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Nov. 25, 2025, 12:57 PM ESTBy Erika EdwardsLouisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham — a vocal supporter of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement and a harsh critic of Covid shots — has been named principal deputy director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the appointment to NBC News, though it hadn’t been made public as of Tuesday afternoon.The principal deputy director at the CDC is a high-level appointment. As second in command, Abraham would be in a position to act as a key adviser on a variety of public health issues.A three-term Louisiana congressman, Abraham practiced for 10 years as a veterinarian before going to medical school. According to his biography on the Louisiana Department of Health website, Abraham was a “practicing family medicine physician” when he was appointed as state surgeon general in 2024. He described himself as a “country doctor” in an essay published in April.While Abraham is licensed to practice medicine in Louisiana, the Louisiana Illustrator reported in February that he did not appear to be board-certified in the specialty of family medicine. A search for Abraham on the American Board of Family Medicine’s website yielded no results. A separate search on the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiner’s site lists Abraham as a general practitioner but not a family medicine doctor. (Board certification isn’t required to practice any particular specialty, but it’s viewed as an extra layer to ensure a doctor’s credentials, experience and expertise, according to the American Board of Physician Specialties.) Abraham has been vocal in his opposition of Covid vaccines. In September, he told the Shreveport Times that he “sees Covid vaccine injuries every day.” There was no explanation of the kind of injuries he was referring to.In February, The Associated Press reported that Abraham directed the Louisiana Department of Health, in an internal memo, to “no longer promote mass vaccination” through media campaigns like those for flu shots typically seen at the beginning of the winter respiratory virus season. The AP obtained the memo signed by Abraham. Abraham’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While flu activity is low so far this season, according to the CDC’s latest flu report, Louisiana is reporting the highest levels of flu-like illnesses in the country.In the past year, with Abraham at the helm, the state’s Department of Health waited several months after two babies died of whooping cough before formally alerting the public about a rise in cases across the state.On X, Abraham touted a drug called leucovorin as a promising treatment for some children with autism. There is limited evidence that it could help a small number of children, but large studies suggesting broad benefits are lacking.As a Republican candidate for governor for Louisiana in 2019, Abraham released TV ads taking aim at abortion rights and the transgender community.Erika EdwardsErika Edwards is a health and medical news writer and reporter for NBC News and “TODAY.”Pilar Melendez contributed.

- Latest News - November 25, 2025

Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham — a vocal supporter of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement and a harsh critic of Covid shots — has been named principal deputy director.

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Nov. 25, 2025, 12:37 PM ESTBy Dareh GregorianPresident Donald Trump on Tuesday added two Thanksgiving turkeys to his long list of second-term pardons, offering the birds a dose of his much-discussed presidential immunity.After a White House speech that felt more like a campaign rally than a symbolic ceremony, Trump spared Gobble and Waddle from appearing on Thanksgiving dinner plates. He also joked that he was pardoning last year’s turkeys, Peach and Blossom, after a thorough Justice Department investigation found that President Joe Biden’s autopen use invalidated their pardons. “They were on their way to being processed,” he said. Waddle and Gobble are presented to journalists at the Willard InterContinental on Nov. 24 in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker / Getty ImagesHe also quipped that he was considering naming the turkeys Chuck and Nancy — in a reference to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — but that he wouldn’t be pardoning them if that were the case. “I would never pardon those people,” he said.He then got into immigration, crime and other issues, while also taking time to mock Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat. “I refuse to talk about the fact that he’s a fat slob,” Trump said, before adding that “I’d like to lose a few pounds too, by the way.” The turkeys rested in their hotel room after their news conference on Monday.Anna Moneymaker / Getty ImagesHe then turned to what the event was about, saying, “Gobble, you’re hereby unconditionally pardoned.”Gobble, the official White House turkey, is a 52-pound bird, while Waddle, the designated alternate, is a slender 50. Both were hatched on July 14.Waddle visited the White House briefing room before the pardoning event, after the two birds had a luxurious hotel room stay. The gravy for the turkeys? After the ceremony, they’re slated to go to North Carolina State University, where, according to the National Turkey Federation, they’ll spend the rest of their days as ambassadors for the industry.Waddle visits the White House press briefing room Tuesday.Heather Diehl / Getty ImagesWhile Abraham Lincoln was reportedly the first to spare a turkey at the White House — doing so at his son’s request — the “pardon” tradition only dates back to 1989. That’s when President George H.W. Bush declared the bird he’d been sent had “been granted a presidential pardon.” Dareh GregorianDareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News.

- Latest News - November 25, 2025

President Donald Trump on Tuesday added two Thanksgiving turkeys to his long list of second-term pardons, offering the birds a dose of his much-discussed presidential immunity

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Nov. 25, 2025, 10:59 AM EST / Updated Nov. 25, 2025, 11:05 AM ESTBy David K. LiVirginia police obtained an arrest warrant for the missing coach of an undefeated high school football team, officials said Tuesday, in connection to a child pornography probe.Travis Turner, 46, “is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor,” according a statement by Virginia State Police spokesperson Robin Lawson.”The investigation remains ongoing,” Lawson added. “Additional charges are pending.” Police are using dogs and drones in hopes of finding Turner, who is “now considered a fugitive,” Lawson said.Turner, head coach of the Union High School Bears from Big Stone Gap, went missing on Thursday as his squad was preparing for a playoff game, officials said. Without Turner on the sidelines, Union this past weekend defeated the Graham H.S. G-Men, 12-0, to advance in the Class 2 playoffs.Union (12-0) will play Ridgeview in the region final on Saturday afternoon, with the winner going to the state semifinals on Dec. 6.The mystery surrounding Turner’s disappearance deepened when state police disclosed on Monday that agents were seeking to interview him as “part of the investigation,” VSP spokesperson Matthew Demlien said then.Demlien stressed that last week’s attempted police visit was not aimed at arresting Turner at that time.Union H.S., with nearly 660 students, is in the far southwest corner of Virginia, about 170 miles west of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and approximately 140 miles northeast of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.David K. LiSenior Breaking News Reporter

- Latest News - November 25, 2025

Virginia police obtained an arrest warrant for the missing coach of an undefeated high school football team, officials said Tuesday, in connection to a child pornography probe

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