Late last month a CDC advisory committee launched a review into the "safety, effectiveness, and immunogenicity" of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as whether mRNA remains in the body longer than advertised.
As part of the review, they will look at gaps in existing knowledge “relating to bio distribution, pharmacokinetics, and persistence of the spike protein, mRNA, and lipid nanoparticles to inform immunization recommendations,” the document states. In other words - they'll be looking at whether the vaccine has ever worked, as well as harms it may cause. As ZeroHedge readers know, studies have found that the spike protein and mRNA in the vaccines persist for some time.
Days after the committee was announced, the Department of Health & Human Services announced that Susan Monarez, who championed mRNA shots for COVID-19, is "no longer director of the CDC" - after she "clashed with the secretary (Kennedy) over vaccine policy," which ultimately led to her firing.
Meanwhile at least four other CDC officials resigned on Wednesday in a massive leadership shakeup at the agency: Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC's chief medical officer; Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Dr. Daniel Jernigan, the director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; and Dr. Jennifer Layden, director of the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance and Technology.
As the leadership crisis at the CDC unfolds, President Trump issued a somewhat cryptic 'truth' - challenging Pfizer and other vaccine makers to make public the same 'GREAT' claims his administration was shown in order to justify operation Warp Speed.
"It is very important that the Drug Companies justify the success of their various Covid Drugs. Many people think they are a miracle that saved Millions of lives. Others disagree!" Trump wrote.
"I have been shown information from Pfizer, and others, that is extraordinary, but they never seem to show those results to the public. Why not???" the 'truth' continues. "With CDC being ripped apart over this question, I want the answer, and I want it NOW."
According to Trump, drugmakers need to "clear up this MESS," adding that they "let everyone rip themselves apart, including Bobby Kennedy Jr. and CDC, trying to figure out the success or failure of the Drug Companies Covid work."
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, held from August 31 to September 1, was clearly aneconomic 'show of force' aimed at the West, which included the typical formal greetings and speeches, and group photos - but also with some not so subtle messaging.
Amid the chummy atmosphere which saw Presidents Xi, Modi, and Putin share hugs, handshakes, and warm moments filled with laughter, it is intent on signaling to the world a major shift away from US-led global dominance and toward a multipolar world increasingly shaped by Asia, Eurasia, and the Global South, also coming at a moment Washington is threatening severe secondary sanctions on any nation doing business with Russia.
The populations of China, India, and Russia represent over a third of the global population alone, and heads of state from over 20 more countries were also represented, among them Belarus and Slovakia.
Russian President Putin at one point hailed it as a summit of "authentic multilateralism" and called for a new Eurasian security framework free from Western influence. Indian Prime Minister Modi's presence was a first in many years.
The NY Times described "a scene in eastern China almost certainly intended for an audience on the other side of the world: The leaders of China, Russia and India, the three largest powers not aligned with the West, smiling and laughing like good friends as they greeted each other at a summit on Monday."
The publication went on: "It starts with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia holding hands and walking into a meeting hall filled with other world leaders. They head straight for President Xi Jinping of China, shake hands and form a close circle. A few words are exchanged before translators join the huddle. Mr. Putin cracks a broad smile, and Mr. Modi lets out a big laugh. At one point, Mr. Modi joins hands with the two leaders."
The Times further says the SCO summit has "given China and Russia a platform to rally partners such as Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Pakistan."
Various state media outlets have been emphasizing this theme of standing up to America's military and economic might. For example, Russian state media, interviewing a China analyst, said:
China and India can now stand together against US hegemony — Wang Wen, Executive Dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies
"The Dragon and Elephant 'have the wisdom' to resolve their differences and border conflicts."
China's Xi in his opening speech urged the attendees to stand against the "Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation and bullying." He urged for the organization to "forge ahead' amid "global upheaval."
All of this is of course happening amid the backdrop of the Ukraine war, and China is one of the few places Putin can freely go and enjoy the red carpet, where Global South heads of state clamor for a handshake with him, or photo op.
One Moscow-based Wester journalist captioned a photo, ironically: Isolation, today in China.
Contrast this with the sad image of European leaders being collectively and ceremoniously humiliated at the White House last week https://t.co/3lIjcnJsGD
However, Gautam Bambawale, India’s former ambassador to China, cautioned in an interview with CNBC: "The dragon and the elephant are not dancing as yet. They are just looking at each other from opposite sides of a room and trying to assess what are the implications of the relationship between the two? It’s going to take time to bring the relationship back on track."
Still, the years-long trend has been that the more Washington ramps up pressure and the threat of sanctions on both, the faster that historic tensions and divides are healed.
The pitch: Xi is promoting an order that “democratizes” global governance and reduces dependence on US-centric finance (think: less dollar gravity, more regional institutions). Putin called the SCO a vehicle for “genuine multilateralism” and Eurasian security. By calling China a partner rather than a rival, Modi signaled New Delhi won’t be locked into Washington’s anti-China agenda.
The audience: More than 20 non-Western leaders were in the room, with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres endorsing the event organisation – not a club meeting in the shadows, but a UN-centered frame at a China-led forum.
President Trump responded to the clear messaging of 'friendship' and 'unity' among China, Russia, and India on Monday - writing on Truth Social, "What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us." He added that theUS remains India's "biggest client."
Vice President JD Vance featured the somewhat defensive statement on X as well...
"The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high Tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one sided disaster! Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S. They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago," Trump posted.
As for Modi, he wrote on X just following the close of the summit, "Held an excellent meeting with President Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin. We discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in all spheres, including trade, fertilizers, space, security, and culture. We exchanged views on regional and global processes, including the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine."
