Nicole Saphier Backs MMR

What happened

Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News contributor, told senators she does not believe childhood vaccines cause autism. President Donald Trump’s third nominee for surgeon general gave that answer after Senate health chair Bill Cassidy pressed her on the MMR shot. The post has been unfilled since January 2025, after Trump’s earlier picks, Janette Nesheiwat and Casey Means, failed to advance or were withdrawn. The hearing centered on vaccines amid the worst U.S. measles outbreak in more than 35 years. Cassidy blamed administration policies and misinformation for four Pennsylvania deaths; Saphier called MMR the greatest tool against measles. The committee is weighing Saphier and two other Trump health nominees, who all need Senate confirmation.

How each side covered it

From the left

Left-leaning accounts cast the hearing as a warning about vaccine politics, not just a nominee’s careful answers. The Guardian tied the outbreak to the administration’s vaccine-skeptical approach and highlighted Cassidy’s warning about Trump’s legacy. Daily Beast emphasized nominees moving away from Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by affirming vaccines. Daily Kos turned scrutiny toward Cassidy, arguing Republicans enabled the anti-vaccine leadership they now fault.

From the right

Right-leaning accounts framed Saphier as a reassuring medical pick, stressing support for MMR over conflict with the administration. Fox News led with her rejection of vaccine-autism claims and the idea that MMR is lethal. RedState treated the hearing as Trump’s third attempt to fill the job after earlier setbacks. RedState also connected her to the MAHA chronic-disease agenda, saying she was there before it became prominent.

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Nicole Saphier Backs MMR

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What happened

How each side covered it

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