Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Tensions Escalate Between Fauci And Other Trump Administration Officials
Politico: ‘A Political Animal’: Atlas Attacks Fauci, Escalating Feud Between Trump’s Pandemic Advisers
Dr. Scott Atlas, one of President Donald Trump’s chief coronavirus advisers, publicly attacked Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday — accusing the nation’s top infectious disease expert of being a “political animal” who adjusted his dire assessments of the pandemic after Election Day. The remarks from Atlas, who has earned the White House’s favor by downplaying the disease’s threat, came on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” after host Laura Ingraham contrasted comments Fauci made last month about a potential vaccine timeline with more optimistic comments he made earlier Tuesday. (Forgey, 11/11)
ABC News: Anthony Fauci Says Working With Trump Administration On The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Been 'Very Stressful'
When America's preeminent infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, was in medical school he never imagined that his work would one day lead to calls for him to be beheaded. Dr Fauci, who has headed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, told 7.30's Leigh Sales working with the Trump administration on the coronavirus pandemic had "obviously been very stressful". "I mean, it's just, to deny that would be to deny reality," he said. (11/11)
The Hill: Fauci Reacts To Bannon: 'That's Not The Kind Of Thing You Think About' At Medical School
Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases specialist, said former Trump adviser Stephen Bannon calling for his beheading is “not the kind of thing you think about when you're going through medical school.” Bannon caused outrage last week when he said that he wanted to put Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray’s “heads on pikes.” (Sullivan, 11/11)
In other news about Dr. Fauci —
Politico: Fauci And Biden Team Steer Clear Of Each Other — For Now
President-elect Joe Biden has made clear that he wants top infectious-disease expert Anthony Fauci to play a leading role in his administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. But the incoming president and his transition advisers are staying away from the longtime civil servant for now, wary of violating official protocols by talking to Fauci or other top health officials before the Government Services Administration certifies Biden’s win. (Owermohle, Cancryn and Diamond, 11/11)
