RFK Jr. Grilled, Europeans Pledge Troops to Ukraine, DC Sues Trump Admin

Summary

Up First from NPR – Episode Summary

Title: RFK Jr. Grilled, Europeans Pledge Troops to Ukraine, DC Sues Trump Admin
Date: September 5, 2025
Hosts: Michelle Martin, Imi Martinez

Overview

This episode covers the three biggest news stories of the morning:

• A heated Senate grilling of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over his vaccine policies and actions
• European commitments to guarantee Ukraine’s postwar security, including potential troop deployments and diplomatic uncertainties with the US and Russia
• The District of Columbia's lawsuit against the Trump administration’s National Guard deployment, questioning its constitutionality and effectiveness

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1. RFK Jr. Grilled Over Vaccine Policies

[00:02–06:33]

Key Discussion Points

• Contentious Senate Hearing: RFK Jr., known for his anti-vaccine activism, faced tough Senate questioning regarding promises made during his nomination versus his actions as HHS Secretary.
• COVID-19 Booster Eligibility: Current FDA approval restricts COVID-19 boosters to high-risk groups (seniors, those with specific conditions). Kennedy asserted anyone who wants the booster can get it, but senators and experts disputed this.
• Advisory Committee Dismissals: Kennedy fired all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), replacing them with anti-vaccine advocates—a move raising alarm among public health experts and politicians.
• Impact on Childhood Vaccines: The new ACIP panel will vote on key childhood vaccines, raising fears about changes to measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B immunization policies.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Senator-Sec. Exchange:
  • Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: “You're just making stuff up, Senator. I'm not. You're just making stuff up. Sometimes when you make an accusation, it's kind of a confession.” (03:48)
• Scientific Consensus vs. Pharma Influence:
  • Kennedy repeatedly equated scientific consensus with corporate compromise.
  • Senator Bernie Sanders: “Everybody is corrupt but you. Is that what we're looking at? I don't think so…” (05:40)
• Distrust of Professional Groups:
  • Kennedy asserted that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is “gravely conflicted” due to pharmaceutical funding; the AAP issued a rebuttal, clarifying that less than 4% of revenue is industry-based and reaffirming the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. (06:07)

Timestamps

• [03:02]—Senate doubts about booster access
• [03:48]—Contentious Kennedy-Hassan exchange
• [04:43]—Concerns about changes to childhood vaccine policy
• [05:40]—Sanders confronts Kennedy’s accusations
• [06:07]—AAP responds to Kennedy’s claims

---

2. Europeans Pledge Troops for Ukraine Security

[06:42–10:20]

Key Discussion Points

• “Coalition of the Willing” Summit in Paris: Thirty-five countries, including non-European allies, pledged to guarantee Ukraine’s security post-war, including the commitment of troops on land, at sea, and in the air.
• France’s Push & U.S. Uncertainty: President Emmanuel Macron announced 26 countries have formally committed to a reassurance force, but details—and the US role—remain unclear.
  • Macron: “They are ready to commit to Ukraine’s security and have concrete plans for it.” (07:05)
• Biden to Trump Shift: The policy shift in the US under President Trump versus the Biden administration was cited as a motivator for European assertiveness.
• Limits to US Involvement: Doubts persist about how much the US will participate—likely intelligence and logistical support, but not direct troop deployment.
  • Martin Canseco: “You could see the US participating in providing capabilities that Europeans do not have without obviously sending any troops to Ukraine or officially guaranteeing the security of those European troops.” (08:45)
• Russia’s Reaction: President Putin called any foreign troops in Ukraine “a legitimate target” for Russian forces. Macron insisted Ukraine’s military strength—not just foreign troops—remains its key safeguard.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Macron’s Reflection: “Back then…only two countries were ready to commit troops. Now, 26 are formally committed…” (07:05)
• Putin’s Warning: “Any foreign troops in Ukraine would be a legitimate target...” (09:09)

Timestamps

• [07:05]—Macron and Zelensky announce European force
• [08:45]—US role uncertainty and analysis from Martin Canseco
• [09:09]—Putin’s statement on foreign troops
• [09:48]—Potential for further economic sanctions if Russia does not agree to peace

---

3. D.C. Sues Trump Administration Over National Guard Deployment

[10:28–13:52]

Key Discussion Points

• Legal Challenge: D.C.'s Attorney General Brian Schwab sues the Trump administration for what he deems is an “illegal deployment” of the National Guard during a declared “crime emergency.”
• Federal vs. District Authority: While D.C. can request the Guard for disasters or emergencies, its deployment was not at the city's request but by presidential authority, since D.C. lacks a governor.
  • Alex Koma: “They haven't done that here. And instead, you've got National Guard troops who aren't trained in policing patrolling the streets…” (10:54)
• Critiques and Public Unrest: Many residents feel uneasy about a strong military presence, and the Guard’s effectiveness in reducing crime is questioned.
  • The Guard cannot arrest or enforce laws, with their role mainly as observers—sometimes even assisting city maintenance.
• Political Stakes: House Republicans are reportedly attempting to remove D.C.'s elected attorney general. Precedent from a federal judge’s ruling in California, found Trump’s actions similarily illegal, is seen as relevant for cities like Chicago and Baltimore, where further deployments are threatened.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Alex Koma on the troops’ limited power:
  “They’re not authorized to make arrests…they can merely notify police if they see a crime or, in some instances, simply call 911.” (12:50)
• Trump’s claims against crime statistics:
  “Trump…said the city’s crime free now, but we know that’s not true…the city police found that crime overall has decreased…” (12:50)

Timestamps

• [10:54]—D.C. Attorney General lawsuit outlined
• [11:49]—Context: Why the Guard was deployed
• [12:47]—Questioning the impact on crime figures
• [13:26]—Potential implications for other cities and federal precedent

---

Notable Quotes–Quick Reference

• “You’re just making stuff up, Senator.” – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (03:48)
• “Everybody is corrupt but you. Is that what we’re looking at?” – Sen. Bernie Sanders (05:40)
• “Any foreign troops in Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Russian forces.” – Vladimir Putin (quoted by Eleanor Beardsley) (09:09)
• “They’re not authorized to make arrests…they can merely notify police if they see a crime…” – Alex Koma (12:50)

---

Summary

This episode brings sharp political and policy debates to the forefront: RFK Jr.'s actions at HHS challenge public health norms; Europe’s effort to shore up Ukraine's future defense faces strategic uncertainty over US involvement and Russian opposition; and D.C.’s legal battle over federal authority in local law enforcement raises questions about executive power and constitutional rights.

Transcript

[Michelle Martin]

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Defended his position on vaccines in a contentious Senate hearing.

[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]

Now parents who decide that they do want their children back. You're just making stuff up, Senator. I'm not. You're just making stuff up.

[Imi Martinez]

So what did he have to say about who can get vaccines?

[Michelle Martin]

I'm Michelle Martin. That's a Martinez. And this is up first from NPR News. European countries have finalized a commitment to provide post war security guarantees for Ukraine, including troops on the ground, in the sea and in the air. Now the plan heads to the US.

[Martin Canseco]

You could see the US Providing capabilities that Europeans do not have.

[Michelle Martin]

Will President Trump give it his support?

[Imi Martinez]

And the attorney general for the District of Columbia suing the Trump administration over its deployment of the National Guard of the city, calling it a military occupation. Stay with us. We've got all the news you need to start your day.

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[Imi Martinez]

For decades, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Built his reputation and fortune as an anti vaccine activist.

[Michelle Martin]

That concerned many senators who were considering his nomination to serve as Health and Human Services secretary. So he made promises not to prevent people who want them from getting vaccines. Since he's gotten the job, many of those senators have come to believe he's taken actions that, taken together, have broken that promise. So in a Senate hearing on Thursday, they demanded that he explain himself.

[Imi Martinez]

NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin watched the hearing yesterday and is here to explain. So that was some must see tv. Selena, what questions do the senators have for Kennedy about vaccines?

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Well, you know, fall is coming, winter is coming, right. And for a lot of people, that means the flu shot and the COVID 19 booster to protect against the respiratory viruses that start getting passed around. So this year, the Food and Drug Administration approved the COVID booster with a catch. It is not approved for everybody, just people with certain conditions and people over 65. And the. There's already a huge amount of confusion about what that means in real life, you know, for doctors, patients, insurance companies. But yesterday in the hearing, Secretary Kennedy insisted that anybody who wants the shot can get it. And he got really angry when he was pressed about it. Here's one example. It was an exchange with Senator Maggie Hassan, Democrat of New Hampshire, who was asking about the COVID 19 booster for kids.

[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]

Now, parents who decide that they do want their children to have stuff up. Senator, I'm not. You're just making stuff up. You know, sometimes when you make an accusation, it's kind of a confession. Mr. Kennedy.

[Imi Martinez]

Wow. So who's right? Senator Hassan or Secretary Kennedy?

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Hassan is right that parents of kids without certain conditions are probably going to face barriers getting the booster shot this year. This approval only for certain groups means that just wanting the vaccine, you know, making the personal choice to get one might not be enough this year. And you know, a big question mark is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is going to do. You remember, this is the group that Kennedy said he wouldn't touch, and then he fired all 17 members and replaced them with his picks, many of whom have a history, like him, of anti vaccine activism.

[Imi Martinez]

Now, all this isn't just only about COVID 19 vaccines.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Yeah, that's right. The panel who's meeting later this month is also set to consider routine childhood vaccines like the one for measles, mumps, and rubella and hepatitis B. Senator Michael Bennett, Democrat of Colorado, asked Kennedy if that meant schools and parents in his state should be prepared for more measles outbreaks.

[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]

I do not anticipate a change in the MMR vaccine. You know, AZIP is an independent panel, so. Well, it's. It's a panel you just put those folks on. Far from what you said, there are people with ideas that are completely outside the mainstream. You mean out of the pharmaceutical paradigm? Let me just.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Yeah, that was one of several times in the hearing that Kennedy equated scientific consensus that vaccines are safe and effective and save lives with researchers somehow being compromised by drug companies. There was a memorable moment when Senator Sanders, independent of Vermont, picked up on that.

[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]

Everybody is corrupt but you. Is that what we're looking at? I don't think so. And I think the issue. I don't even know what you're talking about. Well, I think you do know what I'm talking about. I don't know.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

When pressed by Sanders, Kennedy said, yes, he does think mainstream medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics can't be trusted because they're, quote, gravely conflicted and claiming their top contributors are vaccine makers.

[Imi Martinez]

Did those organizations have a response to those accusations?

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Yeah, the AAP put out a statement right away that said that was false and its financial information is public and industry sources represent less than 4% of their revenue. And they concluded, quote, unquote, pediatricians recommend vaccines for one reason only. They are proven safe and among the most effective tools we have to protect children's health and stop the spread of disease in our communities.

[Imi Martinez]

That's npr. Selena Simmons, Duffin, thanks a lot.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

You're welcome.

[Imi Martinez]

Europe has finalized a strategy to guarantee peace and security in Ukraine once the war comes to an end.

[Michelle Martin]

The plan, which would include troops on the ground, was announced Thursday at a summit in Paris. It has yet to be guaranteed by the US but already early this morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his reaction.

[Imi Martinez]

NPR's Eleanor Beardsley is in Paris. So, Eleanor, what did the Europeans announce?

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Well, a 35 countries got together physically here and by video link, not only European. The group is known as the Coalition of the Willing. It includes Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada. And they say they are ready to commit to Ukraine's security and have concrete plans for it. Here's French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke after the meeting, standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Let's listen. He said we have 26 countries formally committed to deploying a reassurance force of troops in Ukraine to be physically present on land, air or sea to guarantee peace the day it is declared. Now, Macron said he could not give any details, but he said they would be ready. And for anyone who thinks this is just more talk, Macron reminded everyone of how far this group has come. They first came together last February in despair, really, when it became very clear that the US Under President Trump was going to be completely different on Ukraine than the Biden administration. Back then, Macron said only two countries were ready to commit troops.

[Imi Martinez]

What about the United States. Will it play a role in this coalition?

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Well, hopefully yes. Macron and Zelensky also spoke with President Trump after the meeting. They said they spoke to him for an hour and a half and they said the US Role would be determined in the coming days. Europeans definitely are counting on the US to be there. Macron claimed the US Is fully on board. And special envoy Steve Witkoff was in Paris at the meeting. But clearly there are doubts how the US Will contribute or even if, and I spoke with Martin can say who is the director of the Paris office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. And he says it's hard to see a US Backstop providing major guarantees.

[Martin Canseco]

Now, the backstop could be at least some sort of intelligence and logistical support. And there you could see the US Participating in providing capabilities that Europeans do not have without obviously sending any troops to Ukraine or officially guaranteeing the security of those European troops.

[Imi Martinez]

Okay, but how has President Putin reacted to the announcement?

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Right. Well, President Putin has been in China over recent days joining huge celebrations on the end of World War II with allies China and North Korea. This is the new multipolar world on display that's against US Dominance. And this morning Putin said that, quote, any foreign troops in Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Russian forces. It's not surprising. And it's why Macron said that the main pillar of Ukraine's post war security is actually a strong Ukrainian army. He said they will not accept any restrictions on the size and shape of Ukraine's forces in the future.

[Imi Martinez]

So what if Vladimir Putin, Eleanor, just does not agree to a peace deal?

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Exactly. A and that's what we've been seeing. And Macron admitted that Putin thinks he's winning, so he doesn't want to stop the war. But he emphasized that Russia has suffered more than 1 million casualties for barely 20% of Ukrainian territory. And Macron said there will be new economic sanctions in coordination with the US If Russia continues to refuse to end its war. And President Trump also spoke about that. He didn't mention sanctions, but he said that the Europeans need to stop buying any Russian oil.

[Imi Martinez]

All right, that's NPR's Eleanor Beardsley in Paris. Thank you.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

You're welcome.

[Imi Martinez]

The attorney general for the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration.

[Michelle Martin]

The lawsuit calls the use of the National Guard in the District a, quote, illegal deployment. National Guard troops have been patrolling certain streets in Washington, D.C. for the past three weeks since the declared what he calls a crime emergency in the city.

[Imi Martinez]

Alex Koma covers D.C. politics for member station WAMU. He joins us now. So, Alex, what is the lawsuit alleging?

[Alex Koma]

Yeah, D.C. attorney General Brian Schwab is basically calling this unconstitutional, saying that this is an improper use of the military on, you know, home soil, you know, here in the US and he's drawing out this point that normally, DC While it doesn't have control of its National Guard, can request it, and only in cases of a natural disaster, a riot, some sort of emergency. And they haven't done that here. And instead, you've got National Guard troops who aren't trained in policing patrolling the streets here in D.C. but the White House pushed back. They've released a statement basically saying that the president was well within his lawful authority to deploy the guard here and called Schwab's lawsuit an attempt to undermine the president's operation.

[Imi Martinez]

You know, I'm be in D.C. next week, Alex, so I'm kind of interested to see what the city looks like. But remind us why National Guard troops who were deployed to DC in the first place.

[Alex Koma]

Yeah, well, this is all part of Trump's emphasis on crime in the city, basically, his claim that, you know, crime is out of control here, even though the numbers, of course, show otherwise, that many violent crimes are actually at historic lows. And as I said before, you know, he's the one who controls the guard. D.C. is not a state, so there's no governor to control it. It's solely in the president's authority. So whether or not people here think it's needed, he's got the power to send them in, and he has done so, along with guards from other states, about 2,300 of them. All part of this broader surge of federal law enforcement officers into the city, whether it's FBI, ice, dea, the whole Alphabet soup. And, you know, many people here aren't really thrilled to see them. Many feel that it's kind of unsettling to see uniformed troops on the Metro. It's unsettled people. But that hasn't changed the fact that Guard officials are saying they should probably be here until at least the end of November, if not longer.

[Imi Martinez]

Well, okay, so has their presence helped reduce crime?

[Alex Koma]

Well, Trump, of course, said that the city's crime free now, but we know that's not true. The D.C. police Department has found that crime overall has decreased. But I'd still add that the troop themselves, you know, they're not authorized to make arrests. They can merely notify police if they see a crime or in some instances, simply call 91 1. So it's kind of difficult to draw any direct correlation here when a lot of times they're doing things like spreading mulch and cleaning up parks.

[Imi Martinez]

President Trump, though, has said he wants to send troops to other cities. So what could this lawsuit mean for the guard's deployment in other cities and the deployment in dc?

[Alex Koma]

Yeah, well, you know, federal court will hash this out. It could send the guard home entirely. But a complicating factor is that House Republicans are even trying to get rid of DC's elected independent attorney general. And it's worth mentioning that a federal judge ruled that Trump's actions in California were illegal. So for people in places like Chicago or Baltimore, where Trump has also threatened to send the guard in, this is something they'll be watching very closely.

[Imi Martinez]

That's WAMU's Alex Colma. Thanks a lot.

[Alex Koma]

My pleasure.

[Imi Martinez]

And that's up first for Friday, September 5th. I'm Imi Martinez.

[Michelle Martin]

And I'm Michelle Martin. This Sunday on UP first, America's thirst for oil has left a graveyard of unplugged wells all across the landscape. Most hardly produce any oil at all.

[Alex Koma]

These piddly little wells that are just.

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Drip drabbing out a little bit of profit while polluting on the other end, they're not worth it.

[Michelle Martin]

This week on THE Sunday STORY from Up First, a look at why so many wells across the country remain unplugged and abandoned despite the real threat of long term pollution. Grass didn't grow. The pine trees kept dying. Yeah, and there was another tree that sat there and it died. Stripper wells, orphan wells and the legacy of America's love affair for black gold. Listen to the Sunday story right here in the UPVERSE podcast.

[Imi Martinez]

Today's episode of up first was edited by Diane Weber, Miguel Macias, Martha Ann Overland, Lisa Thompson and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dubas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Nisha Hynes, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Our executive producer is Jay Shaylor. Join us again on Monday. This message comes From NPR sponsor 1Password. Secure access to your online world, from emails to banking, so you can protect what matters most with 1Password. For a free two week trial, go to 1Password.com NPR.

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