White House withdraws controversial pick to run the CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have to wait a little longer for a new leader.
The White House withdrew its nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon, a former Florida congressman, shortly before his scheduled appearance before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Thursday.
A White House official not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that Weldon didn’t have the votes needed for confirmation by the Senate.
President Trump announced Weldon as his pick to lead CDC on Truth Social in November, praising Weldon’s experience as a medical doctor, army veteran, politician and family man.
In the months since, Weldon’s record on vaccines has been scrutinized, including debunked claims about vaccine safety.
Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington who sits on the health committee, said that Weldon had made some of those claims in a Feb. 20 meeting with her.
“I was deeply disturbed to hear Dr. Weldon repeat debunked claims about vaccines — it’s dangerous to put someone in charge at CDC who believes the lie that our rigorously tested childhood vaccine schedule is somehow exposing kids to toxic levels of mercury or causing autism,” she said in a statement released in response to the withdrawal of Weldon’s nomination.
Weldon, a Republican, represented a district in central Florida from 1995 to 2009. After his stint in the House of Representatives, he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2012 and the Florida House of Representatives in 2024, but has otherwise kept largely out of the public eye.
After his congressional career, Weldon returned to practice as an internal medicine doctor in Florida, and recently held leadership positions at Privia Quality Network Central Florida, a company that supports physician practices. He was also board chairman for the pro-Israel advocacy group Israel Allies Foundation, according to forms he submitted to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
Spanish league cancels plans for Barcelona to play regular-season match in Miami
The Spanish soccer league said Tuesday that plans for Barcelona to play a game against Villarreal outside Miami in December have been called off, following increased opposition to the match.
Trump pick to lead watchdog agency withdraws after offensive text messages revealed
President Donald Trump 's pick to lead a federal watchdog agency withdrew from consideration Tuesday evening, after his offensive text messages were made public and GOP senators revolted.
Pardoned Capitol rioter arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Hakeem Jeffries
New York State Police say the man was arrested after they received word from the FBI that that he made "threats to kill a member of Congress."
Reversing peanut advice prevented tens of thousands of allergy cases, researchers say
A decade ago, research said giving young children peanut products can prevent allergies. A new study says that, 10 years later, tens of thousands of U.S. children have avoided allergies as a result.
Israel takes steps to shut down international aid groups in Gaza and the West Bank
Israel is de-registering major nongovernmental aid groups from helping people in the Palestinian territories, according to several officials with humanitarian organizations.
New books this week dance between genres — and deserve your attention
New releases this week include a feminist history of modern Russia, and a candid portrait of Gish Jen's relationship with her mother. Plus, new novels from Philip Pullman and Claire Louise-Bennett.