what will bill cassidy do? someone who has not been in, who is facing a primary challenge already in 2026, someone who voted to convict donald trump in his second impeachment trial, but someone who is taking this nomination incredibly seriously and concerned about rfk jr.. does he fall in line? does he stand in the way of it? that's what we'll be watching here in a matter of minutes. phil. >> elena, over to you on the north lawn of the white house. manners. context there is critical. this is not kind of the rank and file republican who will go along to get along. he has bucked trump and trump supporters in the past. he has clearly kept his own counsel and really been struggling with this decision. what do white house officials thinking right now? >> well, i actually just moments ago, phil caught up with white house press secretary caroline lebanon. she almost offered a bit of a warning shot to republicans, saying that they expect all senate republicans to line up behind robert f. kennedy jr.. i want to take a l

that was senator bill cassidy. doctor bill cassidy, explaining why he just a few hours ago, was the deciding vote in order to get robert f. kennedy over the line in the key committee that he voted on to be the next secretary of health and human services. as i mentioned, he's a medical doctor. he was very concerned, openly concerned, including during the confirmation hearings that he attended and that he questioned mr. kennedy during about kennedy's anti-vaccine rhetoric and history of just to sort of summarize some of what senator kennedy just said, peddling in some conspiracy theories from senator, senator cassidy's point of view. now, just to recap, what happened this morning is that the senate finance committee voted to advance kennedy's nomination. he won by just one vote, which is why senator cassidy. doctor cassidy was so critical. i want to go to cnn's manu raju, who was outside. that hearing has been working his sources on this. we're going to talk about some of the sort of the medical points that he made,

because what bill cassidy raised concerns about was the issue of vaccines. cassidy up for reelection in 2026. also a medical doctor, someone who had raised issues about kennedy hedging at last week's hearings, not saying directly that vaccines do not cause childhood autism. of course, kennedy has long expressed those views of vaccine skepticism. how did those conversations happen behind the scenes? we'll be watching, of course, his comments on the senate floor later this hour to see if he shed any light on that. but phil, the senate majority leader, john thune, wants to move on this nomination by early next week, which means he'll get the job unless four republicans break ranks and stop this nomination on the senate floor. phil. >> yeah, a huge step forward. we'll wait about 36 minutes to hear if cassidy outlines the serious commitments he posted on x that he received. manu raju great reporting as always, my friend. thanks so much. now to an in-depth look at the federal government under president trump, rapidly changing almost every day right before our eyes

that is why everyone is keeping such a close eye on senator bill cassidy of louisiana. idy raised serious concerns about robert f kennedy jr. s past statements on vaccines during both hearings. kennedy went through two hearings, one with the finance committee, one with the health, education, labor and pensions committee, of which cassidy is the chairman. and cassidy did not feel very satisfied with the way that kennedy answered some of those questions. cassidy took the weekend to deliberate his decision on this crucial vote. he spoke to robert f kennedy jr multiple times. the question is, is he willing to put himself out there right now as a lone no vote that would effectively kill the rfk jr. nomination. at this stage of the confirmation process? take a listen to just a little of the back and forth with cassidy and kennedy during that hearing, which shows how cassidy is wrestling with this decision. >> a worthy movement. called maha to. >> improve the health of. americans are to undermine it. always asking for more evidence and never accepting the evidence that is there

everybody is looking at bill cassidy. he is up for re-election in 2026. >> dana: we'll circle back when it comes up for a vote. thank you so much. john. >> john: meantime, china the lone hold-out under president trump's tariff pressure responding with its own retaliatory tariffs and antitrust investigation into google. fox business's white house correspondent edward lawrence live on the north lawn. is this the beginning of a trade war or staking out positions in anticipation of some sort of negotiation? >> i think we're looking at posturing now. now that the economic conflict with mexico and canada is on the sidelines for a month. china is on focus. china retaliated with the tariffs. >> president trump: we'll have some good meetings with china. we have meetings planned and we'll see what happens. that was just an opening salvo. if we can't make a deal with china the tariffs will be very, very substantial. >> what china did. impose 15% tariffs on imports of u.s. coal and natural gas, oil, all toural machinery cars and truc

so that does go back to the point where bill cassidy, a republican on that panel and the chair of the health committee that had the other hearing his vote, is very important in terms of advancing him to the floor and then on the floor. then there are several other republicans to watch. if he makes it that far, as well as some democrats who may or may not vote for him. but it's more likely to be a party line vote. >> some of the sharpest attacks, as we saw, you know, came from republican senator bill cassidy, the chair of the senate committee on health, education, labor and pensions. he's also a physician. the senator has remained steadfastly loyal to trump, but says he's struggling with, you know, this nomination and, you know, might have to have a conversation with kennedy throughout the weekend. do you think, you know cassidy's loyalties to trump? um, will outweigh his, i mean, clear concerns that he has about rfk jr.. >> no, i don't think for cassidy, trump loyalty is a factor here really at all. um, he is up for reelection this year, so that is something to be considered. and the

here's senator roger wicker, here's senator bill cassidy, here's senator jerry moran saying, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, wait a second. you can't stop all this foreign aid. that's american food aid that's going to rot in the ports, says jerry moran. that's that's an hiv treatment program that needs to be restarted immediately, says physician and louisiana republican senator bill cassidy. i mean, the pushback is real. it's emboldened in part by the stupidity and palpable incompetence of the administration that's trying to push everybody around. the pushback is real. it is emboldened, and it is coming from every direction. the protests we saw yesterday at the usaid building to stick up for usaid and foreign aid, that was a big deal, an impromptu demonstration that attracted tons of members of congress, tons of people, tons of media. there's going to be another demonstration for that same cause tomorrow, again with members of congress. this time it's going to be 11:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. at upper senate park, which is on constitution avenue in washington, d.c, standing up for usaid, standing up

listen to how bill cassidy said after the hearing. and also susan collins, who sits on the key committee, the intelligence committee, considering tulsi gabbard's nomination. >> my concern. >> is that if there's any false. >> note. >> any undermining of a mama's trust in vaccines, another person will die from a vaccine preventable disease. and that is why i've been struggling with your nomination. >> do you want to weigh in on tulsi? >> i need to review. >> the entire hearing. >> the jury's out. >> that's. that's correct. i want to make a careful decision. >> the challenge is both of these two are up in 2026. >> without a doubt. >> cassidy has a primary already. >> which likely means that, look, the president gets a lot of leeway on his nomination. but one thing is very clear. vice president vance will be waiting in the wings because he is likely needed to be the final vote here on both of these as he was with us. >> if it gets to 5050. >> if it does, but i'd be. the white house hasn't put a ton of public pressure on. i expect that to

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the fate of kennedy's bid could fall upon republican senator bill cassidy of louisiana.ator cassidy, a medical doctor, is a member of the finance committee and chairman of the health committee. the other panel that held a hearing for rfk jr. he has openly struggled with kennedy's nomination. meanwhile, another of trump's cabinet picks just picked up a key endorsement ahead of her committee vote. later today, republican senator susan collins of maine has announced she will vote in favor of tulsi gabbard for director of national intelligence. she explained her decision to reporters yesterday. >> after extensive consideration, conversations with her in my office, attending the hearing, questioning her there and listening to her in the closed session, i decided to vote that i will vote for her. i believe she's committed to strengthening our national security, and i questioned her extensively about her views on edward snowden, and i am now satisfied that she will not seek in any way to have him pardoned, which was a question that i answered in open session. >> you know, there

your colleague, senator bill cassidy, who happens to be a physician, said that his yes vote came withons to ensure the public's continued access to that. take a look. sen. cassidy: to this end, mr. kennedy, and the administration committed that he and i would have an unprecedentedly close collaborative working relationship if he has confirmed . we will meet or speak multiple times a month. this collaboration will allow us to work well together and therefore to be more effective. geoff: that raises the question. if securing confirmation demands, is rfk junior truly the right choice to begin with? sen. johnson: first of all, i don't think those are particularly major concessions on the part of rfk junior. he wants to follow the science. he is not and i've asked -- anti-vax. we want to make sure the vaccines that are on a childhood schedule are as safe as possible, recognizing that nothing is 100% safe, and that they are effective. certainly we want to prevent childhood disease to the extent we can. we also have to have an open mind. the reality is, there are vaccinations. they acknowled

someone like bill cassidy is up for reelection in 2026. there are political considerations here. and then, as cassidy said, he's taking the nominee or the nomination as a in totality, meaning he doesn't agree with with cassidy, with rfk on some big things, by the way, vaccine policy, vaccine theories. but he sees the opportunity to work with with rfk and other areas. >> yeah. >> and so i'm just wondering on the cassidy issue, it so it was straight party line vote. >> that's right. there were no. democrats on that committee. and you know, looking at, i don't. >> know. >> bernie sanders. >> etc, there was no. >> possibility that they. >> would vote the other way. >> no chance, no chance especially i mean, listen, democrats have done when they want to do a good job sticking together. they do. and this is one of those instances i didn't think any democrat was really in play in the committee. maybe there's someone on the house on the senate floor rather that will support rfk. i find that pretty unlikely, to be honest with you. but no, this was a party line vote, and that's what we shou

s nomination for health and human services secretary, republican senator bill cassidy, chair of the senateho also sits on the finance committee, said he has been struggling with rfk jr. s nomination. well, joining me now, natasha korecki, nbc news politics reporter. natasha, welcome. i know that you covered the hearing. so is the senate finance committee announcing this tuesday vote because republicans believe they have enough support for rfk jr. s nomination. >> well, what. >> sources tell us is that they do believe he has. >> he can't he may have enough votes. >> however. >> we do know that bill cassidy. >> as as. >> you just. >> noted. a republican, a physician. >> he he also. >> chairs the. >> the health. committee that. >> that was a you know, it was. >> a. >> courtesy hearing. but it. >> was a follow. up hearing. where where rfk jr. was really grilled. >> we do know. >> that cassidy. >> has significant issues. >> he raised those. >> and we do know. >> that other senators. >> have significant issues. everything from. financial disclosures, potential. >> conflicts of interest when. >>

bill cassidy is up for reelection in 2026. had he voted no and effectively killed the kennedy nomination, that would have probably bought a tremendous amount of backlash from the maga world and likely led to a primary challenge, he said, that did not involve his decision making process here. he said he felt like he got the assurances he needed, and that's why he voted yes. chris. >> so, congressman, senator cassidy referenced intense conversations with the white house and specifically j.d. vance in coming to his decision. what does it say about the role the trump administration has played in ensuring that republican senators line up behind their nominees? >> without a. >> doubt. >> chris, and you heard. ryan allude to it. republicans worry these days. >> more than anything. >> else about their primaries, and. they know. >> that getting. >> sideways with president trump increases primary risk significantly. we've seen a lot of republicans lose in primaries. because of president trump's opposition, both when he was in office and

the vote was 14 in favor, 13 against along party lines, republican senator bill cassidy, a doctor, expressed concerns over rfk jr. s stance on vaccines last week, he voted to advance the nomination. well, happening now the state of california, outlining plans to protect schools amid deportation threats by the trump admistration. nbc bay area's bob redell joining us live from san jose. this is where that city council is now taking up that action to protect undocumented immigrants. bob. yeah. good morning to you, marcus. this will be taking place in a few hours at their regular city council meeting. the city of san jose, the mayor and the city council will vote on a resolution to reaffirm the city's commitment to protect immigrants, whose only violation is being in this country without documentation. also, this is the scene up north from us. this is in sacramento at the department of justice, where attorney general rob bonta is holding a news conference right now to talk about what's being done to protect students and teachers from federal immigration threats and to keep campuses. as you can s

republican senator bill cassidy of louisiana initially said he had major concerns about kennedy and his accent anti-vaccine stance, but in the end, he approved kennedy's nomination after kennedy promised he would maintain the cdc's advisory committee on immunization practices. kennedy's nomination now goes to the full senate. ahead, trying to ensure college students are equipped to handle the ever changing world of ai. a new initiative designed to help csu students in san francisco officially has a new fire chief. what his goals are for the department moving forward and tracking that rain on storm, ranger will have the updated timeline for tonight and additional chances this hundreds of thousands of university students and educators will be getting daily access to ai. bridge fire tech reporter scott budman explains, the goal is to use those tools to train the next generation of tech creators. very cool. scott. yeah. jessica. as ai and chatgpt caught on, we started to see companies ramping up ai related jobs and eventually colleges and universities launching programs around ai. today, th

chairman of the committee, they're not predicting the outcome, perhaps because it is unclear what bill cassidy ultimately will do because jake, if he were to vote no on this committee tomorrow, that would be enough to prevent this from going to the senate floor and essentially scuttling this nomination altogether. cassidy, a medical doctor, someone who is up in 2026, someone who has expressed concern, concerns about how kennedy had responded to the questions about whether vaccines do in fact cause childhood autism. he would not say that he agrees with the science that frankly says that it does not. there is no link between the two that caused concerns with cassidy. have those any of those concerns been resolved in those private conversations that took place yesterday that is uncertain at the moment? so we'll see what cassidy has to do. jake. and during that key vote tomorrow. >> manu raju on capitol hill, thank you so much. coming up, the shout out that this show the lead got last night at the grammys. >> hi. >> hi. >> chocolate fundraiser. >> with the chase mobile app. things move a little mo

he posted tonight because they said there was an exclusion to that funding bill. cassidy said pepfar is the epitome of soft power. it's a republican initiative. it's pro-life, pro america, the most popular u.s. program in africa, because obviously it's credited with saving 20 million lives. he said that there are drugs that are still being withheld at clinics in africa. this must be reversed immediately. >> yeah. those 20 million lives that are saved, these are 20 million people who are who cannot go without their medication because it's keeping them alive. 6.5 million of those people are children. so, you know, they're going without services right now as we speak simultaneously. you know, this work overseas outbreaks going on around the world. we have three serious outbreaks going on, and all activities are frozen. we're not even watching bird flu where we had monitoring in 49 countries. and we already have had one death from bird flu on our american soil. >> there's been a lot of criticism over the agency. that's why musk and allies and trump say that they are doing thi

and that will help us. >> bill cassidy says that it's stopped, and he wants to know why. and it will be interesting to see if congress is actually going to do something about it. mimi, thank you very much for joining us. everyone else, stick around. coming up next. donald trump's trade war lasted about 24 hours. for now at least. so did the president win here or did he completely cave? another special guest is going to join us in our fifth seat. plus, trump once fired him as a white nationalist for his white nationalist ties. now he is back promoting him to a top job at the state department. just weeks after he said only competent white men should be in charge. we're going to discuss that. >> it's the news. welcome back. >> but it's also. >> kind of not the news. >> shein dana bash do that. >> you know, there's three lesbians on this panel. >> am i one of them? >> if you drink tap water and your balls still work, please clap. no, michael, we don't fact check it. we don't care, man why is all the information on this show so terrible? >> have i got news for you returns febr

bill cassidy. >> says that it's stopped, and he wants to know why. and it will be interesting to see if congress is actually going to do something about it. mimi, thank you very much for joining us. everyone else, stick around. coming up next. donald trump's trade war lasted about 24 hours. for now at least. so did the president win here or did he completely cave? another special guest is going to join us in our fifth seat. plus, trump once fired him as a white nationalist for his white nationalist ties. now he is back promoting him to a top job at the state department. just weeks after he said only competent white men should be in charge. we're going to discuss that. >> with the boeing 747 has crashed in the lockerbie area. >> it was the largest act of terrorism on the united states before nine over 11. >> there are a number of anomalies. >> trying to find out the why of it became everything. >> you could look at the iranians, the libyans. >> the cia, hezbollah. >> nothing is what it seems. >> in the lockerbie story. >> lockerbie, the bombing of pan

winning approval of the finance committee after the lone republican holdout, bill cassidy of louisiana, who is also a doctor, voted yes. >> mr. cassidy. >> aye. >> mr. cassidy, aye. >> reporter: cassidy had grilled kennedy over his years of spreading misinformation about vaccines. the senator acknowledged he was struggling with the nomination. but ultimately cassidy, who is facing re-election next year, fully aware of the pressure he could face for voting no. now giving kennedy his full support. >> ultimately restoring trust in our public health institution is too important, and i think mr. kennedy can help get that done. >> reporter: a few hours later, former congresswoman tulsi gabbard, trump's pick for director of national intelligence, passing a party line vote in the senate intelligence committee, despite republican concerns over her meeting with former syrian dictator bashar al assad and her refusal to call edward snowden a traitor. gabbard and kennedy, two disruptors in a team of them. the leading figure, billionaire elon musk, who is out to reshape the government itself. his de

as a surprise, even though there was some speculation that at least one republican senator rob bill cassidy of louisiana. who happens to be a medical doctor might have voted against his nomination because of kennedy's longstanding though skepticism about the effectiveness of vaccines and whether they caused autism. multiple health authorities say that vaccines do not cause autism yet. kennedy has a perpetuated this myth. this lie as, as it were, for many years now and has a rather all a popular uh, fan base here in the united states because of his, uh, so called vaccine skepticism. now it is a thought that cassidy, the louisiana center termite and voted to us and his nomination to the full senate for vote because he is up for election in 2026 and could be facing a primary challenge. now, if uh this vote does happen, and we don't know yet when the boat is going to be scheduled on kennedy's nomination, you can expect to see a lot of pressure on senate republicans to oppose the nomination and to try to protect the federal health infrastructure. because of arguments that kennedy not only is unq

side, watch out for senator bill cassidy, a former doctor who has not said if he would vote for r.f.k. jr. saying he was troubled by some of kennedy's previous positions on vaccine safety. that is what i would watch out for. >> todd: we'll be watching. did you hear this? president of el salvador is offering to house deportees and convicted criminals from the united states after striking a deal with secretary of state marco rubio. announcing the agreement in an exclusive interview with fox news, listen. >> i think he will take back the ms-13 prisoners and willing to take back criminals that are not el salvadorians. he is an allie of the united states. >> todd: marco rubio revealing his plans for u.s.a. id, u.s. aid as taking over as acting director. >> there are things we should not be involved funding or that we have questions about. they are uncooperative, we had to take dramatic steps to bring this under control. >> todd: doge leader elon musk says usaid is beyond repair and looking to shut it down. drug cartels are ordering members to target border agents with drones. using social

madison: one of them is senator bill cassidy from louisiana now says he will support rfk junior for hhss a skeptic but is now onboard. we see a key gop senator, susan collins, she will support tall see gabbard for director of national intelligence. and also on board, indiana senator todd young announcing his this morning he is also going to back gabbard. >> i decided to vote for her. i believe she is committed to strengthening our national security. and i questioned her extensively about her views on edward snowden, and i am now satisfied that she will not seek in any way to have him pardoned in closed session. she elaborated further on her reluctance to use the word trader. madison: we expect a report on closed doors later today. what you are seeing is nominee after nominee having a pathway that continues to open up. we could see more nomination as the we crawls on. stuart: he could get all his nominees, looks likely at this point. madison: things are moving in a positive direction for trump. stuart: chuck todd railed against elon musk, called him un-american. >> of democracy is a, quo

bill cassidy chairs the health committee, we don't know where he stands, that committee will not votes nomination. >> steve: to your point about cas cassidy, it is unclear how he'll vote but he doesn't like r.f.k. jr. has said in the past about vaccines. he is a professionally trained doctor, he's up for reelection next year in a very red state, louisiana. okay, doc, a physician, politician, physician, politician. >> chad: right. exactly. sometimes senators say this is my conscience, this is how i will vote on this. i will take the heat and defend this. i took the hippocratic oath, you just don't know. he is working through that nomination and if he's opposed in committee, he could vote no on the floor. you have heard me say, it is about the math. 53 votes in senate, they can only lose three to get down to j.d. vance casting a tiebreaking vote. >> ainsley: when can we watch the full hearing taking final vote for r.f.k. jr. and tulsi gabbard? >> that will be public 10:00 this morning. sometimes that is not sexy, there is parliamentary back and forth, things i get into. intelligence com

bill cassidy of louisiana voted yes, but has reservations about kennedy and vaccines. >> the scienceedible. vaccines save lives. they are safe. they do not cause autism. there are multiple studies that show this. i recognize that many mothers need reassurance that the vaccine the child is receiving is necessary, effective, and most of all safe. >> but just because kennedy's nomination escaped committee does not guarantee confirmation. former senate minority leader mitch mcconnell is skeptical of kennedy's views on vaccines, but today's vote gives the nomination a major boost. all democrats oppose kennedy. >> mr. kennedy's priority was about his view of vaccines. it was not about making health care more affordable and accessible. in response to a very direct and easy open-ended question from senator cassidy, mr. kennedy showed a willful ignorance. >> in less than an hour. the senate intelligence committee votes on the nomination of tulsi gabbard to serve as director of national intelligence. are nomination likely gets out of committee thanks to supportive indiana republican todd young

gop louisiana senate bill cassidy agreed to vote yes after deeming "intense conversations".r about vaccines. >> only way bobby kennedy and i will cross wise and if he does actually take a position against the safety of proven vaccines and that'll be a problem for me. >> it'll be at least a week or more before kennedy's nominee nation hits the floor. could be gop noes there and democrats are united in their opposition of kennedy. >> do senators want their legacy to include disregarding basic health science and instead elevate conspiracy theorists and it would be a grave threat to the health of the american people. reporter: they questioned kennedy's past when president trump picked him for the job and have he has vagueses about what mr. trump said about his approach to health policy. georgia democrat raphael warnock represents the sentsers of disease -- centers for disease control in atlanta. >> donald trump said he was going to allow mr. robert kennedy to "go wild on health". go wild. of all the things that i can think of i'd like to see a secretary of health and human servi

all eyes are on senators bill cassidy, susan collins, lisa murkowski and mitch mcconnell, none of whom kennedy yet so a lot will happen today. israeli president benjamin netanyahu meeting with president trump at the white house today, becoming the first foreign leader to meet with trump in his second term. netanyahu spoke with u.s. middle east special envoy steve witkoff and national security advice i mike walz yesterday as the administration is pushing congress to approve a $1 billion weapon sale to israel that would include thousands of bombs and armored bulldozers. well, state farm insurance is asking for an emergency rate hike from california state regulators after wildfires devastated the los angeles area. the company is seeking a 22% increase for homeowners and 15% hike for renters that would go into effect by may 1st. it's warning multi billion dollar payouts threaten the balance sheet saying the boost is necessary to say solvent. the insurance administration will review to make sure people are not being mischarged. the trump administration reportedly is considering a sweeping e

then, you have bill cassidy coming around. he specifically said assurances from the white house on vaccines were part of that. now, you have todd young, coming around on tulsi gabbard. this speaks to the huge political tail wind behind the trump presidency. >> democrats need to take a breath and look at rfk jr. specifically. he has not said "i am a conservative." he said "the issue is so important to me, i'm willing to stop fighting on these other things and focus on that." that's a compromise america is asking for. at and see tulsi gabbard or rfk did neither principals or things they said. a lot of heat against them is that they wouldn't change their answer. if they hadn't -- they would've been attacked on that. i see compromise within the republican party we would expect or like to see among congress. there's no way 50 senators agree on anything. they all see a president, so they want to fight. it's the views and opportunities they are looking for. i'm proud of republican senators. i don't think any of them are giving up on

for chairman bill cassidy. >> there are issues, man, um -- ultra-processed food, obesity, we're simpaticodoctor. he worries about a kennedy's past opposition to vaccines. >> aye been struggling with your nomination. >> reporter: maine's susan collins could be a swing vote on tulsi gabbard. >> i have not made a final decision. she responded well to my questions. >> reporter: democrats doubted whether gabbard would protect the nation's secrets after he lauded one of the biggest raiders of american intelligence. >> she couldn't call edward snowden a traitor. what message would that send to allies around the world? >> reporter: kash patel is likely the easiest to confirm if republicans stick together. also up for vote soon, chris wright for secretary of energy and doug collins to run the rah v.a. both should score bipartisan support. griff? griff: chad pergram live on the hill, thank you. >>> well, for more on the confirmation hearing, let's bring in today's political panel. with us now, prospective strategies' ryan taylor and the president of corcoran treat group president, brad howard. bria

louisiana senator bill cassidy agreed to vote yes after what he termed quote intense conversations. still questions linger about vaccines. >> the only way that bobby kennedy and i will get crosswise is if he does all actually take a position against the safety of proven vaccines. that will be a problem for me. >> a week or more before his nomination hits the floor. but there could be g.o.p. news there. democrats are united in their opposition of kennedy. >> do senators want their legacy to include disregarding basic health science and instead elevate conspiracy theorists? making robert kennedy secretary of health and human services in my view, colleagues, would be a grave threat to the health of the american people. >> democrats question his past when president trump picked him for the job and have reservations about what mr. trump said regarding his health policy. warnock. >> donald trump said he was going to allow mr. robert kennedy to, quote, go wild on health. go wild. of all the things that i can think of that i would like to see a secretary of health and human services do go w

republican senator bill cassidy of louisiana, who is also a doctor, made clear the stakes of discrediting you may not want this to be the case, but i have constituents who partly credit you for their decision to not vaccinate their child. so your past of undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments concerns me. can i trust that that is now in the past? can data and information change your opinion, or will you only look for data supporting a predetermined conclusion? >> well, since being tapped by donald trump to run the department of health and human services, kennedy has tried to soften his prior skepticism of vaccines. but he's leaving something to be desired for senators like cassidy. >> will you reassure mothers unequivocally and without qualification, that the measles and hepatitis b vaccines do not cause autism? >> senator, i am not going into the agency with any. >> kind of a yes or no question because. so if you're because the data is there and that's kind of a yes or no. and i don't mean to cut you off, but that really is a yes or no. >> if that. >> i

but it's got to get by republican senator bill cassidy, who is a doctor, a doctor who has supported vaccinesll his life. and kennedy has questioned them. if cassidy votes no today, he may sink the nomination. now, cassidy has been posting biblblical verses about finding courage to his social media, so we're not quite sure what to make of that. laura. a lot to cover there. thank you scott. well, happening today, leaders in one struggling south bay school district will update families about planned closures. advisers are recommending the closure of three schools in san jose's franklin mckinley school district. the schools include los arboles at academy, ramblewood elementary and mckinley elementary. board members tonight will hear the full recommendation, with the final vote scheduled for next tuesday. opponents plan to hold a rly ahead of tonight's hearing, which starts at 6:00 at bridges academy. homeowners across the state are now bracing for a huge hit, a big hike in their home insurance costs in response to the southern california firestorm. the state's largest insurer, state farm, is ask

bill cassidy, republican senator, he's a doctor, a doctor who has supported vaccines all his life.as questioned them. if cassidy here votes no, he may sink the nomination. cassidy has been posting biblical verses about finding courage to his social media. laura, we're not quite sure what to make of that, but we'll wait for his vote. well, a lot to cover there. you mentioned immigration. a new reality is really setting in acrososs the y area, as the trump administration follows through on threats to crack down on immigration. in some cases. we've already seen the presence of ice agents in cities, including san jose. and joining us now this morning live is san jose mayor matt mahan. thanks so much for joining us. i know your time is very busy, busy and precious. i want to start out talking about all thi recent ice aivity that we've seen in san jose. tell us what you know about what happened. the police response, what their policies are, and also how schools and churches are adjusting. well good morning laura. there's a lot there in what you're asking. you know, we got a courtesy head

you know, vote in the senate finance committee really does hinge on that exchange with senator bill cassidy, who is, by the way, also a doctor. he had some pointed questions about vaccines during the hearing last week, among other things. do you think kennedy, um, managed himself well with cassidy? and if he didn't, is that an indicator that, you know, cassidy is going to be a no vote? >> well, i don't think he managed himself well with cassidy. like sophia said, there were some sort of pointed interactions that i think kennedy, uh, you know, fell under the bar that that cassidy and others wanted him to pass very clearly stating that vaccines don't cause autism. it's just something that kennedy was not willing to do on capitol hill last week in front of the cameras. now, the important thing to remember for cassidy, not only is he a doctor, he's the chairman of the top health committee in the senate. he also is up for reelection in 2026. so he is juggling the the the political need to to sort of shore up support on his right. obviously already chatter about a primary challenge down in louisi

i was very proud of senator bill cassidy questioning of kennedy. and, of course, angela.rful. tulsi gabbard, very clearly nonsensical in her support of edward snowden. but here's the problem. jd vance will have a very busy week, and i think that he'll be the deciding vote in all three of these. there's probably some significant lobbying of those senators this weekend. and, you know, all three of them are in significant trouble. but i expect that probably at least two of the three are confirmed. >> all right. your thoughts, susan. i think kash patel goes through. and then when it comes to gabbard and rfk jr. i think it's a package. either they'll both pass or. they'll both go down. and one thing that we have to look at right now is folks are looking at these positions in light of. >> how poorly. >> donald trump has handled his governmental operation, meaning that that memo that went out and said, we're going to freeze funding except for individuals, they couldn't get it right. it shows that the trump administration really has no idea how government works. they know how to

that would have been bill cassidy, susan collins and mitch mcconnell.sa murkowski has been on the fence. other senators have been on. >> the fence. and as. >> you know, you know, the moment you get to 4 or 5 no's, that's going to be the end of your your nomination. and so she was already on the line, already very precarious. and i don't think that performance did her any favors. >> i also want to talk about kash patel. you wrote that the fbi director nominee refused to say if he would target trump's rivals for investigations, and kind of tried to distance himself from his own previous remarks that were captured on video. how do republican senators react to that? and did they seem to feel he was being disingenuous, or are they trying to come up with a way to give him a pass because they want to show support for the president? >> yeah. >> i. >> mean, in. >> the main, they gave kash patel a pass. look, you know, kash was. someone who, you know, worked in the house, worked in the trump. >> administration. >> has a lot of allies on the hill and also in trump

is senator bill cassidy, who questioned rfk during the hearing. i want to play a little bit of what we saw at that hearing, and we'll talk about it. take a look. >> will you will you reassure. >> mothers unequivocally and without qualification, that the measles and hepatitis b vaccines do not cause autism? >> senator, i am not going into the agency with any. >> kind of a yes or no question because. so if you're because the data is there and that's kind of a yes or no. and i don't mean to cut you off, but that really is a yes or no. >> if the data is there, i will absolutely do that. >> so of course that's the vaccine skepticism question. and i know that the group that you are with is releasing a new ad today aimed at undercutting rfk jr.. s chances for confirmation. let's take a look at the ad. >> junior is a democrat plant. a lot of people think that junior is a conservative. he's not. he's an extreme liberal. he's radical left. so don't think you're going to vote for him and feel good. he's a radical left democrat. >> so you're saying vote no on

. >> kennedy won the crucial support of louisiana republican senator bill cassidy, a medical doctor whoays kennedy assured him that he will not undermine child vaccination programs. up next on the four this afternoon, harnessing the healing power of hip hop as we celebrate black history month, we're putting the focus on an east bay nonprofit that's helping young people of color improve their mental health. >> and a barrier weather. still some heavy rain making its push to the south this afternoon. we have some strong winds and also severe thunderstorm warnings. we'll have the for all those making it big out there... ...shouldn't your mobile service be able to keep up with you? get wifi speeds up to a gig at home and on the go. introducing powerboost, only from xfinity mobile. now that's big. xfinity internet customers, cut your mobile bill in half vs. t-mobile, verizon, and at&t for your first year. plus, ask how to get the new samsung galaxy s25+ on us. dupixent helps people with asthma breathe better in as little as 2 weeks. so this is better. that too. dupixent is an add-on treatment

the fate of kennedy's bid could fall upon republican senator bill cassidy of louisiana.ember of the finance committee and chairman of the health committee. the other panel that held a hearing for rfk jr last week, and cassidy has openly struggled with kennedy's nomination, specifically when it comes to his past conspiracy theories about vaccines. meanwhile, another of trump's cabinet picks just picked up a key endorsement ahead of her committee vote later today. republican senator susan collins of maine has announced she will vote in favor of tulsi gabbard for director of national intelligence. she explained her decision to reporters yesterday. >> after extensive consideration, conversations with her in my office, attending the hearing, questioning her there and listening to her in the closed session, i decided to vote that i will vote for her. i believe she's committed to strengthening our national security, and i questioned her extensively about her views on edward snowden, and i am now satisfied that she will not seek in any way to have him pardoned, which was a quest

and lauren, just last week, republican senator bill cassidy, a physician, said that he was struggling with kennedy's nomination over his stance on vaccines. obviously, something changed his mind. >> yeah. i mean, he had a lot of conversations, and he made clear in his statement earlier today, as well as a long speech on the floor of the united states senate, just how he got to. yes, he really credits vice president j.d. vance with helping him get to. yes. he also says he was able to get several promises from the administration. serious commitments. he said, about what exactly was going to transpire at hhs in the months ahead, including getting quarterly hearings if he wanted them from rfk jr.. as the chairman of the health committee. he also said that there were assurances he was getting that the cdc's website would not take down any information guiding parents that there was no link between autism and vaccines. but this was what he said on the floor, trying to explain just how he got to. yes. >> this is the context that informed me when considering rfk as the nominee to be secretary

republican senator bill cassidy, a doctor and potential hurdle for his confirmation chances saying he'sing with the nomination. >> will you reassure mothers, without qualification that the measles and hepatitis b vaccines do not cause autism? >> i'm not going into the agency with any -- >> that's kind of a yes or no question. >> if the data is there, i will absolutely do that. >> reporter: and some republicans about gabbard tapped to lead national intelligence. >> i have no love for assad or gaddafi or any dictator. >> reporter: now under scrutiny for mimicking russian talking points on issues like ukraine and praying whistle-blower edward snowden. >> is edward snowden a traitor to the united states of america? that is not a hard question to answer when the stakes are this high. >> senator, as someone who has served in -- >> it's a yes or no. >> reporter: despite some republicans rallying to their defense. >> are you not concerned about bobby kennedy's views on vaccines? >> i think he put that issue to bed. >> reporter: both still yet to lock down the key holdout votes they'll need. >>

. >> so that was republican senator and physician bill cassidy.tioning robert f kennedy jr during his confirmation hearing this past week. and you might have noticed that senator cassidy did not get the answer, that he was practically begging for. instead, rfk jr dodged and notably refused to say there is no link between vaccines and autism. but let's be abundantly clear here. the data is absolutely clear on this issue, and it's clear, thanks to decades of studies based on data from hundreds of thousands of patients. but despite that broad scientific consensus, rfk jr has for years been one of the most prominent anti-vaccine advocates in the world, and he continues to push the repeatedly debunked claim that vaccines can cause autism. so i think we should take a second to talk about the origin of that theory, since the guy who might or might or may not, who knows, be our next hhs secretary can't seem to let go of it. as vox has reported concerns about a possible tie between vaccine and autism spiked after a 1998 study in the uk on the mmr vaccine,

i mean, let me just play bill cassidy here. he's talking about rfk jr.. >> my concern is that if there's any false note, any undermining of a mama's trust in vaccines, another person will die from a vaccine preventable disease. and that is why i've been struggling with your nomination. >> he's a doctor. so in a way, this makes sense. but a lot of things don't usually make sense in trumpland, which is where we are. >> well, he did a beautiful questioning of rfk jr.. a much better, i thought, than bernie sanders, who got all red in the face and started sort of spittle flying absolutely everywhere. i thought cassidy did a forensic job of taking his arguments apart one by one. we know he's a terrible influence on the science of medicine and of vaccines, and it's extraordinary that he's been nominated. but i think the biggest critic was his cousin, caroline kennedy, who never says anything about being a kennedy, but who released a video on instagram saying that, you know, he had a life of cheating, of lying, of having second chances

senator bill cassidy. >> he's a republican. >> from the state of louisiana. he is someone who cares deeply about vaccines. he's a former physician. he is also someone who has made his life's work on capitol hill, really looking at changes to the medicaid program, something that when he asked rfk jr. about in the finance hearing last week, rfk jr. seemed to really struggle with that series of questions. so there's a huge question mark right now surrounding that nomination. if cassidy votes no, that could be enough to kill this nomination in committee. then later this afternoon, the senate intelligence committee is going to decide whether or not to confirm tulsi gabbard to be the director of national intelligence. now, we have heard from most of the republicans on that committee, including senator susan collins and james lankford, who announced last night that they would vote yes on this nomination after yet another rocky hearing from gabbard last week. but there's still a huge question mark surrounding todd young. he's a republican who serves on this committee

it seems very likely that his nomination is going to come down to whether or not the republican bill cassidyd kill the rfk nomination in the committee vote tomorrow. but cassidy spent the weekend in conversations with rfk jr, trying to get him to drill down on exactly what his vaccine stance is, what he would do as health and human services secretary as it relates to vaccines. cassidy, a physician himself, is very pro vaccine and has been very concerned about rfk jr. s past statements on the issue. now there's a world where cassidy maybe votes yes in the committee to allow the rfk jr. vote to get to the floor for a full vote and then maybe votes no on the floor. if that happens, there would need to be three other republicans that would have to join with him to vote no. so both these nominations right now very much up in the air, but we could get clarity over the next 48 hours. >> we'll be watching following it all very closely. ryan nobles thanks. that does it for us today. thank you for being here. i'll see you back here tomorrow. same time, same place for now. i'm ana cabrera, reporting fr