Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Administration Eyes Health Care Orders, Rules In Final Weeks
Politico: Trump Aides Privately Plot A Flurry Of Moves In Their Final 10 Weeks
On Monday, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows gathered senior aides on a call. One of his goals: to plot the conservative policy moves they could push through in their final 10 weeks on immigration, trade, health care, China and school choice. ... The president intends to start issuing the orders as soon as possible, aides said, while agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Homeland Security are rushing to finish rules already in the pipeline. (Cook and Orr, 11/12)
The Washington Post: Trump Rails Against ‘Medical Deep State’ After Pfizer Vaccine News Comes After Election Day
President Trump is lashing out at the Food and Drug Administration following a disclosure Monday that an experimental coronavirus vaccine from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is more than 90 percent effective, convinced the timing — six days after Election Day — proves the “medical deep state” deliberately tried to sabotage his electoral prospects by delaying the results. Shortly after Trump heard the news Monday, he demanded Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar “get to the bottom” of what happened with Pfizer, according to a senior White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the president’s actions. (McGinley, Dawsey, Abutaleb and Johnson, 11/11)
And in updates on the COVID outbreak at the White House —
The New York Times: White House Covid Outbreaks Persist, As Cases Now Span Three Months
Three more White House staffers have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the latest outbreak among President Trump’s aides and advisers to 12 people. At least four of them — Mr. Trump’s chief of staff, his political director, a campaign adviser leading the efforts to challenge election results and the housing secretary — attended an election night party at the White House where hundreds of people mingled for hours, many without masks. (Schoenfeld Walker and Conlen, 11/11)
The Hill: White House Political Director Tests Positive For COVID-19 After Attending Election Night Event
Another member of the Trump administration has tested positive for the coronavirus after attending the election night celebration held at the White House. Brian Jack, White House political director, reportedly tested positive over the weekend, according to sources who spoke to The New York Times. (Choi, 11/11)
