Live updates: Trump delivers remarks at Turning Point rally in Arizona
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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled on measles outbreaks during a second day of congressional hearings.
What to know today
- RFK JR. TESTIFIES: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before House lawmakers. He defended himself against accusations that he bore responsibility for the measles outbreak in several states and deflected when asked about President Donald Trump's recent comments that states should control Medicare and Medicaid.
- TRUMP IN PHOENIX: The president delivered remarks this afternoon at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, where he talked about Iran and the upcoming midterms.
- FISA EXTENSION: The Senate passed a short-term renewal of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies after House lawmakers voted late into the night to approve the extension ahead of a Monday deadline.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills is undecided on whether to sign a pause on data centers
Gov. Janet Mills said Friday that she hasn’t decided whether to sign a bill passed by the Legislature to impose a statewide moratorium on new data centers, outlining her critique of the legislation.
“It’s on my desk. I’m going to read it. Read it very carefully,” Mills, a Democrat, said in a wide-ranging interview with NBC News, adding that it doesn’t contain a “carveout” she wanted for a project in the struggling town of Jay in order to boost jobs.
Mills’ decision is being closely watched: The first-of-its-kind bill comes amid a national debate that features growing local opposition to the huge, energy-hungry structures that power the growing and disruptive artificial intelligence industry. The second-term governor is also running for the U.S. Senate.
The measure, passed earlier this week, would impose a moratorium on new data centers in Maine until the fall of 2027. Mills has 10 days to decide whether to sign the bill, veto it or otherwise allow it to become law without her taking action.
Steve Kornacki: How a traditionally Republican area helped deliver a progressive victory in New Jersey
For most of modern history, what Democrat Analilia Mejia pulled off in New Jersey’s 11th District last night would have been unfathomable.
Trump says administration will release government files on UFOs 'very, very soon'
Trump said government files related to UFOs will be released "very, very soon" and that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was already working on the project.
"As you remember, I recently directed the Secretary of War ... to begin releasing government files relating to UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomenon," Trump told a crowd in Phoenix.
"You know that this process is well underway, and we found many very interesting documents, I must say, and the first releases will begin very, very soon," the president continued.
Trump said in a Truth Social post February that he had directed Hegseth and other administration officials to release files related to "alien and extraterrestrial life.”
The post said he had tasked agencies “to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”
Trump says he doesn't want NATO's help to keep Strait of Hormuz open
Trump touted a deal to open of the Strait of Hormuz while speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix today before tearing into NATO and claiming they called him after the strait had been opened.
"This will be a great and brilliant day for the world, because Iran has just announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open and ready for business," Trump said.
He also claimed that the U.S. has made progress in its peace talks with Iran, although neither the U.S. delegation nor the Iranian delegation have shared any insight into specific progress made.
"And now that the Hormuz Strait situation is almost over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would like some help," the president said. "And I told them I would have liked your help two months ago, but now I really don't want your help anymore."
Trump said that NATO was "absolutely useless when we needed them," adding that "we never needed them. ... They need us. They need us so badly."
The president has repeatedly criticized NATO for its lack of action in the war with Iran and its resistance to assisting the U.S. in its military operations there.
Erika Kirk takes the stage at a Turning Point USA event ahead of appearance by Trump
Erika Kirk just began speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Dream City Church in Phoenix ahead of an appearance by Trump.
Kirk was supposed to speak at a TPUSA event in Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday that featured remarks by Vice President JD Vance, but canceled her appearance due to security concerns.
"I was so looking forward to tonight’s event at the @universityofga with our Vice President @JDVance, but after all our family has been through, I take my security team’s recommendations extremely seriously," Kirk said in a post on X Tuesday.
Kirk was named CEO and chair of the board of TPUSA following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, in September.
Congress isn’t doing enough to protect staff from sexual misconduct, lawmakers say
In the absence of a central place on Capitol Hill to report workplace harassment, some female lawmakers have taken action themselves.
Following the sexual misconduct scandals surrounding former Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who both resigned this week, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., publicly assured all Hill staffers they could come to her office with complaints if they did not feel comfortable going to their own bosses.
So far, she says she has received at least one unverified allegation involving a senator, which she flagged to Senate GOP Leader John Thune’s office. The matter has since been forwarded to the Senate Ethics Committee, Thune, R-S.D., said.
The ad hoc effort to create a safe space for staffers underscores how challenging it can still be to report sexual misconduct in Congress — an institution that has long struggled to police itself.
Senate extends surveillance powers until April 30 after longer renewal collapsed in House
WASHINGTON — The Senate approved a short-term renewal until April 30 of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies, following a chaotic, post-midnight scramble in the House to keep the authority from expiring.
The measure cleared the Senate by voice vote, without a formal roll call, as Congress raced to meet a Monday deadline. It now heads to President Donald Trump, who had pushed for a clean 18-month extension, for his signature.
Judge again halts construction of Trump’s White House ballroom
A federal judge yesterday ordered a pause on the construction of Trump’s new White House ballroom. It comes as the Fine Arts Commission, whom he personally appointed, approved an initial concept for a towering arch in Washington, D.C., that would be more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial and a soaring 250 feet to honor the nation’s birthday. NBC News’ Kelly O’Donnell reports for "TODAY."
Senate extends surveillance powers until April 30 after longer renewal collapsed in House
WASHINGTON — The Senate approved a short-term renewal until April 30 of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies, following a chaotic, post-midnight scramble in the House to keep the authority from expiring.
The measure cleared the Senate by voice vote, without a formal roll call, as Congress raced to meet a Monday deadline. It now heads to President Donald Trump, who had pushed for a clean 18-month extension, for his signature.
Trump expected to nominate ousted FEMA chief to lead agency again
Trump is expected to nominate Cameron Hamilton to serve as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, nearly a year after he was removed as its acting head following testimony to Congress in which he defended the agency’s existence.
Hamilton went to the White House on Wednesday with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin for a meeting with Trump to discuss FEMA opportunities, according to an administration official. But as of now, the Department of Homeland Security told NBC News it has “no personnel announcements to make at this time.”
Trump tours states with message to voters ahead of midterms
Trump is kicking off a tour of Western states, trying to change the political subject away from the Iran war and attempting to turn the spotlight on his economic policies. In Las Vegas, Trump highlighted falling gas prices with the national average down 7 cents a gallon in the last week, but still nearly a dollar higher than this time last year. NBC News’ Garrett Haake reports for "TODAY" from the White House.
Kennedy mentions study linking school shootings to certain medications
Responding to questions from Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., about how his department is addressing the root causes of gun violence and mental health, Kennedy mentioned a study in the works on school shootings, saying that many shooters are on mental health medication.
"We did a study on school shootings, looked at what the shooters have in common, what medications they may have been receiving, whether they were on SSRIs, whether they were on [benzodiazepines]. We're expanding that now across the, across the agency to do even more of those," the secretary said.
He has in the past linked antidepressants to school shootings. Those claims have been debunked.
Kennedy says combination measles vaccine for young children is ‘dangerous’
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., grilled Kennedy on decisions made under his leadership to restrict access to childhood vaccines, including the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. The actions have since been blocked by a federal judge.
“You questioned the effectiveness of the measles vaccine, and then in September, your handpicked vaccine panel voted against recommending the combined measles vaccine for children under 4,” Stevens said.
“It was dangerous,” Kennedy replied.
Doctors already suggest that younger kids get the measles and varicella, or chickenpox, vaccines separately, unless a parent or caregiver prefers the combination shot, due to a small increased risk of febrile seizures in children under age 4. The seizures usually last for a few minutes and, while they may be scary for parents to witness, are generally harmless.
Stevens went on to criticize Kennedy's attempt to alter the childhood vaccine schedule to include fewer universal recommendations.
“You think that we should recommend interventions that have not been safety-tested?” Kennedy asked.
FDA-approved childhood immunizations have been rigorously evaluated in trials for safety and efficacy.
Committee breaks for a five-minutes recess
The House Education and Workforce Committee is taking a five-minute break from its hearing with Kennedy.
Kennedy calls new study on Tylenol and autism 'garbage'
Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., asked for Kennedy’s reaction to a Danish study published earlier this week that showed no link between taking acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, in pregnancy and autism in children. Kennedy’s department argued last year that there could be an association.
“The study is a garbage study. It should be retracted,” Kennedy said. He criticized its analysis of Tylenol prescriptions, since most people obtain the medication over the counter.
However, researchers say prescription data tends to be more reliable and easier to track in large groups of people. A spate of other recent studies have found no connection between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
Kennedy spars with Rep. Joe Courtney on Trump's Medicare comments
Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., accused the secretary of not answering his questions when the congressman confronted Kennedy with Trump's comments from a few weeks ago floating the idea to let states control Medicare, Medicaid and day care subsidies because the federal government has "to take care of one thing: military protection. We have to guard the country."
"I don't know about that proposal, and the president has not told me about it," Kennedy told Courtney.
"You clearly don't want me to answer these questions," Courtney told Kennedy as he tried to speak further.
"My answer has to begin with correcting a lot of the misstatements that you made in your introduction," Kennedy told the congressman, adding later, "I'm telling you: The president's policy is to save Medicare. That's what he's always said."
Kennedy says he’s not responsible for measles outbreak
After House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, R-Mich., asked whether Kennedy was responsible for the measles outbreak, the secretary replied: “I’ve been accused of that. The accusation is not science-based.”
Kennedy noted that the Texas measles outbreak began in January 2025, and he didn’t take office until the following month. The outbreak originated in a rural Mennonite community with low vaccination coverage.
“The Mennonites have not vaccinated since 1796,” Kennedy said. “This has nothing to do with me.”
He claimed that the two young girls in Texas who died of measles last year were “treated as pariahs” at the hospital and could have been saved if they had received proper treatment. Such claims have not been verified.
Kennedy testifies before another House committee
The House Education and Workforce Committee has started its hearing with RFK Jr. on the administration's priorities.
Kennedy repeatedly clashed with lawmakers over his stances on vaccines and overhaul of federal health agencies during two House hearings yesterday.
British PM Starmer under new pressure to resign over U.S. ambassador appointment
LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has no plans to resign over revelations that his scandal-tainted pick for U.K. ambassador to Washington was appointed despite failing security checks, officials said today.
Starmer says he was unaware that the Foreign Office had overruled the recommendation of security officials in early 2025 not to give Peter Mandelson the job. Many considered Mandelson a risky appointment because of his past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brazilian ex-intelligence chief thanks Trump after release by ICE
SAO PAULO — Brazil’s former intelligence agency chief Alexandre Ramagem celebrated his release by Immigration and Customs Enforcement yesterday after a two-day detention.
Ramagem thanked Trump for his release, though he provided no evidence that the leader had had any connection with the move.
Ramagem, a former lawmaker, was sentenced in Brazil in September to 16 years in prison for his role in the coup attempt by supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in 2023. He fled the South American nation before he would have started serving his sentence.
“I am here to thank the U.S. government, the highest ranking members of the Trump administration,” Ramagem said on his social media channels. He added his release “did not require any bail payment, which is common in migration cases” like his.
The former intelligence chief was arrested on Monday in Florida, the same day Brazilian senator Jorge Seif told the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia his ally should not remain in custody because he was allegedly being persecuted at home.
Local media reported he was released late on Wednesday.
Ramagem had already filed for political asylum before this week’s incident, but his case has not yet been decided.
On Monday, Ramagem appeared as in custody in ICE’s online detainee database. ICE did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press about Ramagem’s release.
Ramagem was stripped of his seat in Brazil’s congress in December as a consequence of his conviction in the coup case.
Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills wife and himself, police say
Police say that Justin Fairfax, a former lieutenant governor of Virginia, shot and killed his wife before he died by suicide. The incident happened with both of their teenage children in the home. Court documents reveal that the couple was dealing with a contentious divorce. NBC News’ Ryan Nobles reports for "TODAY."
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons is leaving the Department of Homeland Security
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, who oversaw the agency during tumultuous immigration crackdowns, is leaving his post next month, the head of the Department of Homeland Security said yesterday.
“Thanks to his leadership, American communities are safer,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement. “We wish him luck on his next opportunity in the private sector.”
Josh Turek launches his first TV ad of the Iowa Senate campaign
Iowa Democrat Josh Turek is out with his first TV ad of the Senate campaign, pledging to “take on Trump.”
The 30-second spot, shared first with NBC News, does not mention his opponent in the Democratic primary, state Sen. Zach Wahls. But it does feature footage of the likely Republican nominee, Rep. Ashely Hinson, standing behind Trump and wearing a red MAGA hat.
“Working families are losing their health care because of Trump’s Medicaid cuts. And our farmers are hurting from his tariffs. Iowans feel like they’re pushing uphill, and I know exactly what that feels like,” Turek says as footage plays of him using his wheelchair to go up a hill, “because it’s working-class families like mine paying the price for Trump’s war and Washington’s corruption.”
The ad will run on TV, streaming and digital platforms across the state, where Turek is seeking to fill the seat held by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, who is not running for re-election.
Turek, who was born with spina bifida, is a Paralympian with two gold medals in basketball. He was first elected to the state House in 2022 and represents a district Trump carried in 2024.
Trump won Iowa by 13 percentage points in 2024, but that didn’t stop Turek from saying he’ll push back on the president if he’s elected.
“I opposed their Medicaid cuts, abortion bans and attacks on our rights, and I always will,” Turek says in the ad. “In the Senate, I’ll take on Trump, and no one will push harder for change.”
House extends surveillance powers until April 30 after late-night revolt sinks GOP plan
WASHINGTON — The House early this morning approved a short-term renewal until April 30 of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies in a post-midnight session after Republicans revolted and refused Trump’s push for a longer extension.
A new proposal was unveiled late yesterday that would have extended the program for five years with revisions. It was a departure from the clean 18-month renewal Trump had demanded and Speaker Mike Johnson had previously backed.
Democrat Analilia Mejia wins New Jersey special election to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s House seat
Democrat Analilia Mejia has won the special election to fill New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s seat in the U.S. House, NBC News projects, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway.
Mejia, a progressive activist backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., entered yesterday’s contest in the 11th Congressional District as the favorite. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris won the district by 9 points in the 2024 presidential election, while Sherrill carried it by 15 points in her campaign for governor last year. And Mejia had outraised Hathaway, a Randolph Township Council member, by 2-to-1.
Kennedy to testify to Congress again today after facing criticism at House hearings
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will testify about the Trump administration's priorities at another House committee hearing today after facing blistering criticism from Democrats at two committee hearings yesterday over his vaccine policy and overhaul of federal health agencies.
Both hearings were about the proposed budget for the Department of Health and Human Services next year. The department’s funding request includes a $15.8 billion reduction from this year, for a total of $111.1 billion.
Kennedy has said he intends to consolidate some of the health agencies within HHS and strengthen their focus on disease prevention.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies during a hearing of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Capitol Hill yesterday. Heather Diehl / Getty Images
Large parts of the hearings focused on the sweeping changes Kennedy has made since he assumed the role early last year. Lawmakers commented on his overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule to include fewer universal recommendations (changes that a judge later blocked), his expressions of doubt about the safety of measles vaccines and his suggestion that Tylenol use in pregnancy could be linked to autism.
