RFK Jr. Ready to Make His Case to Senators

“The scene Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to face in the Senate Wednesday not long ago would have seemed like something out of a bizarro world,” Politico reports.

“Before President Donald Trump named the scion of Democratic royalty and progressive activist to lead the government’s health agencies, Republicans would have seen Kennedy’s views on vaccines, abortion, environmental regulation and food production as disqualifying. Not anymore. On Wednesday, look for many GOP senators on the Finance Committee to lob softballs Kennedy’s way. On the other side of the dais, Democrats who once craved Kennedy’s endorsement during their campaigns are expected to rebuke him.”

“Whether Kennedy will win the Finance panel’s approval and advance to a floor vote remains an open question. Any one Republican could complicate his confirmation hopes if Democrats are united in opposition.”

Playbook: “Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) is seen as perhaps the most wobbly Republican on today’s committee. Notably, Cassidy is a doctor with decades of experience in the field of vaccines, and also someone prepared to stand up for what he believes in — having voted to impeach Trump over the Jan. 6 riot in 2021.”