Trump Pulls Surgeon General Pick, Maine Senate Race Shifts, and Meat-Alzheimer's Link Emerges

President Trump withdrew his nomination of Dr. Casey Means for Surgeon General yesterday after her confirmation stalled in committee, with Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana — himself a medical doctor — refusing to back her over concerns about her vaccine views. Means, whose brother Calle is a top advisor to HHS Secretary RFK Jr., had faced skepticism from Cassidy during her February confirmation hearing, particularly when she declined to say whether vaccines cause autism. Trump posted to Truth Social that Cassidy "has stood in the way of RFK Jr.'s nominee" and urged Louisiana Republicans to vote him out in the upcoming primary. Cassidy responded to reporters that he wasn't concerned about Trump's opposition. According to the New York Times, Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski also declined to back Means. Trump quickly announced Dr. Nicole Sapphire, a Fox News contributor and breast cancer specialist, as his new nominee. Sapphire has made statements similar to Means' advocating for parental discretion on vaccines, though a confirmation hearing date has not been set. Means told the Times she would continue advocating for the MAHA movement, calling the cultural shift "monumental" despite the setback.