What's Happening

Politics

The CDC Isn't Feeling Good

What's going on: Science and politics collided at the CDC this week. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tried to fire the agency’s director, Dr. Susan Monarez, after they clashed over vaccine policy. Four senior leaders immediately quit in protest. Kennedy — a longtime vaccine skeptic — said Monarez didn’t fit his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. But Monarez refused to leave, insisting only the president could remove her. The standoff ended Thursday when President Donald Trump stepped in and officially fired her, with the White House saying she wasn’t “aligned with the president’s mission.” Monarez’s lawyers said she chose “protecting the public health over serving a political agenda.” One of RFK Jr’s deputies will take over the role.

What it means: The fight shows how the vaccine wars have spilled right into the heart of America’s top public health agency. One CDC leader accused RFK Jr. of turning the agency into “a tool to generate policies and materials that do not reflect scientific reality.” Kennedy says he’s fixing a broken CDC and that “some people should not be working there anymore.” Lawmakers in both parties are alarmed by the upheaval, and at least one senator has already called for Kennedy to resign. The shake-up lands at a critical moment: The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel is expected to meet next month to review immunizations — a decision that could reset US health policy with billions at stake for the pharmaceutical industry.

Related: Fed Reserve Gov. Sues To Block Trump from Firing Her (WSJ)

Commerce

It'll No Longer Be As Simple as Hitting "Add to Cart"

What's going on: That thrill of finding packages on your doorstep just got a lot less sweet. The “de minimis” rule — which let Americans buy up to $800 worth of goods from abroad without paying duties or tariffs — is officially gone. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month to close the loophole, and it took effect today. Federal data shows that Americans ordered nearly 1.4 billion tax-free packages from other countries last year — 60% of which came from China, largely thanks to e-commerce giants Shein and Temu. Late-night shopping sprees are about to be even more expensive.

What it means: Expect higher prices on everything from Korean beauty products to French wine to Italian leather. Experts warn low-income and minority households will feel the squeeze most, especially as small and midsize businesses pass along added costs. Shoppers may also see more order delays and cancellations — some sellers have already paused shipments to the US while they figure out the new rules. Consumer advocates say closing the loophole will help curb the flow of dangerous and counterfeit goods. But the timing couldn’t be worse: With the holidays coming, experts say it may be smarter (and cheaper) to buy domestic.

Related: "Sneakflation" Is (Unfortunately) in Full Swing (CNN)

Sports

Is the End of Sportsmanship Here?

What's going on: American tennis star Taylor Townsend should have been celebrating a career milestone at the US Open, but an ugly post-match exchange stole the spotlight. On Wednesday, Townsend — who is Black and a top doubles player — beat Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko. After the match, amid a chorus of boos, Townsend and Ostapenko got into a heated conversation. Ostapenko was heard saying, “You have no education” several times. Townsend said her opponent told her she has “no class.” So what caused the tense public moment? Ostapenko claimed Townsend broke tennis etiquette by not apologizing for a lucky net-cord point. (Saying sorry isn’t an official rule, but is a long-standing custom.)

Tell me more: The comments struck many fans and spectators as racially loaded. Townsend said she “didn’t take it that way,” but admitted the words echoed a painful stereotype: “That has been a stigma in our community of being ‘not educated.’” Still, she added, “I let my racket talk.” As for Ostapenko, she’s doubling down, saying that she “was never racist in my life.” Naomi Osaka has weighed in, saying: “It’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport.” For now, Townsend advances to the third round of the tournament, while Ostapenko has already left.

Related: Watch Trinity Rodman Ask Ben Shelton the Question We All Had (Sports Illustrated)