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RFK Jr. grilled by the Senate over vaccines. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was criticized by members of both political parties in a deeply contentious Senate Finance Committee hearing yesterday. Senators probed Kennedy’s vaccine policies, arguing he lied during his confirmation hearings when he said he wouldn’t disrupt access to them. They also questioned the recent upheaval of the CDC and his firing of director Susan Monarez. Democrats called for Kennedy’s resignation, while Republican Bill Cassidy, a doctor who originally voted to confirm the secretary, accused him of denying Americans access to vaccines. During the hearing, Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, said he did not trust data that shows Covid-19 vaccines saved millions of lives and repeated debunked claims that mRNA vaccines cause serious harm, including death. Last month, Kennedy canceled $500 million in funding for mRNA research.
McDonald’s is escalating the food industry’s tipping debate. The fast food giant exited the National Restaurant Association on the same day its CEO, Chris Kempczinski, came out against tipped wage rules, which allow some restaurants to pay workers below the minimum wage. “There’s an uneven playing field,” Kempczinski said in an interview on CNBC. “If you are a restaurant that allows tips or has tips as part of your equation, you’re essentially getting the customer to pay for your labor.” As a fast food chain, McDonald’s doesn’t qualify for tipped wages, but sit-down establishments like Chili’s do, saving them labor costs. In a statement, the National Restaurant Association said McDonald’s ended its membership “due to a policy difference.”
Gap is expanding into beauty. Now you can stuff eyeliner you don’t need into your cart at the last minute before paying for your jeans. Gap announced it’s launching beauty and personal-care products in 150 Old Navy stores this year before possibly doing the same in Gap-branded stores next year. “Gap Inc. sees a clear and meaningful opportunity,” the company said in a statement. Beauty remains a robust market in the US, projected to generate more than $100 billion in sales this year despite tariffs and high inflation.—AE
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