Podcasts about senate finance committee

Dr. Monty Pal and Dr. Jason Westin discuss the federal funding climate for cancer research and the persistent problem of drug shortages, two of the major concerns facing the oncology community in 2026. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Monty Pal: Hello and welcome to the ASCO Daily News Podcast. I am your host, Dr. Monty Pal. I am a medical oncologist and vice chair of academic affairs at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. There are always multiple challenges facing oncologists, and today, we discuss two of them that really stand out for 2026: threats to federal funding for cancer research and the persistent problem of drug shortages. I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Jason Westin, who believes that one way to meet these challenges is to get oncologists more involved in advocacy, and he will share some strategies to help us meet this moment in oncology. Dr. Westin is a professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, but he actually wears a lot of hats within ASCO. He is a member of the Board of Directors and has also previously served as chair of ASCO's Government Relations Committee. And he is also one of the inaugural members of ASCO's Political Action Committee, or PAC. He has testified before Congress about drug shortages and many other issues. Dr. Westin, I am really excited to have you on the podcast today and dive into some of these elements that will really impact our community in 2026. Thanks so much for joining us today. Dr. Jason Westin: Thank you for having me. Dr. Monty Pal: You've had such a range of experience. I already alluded to you testifying before Congress. You've actually run for office before. You wear so many different hats. I'm used to checking my PubMed every other day and seeing a new paper out from you and your group, and you publish in the New England Journal [of Medicine] on practice-setting standards and the diseases that you treat. But you've also done all this work in the domain of advocacy. I can't imagine that balancing that is easy. What has sort of motivated you on the advocacy front? Dr. Jason Westin: Advocacy to me is another way to apply our skills and help more people than just those that you're sitting across from at the time. Clinical research, of course, is a tool to try and take what we know and apply it more broadly to people that you'll never meet. And advocacy, I think, can do the same thing, where you can have a conversation with a lawmaker, you can advocate for a position, and that hopefully will help thousands or maybe even more people down the road who you'd never get to directly interact with. And so, I think it's a force multiplier in the same way that research can be. And so, I think advocacy is a wonderful part of how doctors care for our patients. And it's something that is often difficult to know where to start, but once people get into advocacy, they can see that the power, the rewarding nature of it is attractive, and most people, once they get going, continue with that through the rest of their career. Dr. Monty Pal: So, I'll ask you to expand on that a little bit. We have a lot of our younger ASCO members listening to this podcast, folks that are just starting out their careers in clinical practice or academia. Where does that journey begin? How do you get to the point that you're testifying in front of Congress and taking on these bigger sort of stances for the oncology community? Dr. Jason Westin: Yeah, with anything in medicine and in our careers, you have to start somewhere. And often you start with baby steps before you get in front of a panel of senators or other high-profile engagement opportunities. But often the first setting for junior colleagues to be engaged is doing things – we call them "Hill Days" – but basically being involved in kind of low-stakes meetings where you're with a group of peers, some of whom have done this multiple times before, and can get engaged talking to members of representatives' offices, and doing so in a way where it's a natural conversation that you're telling a story about a patient in your clinic, or that you're telling a personal experience from a policy that impacted your ability to deliver optimal care. It sounds stressful, but once you're doing it, it's not stressful. It's actually kind of fun. And it's a way that you can get comfort and skill with a group of peers who are there and able to help you. And ASCO has a number of ways to do that, both at the federal level, there's the Hill Day where we each April have several hundred ASCO members travel to Capitol Hill. There's also state engagement that can be done, so-called visiting at home, when representatives from the U.S. Congress or from state legislators are back in district. You can meet with your own representatives on behalf of yourself, on behalf of your organization, and advocate for policies in a way that can be beneficial to your patients. But those initial meetings that are in the office often they're low stakes because you could be meeting not with the representative but with their staff. And that staff sometimes is as young or even younger than our junior colleagues. These sometimes can be people in their 20s, but they're often extremely knowledgeable, extremely approachable, and are used to dealing with people who are new to advocacy. But they actually help make decisions within the office. So it's not a waste of time. It's actually a super useful way to engage. So, it's that first step of anything in life. The activation energy is always high to do something new. But I'd encourage people who are listening to this podcast already having some level of interest about it to explore ways that they could engage more. Dr. Monty Pal: You know, I have to tell you, I'm going to riff on what you just said for a second. ASCO couldn't make it any easier, I think, for folks to participate and get involved. So, if you're listening to this and scratching your head and thinking, "Well, where do I begin? How do I actually sign on for that meeting with a local representative?" Go to the ASCO ACT Network website. And I'll actually talk to our producer, Geraldine, to make sure we've got a link to that somewhere associated with this podcast after it's published, Jason, but I actually keep that on my browser and it's super easy. I check in there every now and then and see if there's any new policy or legislation that ASCO, you know, is sort of taking a stance on, and it gives me some fodder for conversation with my local representatives too. I mean, it's just an awesome, awesome vehicle. I'm going to segue right from there right to the issues. So, you and I are both at academic centers. You know, I think this is something that really pervades academia and enters into implications for general clinical practice. There's been this, you know, massive sort of proposal for decreased funding to the NCI and to the NIH and so forth. Tell us what ASCO is doing in that regard, and tell us perhaps how our community can help. Dr. Jason Westin: We live in interesting times, and I think that may be an understatement x 100. But obviously investments in research are things that when you're at an academic center, you see and feel that as part of your daily life. Members of Congress need to be reminded of that because there's a lot of other competing interests out there besides investing in the future through research. And being an elected representative is a hard job. That is something where you have to make difficult choices to support this, and that may mean not supporting that. And there's lots of good things where our tax dollars could be spent. And so, I'm sympathetic to the idea that there's not unlimited resources. However, ASCO has done an excellent job, and ASCO members have led the charge on this, of stating what research does, what is the benefit of research, and therefore why should this matter to elected representatives, to their staff, and to those people that they're elected to serve. And ASCO has led with a targeted campaign to basically have that message be conveyed at every opportunity to elected representatives. And each year on Hill Day, one of the asks that we have is to continue to support research: the NCI, NIH, ARPA-H, these are things that are always in the asks to make sure that there's appropriate funding. But effectively playing offense by saying, "It's not just a number on a sheet of paper, this is what it means to patients. This is what it means to potentially your loved ones in the future if you are in the opposite situation where you're not on the legislative side, but you're in the office receiving a diagnosis or receiving a difficult piece of news." We only have the tools we have now because of research, and each breakthrough has been years in the making and countless hours spent funded through the engine of innovation: clinical research and translational research. And so ASCO continues to beat that drum. You mentioned earlier the ACT Network. Just to bring that back again is a very useful, very easy tool to communicate to your elected representatives. When you sign up on the ASCO ACT website, you get emails periodically, not too much, but periodically get emails of, "This is a way you can engage with your lawmakers to speak up for this." And as you said, Monty, they make it as easy as possible. You click the button, you type in your address so that it figures out who your elected representatives are, and then it will send a letter on your behalf after like five clicks to say, "I want you to support research. I want you to vote for this particular thing which is of interest to ASCO and by definition to members of ASCO." And so the ACT Network is a way that people listening can engage without having to spend hours and significant time, but just a few clicks can send that letter to a representative in Congress. And the question could be: does that matter? Does contacting your senator or your elected representative do anything? If all they're hearing is somebody else making a different argument and they're hearing over and over again from people that want investments in AI or investments in something else besides cancer research, whatever it is, they may think that there's a ground shift that people want dollars to be spent over here as opposed to at the NIH or NCI or in federally funded research. It is important to continue to express the need for federal funding for our research. And so, it really is important for folks to engage. Dr. Monty Pal: 100%. One of the things that I think is not often obvious to a lot of our listeners is where the support for clinical trials comes from. You know, you've obviously run the whole gamut of studies as have I. You know, we have our pharmaceutical company-sponsored studies, which are in a particular bucket. But I would say that there's a very important and critical subset of studies that are actually government funded, right? NCI-funded clinical trials. If you don't mind, just explain to our audience the critical nature of the work that's being done in those types of studies and if you can, maybe compare and contrast the studies that are done in that bucket versus perhaps the pharmaceutical bucket. Dr. Jason Westin: Both are critical, and we're privileged that we have pharma studies that are sponsored and federally funded clinical research. And I think that part of a healthy ecosystem for us to develop new breakthroughs has a need for both. The pharma sponsored studies are done through the lens of trying to get an approval for an agent that's of interest so that the pharma company can then turn around and use that outside of a clinical trial after an FDA approval. And so those studies are often done through the lens of getting over the finish line by showing some superiority over an existing treatment or in a new patient population. But they're done through that lens of kind of the broadest population and sometimes relatively narrow endpoints, but to get the approval so that then the drug can be widely utilized. Clinical trials done through cooperative groups are sometimes done to try and optimize that or to try and look at comparative things that may not be as attractive to pharma studies, not necessarily going for that initial approval, but the fine tuning or the looking at health outcomes or looking at ensuring that we do studies in representative populations that may not be as well identified on the pharma sponsored trials, but basically filling out the gaps in the knowledge that we didn't gain from the initial phase 3 trial that led to the approval. And so both are critical. But if we only do pharma sponsored trials, if we don't fund federally supported research and that dries up, the fear I have, and many others have, is that we're going to be lacking a lot of knowledge about the best ways to use these great new therapies, these new immune therapies, or in my team, we do a lot of clinical trials on CAR T-cell therapies. If we don't have federally funded research to do the important clinical studies, we'll be in the dark about the best ways to use these drugs, and that's going to be a terrible shame. And so we really do need to continue to support federal research. Dr. Monty Pal: Yeah, there are no softball questions on this podcast, but I think everybody would be hard pressed to think that you and I would come on here and say, "Well, no, we don't need as much money for clinical trials and NCI funding" and so forth. But I think a really challenging issue to tackle, and this is something we thought to ask you ahead of the podcast, is what to do about the general climate of, you know, whether it's academic research or clinical practice here that seems to be getting some of our colleagues thinking about moving elsewhere. I've actually talked to a couple of folks who are picking up and moving to Europe for a variety of considerations, other continents, frankly. The U.S. has always been a leader when it comes to oncology research and, one might argue, research in general. Some have the mindset these days that we're losing that footing a little bit. What's your perspective? Are you concerned about some of the trends that you're seeing? What does your crystal ball tell you? Dr. Jason Westin: I am highly concerned about this. I think as you said, the U.S. has been a leader for a long time, but it wasn't always. This is not something that's preordained that the world-leading clinical research and translational research will always be done in the United States. That is something that has been developed as an ecosystem, as an engine for innovation and for job development, new technology development, since World War II. That's something that through intentional investments in research was developed that the best and brightest around the world, if they could choose to go anywhere, you wanted them to come to work at universities and academic places within the United States. And I think, as you said, that's at risk if you begin to dry up the investment in research or if you begin to have less focus on being engaged in research in a way that is forward thinking, not just kind of maintaining what we do now or only looking at having private, for profit sponsored research. But if you don't have the investment in the basic science research and the translational research and the forward-thinking part of it, the fear is that we lose the advantage and that other countries will say, "Thank you very much," and be happy to invest in ways to their advantage. And I think as you mentioned, there are people that are beginning to look elsewhere. I don't think that it's likely that a significant population of researchers in the U.S. who are established and have careers and families – I don't think that we're going to see a mass exodus of folks. I think the real risk to me is that the younger, up-and-coming people in undergraduate or in graduate school or in medical school and are the future superstars, that they could either choose to go into a different field, so they decide not to go into what could be the latest breakthroughs for cancer patients but could be doing something in AI or something in a different field that could be attractive to them because of less uncertainty about funding streams, or they could take that job offer if it's in a different country. And I think that's the concern is it may not be a 2026 problem, but it could be a 2036 or a 2046 problem that we reap what we sow if we don't invest in the future. Dr. Monty Pal: Indeed, indeed. You know, I've had the pleasure of reviewing abstracts for some of our big international meetings, as I'm sure you've done in the past too. I see this trend where, as before, we would see the preponderance of large phase 3 clinical trials and practice setting studies being done here in the U.S., I'm seeing this emergence of China, of other countries outside of the U.S. really taking lead on these things. And it certainly concerns me. If I had to sort of gauge this particular issue, it's at the top of my list in terms of what I'm concerned about. But I also wanted to ask you, Jason, in terms of the issues that are looming over oncology from an advocacy perspective, what else really sort of keeps you up at night? Dr. Jason Westin: I'm quite concerned about the drug shortages. I think that's something that is a surprisingly evergreen problem. This is something that is on its face illogical that we're talking about the greatest engine for research in the world being the United States and the investment that we've made in drug development and the breakthroughs that have happened for patients all around the world, many of them happen in the United States, and yet we don't necessarily have access to drugs from the 1970s or 1980s that are cheap, generic, sterile, injectable drugs. This is the cisplatins and the vincristines and the fludarabine type medications which are not the sexy ones that you see the ads in the magazine or on TV at night. These are the backbone drugs for many of our curative intent regimens for pediatrics and for heme malignancies and many solid tumors. And the fact that that's continuing to be an issue is, in my opinion, a failure to address the root causes, and those are going to require legislative solutions. The root causes here are basically a race to the bottom where the economics to invest in quality manufacturing really haven't been prioritized. And so it's a race to the cheapest price, which often means you undercut your competitor, and when you don't have the money to invest in good manufacturing processes, the factory breaks down, there's no alternative, you go into shortage. And this has been going on for a couple of decades, and I don't think there's an end in sight until we get a serious solution proposed by our elected officials. That is something that bothers me in the ways where we know what we should be doing for our patients, but if we don't have the drugs, we're left to be creative in ways we shouldn't have to do to figure out a plan B when we've got curative intent therapies. And I think that's a real shame.  There's obviously a lot of other things that are concerning related to oncology, but something that I have personally had experience with when I wanted to give a patient a CAR T-cell, and we don't have a supply of fludarabine, which is a trivial drug from decades ago in terms of the technology investments in genetically modified T-cells, to not then have access to a drug that should be pennies on the dollar and available at any time you want it is almost like the Air Force investing in building the latest stealth bomber, but then forgetting to get the jet fuel in a way that they can't use it because they don't have the tools that they need. And so I think that's something that we do need to have comprehensive solutions from our elected officials. Dr. Monty Pal: Brilliantly stated. I like that analogy a lot. Let's get into the weeds for a second. What would that proposal to Congress look like? What are we trying to put in front of them to help alleviate the drug shortages? Dr. Jason Westin: We could spend a couple hours, and I know podcasts usually are not set up to do that. And so I won't go through every part. I will direct you that there have been a couple of recent publications from ASCO specifically detailing solutions, and there was a recent white paper from the Senate Finance Committee that went through some legislative solutions being explored. So Dr. Gralow, ASCO CMO, and I recently had a publication in JCO OP detailing some solutions, more in that white paper from the Senate Finance. And then there's a working group actually going through ASCO's Health Policy Committee putting together a more detailed proposal that will be published probably around the end of 2026. Very briefly, what needs to happen is for government contracts for purchasing these drugs, there needs to be an outlay for quality, meaning that if you have a manufacturing facility that is able to deliver product on time, reliably, you get a bonus in terms of your contract. And that changes the model to prioritize the quality component of manufacturing. Without that, there's no reason to invest in maintaining your machine or upgrading the technology you have in your manufacturing plant. And so you have bottlenecks emerge because these drugs are cheap, and there's not a profit margin. So you get one factory that makes this key drug, and if that factory hasn't had an upgrade in their machines in 20 years, and that machine conks out and it takes 6 months to repair or replacement, that is an opportunity for that drug to go into shortage and causes a mad dash for big hospitals to purchase the drug that's available, leaving disparities to get amplified. It's a nightmare when those things happen, and they happen all the time. There are usually dozens, if not hundreds, of drugs in shortage at any given time. And this has been going on for decades. This is something that we do need large, system-wide fixes and that investment in quality, I think, will be a key part. Dr. Monty Pal: Yeah, brilliantly said. And I'll make sure that we actually include those articles on the tagline for this podcast as well. I'll talk to our producer about that as well.  I'm really glad you mentioned the time in your last comment there because I felt like we just started, but in fact, I think we're right at our close here, Jason, unfortunately. So, I could have gone on for a couple more hours with you. I really want to thank you for these absolutely terrific insights and thank you for all your advocacy on behalf of ASCO and oncologists at large. Dr. Jason Westin: Thank you so much for having me. I have enjoyed it. Dr. Monty Pal: Thanks a lot. And many thanks to our listeners too. You can find more information about ASCO's advocacy agenda and activities at asco.org. Finally, if you value the insights that you heard today on the ASCO Daily News Podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks so much. ASCO Advocacy Resources: Get involved in ASCO's Advocacy efforts: ASCO Advocacy Toolkit Crisis of Cancer Drug Shortages: Understanding the Causes and Proposing Sustainable Solutions, JCO Oncology Practice Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Find out more about today's speakers:     Dr. Monty Pal   @montypal   Dr. Jason Westin @DrJasonWestin   Follow ASCO on social media:      @ASCO on X     ASCO on Bluesky    ASCO on Facebook      ASCO on LinkedIn      Disclosures:     Dr. Monty Pal:    Speakers' Bureau: MJH Life Sciences, IntrisiQ, Peerview   Research Funding (Inst.): Exelixis, Merck, Osel, Genentech, Crispr Therapeutics, Adicet Bio, ArsenalBio, Xencor, Miyarsian Pharmaceutical   Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Crispr Therapeutics, Ipsen, Exelixis   Dr. Jason Westin: Consulting or Advisory Role: Novartis, Kite/Gilead, Janssen Scientific Affairs, ADC Therapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene/Juno, AstraZeneca, Genentech/Roche, Abbvie, MorphoSys/Incyte, Seattle Genetics, Abbvie, Chugai Pharma, Regeneron, Nurix, Genmab, Allogene Therapeutics, Lyell Immunopharma Research Funding: Janssen, Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, MorphoSys/Incyte, Genentech/Roche, Allogene Therapeutics

In recent months, a growing chorus of legislators has publicly demanded that major banks — including JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America, and Bank of New York Mellon — be held accountable for allegedly facilitating Epstein's sex-trafficking operation through negligent or deliberately under-reported financial activity. A high-profile memorandum released by Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, lays out evidence that JPMorgan severely under-reported “suspicious activity” on Epstein's accounts for years — then suddenly flagged over a billion dollars in transfers only after his 2019 arrest and death. Many lawmakers argue this discrepancy goes beyond careless bookkeeping and points to systemic compliance failures or even criminal complicity, especially given that senior banking executives remained personally involved in Epstein's account oversight.Against this backdrop, Congressional oversight committees have issued subpoenas to banks for financial records tied to Epstein. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, has demanded full transparency and urged federal prosecutors to open criminal investigations, not only into bank institutions but into individuals who may have knowingly enabled or covered up Epstein's criminal activity. Some lawmakers say that unless those responsible face real consequences — indictments, prosecutions, or heavy penalties — justice for survivors will remain incomplete. There is also growing pressure for regulators to tighten financial-institution oversight and to re-examine how wealthy, high-risk clients are managed by private banking arms.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:US regulators ‘taking seriously' allegations of bankers' support for Epstein | Banking | The Guardian

In recent months, a growing chorus of legislators has publicly demanded that major banks — including JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America, and Bank of New York Mellon — be held accountable for allegedly facilitating Epstein's sex-trafficking operation through negligent or deliberately under-reported financial activity. A high-profile memorandum released by Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, lays out evidence that JPMorgan severely under-reported “suspicious activity” on Epstein's accounts for years — then suddenly flagged over a billion dollars in transfers only after his 2019 arrest and death. Many lawmakers argue this discrepancy goes beyond careless bookkeeping and points to systemic compliance failures or even criminal complicity, especially given that senior banking executives remained personally involved in Epstein's account oversight.Against this backdrop, Congressional oversight committees have issued subpoenas to banks for financial records tied to Epstein. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, has demanded full transparency and urged federal prosecutors to open criminal investigations, not only into bank institutions but into individuals who may have knowingly enabled or covered up Epstein's criminal activity. Some lawmakers say that unless those responsible face real consequences — indictments, prosecutions, or heavy penalties — justice for survivors will remain incomplete. There is also growing pressure for regulators to tighten financial-institution oversight and to re-examine how wealthy, high-risk clients are managed by private banking arms.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:US regulators ‘taking seriously' allegations of bankers' support for Epstein | Banking | The GuardianBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

In recent months, a growing chorus of legislators has publicly demanded that major banks — including JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America, and Bank of New York Mellon — be held accountable for allegedly facilitating Epstein's sex-trafficking operation through negligent or deliberately under-reported financial activity. A high-profile memorandum released by Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, lays out evidence that JPMorgan severely under-reported “suspicious activity” on Epstein's accounts for years — then suddenly flagged over a billion dollars in transfers only after his 2019 arrest and death. Many lawmakers argue this discrepancy goes beyond careless bookkeeping and points to systemic compliance failures or even criminal complicity, especially given that senior banking executives remained personally involved in Epstein's account oversight.Against this backdrop, Congressional oversight committees have issued subpoenas to banks for financial records tied to Epstein. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, has demanded full transparency and urged federal prosecutors to open criminal investigations, not only into bank institutions but into individuals who may have knowingly enabled or covered up Epstein's criminal activity. Some lawmakers say that unless those responsible face real consequences — indictments, prosecutions, or heavy penalties — justice for survivors will remain incomplete. There is also growing pressure for regulators to tighten financial-institution oversight and to re-examine how wealthy, high-risk clients are managed by private banking arms.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:US regulators ‘taking seriously' allegations of bankers' support for Epstein | Banking | The GuardianBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

From being at the center of some of the most significant shifts in U.S. healthcare policy over the past two decades, Liz Fowler can offer valuable perspective in uncertain times. In her most recent government role, Liz served as director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), an organization she helped create a decade earlier. As Chief Health Counsel at the Senate Finance Committee, Liz played a major role in the drafting and passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, which established CMMI. She then served as special assistant to President Obama on health care and economic policy at the National Economic Council to implement the ACA. She also played a key role drafting the 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA).Liz says she's a public servant at heart, but credits her time in the private sector at Johnson & Johnson and WellPoint (now Elevance) for making her a more effective government leader. Today, Liz provides guidance, insight, and strategy for a broad array of health care stakeholders, including payers, health systems and providers, trade associations, technology companies and more as co-founder and managing partner of Health Transformation Strategies.Liz talked to Keith Figlioli for this episode of Healthcare is Hard to share insight and perspective as healthcare organizations navigate changing regulations, including those in the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Topics they discussed include:The ROI of CMMI. Liz explained the difficulties tracking the savings that CMMI generates. She believes the mechanisms for measuring CMMI are too narrowly defined, making it hard to capture the full impact of its work. She advocates for a broader definition of success, emphasizing that innovation is a process—one where failure can provide just as much impact and opportunity for learning.Limited bandwidth for innovation. It's a challenging time for healthcare organizations that are scrambling to meet deadlines and ensure they're in compliance with various regulations, including provisions of the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Liz believes this is pulling time and attention away from innovation and slowing progress toward advancing value-based care. Despite the overall constraints Liz sees with the current regulatory environment, she's optimistic about rural health transformation funding and how that could spark some innovation.The revolution that's not coming. Throughout the conversation, Liz reiterated that “healthcare is hard.” She cautioned against expecting sweeping, revolutionary change, noting that progress in healthcare is incremental. Drawing on her 25+ years in health policy, Liz encouraged listeners to celebrate small victories and keep pushing forward, as real transformation happens step by step.To hear Liz and Keith discuss these topics and more, listen to this episode of Healthcare is Hard: A Podcast for Insiders.

The Senate Finance Committee approved Julie Callahan to serve as Chief Ag Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. NCBA's Ethan Lane says the EPA's new WOTUS rule will be harder to change in future administrations. China purchased U.S. soybeans this week, but not because of the price.

There are a lot of plan designs out there that promise tax advantages, cost savings, or “creative” ways to structure benefits… but not all of them are compliant. Some are even double-dipping schemes that can create major legal and financial risk for employers.So we brought in someone who actually knows this space at the highest level: Alden Bianchi — a nationally-recognized employee benefits attorney who:Testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee during the development of the ACAServed as Mitt Romney's outside counsel on the Massachusetts health care reform lawHelped shape the very framework that became the Affordable Care ActYeah… he knows a thing or two.In this episode, we break down:Where employers get into troubleHow these “tax-advantaged” plan designs really workWhat not to doHow to evaluate whether your plan is actually compliantClear, practical, and a must-watch for HR, consultants, CFOs, and anyone touching employee benefits strategy.

The lawsuits filed against Leon Black in connection with Jeffrey Epstein are among the most graphic and disturbing to emerge from Epstein's orbit. Several women, including Cheri Pierson and a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe, accuse Black of violent sexual assaults that allegedly took place inside Epstein's Manhattan townhouse. Pierson claims Black raped her in 2002 after Epstein arranged what was supposed to be a massage appointment, describing the encounter as brutal and coercive. Another lawsuit alleges Black sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl with autism and Down syndrome, leaving her bleeding and traumatized. Both cases portray Black as a predator who exploited Epstein's network to target vulnerable women, echoing the broader pattern of abuse associated with Epstein's inner circle. Black's legal team has vehemently denied all allegations, dismissing the claims as false and opportunistic.Compounding the scandal is Black's series of high-dollar settlements and legal maneuvering. In 2023, he quietly paid $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to avoid potential litigation tied to Epstein's trafficking operations there. He also succeeded in getting parts of other lawsuits dismissed on procedural grounds, including a defamation case brought by former model Guzel Ganieva, which was thrown out in early 2025. Still, the volume and nature of the claims — combined with his massive financial ties to Epstein and the Senate Finance Committee's scrutiny of his payments — have left Black mired in controversy. The lawsuits' explicit, violent allegations and the perception of systemic leniency have solidified his position as one of the most controversial figures to emerge from Epstein's shadow.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

The lawsuits filed against Leon Black in connection with Jeffrey Epstein are among the most graphic and disturbing to emerge from Epstein's orbit. Several women, including Cheri Pierson and a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe, accuse Black of violent sexual assaults that allegedly took place inside Epstein's Manhattan townhouse. Pierson claims Black raped her in 2002 after Epstein arranged what was supposed to be a massage appointment, describing the encounter as brutal and coercive. Another lawsuit alleges Black sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl with autism and Down syndrome, leaving her bleeding and traumatized. Both cases portray Black as a predator who exploited Epstein's network to target vulnerable women, echoing the broader pattern of abuse associated with Epstein's inner circle. Black's legal team has vehemently denied all allegations, dismissing the claims as false and opportunistic.Compounding the scandal is Black's series of high-dollar settlements and legal maneuvering. In 2023, he quietly paid $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to avoid potential litigation tied to Epstein's trafficking operations there. He also succeeded in getting parts of other lawsuits dismissed on procedural grounds, including a defamation case brought by former model Guzel Ganieva, which was thrown out in early 2025. Still, the volume and nature of the claims — combined with his massive financial ties to Epstein and the Senate Finance Committee's scrutiny of his payments — have left Black mired in controversy. The lawsuits' explicit, violent allegations and the perception of systemic leniency have solidified his position as one of the most controversial figures to emerge from Epstein's shadow.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

The lawsuits filed against Leon Black in connection with Jeffrey Epstein are among the most graphic and disturbing to emerge from Epstein's orbit. Several women, including Cheri Pierson and a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe, accuse Black of violent sexual assaults that allegedly took place inside Epstein's Manhattan townhouse. Pierson claims Black raped her in 2002 after Epstein arranged what was supposed to be a massage appointment, describing the encounter as brutal and coercive. Another lawsuit alleges Black sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl with autism and Down syndrome, leaving her bleeding and traumatized. Both cases portray Black as a predator who exploited Epstein's network to target vulnerable women, echoing the broader pattern of abuse associated with Epstein's inner circle. Black's legal team has vehemently denied all allegations, dismissing the claims as false and opportunistic.Compounding the scandal is Black's series of high-dollar settlements and legal maneuvering. In 2023, he quietly paid $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to avoid potential litigation tied to Epstein's trafficking operations there. He also succeeded in getting parts of other lawsuits dismissed on procedural grounds, including a defamation case brought by former model Guzel Ganieva, which was thrown out in early 2025. Still, the volume and nature of the claims — combined with his massive financial ties to Epstein and the Senate Finance Committee's scrutiny of his payments — have left Black mired in controversy. The lawsuits' explicit, violent allegations and the perception of systemic leniency have solidified his position as one of the most controversial figures to emerge from Epstein's shadow.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Taxpayer advocates are keeping close watch on this week's decision to name Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano as CEO of the IRS, and have many questions about what it could mean for the agency. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday he was creating a new IRS CEO position, and Republicans in Congress seem to be generally supportive, though some said the White House should still name an IRS commissioner nominee. The Treasury Department assured staff in GOP Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley's office that a commissioner nominee would still be sent to the Senate. At the same time, the Senate Finance Committee voted Wednesday to advance Derek Theurer's nomination to be undersecretary for legislative affairs and Donald Korb's nomination to be IRS chief counsel. That's good news for Pete Sepp —president of the National Taxpayers Union, a taxpayer advocacy group—who is concerned that many of the top IRS positions remained unfilled. Sepp, who sat down with Bloomberg Tax Senior Reporter Chris Cioffi for this episode of Talking Tax, said Congress is right to seek answers about how the CEO job interacts with the commissioner. He said he hoped the CEO position, in the future, would be selected by an IRS oversight board that has been dormant for more than a decade. Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.

A review of the week's major US international tax-related news. In this edition:  US Congress fails to pass CR to fund federal government – Senate Finance Committee holds digital tax hearing – US digital assets filing deadline 15 October – IRS partially withdraws, revises proposed CAMT regulations – IRS withdraws proposed spinoff regulations – IRS releases 2025-2026 Priority Guidance Plan – Trump Administration announces new tariff plans.

Host Tod Ibrahim speaks with Ryan Murray, ASN Senior Manager of Government Affairs, about ASN's advocacy on recent NIH policy changes, the society's statement to the Senate Finance Committee, and its partnership with Research!America.

Host Tod Ibrahim speaks with Ryan Murray, ASN Senior Manager of Government Affairs, about ASN's advocacy on recent NIH policy changes, the society's statement to the Senate Finance Committee, and its partnership with Research!America.

Crypto News: FXRP on Flare goes live enabling DeFi for XRP. Senate Finance Committee announced a hearing next week on Crypto taxes. Coinbase, Sony and Samsung back stablecoin startup Bastion. Elizabeth Warren is going after Trumps World Liberty Financial.Show Sponsor -

In July 2023, billionaire Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, agreed to pay roughly $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to resolve potential claims tied to his financial dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. The USVI had been pursuing Epstein's estate and associates for enabling or benefiting from his trafficking network, and Black was facing scrutiny over large payments made to Epstein's companies for so-called “financial advice.” The settlement gave Black immunity from criminal liability in the USVI and ended the possibility of a lawsuit there, though it did not include an admission of wrongdoing. Black has consistently said the payments were legitimate professional fees and that he had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes.The deal, however, did not put all questions to rest. Around the same time, the Senate Finance Committee, led by Senator Ron Wyden, released documents showing Black paid Epstein far more than originally known—over $150 million between 2012 and 2017—sparking deeper concerns that such vast sums may have indirectly financed Epstein's operations. The revelations intensified scrutiny not only of Black's judgment but also of whether banks and institutions involved properly flagged or investigated the transactions. While the $62 million settlement resolved matters with the Virgin Islands, it left lingering doubts about the true nature of Black's relationship with Epstein and whether full accountability was ever reached.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Photo: Raed Mansour Senate Finance Committee introduces “Billionaire Sales Tax” in response to weak economy, Trump policies; Fired CDC chief Monarez tells senators public health headed to “dangerous place” under Health Secretary Kennedy; Governor Newsom touts Prop 50 redistricting plan as polls show growing support; Parents of children who harmed themselves warn of dangers of AI Chatbots; California considering AI bills to protect children from AI threats; California, Oregon, Washington issue joint vaccine recommendations in lieu of politicized CDC; UN warns governments undermining Global Convention on Refugees and Asylum-seekers The post Senate Finance Committee introduces “Billionaire Sales Tax”; Fired CDC chief says public health headed to “dangerous place” under Health Secretary Kennedy – September 17, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A new report that links increased alcohol consumption to cancer was supposed to help inform the government's new dietary recommendations. Instead, it hasn't been published. This episode was produced by Rebeca Ibarra, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Adriene Lilly, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. testifying before the Senate Finance Committee. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Top headlines for Tuesday, September 9, 2025In this episode, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s appearance at a heated Senate Finance Committee hearing. We'll also cover the tragic news from Jerusalem, where two terrorists opened fire, resulting in six deaths and multiple injuries. Plus, we'll discuss the Supreme Court's recent decision to halt a court ruling affecting immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, exploring the implications for the city's policy and national immigration practices. 00:12 Top 7 moments from RFK Jr.'s contentious Capitol Hill hearing01:03 6 Israelis killed and 12 wounded after 2 terrorists open fire01:55 Supreme Court lifts restrictions on LA immigration raids02:42 Musk to Altman. What are tech moguls saying about AI and AGI?03:35 Homeschool mom must enroll son in accredited school, court rules04:33 FTC orders Pornhub owner to pay $5M for child abuse content05:30 CCM artist John Mark McMillan announces final tourSubscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsTop 7 moments from RFK Jr.'s contentious Capitol Hill hearing | Politics6 Israelis killed and 12 wounded after 2 terrorists open fire | WorldSupreme Court lifts restrictions on LA immigration raids | PoliticsMusk to Altman. What are tech moguls saying about AI and AGI? | BusinessHomeschool mom must enroll son in accredited school, court rules | EducationFTC orders Pornhub owner to pay $5M for child abuse content | BusinessCCM artist John Mark McMillan announces final tour | Entertainment

Kate, Leah, and Melissa break down how the lower courts are challenging the Trump administration and expressing their frustration with SCOTUS. Then, they check in with two members of the supermajority: Brett Kavanaugh, who's touting a shiny new shadow docket rebrand, and Amy Coney Barrett as she commences her cursèd book tour. Finally, the hosts speak with Yale Law professor Justin Driver about his book, The Fall of Affirmative Action: Race, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Higher Education.Hosts' and guests' favorite things:Kate: Apologies: You Have Reached the End of Your Free-Trial Period of America! By Alexandra Petri (The Atlantic); Bonus 176: Law, Lawlessness, and Doomerism, Steve Vladeck (One First); How a Top Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission Into North Korea Fell Apart, Dave Philipps and Matthew Cole (NYT)Leah: The DC Circuit's Realpolitik Orders in the Foreign Aid Funding Case, Chris Geidner; 174. Justice Gorsuch's Attack on Lower Courts & Bonus 174: Playing the Justices for Fools, Steve Vladeck (One First); The Supreme Court Is Backing Trump's Power Grab, Kate Shaw & Ezra Klein (NYT).Melissa: RFK's Senate Finance Committee hearing; Hijacking the Kennedys, Reeves Waldman (New York Magazine); Nancy Mace: Everything You Didn't Know About Her Sh*tty Past (Crooked's Hysteria); These Summer Storms, Sarah MacLean; Gwyneth: The Biography, Amy OdellJustin: The Creative Act: A Way of Being, Rick Rubin; Martin Luther King's Constitution: A Legal History of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Randall Kennedy (Yale Law Journal) Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! 10/4 – ChicagoLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesGet tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.comFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky

On this week's DGP Quickie, Julie & Brandy do the dirty deed to the torturous sounds of RFK Jr testifying at the Senate Finance Committee. Like all quickies, it's chaotic and rushed, but Bernie Sanders brings it home for the girls in the end. ******CHECK OUT FREE EPISODES OF JULIE & BRANDY'S PATREON PODCAST******See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Senate Finance Committee about his efforts to overhaul U.S. health agencies and change federal vaccine policy. The hearing was at times combative, as Senators asked Kennedy about the Trump administration's firing of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Susan Monarez, subsequent resignations of other CDC leaders, and regulatory changes to Covid-19 vaccine access.Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “Under the Radar” story ⁠here and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.Take the survey: Do you trust the CDC's vaccine guidance? Let us know.Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Jon Lall. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Sather and Nate Prince break down RFK Jr.'s fiery Senate Finance Committee hearing, where both Democrats and compromised conservatives attacked him over vaccines while he pushed back with facts on COVID lies, pharma lobbying, and government corruption. They highlight the wave of firings at the CDC, HHS, and FDA, calling it long-overdue house cleaning as pharma shills lose their grip on public health. The hosts then turn to the growing battle over school vaccine mandates, with Democrat-led states like California, Oregon, and Washington forming alliances to push their own requirements while Florida leads red states in banning them outright. They also connect RFK's history fighting Monsanto to today's GMO seed monopolies and nutrient-depleted food, tying it all back to America's chronic disease crisis. With humor, sharp commentary, and sponsor shoutouts, this episode captures the seismic shifts in health, politics, and personal freedom.

President Donald Trump really, really, really hates wind and solar power. He made sure to make that point very clear during a Cabinet meeting last week, where he ranted about windmills for…way too long. At the end of August, the Trump team ordered construction be stopped on a 4-billion-dollar wind farm project off the coast of Rhode Island that was nearly finished. The administration alluded vaguely to national security threats, suggesting, among other things, that wind farms could be used to launch drone attacks on the U.S. None of this is good. Not just for, you know, preventing the very worst outcomes of climate change that could put billions of lives at risk and alter the very nature of human existence. But also for Americans dealing with spiraling energy bills. So we spoke to Bill McKibben, environmentalist and author of a new book, Here Comes The Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, about climate change, to help us feel more optimistic about the future of the Earth.And in headlines, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vs. the Senate Finance Committee, and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has some thoughts on how we got here.Show Notes:Check out Bill's new book – wwnorton.com/books/Here-Comes-the-Sun/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

John welcomes Puck's chief Washington correspondent, Leigh Ann Caldwell, back to the show to discuss Congress's return to work after its August recess. Leigh Ann assesses the political potency (and limitations) of the public display of solidarity by a phalanx of Jeffrey Epstein survivors in the face of Donald Trump's continued insistence that the story is a “Democrat hoax”; the potential implications of the Senate Finance Committee's bipartisan laceration of RFK, Jr. over his tenure thus far at HHS; and the odds that John Thune and his “pocket rocket” can help avert a government shutdown later this month. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

U.S. warships killed 11 people on a suspected Venezuelan smuggling craft on Tuesday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested they had drugs bound for the U.S., and said Trump planned to “wage war” on drug cartels. Idrees Ali, a Pentagon correspondent for Reuters, has been exploring whether the administration's moves are legal. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparred with Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill yesterday in a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. Stat has the key takeaways. Democrats are looking to regroup and make a plan for the midterms as Congress returns. The Washington Post’s Marianna Sotomayor details the party’s efforts to redefine itself. Plus, Portugal is in mourning after 16 people died in a cable-car tragedy, Trump’s nominee for a role on the Federal Reserve board pledged to be independent, and how to buy Darth Vader’s lightsaber. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

John discusses the sun-baked and hormonally rattled visage of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who graced the Senate Finance Committee for several hours of back and forth over the Health and Human Services Secretary's new direction for American public health. During his testimony, Kennedy told the committee he had to fire CDC Dir. Susan Monarez because she lied to Americans – unfortunately it wasn't the lies he wanted her to say. Then, he speaks with journalist Brian Karem on the Epstein files, RFK's brain functions, and Trump's waning popularity. Then lastly, John welcomes back the 2 Taras to talk politics. Tara Devlin is a comedian and the host of the Tarabuster, where she looks at news, politics and history through an unapologetically liberal lens. Tara Dublin is a comedian and author of “The Sound of Settling: A Rock & Roll Love Story”. Together Tara Devlin and Tara Dublin are the co-hosts of THE Tara Show podcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Senate Finance Committee was not gentle with Donald Trump's HHS secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., grilling him on his perspectives on vaccines and often catching him in contradictions. Jen Psaki shares highlights of some of Kennedy's more frustrating lies, and the efforts of senators to call him out.As Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, levels accusations of mortgage fraud against Donald Trump's political enemies, a new report from ProPublica shows that three members of Trump's own Cabinet have the same kind of mortgages that are the basis for Pulte's fraud accusations against Democrats. Jen Psaki explains how the facts contradict Pulte's claims of non-partisanship.States that value science and data and good health are not waiting around for the Trump administration to come to its senses as long as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the Health and Human Services secretary, so they're taking the responsibility on themselves. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey talks with Jen Psaki about how she is securing vaccine access for her state, and why states will have to do more on their own in the absence of federal leadership.

John Hinderaker of Power Line joins the show by phone to talk about Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) recent outburst about the foundation of Americans’ rights in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, the rising popularity of socialists candidates, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s hearing before the Senate Finance Committee today, and President Trump on the ongoing Gaza War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute. Big Pharma sure is furious with Robert Kennedy, Jr. The pharmaceutical industry wants him terminated as Health and Human Services Secretary. That was the unmistakable takeaway from Bobby's hours-long grilling yesterday before the Senate Finance Committee. He was relentlessly attacked by Democratic members for his insistence that the impact of the COVID and other vaccines on public health must be scientifically scrutinized. One of them, Vermont's Marxist Senator Bernie Sanders, actually copped to Secretary Kennedy's observation in response that such critics were recipients of immense campaign contributions from Pharma, admitting that every Senator takes money from the industry. That's also true of the media, academia and key government agencies. Politicians will discover their constituents increasingly support Bobby Kennedy, not Big Pharma. President Trump rightly wants the facts out about vaccine safety, and so do the American people.  This is Frank Gaffney.

Broeske & Musson give their five takeaways from Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr's testimony before the Senate Finance Committee on the CDC. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Broeske & Musson' on all platforms: --- The ‘Broeske & Musson Podcast’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- ‘Broeske & Musson' Weekdays 9-11 AM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Facebook | Podcast| X | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The show should keep a running list of insane stances Democrats have taken just because they hate Trump. RFK Jr. and the Senate Finance Committee exchange blows. The differences between generations. Democrats claim the strike against the Venezuelan drug boat was illegal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Putin and Xi are heard on a hot mic discussing immortality, RFK Jr. faces bipartisan questioning before the Senate Finance Committee, 26 nations pledge post-war security guarantees for Ukraine, a report alleges that one-in-four Gaza detainees are identified as militants, at least 15 are killed in a funicular tram crash in Portugal's Lisbon, a mass stabbing in Canada's Manitoba leaves at least two dead, Florida plans to end all vaccine mandates, Texas' Senate passes a bill allowing citizens to sue abortion pill providers, a judge blocks Trump's $2.2B Harvard funding freeze, and the world's largest illegal sports streaming site is shut down. Sources: www.verity.news

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma and Biotech world. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced the Senate Finance Committee in a tense hearing amidst calls for the removal of the health secretary. The committee questioned Kennedy on his recent actions, including the firing of CDC director Susan Monarez. Meanwhile, the FDA's new rare disease pathway received mixed reactions, with some questioning its tangible impacts. AC Immune downsized and refocused its pipeline, while Kennedy proposed adding seven new vaccine advisors to the ACIP. Other news included successful RNA editing in an AATD study, demands for YouTube to remove anti-vaccine videos, and a new framework for rare disease approvals by the FDA. Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of Pharma and Biotech daily.

The sparks flew in Thursday's Senate Finance Committee hearing. Senators – Republicans and Democrats alike – grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his handling of vaccines and the shakeup at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kennedy, for his part, doubled down on his ouster of CDC director Susan Monarez, claiming she was not “trustworthy.” He insisted that Americans would still be able to access coronavirus vaccines, despite his overhauling of a key vaccine panel. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with health reporter David Ovalle about the fireworks at Kennedy's hearing before the Senate. Plus, they discuss what's happening with diverging school vaccine policies in red and blue states. Today's show was produced by Elana Gordon with help from Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Peter Bresnan and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

It's Emmajority Report Thursday on Majority Report On today's show: RFK, Jr is grilled at a Senate Finance Committee hearing over the chaos he has created at the CDC. Crypto and Tech Industry researcher and publisher of the Citation Needed newsletter, Molly White joins the show to talk the Trump family crypto cash in. Host of the Colonial Outcasts Podcast, Greg Stoker joins us live from the Global Sumud Flotilla somewhere in the Mediterranean. In the Fun Half Brandon Sutton and Matt Binder join the show. The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: SHOPIFY: Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/majority LIQUID IV: Get 20% off your first order at LIQUIDIV.COM Use code MAJORITYREP at checkout. SMALLS: For a limited time only, get 60% off your first order PLUS shipping when you head to Smalls.com and use code MAJORITY.  SUNSET LAKE:  Head to SunsetLakeCBD.com and buy any three 4-packs, and you'll get a fourth one for free. Just add four 4-packs to your cart and use the code LABORDAY25 at checkout Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (09/04/2025): 3:00pm- Will this be the shortest episode of The Rich Zeoli Show ever? Not quite—though, it's only 30-minutes long due to preemption for the Philadelphia Phillies on 1210 WPHT. 3:05pm- On Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Senate Finance Committee—answering questions about the Trump Administration's plan to Make America Healthy Again. The hearing resulted in several heated exchanges, most memorably with Sec. Kennedy noting that Sen. Elizabeth Warren has taken nearly $1 million in campaign contributions from pharmaceutical companies. 3:25pm- Malcolm Gladwell reaches his “Tipping Point” with biological males competing in women's sports 3:30pm- Go Eagles! The defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles kickoff their season tonight against the Dallas Cowboys.

RFK Jr.'s testimony in the Senate Finance Committee is a total sh*t show. RFK didn't mention who was president in 2020. RFK didn't know how many Americans died of COVID. West coast states announced healthcare alliance. Tiny Trump blames AI for window tossing video. Florida Surgeon General announces an end to ALL vaccine mandates, including Polio! Epstein Survivors rallied at the Capitol yesterday. Did Donald order military flyovers to disrupt the rally? Is Jim Comer ratf*cking Donald? ADP reports anemic 54,000 jobs added in August. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Powder Pink and Sweet, Mike Farley, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, AIF®, CRC®, CSRIC™ Socially & Environmentally Responsible Investing: SRIguy.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled during a combative hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. Senators pressed Kennedy on his views on vaccines and whether he was effectively limiting access and destroying trust in past data and public health agencies. The hearing comes just a week after his decision to fire the director of the CDC, Dr. Susan Monarez. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This morning on Capitol Hill, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear before the Senate Finance Committee to answer questions. Officially, the topic is the "President's 2026 Health Care Agenda." But unofficially, the hearing will offer the first chance for senators to grill Kennedy since the the CDC's internal war over vaccines spilled into public view, pitting scientists and medical professionals against RFK Jr.'s MAHA loyalists. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and Politico White House reporter Megan Messerly tell you what to watch for. Plus, President Donald Trump engages with European leaders on Ukraine and Russia, and a who's who of tech world CEOs descend on DC for a Rose Garden soiree.

A big morning in Washington with 2 blockbuster hearings kicking off this hour: Stephen Miran in the hot seat before the Senate Banking Committee for his confirmation hearing to be Federal Reserve Governor, while Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took questions from the Senate Finance Committee on the President's 2026 health agenda… Carl Quintanilla and Sara Eisen broke down the latest headlines as they happened along with the key data of the morning (Jobless claims/ADP) and biggest earnings movers (namely Salesforce).  Also in focus: the view from C-Suite from retail and energy… Hear how the consumer's holding up with the CEO of Best Buy, along with what's next in the energy patch according to the CEO of Baker Hughes. Squawk on the Street Disclaimer

Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. defends his vaccine policy changes and firing of top officials at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, before the Senate Finance Committee. Almost all the committee's Democrats are calling on him to resign. Secretary Kennedy is also asked about studies on the causes of autism, and about his comments following the school shooting in Minneapolis on side effects of antidepressants; Federal Reserve Governor nominee Stephen Miran tells the Senate Banking Committee he is committed to the independence of the Fed, as he gets questions about any plans to return to his current job at the White House when his term ends in January; Director of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services talks about bringing in armed law enforcement to the agency and making the U.S. citizenship test tougher; Missouri's legislature takes up a Congressional redistricting map to flip a Democratic seat to Republicans, part of a nationwide effort led by the White House in red states, being countered by Democrats in blue states; First Lady Melania Trump hosts a meeting of the White House Task Force on AI Education at the White House with the leaders of large technology companies including Google, Meta & Apple. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) controversial opinion on the foundation of American rights in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s testy hearing before the Senate Finance Committee today. We're joined by Johnny Estes, Vice President of Operations of CMI Gold & Silver. Health in America and the Make America Healthy Again movement (MAHA).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified on Thursday before the Senate Finance Committee on the recent shakeup of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Trump administration's health agenda. The hearing was announced after the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez and the resignations of several other top CDC officials that followed.Washington sued the Trump administration on Thursday over the deployment of National Guard troops in the capital city. "Armed soldiers should not be policing American citizens on American soil," D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said in an X post.

S&P Futures are slightly higher this morning with economic and earnings data in focus. There are two employment reports due out this morning and the Non-Farms payrolls report is due tomorrow. President Trump will be hosting a dinner tonight that will be addended by a host of tech CEO's (MSFT, GOOG, META, ORCL, MU and others). Late yesterday, the Trump admin requested ab expedited ruling from the Supreme Court on the Trump Tariffs. President Trump is appealing Friday's tariff ruling to the Supreme Court and requesting an expedited ruling. The Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to begin hearing for the new Federal Reserve Governor nominee, Stephen Miran, today.  Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to testify before the Senate Finance Committee at 10:00 am. On the earning front HPE & AEO are higher after earnings releases. CRM beat, but lower due to cautious guidance. After the bell today ACGO, CPRT, LULU IOT & DOCU are schedule to release.

FIREWORKS ON CAPITOL HILL! HHS Sec. RFK Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on vaccines. Things get heated between the Secretary and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT). Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Broeske & Musson' on all platforms: --- The ‘Broeske & Musson Podcast’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- ‘Broeske & Musson' Weekdays 9-11 AM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Facebook | Podcast| X | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled during a combative hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. Senators pressed Kennedy on his views on vaccines and whether he was effectively limiting access and destroying trust in past data and public health agencies. The hearing comes just a week after his decision to fire the director of the CDC, Dr. Susan Monarez. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Listen in for a masterclass in courage: not the absence of fear, but the refusal to let fear run the show. Mark Friedlich grew up in a tenement apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the son of Holocaust survivors, sharing a bedroom and living with scarcity. Today, he speaks on global stages, testifies before Congress, and serves as Vice President of Government Affairs at a multinational corporation. He also stutters, sometimes noticeably, always unapologetically. In this raw, powerful conversation, Mark shares how he built a career at the highest levels of leadership without ever hiding his voice. He doesn't minimize his fear. He prepares. He shows up. He speaks anyway. If you've ever feared speaking up in a meeting, on a stage, or in a tough conversation, this episode will change how you see fear, confidence, and what it really means to own your voice. In this episode on how to own your voice in high-stakes situations, you'll discover: Why Mark never saw stuttering as an impediment, and what that mindset unlocked for him; The difference between fear that stops us and fear that sharpens us; How to own your voice in high-stakes situations, even if you stutter; How to respond with strength and grace when other people give you “the look”; How preparation, mindset, and choosing discomfort can be antidotes to holding back; Mark's memorable conversation with President Bill Clinton; And more. AUDIO TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction to TranscendingX and the Power of Voice 01:17 – Meet Mark Friedlich: From Stuttering and Scarcity to Executive Leadership 04:14 – What It's Like to Be a VP of Government Affairs in a Global Corporation 07:03 – How Preparation Builds Confidence in High-Stakes Situations 17:29 – Redefining Stuttering: From Weakness to Source of Strength 19:51 – Why Authenticity Creates Trust and Lasting Impact 21:02 – Owning Personal Identity and Evolving With Intention 22:33 – How to Handle Social Reactions and Stay Grounded 25:06 – Standing Up for Yourself with Clarity and Respect 25:56 – Understanding the Personal and Professional Cost of Speaking Up 29:00 – Strategic Preparation Tips for Confident Communication 33:51 – Final Reflections on Leadership, Courage, and Being Seen ABOUT THE GUEST Mark Friedlich, ESQ, CPA is Vice President of Government Affairs for a multinational software corporation, advising the Senate Finance Committee, House Ways and Means Committee, and multiple presidential administrations. With senior executive experience at PwC, Thomson Reuters, and Wolters Kluwer, he's recognized as a leading authority on tax, accounting, and economic policy. Mark serves on the IRS Board, AICPA, and HBR Advisory Council. A person who stutters, Mark grew up on New York's Lower East Side with Holocaust survivor parents and transformed potential limitations into leadership strengths. From testifying before Congress to mentoring young professionals who stutter, Mark demonstrates that authentic leadership means owning every part of yourself. Preparation is everything. Authenticity is non-negotiable. Every fear presents an opportunity. QUOTES “Put yourself in uncomfortable situations because that's the only way one will grow” - Mark Friedlich “We can't control most situations. The only thing we are able to control is how we react.” - Mark Friedlich “Whether you think you have a speech impediment or you don't think you have a speech impediment, you're right.” - Uri Schneider ABOUT THE HOST Uri Schneider, M.A. CCC -SLP is co-founder and leader at Schneider Speech; creator and host of Transcending Stuttering; and former faculty at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. SEE ALL SHOW NOTES http://www.transcendingx.com/podcast LEARN MORE at http://www.transcendingx.com and http://www.schneiderspeech.com

The Senate Finance Committee launched an investigation into billionaire Leon Black's financial dealings with Jeffrey Epstein after it was revealed that Black had paid Epstein over $158 million for tax and estate planning services between 2012 and 2017—years after Epstein's conviction for sex crimes involving minors. Lawmakers expressed concern not just over the extraordinary size of the payments, but over whether they were legitimate business expenses or a cover for something more nefarious. The committee sought records to determine if Black used Epstein's offshore entities or connections to facilitate improper tax avoidance, and whether the transactions raised red flags related to money laundering or abuse of financial loopholes.The investigation intensified as Black's name continued to surface in civil litigation filed by Epstein survivors, some of whom accused him of rape and knowingly participating in Epstein's trafficking network. Senators questioned whether the payments to Epstein were part of a broader pattern of financial manipulation and whether Black had accurately disclosed these dealings to tax authorities and shareholders of Apollo Global Management, the private equity firm he co-founded. The inquiry underscored how deeply Epstein's shadow extended into the world of high finance—and how figures like Black, who claimed to have cut ties with Epstein, remained entangled long after public denials were issued.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Lawmakers Question Bank of America About Leon Black's Payments to Epstein - The New York Times (nytimes.com)