Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Scott Atlas Resigns From White House Advisory Position
The New York Times: Scott Atlas, A Trump Coronavirus Adviser, Resigns
Dr. Scott W. Atlas, the former Stanford University radiologist who espoused controversial theories and rankled government scientists while advising President Trump on the coronavirus pandemic, resigned his White House position on Monday. The move was not entirely unexpected. Dr. Atlas joined the White House in August as a special government employee for a limited term after he caught Mr. Trump’s eye with his frequent appearances on Fox News over the summer. Dr. Atlas’s term was set to expire this week. (Gay Stolberg, 11/30)
Politico: Scott Atlas Resigns As Trump's Coronavirus Adviser
A radiologist with no previous experience fighting infectious disease, Atlas joined the White House in August after TV appearances on Fox News where he decried fears about Covid-19 as overblown. But the doctor — who won Trump's favor by repeatedly pitching the president on a rosier outlook about the worsening pandemic — clashed with the administration's public health experts, who warned that Atlas was misleading Trump about the severity of the crisis. Deborah Birx, an infectious disease specialist who had been tapped in February to serve as the White House's coronavirus coordinator, was increasingly marginalized this fall in favor of Atlas. (Diamond, 11/30)
The Washington Post: Scott Atlas Resigns As Trump’s Coronavirus Adviser
Atlas had become widely disliked in the White House — even among aides who shared his view that the country should reopen and that officials should not worry about young, healthy people contracting the virus, according to two senior administration officials, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters. Atlas’s resignation was first reported by Fox News on Monday evening. The White House declined to comment. (Dawsey and Abutaleb, 11/30)
CNN: Dr. Scott Atlas Resigns From Trump Administration
A source close to the task force told CNN on Monday that Atlas' departure comes as welcome news, as his discredited theories will no longer have a seat at the table. A separate official said the task force remains intact following Atlas' departure. Atlas' months-long stint in the White House was marked by controversy as he became a close adviser to Trump on the pandemic, adopting public stances on the virus much closer to the President's -- including decrying the idea that schools cannot reopen this fall as "hysteria" and pushing for the resumption of college sports. (Collins, Acosta and Cole, 11/30)
NPR: Dr. Scott Atlas, Special Coronavirus Adviser To Trump Resigns
Throughout his tenure, he has insisted all of the guidance he's offered was based on scientific research. "I worked hard with a singular focus—to save lives and help Americans through this pandemic," Atlas wrote in a resignation letter posted to Twitter. He added that he "always relied on the latest science and evidence, without any political consideration or influence." (Romo, 11/30)
