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Today’s best stories
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website now states that a link between vaccines and autism cannot be ruled out. This is a reversal of the agency’s long-standing position that no connection exists. This message is consistent with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s view that vaccines are dangerous.
The CDC has made a drastic reversal in its position on the relationship between vaccines and autism. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images .
. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images CDC scientists say they didn’t change their website and the Department of Health and Human Services wouldn’t disclose who ordered the wording adjustment, NPR’s Pien Huang tells Up First. There is no new scientific evidence to support the claim of a link between vaccines and autism. Huang notes that it’s interesting that a headline on the CDC webpage still states that vaccines do not cause autism. However, there is an asterisk next to that statement, which explains that the agency will not remove it due to an agreement with Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who provided a key confirmation vote for Kennedy to become HHS secretary.
President Trump’s chief negotiator presented a new 28-point peace plan to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. International observers are encouraged that Trump has not given up on peace between Ukraine and Russia, but that the proposal requires major territorial concessions from Ukraine, something the country has repeatedly rejected.
The Trump administration continues to suggest these concessions because the president is working to get a yes vote on his plan, NPR’s Franco Ordoez said. Russia analyst Sam Charap notes that for Trump, the details don’t matter as much. He simply wants the fighting to end, unlike Russian and Ukrainian leaders, who focus more on details. Russia wants more strategic territory, while Ukraine insists on security guarantees from Washington and its Western allies to ensure this type of invasion does not happen again.
Trump will meet with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani today in the Oval Office of the White House. This will be the first time the two will meet face to face. Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, became a national figure after his primary victory earlier this year. The president called Mamdani a “communist” on social media and repeatedly sought to portray him as too radical for the city that elected him mayor.
The meeting is a reminder of the change Mamdani must make as he assumes his new role, NPR’s Elena Moore said. The elected mayor has experience as an activist, but today will be a test for him: balancing his political priorities and maintaining his political diplomacy. As a reminder, Moore says, the president has pledged to cut federal funding to New York if Mamdani wins the election, so the meeting has real stakes.
State and local voting officials from both major political parties are actively preparing for the possibility of interference by the Trump administration in the midterm elections, which are less than a year away. The president has consistently spread false claims about voting in the United States. In the spring, he issued an executive order aimed at imposing significant changes to electoral systems. Although the courts have largely blocked the move, he has hinted at the possibility of taking other executive actions as well. The voting community is concerned that Trump plans to exert heavy influence over their processes next year. Here are some things poll officials are watching for.
Deep dive
An iceberg in Ilulissat, Greenland. The ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica are melting rapidly, and this melting will accelerate as the Earth warms. Ryan Kellman/NPR .
switch captionRyan Kellman/NPR
The planet has warmed by about 1.3 degrees Celsius, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Communities are already facing more severe storms, floods and heatwaves. Scientists warn that when the planet warms beyond 1.5 degrees, massive, self-perpetuating changes could have devastating effects on a global scale. These changes are sometimes called climate tipping points. They can extend over decades or centuries and be partially reversible. But they all have huge and lasting implications for life on Earth. Here are some of the biggest and best researched changes:
Coral reefs are dying all over the world. They are very sensitive to heat and their loss would destabilize many countries. Many people depend on it for their food, income and livelihood. The marine life found only on these reefs would be threatened with extinction. The ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica could melt and cause sea levels to rise around the world. Permanently frozen ground in the Arctic is thawing, which can cause land subsidence, leading to cracks in building foundations, warping of roads and kinking of pipelines.
Stay up to date with the latest news from COP30, the United Nations climate meeting in Brazil, with this app-exclusive playlist of stories.
Weekend Picks
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked: For Good. Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures .
switch captionGilles Keyte/Universal Pictures
Find out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
Cinema: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are back on the big screen this weekend in Wicked: For Good. The sequel features more songs, magic, and extravagant production design. But does it live up to the hype of the first film? Here’s the verdict from NPR’s Aisha Harris.
TV: In The Beast In Me, a writer struggles to find the subject of her next book until an infamous real estate mogul moves in next door. He is suspected of murdering his first wife, although the incident was ruled a suicide. As they get to know each other, she seeks to discover the truth.
Books: Three new collections of poetry explore identity, suffering and hope, reflecting a form of shared experience and the inner life of a country gripped by deep pain and uncertainty.
Music: Cabin In The Sky is the first full-length album from hip-hop group De La Soul since the death of founding member Trugoy the Dove in 2023. It features 20 songs with guest appearances from Black Thought, Killer Mike, Q-Tip and Nas.
Games: Kirby is back in racing game Kirby Air Riders, which rivals Mario Kart World, NPR’s James Perkins Mastromarino said. The game has simple controls and in-depth customization.
Food: Thanksgiving is less than a week away, but there’s still time to prepare the perfect meal. Check out this roast turkey recipe and a guide to viral mac and cheese from TikTok chef Tini.
Quiz: I got a “fair” grade of seven out of 10. I will do better next time. In the meantime, how about trying your luck?
3 things to know before you leave
ByHeart is recalling all of its infant products after they were linked to a growing botulism outbreak in more than a dozen states. They were available in cans and individual packets online and at major retailers. Cheyanne Mumphrey/AP .
. Cheyanne Mumphrey/AP Health officials warn that recalled ByHeart Whole Nutrition formula, linked to a botulism outbreak in more than two dozen infants in 15 states, could still be on some store shelves. A late report from the Labor Department showed that U.S. employers added 119,000 jobs in September, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. ingest for it to be fatal. For one puffin, you need less than three plastic sugar cubes.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online
