The Daily

The C.D.C.’s Vaccine Chief on Why Quitting Was His Only Option

29 Aug 2025

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Over the past 24 hours, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been plunged into turmoil.Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tried to fire the agency’s director, Susan Monarez, igniting a standoff that prompted three other senior officials to resign.One of those officials, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, explains why he chose to take a stand.Guest: Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, a former director at the C.D.C.Background reading: The Covid-19 pandemic made the C.D.C. a frequent target of lawmakers and segments of the general public.Mr. Kennedy’s move to dismiss Dr. Monarez came after she declined to fire agency leaders or to accept all recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel, according to people with knowledge of the events.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Alyssa Pointer/Reuters Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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The Daily

The C.D.C.’s Vaccine Chief on Why Quitting Was His Only Option

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other episodes from The Daily

Why the Ebola Outbreak Has Been Nearly Impossible to Stop

How Elon Musk Engineered the World’s Biggest I.P.O.

Inside Trump’s Mad Dash to Renovate Washington

Olivia Rodrigo Tried Writing Love Songs. Then Life Got Messy.

Want to ‘Optimize’ Your Happiness? This Happiness Expert Says: Don’t.

Stranded in the Strait of Hormuz

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