Today’s Big Story

A Major CDC Shake-Up

RFK Jr. guts vital vaccine panel of independent experts

The Centers for Disease Control moved on Monday to force early dismissal of a 17 member independent committee that offers recommendations on vaccines to the CDC. Writing in the Wall Street Journal, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the decision was aimed at restoring public trust above any pro- or antivaccine agenda.

The experts’ removal marks the latest action Kennedy, one of America’s most vocal vaccine skeptics, has taken to transform the country’s immunization policy. “Without removing the current members,” he wrote, “the current Trump administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028.”

So, what exactly is the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices? The CDC’s site explains it as “a federal advisory committee that develops recommendations on the use of vaccines in the civilian population of the United States.” Its membership consists of medical and public health experts who are knowledgeable about immunization and vaccines and do not work for the government or vaccine manufacturers, according to health policy nonprofit KFF. They are chosen by the HHS secretary to serve up to four-year terms on the panel.

They evaluate vaccine data at public meetings and were due to meet later this month to discuss COVID-19 vaccines, among other topics. The committee, of course, has great influence over the country’s immunization policy but Kennedy accused it of being “plagued with persistent conflicts of interest.” However, ACIP members are thoroughly screened for any significant conflicts of interest.

Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, will now be able to select replacements for all members. Politico reports that the move also seems to buck promises that he made to Sen. Bill Cassidy, chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, to win confirmation as HHS secretary. Kennedy told Cassidy that he would “maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes,” the Louisiana Republican said before voting to confirm.

Immigration Protests Continue

Trump mobilizes Marines

Because many of the demonstrations have been largely contained to specific areas and the majority have been mostly peaceful, the Los Angeles Police Department raised concerns Monday about the deployment of some 700 Marines to L.A. in response to four days of fiery protests sparked by federal immigration raids. California’s Democratic leaders have pushed back against President Trump’s invocation of the military into the state to shut down protests against federal immigration enforcement.

Monday night’s announcement pushes the number of military personnel mobilized for duty in Los Angeles to approximately 4,800. Governor Gavin Newsom blamed Trump for the chaos and said California will send more than 800 additional law enforcement officers to the city “to pick up the pieces.” Newsom also vowed to sue the Trump administration, calling it a blatant abuse of power. “Marines have served honorably across multiple wars in defense of democracy. They are heroes,” he said on X. “They shouldn't be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President.”

As the New York Times points out, Trump’s response is candidly different from when violent protests originate from the right—such as those in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, or at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Then, President Trump chose to downplay the violence or suggest the protesters have a noble cause and have been treated unfairly. Meanwhile, some of the migrants detained in the ICE raids that kicked off the protests have already been deported.

Did You See Apple’s New iOS 26?

The newest iPhone system boasts a new design, new name and a host of features

Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote gave device owners a peek into what they can expect their iPhones, iPads and Macs to look like later this year. The company focused on design and productivity upgrades to all of its major operating systems this time around, and of course, some new AI features as well. When the latest OSes become available to the public this fall, interfaces will look noticeably different, with a refreshed design language, updated widgets, a few overhauled apps and more.

The piece everyone seems to be talking about is Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” design language along with updates to apps across the platform. It offers a “see-through” visual of a glassy surface throughout iOS 26's interface. The liquid part comes into play with how the see-through visuals adapt to the screen depending on what the user is doing. Mashable says the redesign will especially be noticeable on the lockscreen, with the time and controls now being displayed in the Liquid Glass design. The typeface for the time and date will adapt based on the lockscreen wallpaper. In addition, spatial 3D photos can be used on the lockscreen as well. When listening to music, the lockscreen will also display an animated version of the music album that the user is playing.

The announcement also marks a change in how Apple signifies its major updates to iOS. Under the previous marketing scheme, this year’s major release would have been iOS 19—the direct follow-up to iOS 18. But now, Apple’s big iOS updates will be numbered based on the year following their introduction, a little bit like carmakers do with new car releases.

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