Live updates: Todd Blanche grilled in confirmation hearing

Key Points:

• Dr. Erica Schwartz, nominated to lead the CDC, expressed agreement with President Trump’s criticisms of the World Health Organization, praising the America First Global Health Strategy and emphasizing protecting taxpayers post-US withdrawal from WHO.
• During his confirmation hearing, DNI nominee Jay Clayton avoided definitive answers on voter fraud and the 2020 election outcome, raising concerns among Democrats about potential politicization of intelligence.
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche committed to prioritizing prosecutions against birth tourism schemes and defended the DOJ’s transparency in releasing Epstein files while denying evidence of ongoing investigations related to additional perpetrators.
• Schwartz affirmed her commitment to the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, focusing on nutrition and disease prevention, but was noncommittal on vaccine policy changes; Senate HELP Committee members pressed her on vaccine trust and independence from political influence.
• Sean Kaufman, nominated to lead HHS’s Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, distanced himself from past vaccine skepticism, affirming vaccine safety while acknowledging his previous opposition to COVID-19 mandates and policies.