Minneapolis Mass Shooting, CDC Director Fired, Biden Admin and Gaza Aid

Summary

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Up First from NPR – August 28, 2025

Hosts: Michelle Martin & Layla Fadel
Episode Focus:
The episode covers three urgent stories: a mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school, the abrupt firing of the CDC director and senior resignations, and exclusive reporting on U.S. policy debates over humanitarian aid to Gaza.

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1. Minneapolis Mass Shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church

Main points:

• Incident Recap (03:53):

  • Heavily armed 23-year-old former student Robin Westman shot through stained glass windows into Annunciation Catholic Church during a school mass.
  • Two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed, and 14 more children and 3 adults wounded.

• Victims & Community Response:

  • The community held vigils in response to the tragedy (03:06).
  • Victims included children as well as parishioners in their 80s.

• Eyewitness Accounts:

  • 10-year-old Weston Halsney recounted:

    "I just ran under the pew and then I covered my head. My friend Victor like saved me though because he laid on top of me but he got hit." (03:48)

  • Victor survived a gunshot wound.

• First Responders & Support:

  • Local resident Pat Scallen described confusion at first:

    "I thought at first that the gunshots were a roofing crew with pneumatic nail guns, but I realized quickly that it was rifle fire." (05:16)

  • Scallen helped wounded children until ambulances arrived.

• Suspect & Police Response:

  • Robin Westman fired from outside and died of a self-inflicted gunshot (06:04).
  • All weapons were legally purchased.
  • Westman scheduled a disturbing video to post at the time of the attack; the FBI had it removed from YouTube (06:04).

• Community & Leadership Response:

  • Vigils planned; Archbishop Hebda read a condolence message from Pope Leo XIV:

    "[The Pope was] profoundly saddened to learn of the loss of life and injuries in the shooting. He sends his heartfelt condolences to everyone affected." (06:42)

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2. CDC Director Fired amid Senior Staff Exodus

Main points:

• Firing & Confusion:

  • HHS announced the firing of CDC Director Susan Menares, less than a month after her swearing-in (07:30).
  • Menares’s attorneys insisted she had not resigned and hadn’t been notified of her firing by the White House (07:30).

• Background:

  • Menares is a microbiologist and federal career scientist, Trump's second choice for the post (07:58).
  • The CDC had recently faced significant budget cuts and even a violent incident where a gunman attacked the agency, killing a police officer (07:58).

• Senior Leadership Resignations:

  • Multiple high-ranking CDC officials resigned the same day, including the chief medical officer and immunization chief (08:53).
  • Dimitri Deskalakis (Director, Immunizations & Respiratory Diseases) wrote:

    "Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long ex posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function." (09:32)

  • Deskalakis also noted experts were not allowed to brief Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

• Legal Dispute:

  • Susan Menares’s lawyer, Mark Zaid, declared:

    "[Only] the president himself can fire her... we reject notification that Dr. Minares has received as legally deficient and she remains as CDC director." (09:48)

• Underlying Causes:

  • NPR’s source said tensions with HHS leadership at a recent meeting likely led to this abrupt shakeup:

    “It leaves CDC without a director and without really senior staff leaders at a time when the agency is really struggling.” (10:18)

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3. Exclusive: Inside Biden Administration’s Contentious Policy on Gaza Aid

Main points:

• NPR Investigation:

  • Based on conversations with over two dozen former senior officials directly involved in U.S. policy toward Israel’s war in Gaza (11:03).
  • The crisis approaches two years; severe humanitarian crisis for Gaza’s 2 million residents (11:03).

• Internal Debates:

  • Many officials say the administration’s interventions “prevented famine,” but none claim the U.S. “did enough.”

    "Nobody can say we did enough. You can say we made a difference. It could have been worse. But others argued that's not the standard by which to measure success here." (11:36, paraphrased)

• Arguments Inside the Administration:

  • There were heated debates about using U.S. leverage (such as withholding weapons) to press Israel to allow more aid, versus giving Israel operational space following the October 7 attacks (12:27).
  • U.S. officials, including President Biden, personally pressured Israeli counterparts on aid specifics.

• Challenges on the Ground:

  • Alicia Ewers, former U.S. official:

    "The situation on the ground was so dire that you were always playing catch up. You were always trying to get ahead of the problem when in fact you were very far behind." (13:28)

• Current State under the Trump Administration:

  • The U.S. is now “largely allowing Israel to do what it wants” (13:46).
  • Aid organizations state the U.S. no longer exerts the same pressure on Israel to allow aid into Gaza.

• Quote on Repercussions:

  • Former senior U.S. official:

    "It's a stain which everyone in the world sees, even if we don't." (14:12)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Weston Halsney (witness, age 10):

  "I just ran under the pew and then I covered my head. My friend Victor like saved me though because he laid on top of me but he got hit." (03:48)

• Dimitri Deskalakis (CDC official):

  "Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought out announcements... should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function." (09:32)

• Alicia Ewers (former U.S. official):

  "The situation on the ground was so dire that you were always playing catch up." (13:28)

• Former senior U.S. official on Gaza crisis:

  "It's a stain which everyone in the world sees, even if we don't." (14:12)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Mass Shooting in Minneapolis: 02:53 – 07:11
• CDC Director Fired: 07:24 – 10:37
• Biden Administration & Gaza Aid: 10:49 – 14:24

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This episode delivers a sobering look at a community in grief, federal turmoil at the CDC, and the complex moral and policy dilemmas shaping U.S. global standing and humanitarian action.

Transcript

[Michelle Martin]

Two children were killed and more than a dozen injured in a shooting at a Catholic school mass in Minneapolis yesterday.

[Matt Sepik]

All of the remaining victims are expected to survive. There is a range of injuries, however.

[Layla Fadel]

We'Ll bring you all we know so far.

[Michelle Martin]

I'm Michelle Martin, that's Layla Fadel. And this is up first from NPR News. The director of the Centers for Disease Control has been fired and several other high ranking officials have resigned. What's behind these high profile departures?

[Layla Fadel]

And NPR has an extreme exclusive look behind the scenes at some of the contentious debates within the Biden administration over how much pressure to put on Israel to allow aid into Gaza.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

The situation on the ground was so dire that you were always playing catch up.

[Layla Fadel]

So stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

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[Michelle Martin]

A day of grief, shock and anger in Minneapolis after a heavily armed assailant shot through the stained glass windows of Annunciation Catholic Church where children and adults gathered for mass early Wednesday to celebrate the first week of school.

[Layla Fadel]

An 8 year old child and a 10 year old child were killed in the pews of that church. Fourteen more children were wounded along with three adults. By nightfall, hundreds of people came together to mourn at vigils across the city in a nearby school gym in a city park. The shooter has been identified as a 23 year old former student. Authorities say they shot themselves behind the church.

[Michelle Martin]

The witnesses to yesterday's violence were young, like the victims. Here's 10 year old Weston Halsney speaking to a local television station. Care 11 I just ran under the.

[Layla Fadel]

Pew and then I covered my head. My friend Victor like saved me though because he laid on top of me but he got hit.

[Michelle Martin]

His friend Victor, he says, was shot in the back, but he says he's okay.

[Layla Fadel]

For the latest on what we know about this killing spree, we turn to reporter Matt Sepik of Minnesota Public Radio, who was at the scene throughout the day. Good morning, Matt.

[Matt Sepik]

Hi Layla.

[Layla Fadel]

Matt, what else do we know about where this happened and the people who were shot and wounded?

[Matt Sepik]

The church and school are an institution in south Minneapolis. Annunciation celebrated its 100th anniversary a few years ago. The victims spanned generations. In addition to the children who were hurt and killed, three parishioners in their 80s were also wounded. Police Chief Brian O' Hara says the two children killed were pronounced dead at the scene, but he says the prognosis is good for the 17 people who were wounded. All of the remaining victims are expected to survive. There is a range of injuries. However, officials said Wednesday that multiple children were taken to Hennepin County Medical center in critical condition. A spokesperson for another hospital, Children's Minnesota, said that seven children were admitted there and four had been discharged by late afternoon. The father of a kindergartner at Annunciation told me yesterday that his son's class was not at the church service and the children there were able to shelter in place in their classroom.

[Layla Fadel]

Still very terrifying for them. Were you able to talk with any witnesses to this attack?

[Matt Sepik]

Pat Scallen is an alum of Annunciation School. He's still a parishioner there and lives down the block in the house where he grew up. Scallen said he thought at first that the gunshots were a roofing crew with pneumatic nail guns, but he realized quickly that it was rifle fire. Scallen says he ran to the scene just as several injured children were coming out of the church. He stayed with them until the first of many ambulances arrived. Scallen says he helped a boy who suffered a wound to his arm and a girl with a neck wound. She was conscious, her eyes were good and she was just a brave little. Then there was another boy who got grazed in the arm. I think another brave kid. They're all around fourth or fifth grade.

[Layla Fadel]

So authorities have identified the suspect. What do they know about the person they say carried out this attack?

[Matt Sepik]

The shooter was named as Robin Westman. Chief ojares said the 23 year old was outside the church and fired through windows into the building. Westman was armed with a rifle, pistol and shotgun and died of a self inflicted gunshot wound at the rear of the church. O' Hara said the shooter purchased all of the weapons legally. And recently, Westman left behind a video that was scheduled to post to YouTube at the time of the shooting. O' Hara said it appeared to show Westman at the scene and included some disturbing writings. The chief says the FBI worked with YouTube to have the video taken down.

[Layla Fadel]

And how are leaders consoling their community in this moment?

[Matt Sepik]

As we heard, there were vigils Wednesday night. Another is set for this evening at The Basilica of St. Mary, a large Catholic church in downtown Minneapolis. At a news conference, standing alongside the police chief, mayor and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Wednesday, Archbishop Bernard Hebda read a message from Pope Leo xiv, who said he was, quote, profoundly saddened to learn of the loss of life and injuries in the shooting. And he sends his heartfelt condolences to everyone affected.

[Layla Fadel]

That's Matt Sepik of Minnesota Public Radio. Thank you for your reporting, Matt.

[Matt Sepik]

You're welcome.

[Layla Fadel]

The Department of Health and Human Services says the new director of the Centers for Disease Control has been fired.

[Michelle Martin]

HHS announced Wednesday that Susan Menares was no longer CDC director less than a month after being sworn in. Hours later, though, attorneys representing Menares posted on X that she had not resigned or or been notified by the White House that she had been fired.

[Layla Fadel]

NPR health policy correspondent Selena Simmons Duffin is here to explain. Good morning, Selena.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Morning, Leila.

[Layla Fadel]

So first, just remind us who Suzanne Monarz is in her path to CDC director.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Well, she's a microbiologist who's held several roles as a career scientist in the federal government. She was President Trump's second choice to lead the agency after former Congressman Dave Weldon, who couldn't get enough support in the Senate. So Menares did get through the Senate confirmation process. She was sworn in on on July 31. And she came in to lead a public health agency that suffered major staff and budget cuts that's been disparaged by members of the Trump administration. Then in her first week on the job, a gunman fired hundreds of bullets into the agency and a police officer was killed.

[Layla Fadel]

So then what happened Wednesday?

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Well, first the Washington Post reported that Manara's was out. The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that reporting. A few hours later, the Post on X said that quote, susan Manares is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people.

[Layla Fadel]

But that's not the end of it, right?

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Yeah. Right. So just after HHS posted that at least five really extremely senior career scientists at CDC announced their resignations. They include the agency's chief medical officer, the director of the center on Emerging Infectious Diseases Diseases. Several wrote scathing resignation letters, including Dimitri Deskalakis, who directed the center on Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases. He shared his letter on X and said that no expert from his center had ever briefed Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. On measles or bird flu or anything else and said I'm not sure who the secretary is listening to, but it is not us. And he also wrote, quote, having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long ex posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function. And then a twist attorney Zaid shared on social media. He was representing Susan Menarez and she had not resigned. And late last night he wrote in a statement that quote, as a presidential appointee Senate confirmed officer was only the president himself can fire her. For this reason, we reject notification that Dr. Minares has received as legally deficient and she remains as CDC director. We have notified the White House counsel of our position.

[Layla Fadel]

And really quickly, what spurred all of this?

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Well, I spoke to a senior CDC leader. It sounds like there was a meeting late last week with HHS leadership that went very badly. And what this does is it leaves CDC without a director and without really senior staff leaders at a time when the agency is is really struggling.

[Layla Fadel]

As NPR Selena Simmons Duffin. Thank you, Selena.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Thank you.

[Layla Fadel]

We have some exclusive reporting now from npr. Our reporters have been speaking to more than two dozen former senior Biden administration officials. All were directly invol in shaping US Policy towards Israel's war in Gaza.

[Michelle Martin]

This comes as Israel's War against Hamas nears the two year mark. There is now a humanitarian crisis for the 2 million Palestinians living there. We wanted to learn more about what role the US As Israel's strongest ally, may have had in trying to get aid into Gaza to alleviate that crisis.

[Layla Fadel]

NPR's Kat Lonsdorf was one of the reporters working on this, and she joins me now. Good morning, Katie.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

Good morning.

[Layla Fadel]

Okay, so the reporting really took you all behind the scenes for some dramatic months in the Biden administration and in this war. Tell us more about who you talked to and what you heard.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

Yeah, I did this reporting with our colleagues, Fought Matanis and Tom Bowman. And the people we talked to were senior officials across the administration. Many of them requested anonymity in order to speak candidly with us about sensitive internal discussions. And what they described was a sometimes contentious atmosphere within the administration about the decisions being made. And now many are grappling with this idea of did the US do enough? Some people we talked to said the Biden administration prevented famine from occurring in Gaza, which has been declared since President Trump took office. One senior former official told us, quote, nobody can say we did enough. You can say we made a difference. It could have been worse. But others argued that's not the standard by which to measure success here.

[Layla Fadel]

So it sounds like there was debate within the administration about how U.S. policy was shaped on getting food into Gaza. How did that play out?

[Kat Lonsdorf]

Well, the people we talked to described strong, sometimes bitter arguments about how far the US Was willing or able to go to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. You know, some believed the US Needed to use all of its leverage to push Israel to let more aid in, including possibly withholding U.S. weapons. And others believed in giving Israel space to conduct its war with Hamas, especially in the early days when the trauma of the October 7 attacks on Israel was still very fresh. There was also a lot of frustration with Israel within the administration when it came to how much humanitarian aid it was allowing into Gaza, with heated arguments between senior US Officials and their Israeli counterparts. You know, very senior Biden officials, including the president himself, would spend hours on the phone with Israel pushing on specific aid details, the number of trucks getting in on one day or a crossing being opened, for example. And officials told us that this meant that the US Was often bogged down, sometimes losing the bigger picture. Here's Alicia ewers, a former U.S. official involved in the early planning. Here's what she told us.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

The situation on the ground was so dire that you were always playing catch up. You were always trying to get ahead of the problem when in fact you were very far behind.

[Layla Fadel]

Okay. So, Kat, that was then. What's happening now with US Policy and the humanitarian situation in Gaza?

[Kat Lonsdorf]

Well, now the US under the Trump administration largely seems to be allowing Israel to do what it wants. Aid groups on the ground told us that the US Is no longer exerting the same kind of consistent round the clock pressure on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza as it did under the Biden administration. A White House official told NPR that Trump, quote, wants to ensure the people of Gaza are fed. But, you know, regardless of the administration, one former senior US Official told us that they thought the tragedy of Gaza has fundamentally compromised American global standing. They said, quote, it's a stain which everyone in the world sees, even if we don't.

[Layla Fadel]

That's NPR's Kat Lonsdorf. Thank you, Kat.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

Thank you.

[Layla Fadel]

And that's up first for Thursday, August 28th. I'm Layla Falden.

[Michelle Martin]

And I'm Michelle Martin. For your next listen, consider Consider this from npr. Here at up first, we give you three big stories of the day. Our Consider this colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single new story and what it means to you in less than 15. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Layla Fadel]

Today's episode of up first was edited by Cheryl Corley, Jane Greenhalgh, Andrew Sussman, Lisa Thompson and Adam Bierne. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

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