Exclusive: Emails obtained by @McClatchy show the Pompeos sought personal assistance of senior State Department staff, who expressed discomfort at requests they conduct personal errands on government time. (w/ @BryanLowry3) kansascity.com/news/politics-…
"I’m wondering if we are sending the last of our personal cards out, who will be there to help me," Susan Pompeo wrote to a senior @StateDept aide from a personal email account. "Mike will not want to go outside you and Joe for this assistance." kansascity.com/news/politics-…
The exchange is the first publication of emails documenting the Pompeos directing government employees to conduct their personal business while at work on taxpayer dollars, the topic of an ongoing inquiry by the State Department inspector general’s office. kansascity.com/news/politics-…
With two of their senior advisers out of the office the week of Christmas, it fell on a career Foreign Service officer serving as executive secretary at the State Department to complete the Pompeos' personal holiday cards. kansascity.com/news/politics-…
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News: A top official leading the State Department response to 'Havana syndrome' has left. New cases have recently been reported to the Pentagon. And as an intelligence probe gathers steam, officials are concerned that the suspected attacks are escalating. mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
A panel of experts and scientists has been examining what is causing the suspected attacks for several months, while the CIA is investigating who might be responsible, mounting an operation similar to its hunt for Osama bin Laden. mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
The State Department's top official on Havana syndrome cases is retiring. Blinken will announce her replacement within days – a decision with an important message to victims. “The secretary has been seized with this issue even before he became secretary.” mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
In an interview, Fauci tells @mcclatchy that data may soon support mixing and matching vaccines – and issues a warning over winter. “I want to make sure you understand that if we don't get those people vaccinated, we are not going to be in a good place.” mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavir…
When will federal mask guidance ease for vaccinated people? “It’s going to be a numbers game,” Fauci said. “You’re going to have the mask recommendation for vaccinated people indoors so long as you’re averaging 150,000 new cases a day.” mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavir…
Fauci said that in the coming weeks, Americans can expect to see an “expanding” of eligibility as new data comes in. “The recommendation for boosting will likely go to a younger and younger group, and not just 65 and older,” he said. mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavir…
Exclusive: In an interview with @McClatchy, Anthony Fauci warns the delta variant may be eclipsed by one that's even worse for the vaccinated – and that cases in the United States may double in the coming weeks to up to 200,000 a day. mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavir…
"If we don’t crush the outbreak," Fauci said, "then what will happen is the virus will continue to smolder through the fall into the winter, giving it ample chance to get a variant... that can push aside delta." mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavir…
“If another one comes along that has an equally high capability of transmitting but also is much more severe, then we could really be in trouble,” Fauci said. mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavir…
New: The White House sent a letter to governors Thursday offering to send COVID surge response teams anywhere needed as cases increase nationwide from the spread of the delta variant, straining local hospitals and driving vaccinated people back into masks. mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
The letter, obtained by @mcclatchy, outlines the resources available: epidemiologists and data analysts, funding for medical personnel, staff for vaccination sites and, if necessary, equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile. mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
The letter was sent as the Biden administration adjusts to the new reality of a resurgent pandemic. Some Republican-led states under strain, such as Missouri, have requested federal help; others, such as Florida, have not. mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
Exclusive: @CDCDirector Rochelle Walensky tells us that federal mask guidance was reversed because unvaccinated people refused to mask up as the delta variant spread. Our new interview. mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavir…
The May guidance could have worked, Walensky said. "Unfortunately, that’s not how it played out. Unvaccinated people took off their masks as well. And that’s what led us to where we are today." mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavir…
The delta variant may still pose a threat to vaccinated individuals that is not yet fully known: Walensky pointed to a new Israeli paper as the basis for "some concern" that vaccinated people are susceptible to long COVID. mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavir…
Exclusive: New emails and a previously unreported whistleblower complaint show that State Department officials were repeatedly asked to help organize Pompeo's political events in Kansas, just as he was mulling a Senate run. (w/ @BryanLowry3) mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
The documents provide fresh insight into Pompeo politicking behind the scenes during a period when the secretary was engaged in a flurry of hushed donor meetings and controversial visits to Kansas. mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
State Department officials were asked to connect with local companies and help draw a crowd to one of his appearances. Others were asked to research oil drilling and production in Kansas ahead of an event – a "strange" request, the whistleblower said. kansascity.com/news/politics-…