to point to the sky, show the sun, say it is a beautiful day we have to be grateful for. And this game in Brazil once again can give us some more hope," Mitchell added. ___ AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

byMario Satorik

in

September 04, 2025

After deadly bus crash, Brazilian football team rebuilding and drawing inspiration from NFL

After deadly bus crash, Brazilian football team rebuilding and drawing inspiration from NFL CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Seconds after Elisa Rich...

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Trump asks Supreme Court to quickly take up tariffs case and reverse ruling finding them illegal

Trump asks Supreme Court to quickly take up tariffs case and reverse ruling finding them illegal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration took the fight overtariffsto the Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking the justices to rule quickly that the president has the power to impose sweepingtariffsunder federal law. The government called on the court to reverse anappeals court rulingthat found most ofPresident Donald Trump's tariffs are an illegal use of anemergency powers law. It's the latest in a series of Trump administration appeals to a Supreme Court he helped shape, and one that is expected to put a centerpiece of the president's trade policy before the justices. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuitleft the tariffs in place for now, but the administration nevertheless called on the high court to intervene quickly in a petition filed electronically late Wednesday and provided to The Associated Press. It was expected to be formally docketed on Thursday. Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the justices to take up the case and hear arguments in early November. "That decision casts a pall of uncertainty upon ongoing foreign negotiations that the President has been pursuing through tariffs over the past five months, jeopardizing both already negotiated framework deals and ongoing negotiations," he wrote. "The stakes in this case could not be higher." But the stakes are also high for small businesses battered by tariffs and uncertainty, said Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel and director of litigation at the Liberty Justice Center. "These unlawful tariffs are inflicting serious harm on small businesses and jeopardizing their survival. We hope for a prompt resolution of this case for our clients," he said. The businesses have twice prevailed, once at a federal court focused on trade and again with the appeals court's 7-4 ruling. Their lawsuit is one of several challenging the tariffs and erratic rollout that have shaken global markets, alienated U.S. trading partners and allies and raised fears of higher prices and slower economic growth. But Trump has also used the levies to pressure the European Union, Japan and other countries into accepting new trade deals. Revenue from tariffs totaled $159 billion by late August, more than double what it was at the same point the year before. Most judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, did not let Trump usurp congressional power to set tariffs. The dissenters, though, said the law does allow the president to regulate importation during emergencies without explicit limitations. The ruling involves two sets of import taxes, both of which Trump justified by declaring a national emergency:the tariffs first announced in Apriland theones from Februaryon imports from Canada, China and Mexico. The Constitution gives Congress the power to impose taxes, including tariffs. But over the decades, lawmakers have ceded authority to the president, and Trump has made the most of the power vacuum. Some Trump tariffs, including levies on foreign steel, aluminum and autos, weren't covered by the appeals court ruling. It also does not include tariffs Trump imposed on China in his first term that were kept by Democratic President Joe Biden. Trump can impose tariffs under other laws, but those have more limitations on the speed and severity with which he could act. The government has argued that if the tariffs are struck down, it might have to refund some of the import taxes that it's collected, delivering a financial blow to the U.S. Treasury.

byMario Satorik

in

September 04, 2025

Trump asks Supreme Court to quickly take up tariffs case and reverse ruling finding them illegal

Trump asks Supreme Court to quickly take up tariffs case and reverse ruling finding them illegal WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration ...

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Balance of power between Trump and Senate Republicans in focus at high-profile hearings

Balance of power between Trump and Senate Republicans in focus at high-profile hearings

By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The balance of power between Senate Republicans and President Donald Trump's White House will be on public display on Thursday at a pair of hearings, where lawmakers are expected to grapple with Trump advisers over the credibility of U.S. vaccine policy and the independence of the Federal Reserve. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear before the Senate Finance Committee, a week after the Trump administration fired Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over her refusal to follow Kennedy's limitations on vaccine availability, which she believed were unscientific.  Four other top CDC officials resigned in protest, raising warnings from experts that the health of the American public could be at risk. White House economic adviser Stephen Miran, Trump's nominee to fill a vacancy on the Fed board that unexpectedly opened last month, will come before the Senate Banking Committee for his confirmation hearing after weeks of attacks by Trump on Fed Chair Jerome Powell and an effort to fire board Governor Lisa Cook. The hearings will occur as some Senate Republicans are beginning to chafe at Trump's efforts to extend his control over federal spending by rescinding previously allocated funding. Lawmakers say those efforts could endanger hopes of a bipartisan effort to avert a government shutdown. "I'm a big believer that senators have to stand up for the institution of the Senate. And there are a number of the administration's goals I agree with. It's the means that I question," said Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who announced his retirement in June after clashing with Trump over spending cuts to the Medicaid healthcare program for lower-income Americans. "I do have some pause when some of my colleagues don't recognize the institutional threat that that represents. We've got to fight back, and not make it look like it's some sort of freaking loyalty pledge," he added. Since Trump took office in January, some Senate Republicans have aired criticism of the administration and opposed its legislative priorities on the chamber floor. But given the strength of Trump's grip on the Republican Party, they have not been willing to stand in his way. NOMINEE BACKLOG On Wednesday, Senate Republicans met over lunch to debate a plan to relinquish more of their constitutional advice and consent authority over presidential nominees in an effort to overcome Democratic opposition and confirm scores of Trump's sub-cabinet appointees. "Expect us to move forward with a plan that would enable us to clear the backlog of nominees. It just flat has to happen," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters after the meeting. Democrats warned that Republicans are unlikely to confront Kennedy over disarray at the CDC and uncertainty over vaccine policies for diseases including COVID. "Republicans should put the health of the American people ahead of politics," Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren told reporters. "RFK will cost lives, and that will be on him and Donald Trump and the Republicans." When Kennedy appears, one Republican lawmaker in particular is expected to command attention. That is Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, who was key to his confirmation. Cassidy, a medical doctor, made it clear last week's departures from the CDC were on his mind. "He and the president have both committed to radical transparency, and I've learned in relationships -  however they are - there's always two sides to the story," the Louisiana Republican told Reuters. "There's some pretty significant allegations by the people who departed CDC. We need to hear from him, why those allegations aren't true. If they're true, it's disturbing." Cassidy did not specify the allegations. But officials who resigned told Reuters Kennedy appointees were making vaccine recommendations before reviewing data, among other allegations. Other Republicans seemed prepared to champion Kennedy, who has a long history of sowing doubt about vaccine safety. "I always supported what Secretary Kennedy has done in the firing of the CDC director, and I'm actually glad the people that resigned have resigned. I think that they've been part of the problem," said Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, also a physician. "President Trump chose Secretary Kennedy because he is a disruptor, and that's what we need to see in this country," he said. Independent analysts say Trump chose Miran for the Fed board as part of his effort to exert control over the Fed and lower interest rates, a policy he has endorsed. But Republicans who have spoken out in favor of Fed independence said Miran is likely to win confirmation. "I think he's going to make it very clear that he will be an independent voice," said Republican Senator Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Banking Committee. Rounds, of South Dakota, said Miran agreed in their meeting that the Fed board should also be independent, adding, "I think he's going to have a pretty good shot at actually being confirmed." (Reporting by David Morgan; editing by Scott Malone and Rod Nickel)

byMario Satorik

in

September 04, 2025

Balance of power between Trump and Senate Republicans in focus at high-profile hearings

Balance of power between Trump and Senate Republicans in focus at high-profile hearings By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The balance of...

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2026 World Cup tickets to initially cost $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing

2026 World Cup tickets to initially cost $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing

MIAMI — Ticket prices for next year's World Cup will range initially from $60 for group-stage matches to $6,730 for the final, but could change as soccer's top event adopts dynamic pricing for the first time. The prices are up from a range of $25 to $475 for the 1994 tournament in the United States and for the U.S. dollar equivalent $69 to $1,607 when ticket details were announced for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. "I think the message is 'Get your tickets early,' especially if you know where you will be, because you live in that city, or you're a fan of the three hosting nations, and then you know already when and where they will play," said Heimo Schirgi, the World Cup's chief operating officer. "So that's the message: 'Get your tickets early,' because anything could happen." Next year's tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 and will be played at 11 sites in the U.S., three in Mexico and two in Canada. The tournament expanded from 32 nations to 48 and from 64 games to 104. The initial draw period will be limited to Visa card holders and will run from 11 a.m. ET on Sept. 10 through 11 a.m. ET on Sept. 19. Those picked to buy tickets will be notified starting Sept. 29 and will be given a timeslot to purchase starting Oct. 1. While tickets for all 104 matches are being put on sale, receiving a timeslot does not guarantee tickets will be available. Sales will be capped at four tickets per person per match, with no person being able to purchase more than 40 for the totality of the tournament. FIFA said it has no additional details on prices to announce. A second phase, called an early ticket draw, likely will run from Oct. 27-31, with purchase timeslots from mid-November to early December. A third phase, termed a random selection draw, will start after the final draw of teams on Dec. 5 determines the World Cup schedule. FIFA said tickets will be available closer to the tournament "on a first-come, first-served basis." FIFA also said it will start an official resale platform. Hospitality packages have been sold since May. For the eight matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, including the final on July 19, prices range from $3,500 to $73,200 per person. Fans can purchase tickets to follow a certain team, or purchase for a certain site. Dynamic pricing was also utilized for this year's Club World Cup, when tickets were cut from $473.90 to $13.40 for the Chelsea-Fluminense semifinal at MetLife Stadium. "It's key to highlight FIFA's mission and FIFA's objective of providing funding, providing opportunities, providing growth to our sport across all the 211 member associations," Schirgi said. "And as part of that mission, which we take very seriously, we're looking at optimizing the revenue, but also optimizing attendance in the stadium, right? So, it's always a balance between different factors." American Airlines announced Wednesday its AAdvantage loyalty program members can redeem miles for World Cup tickets, starting with executive platinum and concierge key members on Oct. 13, with platinum pro, platinum and gold starting the following day and all members having access on Oct. 15. Thirteen teams in the field have been determined. The U.S., Canada and Mexico all are assured World Cup spots as the host nations, while reigning champion Argentina with Lionel Messi and perennial power Brazil are among the teams that have already secured qualification. The host nations will play all three of their group stage matches on home soil. The U.S. will open June 12 in Inglewood, California, then play June 19 in Seattle and again June 25 back in Inglewood. Canada will play June 12 in Toronto, then June 18 and June 24 in Vancouver. Mexico will play June 11 and June 24 in Mexico City, with a June 18 match in Guadalajara.

byMario Satorik

in

September 04, 2025

2026 World Cup tickets to initially cost $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing

2026 World Cup tickets to initially cost $60-$6,730 but could fluctuate with dynamic pricing MIAMI — Ticket prices for next year's World...

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