Author | Lightnews

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · 6h

New: The Pentagon confirms to CNN it will funnel $130M from an anonymous Trump “friend” toward military pay.

Asked about the donor’s identity and any foreign or domestic entanglements, the WH referred questions to DoD. DoD then referred questions back to the WH
www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/p...

Pentagon to use $130 million donation from anonymous Trump ‘friend’ to pay military members | CNN Politics

The Trump administration plans to funnel a $130 million donation from an anonymous ally of President Donald Trump toward paying military service members during the government shutdown, the Defense Dep...

www.cnn.com

450 730 1.5K

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Sep 17

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy once hoped to ally with RFK Jr to restore trust in public health.

But 7 months in, their relationship is at a breaking point over vaccines—and now Cassidy is risking his political future for a hearing that could further damage RFK’s credibility: www.cnn.com/2025/09/17/p...

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy’s tenuous alliance with RFK Jr. is about to hit a breaking point | CNN Politics

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy once hoped to forge an alliance with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that could revitalize Americans’ trust in public health.

www.cnn.com

2 6

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Sep 1

The White House is already ruling out key Dem demands to reverse health cuts in its OBBB or constrain Trump’s ability to do rescissions in exchange for funding the govt.

The hardline stance effectively dares Dems to fold on negotiations or shutter the govt w/in weeks
www.cnn.com/2025/08/31/p...

White House redlines and Democratic demands set up shutdown showdown | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump is preparing to effectively dare Democrats to shut down the government in a matter of weeks, taking a hard line against any major concessions ahead of negotiations over a must-p...

www.cnn.com

1

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Jul 25

New: Fed Chair Jerome Powell has told allies and associates there’s no chance he bows to Trump’s calls for him to resign, arguing in private conversations that his survival is inextricably linked to the central bank’s ability to maintain its independence.
www.cnn.com/2025/07/25/p...

What Powell is telling allies as Trump pressures him to resign | CNN Politics

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has told multiple associates and allies that there’s no chance he will bow to President Donald Trump’s calls for him to resign, vowing to withstand several more mon...

www.cnn.com

2 8

Reposted by Adam Cancryn

Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · Jul 16

Big shakeup at HHS, our new colleague @adamcancryn.bsky.social reports -

RFK Jr fires chief of staff Heather Flick Melanson and deputy chief of staff for policy Hannah Anderson. Melanson had worked in first Trump admin

Kennedy "lost confidence in them," sources say

www.cnn.com/2025/07/16/h...

RFK Jr. fires top aides in HHS shakeup | CNN

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired two of his top aides in an abrupt shakeup of the leadership at the nation’s sprawling health department, two people familiar with...

www.cnn.com

5 11

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Jul 1

Super excited to be joining CNN and its ultra-talented White House team! At a moment where rigorous, fair and ambitious reporting on our politics is more critical than ever, there’s no better place to do it than at CNN. I can’t wait to get started. cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2025/07/01/a...

Adam Cancryn Joins CNN as White House Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC – July 1, 2025 – Adam Cancryn has joined CNN as a White House Reporter, the network announced today. Cancryn previously served as a White House Reporter at POLITICO, covering the Bide...

cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com

1 3

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Jun 27

Some Friday night news of my own: After 8 years, today was my last day at POLITICO. More soon on what’s next, but! Very grateful to have worked in such a special newsroom, and alongside such talented and generous reporters and editors—especially my incredible WH team colleagues.

1 1 46

Reposted by Adam Cancryn

Ali Vitali @alivitali.bsky.social · May 27

It’s Tuesday with @waytooearly.bsky.social:
☀️ @adamcancryn.bsky.social
☕️ @nancyayoussef.bsky.social
🌞 @errinhaines.bsky.social
🌅 @andrewdesiderio.bsky.social

Slept in yesterday & getting back into the groove today? I get it. Email why you’re up early to [email protected]. #waytooearly

8 3 21

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · May 7

News: Trump is planning to revive his “most favored nation” plan to slash Medicare drug prices, signing an EO next week ordering another attempt at tying payments for some medicines to cheaper prices abroad.
www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

Trump to pitch sweeping Medicare drug price plan

Trump wanted to advance the ‘most favored nation’ policy in his first term but faced resistance from industry and the courts.

www.politico.com

1 1 3

Reposted by Adam Cancryn

Ali Vitali @alivitali.bsky.social · May 2

We made it to another Friday with @waytooearly.bsky.social:
☀️ @adamcancryn.bsky.social
☕️ @daveweigel.bsky.social
🌞 Matt Gorman
🫖 @mondairejones.bsky.social
🌅 Sarah Fitzpatrick

Are you awake with this crew? Tell us why! Email [email protected] #waytooearly

4 6 48

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Apr 29

New: Trump’s trade war is tanking his polling and alarming allies who worry he’s squandering the mandate handed to him just 100 days ago.

Once fueled by voter nostalgia for his first-term economy, most now say his economic agenda is going to”too far.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

Trump looked unbeatable on the economy. Then he launched a trade war.

After campaigning on lower prices, Donald Trump spent his first 100 days focused on tariffs that threaten to raise the cost of living.

www.politico.com

1 4

Reposted by Adam Cancryn

Marcia Brown @marciabrown.bsky.social · Apr 26

RFK Jr. is wading into policy well beyond the traditional purview of his department.

The White House is thrilled about it.

“Midterm success, in a large way, depends on MAHA success,” said one Trump adviser.

w/ @adamcancryn.bsky.social

www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

RFK Jr. isn't staying in his lane. Trump is thrilled.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expanded his authority well beyond the bounds of a traditional health secretary.

www.politico.com

1 2 1

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Apr 22

News: RFK Jr. is weighing pulling the Covid vaccine from the CDC's list of recommended immunizations for children, per two ppl familiar.
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

Trump administration may pull Covid-19 vaccine recommendation for children

RFK Jr. has raised doubts about the need for kids to get vaccinated against the disease.

www.politico.com

4 15 18

Reposted by Adam Cancryn

Ali Vitali @alivitali.bsky.social · Apr 21

Happy Monday— kick off the week with @waytooearly.bsky.social:
☀️ @adamcancryn.bsky.social
☕️ @mpolymer1.bsky.social
🌞 @lawofruby.bsky.social
🌅 Cheyanne Daniels

Starting your week up early? Tell us why, here or email [email protected]. #waytooearly

5 5 25

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Apr 14

New: The FDA is asking fired workers to temporarily return to the office responsible for penalizing stores for selling tobacco to minors, after RFK Jr.'s mass firings gutted it and crippled the agency's ability to enforce the law.
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

The FDA fired its tobacco enforcers. Now it wants them back.

The agency asked laid-off workers to return after gutting the office that penalizes stores for selling tobacco to minors.

www.politico.com

2 3

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Apr 9

NEW: Everyone knew RFK Jr. wanted to upend the health care system. They didn’t think he’d go this far, this fast.

Now HHS employees, industry execs, public health officials and Trump aides are grappling with the repercussions.

A 360 view of the fallout: www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

‘It's a mess’: Inside the RFK Jr. revamp tanking HHS morale and worrying industry

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s drastic overhaul has reshaped the U.S. health apparatus in a matter of weeks.

www.politico.com

1 4 11

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Apr 5

News: HHS has no plans to rehire 20 percent of the employees it fired earlier this week, despite RFK Jr.'s assertion yesterday that doing so was "always the plan."

"No such plan is in the works," a person familiar w/ the department's planning tells me.
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

RFK Jr. said HHS would rehire thousands of fired workers. That wasn't true.

The health department has no plan to mass reinstate employees it cut earlier this week.

www.politico.com

79 490 1.2K

Reposted by Adam Cancryn

Ali Vitali @alivitali.bsky.social · Apr 1

Welcome to Tuesday, with @waytooearly.bsky.social:
☀️ @adamcancryn.bsky.social
☕️ Mica Soellner
🌞 @nathanbomey.bsky.social
🌅 @sykescharlie.bsky.social

If you’re up — like Sen. @CoryBooker still is, speaking on the Senate floor — tell us why, on here or email [email protected]. #WayTooEarly

31 9 110

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Mar 31

New FDA Commissioner Marty Makary signed off on ousting top vaccine official Peter Marks soon after being secretly sworn in as agency head.

Makary and RFK Jr. jointly agreed to push him out — and more leadership changes are likely on deck.

w/ @davidlim.bsky.social: www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

New FDA commissioner agreed to oust top vaccine regulator after private swearing-in

The forced resignation of Peter Marks has unsettled scientists and researchers.

www.politico.com

5 6

Reposted by Adam Cancryn

Ali Vitali @alivitali.bsky.social · Mar 17

And we’re back to Monday with @waytooearly.bsky.social:
☀️ @nancyayoussef.bsky.social
☕️ Kevin Frey
🌞 Ben Kamisar
🌅 @adamcancryn.bsky.social

Starting your week up early? Tell us why, here or email [email protected]. #waytooearly

10 6 34

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Mar 12

The Trump admin is ousting NIH chief of staff John Burklow, a nearly 40-year agency vet.

Seana Cranston, a former top aide to Rep. Thomas Massie, is likely to replace him—departing from the tradition of having careers fill the role.

W/ @erinlschumaker.bsky.social: www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

NIH set to replace chief of staff with former Massie aide

The move is likely to tighten the Trump administration's control over the public health agency.

www.politico.com

9 31 87

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Mar 8

RFK Jr. will meet Monday with top execs of several major food brands—his first sitdown with companies he’s accused of contributing to the “poisoning” of Americans.

Details on the high-stakes summit w/ @marciabrown.bsky.social: www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

RFK Jr. poised for awkward face-to-face with food companies

Everything from seed oils and banning certain food additives to front-of-pack nutrition labels is potentially up for discussion.

www.politico.com

1 3 6

Reposted by Adam Cancryn

Chelsea Cirruzzo @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social · Mar 6

HHS Sec RFK Jr.’s first major health crisis? A measles outbreak. But while his aides worked to track and contain the outbreak this weekend, Kennedy was hiking in CA.

Inside the frustration at HHS and beyond w/ @adamcancryn.bsky.social & Sophie Gardner

www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

‘He needs to do much more’: RFK Jr.’s measles response under scrutiny

The health secretary’s muted response to the first major disease outbreak on his watch worries even some allies.

www.politico.com

3 7

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Mar 6

New: As HHS officials worked overtime to aid Texas’ measles response on Sunday, RFK Jr. was in Coachella, Instagramming his hike.

It was the latest messaging mishap to fuel dismay in HHS and growing scrutiny of RFK’s handling of his first major health crisis.
www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

6 24 39

Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · Mar 3

UPDATE: Corry resigned after clashing with RFK Jr. and his close aides over their management of HHS amid the growing measles outbreak, two people familiar with the matter tell me.
www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

10 90 230