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WATCH: RFK Jr. rebukes Dem senator for playing politics with cancer-stricken constituent: ‘You don’t care’
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. got into a heated debate with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., during a hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday after the senator accused Kennedy and the Trump administration of delaying critical cancer care for one of her constituents named Natalie.
Kennedy told Murray he wanted to do «everything» in his power to help her constituent, telling the senator repeatedly to contact his office to go over the individual’s case. But his answers were not adequate for the senator, leading Kennedy to eventually question whether the Washington state Democrat actually cared about her constituent, Natalie.
«Mr. Secretary, one of my constituents — her name is Natalie Phelps — she’s a mom of two from Bainbridge Island in Washington state. She has been fighting aggressive stage four colorectal cancer for nearly five years now. Her best hope now is a clinical trial she’s participating in at the [National Institutes of Health’s] Clinical Center,» Murray said in her opening line of questioning directed at Kennedy.
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«But because of the thoughtless mass firing of thousands of critical employees across NIH and HHS that you carried out, Natalie’s doctors at that clinical center have told her they have no choice but to delay her treatment by an additional four weeks.»
Murray added that those four weeks of delayed care «could mean the difference between life and death» for Natalie. She also demanded Kennedy give a «specific» number of how many employees have been cut at NIH’s clinical center.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. got into a heated arguement on Capitol Hill Wednesday with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., during a hearing about HHS’s budget for fiscal year 2026. (Getty Images; Fox News)
«I can’t tell you that now, Sen. Murray,» Kennedy responded. «What I can tell you is that if you contact my office tomorrow, I’ll look specifically into that.»
However, that answer from Kennedy was «not acceptable» to the senator.
«That is not acceptable. I want an answer,» Murray shot back, eventually demanding Kennedy provide her an update on Natalie’s case within 24 hours.
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«Wouldn’t you rather get her into that clinical trial as fast as you can?» Kennedy shot back.
«Absolutely,» Murray said.
«All right, so if you contact my office tomorrow, this is a …,» Kennedy said before Murray cut him off.
«Natalie is sitting there waiting for treatment, you’re here to …» Murray said before Kennedy interjected to remind her he was trying to help with Natalie’s circumstances.
«I’m offering to help here, but you don’t care. You don’t care about Natalie,» Kennedy told Murray, noting during the hearing he wanted do «everything in [his] power to try to get Natalie into [the clinical trial quicker.]»
President Donald Trump has cut billions from the NIH’s budget since taking office. (Alamy/Getty Images)
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The spat ended with Murray pivoting to a different question tied to the Trump administration’s cuts, which Kennedy spent much of Wednesday on Capitol Hill fielding questions about. Kennedy also participated in a separate House hearing Wednesday that covered the matter and other issues HHS faces.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the House Appropriations Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building May 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)
Kennedy told lawmakers he didn’t know of any agency head who wants to see budgets slashed, but he pointed out he is not the president, who, Kennedy said, has a «broader vision» than he does when it comes to spending priorities.
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«We must spend smarter,» Kennedy said Wednesday in response to inquiries about the Trump administration’s cuts at HHS. «We will shift funding away from bureaucracy toward direct impact.»
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,Executive Budgets,Senate Hearings,Politics,Congress
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Walz decision to exit governor race intensifies calls from GOP lawmakers for his resignation: ‘Easy way out’
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Democratic Gov. Tim Walz announced on Monday he is scrapping his re-election campaign for another term amid a massive fraud scandal in the state, but Republican lawmakers in Minnesota are calling the move an empty one.
«Don’t mistake Gov. Walz’s retirement for accountability,» Minnesota state Sen. Mark Koran said in a statement to Fox News Digital after Walz’s Monday announcement.
«It’s an attempt to avoid it. Republicans will keep holding ALL elected Democrats accountable for Minnesota’s fraud mess, spending every dollar of the $18 billion surplus, and raising taxes by $10 billion.»
Accountability for Walz, according to several Republican lawmakers, involves him resigning as governor, which many have called for in recent months.
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GOP lawmakers in Minnesota are not dropping their calls for Gov. Tim Walz to resign. (Getty Images)
«The Governor is taking the easy way out, but it’s not good enough,» state Sen. Michael Holmstrom said in a statement. «Minnesotans deserve and demand an IMMEDIATE resignation.»
«Governor Walz couldn’t take the FRAUD heat so he’s getting out of the kitchen, but I’m going to keep holding ALL Democrats accountable for Minnesota’s fraud mess, blowing through the entire $18 billion surplus, raising taxes by $10 billion, and making life less affordable for all Minnesotans while rejecting Republican efforts to stop fraud. I’ll keep exposing these failures and holding Democrats accountable for what they’ve done to Minnesotans.»
Walz launched his bid for a third four-year term as Minnesota governor in September, but in recent weeks has been facing a barrage of incoming political fire from President Donald Trump and Republicans, and some Democrats, over the large-scale theft in a state that has long prided itself on good governance.
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The sun shines on the Minnesota State Capitol. (Steve Karnowski/Associated Press)
More than 90 people — most from Minnesota’s large Somali community — have been charged since 2022 in what has been described as the nation’s largest COVID-era scheme. How much money has been stolen through alleged money laundering operations involving fraudulent meal and housing programs, daycare centers, and Medicaid services is still being tabulated. But the U.S. attorney in Minnesota said the scope of the fraud could exceed $1 billion and rise to as high as $9 billion.
GOP state Sen. Rich Draheim accused Walz in a statement of simply «passing the buck» with his «retirement» announcement while «blaming Republicans for his failures.»
Minnesota Republican Sen. Andrew Lang echoed the messaging from his state party in a statement concluding that «retirement isn’t accountability.»
«It’s him trying to wipe his hands clean of the fraud mess. But ALL elected Democrats own this. They fought Republican efforts to stop the fraud, failed to hold Walz’s agencies accountable, and let Minnesotans’ tax dollars get siphoned off by fraudsters.»
Walz met Sunday with Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota to discuss his decision to drop his re-election bid, a source familiar confirmed to Fox News’ Alexis McAdams.
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Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. (Bloomberg/Getty)
Word of their meeting comes amid speculation that Klobuchar, a former Hennepin County attorney who’s been elected and re-elected four times to the U.S. Senate, may now run to succeed Walz.
«Make no mistake, I don’t want Tim Walz to be our governor,» Minnesota Republican state Sen. Andrew Mathews said in a statement to Fox News Digital. «But rather than swapping Democrat governor candidates, I want to FIX the damage Gov. Walz has done: Blew through an $18 billion surplus, Raised taxes by $10 billion, Oversaw one of the largest fraud scandals in the country, Left Minnesota for months chasing a failed VP bid, Now decides to leave office.»
«This isn’t accountability. It’s avoiding it.»
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
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Nobel Peace Prize recipient Machado pledges to return to Venezuela, sees ‘alarming’ internal crackdown
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Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has vowed to return to Venezuela «as soon as possible» following America’s capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro, warning that the current regime is escalating an internal crackdown on dissent and journalists.
Speaking to «Hannity» on Monday, Machado said the moment is now right for her return after spending more than a year in hiding. She secretly escaped Venezuela last month and traveled to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which she dedicated to President Donald Trump.
«Well, first of all, I’m planning to go back to Venezuela as soon as possible,» Machado said.
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Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gestures during an anti-government protest on Jan. 9, 2025, in Caracas, Venezuela (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
«As I’ve always said, Sean, every day I make a decision where I am more useful for our cause. That’s why I stayed in hiding for over 16 months, and that’s why I decided to go out, because I believed that at this moment I’m more useful to our cause, being able to speak out from where I’m at right now. But I’m going to go as soon possible back home.»
Machado said developments in the past 24 hours have been deeply concerning, pointing to what she described as a sweeping executive order signed by Maduro on the same day he was captured and flown out of the country by U.S. forces.
«What we’re seeing right now in the last 24 hours is really alarming,» she said.
Machado said the order mandates the persecution of Venezuelans who support Trump’s actions and claimed at least 14 journalists have been detained. A state of emergency decree issued Saturday, but published Monday, orders police to «immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States,» the text of the decree reads, according to Reuters.
She said the situation must be closely monitored by the United States and the Venezuelan people, arguing that the transition away from Maduro must continue.
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Nicolás Maduro is seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a federal courthouse on Jan. 5, 2026, in New York City (XNY/Star Max/GC Images via Getty Images)
«So this is very alarming. This is something that has to be followed carefully, I’m sure, by the United States government and by the Venezuelan people,» she said. «And certainly we believe that this transition should move forward.»
Machado also sharply criticized Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, calling her unfit to lead any transitional authority. Rodríguez, who has been vice president under Maduro since 2018, was sworn in as interim president on Monday.
«Delcy Rodriguez, as you know, is one of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, narco trafficking,» Machado said. «She’s the main ally and liaison with Russia, China, Iran, certainly not an individual that could be trusted by international investors. And she’s really rejected, repudiated by the Venezuelan people.»
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Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addresses supporters at a protest against President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, the day before his inauguration for a third term. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Machado’s comments came just two days after the Trump administration announced that U.S. forces had captured the dictator and his wife, Cilia Flores, after successful «large-scale» military strikes targeting the Venezuelan government. The dictator and his wife are now being held in New York while they await trial on narco-terrorism charges.
Fox News’ Maria Lencki and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
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Delcy Rodríguez juró como presidenta de Venezuela: «Vengo con dolor por el secuestro de dos héroes que tenemos de rehenes en Estados Unidos»
Delcy Rodríguez juró este lunes como nueva presidenta de Venezuela tras el arresto de Nicolás Maduro por parte de la administración de Donald Trump. «Vengo con dolor (a jurar) por el secuestro de dos héroes que tenemos de rehenes en Estados Unidos», dijo.
Con su mano derecha en alto, Rodríguez sostuvo que afrontaba el juramento «con dolor por el sufrimiento que se le ha causado al pueblo venezolano luego de una agresión militar ilegítima«.
Rodríguez prestó juramente ante Jorge Rodríguez, su hermano, quien fue fue reelecto como presidente del Parlamento.
Tras la referencia al operativo de los Delta Force de Estados Unidos para capturar a Nicolás Maduro y a su esposa Cilia Flores, la ahora a cargo del Ejecutivo venezolano añadió que ese dolor es también por «el secuestro de los héroes«, ahora en manos de la Justicia norteamericana con cargos vinculados al narcotráfico y terrorismo.
Sin embargo, en el final llegó el mensaje político de su juramento, ya que convocó a todos los sectores políticos, sociales y económicos del país «para sacar adelante a Venezuela en estas horas terribles».
«Juro por Bolívar, juro por nuestros libertadores, juro por nuestra libertadora y juro por nuestros hermanos y hermanas que nos acompañan y deben sumarse como un solo pueblo desde todos los sectores políticos de Venezuela, desde todos los sectores sociales, económicos, que juremos como un solo país para sacar adelante a Venezuela en estas horas terribles de amenaza contra la estabilidad y la paz de la nación. Juro».
«Vengo con dolor pero debo decir que vengo también con honor», dijo hacia el inicio de su juramento. Explicó que lo hizo por sus compatriotas y los próceres del país, entre los cuales destacó a Simón Bolivar, máximo referente histórico del chavismo.
También juró por Hugo Chávez sobre el cual afirmó que «dio vida a millones de venezolanos y de venezolanas». «Les devolvió la dignidad como ciudadanos y como ciudadanas», añadió.
Con la mirada fija a quien le tomó juramento, su hermano, y sin bajar su mano, habló de los niños venezolanos y de la juventud, a quienes les prometió «porvenir y futuro».
Enumeró a familiares por los que también juró y, agregó, lo hizo «con honor». Prometió no darle descanso a su brazo «ni reposo» a su alma «para ver a Venezuela en el destino que le corresponde, en el pedestal de honor histórico que le corresponde como una nación libre, soberana e independiente».
«Juro por el pueblo de Venezuela, a no descansar ni un minuto para garantizar la paz de la república, la tranquilidad espiritual de nuestro pueblo, la tranquilidad económica y social de nuestro pueblo y juro entonces sobre las bases de nuestro padre libertador en su discurso en Angostura», continuó su juramento que duró casi cinco minutos.
Ya sobre el final, habló de «garantizar un gobierno que de felicidad social, estabilidad política y seguridad política».
El Parlamento de Venezuela inauguró este lunes un nuevo periodo legislativo (2026-2031) dominado nuevamente por el chavismo, en medio de la incertidumbre sobre qué rumbo tomará el régimen después de que Delcy Rodríguez tendió la mano a Estados Unidos el domingo para cooperar.
De los 285 diputados de la Asamblea Nacional 256 son afectos a Maduro, quien enfrenta cargos de narcotráfico y terrorismo en un tribunal federal en Nueva York.
Maduro y su mujer Cilia Flores fueron extraídos de su casa en una base militar en Caracas y llevados a la fuerza a Estados Unidos, en un operativo sorpresa que se cobró la vida de varios venezolanos, al menos 20 o cerca de 40, según las fuentes.
Durante la sesión inaugural, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, hijo del depuesto líder, dijo el lunes que su padre y la primera dama Cilia Flores «volverán» a Venezuela «más temprano que tarde» de Estados Unidos.
«Ellos volverán. Nuestros ojos lo verán. Seremos testigos de ese momento histórico. No tengan dudas que eso va a pasar en el nombre de Dios todopoderoso», dijo el diputado Maduro Guerra en la instalación del Parlamento.
En tanto, el hijo de Maduro luego brindó su «apoyo incondicional» a la presidenta interina de Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez.
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