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Into the Arena: Hostile Democrats, skeptical Republicans tear into Kennedy on the Hill

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. found himself in the arena Thursday morning.
Room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building is not a conventional «arena.» It’s the hearing room for the Senate Finance Committee, but circumstances converted the room into such a venue.
Kennedy was due to appear before the Senate Finance panel long before August «happened,» but Kennedy’s «August» is what placed special focus on Kennedy’s appearance.
RFK Jr. sacked newly-confirmed Centers for Disease Control Director Susan Monarez – four weeks after senators greenlit her nomination – and issued new, stringent, controversial eligibility guidelines for people to receive a COVID-19 booster this fall.
TRUMP STANDS BY RFK JR. AFTER HEATED SENATE HEARING: ‘I LIKE THE FACT THAT HE’S DIFFERENT’
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. faced a hostile Senate Finance Committee on Thursday. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The forum was hostile. The hearing for Kennedy quickly devolved into a verbal judo match. He sparred with senators from both parties. They jousted over science and politics, but the heart of the conflict was internal turmoil at the CDC and vaccines.
«Do you accept the fact that a million Americans died from COVID?» asked Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., of Kennedy.
«I don’t know how many died,» answered Kennedy.
Warner was apoplectic.
«You’re the Secretary of Health and Human Services. You don’t have any idea how many Americans died from COVID?» asked an incredulous Warner.
«I don’t think anybody knows because there was so much data chaos coming out of the CDC,» replied Kennedy.
RFK JR AND TOP DEM CLASH DURING HEATED SENATE HEARING: ‘THIS IS ABOUT KIDS’
This bewildered Warner.
«The Secretary of Health and Human Services doesn’t know how many people died from COVID? Doesn’t know if the vaccine helped prevent any deaths. And you are the sitting Secretary of Health and Human Services,» continued Warner. «How can you be that ignorant?»

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., tore into Kennedy after he claimed to not know how many Americans died of COVID-19. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
That was only part of Democrats unloading on Kennedy.
«You’re so wrong on your facts,» the Secretary charged when tangling with Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
The Washington Democrat wasn’t having it.
«You’re interrupting me. And, sir, you’re a charlatan,» said Cantwell. «You’re the one who conflates chronic disease with the need for vaccines.»
«You are putting America’s babies’ health at risk. America’s seniors’ health at risk. All Americans’ health at risk. And you should resign,» said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
At one point, RFK Jr. tussled with Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.
«You’re evading the question,» Kennedy yelled at the senator.
RFK JR. INVOKES DEMOCRAT FATHER’S WORDS TO DEFEND TRUMP-BACKED CDC SHAKEUP AT SENATE HEARING
Bennet wouldn’t allow the witness to flip the script.
«I’m asking the questions here! I’m asking the questions!» thundered Bennet. «I’m asking the questions on behalf of parents and schools and teachers all over the United States of America who deserve so much better than your leadership.»

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., claimed he was asking questions on behalf of Americans «who deserve so much better than» Kennedy’s leadership. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
But the secretary gave as good as he got.
«You’re making things up to scare people and it’s a lie,» alleged Kennedy when facing questions from Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.
He went on to accuse Hassan of «crazy talk» and claimed she was «just making stuff up.»
BERNIE SANDERS CALLS FOR RFK JR. TO RESIGN AS HHS SECRETARY OVER VACCINE POLICIES: ‘RALLY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’
Kennedy’s new COVID jab guidelines roiled the hearing.
He told Warren that «anyone can get the booster.»
«So you’re saying that is now the official rule. Just anybody is eligible to get a booster by just walking into the pharmacy?» queried Warren.
«It’s not recommended for healthy people,» Kennedy said.
«No, no!» retorted Warren. «If you don’t recommend it, then the consequence of that in many states is that you can’t walk into a pharmacy and get one.»

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., got into it with Kennedy over booster guidelines. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., is an orthopedist, but even he was vexed by Kennedy’s vaccine vacillation.
«In your confirmation hearings, you promised to uphold the highest standards for vaccines,» said Barrasso. «Since then, I’ve grown deeply concerned.»
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who is no stranger to calling out the Trump administration, warned Kennedy to tread carefully on vaccines.
«We’re playing with fire here,» warned Tillis outside the hearing room. «If the death rates go up for children who aren’t vaccinated, they need to own it. Own it. Don’t say, ‘whoops, we got the science wrong.’»
RFK JR DENIES TELLING FORMER CDC DIRECTOR TO APPROVE VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS
Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., is a gastroenterologist. He was skeptical of Kennedy’s qualifications for the job – before ultimately voting to confirm him. Cassidy seemed baffled by the secretary’s stance on vaccines.
«Do you agree with me that the president deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed?» asked Cassidy about the Trump administration’s effort to fast-track a COVID-19 shot in 2020.
«Yeah, absolutely, senator. It’s phenomenal,» Kennedy responded.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La, questioned Kennedy’s high praise of Operation Warp Speed, citing his testimony to Sen. Bennet. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
«But you just told Sen. Bennet that the COVID vaccine killed more people than COVID?» said Cassidy.
«Wait! I did not say that!» Kennedy fired back, but Cassidy wasn’t through.
«It surprises me that you think so highly of Operation Warp Speed, when as an attorney, you attempted to restrict access,» said Cassidy.
MORE THAN 1,000 HHS WORKERS DEMAND KENNEDY RESIGNATION OVER CDC DIRECTOR FIRING AND AGENCY CHANGES
During the hearing, Kennedy claimed on multiple occasions that he canned Monarez as CDC chief because she didn’t tell the truth.
«Are you telling us that the former head of CDC went to you and you asked, ‘are you a trustworthy person?’ And she said, ‘no, I am not a trustworthy person,’» questioned Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
«She didn’t say ‘no. I’m not a trustworthy person.’ She said ‘no,’» said Kennedy.
«Wow!» exclaimed Sanders.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., grilled Kennedy over the firing of former CDC chief Susan Monarez. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., who is an OB-GYN, defended the firing – even though President Trump nominated Monarez and Marshall just supported her confirmation in July.
«I voted for her. I made a mistake. I thought she could do the job. But unfortunately, she’s not part of the President’s mission of Secretary Kennedy turning the CDC upside down,» said Marshall.
As we said, August «happened.»
VP VANCE CURSES OUT SENATORS AFTER HEATED KENNEDY HEARING: ‘FULL OF S— AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT’
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., criticized his colleagues who attacked Kennedy and he noted that each senator only scored five minutes to question the Secretary.
«Thank you for your willingness to serve and for putting up with this abuse,» Johnson said to Kennedy. «Five minutes isn’t even close to refute all of the falsehoods that have been confidently spewed during this hearing.»
Vice President JD Vance also rode to Kennedy’s aid, posting on social media that «Democrats are getting absolutely TORCHED by @SecKennedy.»
He added that Democrats were «full of sh*t and everyone knows it.»
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The turmoil isn’t over. Kennedy told senators he may fire other CDC officials. And one can imagine the questions about COVID-19 which might emerge this fall and winter if there’s yet another surge.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Michael Crapo, R-Idaho, granted Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the top Democrat on the panel, a few extra questions at the end of the hearing. Crapo then asked Kennedy if he cared to add any closing remarks.
Kennedy declined the invitation.
«I’ll have mercy on everybody and let us adjourn,» he said.
Until there’s another foray into the arena.
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INTERNACIONAL
Trump anticipó la caída de la dictadura de Cuba tras la ofensiva de Estados Unidos en Irán: “Es la guinda del pastel”

El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, aseguró este jueves que el régimen cubano “está cerca de su final” y vinculó la crisis actual de la isla a la estrategia de presión económica implementada por su administración.
“Cuba caerá… Después de 50 años, eso es la guinda del pastel”, afirmó el mandatario en una entrevista telefónica con Politico.
Trump sostuvo que la grave escasez de combustible y productos básicos que vive actualmente la población responde al corte de suministros y petróleo venezolano, una medida que Washington considera clave en el debilitamiento progresivo de la dictadura cubana.
Según el presidente estadounidense, la política de endurecimiento de las sanciones ha logrado aislar a Cuba de su principal fuente de apoyo externo: Venezuela.
“Cortamos todo el petróleo, todo el dinero, todo lo que venía de Venezuela, que era la única fuente”, detalló Trump.
De acuerdo con el mandatario, la falta de recursos externos ha puesto al régimen en una situación límite, acelerando un proceso de cambio político que, según sus palabras, “ya no tiene retorno”.
“De lo contrario, no tendrían este problema”, subrayó en referencia al desabastecimiento generalizado.
En este contexto, Trump confirmó que existen negociaciones en curso entre Estados Unidos y La Habana, aunque aclaró que la iniciativa responde a la necesidad manifiesta del régimen cubano de recibir asistencia ante la profunda crisis económica.
“Necesitan ayuda. Estamos hablando con Cuba”, dijo el mandatario en su entrevista con Politico.
La crisis humanitaria en Cuba se ha agravado en los últimos meses. Tras la detención del narcodictador Nicolás Maduro a principios de enero, en una operación sorpresa liderada por fuerzas estadounidenses, Trump ordenó nuevas restricciones, incluyendo una orden ejecutiva que impone aranceles y sanciona a cualquier país que intente suministrar petróleo a la isla.
Estas medidas han profundizado el aislamiento internacional del régimen cubano y han restringido aún más el acceso a combustible, alimentos y productos básicos para la población.
“Es por mi intervención, la intervención que está ocurriendo”, dijo Trump.
Durante la entrevista, Trump utilizó el caso venezolano como ejemplo del posible desenlace en Cuba. Destacó que, tras la captura de Maduro, la relación bilateral con Caracas experimentó un giro sustancial, con la cooperación de la jefa del régimen chavista, Delcy Rodríguez, a quien definió como una interlocutora “satisfactoria” para los intereses estadounidenses.
“Venezuela lo está haciendo fantásticamente. Está haciendo un trabajo fantástico. La relación con ellos es excelente”, aseguró Trump.
El presidente también abordó la dimensión geopolítica de su estrategia. Según Trump, la presión sobre La Habana busca no solo el aislamiento económico, sino también un cambio de orientación política y económica en la isla, similar al proceso iniciado en Venezuela. Washington considera que la caída del régimen cubano alteraría de manera significativa el equilibrio de poder en el Caribe y fortalecería la proyección de Estados Unidos en la región.
Mientras tanto, la situación interna en Cuba continúa deteriorándose. Los reportes sobre largas filas para acceder a combustible, apagones extensos y escasez de alimentos reflejan el impacto de las sanciones y el corte de suministros externos.

Trump reiteró durante la entrevista que la inminente caída del régimen cubano será una de las piezas centrales de su legado en política exterior. “¿Cuánto hace que escuchas hablar de Cuba? ¿Cuba, Cuba? Por 50 años”, expresó el presidente, enfatizando que su administración ha conseguido lo que no lograron los gobiernos anteriores: llevar al régimen cubano a una crisis terminal.
(Con información de Europa Press)
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Red Cross shares audio of Iranian civilian explaining situation on the ground in Tehran: ‘No respite’

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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) released audio Thursday of a civilian in Tehran describing what it’s like on the ground as Operation Epic Fury rocks Iran.
«To us here, the war did not start four days ago. It started when we heard the initial news of a piling up of the forces in the region and preparations for war. Now, with the war going on, we hear constant explosions, and there is no respite from this,» the unidentified civilian said.
The civilian said the frequency of explosions has made people so nervous that even everyday noises can cause panic attacks.
«Any moment you can expect a loud noise. This has made us so nervous that any loud noise, including the noise of a car passing by, gives us a panic attack,» the civilian said.
Even with the noise of the explosions, the civilian, who said he was born and raised in Tehran, noticed the city had become a ghost town as people had either fled the war or limited movements to stay safe from aerial attacks.
Neighbors stand March 5, 2026, in Tehran, Iran, near a destroyed car with an Islamic Republic flag, looking at a building damaged in the Shahid Borujerdi residential complex in Tehran that was heavily bombed the morning of March 4 by Israel and the U.S. during Operation Epic Fury. (Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images)
«As a person who was born and lived his whole life in this city, I have never seen the city so quiet,» the civilian said. «Some of the people of my city have left. Many others stayed in, trying to limit movements to avoid getting caught in the aerial attacks on the city that never seem to come to an end. You don’t see people around. My city was a very big city and busy. I’m not used to seeing my city so calm and quiet.»
The U.S. and Israel have carried out air and sea attacks on Iran since the operation began Saturday. The operation has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, according to The Associated Press. Additionally, six U.S. service members in Kuwait were killed in the hostilities.

A destroyed car outside a building in the Shahid Borujerdi residential complex in southeast Tehran March 5, 2026, that was heavily bombed the morning of March 4 by Israel and the U.S. during Operation Epic Fury. (Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images)
IRAN’S DRONE SWARM ATTACKS UNLEASH ‘EXPONENTIAL COSTS’ ON US, PROLONGING WAR: ‘ASYMMETRIC CAPABILITY’
The ICRC has expressed concerns about the situation in Iran, and the organization’s president said on day one of Operation Epic Fury that it could have «devastating consequences for civilians.»
«The military escalation in the Middle East is igniting a dangerous chain reaction across the region, with potentially devastating consequences for civilians,» ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said.
In a statement issued a few days later, Spoljaric warned that «the scale of major military operations flaring across the Middle East risks embroiling the region — and beyond — into another large-scale armed conflict that will overwhelm any humanitarian response.»
«Without urgent steps to de-escalate the situation and respect the rules of war, further civilian lives will be lost,» Spoljaric added. «Civilians are already suffering the consequences of war.»

A view of Tehran with smoke visible in the distance after explosions were reported in the city March 2, 2026. (Contributor/Getty Images)
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According to the civilian, Iranians on the ground are worried about the future and wonder how the war will play out. Another fear among the people is the possibility of supplies running out.
«The supplies are available in the shops that are open and work. But what if the situation gets worse or continues as it is now? Will the supplies being stocked be of any help, or will they be meaningless in the face of what can happen?» the civilian wondered.
«It is especially more worrying for people like me, who have to take care of people with medical complications that require special care. We are now under a lot of stress, worried to see what can come next.»
Fox News Digital reached out to the ICRC for comment.
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Virginia Dems mandate Jan. 6 be taught as ‘violent insurrection,’ ban election fraud claims in schools

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Virginia lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday that requires public schools to describe the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot as a violent attack and specifically prohibits teachers from framing it as a peaceful protest.
Virginia Democrats have quickly advanced a slew of controversial legislation since Gov. Abigail Spanberger was elected in November and their ranks ballooned in the state House, including a bid to redraw every Republican congressman except Rep. Morgan Griffith out of their seats to make the Democratic majority 10-1 in the state’s congressional delegation. Now, they are taking steps to shape how the history of Jan. 6 is taught to children.
HB 333, crafted by Del. Dan I. Helmer of Fairfax, bars public school programs from describing the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot as a peaceful protest or presenting claims that widespread election fraud altered the 2020 presidential results as credible.
The bill specifically «prohibits» instruction that portrays the insurrection as peaceful or suggests there was «extensive election fraud» that could have changed the election outcome. However, it does not lay out any explicit criminal penalties for violations.
Del. Dan I. Helmer, D-Fairfax, left, and VA AG Jay Jones, right. (Craig Hudson/Getty Images)
In a statement to the Virginia Mercury on the bill, Helmer said there is «real concern» that President Donald Trump is «trying to rewrite the history of January 6; borne out by the fact there is a WhiteHouse.gov site that presents a false history.»
Fox News Digital reached out to Virginia Republicans for comment.
The Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists also came out against the bill, with executive director Michael Huffman testifying before a state Senate committee that the true education equips children for life, not political agendas, and glorifying or mandating … the dark day serves only short-sighted partisanship, not our kids’ future,» according to Hampton Roads’ PBS affiliate.
Helmer, an Iraq War veteran and staunch gun control advocate, was first elected by flipping what was Fairfax County’s last remaining Republican district, along its border with Prince William County, in 2020.
VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS MOVE TO SEIZE REDISTRICTING POWER, OPENING DOOR TO 4 NEW LEFT-LEANING SEATS
Helmer also announced a bid for Congress in one of the newly-redrawn districts nicknamed the «lobster» or the «scorpion» by critics – as it runs from the Potomac River in Arlington southwestward before splitting in two «claws» to reach out toward the West Virginia line near Rawley Springs and the other jutting down toward Goochland and Powhatan effectively collecting a swath of Republican-leaning towns and pitting them against a small but densely-populated Democrat stronghold.
One of his ads in a 2018 congressional bid compared Trump to Usama bin Laden, where he narrated that the «greatest threat to democracy» used to live «in a cave» but now «he lives in the White House.»
He had recused himself from the redistricting redraw, according to the New York Times, but is considered a top ally of House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, who engineered the effort in the lower chamber.

Del. Dan I. Helmer, D-Fairfax, left, and VA AG Jay Jones, right. (Craig Hudson/Getty Images)
While the new map has yet to get voters’ approval in an April special election, Helmer has also garnered at least one Democratic challenger in the would-be heavily Democratic-favored district.
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Prosecutor J.P. Cooney, the former top deputy of Special Counsel Jack Smith in his investigation of Trump, told the New York Times that the mogul is not being sufficiently «check[ed]» by Congress and that the DHS-involved shooting of Alex Pretti solidified his decision.
Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
capitol protests,democrats elections,abigail spanberger,virginia,bills
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