FDA Shakeup Continues

Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg is Leaving Her Role as Head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Division, that Regulates over-the-Counter and Prescription Drugs, according to a Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) Official. Høeg, a Sports Medicine Doctor who Criticized Covid Shots for Children during the Pandemic, served as Acting Director of the FDA Evaluation and Research for About Five Months.

She was the Ffifth Person to Hold the Post under the Second Trump (R) Administration and the Right Hand to former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary (R), who Resigned 5/14/2026 after Opposing the Trump (R) Administration’s moves to Expand Access to Flavored E-Cigarettes. Høeg was previously a Special Assistant to Makary.

Michael Davis, the Deputy Center Director at CDER, will take over as Acting Director. Makary’s Role is Temporarily being Occupied by Kyle Diamantas, the FDA’s Top Food Regulator. The Health and Human Services Department (HHS) did Not immediately Respond to a Request for Comment.

Emily Hilliard, an HHS Spokesperson, said in a Statement Earlier on Friday, that the Administration is “actively searching for strong candidates for key leadership positions across HHS, including the FDA, with a focus on experienced individuals who can strengthen agency operations, continue to advance significant reforms, and maintain public trust.” “In the meantime, the FDA and HHS continue to operate under solid leadership and respond aggressively to immediate public health situations,” Hilliard said.

Høeg Garnered Controversy during Her Brief Tenure at FDA for Challenging the Agency’s Own Decisions. As early as June last year, Reuters Reported, Høeg brought up Safety Questions about Treatments for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Infants that had Already been FDA Approved. And just before Her Departure, She Pushed Back on an FDA Decision to Fast-Track the Review of Teplizumab, a Diabetes Drug from Pharmaceutical Giant Sanofi, STAT News Reported, Citing Sources Familiar with the Dispute.

Høeg also Co-Wrote the Scientific Assessment that the Trump Administration used to Justify its Overhaul of the Childhood Vaccine Schedule. In January, the Administration Altered the Schedule to more Closely Resemble Denmark’s, Recommending All Children get Vaccines for 11 Ddiseases, Compared with the 18 Previously on the Schedule. However, a Federal Judge Temporarily Blocked the Changes in March.

At a Vaccine Advisory Meeting in December, Høeg, who holds Dual Citizenship in the U.S. and Denmark, Argued that Giving fewer Universal Vaccines to Children would Reduce Aluminum Exposure. Nearly a Century of Evidence has Demonstrated that the Aluminum Salts in Vaccines, which aren’t the Same as Aluminum Found in the Environment, are Safe. Nevertheless, Anti-Vaccine Groups have Targeted the Ingredient, Claiming Falsely that it is Linked to Autism.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Crypto Bill Clears Senate Committee

The Senate Banking Committee Approved the Clarity Act in a 15-9 Vote, marking a Major Step Forward for Cryptocurrency Regulation in the U.S. The Bill would Create a Clearer Federal Framework for Overseeing the Crypto Industry, which Supporters say has Operated for Years without Consistent Rules. Two Democrats, Senators Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, joined Republicans in Supporting the Measure. Lawmakers Backing the Bill Argue that Clear Regulations would Encourage Innovation, Protect Investors, and Replace what they Describe as a Confusing System driven Largely by Enforcement Actions.

The Legislation is Strongly Supported by Major Crypto Companies including Coinbase, Circle, and Ripple, along with Venture Capital Firm Andreessen Horowitz and the White House. Supporters say the Bill would Help Legitimize the Industry and provide Guardrails that make Digital Assets Safer and more Attractive to Investors. Senators from both Parties also said Negotiations are Continuing on Issues such as Preventing Illicit Financial Activity and Setting Ethics Rules related to Elected Officials Profiting from Crypto Ventures.

Opposition to the Bill remains Significant. Banking Groups Warn that some Provisions could Draw Deposits away from Traditional Banks and Reduce Funds Available for Lending. Labor Unions and Law Enforcement Organizations Argue the Legislation does Not do Enough to Prevent Fraud, Money Laundering, and Broader Financial Risks. Although the bill cleared committee, it still must pass the full Senate and House before reaching President Donald Trump’s desk.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

MT Open Primaries Stays and NM Starts

The U.S. Supreme Court Declined this week, to Hear a Challenge Brought by the Montana Republican Party, Seeking to Close the State’s Primary Elections to Only Registered Republicans. The Case centered on Montana’s Longstanding Open Primary System, which Allows Voters to Choose which Party’s Primary they Participate in.

Lower Courts had already Ruled Against the GOP Challenge, Finding that Montana’s System does Not Violate the Party’s Constitutional Rights. By Refusing to take up the Appeal, the Supreme Court leaves those Rulings in Place, and Preserves Open Primaries in Montana for the Foreseeable Future.

The Supreme Court has Refused to Hear similar Challenges in States like Hawaii. Taken together, the Pattern Suggests the Court has Little Appetite for Revisiting Precedent that gives States Broad Authority to Structure Primary Elections, including Systems Designed to Expand Participation beyond Registered Party Members.

Any Party have the Option to run their Own Party Primary and Pay for it.

This First-of-its-kind “Independent-to-Independent" Campaign is Built by Independents, for Independents, and Features Independents from Across the State Speaking Directly about the Importance of Independent Voters, making their Voices Heard in the Primaries, Oftentimes the Most Important Election.

I helped Fund the Original Effort in New Mexico. Finally, kudos to Bob Perls who has been Leading the Effort to Open the Primaries in NM for a Ddecade and who just Voted for the First time in a Primary Election.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Senate Parliamentarian Rules Against Some Immigration Enforcement Funding

The Senate Parliamentarian on 5/14/2026 Ruled that Several Elements of the Republicans’ Budget Reconciliation Package to Provide $70 Billion in Immigration Enforcement Funding, Failed to Comply with the Byrd Rule, and could Subject the Entire Package to a 60-Vote Threshold if Left in the Bill. The Ruling is a Setback for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who wants to Bring the Legislation to the Floor next Week, that will Require Republicans to Redraft or Drop some Provisions of the Package.

Democrats Hailed the Parliamentarian’s Ruling as a Big Win, though a Spokesperson for Thune Downplayed it as simply Requiring “technical fixes that were not unexpected. As Senate Democrats warned time and time again, we were prepared to look at every line of this bill to ensure it was compliant with the Byrd Rule and the rules of the reconciliation process. While we expect Republicans to continue to do anything Trump asks." "This is a win for the rule of law and to ensure children in immigration detention are protected by existing laws” Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) said in a Statement.

Merkley said Democrats “are prepared to continue fighting this bill.” The Pparliamentarian Ruled Against a Section of the Bill that would Allow Funds to be Used for the Initial Screenings of Unaccompanied Migrant Children. The Parliamentarian Ruled that the Legislation, as Drafted, Inappropriately Funded some Activities Outside the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s Jurisdiction.

The Parliamentarian also Ruled that the Provision Undermined Decades-Old Protections for Non-Citizen Children in the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), according to a Summary of the Ruling issued by Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee. She also Ruled that a Section of the Legislation that would provide Another $2.5 billion in Appropriations to Immigration-Related Provisions of the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Homeland Security Title Undermined the Flores Settlement Agreement and The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA).

The Flores Agreement is a Binding Federal Consent Decree that establishes Standards for the Detention, Treatment and Release of Migrant Minors Who are Apprehended by Federal Immigration Officers. The Byrd Rule Prohibits Provisions that make Significant Policy Changes with Only Tangential Impacts on the Budget from being Allowed to Pass with Simple-Majority Votes through the Budget Reconciliation Process.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) Declared the Parliamentarian’s Rulings had Dealt a Significant Setback to Senate Republicans. “Senate Republicans’ reconciliation bill tells you exactly who they’re fighting for: Trump’s raids, Trump’s violent ICE agents, and Trump’s gilded ballroom — not working families. Democrats promised to fight this bill tooth and nail, and on Day One, we forced Republicans back on their heels. They’re already scrambling to rewrite key pieces of their plan,” Schumer said.

Ryan Wrasse (R), a Spokesperson for Thune, said Democrats are Overblowing the Significance of the Rulings. “Despite what Budget Dems would like folks to believe, the sky is not falling. These are all technical fixes that were not unexpected. We look forward to continued productive work with the parts to fully fund Border Patrol and immigration enforcement,” He Posted on the Social Platform X.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

US Stops Troop Rotation to Poland

The U.S. has Stopped a Planned Rotation of more than 4,000 American Troops en route to Europe, as U.S Allies on the Continent Rush to Spend more on Defense while waiting to see how many Soldiers Trump (R) and His Administration will Withdraw in coming Months. Members of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, had already Left their Texas Home Base for Poland, when the Order came to Halt the Scheduled Rotation.

A Temporary Deployment of Troops to Europe had been “Paused” so the U.S. could Re-Evaluate where its Soldiers and Military Equipment were Dotted around Europe, Lithuania’s Defense Minister, Robertas Kaunas told the Baltic Country’s LRT State Broadcaster on 5/14/2026. NATO Member Lithuania Shares Borders with Poland and the Russian Exclave of Kaliningrad. My Father's Mother came from Lithuania.

The U.S. has long said it is looking at Withdrawing a Significant Chunk of the roughly 80,000 American Soldiers Stationed in Europe away from the Continent, as Washington turns its Gaze toward China’s growing Power in the Indo-Pacific and Contends with the Strain of Two and a Half Months of War in the Middle East. Trump has already said he will Cut 5,000 Soldiers from the Vast U.S. Presence in Germany, and left the Door Open to Slicing this further, although this is seen as Largely a Reaction to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Criticizing the U.S. Wwar against Iran.

The U.S. has Not yet Published a Long-Awaited Document detailing where it will Deploy its Military Forces across the Globe, keeping Allies Gguessing about the Future of U.S. Troop Footprints. For this type of Rotational Deployment, where a Brigade will typically Spend Nnine Months deployed in Europe, before being Replaced by Several Thousand Fresh Personnel, Heavy Military Equipment like Tanks will often Travel by Sea ahead of most of the Soldiers. Further Troop Arrivals will follow in Stages, Predominantly Traveling on Aircraft.

The Polish Rotational Deployment was part of Approximately 20,000 U.S. Soldiers that were sent to Beef-Up American Forces in Europe when Russia Launched its Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Another Brigade Deployed at the same time to Romania, which Shares a Border with Ukraine, was Withdrawn in late 2025. President Joe Biden’s (D) Administration had Discussed Withdrawing these Additional Brigades from Eastern Europe, before the End of the Democrat’s Term, but the Order was Not given before theNnew Government took Office in 1/2025.

Polish Officials Denied Warsaw would be Impacted by Suspended U.S. Troop Deployments, with Polish Minister without Portfolio Tomasz Siemoniak Insisting the “cancellation of [a] U.S. Army rotation does not apply to Poland.” Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland’s Defense Minister, said this did “not concern Poland” and was Related to Previously-Announced Changes, Appearing to Reference the German Troop Drawdown.

U.S. forces Stationed in Eastern Europe, Aim to Deter a possible Russian Invasion of Countries Close to Russian Soil, like the Baltic States and Poland. Poland also shares a Border with Ukraine, which has warned other European Nations will come under Russian Attack, if its Defenses against Moscow’s Troops Fall, and Belarus, a Key Russian Ally that Allowed the Kremlin to use its Territory to Launch its War on Ukraine more than Four years ago. My Mother's Farther came from Poland and Mother came from ukrane Kiev.

Eastern European Countries are Concerned that U.S. Troop Withdrawals from the Continent, Particularly from its Eastern Flank, could be seen by Moscow as a Signal that the U.S. wouldn’t come to their Aid, if Russian Tanks Roll-Over their Borders. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania, are All NATO Members, and All Countries in the Alliance are Obligated to come to their Defense, however they see Fit if One Nation is Attacked. This is meant to Discourage a Potential Enemy from Attacking any Member of the Alliance, because they could be Faced with the Military Strength of All 32 Members, the most Powerful of which is the U.S.

A Senior NATO Military Official said Rotational Forces were Not Factored into NATO’s Plans to Defend the Continent from Attack, and the Alliance would “maintain a strong presence” in Eastern Europe. Most of the 10,000 American Troops in Poland, areRrotated In and Out Regularly.

NATO Separately has Multi-National Forces, including a Limited Number of U.S. Troops, Deployed in Eastern Europe, which the Alliance Boosted in 2022. A NATO Official said the Alliance’s Members were Aware the U.S. is Working Out how to Change where its Forces are Deployed in Europe, and how many Troops are Stationed on the Continent, but said Canada and Germany were Increasing their Presence in the East.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

NATO Sinks Russia's Nuclear Vessel Bound for North Korea

A Russian Covert Fleet Ship, known as the Ursa Major, was Transporting Two Components for a Nuclear Submarine Reactors to North Korea, when it was Sunk 60 miles off the Coast of Spain in 12/2024.

Spanish Authorities Verified that the Captain of the Ship, Referred to the Cargo as Nuclear Reactor Casings for Submarines.

New Evidence indicates that the Vessel was Brought Down by a NATO-Standard Torpedo.

Had the Reactors been Delivered, they would have Greatly Enhanced North Korea's Ability to Operate Nuclear Submarines, that could Reach U.S. Territory.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Fire in Moscow After Drone Attacks by Ukraine

During the Night, Ukraine Executed Drone Strikes on Three Significant Russian Energy Sites, which included the Tamanneftegaz Oil Terminal, the Yaroslavl Refinery, and the Astrakhan Gas Processing Facility.

Officials from Ukraine, Claimed that these Actions were Intended to Disrupt Fuel Supplies and Military Logistics, that Support Russia's War Efforts.

A few hours later, President Volodymyr Zelensky Reported that Russia Retaliated with over 800 Drones in One of the Most Extensive Daytime Attacks of the Conflict, Resulting in at least Six Fatalities and Numerous Injuries.

Furthermore, Moscow Imposed New Limitations on Reporting Damage from Drone Strikes as Worries over Security and Infrastructure Weaknesses continue to Escalate.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker