This is C.I.'s "The Snapshot:"
Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Ka$h Patel disgraces himself before a Senate committee as he whine he's doing the best he can ("But I was doing the best I could!"), Donald Chump is greeted loudly -- if not warmly -- in the UK, Senator Patty Murray is calling for the HHS Acting Inspector General to review Junior Kennedy's dangerous actions at HHS, Chump continues to wreck the economy, and much more.
That's Ben with MEIDASTOUCH NEWS setting up this morning for you.
Yesterday the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing with the goal of fulfilling their duty to provide oversight on the FBI. Looking hung over and possibly strung out, tiny Ka$h Patel toddled into the hearing in a suit that seemed to swallow his tiny body and plopped down on the chair that left him sitting lower than anyone else in the room. What? No one thought to bring a booster chair for Little Ka$h? There's no way he's five feet and eight inches by the way. The diminutive FBI Director alternated in the hearing between looking bored as he pondered when recess started and being agitated as though he forgot to go pee-pee before he showed up to testify.
Senator Chuck Grassley is the Committee chair, Senator Dick Durbin is the ranking member. It was a loud and combative hearing and when Ka$h finally left the Dirksen Senate Office Building later that morning, there was no juice box in the world big enough to drown his sorrows.
A number of senators noted last week's murder in Utah and how Ka$h seemed lost throughout. Senator Dick Durbin specifically noted, "Director Patel again sparked mass confusion by incorrectly claiming on social media that the shooter was in custody, which He then had to walk back with another social media post. Mr. Patel was so anxious to take credit for funding Mr. Kirk's assassin that he violated one of the basics of effective law enforcement at critical stages of investigation: shut up and let the professionals do their job." At moments like these, Ka$h seemed to turtle and sink lower in his chair and deeper into his too large suit jacket.
But he could neither disappear nor disappear the fact that (a) he got it wrong, (b) the killer was on social media talking about plans ahead of the shooting, (c) the FBI did not capture the killer, the killer walked in and turned himself in.
Senator Peter Welch was among the Committee members raising this point.
Senator Peter Welch: Director Patel, at one point, you made an announcement that the suspect was in custody -- 'we got our man.' It turned out that was not true. In fact, I think that was about 27 hours before the person now in custody was apprehended. Why did you make that statement?
Ka$h Patel: I appreciate you letting me address this. What the FBI does is not just locate and find suspects. We also participate in eliminating subjects. And what we had at the time was a subject custody in relation to this investigation. So, in my commitment to work with the public to help identify subjects and suspects, I put that information out. And then when we interviewed him, I put out the results of that. And could I have been more careful in my verbiage and included a subject instead of subject? Sure, in the heat of the moment. But I was doing the best I could.
Senator Peter Welch: You know, in all candor, I don't quite get that. Because if we have our man, that would suggest to the public that everybody can rest and relax, and not then continue providing information to local law enforcement and to you. So, that was a mistake.
"But I was doing the best I could."
How sad.
There is no victory for Little Ka$h. Give him a participation trophy if you like -- for incompetence -- but don't pretend he did his job because he didn't and -- Republican or Democrat -- most weren't willing to play along in the hearing for the sake Ka$h's ego.
Let's note some of the exchange between Ka$h and Senator Cory Booker.
Senator Cory Booker: Mr. Patel, I want to start off where we left off last time. I asked you whether you had any knowledge or discussions about removing FBI officials and installing political personnel before you were confirmed to that position. And I wonder did you then understand or have conversations with the White House about the intentions to do so?
And that really was the takeaway.
There were many important exchanges in the hearing -- all the Committee members appeared to bring their A game with the exception of southern belle Miss Lindsey Graham.
But the exchange between Cory and Ka$h really got to the heart of the problem: The FBI is not functioning.
That is why the keep missing signals ahead of time -- signals in public -- before shootings. That's why they can't protect the American people.
It's not the fault of the agents, as Cory noted. It's that they've been pulled off the work they're supposed to be doing to work on Chump's deportation scheme, it's that experienced agents have been fired, it's that standards have been lowered to fill empty slots.
This is not the faul of any agent serving in the FBI.
It is the fault of the person overseeing the FBI.
That would be Ka$h.
And he had no experience. As Cory Booker pointed out, this is the first time in our country's history where neither the Director of the FBI, nor the deputy director has any prior FBI experience. None at all.
And this is what incompetence and ignorance results in.
Ka$h Patel was on the hot seat yesterday. But it could have been Junior Kennedy and how he's putting public health at risk because he's not qualified to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Or is could be Kristi Noem and how she's putting the country's security at risk because of her mistaken belief that getting her hair styled and putting on a costume will count towards securing the nation. Or it could be Tulsi Gabbard -- Director of No Intelligence who is 100% unqualified for the job she holds.
The country needs to be paying attention to this. Chump has put TV personalities, nuts and cult members in charge of important agencies that exist to protect the American people. His nominees were never qualified and each day they prove they're not up for the job.
They put the country at risk.
Heaven forbid we have an attack on domestic soil but if that happens we need to be prepared to get honest about how a bunch of idiots should never have been nominated and that they have already demonstrated -- right now, as this point -- that months later they're still not qualified for the positions they hold.
Today, Ka$h Patel appears before the House Judiciary Committee. I don't expect that it will go any better. We've focused on the big issues of safety for today's snapshot but please be aware that the Committee also touched on corruption and abuse. One example, this exchange.
Senator Peter Welch: You were rightly critical of the way that the previous FBI Director used the FBI jet. You said you wanted to, "ground Chris Wray's private jet travel that he pays for with taxpayer dollars to hop around the country." [. . .] On April 5th, you attended a hockey game in New York City -- you don't live there, right?
Ka$h Patel: No, I don't.
Senator Peter Welch: By the way, everyday FBI agents who are assigned in Washington don't get to fly home on a private jet.
Ka$h Patel: Well, this is a great point. Do you know why I have to use a private jet? Because Congress made it mandatory.”
Senator Peter Welch: Well, we didn't make it mandatory that you go to UFC games with Mel Gibson.
Let's turn to the economy that Chump has wrecked. Worth Sparkman (AXIOS) notes:
Convicted Felon Donald Chump is in the UK. And they're letting him know they see him.
Let's wind down with this from Senator Patty Murray's office:
ICYMI: Senator Murray, WA Health Secretary, Doctors Speak Out Against RFK Jr. Blocking Vaccine Access and Wreaking Havoc at CDC, Lay Out State of Vaccine Access in WA
ICYMI: Senator Murray Calls for HELP Committee Hearing with RFK Jr. on Campaign of Destruction at CDC and Beyond
ICYMI: On Senate Floor, Senator Murray Demands Immediate Firing of RFK Jr.: “This Man is Burning Down Our Public Health System from the Inside”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Inspector General Juliet Hodgkins requesting an independent, comprehensive review of recent actions taken at HHS to limit access to vaccines and recent personnel changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the letter, Senator Murray calls for the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to initiate an independent investigation into the events that led to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to fire the newly confirmed CDC Director, Dr. Susan Monarez, and the subsequent departure of four senior CDC career scientists. Murray also requested an OIG analysis of the events that led to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s recent move to dramatically narrow access to the updated COVID-19 vaccines.
“Access to evidence-based vaccines is one of the best tools we have for preventing disease and death. Until recently, the American people have relied on HHS to evaluate the evidence and issue vaccine recommendations based on science, rather than political agendas,” wrote Senator Murray. “Now, following Secretary Kennedy’s destructive actions, millions of families may struggle to obtain or afford vaccines, given insurance coverage requirements are linked to CDC’s vaccine recommendations. I therefore request that the OIG investigate the events that led to Secretary Kennedy’s effort to fire CDC Director Monarez and his attempted ousting of other top leadership at CDC.”
“In addition, I am extremely concerned by Secretary Kennedy’s changes to CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including the dismissal of all committee members in June, and the lack of transparency around the conflicts of interest and backgrounds of newly installed committee members,” Senator Murray continued. “The committee is scheduled to meet next on September 18 and 19 to review, and vote on, recommendations related to vaccines for COVID-19; Hepatitis B; and measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV). Former CDC Director Monarez alleged that Secretary Kennedy and his leadership attempted to force her to pre-approve the recommendations ahead of any opportunity to review the evidence. This is a serious allegation that would illustrate direct political interference in the vaccine approval process, and indicate that the ACIP’s vaccine recommendations were pre-manufactured based on a political agenda, rather than based on the scientific evidence as reviewed by independent health experts.”
“Undermining public trust in vaccines and vaccine availability will cause more families to suffer from preventable illnesses and deaths. Millions of Americans could also see their health care costs rise, as CDC undermines insurance coverage requirements for lifesaving vaccines, forcing families to pay out-of-pocket. Given the importance of vaccines in protecting our health and safety, I believe it is critical that an independent investigation be undertaken to determine where political interference at HHS has undermined the science and impeded vaccine access,” Senator Murray concluded.
Senator Murray, a longtime congressional leader on health care who has led hearings on addressing vaccine hesitancy, has been a leader in raising the alarm over RFK Jr.’s nomination since the beginning—speaking out on the Senate floor, holding numerous events, raising the alarm after meeting with him, and hammering the threat he poses to Americans’ health nonstop. She led the opposition to the Trump administration’s disastrous plan to dismantle HHS and fire tens of thousands of staff in critical positions across CDC, NIH, FDA, and other agencies, and spoke out forcefully against RFK Jr.’s ousting of the entire CDC vaccine advisory board, including one ACIP member from Washington state. Senator Murray has held countless events across Washington state and in Washington, D.C. with doctors, patients, and former HHS officials to lift up how Trump and Republicans’ attacks on health care will be devastating for families.
Senator Murray recently took to the Senate floor to reiterate her call for RFK Jr. to be fired immediately; she also praised the launch of the West Coast Health Alliance to provide evidence-based public health guidance for Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii. Last week, Senator Murray called for Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to compel RFK Jr. to testify publicly before the HELP Committee, as well as for the committee to hear from Susan Monarez and other former CDC officials. On Friday, Murray held a virtual press conference with Washington state health leaders on RFK Jr.’s increasingly dangerous attacks on vaccines and America’s public health infrastructure.
The full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear Acting Inspector General Hodgkins,
I write today to request a comprehensive review of recent actions taken at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to limit access to vaccines, as well as the recent personnel changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In particular, I am requesting that the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiate an independent review into the events that led to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to fire the newly confirmed CDC Director, Dr. Susan Monarez, and the subsequent departure of four senior-level CDC career scientists. Further, I am seeking the OIG’s analysis of the events that led to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issuing a restrictive authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine for this upcoming fall and winter season, and whether that authorization was based on science and evidence, or was due to political pressure from the Secretary or other HHS political appointees.
It has been publicly reported – and Dr. Monarez has verified – that Secretary Kennedy, alongside political appointee Stefanie Spear, attempted to force CDC Director Monarez to resign from her post – less than a month after she was confirmed by the Senate. Secretary Kennedy directed Dr. Monarez to endorse vaccine recommendations before they had undergone scientific review and to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy. After she refused, Secretary Kennedy demanded her resignation. Access to evidence-based vaccines is one of the best tools we have for preventing disease and death. Until recently, the American people have relied on HHS to evaluate the evidence and issue vaccine recommendations based on science, rather than political agendas. Now, following Secretary Kennedy’s destructive actions, millions of families may struggle to obtain or afford vaccines, given insurance coverage requirements are linked to CDC’s vaccine recommendations. I therefore request that the OIG investigate the events that led to Secretary Kennedy’s effort to fire CDC Director Monarez and his attempted ousting of other top leadership at CDC.
Further, I am seeking the OIG’s analysis of all actions Secretary Kennedy has taken to-date to limit vaccine access and whether or not those decisions were based on the best available science and evidence. On May 27, 2025, Secretary Kennedy announced on social media that the COVID-19 vaccine had been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and healthy pregnant women. Several months later, on August 27, 2025, the FDA released a much narrower authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine than in previous years, since the vaccine’s initial development under President Trump’s Operation Warp Speed. This decision limits access to the updated COVID-19 vaccine and removes individual and provider choice in determining who can be vaccinated. As part of its investigation, I ask the OIG to examine the decision making around recent changes in vaccine authorizations and recommendations, with a particular focus on the basis for such decisions. I request the OIG examine whether these decisions were based in changes in science or were based in political or ideological interference from Secretary Kennedy or any other political leadership in the Trump Administration.
In addition, I am extremely concerned by Secretary Kennedy’s changes to CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including the dismissal of all committee members in June, and the lack of transparency around the conflicts of interest and backgrounds of newly installed committee members. The committee is scheduled to meet next on September 18 and 19 to review, and vote on, recommendations related to vaccines for COVID-19; Hepatitis B; and measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV). Former CDC Director Monarez alleged that Secretary Kennedy and his leadership attempted to force her to pre-approve the recommendations ahead of any opportunity to review the evidence. This is a serious allegation that would illustrate direct political interference in the vaccine approval process, and indicate that the ACIP’s vaccine recommendations were pre-manufactured based on a political agenda, rather than based on the scientific evidence as reviewed by independent health experts. I also ask the OIG to review the firings of the former ACIP members, who were dismissed before their terms ended, and to investigate the vetting process used for installing the new ACIP members and whether all federal laws and regulations were adhered to. Additionally, I request the OIG examine whether there were efforts by Secretary Kennedy and other political leadership to pre-determine the ACIP recommendations and to bypass scientific review.
The Department plays a critical role in securing the health and safety of the American people. Families and health care providers need to be able to trust the guidance coming from the FDA, CDC, and all HHS agencies. Under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, access to vaccines has been restricted, without regard for the evidence or the consequences for American families. Undermining public trust in vaccines and vaccine availability will cause more families to suffer from preventable illnesses and deaths. Millions of Americans could also see their health care costs rise, as CDC undermines insurance coverage requirements for lifesaving vaccines, forcing families to pay out-of-pocket.
Given the importance of vaccines in protecting our health and safety, I believe it is critical that an independent investigation be undertaken to determine where political interference at HHS has undermined the science and impeded vaccine access. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
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