exclusive from @lenasun.bsky.social and @rachelroubein.bsky.social: states will be able to order Covid vax for kids as soon as next week, through the CDC program that serves half of American children www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

States can soon order covid vaccines for low-income children, after delay

The Vaccines for Children program, which serves nearly half the nation’s youths, had been in limbo for almost a month, with doctors unable to obtain the shots.

washingtonpost.com

White House, as well as HHS lawyers, signed off on the plan to let RFK Jr. use military aircraft With @ddiamond.bsky.social and @abtran.bsky.social

Exclusive: The White House has given RFK Jr access to military aircraft as the health secretary has criss-crossed the country. RFK Jr used private flight to join GOP candidates in Iowa last month. w @rachelroubein.bsky.social @abtran.bsky.social

RFK Jr. uses military aircraft as he campaigns for GOP in midterms

The White House and Department of Health and Human Services lawyers signed off on the plan to let the health secretary use military jets, five people said.

washingtonpost.com

New: Federal officials are poised to declare end of nation’s largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak after thousands of people became sick after eating shredded iceberg lettuce. Timing could come as soon as later today but not guaranteed. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Federal officials poised to declare end of U.S.’s largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak

Thousands of people became sick after eating shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.

washingtonpost.com

NEW: The CDC is excluding two deaths reported by Pennsylvania from the agency’s weekly update on measles dashboard, a decision that came from new CDC director Erica Schwartz, per sources. Me and @Rachelroubein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

New CDC director delays adding Pennsylvania deaths to measles data

The deaths have been at the heart of a bitter political dispute between RFK Jr. and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D).

washingtonpost.com

NEW: Shapiro + RFK Jr. are feuding over measles—Kennedy and his allies are attacking Dems after a coroner said measles didn’t play a role in the death of a newborn, while MMR rates in Lancaster have plunged from 94% to 87% since 2019. wapo.st/4xpgDsi @lenasun.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social

Measles’ role in child’s death ignites fight between RFK Jr. and Pennsylvania governor

A county coroner said that the pathologist who examined a newborn who tested positive for measles did not believe the virus played a role in the baby’s death.

wapo.st

The MAGA-MAHA alliance helped carry Trump to the White House. It handed RFK Jr. control of the nation’s health agencies. But MAHA frustration has been building over weedkillers, anger that is being directed at Trump's FDA nominee. With @ddiamond.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

A rift over a weed killer is dividing a pro-Trump alliance

Influential MAHA activists are channeling their anger over pesticides at Heidi Overton, a top aide the president picked to lead the FDA.

washingtonpost.com

The White House struggled to find an FDA commissioner, but they have a pick — HEIDI OVERTON, who's been serving as one of Trump's domestic policy advisers. Many outside candidates turned them down. More TK with @rachelroubein.bsky.social

Trump expected to pick White House aide to lead FDA

Heidi Overton works on the White House's Domestic Policy Council. She would replace Marty Makary, who resigned in May after months of turmoil at the agency.

washingtonpost.com

🥬💩NEW from @lenasun.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social and me on the FDA finally visiting the Taylor Farms facility—I was personally shocked at just how much food has been impacted by this one supplier so we made these charts to put that into context. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Rachel Roubein@rachelroubein.bsky.social · last mo.

FDA investigators are now in Mexico nearly a month after federal officials linked Taylor Farms’ lettuce to the nation’s largest cyclospora outbreak. Inspecting the processing plant now, fields next. w/ @lenasun.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

FDA investigators are now in Mexico nearly a month after federal officials linked Taylor Farms’ lettuce to the nation’s largest cyclospora outbreak. Inspecting the processing plant now, fields next. w/ @lenasun.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

FDA in Mexico a month after linking Taylor Farms to cyclospora outbreak

Senior FDA official confirms that inspectors were on-site at the Taylor Farms processing facility and plan to be in the fields next.

washingtonpost.com

BREAKING — Trump is planning to sign an executive order today that calls for spacing out childhood vaccines, breaking the MMR into three separate shots and making other key vaccine changes. @lenasun.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social

Trump administration order would upend nation’s childhood vaccine schedule

The president has pushed to narrow which vaccines are administered to children and split shots up into multiple appointments.

washingtonpost.com

RFK Jr. slated to unveil plan today targeting GRAS loophole that allows chemicals in food supply without notifying federal regulators, according to ppl familiar with the matter. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

RFK Jr. slated to unveil plan targeting loophole that allows chemicals in food supply

The practice known as “generally recognized as safe” allows companies to self-certify the safety of certain food chemicals or substances without strict government oversight.

washingtonpost.com

icymi: FDA officials raised conflict of interest concerns ahead of new peptide panel slated to meet this week. Despite the flags, HHS chose multiple panelists who promote peptides, an unusual process given FDA staff typically pick their advisers. wapo.st/4wQFIf9

FDA raised conflict of interest concerns ahead of new peptide panel

That panel will meet to weigh whether the agency should allow Americans to have broader access to seven injectable peptides previously restricted over potential safety concerns.

wapo.st

Exclusive: Investigators have linked shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants by Taylor Farms as a potential source of contamination in the outbreak of a parasitic illness that has sickened thousands in United States.

Lettuce supplier is potential source of cyclosporiasis outbreak, investigators say

Thousands have been sickened in the outbreak of cyclosporiasis, which has been largely concentrated in southeastern Michigan.

washingtonpost.com

RFK Jr., a self-professed "big fan" of peptides, wants to expand access to the popular products. FDA career scientists said there isn't enough evidence to do so. With @laurenweberhp.bsky.social

Among our findings: — Federal officials exploring re-creating ACIP — An effort to create a new CDC Office of Science — NIH urging scientists to do vaccine injury research — Analysis of data from a surveillance system remains in hands of health orgs bsky.app/profile/lena...

Lena Sun@lenasun.bsky.social · 3mo ago

NEW: RFK’s public effort to revamp US policy has quieted. But outside public eye, RFK + allies are embedding his agenda in institutions that decide what vaccines get studied, who does the research, and how that becomes policy. @rachelroubein.bsky.social 1/2 www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Before winning the GOP primary for Iowa governor, Zach Lahn attacked Big Ag, a stance once unthinkable for Republicans in the Corn Belt. — He beat a Trump-endorsed candidate. — Lahn had discussed his run with RFK Jr., who was supportive. W/ @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social

NEW: White House initially pushed aggressive monitoring of US hantavirus passengers who left Nebraska facility to finish quarantine at home, incl posting armed guards outside homes, before backing off. W @Bradydennis.bsky.social @RachelRoubein.bsky.Social 1/2 www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Officials divided over monitoring of hantavirus passengers who could soon return home

White House officials have been pushing for aggressive monitoring at home for those who return from the quarantine facility, but has retreated from initial proposals. Negotiations are ongoing with sta...

washingtonpost.com

RFK Jr. wanted a health overhaul led by outsiders. Now some are gone, raising concerns from some MAHA allies about his influence. — Some officials argue leaders, like Wiles, are committed to MAHA & changes are to reduce "unnecessary noise" With @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & @ddiamond.bsky.social

RFK Jr. promised a health overhaul led by outsiders. Now many are gone.

Trump officials have increasingly swapped out RFK Jr.’s handpicked deputies for people with more traditional experience, seeking to tamp down on health agencies’ controversies ahead of the midterms.

washingtonpost.com

A plea to Joe Rogan. An appeal to Trump: How Republicans came to embrace psychedelics Veterans and high-ranking officials, like RFK Jr., have pushed the issue. Policy proposals had been sketched out months before Trump sought to elevate the issue www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

How Republicans came to embrace psychedelic drugs

After decades of backing a “war on drugs,” the GOP has warmed to psychedelics for mental health treatment as high-profile backers and veterans tout the drugs.

washingtonpost.com

Casey Means blamed senators for blocking her nomination, calling it an "act of aggression" against MAHA. Saphier has been openly critical of some of Kennedy's moves on vaccines and Tylenol announcement. @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/laur...

Lauren Weber on X: "Trump pulled Casey Means's embattled nomination for surgeon general. Means told us it came down to "three disgruntled senators" and doesn't represent MAHA's momentum. New pick Nicole Saphier has criticized RFK Jr.'s moves w/ @rachel_roubein @ddiamond https://t.co/FiBizYF8zc" / X

Trump pulled Casey Means's embattled nomination for surgeon general. Means told us it came down to "three disgruntled senators" and doesn't represent MAHA's momentum. New pick Nicole Saphier has criticized RFK Jr.'s moves w/ @rachel_roubein @ddiamond https://t.co/FiBizYF8zc

x.com

Lauren Weber@laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Trump pulled Casey Means's nomination for surgeon general Means said it came down to "three disgruntled senators" & doesn't represent MAHA's momentum New pick Nicole Saphier has criticized RFK Jr.'s moves w @rachelroubein.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Trump pulled Casey Means's nomination for surgeon general Means said it came down to "three disgruntled senators" & doesn't represent MAHA's momentum New pick Nicole Saphier has criticized RFK Jr.'s moves w @rachelroubein.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Trump drops embattled surgeon general pick Casey Means, announces new nominee

Nicole Saphier, Trump’s third pick for the role, is a radiologist and longtime Fox News contributor. Means’s nomination stalled as some Republicans questioned her credentials and stance on vaccination...

washingtonpost.com

Top GOP senators Bill Cassidy and John Barrasso, both physicians, pressed RFK Jr. on vaccines amid his controversial moves. After the hearing, Cassidy told reporters the secretary’s remarks on immunizations were “illuminating.” Updated w/ @rachelroubein.bsky.social below @washingtonpost.com

Lauren Weber@laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 5mo ago

RFK Jr. ends his blitz of congressional hearings with chief GOP antagonist Sen. Bill Cassidy Unpacked with @rachelroubein.bsky.social the political dynamics at play amid their public meeting ahead of the midterms Check back for updates here: www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

KitKat, Gatorade or granola bars? Pushed by RFK Jr., what’s banned under new food stamp rules has been mixed, leading to maze of new restrictions. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

KitKat, Gatorade or granola bars? What’s banned under new SNAP rules is mixed.

Many GOP states are enacting soda and candy bans for food stamp purchases amid MAHA’s healthy food efforts. Some retailers and SNAP users find the new rules complicated.

washingtonpost.com

RFK Jr. begins a seven hearing blitz on Capitol Hill this morning. Here’s what we’re watching with updates throughout the day. With @laurenweberhp.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Four things to watch as RFK Jr. defends his health agenda on the Hill

Vaccines and turmoil at the agencies under his leadership are expected to be hot topics.

washingtonpost.com

FDA weighs lifting peptide restrictions amid wellness craze and push from RFK Jr. The agency had previously restricted some peptides due to safety concerns. With @laurenweberhp.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Amid wellness craze, FDA weighs lifting peptide restrictions

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a self-professed “big fan” of peptides. They have grown in popularity for wellness and antiaging, but many remain untested.

washingtonpost.com

Despite President Trump saying Sunday “we have a lot of great candidates for that” when asked about Casey Means’s stalled surgeon general nomination, the White House reiterated its support for her tonight. w/ @rachelroubein.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

White House reaffirms support for surgeon general pick after Trump remarks

After President Trump said Sunday that “we have a lot of great candidates” when asked about Casey Means’s nomination, the White House reiterated its support for her.

washingtonpost.com

The White House is delaying its pick of a new CDC director as they continue to interview candidates. Jay Bhattacharya will continue to oversee the agency on an interim basis. @lenasun.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social with a little help from me

White House delays CDC pick as officials search for permanent director

The responsibilities of leading the agency will remain with Jay Bhattacharya, the head of the National Institutes of Health, who has been serving as acting CDC director since last month

washingtonpost.com

MAHA’s political power tested as Casey Means's nomination stalls w/ @rachelroubein.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

MAHA’s political power tested as surgeon general pick stalls

Casey Means faces pushback from some Republicans over her refusal to forcefully recommend vaccines.

washingtonpost.com

The White House faces complicated political dynamics as it searches for a CDC director. About a half dozen are under consideration, including Mississippi's health director, a former KY governor & a cardiologist. With @lenasun.bsky.social & @ddiamond.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/lena...

Lena Sun@lenasun.bsky.social · 6mo ago

NEW: White House faces fast-approaching deadline to name CDC director. Here are three ppl being considered. w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...