The Fired C.D.C. Director Testifies

For weeks, fights have been escalating between top scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., culminating in his accusation that the agency’s top official, Dr. Susan Monarez, was untrustworthy. Dr. Monarez went before a Senate committee on Wednesday to give her side of the story. Sheryl Gay Stolberg, who covers health policy for The New York Times, discusses the testimony and the rift that the hearing exposed within the Republican Party over how far to go to support Mr. Kennedy and his vaccine agenda. Guest: Sheryl Gay Stolberg (https://www.nytimes.com/by/sheryl-gay...) , a correspondent based in Washington who covers health policy for The Times. Background reading:  • The fired C.D.C. director described clashes with Mr. Kennedy and turmoil at the agency (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/us...) . For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-t...) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Photo: Kenny Holston/The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-t...) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts (http://nytimes.com/podcasts) or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-acce.... For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.