Overview

• Host Abby Phillip played a clip of Dr. Demetre Daskalakis accusing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of retrofitting data to political narratives.
• GOP analyst Scott Jennings questioned Daskalakis’s credibility over his use of the term “pregnant people,” drawing immediate pushback from Phillip and Dr. Chris T. Pernell, who called the focus a ruse.
• Reports this week said CDC Director Susan Monarez was dismissed after refusing to revise the agency’s vaccine schedule, and multiple senior officials then resigned, including Daskalakis, Dr. Deb Houry, and Dr. Daniel Jernigan.
• Panelists warned that the reported political pressure and leadership departures risk undermining public-health preparedness and public trust, with Pernell citing national security concerns.
• The NewsNight discussion featured Jennings alongside S.E. Cupp, Pete Seat, Jennifer Welch, Dr. Chris T. Pernell, and Donte Mills.