On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Ed O’Keefe:
- Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat
- Dr. Céline Gounder is a CBS Information medical contributor and KFF editor-at-large for public well being
- CBS Information senior White Home reporter Jennifer Jacobs, Politico’s’ Capitol bureau chief Rachael Bade and Washington Put up’s chief political correspondent Karen Tumulty
- World Meals Programme govt director Cindy McCain
Click on right here to browse full transcripts from 2025 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
ED O’KEEFE: I am Ed O’Keefe in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation: With President Trump seeking to increase immigration and crime crackdowns in additional U.S. cities, we’ll hear solely from Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem.
Boosted by a drop in crime within the nation’s capital following the deployment of federal regulation enforcement and Nationwide Guard troops to scrub up D.C., the president units his sights on one other potential goal, Chicago.
We visited the Windy Metropolis and toured a neighborhood the place the crime fee has dropped with the governor of Illinois, Democrat J.B. Pritzker.
(Start VT)
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER (D-Illinois): What they’re saying they’re attempting to do is combat crime, however, truly, they’re simply attempting to scare folks.
(Finish VT)
ED O’KEEFE: Pritzker tells us Trump and Secretary Noem’s mission is un- American.
(Start VT)
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: It is clear that, in secret, they’re planning this – properly, it is an invasion with U.S. troops in the event that they in truth try this.
(Finish VT)
ED O’KEEFE: Plus: the shakeup on the Facilities for Illness Management. After the firing of the newly confirmed director, a bunch of prime consultants give up in protest. CBS medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder will inform us why this issues to public well being.
Then, World Meals Programme govt director Cindy McCain joins us following a visit to Gaza, the place her group is working to feed lots of of 1000’s threatened by famine.
Lastly, we’ll replicate on the passing of a Washington establishment, legendary CBS Information radio reporter Mark Knoller.
It is all simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. Margaret is off on this Labor Day weekend. I am Ed O’Keefe.
We start in the present day with Secretary of Homeland Safety, Kristi Noem, who’s becoming a member of us from Florida.
Madam Secretary, thanks for being with us.
KRISTI NOEM (U.S. Homeland Safety Secretary): Completely, Ed. Thanks for inviting me.
ED O’KEEFE: Sure. Nicely, we now have quite a bit to debate.
And we wish to begin with this, as a result of we have discovered that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning on increasing operations within the coming days to Chicago. When are these operations anticipated to begin? And also you mentioned in current days that you simply’re utilizing the current deployments in Los Angeles as a mannequin. What does that imply?
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: Nicely, we have already had ongoing operations with ICE in Chicago and all through Illinois and different states, ensuring that we’re upholding our legal guidelines.
However we do intend so as to add extra sources to these operations. I will not disclose the small print as a result of they’re regulation enforcement and investigative people which are on the bottom there, and I wish to ensure we hold their safety our primary precedence.
However we’ll proceed to go after the worst of the worst throughout the nation, like President Trump has advised us to do, specializing in these which are perpetuating homicide and rape and trafficking of medicine and people throughout our nation, understanding that each single citizen deserves to be protected.
ED O’KEEFE: A part of what distinguished the Los Angeles operations, nonetheless, is that Nationwide Guard troops have been there, in essence, defending or backing up these federal brokers as they performed operations.
Is that what we should always anticipate to see in Chicago?
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: You realize, that at all times is a prerogative of President Trump and his determination. I will not converse to the specifics of the operations which are deliberate in different cities, however I do know that L.A. would not be standing in the present day if President Trump hadn’t taken motion.
And that metropolis would have burned down if left to the units of the mayor and the governor of that state. And so the residents who dwell there, the small enterprise house owners in downtown L.A., they’re grateful that President Trump got here in with federal regulation enforcement officers and helped assist preserving these streets open, hold their properties and companies from burning down, and made positive the regulation and order was restored.
ED O’KEEFE: I simply wish to make clear one factor you mentioned there. You mentioned L.A. would not be standing if not for these federal deployments?
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: So lots of these properties and companies that have been in downtown L.A. and in these areas have been coping with riots and violence. And coming in and bringing these federal regulation enforcement officers in was extremely necessary to preserving peace.
And so we’re grateful that President Trump was prepared to ship sources and other people in, so as to implement the regulation. And, Ed, since then, we now have arrested 5,000 harmful unlawful criminals out of L.A. and eliminated them from our nation and had them face justice for his or her crimes.
ED O’KEEFE: So, as you realize, we spoke with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker about all this. And I requested him what he’d say to you about these forthcoming plans. Let’s play that and allow you to reply after.
(Start VT)
ED O’KEEFE: If she have been to name you, what would you say? What’s your message to her?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER (D-Illinois): Nicely, I inform her that what she’s doing is inflaming passions and inflicting disruption that does not must be brought about.
We’ve those who have lived, sure, within the state of Illinois, within the metropolis of Chicago for many years, working right here, paying taxes. They’re law-abiding members of our communities, buddies, neighbors. And why are we arresting them? Why are we making them disappear?
Certainly, they’re even disrupting the lives of people who find themselves making an attempt to undergo a authorized course of to remain on this nation, who’ve been invited to a listening to, after which they’re arresting them within the hallways on their option to that listening to.
So that is harmful. They should not be doing it. It is anti-American. It is un-American. And I might inform her to possibly test herself for, what does she actually imagine?
ED O’KEEFE: She’s additionally vital the truth that Chicago is likely one of the cities that does not cooperate with federal immigration operations, and he or she was quoted as saying that Illinois – quote – “refuses to have our again.”
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: Nicely, that is not true. In reality, there have been cops who made positive that there was no person interfering or attacking or inflicting issues for the ICE officers that have been right here.
Folks have a proper to specific themselves. Folks have a proper to their First Modification, you realize, freedom to specific. And we defend that too within the metropolis of Chicago. So it isn’t true that the no person has their backs.
What we can’t do, nonetheless, is interact in what’s a federal effort. That’s to say, they’ve their job, immigration. We’ve our job, which is to combat violent crime on the streets of our metropolis. And, by the way in which, we’re succeeding at that job. However once they convey folks in and do not coordinate with us, they are going to trigger huge issues.
(Finish VT)
ED O’KEEFE: Madam Secretary, your response?
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: Nicely, for 13 consecutive years, Chicago had extra murders than every other American metropolis. In reality, simply final 12 months, in 2024, that they had 3 times the quantity of murders that L.A. did, 5 instances greater than New York Metropolis.
So he can discuss what a terrific job he is doing as governor, however he is failing these households who will now not have their little one with them, their mom or their father or their cousin, aunt, and uncle which are gone perpetually due to the violence that is taking place in Chicago.
So I used to be a governor for a few years. So I acknowledge the tasks that you’ve got in your shoulder whenever you’re a governor. And I’ll inform you, as a governor, once I needed to make robust selections, and once I had disagreements with the Biden administration or challenges my folks have been dealing with, I referred to as up the Biden administration.
I went and talked to them. I requested for conferences. I fought for my folks. This looks like it is extra about Governor Pritzker’s ego now, reasonably than truly defending his folks. If he has one homicide within the metropolis of Chicago, he needs to be calling President Trump and saying, what’s your concepts? What can we do?
They do not even honor our detainers in Chicago. They do not go on the market and work with us to ensure we’re bringing folks to justice. And, as a substitute, he goes on TV and he assaults me, after we’re doing precisely what these folks want, is, they want somebody to assist them get the damaging criminals off their streets.
And if he has one, two, 5 or 10, these victims and their households should stroll in freedom on these streets and never have to fret about what is going on to occur to them on their option to their jobs.
ED O’KEEFE: Certain.
Are you planning, past Chicago, to increase these sorts of operations to different cities? There have been reviews, for instance, that Boston could very properly quickly be subsequent.
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: I believe there’s a number of cities which are coping with crime and violence proper now.
And so we’ve not taken something off the desk. We have been ensuring that we now have the sources and the tools to go in. We have been working to accomplice with each single company that we are able to. We’ve lots of and lots of of agreements with native regulation enforcement, sheriffs, metropolis directors that – and mayors throughout the nation that wish to remedy issues.
I might encourage each single massive metropolis, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, no matter they’re, in the event that they wish to assist make their metropolis safer, extra affluent, enable folks the chance to stroll in freedom, just like the folks of Washington, D.C. are actually, and having fun with going out to eat at evening and never having to fret if they are going to be a sufferer of a carjacking or a theft, they need to name us.
ED O’KEEFE: You talked about there are a bunch of cities in Democratic- managed states with Democratic mayors. And there have been a number of questions requested about that focus.
There are Republican cities with main crime points as properly, and we have not heard about plans to deploy, say, to Dallas or to Oklahoma Metropolis, or to cities in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi which have appreciable crime charges, in some instances greater, percentage-wise, than these different cities you talked about.
Are there plans to go to purple states and Republican-controlled cities in this type of manner?
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: Completely.
ED O’KEEFE: OK.
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: Each single metropolis is evaluated for what we have to do there to make it safer. So we have operations that, once more, I will not discuss particulars on, however we completely should not wanting via the point of view at something we’re doing with a political lens.
ED O’KEEFE: One of the vital-high profile examples of somebody who’s been rounded up by ICE in current months is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and the destiny of his scenario remains to be up within the air.
He is awaiting trial on human smuggling expenses set for January in Tennessee, however your division can be working to get him deported to Uganda. If he broke the regulation on this nation, because the administration alleges, should not he be held right here and face expenses right here, as a substitute of being deported?
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: Nicely, prosecution selections are at all times made by the Division of Justice and – and Pam Bondi’s division. So we’ll allow them to try this.
Though this particular person does have prison expenses pending, he has expenses pending in opposition to him civilly as properly. And the one factor that we’ll proceed to do is to ensure that he would not stroll free in the USA of America.
ED O’KEEFE: However I heard you say that we’ll let the Justice Division try this. Does this imply that – does that imply the push to deport him to Uganda is off?
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: Oh, we’ll nonetheless proceed to pursue all choices.
ED O’KEEFE: OK.
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: We’ll ensure that he isn’t launched into this nation. So, no matter that, sure, completely.
He is not an American citizen, and he should not be right here. And particularly due to his harmful prison actions, we should always be sure that we depart each avenue on the desk.
ED O’KEEFE: Received it.
So, amongst different issues, you oversee FEMA, the Federal Emergency Administration Company, as we hit the height of hurricane season. And we’re marking the twentieth anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina this weekend 20 years in the past. Is the federal authorities ready to answer a significant catastrophe at this second?
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: We’re completely extra ready than the final administration and doing a significantly better job responding to the disasters we have already skilled since President Trump has been within the White Home.
We have had over a dozen, shut to twenty completely different disasters all through the nation simply since President Trump has been the president of the USA. And we now have deployed sources twice as quick as FEMA ever has prior to now, gotten folks on the bottom over one hundred pc faster than every other administration has.
In reality, with the disasters that we noticed that have been so horrific and devastating in Texas and New Mexico, North Carolina, we have had folks on the bottom inside hours responding to these households that have been in disaster.
ED O’KEEFE: Proper.
I convey this up as a result of a part of what you are suggesting there’s in dispute from a handful of present and former FEMA workers who wrote to Congress this previous week elevating considerations concerning the company’s skill to answer forthcoming pure disasters.
One of many particular considerations they’ve is that this determination that now has you reviewing any price of $100,000 or extra that FEMA plans to make. Are you able to give me an instance of a cost of $100,000 or extra that you’ve got rejected?
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: Sure, completely.
We paid lots of of 1000’s of {dollars}, tens of millions of {dollars} to a one- lady agency to ship to us 30 million meals, and he or she delivered solely 50,000 to us. And it was a – one individual that the state – federal authorities had contracted with so as to ship 30 million. And I do not understand how they ever anticipated one particular person to try this.
We – we had an individual that was being paid lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} to guide conferences…
ED O’KEEFE: OK.
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: … that – of lower than 10 to fifteen folks, and with no conferences that we noticed that have been productive or could not be carried out by sending an e-mail.
Over and over, we’re taking a look at these contracts and taking a look at the truth that, are they duplicative, are they simply supporting woke ideologies, DEI, or are they really delivering catastrophe response, which is what FEMA job is, is to place in place operations to assist states and native governments to deal with folks.
And so that analysis has saved us lots of of tens of millions of {dollars} inside FEMA. And throughout the Division of Homeland Safety, it has saved us $13 billion already. And we’ll take into account – proceed to ensure that we’re accountable to taxpayers.
ED O’KEEFE: A minimum of 20 of the individuals who signed this letter have been present FEMA workers, they usually’ve been positioned on administrative depart.
And I had heard you in earlier interviews recommend that these which are making accusations in opposition to the company ought to put their names on the criticisms of the allegations. So, now they’ve, they usually’ve been positioned on administrative depart.
And I am curious if it is now the coverage of DHS that any time an worker places their identify on one thing, publicly criticizes you or the president’s management, that they need to anticipate being placed on depart or fired.
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: This – this letter was signed by many individuals anonymously. There was some who had their names on there.
And those that had their names on there have been momentary contract workers who had labored for the Division of Homeland Safety for lower than a 12 months, people who should not long-term FEMA workers, who – who seize ahold of the mission to be there, to go and serve people and to – are deployed throughout the nation, and have for years to ensure they’re conscious of households of their time of want.
So, completely, each worker will likely be evaluated as to in the event that they’re doing their job and in the event that they’re doing it appropriately.
ED O’KEEFE: All proper, Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem becoming a member of us this Sunday from Florida, thanks a lot. Heaps to debate. We respect it.
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: Thanks, Ed. Admire it.
ED O’KEEFE: Face the Nation is again in a single minute. Stick with us.
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ED O’KEEFE: On Friday, we traveled to Chicago and sat down with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. He invited us there prematurely of the expanded federal presence Secretary Noem was simply speaking about.
Here is what he advised us.
(Start VT)
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER (D-Illinois): We hope that they do not ship any troops together with ICE. And, in the event that they do, they will be in court docket fairly rapidly, as a result of that’s unlawful. Posse Comitatus doesn’t enable U.S. troops into U.S. cities to do – you realize, to combat crime, to be concerned in regulation enforcement. That is not their job.
ED O’KEEFE: In the event that they’re doing federal immigration work, a decide would possibly say, in the event that they’re defending these federal brokers, that is OK. I imply, you may simply combat that in court docket so long as you possibly can?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: Nicely, Nationwide Guard troops, any sort of troops on the streets of an American metropolis do not belong, until there’s an revolt, until there’s really an emergency. There may be not.
ED O’KEEFE: Have you ever been briefed by anybody within the administration about these plans?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: Nobody within the administration, the president, or anyone underneath him, has referred to as anybody in my administration or – and me – haven’t referred to as the town of Chicago or anybody else.
So it is clear that, in secret, they’re planning this – properly, it is an invasion with U.S. troops, in the event that they, in truth, try this. The opposite factor is, you realize, they should be coordinating with native regulation enforcement. They should tell us once they’re coming, the place they’re coming, if it is ICE or if it is ATF or whoever it’s.
However they do not wish to try this both. And I have to say, it is disruptive. It is harmful. It tends to inflame passions on the bottom once they do not tell us what their plans are and after we cannot coordinate with them.
ED O’KEEFE: The president has had some issues to say concerning the Windy Metropolis a number of instances in current days.
(Start VT)
DONALD TRUMP (President of the USA): Subsequent needs to be Chicago, as a result of, as you all know, Chicago is a killing area proper now.
All people is aware of Chicago is a hellhole proper now. All people is aware of it.
(Finish VT)
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: You realize, he wakes up within the morning and no matter whim strikes him is what he apparently says.
And just lately, I assume I’ve been dwelling rent-free in his head. Chicago apparently resides rent-free in his head, though, on different days he’ll discuss Baltimore, he’ll discuss New York. Discover he by no means talks about the place essentially the most violent crime is going on, which is in purple states.
Illinois just isn’t even within the backside half of states by way of violent crime. However do you hear him speaking about Florida, the place he’s now from? No, you do not hear him speaking about that, or Texas. Their violent crime charges are a lot worse in different places. And we’re very happy with the work that we have carried out. And we wish extra assist.
You realize what sort of assist we wish? Civilian regulation enforcement assist. We want ATF brokers to assist us take extra weapons off the streets. We want FBI, once more, to coordinate with our native regulation enforcement to assist catch perpetrators of crimes. If they might try this, we might welcome that.
However that is not what they’re planning on doing.
ED O’KEEFE: So, backside line, would extra federal brokers in Chicago, helping native regulation enforcement assist deter crime proper now?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: In fact. You wish to assist us catch dangerous guys? Assist – convey the FBI. Deliver the ATF. We already coordinate with them, by the way in which. We do a number of work with them.
We do some – we do drug interdiction, we do preventing gangs, and we do, you realize, interdiction of weapons on the borders.
ED O’KEEFE: A part of the explanation I ask concerning the potential for federal deployments to assist proper now could be that, based on a CBS Information information evaluation of what is gone on in Washington simply in the previous couple of weeks, properly, crime there as properly was down, and normally down double digits.
It is down almost 50 p.c within the three weeks for the reason that Nationwide Guard moved in, assaults down 41 p.c, homicides down 69 p.c, theft down 63 p.c, and the mayor concedes carjacking, which had grow to be a much bigger drawback, down 83 p.c for the reason that federal brokers confirmed up.
So this type of deployment he is arrange in Washington that he says he needs to do in different cities, a minimum of in Washington, is displaying potential success. And what I hear you saying is, properly, positive, in the event that they present up, it’d assist us too?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: I am saying we do not need troops on the streets of American cities.
ED O’KEEFE: Proper.
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: That is un-American. And, frankly, the president of the USA should know higher. This one would not appear to. He hasn’t learn any books. He would not appear to grasp the Structure or the legal guidelines.
ED O’KEEFE: But when he simply sends the FBI, the ATF, DEA…
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: They’re – sure, they’re right here already.
ED O’KEEFE: … and sends extra of them?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: We’ve some working with us now. Would love extra assist.
You realize what else he is doing? He is reducing funds that assist us to combat violent crime from the federal authorities.
ED O’KEEFE: Give me an instance of how these cuts have affected the power to combat crime in Chicago.
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: So, let me simply inform you what occurred in Illinois after we had a Republican governor and he minimize funding for applications that helped forestall crime.
What occurred was we, noticed a big improve in crime. Donald Trump is now doing the identical factor. He is taking away federal funding for these applications that are so necessary to us. We have elevated funding on the state degree, however we’d like that federal funding. It is on prime of that.
Yet one more factor. The enterprise neighborhood within the metropolis of Chicago received collectively and put $100 million ahead to assist us, again in 2022, to assist us to combat crime via these prevention applications. It is working. Crime is down.
I imply, murders are down 50 p.c within the metropolis of Chicago. And you’ll undergo each statistic. Virtually all the pieces is significantly better because of that work. Donald Trump is attempting to take that cash away. And he is not listening to the enterprise neighborhood right here. He is not listening to the clergy right here. He is not listening to folks on the bottom, Republicans right here who perceive that placing troops on the town of Chicago’s streets goes to trigger extra issues than he understands.
ED O’KEEFE: What do you assume it should do to the nation if that occurs? Deploying in Washington, the place he has federal management, is one factor, but when he sends navy forces into a significant American metropolis in a state that did not ask for it, past Los Angeles, what do Individuals make of that?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: Nicely, they need to perceive that he has different goals aside from preventing crime. That is the very first thing they need to perceive.
The second is, it is an assault on the American folks by the president of the USA. Now, he could disagree with a state that did not vote for him, however ought to he be sending troops in? No.
ED O’KEEFE: You mentioned he has different goals. What are the opposite goals?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: The opposite goals are that he’d prefer to cease the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take management of these elections.
He’ll simply declare that there is some drawback with an election, after which he is received troops on the bottom that may take management, if, in truth, he is allowed to do that.
ED O’KEEFE: I hear you speaking about invasion. I hear you – him about – I hear you speaking about him suspending elections. Is it your perception he is an authoritarian?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: Look, I can inform you this.
I constructed a Holocaust museum. I do know what the historical past was of a constitutional republic being overturned after an election in 53 days. And I am very, very involved. We may discuss numerous authoritarian regimes on the earth, however that simply occurs to be the one which I do know.
And I can inform you that – that the playbook is identical. It is thwart the media. It is create mayhem that requires navy interdiction. These are issues that occurred all through historical past. And Donald Trump is simply following that playbook.
ED O’KEEFE: Is there any probability Illinois redraws its congressional strains earlier than subsequent 12 months’s midterm elections?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: That is not one thing that I wish to do. It isn’t one thing that any of us wish to do.
However I’ve to say, if Donald Trump goes to drive his will on the American folks by going to his MAGA allies in varied states and have them – having them redraw in the midst of a decade, whenever you’re alleged to be doing it proper after a census, with a 12 months ending in 1, not a 12 months ending in 5, if he is going to try this everywhere in the nation, I believe all of us have to consider what it’s that we are able to do to counter that.
ED O’KEEFE: What a lot – what rather more may you do, although, as an Illinois Democrat? I imply, your map already will get an F from most good authorities teams for being gerrymandered. Would you wipe out all of the Republican districts?
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: Sure, it’s potential to have extra Democratic districts within the state of Illinois, and we – we may do it. Like I mentioned, it isn’t one thing that I wish to do.
(Finish VT)
ED O’KEEFE: We will likely be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
ED O’KEEFE: We will likely be proper again with much more Face the Nation. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
ED O’KEEFE: We’re joined now by Dr. Celine Gounder, CBS Information medical contributor and the editor at massive for public well being at KFF Well being Information.
Physician, so nice to see you. Thanks for coming to Washington for this necessary dialog as a result of it has been a fairly chaotic week on the CDC, to say the least. We have seen the ouster of the pinnacle of the company, who’d solely been confirmed by the Senate this summer season. She’s now mounting a authorized problem to that. Different prime officers additionally departed. They’re nonetheless reeling from a capturing on the headquarters in Atlanta a number of weeks in the past.
What are these departures so necessary to pay attention to, and the way do they have an effect on you, me and everyone else by way of well being and – and drugs?
CELINE GOUNDER: I believe it is actually necessary to grasp that this isn’t simply palace intrigue. This actually does have an effect on all of us. So, not simply the director, however the folks answerable for respiratory infections, vaccine security, the chief medical officer, the one that is answerable for public well being information additionally resigned earlier this week. So, these are actually key positions, to not point out that a number of the administrators of the completely different facilities, as a result of it is facilities, plural, have additionally been pressured out during the last a number of months. So, you are actually coping with a management vacuum on the CDC. So, this isn’t enterprise as regular.
And so, particularly, how does this have an effect on you and me, people watching at house? So, to start with, vaccine coverage. Vaccine coverage is now being made by political fiat and communicated via social media, reasonably than a clear, open, scientific evaluation course of. And so, we’re seeing the reversal of earlier suggestions, which will even confuse whether or not insurance coverage will cowl sure vaccines for sure folks. And it is already sowing large confusion at pharmacies, in addition to docs’ places of work.
ED O’KEEFE: So, there’s a sequence of conferences developing concerning the way forward for vaccines, and the way they are going to be accessible, who will get them. Inform us about that and – and the considerations that a few of these now former CDC officers had about what would possibly occur at these conferences.
CELINE GOUNDER: Sure, so what – these conferences are scheduled for mid- September. A number of the issues on the agenda embrace the new child Hepatitis B dose. We usually give it to newborns as a result of that is to stop transmission from the mom to the newborn, so it is one of the widespread ways in which Hepatitis B is transmitted.
ED O’KEEFE: One of many first photographs a child will get.
CELINE GOUNDER: One of many first photographs it will get, for good purpose. Additionally safety for infants from RSV, one of the widespread causes of hospitalization amongst infants. Quantity three, the Covid shot. And we anticipate to see a tightening of availability, eligibility of Covid photographs, particularly for wholesome youngsters and adults.
After which lastly, the mixed measles, mumps, rubella, varicella vaccine, and revisiting long-standing childhood vaccine suggestions would actually be unprecedented right here.
ED O’KEEFE: So, it is mainly each shot you get, from like zero to 18, is now up for debate. After which the Covid shot, after all, which is a crucial one for many individuals, on a daily rolling foundation?
CELINE GOUNDER: Sure, some actually basic items that we now have counted on for a really very long time. A number of the core considerations with the method includes cherry selecting of knowledge, scientific opinions being altered or pulled, and unvetted research being rushed into the method, into policymaking. And that is actually an inversion of radical transparency.
ED O’KEEFE: Sure. There was a – there’s an instance in current days as a result of there’s – we’re beginning – you realize, fall’s coming, Covid picks up. We have already seen one instance of a college in Kansas Metropolis that was pressured to close down quickly attributable to Covid. And there have been spikes in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, particularly. What do folks at house have to know as the autumn approaches and Covid begins to spike?
CELINE GOUNDER: Nicely, I believe, to start with, vaccinations are for a lot of completely different functions. So, it is to stop extreme illness, hospitalization and loss of life. However for lots of people, you could not be capable to name in sick from work very simply. Like for us, it is actually arduous to take break day, even should you actually are sick. You would possibly wish to hold your youngsters in class. And so one of the simplest ways to maintain your self at work or your youngsters in class is for them to get vaccinated so that you and they aren’t getting sick.
ED O’KEEFE: Let’s – and we should always level out, by the way in which, that faculty closed. Set to open once more on Tuesday. However the truth that they needed to shut in any respect, proper, as the varsity 12 months’s begins, is an indication probably of issues to return if folks do not get their photographs.
Let’s backside line this. I am a 42-year-old man with bronchial asthma. Am I going to have points getting my Covid shot?
CELINE GOUNDER: You’ll not as a result of though you are underneath 65 – so, the suggestions or the FDA approval is for folks 65 and older, they’re all good. They will get their Covid shot.
Below 65, when you’ve got a minimum of one threat issue for extreme Covid, you may as well get your Covid shot. So, you possibly can completely – that is not a difficulty for you, Ed.
ED O’KEEFE: However it’s, you realize, youngsters underneath 18, they’re completely wholesome, partner, getting old mother and father, it is up within the air.
CELINE GOUNDER: Sure, so getting old mother and father over 65, they – they’re eligible. However say you are between six months and 64 years of age, and also you shouldn’t have a threat issue for extreme Covid, that’s the group the place we actually have a number of uncertainty. Now, I ought to level out, being pregnant is a threat issue for extreme Covid. So, your wholesome spouse, as an example she have been pregnant, which I do not assume she is.
ED O’KEEFE: Nope.
CELINE GOUNDER: But when she have been, she can be eligible for a Covid shot.
ED O’KEEFE: All proper. Dr. Celine Gounder, we love having you to assist us perceive all this. We respect you coming down. Good to see you.
And we will likely be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
ED O’KEEFE: We’re joined now by a panel of political journalists who – who know what they’re speaking about. Let’s put it that manner. CBS Information senior White Home reporter Jennifer Jacobs, “Politico’s” Capitol bureau chief Rachael Bade, and “Washington Put up” newly minted chief political correspondent Karen Tumulty.
Nice to see all of you.
We have been simply speaking to Dr. Gounder concerning the ouster of the CDC director. We have seen the ouster of a handful of different officers on the Federal Reserve.
Jennifer, I perceive you’ve got some new info on the place the president could also be in search of to oust folks subsequent.
JENNIFER JACOBS: Nicely, it isn’t like they are going company to company and selecting an company that they are attempting to scrub out. It is a little bit extra random than that.
However I can inform you that they are actually critical about attempting to weed out individuals who they assume are working at – at cross functions to their agenda. I requested round if there are extra firings coming, and I used to be advised, sure, definitively.
And I will inform you a fast anecdote and that sort of illustrate this.
ED O’KEEFE: Certain.
JENNIFER JACOBS: So, there was a shock birthday celebration a number of days in the past for one of many president’s prime advisers, Stephen Miller. And he was entertaining this crowd, which included a bunch of cupboard secretaries and Home Speaker Mike Johnson and different VIPs. And he was explaining about how, again within the day, when he and Mike Johnson have been simply, you realize, basically nobodies, he would run his concepts by Mike Johnson and he – though Stephen thought they have been loopy even himself, Mike Johnson mentioned that they have been good concepts. And Stephen mentioned, a few of the stuff we’re attempting now could be untested.
However it simply actually illustrated how this president and his closest advisors are prepared to do no matter it takes to attempt to push out those who they assume are at cross functions to their agenda, and that features folks at these quasi-independent businesses, whether or not it is the paperwork that they inherited or whether or not it is those who the president personally interviewed and chosen, just like the CDC director.
ED O’KEEFE: Sure.
RACHAEL BADE (Capitol Bureau Chief And Senior Washington Correspondent, “Politico”: You realize, when Donald Trump talked on the marketing campaign path about draining the swamp, I imply he is been speaking about this for 10 years, I do not assume lots of people, you realize, thought he was speaking about well being officers, about scientist, about individuals who work in nationwide safety. However, clearly, he’s taking it, his kind of, you realize, mantra to that time proper now.
And I imply we now have to – we now have to acknowledge that lots of people have mentioned, Donald Trump would not have this authority when it got here to DOGE and eliminating a number of federal staff, people mentioned, look, they’ve a number of protections. You may’t try this.
Nicely, the courts, a number of them, have sided with him. And so, he is taking it to the subsequent step right here. And, you realize, there’s a number of questions on whether or not he can do it. However clearly, he will attempt. And he is succeeded quite a bit within the courts, the place lots of people thought he wouldn’t.
ED O’KEEFE: However with Congress coming again, what are they going to do about it?
RACHAEL BADE: Nicely –
KAREN TUMULTY: Nothing.
BADE: Sure. Good – fairly –
KAREN TUMULTY: Mainly nothing. And this isn’t solely – it is – it isn’t solely a battle on experience, however the – within the early phases it was all about going after the so-called deep state authorities workers, the paperwork. Now they’ve begun to oust their very own folks, their very own appointees.
ED O’KEEFE: And as you write in the present day, many of the conservative motion sort of hangs again, stays quiet about it, and lets it occur.
KAREN TUMULTY: Precisely.
RACHAEL BADE: Not simply stays quiet about it, they’re encouraging it.
ED O’KEEFE: Proper.
RACHAEL BADE: I imply, take a look at Laura Loomer and what she has – has been doing by way of pushing for firings. And he or she’s been very profitable.
ED O’KEEFE: You heard Secretary Noem discuss crime. You noticed Illinois Governor Pritzker’s response to that, Rachael.
RACHAEL BADE: Uh-huh.
ED O’KEEFE: Republicans, clearly, see this as a successful concern for them. How is Congress going to choose this up? As a result of a number of this has transpired since their summer season break started.
RACHAEL BADE: Sure.
ED O’KEEFE: They are going to get requested all kinds of questions this week as they arrive again about whether or not there’s one thing they should do to step in.
RACHAEL BADE: Look, I believe you are going to see Republicans lean into it. I imply, clearly, that is an initiative that Donald Trump himself has been pushing. I do not assume should you ask lawmakers, particularly Republican lawmakers in July in the event that they have been going to be centered on a giant crime invoice in September, I do not assume anybody would have advised you that that will be the case.
However Donald Trump has been very profitable by way of altering the narrative. I imply when you concentrate on lawmakers leaving city on the finish of July, everybody was centered on Epstein and the way the president could not shake the narrative. Now they’re coming again and the total focus of Washington is on crime. And this is a matter, as I’ve written in my column, that very a lot advantages Republicans. I imply there are polls that present a number of the nation would not like what he is doing with the Nationwide Guard.
ED O’KEEFE: Proper.
RACHAEL BADE: However with regards to folks’s approval score of Trump and crime, he is at one thing like 54 p.c based on a current AP ballot.
ED O’KEEFE: Sure. So, he is discovered a brand new – a brand new concern to assist enhance him.
RACHAEL BADE: Sure, after all.
KAREN TUMULTY: The phrase he used this week was “lure.” That Democrats are strolling right into a lure. And, in truth, crime is a matter that has at all times been problematic for Democrats –
RACHAEL BADE: Sure.
KAREN TUMULTY: As a result of they’re kind of caught between not desirous to look tender on public security, but additionally defending civil rights, that are one in every of their core values.
ED O’KEEFE: Which is what I assumed made the governor’s reply attention-grabbing, the place he mentioned, sure, you are proper, I am not serving to the federal authorities with immigration as a result of we’re fearful about crime and public security on the state and native degree, they usually’ll do the immigration. And his skill to separate these two, I felt, was a little bit cleaner than many different Democratic governors and mayors have been once they understand they’re coping with this scorching potato.
KAREN TUMULTY: The opposite factor that struck me in that, too, was him saying, we might welcome some federal assist.
ED O’KEEFE: Proper.
RACHAEL BADE: Sure.
ED O’KEEFE: Sure.
RACHAEL BADE: Sure.
ED O’KEEFE: Ship extra.
KAREN TUMULTY: The FBI have been serving to us catch dangerous guys.
ED O’KEEFE: Sure.
KAREN TUMULTY: And I believe that I used to be additionally, once I was doing reporting this week, it seems a number of police chiefs throughout the nation are watching this with nice curiosity as a result of they wish to see, you realize, what’s working right here and what’s not in D.C.
RACHAEL BADE: Sure, I assumed his – his response about bringing in ATF – ATF officers and FBI officers serving to with crime there, that confirmed me that Democrats are beginning to possibly learn the political tea leaves right here and provide you with smarter solutions, as a result of when Trump first began speaking about this, the response was, we do not want the Nationwide Guard. Crime is down. Have a look at the stats. However the actuality is, folks do not feel it.
ED O’KEEFE: Proper.
RACHAEL BADE: Eighty p.c of Individuals assume crime is simply as dangerous because it was just lately, or getting worse. Solely 20 p.c assume it is truly getting higher.
JENNIFER JACOBS: On the politics of it, Trump folks do not simply wish to win points, they wish to systematically work their opposition right into a nook and crack their coalition. And should you have been to design a difficulty that would begin to nibble away on the Democratic stranglehold on – on massive metropolitan cities in the USA, that is it.
ED O’KEEFE: Sure. You might be – I prefer to name you “scoop,” a minimum of round these elements. And also you had one other massive one this week concerning the way forward for Iowa’s Republican Senator Joni Ernst. She’s asserting, within the coming days, that she’s not operating for re-election. It had been talked about, thought it’d occur. She had additionally made a two-term vow, and so we’re nearing that. Why’d she do it? And is it indicative of an issue for the get together in Iowa or for congressional Republicans writ massive that somebody like her would stroll away?
JENNIFER JACOBS: I believe we’ll have to attend from her on – on why she did it. It is going to be very attention-grabbing when she makes her – her assertion this week if it does certainly come.
However Iowa, Ed, is actually turning right into a scorching, scorching battleground. You haven’t had an open U.S. Senate race and an open gubernatorial race on the identical time, with no incumbents, in almost 60 years. So, my sources say that Iowa native Matt Whitaker is speaking with President Trump a few potential run for U.S. Senate in 2026. He has advised folks he will determine by the tip of this 12 months. He is presently the U.S. ambassador to NATO.
ED O’KEEFE: Sure.
JENNIFER JACOBS: And he is been within the information currently for that Ukraine-NATO arms initiative.
You have additionally received Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, who Iowa Republicans inform me are – they’re totally anticipating her to leap into the race within the subsequent few days. And activist, Republicans in Iowa, actually like her. They are saying she’s very personable. She’s clearly good on – in entrance of a digicam.
ED O’KEEFE: Sure.
JENNIFER JACOBS: She got here from the world of TV.
Then you definately’ve received, on the Democratic aspect, this man named Josh Turek, who’s a Paralympic gold medalist. The Democrats are pinning a number of their hopes on him.
So, you could possibly probably have an open congressional race. Two different congressional races which are actually tight, the open Senate race, the open gubernatorial race. Iowa’s going to be a scorching battleground.
ED O’KEEFE: Which is strictly what the Democrats need, since you’ve now pressured the Republicans to spend cash in a state they thought that they had.
JENNIFER JACOBS: Sure.
ED O’KEEFE: Once they’re additionally recruiting massive names in different states. So, it is a drawback for them.
RACHAEL BADE: Sure, it is a – it is positively a problem. I imply if Ernst have been to run for re-election she can be a shoe in. Similar factor with Thom Tillis. I imply he retired in North Carolina.
ED O’KEEFE: In North Carolina, sure.
RACHAEL BADE: And – and what this exhibits us is that there is little or no room for discontent or for pushback in, you realize, Trump’s second time period. I imply, Ernst ended up voting for Pete Hegseth, sure, however there was a time the place she was probably not going to – she received pummeled. I imply I am speaking loss of life threats. I imply it was ugly. And my understanding is that she has advised those who that actually soured her on politics.
ED O’KEEFE: Sure.
RACHAEL BADE: That is the identical factor that occurred with Tillis. And now, you realize, Republicans have to fret about defending that state as properly.
KAREN TUMULTY: But when it seems that Iowa is actually in play, as purple because it has been, I imply, that does recommend the potential for a real wave election subsequent 12 months.
ED O’KEEFE: I’ll say, we have been on the Iowa State Truthful a number of weeks in the past, and I used to be struck how many individuals stopped me to say, I am not proud of what he is doing, the president, or I’ve received points with the governor, or I’ve received points with Senator Ernst. I had not been approached that manner by – by Iowans in recent times, and this implies one thing could possibly be there.
KAREN TUMULTY: Proper.
ED O’KEEFE: The actual fact, although, that they’ve gone – kind of retreading, to get Sherrod Brown to run, and different names that Chuck Schumer is eyeing, former members of Congress, former senators. Roy Cooper, the governor of North Carolina.
KAREN TUMULTY: Roy Cooper.
ED O’KEEFE: I imply, is that –
KAREN TUMULTY: He is 70 one thing. Sure.
ED O’KEEFE: Proper. At a time when the Democratic Get together is seeking to get youthful, it positive looks like Schumer is leaning on older officers to do that. Is that the important thing to their success?
KAREN TUMULTY: Nicely, I do assume that each Sherrod Brown and Roy Cooper are extremely sturdy candidates. However elsewhere, I – I believe they should let the primaries play out and let a few of these youthful, brisker faces emerge.
ED O’KEEFE: All proper. Karen Tumulty, Rachael Bade, Jennifer Jacobs, thanks all for being right here. Nice to see you all.
And we’ll be again in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
ED O’KEEFE: We go now to the chief director of the World Meals Programme, Ambassador Cindy McCain, who joins us this morning from Rome.
Ambassador, thanks a lot for being with us.
And also you’re with us partly since you’re simply again from a visit into Gaza. So few outsiders are getting in nowadays to entry the scenario. What did you see?
CINDY MCCAIN (Govt Director, World Meals Programme): Nicely, to start with, thanks for protecting this.
I did go into Gaza. I entered via the Kisufim gate. Went to Deir el- Balah (ph), then on to Khan Yunis and out via the Karem Salem – Karem Salem gate.
I noticed a number of devastation. I noticed a number of starvation. I noticed folks ready in lengthy strains for water. You realize, the – what you’ll anticipate to see in a scenario like that. And there is – there’s clear desperation within the – on – within the hearts and minds of the folks there as a result of there simply just isn’t sufficient meals.
I met with a household that – of 11 those who had come from north. They’d received – walked all the way in which down. And what I noticed, that they had footage that they introduced with their – with their belongings. And I noticed the – sort of the earlier than and after footage. And so they’re – I did not even acknowledge these folks. The had the burden loss, the malnutrition, the stress and all the pieces that it – the toll that it is taken on their household.
It is a – it is really, really a devastating scenario and one thing that we have to demand a ceasefire about proper now and ensure that we are able to get in there and feed.
ED O’KEEFE: And but Israel has declared Gaza Metropolis a fight zone and is ending humanitarian pauses and ramping up airstrikes across the metropolis. Gaza, after all, is likely one of the areas the place a worldwide monitor has confirmed famine. You discuss concerning the starvation you noticed in and round that area. What’s going to a extra aggressive navy offensive in that space imply for Gaza Metropolis?
CINDY MCCAIN: Nicely, it is – it should restrict the quantity of meals that they’ve entry to. In fact, the hazard alone is a complete different a part of that, as you realize. And it doesn’t make it simple for humanitarian assist staff to get in there as properly to ensure that we are able to do our job.
The one factor that I have been saying all alongside about conditions like Gaza Metropolis and others is that humanitarian assist staff should not targets. They don’t seem to be targets. And this has to finish. So, I am – I am hoping that maybe it will not be as dangerous as we expect it should be, however I’ve a sense – I’ve a sense we’ll see some – some extra critical devastation.
ED O’KEEFE: In reality, you convey up the problem of security for humanitarian staff. Final 12 months among the many deadliest on file, almost 400 killed within the line of obligation. There was a World Meals Programme convoy that got here underneath fireplace in Gaza final month. I imply, absent a ceasefire, what extra must be carried out by fighters to guard humanitarians as they attempt to perform this work?
CINDY MCCAIN: Nicely, these persons are determined. You realize, the – for – by way of those which are on the bottom speeding the vans, et cetera. What we’d like is full, unfettered entry at scale to have the ability to get in and feed, and feed in a manner the place the panic subsides. They’re – they’re – and for – and, secondly, after all, we do not do something that includes weapons or – or navy in any manner, form or type. And that is on objective. That is who we’re. That is our mandate. And so, we – clearly, a ceasefire, as I mentioned earlier than, with the ability to get in at scale, unfettered, and in a protected method, and constantly get in, and get in to the furthest websites the place – the place we will not get meals into – into essentially the most weak folks which are – which are in danger proper now.
ED O’KEEFE: As a part of your journey to the area, you additionally met with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. You describe it as a productive assembly and mentioned you mentioned what you want so as to have the ability to get entry. However you’ve got additionally mentioned it was clear there is not sufficient meals entering into Gaza.
And I wish to learn you one thing that the prime minister’s workplace posted on social media. They mentioned, partly, “it is regrettable that Mrs. McCain has since issued statements contradicting what she advised us in Jerusalem. That may be a misrepresentation. Israel is enabling a gentle circulate of assist in ample portions.”
What’s your response to the prime minister?
CINDY MCCAIN: Nicely, I stand by what I mentioned, there’s not sufficient meals getting in. And – and and not using a full ceasefire and the power to get in, as I mentioned, at scale, unfettered, ensuring that we’re protected doing it as properly, that is the one manner we’re going to have the ability to feed folks.
We’ve, in current weeks, been capable of get a little bit extra meals in. So, that is an correct assertion. However it’s not sufficient. It merely is not sufficient to have the ability to do – to do the job and cease malnutrition, hunger and all of the issues which have occurred because of it.
Let me add – let me add one factor to that.
Malnutrition and hunger and famine of any variety, it isn’t nearly meals. It is about water. It is about drugs. It is concerning the skill to – to – to deal with your entire physique of an individual who’s – who’s undernourished or malnourished in that manner. So, it includes extra than simply the meals vans, though that is crucial, but it surely additionally includes issues – particular feeding for youngsters, in addition to drugs and water that have to all get in.
ED O’KEEFE: Nicely, govt director of the World Meals Programme, Ambassador Cindy McCain, thanks a lot for bringing that necessary perspective to us this morning. We’ll see you quickly.
CINDY MCCAIN: Thanks.
ED O’KEEFE: And we’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
ED O’KEEFE: Lastly, in the present day we wish to play tribute to our good buddy and colleague Mark Knoller, who handed away Saturday on the age of 73. Knoller coated the White Home for almost 30 years for CBS Information Radio, however he was greatest recognized for his position because the unofficial chief White Home statistician.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK KNOLLER: You could possibly say that I am sort of the CBS Information numbers man on the White Home. Now it isn’t at all times groundbreaking info, but it surely does add context and perspective to the actions that the president engages in. For instance, what number of speeches, remarks and statements do you assume President Obama gave through the 12 months simply ended, in 2010? Nicely, by my rely, it was 491.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ED O’KEEFE: His numbers have been so correct and his generosity with sharing them, not simply together with his fellow reporters, but additionally administration staffers, mirrored Knoller’s deep respect and admiration for the establishment of the presidency.
For all of us working alongside Knoller, each on the White Home beat and at CBS, it was really a pleasure. And even simply listening to him on the radio was particular.
That is it for in the present day. Margaret will likely be again subsequent week.
For FACE THE NATION, I am Ed O’Keefe.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
