WASHINGTON (AP) — When it was all over,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;couldn’t believe it. “I could barely breathe,” she writes in her new book about learning she had lost the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=P">presidential election</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

One of her aides peeled “Madame President” off celebratory cupcakes before serving them to crushed staffers. Harris kept asking, “My God, my God, what will happen to our country?”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-donald-trump-election-ddeae9fb378530159201ef4196cba9b3">next morning</a>&nbsp;was no easier. “I was ashamed to realize I was in the denial and bargaining stages of grief, a very long way from acceptance,” she wrote.

It’s one of several raw admissions in Harris’ book, “107 Days,” that is scheduled for release Tuesday. The title refers to the length of the hyperspeed campaign that the former vice president launched against Trump after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">Joe Biden dropped out</a>&nbsp;of the race.

Although Harris earned a reputation as guarded and circumspect, the book has the tone of someone who is finished biting her tongue. She concedes mistakes, reveals frustrations and details some of the stranger moments from her race.

The book isn’t a winding memoir or a political treatise, and Harris doesn’t disclose any future plans. Instead, it reads like a ticking time bomb, with each chapter counting down to Election Day.

Harris insists in the book that she had no concerns about Biden’s ability to serve as president. “If I believed that, I would have said so.”

“But at eighty-one, Joe got tired,” Harris wrote. “That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.”

Harris wrote that Biden’s inner circle “should have realized that any campaign was a bridge too far.” However, “it seemed that the worse things got, the more they pushed him.”

The tenuous situation unraveled when Biden and Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9">faced off</a>&nbsp;with each other. “As soon as he walked onto the debate stage in Atlanta, I could see he wasn’t right,” Harris wrote.

Biden’s team appeared to be in denial. Afterward, they gave Harris talking points that said “JOE BIDEN WON.”

Harris wrote warmly of her partnership with Biden, but there were frosty moments too. As Biden faced calls to drop out of the race, he invited Harris to join him for a Fourth of July celebration at the White House.

First lady Jill Biden pulled Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff aside. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Are you supporting us?”

Later, in private, Emhoff erupted in anger. “They have to ask if we’re loyal?”

Another difficult episode came after Harris had replaced Biden at the top of the ticket and was preparing for her own debate with Trump.

Shortly before she took the stage, Biden called to say he heard from his brother that Harris had been badmouthing him, upsetting some power brokers in Philadelphia. Then he rambled about his own debate performances while Harris was “barely listening.”

“I just couldn’t understand why he would call me, right now, and make it all about himself,” she wrote.

Harris admits some mistakes of her own, particularly a damaging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-stern-view-colbert-60-minutes-daddy-5a2af60ba0b1099e19cca151955c9855">appearance on “The View”</a>&nbsp;talk show. When one of the hosts asked what she would have done differently than Biden during the previous four years, Harris blanked on the talking points she had prepared and simply said, “There is not a thing that comes to mind.”

“I had no idea I’d just pulled the pin on a hand grenade,” Harris writes. Around the studio, “my staff were besides themselves” about how she had just given a “gift to the Trump campaign.”

Harris wrote that she didn’t want to criticize Biden or litigate any of the areas where they disagreed. But she also didn’t understand how much her association with the president was holding back her candidacy.

David Plouffe, a senior adviser, told Harris bluntly that “people hate Joe Biden.”

There’s plenty of grist in the book that could make the next Democratic convention a little more awkward.

Harris wrote that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>, Biden’s transportation secretary and a former mayor from Indiana, was her first choice to be her running mate. He’s also gay, and Harris thought it was “too big of a risk” to pick him while already asking voters to accept a Black woman as president.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was another possibility. But Harris “had a nagging concern that he would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership.”

She ended up going with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-picks-tim-walz-running-mate-a64a91ae84953e880c8d086316d07c54">Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz</a>, but his debate performance against JD Vance left her yelling at the television screen. “You’re not there to make friends with the guy who is attacking your running mate,” she said.

There’s only one reference to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the book. When Harris reached out to him after Biden ended his reelection campaign, he texted, “Hiking. Will call back,” but he never did.

Harris’ brother-in-law is Tony West, a former top Justice Department official and member of her inner circle of political advisers. While Harris was serving as vice president, West put together what was known as the “Red File,” a collection of plans in case something happened to Biden.

West argued that it would be foolish not to prepare. Harris writes that she “didn’t want to dwell on such an eventuality” and “I left it in his hands.”

He kept refreshing the document as people pressured Biden to drop out, which came in handy when Biden finally pulled the plug on his reelection campaign.

Harris writes that Biden was planning to wait a day before endorsing her as his successor, an idea that horrified her.

“If you want to put me in the strongest position, you have to endorse me now,” she recalled telling him. Harris prevailed, and the endorsement happened shortly after Biden announced that he was done.

Campaigns can be hallucinatory affairs, and this one was full of bizarre moments.

Harris writes that she warmed up for her convention speech with a professional voice coach who “wanted me to stand there and emit animal noises.” A little hesitant, Harris got her entire team to make “hums, grunts and trills” with her.

Harris also writes about talking with Trump after a second assassination attempt against him. Despite tearing into her on the campaign trail, Trump proceeded to flatter his opponent.

“How do I say bad things about you now?” he said. “I’m going to tone it down. I will. You’re going to see.” Then Trump said that his daughter Ivanka “is your big fan.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753984450634.png" alt="Kamala Harris courtesy image" />
                        <figcaption>Kamala Harris courtesy image</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — When it was all over,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;couldn’t believe it. “I could barely breathe,” she writes in her new book about learning she had lost the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=P">presidential election</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.</p><p>One of her aides peeled “Madame President” off celebratory cupcakes before serving them to crushed staffers. Harris kept asking, “My God, my God, what will happen to our country?”</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-donald-trump-election-ddeae9fb378530159201ef4196cba9b3">next morning</a>&nbsp;was no easier. “I was ashamed to realize I was in the denial and bargaining stages of grief, a very long way from acceptance,” she wrote.</p><p>It’s one of several raw admissions in Harris’ book, “107 Days,” that is scheduled for release Tuesday. The title refers to the length of the hyperspeed campaign that the former vice president launched against Trump after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">Joe Biden dropped out</a>&nbsp;of the race.</p><p>Although Harris earned a reputation as guarded and circumspect, the book has the tone of someone who is finished biting her tongue. She concedes mistakes, reveals frustrations and details some of the stranger moments from her race.</p><p>The book isn’t a winding memoir or a political treatise, and Harris doesn’t disclose any future plans. Instead, it reads like a ticking time bomb, with each chapter counting down to Election Day.</p><p>Here’s some memorable moments.</p><h2>‘Joe got tired’</h2><p>Harris insists in the book that she had no concerns about Biden’s ability to serve as president. “If I believed that, I would have said so.”</p><p>“But at eighty-one, Joe got tired,” Harris wrote. “That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.”</p><p>Harris wrote that Biden’s inner circle “should have realized that any campaign was a bridge too far.” However, “it seemed that the worse things got, the more they pushed him.”</p><p>The tenuous situation unraveled when Biden and Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9">faced off</a>&nbsp;with each other. “As soon as he walked onto the debate stage in Atlanta, I could see he wasn’t right,” Harris wrote.</p><p>Biden’s team appeared to be in denial. Afterward, they gave Harris talking points that said “JOE BIDEN WON.”</p><h2>Biden was a source of frustration</h2><p>Harris wrote warmly of her partnership with Biden, but there were frosty moments too. As Biden faced calls to drop out of the race, he invited Harris to join him for a Fourth of July celebration at the White House.</p><p>First lady Jill Biden pulled Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff aside. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Are you supporting us?”</p><p>Later, in private, Emhoff erupted in anger. “They have to ask if we’re loyal?”</p><p>Another difficult episode came after Harris had replaced Biden at the top of the ticket and was preparing for her own debate with Trump.</p><p>Shortly before she took the stage, Biden called to say he heard from his brother that Harris had been badmouthing him, upsetting some power brokers in Philadelphia. Then he rambled about his own debate performances while Harris was “barely listening.”</p><p>“I just couldn’t understand why he would call me, right now, and make it all about himself,” she wrote.</p><h2>Hindsight is 20/20</h2><p>Harris admits some mistakes of her own, particularly a damaging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-stern-view-colbert-60-minutes-daddy-5a2af60ba0b1099e19cca151955c9855">appearance on “The View”</a>&nbsp;talk show. When one of the hosts asked what she would have done differently than Biden during the previous four years, Harris blanked on the talking points she had prepared and simply said, “There is not a thing that comes to mind.”</p><p>“I had no idea I’d just pulled the pin on a hand grenade,” Harris writes. Around the studio, “my staff were besides themselves” about how she had just given a “gift to the Trump campaign.”</p><p>Harris wrote that she didn’t want to criticize Biden or litigate any of the areas where they disagreed. But she also didn’t understand how much her association with the president was holding back her candidacy.</p><p>David Plouffe, a senior adviser, told Harris bluntly that “people hate Joe Biden.”</p><h2>The VP’s search for a VP</h2><p>There’s plenty of grist in the book that could make the next Democratic convention a little more awkward.</p><p>Harris wrote that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>, Biden’s transportation secretary and a former mayor from Indiana, was her first choice to be her running mate. He’s also gay, and Harris thought it was “too big of a risk” to pick him while already asking voters to accept a Black woman as president.</p><p>Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was another possibility. But Harris “had a nagging concern that he would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership.”</p><p>She ended up going with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-picks-tim-walz-running-mate-a64a91ae84953e880c8d086316d07c54">Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz</a>, but his debate performance against JD Vance left her yelling at the television screen. “You’re not there to make friends with the guy who is attacking your running mate,” she said.</p><p>There’s only one reference to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the book. When Harris reached out to him after Biden ended his reelection campaign, he texted, “Hiking. Will call back,” but he never did.</p><h2>Taking over the campaign</h2><p>Harris’ brother-in-law is Tony West, a former top Justice Department official and member of her inner circle of political advisers. While Harris was serving as vice president, West put together what was known as the “Red File,” a collection of plans in case something happened to Biden.</p><p>West argued that it would be foolish not to prepare. Harris writes that she “didn’t want to dwell on such an eventuality” and “I left it in his hands.”</p><p>He kept refreshing the document as people pressured Biden to drop out, which came in handy when Biden finally pulled the plug on his reelection campaign.</p><p>Harris writes that Biden was planning to wait a day before endorsing her as his successor, an idea that horrified her.</p><p>“If you want to put me in the strongest position, you have to endorse me now,” she recalled telling him. Harris prevailed, and the endorsement happened shortly after Biden announced that he was done.</p><h2>Things got weird sometimes</h2><p>Campaigns can be hallucinatory affairs, and this one was full of bizarre moments.</p><p>Harris writes that she warmed up for her convention speech with a professional voice coach who “wanted me to stand there and emit animal noises.” A little hesitant, Harris got her entire team to make “hums, grunts and trills” with her.</p><p>Harris also writes about talking with Trump after a second assassination attempt against him. Despite tearing into her on the campaign trail, Trump proceeded to flatter his opponent.</p><p>“How do I say bad things about you now?” he said. “I’m going to tone it down. I will. You’re going to see.” Then Trump said that his daughter Ivanka “is your big fan.”</p>

Kamala Harris reveals what Biden told her just before debate with Trump

Sonny Curtis, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/songwriters-hall-nominees-2025-41a3b00e3bbd11d64dffae9eba70c6b8">vintage rock 'n' roller who wrote</a>&nbsp;the raw classic “I Fought the Law” and posed the enduring question “Who can turn the world on with her smile?” as the writer-crooner of the theme song to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has died at 88.

Curtis, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Crickets in 2012, died Friday, his wife of more than a half-century, Louise Curtis, confirmed to The Associated Press. His daughter, Sarah Curtis, wrote on his Facebook page that he had been suddenly ill.

Curtis wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs, from Keith Whitley's country smash “I'm No Stranger to the Rain” to the Everly Brothers' “Walk Right Back,” a personal favorite Curtis completed while in Army basic training. Bing Crosby, Glen Campbell, Bruce Springsteen and the Grateful Dead were among other artists who covered his work.

Born during the Great Depression to cotton farmers outside of Meadow, Texas, Curtis was a childhood friend of Buddy Holly's and an active musician in the formative years of rock, whether jamming on guitar with Holly in the mid-1950s or opening for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elvis-presley">Elvis Presley</a>&nbsp;when Elvis was still a regional act. Curtis' songwriting touch also soon emerged: Before he turned 20, he had written the hit “Someday” for Webb Pierce and “Rock Around With Ollie Vee” for Holly.

Curtis had left Holly's group, the Crickets, before Holly became a major star. But he returned after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-domestic-news-domestic-news-music-eb2e169f2eb84f9caf532fad36c8b524">Holly died in a plane crash</a>&nbsp;in 1959 and he was featured the following year on the album “In Style with the Crickets,” which included “I Fought the Law” (dashed off in a single afternoon, according to Curtis, who would say he had no direct inspiration for the song) and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drummer-jerry-allison-dies-d744a807870b0f4b821c912d216be6f2">the Jerry Allison collaboration</a>&nbsp;“More Than I Can Say,” a hit for Bobby Vee, and later for Leo Sayer.

Meanwhile, it took until 1966 for “I Fought the Law” and its now-immortal refrain “I fought the law — and the law won” to catch on: The Texas-based Bobby Fuller Four made it a Top 10 song. Over the following decades, it was covered by dozens of artists, from punk (the Clash) to country (Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith) to Springsteen, Tom Petty and other mainstream rock stars.

“It’s my most important copyright,” Curtis told The Tennessean in 2014.

Curtis' other signature song was as uplifting as “I Fought the Law” was resigned. In 1970, he was writing commercial jingles when he came up with the theme for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fdd1427e301642dbb0c42f6e64ba18e5">a new CBS sitcom starring Moore</a>&nbsp;as a single woman hired as a TV producer in Minneapolis. He called the song “Love is All Around,” and used a smooth melody to eventually serve up lyrics as indelible as any in television history:

“Who can turn the world on with her smile? / Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? / Well it's you girl, and you should know it / With each glance and every little movement you show it.”

The song's endurance was sealed by the images it was heard over, especially Moore's triumphant toss of her hat as Curtis proclaims, “You're going to make it after all.” In tribute, other artists began recording it, including Sammy Davis Jr., Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Minnesota's Hüsker Dü. A commercial release featuring Curtis came out in 1980 and was a modest success, peaking at No. 29 on Billboard's country chart.

Curtis would recall being commissioned by his friend Doug Gilmore, a music industry road manager who had heard the sitcom's developers were looking for an opening song.

“Naturally I said yes, and later that morning, he dropped off a four-page format — you know 'Girl from the Midwest, moves to Minneapolis, gets a job in a newsroom, can't afford her apartment etc.,' which gave me the flavor of what it was all about,” said Curtis, who soon met with show co-creator (and later Oscar-winning filmmaker)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/jack-nicholson-movies-shirley-maclaine-james-l-brooks-26c0733cb77f4acd8c8758453cf1d049">James L. Brooks.</a>

“James L. Brooks came into this huge empty room, no furniture apart from a phone lying on the floor, and at first, I thought he was rather cold and sort of distant, and he said 'We're not at the stage of picking a song yet, but I'll listen anyway,'” Curtis recalled. “So I played the song, just me and my guitar, and next thing, he started phoning people, and the room filled up, and then he sent out for a tape recorder.”

Curtis would eventually write two versions: the first used in Season 1, the second and better known for the remaining six seasons. The original words were more tentative, opening with “How will you make it on your own?” and ending with “You might just make it after all.” By Season 2, the show was a hit and the lyrics were reworked. The producers had wanted Andy Williams to sing the theme song, but he turned it down and Curtis' easygoing baritone was heard instead.

Curtis made a handful of solo albums, including “Sonny Curtis” and “Spectrum,” and hit the country Top 20 with the 1981 single “Good Ol' Girls.” In later years, he continued to play with Allison and other members of the Crickets. The band released several albums, among them “The Crickets and Their Buddies,” featuring appearances by Eric Clapton, Graham Nash and Phil Everly. One of Curtis' more notable songs was “The Real Buddy Holly Story,” a rebuke to the 1978 biopic “The Buddy Holly Story,” which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gary-busey-sex-offense-horror-convention-new-jersey-491c5f5dbb41d40ec1dfa2bc5e51551f">starred Gary Busey.</a>

Curtis settled in Nashville in the mid-1970s and lived there with his wife, Louise. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991 and, as part of the Crickets, into Nashville's Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007. Five years later, he and the Crickets were inducted into the Rock Hall, praised as “the blueprint for rock and roll bands (that) inspired thousands of kids to start up garage bands around the world.”

Associated Press journalist Mallika Sen contributed reporting.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758385969321.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By HILLEL ITALIE <br>AP National Write</p><p>Sonny Curtis, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/songwriters-hall-nominees-2025-41a3b00e3bbd11d64dffae9eba70c6b8">vintage rock 'n' roller who wrote</a>&nbsp;the raw classic “I Fought the Law” and posed the enduring question “Who can turn the world on with her smile?” as the writer-crooner of the theme song to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has died at 88.</p><p>Curtis, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Crickets in 2012, died Friday, his wife of more than a half-century, Louise Curtis, confirmed to The Associated Press. His daughter, Sarah Curtis, wrote on his Facebook page that he had been suddenly ill.</p><p>Curtis wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs, from Keith Whitley's country smash “I'm No Stranger to the Rain” to the Everly Brothers' “Walk Right Back,” a personal favorite Curtis completed while in Army basic training. Bing Crosby, Glen Campbell, Bruce Springsteen and the Grateful Dead were among other artists who covered his work.</p><h2>Early days with Buddy Holly</h2><p>Born during the Great Depression to cotton farmers outside of Meadow, Texas, Curtis was a childhood friend of Buddy Holly's and an active musician in the formative years of rock, whether jamming on guitar with Holly in the mid-1950s or opening for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elvis-presley">Elvis Presley</a>&nbsp;when Elvis was still a regional act. Curtis' songwriting touch also soon emerged: Before he turned 20, he had written the hit “Someday” for Webb Pierce and “Rock Around With Ollie Vee” for Holly.</p><p>Curtis had left Holly's group, the Crickets, before Holly became a major star. But he returned after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-domestic-news-domestic-news-music-eb2e169f2eb84f9caf532fad36c8b524">Holly died in a plane crash</a>&nbsp;in 1959 and he was featured the following year on the album “In Style with the Crickets,” which included “I Fought the Law” (dashed off in a single afternoon, according to Curtis, who would say he had no direct inspiration for the song) and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drummer-jerry-allison-dies-d744a807870b0f4b821c912d216be6f2">the Jerry Allison collaboration</a>&nbsp;“More Than I Can Say,” a hit for Bobby Vee, and later for Leo Sayer.</p><p>Meanwhile, it took until 1966 for “I Fought the Law” and its now-immortal refrain “I fought the law — and the law won” to catch on: The Texas-based Bobby Fuller Four made it a Top 10 song. Over the following decades, it was covered by dozens of artists, from punk (the Clash) to country (Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith) to Springsteen, Tom Petty and other mainstream rock stars.</p><p>“It’s my most important copyright,” Curtis told The Tennessean in 2014.</p><h2>‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’</h2><p>Curtis' other signature song was as uplifting as “I Fought the Law” was resigned. In 1970, he was writing commercial jingles when he came up with the theme for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fdd1427e301642dbb0c42f6e64ba18e5">a new CBS sitcom starring Moore</a>&nbsp;as a single woman hired as a TV producer in Minneapolis. He called the song “Love is All Around,” and used a smooth melody to eventually serve up lyrics as indelible as any in television history:</p><p>“Who can turn the world on with her smile? / Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? / Well it's you girl, and you should know it / With each glance and every little movement you show it.”</p><p>The song's endurance was sealed by the images it was heard over, especially Moore's triumphant toss of her hat as Curtis proclaims, “You're going to make it after all.” In tribute, other artists began recording it, including Sammy Davis Jr., Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Minnesota's Hüsker Dü. A commercial release featuring Curtis came out in 1980 and was a modest success, peaking at No. 29 on Billboard's country chart.</p><p>Curtis would recall being commissioned by his friend Doug Gilmore, a music industry road manager who had heard the sitcom's developers were looking for an opening song.</p><p>“Naturally I said yes, and later that morning, he dropped off a four-page format — you know 'Girl from the Midwest, moves to Minneapolis, gets a job in a newsroom, can't afford her apartment etc.,' which gave me the flavor of what it was all about,” said Curtis, who soon met with show co-creator (and later Oscar-winning filmmaker)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/jack-nicholson-movies-shirley-maclaine-james-l-brooks-26c0733cb77f4acd8c8758453cf1d049">James L. Brooks.</a></p><p>“James L. Brooks came into this huge empty room, no furniture apart from a phone lying on the floor, and at first, I thought he was rather cold and sort of distant, and he said 'We're not at the stage of picking a song yet, but I'll listen anyway,'” Curtis recalled. “So I played the song, just me and my guitar, and next thing, he started phoning people, and the room filled up, and then he sent out for a tape recorder.”</p><p>Curtis would eventually write two versions: the first used in Season 1, the second and better known for the remaining six seasons. The original words were more tentative, opening with “How will you make it on your own?” and ending with “You might just make it after all.” By Season 2, the show was a hit and the lyrics were reworked. The producers had wanted Andy Williams to sing the theme song, but he turned it down and Curtis' easygoing baritone was heard instead.</p><h2>Later life</h2><p>Curtis made a handful of solo albums, including “Sonny Curtis” and “Spectrum,” and hit the country Top 20 with the 1981 single “Good Ol' Girls.” In later years, he continued to play with Allison and other members of the Crickets. The band released several albums, among them “The Crickets and Their Buddies,” featuring appearances by Eric Clapton, Graham Nash and Phil Everly. One of Curtis' more notable songs was “The Real Buddy Holly Story,” a rebuke to the 1978 biopic “The Buddy Holly Story,” which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gary-busey-sex-offense-horror-convention-new-jersey-491c5f5dbb41d40ec1dfa2bc5e51551f">starred Gary Busey.</a></p><p>Curtis settled in Nashville in the mid-1970s and lived there with his wife, Louise. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991 and, as part of the Crickets, into Nashville's Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007. Five years later, he and the Crickets were inducted into the Rock Hall, praised as “the blueprint for rock and roll bands (that) inspired thousands of kids to start up garage bands around the world.”</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press journalist Mallika Sen contributed reporting.</p>

Sonny Curtis, Crickets member who penned ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ theme, dies 

<i></i>Scattered storms are possible to develop this evening across Central Kansas.

According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), these storms have a chance of occurring late tonight with stronger storms capable of producing hail up to quarter size. However, the severity is marginal and chances are low throughout the region.

Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.

For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNWSWichita%2Fposts%2Fpfbid026D42KwjmoX1SvUBXe9TE1RcLVhAeGt56zA3xYnmNG9vu1w9mQTejAJ12VukVqdTvl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="430" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><p><i>Salina Post</i></p><p><i></i>Scattered storms are possible to develop this evening across Central Kansas.</p><p>According to the US National Weather Service (Wichita, KS), these storms have a chance of occurring late tonight with stronger storms capable of producing hail up to quarter size. However, the severity is marginal and chances are low throughout the region.</p><p>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.</p><p>For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.</p>

Scattered storms possible to occur late tonight in Central Kansas

<a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758290487483.png" alt="Three day weather forecast Salina, September 19 - September 21. Courtesy of US National Weather Service" />
                        <figcaption>Three day weather forecast Salina, September 19 - September 21. Courtesy of US National Weather Service</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a></p><p>Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.</p><p>For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.</p>

Three day weather forecast Salina, September 19 - September 21

WINDSOR, England (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;relished the glow of a British royal spectacle as he opened a two-day state visit Wednesday, calling the hours of pageantry with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/king-charles-iii">King Charles III</a>&nbsp;“one of the highest honors of my life” while also making time for a quiet tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb.

The grandeur-loving president soaked up all the revelry, from the largest guard of honor in living memory — with 120 horses and 1,300 troops — to carriage rides, an air show and a Windsor Castle state dinner.

After the pomp comes the real work Thursday, when Trump and British&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/keir-starmer">Prime Minister</a>&nbsp;Keir Starmer meet to talk trade, technology and geopolitical issues.

No U.S. president, or any other world leader, has had the honor of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-trump-state-visit-67c610327fca8e99818c7f5980a9cfb3">second U.K. state visit;</a>&nbsp;Trump’s first was in 2019, during his previous term. The display of regal splendor was meant to bolster ties with Trump at a time when his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-imperialism-canada-panama-greenland-b4b53445dee97398b498b79eab54d49b">America First policies are putting pressure on trade</a>&nbsp;and security arrangements around the globe.

“This was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time, I hope it is actually,” Trump joked during the evening banquet.

The visit began with Prince William and his wife, Kate, meeting the presidential helicopter in the private Walled Garden on the vast Windsor estate, then walking Trump and first lady Melania Trump over to be greeted by Charles and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/queen-camilla">Queen Camilla</a>. A gigantic royal standard, the flag used for official celebration days, flew from the Royal Tower.

The guests traveled to the castle in a procession of horse-drawn carriages, past ranks of soldiers, sailors and aviators. The king and the Republican president chatted in the Irish State Coach during the short journey to the castle quadrangle, where both inspected an honor guard of soldiers in red tunics and bearskin hats.

They continued to chat and joke as the day progressed, with the king occasionally putting his hand on Trump’s back. The president stepped in front of Charles during a review of troops after the king gestured for him to do so. The king’s invitation avoided a violation of protocol, which was not the case in 2019, when Trump stepped in front of Queen Elizabeth.

Part of the day was spent at St. George’s Chapel on the castle grounds, where Trump placed a wreath in honor of Elizabeth, who died in 2022.

The president and Charles toured the Royal Collection Display in an ornate room where officials laid out five tables of artifacts on U.S.-British relations.

Among the items were 18th-century watercolors and documents on the United States seeking independence from King George III. There were materials from the first trans-Atlantic cable, including messages between Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan, as well as a 1930s hot dog picnic that a young Elizabeth wrote about, and a large glass vessel that President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the queen during a 1957 state visit.

The president later walked a red carpet on the castle’s East Lawn to watch the Beating Retreat, a military parade ceremony that featured 200-plus musicians, dates to the 1600s and was once used to call patrolling soldiers back to their castle at day’s end.

A scheduled flyover by F-35 jets from the U.K. and U.S. militaries was scrapped because of poor weather conditions. But the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team, thundered overhead, leaving streaks of red, white and blue smoke in their wake.

Charles and Camilla presented the president and first lady with a handbound leather volume celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the Union flag that flew above Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump’s inauguration in January. The royals also gave first lady Melania Trump a silver and enamel bowl and a personalized handbag by British designer Anya Hindmarch.

Trump gave Charles a replica of an Eisenhower sword, and Camilla received a vintage Tiffany &amp; Co. gold, diamond and ruby brooch.

The history, tradition and celebrity of the royal family give it a cachet that means presidents and prime ministers covet joining them. In his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-trump-state-visit-starmer-334930dc7a467118b5551c6e4ec3d1db">talks with Trump,</a>&nbsp;Starmer will promote a new U.K.-U.S. technology agreement. The British government hopes the deal, and billions in investment from U.S. tech companies, will help show that the trans-Atlantic bond remains strong despite differences over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukraine</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-palestinian-state-israel-gaza-recognition-bf50123e56404382ca0f7cfbd4161d14">Middle East</a>&nbsp;and the future of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nato">NATO</a>.

Ahead of the banquet, Trump and Charles walked together, leading a procession. Trump wore white tie, while his wife was in a yellow gown. Charles was in white tie with a blue sash, and Camilla in a blue gown with a tiara.

Beefeaters in traditional red uniforms and ruff collars lined the entrance to the castle’s St. George’s Hall for the dinner, which featured 100 staff members attending to 160 guests. The grand Waterloo table was set with 1,462 pieces of silver sparkling in the light from 139 candles and elaborate floral arrangements handpicked from the castle grounds.

The guests included Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Open AI’s Sam Altman and golfer Nick Faldo. Also appearing was publishing mogul Rupert Murdoch, whom Trump recently sued for $10 billion over The Wall Street Journal’s report on a sexually suggestive letter purportedly written by Trump for disgraced financier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>.

The menu featured Hampshire watercress panna cotta with Parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, along with Norfolk chicken ballotine. Dessert was vanilla ice cream bombe with a raspberry sherbet interior and lightly poached Victorian plums.

Trump avoids alcohol, but the bar offerings included a cocktail known as a trans-Atlantic whiskey sour infused with marmalade, Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port — Trump is the 45th and 47th American president — and Hennessy 1912 cognac Grande Champagne. That was the year Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in Scotland.

The musical playlist included the theme from the James Bond movies and pop and rock staples, as well as top show tunes, often featured at Trump’s campaign rallies.

In his toast, Charles saluted Trump’s British roots and his recent visits to the U.K. In a nod to the president’s favorite sport, he said, “I understand that British soil makes for rather splendid golf courses.”

Trump mostly stuck to his prepared remarks and was on his best behavior, declaring, “This is truly one of the highest honors of my life” and sneaking in only one dig about his predecessor, Democratic President Joe Biden, by saying the U.S. was “sick” a year ago. He also touched on Britain’s contributions to literature, history and the arts and said “special” does not begin to do justice to his country’s relationship with the U.K.

“Together we’ve done more good for humanity than any two countries in all of history,” Trump said.

Trump being in Windsor doesn’t stop protests

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-britain-uk-state-visit-king-charles-11e2c897c9047f12614cfa70e0c17753">Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday to protest Trump’s visit. Some held banners that said “No to the racism, no to Trump.” Though the activities were smaller than during Trump’s visit in June 2019, they included mini versions of the giant Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-8f5de6a976af473788bf74389df782dc">baby blimp</a>, an orange-tinted caricature of the president in a diaper that made a big impression during those demonstrations six years ago.

In Windsor, protesters projected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/images-of-trump-and-epstein-projected-on-windsor-castle-as-us-president-visits-uk-6b004c3ab53247078795780c5c4bf7b1">an image of Trump and Epstein</a>&nbsp;on a tower at the castle, a reminder of the president’s relationship with the late American financier. Police said they arrested four people.

Lawless and Price reported from London and Weissert from Washington.

<p>WINDSOR, England (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;relished the glow of a British royal spectacle as he opened a two-day state visit Wednesday, calling the hours of pageantry with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/king-charles-iii">King Charles III</a>&nbsp;“one of the highest honors of my life” while also making time for a quiet tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH IN FULL: President Donald J. Trump and the First Lady receive a marvelous welcome to Windsor Castle earlier today, kicking off the President&#39;s unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom. <a href="https://t.co/3IOBmn8cVo">pic.twitter.com/3IOBmn8cVo</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968393607976456671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/UpX0M1yM5c">pic.twitter.com/UpX0M1yM5c</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968412389054775622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome President Trump 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/Xpm5Nq2XRA">pic.twitter.com/Xpm5Nq2XRA</a></p>&mdash; The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1968305875686449290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇺🇸 🇬🇧 This afternoon, a Beating Retreat ceremony was held at Windsor Castle to mark President Trump’s State Visit.<br><br>The ceremony has its origins in the early years of organised warfare when the beating of drums and the parading of Post Guards heralded the closing of camp gates… <a href="https://t.co/UnFCeOYL29">pic.twitter.com/UnFCeOYL29</a></p>&mdash; The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1968387149734330404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WOW! A joint U.S.-U.K. flyover of F-35s and Red Arrows atop <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>, and Their Majesties at Windsor Castle! 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/CvMEtO3o3a">pic.twitter.com/CvMEtO3o3a</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968343366929907847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and the First Lady listen to the Chapel Choristers inside St. George’s Chapel 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/Qzw0FVowkJ">pic.twitter.com/Qzw0FVowkJ</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1968337163357188250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> inspecting the Guard of Honor with King Charles 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/OtFaUxKMyp">pic.twitter.com/OtFaUxKMyp</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1968294714886734156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> arrive at Windsor Castle with King Charles and Queen Camilla 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/p0RMi3zKA8">pic.twitter.com/p0RMi3zKA8</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1968293874230767665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇬🇧 🇺🇸 The King and Queen inspect the banquet table in St George’s Hall ahead of this evening’s State Banquet <a href="https://t.co/T5OJm7MY3C">pic.twitter.com/T5OJm7MY3C</a></p>&mdash; The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1968356830087889211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>, together with Their Majesties, arrive for a state banquet at Windsor Castle. 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/tyO8lTW4xv">pic.twitter.com/tyO8lTW4xv</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968403182070960249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We&#39;re joined by history and fate, by love and language, and by transcendent ties of culture, tradition, ancestry, and destiny... The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal — it&#39;s irreplaceable and unbreakable.&quot; 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/RhFIaLNcAp">pic.twitter.com/RhFIaLNcAp</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968410080077832446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;On behalf of all Americans, I offer a toast to one of the great friendships, two great countries, and to His Majesty, King Charlies III — a very, very special man and also a very, very special Queen.&quot; 🥂🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/kzLKVhUFgA">pic.twitter.com/kzLKVhUFgA</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968409465629053016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> delivers remarks at the State Banquet at Windsor Castle: &quot;This is truly one of the highest honors of my life... for many decades, His Majesty The King has epitomized the fortitude, nobility, and the spirit of the British Monarchy, and the British people.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/NhePpGOpJH">pic.twitter.com/NhePpGOpJH</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968408158696567144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">King Charles III: &quot;Allow me to propose a toast to President Trump and the First Lady — and to the health, prosperity, and happiness of the people of the United States of America.&quot; 🥂🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/KOjIIpHdwo">pic.twitter.com/KOjIIpHdwo</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968407680457887907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The grandeur-loving president soaked up all the revelry, from the largest guard of honor in living memory — with 120 horses and 1,300 troops — to carriage rides, an air show and a Windsor Castle state dinner.</p><p>After the pomp comes the real work Thursday, when Trump and British&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/keir-starmer">Prime Minister</a>&nbsp;Keir Starmer meet to talk trade, technology and geopolitical issues.</p><p>No U.S. president, or any other world leader, has had the honor of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-trump-state-visit-67c610327fca8e99818c7f5980a9cfb3">second U.K. state visit;</a>&nbsp;Trump’s first was in 2019, during his previous term. The display of regal splendor was meant to bolster ties with Trump at a time when his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-imperialism-canada-panama-greenland-b4b53445dee97398b498b79eab54d49b">America First policies are putting pressure on trade</a>&nbsp;and security arrangements around the globe.</p><p>“This was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time, I hope it is actually,” Trump joked during the evening banquet.</p><p>The visit began with Prince William and his wife, Kate, meeting the presidential helicopter in the private Walled Garden on the vast Windsor estate, then walking Trump and first lady Melania Trump over to be greeted by Charles and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/queen-camilla">Queen Camilla</a>. A gigantic royal standard, the flag used for official celebration days, flew from the Royal Tower.</p><p>The guests traveled to the castle in a procession of horse-drawn carriages, past ranks of soldiers, sailors and aviators. The king and the Republican president chatted in the Irish State Coach during the short journey to the castle quadrangle, where both inspected an honor guard of soldiers in red tunics and bearskin hats.</p><p>They continued to chat and joke as the day progressed, with the king occasionally putting his hand on Trump’s back. The president stepped in front of Charles during a review of troops after the king gestured for him to do so. The king’s invitation avoided a violation of protocol, which was not the case in 2019, when Trump stepped in front of Queen Elizabeth.</p><p>Part of the day was spent at St. George’s Chapel on the castle grounds, where Trump placed a wreath in honor of Elizabeth, who died in 2022.</p><h2>A full day of pomp and circumstance</h2><p>The president and Charles toured the Royal Collection Display in an ornate room where officials laid out five tables of artifacts on U.S.-British relations.</p><p>Among the items were 18th-century watercolors and documents on the United States seeking independence from King George III. There were materials from the first trans-Atlantic cable, including messages between Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan, as well as a 1930s hot dog picnic that a young Elizabeth wrote about, and a large glass vessel that President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the queen during a 1957 state visit.</p><p>The president later walked a red carpet on the castle’s East Lawn to watch the Beating Retreat, a military parade ceremony that featured 200-plus musicians, dates to the 1600s and was once used to call patrolling soldiers back to their castle at day’s end.</p><p>A scheduled flyover by F-35 jets from the U.K. and U.S. militaries was scrapped because of poor weather conditions. But the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team, thundered overhead, leaving streaks of red, white and blue smoke in their wake.</p><p>Charles and Camilla presented the president and first lady with a handbound leather volume celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the Union flag that flew above Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump’s inauguration in January. The royals also gave first lady Melania Trump a silver and enamel bowl and a personalized handbag by British designer Anya Hindmarch.</p><p>Trump gave Charles a replica of an Eisenhower sword, and Camilla received a vintage Tiffany &amp; Co. gold, diamond and ruby brooch.</p><h2>Serious talks coming</h2><p>The history, tradition and celebrity of the royal family give it a cachet that means presidents and prime ministers covet joining them. In his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-trump-state-visit-starmer-334930dc7a467118b5551c6e4ec3d1db">talks with Trump,</a>&nbsp;Starmer will promote a new U.K.-U.S. technology agreement. The British government hopes the deal, and billions in investment from U.S. tech companies, will help show that the trans-Atlantic bond remains strong despite differences over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukraine</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-palestinian-state-israel-gaza-recognition-bf50123e56404382ca0f7cfbd4161d14">Middle East</a>&nbsp;and the future of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nato">NATO</a>.</p><p>Ahead of the banquet, Trump and Charles walked together, leading a procession. Trump wore white tie, while his wife was in a yellow gown. Charles was in white tie with a blue sash, and Camilla in a blue gown with a tiara.</p><p>Beefeaters in traditional red uniforms and ruff collars lined the entrance to the castle’s St. George’s Hall for the dinner, which featured 100 staff members attending to 160 guests. The grand Waterloo table was set with 1,462 pieces of silver sparkling in the light from 139 candles and elaborate floral arrangements handpicked from the castle grounds.</p><p>The guests included Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Open AI’s Sam Altman and golfer Nick Faldo. Also appearing was publishing mogul Rupert Murdoch, whom Trump recently sued for $10 billion over The Wall Street Journal’s report on a sexually suggestive letter purportedly written by Trump for disgraced financier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>.</p><p>The menu featured Hampshire watercress panna cotta with Parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, along with Norfolk chicken ballotine. Dessert was vanilla ice cream bombe with a raspberry sherbet interior and lightly poached Victorian plums.</p><p>Trump avoids alcohol, but the bar offerings included a cocktail known as a trans-Atlantic whiskey sour infused with marmalade, Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port — Trump is the 45th and 47th American president — and Hennessy 1912 cognac Grande Champagne. That was the year Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in Scotland.</p><p>The musical playlist included the theme from the James Bond movies and pop and rock staples, as well as top show tunes, often featured at Trump’s campaign rallies.</p><p>In his toast, Charles saluted Trump’s British roots and his recent visits to the U.K. In a nod to the president’s favorite sport, he said, “I understand that British soil makes for rather splendid golf courses.”</p><p>Trump mostly stuck to his prepared remarks and was on his best behavior, declaring, “This is truly one of the highest honors of my life” and sneaking in only one dig about his predecessor, Democratic President Joe Biden, by saying the U.S. was “sick” a year ago. He also touched on Britain’s contributions to literature, history and the arts and said “special” does not begin to do justice to his country’s relationship with the U.K.</p><p>“Together we’ve done more good for humanity than any two countries in all of history,” Trump said.</p><h2>Trump being in Windsor doesn’t stop protests</h2><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-britain-uk-state-visit-king-charles-11e2c897c9047f12614cfa70e0c17753">Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday to protest Trump’s visit. Some held banners that said “No to the racism, no to Trump.” Though the activities were smaller than during Trump’s visit in June 2019, they included mini versions of the giant Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-8f5de6a976af473788bf74389df782dc">baby blimp</a>, an orange-tinted caricature of the president in a diaper that made a big impression during those demonstrations six years ago.</p><p>In Windsor, protesters projected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/images-of-trump-and-epstein-projected-on-windsor-castle-as-us-president-visits-uk-6b004c3ab53247078795780c5c4bf7b1">an image of Trump and Epstein</a>&nbsp;on a tower at the castle, a reminder of the president’s relationship with the late American financier. Police said they arrested four people.</p><p>___</p><p>Lawless and Price reported from London and Weissert from Washington.</p>

🎥 Highlights of the President's big day with the Royal family

<b>Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes</b><b></b>

<b>OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;</b>“Alright, as far as the injuries go, Mike Danna won’t practice today and (Kristian) Fulton won’t practice today. Other than that, we look forward to the challenge of getting ready to play a good Giants football team. You can really see that they have a tremendous defense and a lot of skill on the offensive side. Their quarterback (QB Russel Wilson) is playing well right now. And (Giants Head Coach) Brian (Daboll) does – who you guys are familiar with, Brian does a good job, creative guy offensively, plus he’s got (Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator) Mike Kafka there on top of that, Mike’s a sharp kid. Defensively they have got a good scheme, one that we have played against a couple of different times when (Defensive Coordinator) Shane (Bowen) was at (the) Tennessee (Titans). It’s a good bunch there. Anyways with that, time is yours.”

<b>Q</b>: On Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals practicing this week.

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“Yeah. They’ll (Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals) practice today.”

<b>Q</b>: How is Jalen Royals coming along?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“Yeah, he’s coming pretty good. We’ll just see how he does here. He’s been out for a while, I’d like to see how he moves around.”

<b>Q</b>: Are there any limitations on Xavier Worthy for practice today?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“No, neither of them (Xavier Worthy or Jalen Royals).”

<b>Q</b>: Travis Kelce said there’s a lot on his plate. Do you think that Travis Kelce might have too much on his plate?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“Yeah, no listen, I mean Travis (Kelce) made so many of those catches right there. I don’t think it is an age thing or anything, at that point. He’s fine. We try to keep an eye on him the best we can.”

<b>Q</b>: What are you seeing from the pass offense?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“Yeah, probably the same thing you guys see. I mean it’s – we’re on at times, and we’re not on at times. So, it’ll be the same thing you guys are seeing. We just got to keep working.”

<b>Q</b>: What issues are you seeing on third down?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“Well, we’ve been throwing the ball in those situations. You want to keep them manageable first of all, and then we’ve got to hook up on them when called. We can do a better job as coaches of putting them in a better position. So that’s kind of the basics of it, and what we’ve got to go through to do that.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>On Patrick Mahomes input on game plans and how comfortable he is in different formations, specifically center.

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“Yeah, he’s (Patrick Mahomes) actually grown into liking getting under there (center) and doing that part of it. We’ve worked a little bit more in there this year than we have in the past.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>The script at the beginning of the year hasn’t gone your way, can you put your finger on any reason why it might not be working?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“I’ve got to do a better job there. I can’t stand here and tell you we’re going to try this or that, we are playing somebody here. To answer that question I’d have to give you the plays (laughter).”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>How comfortable are you with Patrick Mahomes running?

<b>REID:&nbsp;</b>“I am okay with it. As long as he (Patrick Mahomes) can come back upright, we’re okay. I don’t like him taking big hits, but he’s a competitive kid.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>On the run game with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“We can do a better job there. We’ll get that thing going better.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>You had Mike Kafka here as an assistant. What makes him capable of calling plays?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“Yeah, absolutely. I felt like he (Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka) can do it, (he’s a) smart guy. Had played the position in the league (and) had a good feel for defenses. Had a great grasp for the offense, so no reason he wouldn’t be able to.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>How often do you and Mike Kafka communicate?

<b>REID:&nbsp;</b>“We talk a couple of times during the offseason.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;As fans are we overreacting to the 0-2 start?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“Listen, we haven’t won the game. So, I understand, I get it. We keep pushing, and we’ll keep pushing and working forward and seeing what we can do going down the road here.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;Is the start to the season, being 0-2 something you address to the team?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“No, I just try to the fix the problems we might have. And all there is, including myself. That’s what you have time to do. Be real with the guys, I’m not going to not tell them what I think. (Communicate with them, and try to work it out. Get it right.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;On Tom Brady being the co-owner of the Las Vegas Raider and participating in broadcasting.

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“I don’t know what he’s (Tom Brady) doing for them, so I can’t answer that. He’s done a good job as an announcer, I think. I don’t know that either because I really don’t listen to it (laughter). I haven’t really gotten into all of that.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;Did you approach the production meeting with Tom Brady any differently?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“No, we’re not telling secrets in the production meetings. So, we’re not giving them the plays and stuff in the production meeting.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;What was your reaction to Josh Simmons against the Eagles?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“I thought that was pretty impressive. I mean a 300-pound man running like that and making the tackle like he (Josh Simmons) did. Sure, we talked about it. That was one of the positives. There’s a lot of things we’ve got to work on but that was one of the positives of the game.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;Patrick Mahomes’ 30th&nbsp;birthday is today. Can you put into perspective what he has done in his 20’s?

<b>REID:</b>&nbsp;“Yeah, he’s (Patrick Mahomes) done quite a bit to 30. It’s hard to believe he’s 30 years old; I mean time flies. I asked him if he felt old. Sometimes when you’re in your 20’s you look at 30 and that looks like an old man. He said he feels the same. I told him that’s a good thing because when you get to my age you want to make sure you feel the same, doggonit (laughter).”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>What are you evaluating on what you guys can do better?

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“Yeah I think for myself, just being better at executing in some of those earlier moments in the game, especially I mean, there were guys open – obviously Noah (Gray) early, but even more than that if I sit in that pocket a little bit longer and trust those guys, get the ball to guys down the field I feel like we can make some more explosive plays. That was stuff I scouted on myself but knowing we are going up against a good defensive team this week, especially that d-line so finding the right moments to take those shots downfield but not taking the negative plays as well.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>When you said stay in the pocket longer, was that something that you frequently saw on tape or just here or there?

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“Just here or there mostly. I think that even some of the runs that I made, if I would’ve just stayed a little bit longer (in the pocket) I could’ve made some throws to guys and let them make some plays happen. Obviously, the runs work so you have success in the play and stuff like that but when you look back on the tape sometimes you want to make sure that you are going through the progression the right way.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>Does the team ask for too much from Travis Kelce?<b></b>

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“I honestly don’t know. I know he (Travis Kelce) wants to be out there at the end of the day. He wants to have the chance to make the plays happen, and he’s made the plays happen for years. I don’t feel like we ask for too much from him, but we ask for him to be out there and be himself and just be who he is. I think that in itself is enough for us. That’s probably a question you can ask Trav, but I feel like he’s in a good spot and it’s hard to get him off the field I know that.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>Have you communicated with Tyquan Thornton that he will find him when he is open?

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“No. I think Tyquan (Thornton) has done a great job to start the year. I’ve missed him (Tyquan Thornton) on some throws, and he’s made big plays happen as well. I think if he continues to play like he’s playing, we’ll continue to have big plays within this offense and he’s got a great role in this offense. I think just for us in general, I think it’s just execution stuff. We’re just barely off here and there and in the NFL if you’re playing good defenses, if you miss plays then the drives stall out. We’re just going to continue to work and continue to practice and learn those things. As we get guys back, we’ll continue to execute at a higher level.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>On what Patrick Mahomes remembers when he was five years old in New York.

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“It’s some of my best memories. Just my dad being on the (New York) Mets and playing in those National League Championship Series versus the (Atlanta) Braves or playing in the World Series versus the Yankees. That’s when I can first start remembering stuff, and I don’t know what the rules are back then, but they just had me out on the field. I was taking groundballs with Derek Jeter and then shagging fly balls. It was super cool. I had a lot of great experiences. Back at the time the Mets were my favorite team because my dad had the most success. It’s fun being able to go to New York, and it’s such a great city and play a football game there now.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>What gives you faith that this team can handle being 0-2?

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“I think it’s just the people that we have in the locker room. Even though we have never been 0-2, we’ve had stretches where we’ve lost big games kind of consecutively and guys have responded. It’s about the character of the guys in the locker room more than it is the play on the football field and I think that we have the guys that are going to continue to work. They’re not going to let this push them down, they’re going to use it if anything as motivation to be even better. I think that gives me most faith and then the coaches that we have they’ll continue to push to be even better. We’ll have a great week of practice this week and know we’re going to have to play our best football to win a game against a good football team in the (New York) Giants.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>What do you have to do off the field? Is there a responsibility in the meeting rooms? Do you still play it as one week at a time?<b></b>

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“You take it one week at a time, but I think you just continue to even amplify the little details. Sometime when you’re winning a lot, those little details get lost and that’s how you lose, but when you lose early like this, you have to really just focus on those little details and maximize those and then you try and set the example on the practice field and stay after and do extra stuff and do a little bit here and there and push other guys to do&nbsp; the same. We’re really good at that and I feel like we’ve had great weeks of practice, and so that’s why I have faith is I know how these guys are working and how hard these guys are pushing to be even better. Now it’s just about putting it together on gameday which I’ve seen these guys do before, and so I have faith that we’ll do that.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>How positive was it for you to see Xavier Worthy on the practice field and what are you looking to reestablish with him if he is able to play on Sunday?

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“Yeah, I think more than anything having him (Xavier Worthy) out there is just a threat in general. He can at any moment take a pass – short or long and he can take it to the house. Having him out on the practice field was very encouraging last week. Obviously, we didn’t know after that injury in Brazil but seeing him out there, he wanted to stay out there. It was kinda like holding him back. Hopefully we can go through a good week of practice and have him out there but if not, guys will step up and guys will make plays. I’m just excited to get those guys back and be able to go out there and try to have some success on (the) offense better than we did this last week.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>On if his 30th&nbsp;birthday is meaningful to him.

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“Yeah, it’s meaningful in a sense. It’s always hard for me on my birthday in general, especially this year with the losses but being early in the season you’re so focused on football and trying to get us going in the right direction. We celebrated in the offseason, and we went down and I hung out with some of my friends that we all grew up together and you see them and I’m a little ahead of them. Their wives are pregnant (and) they’re finally getting their jobs that they’re gonna have for the rest of their lives and stuff like that so it’s cool to see everybody moving on in life and building their own families and see how we’ve came from little league baseball to where we are now.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>Head Coach Andy Reid said you told him you don’t feel any different today?

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“Nah. I feel the same. I got kids man I’ve been 30 forever (laughter).”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>How much confidence do you have in this new offensive line to go through your progressions?

<b>MAHOMES:</b>&nbsp;“I have confidence in it. I just gotta continue to show that on gamedays. I think that’s probably the biggest thing I saw is that there was times that I left the pocket early this last week. Even on some of the runs and I’m like: ‘If I can just sit in that pocket and trust those guys that are gonna protect.’ That’s a good (Philadelphia) Eagles defensive line obviously, and we’re going up against another great challenge but the more I trust them, the better the offense will be. I’m going to continue to do that and try and hang in that pocket and make throws on the field.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;How much of your confidence on throws have had to do with the struggles on third down?

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“Yeah, obviously you want to continue to get the chains moving but there’s a time and a place where you got to take the shots down the field and even the throw to Tyquan (Thornton) down the sideline that barely missed early in the game, I thought that was the right decision. We just didn’t execute it at the right time. You look back on that stuff on film, and you have to take those shots. Those are shots that can change games, but knowing when to do that (and) when to just move the chains and do stuff like that is something we will continue to work on.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;On not being successful on call runs when the box isn’t stacked.

<b>MAHOMES:</b>&nbsp;“It’s something you continue to trust in. That’s part of football is being able to trust in the run game and whenever they’re in the light boxes, run the football and force them to come down (so) we can throw some of the shots down the field. I think that will come together more and more as the o-line continues to gel and the running backs can gel with the o-line as well. More than just pass protection when you have two new offensive linemen joining in, it’s about building that chemistry and so I think as the season goes on, they’ll continue to get better at that.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;How does the 0-2 record make you feel?

<b>MAHOMES:</b>&nbsp;“Obviously being 0-2, there’s more urgency than even last week and I feel like we were very urgent last week. Definitely new territory as far as being 0-2 but knowing that we got the guys for it. We have the mindset of going out there and being even better. In my eyes it looks like what an opportunity. What an opportunity to prove who we are as the Kansas City Chiefs. Coming back from 0-2 and trying to build up to win a big football game on Sunday Night Football and try and get our season going in the right direction from there.”

<b>Q:&nbsp;</b>On why he is lowering his shoulder more when running with the football.

<b>MAHOMES:&nbsp;</b>“I think just picking and choosing more than anything. It’s just knowing when to do it and when not to do it. Protecting yourself but still being a football player and a competitor. I think that’s it more than anything and that Brad (Gee) says Taco Bell so that does it for me too.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;What is different about playing on Sunday Night Football?

<b>MAHOMES:</b>&nbsp;“I’ve always loved Sunday Night Football. You grow up, you watch Sunday Night Football and you get the spotlight on you (and) it’s a night game, the lights get brighter and you get to showcase who you are and I think that it’s a great opportunity for us. Obviously, with the start that we have we want to prove that we’re a better football team than what we’ve shown these first two weeks and Sunday Night Football will be the perfect time to do it.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;What have you liked with Josh Simmons and Kingsley Suamataia thus far?

<b>HUMPHREY:</b>&nbsp;“Yeah, they’re (Josh Simmons and Kingsley Suamataia) both improving each week. They’re both coming in with the right mindset, working on the things they need to work on and they’ve gotten better throughout the past two weeks. And continue to hope to see a good jump from them. But their coming in (and) they’re playing their tails off, efforts been awesome and their continuing to improve each week.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;How does the offensive line set the tempo this week, so people feed off you guys from the offense?

<b>HUMPHREY:</b>&nbsp;“Starting fast. Coming out of the gate playing hard, physical (and) great fundamentally all those things. And finishing plays. If our guys get tackled, we’re there to pick them up, things like that. Just leading from an energy standpoint, coming out fast, playing physical (and) setting the tone for the guys early.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;On the challenge of playing the Giants defensive front.

<b>HUMPHREY:</b>&nbsp;“They have a really good defensive front. Really good at all positions too. It’s not just one stand out guy here or there. They have really good players across the board. So, it’s going to be a great challenge for us, and I’m excited to see how our guys work this week through practice and getting ready for the game.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;What did you see from New York Giants QB Russell Wilson last weekend?

<b>COOK:</b>&nbsp;“I have seen him clicking on all cylinders. (He’s) trusting his arm (and) letting it sling, trusting his guys and getting the ball to his go-to guys as well. I think he found his different type of groove. He has been in the league for a few years. I feel like he found a great combination as far as having the experience as well as the younger mentality of playing football and having fun. He definitely has his groove for sure.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;On the defense improving from Week 1 to Week 2.

<b>COOK:</b>&nbsp;“I think more guys were hungry. Like I said getting punched in the mouth woke us up a little bit but it’s just seeing a new identity, every year is a different year. We have different guys in different positions and the trust factor, the comradery we have this year – I know we had (Pittsburgh Steelers S) Juan Thornhill was here, (Tennese Titans CB L’Jarius) Sneed was here and (New Orleans Saints S) Justin Reid.&nbsp; The list goes on. But this year, now I’m the “old-head” in the locker room (and) it’s kinda crazy. But seeing how the guys gel together it’s a beautiful feeling and a beautiful thing to see.”

<b>Q:</b>&nbsp;How close are you defensively to being where you can be?

Chiefs Quotes: 7-17-25

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s public health system is headed to a “very dangerous place” with Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;and his team of anti-vaccine advisers in charge, fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Susan Monarez warned senators on Wednesday.

Describing extraordinary turmoil inside the nation's health agencies, Monarez and former CDC Chief Medical Officer Chief Debra Houry described exchanges in which Kennedy or political advisers rebuffed data supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

Monarez, who was fired after just 29 days on the job following disagreements with Kennedy, told senators deadly diseases like polio and whooping cough, long contained, are poised to make a comeback in the U.S.

“I believe preventable diseases will return, and I believe we will have our children harmed by things they don’t need to be harmed by,” Monarez said before the Senate health committee.

Monarez said she was ordered by Kennedy to resign if she did not sign off on new vaccine recommendations, which are expected to be released later this week by an advisory panel that Kennedy has stocked with medical experts and vaccine skeptics. She said that when she asked for data or science to back up Kennedy’s request to change the childhood vaccination schedule, he offered none.

She added that Kennedy told her “he spoke to the president every day about changing the childhood vaccination schedule.”

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the powerful health committee, listened intently as Monarez and Houry described conversations with Kennedy and his advisers.

“To be clear, he said there was not science or data, but he still expected you to change schedule?” Cassidy asked.

Cassidy carefully praised President Donald Trump for his commitment to promoting health policies but made it clear he was concerned about the circumstances surrounding Monarez's removal.

Houry, meanwhile, described similar exchanges with Kennedy's political advisers, who took an unprecedented role in preparing materials for meetings of the CDC's advisory vaccine panel.

Ahead of this week's meeting of the panel, Houry offered to include data around the hepatitis B shot that is administered to newborns to prevent spread of the deadly disease from the mother. She said a Kennedy adviser dismissed the data as biased because it might support keeping the shots on the schedule.

"You’re suggesting that they wanted to move away from the birth dose, but they were afraid that your data would say that they should retain it?" Cassidy asked.

During the Senate hearing, Democrats, all of whom opposed Monarez's nomination, also questioned Kennedy's motives for firing Monarez, who was approved for the job unanimously by Republicans.

“Frankly, she stood up for protecting the well-being of the American people, and for that reason she was fired,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats.

Monarez said it was both her refusal to sign off on new vaccination recommendations without scientific evidence and her unwillingness to fire high-ranking career CDC officials without cause that led to her ousting.

Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-senate-cdc-3a5a090fc9d9f547377203fe5c61ffa2">has denied</a>&nbsp;Monarez’s accusations that he ordered “rubber-stamped” vaccine recommendations but has acknowledged he demanded firings. He has described Monarez as admitting to him that she is “untrustworthy,” a claim Monarez has denied through her attorney.

While Senate Republicans have been mostly loath to challenge Trump or even Kennedy, many of them have expressed concerns about the lack of availability of COVID-19 vaccines and the health department’s decisions to scale back some childhood vaccines.

Others have backed up Kennedy’s distrust of the nation’s health agencies.

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, a doctor, aggressively questioned Monarez about her “philosophy” on vaccines as she explained that her decisions were based on science. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Trump was elected to make change and suggested Monarez's job was to be loyal to Kennedy.

“America needs better than this,” Tuberville said.

The Senate hearing was taking place just a day before the vaccine panel starts its two-day session in Atlanta to discuss shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox. It’s unclear how the panel might vote on the recommendations, though members have raised doubts about whether hepatitis B shots administered to newborns are necessary and have suggested COVID-19 recommendations should be more restricted.

The CDC director must endorse those recommendations before they become official. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jim-oneill-cdc-kennedy-trump-vaccines-58fd24f678bf46ea6ec96a2b09f85ff4">Jim O’Neill</a>, now serving as the CDC’s acting director, will be responsible for that.

“I'm very nervous about it,” Monarez said of the meeting.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758119416377.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s public health system is headed to a “very dangerous place” with Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;and his team of anti-vaccine advisers in charge, fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Susan Monarez warned senators on Wednesday.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a> admonishes Susan Monarez: “You are the problem.” <a href="https://t.co/4ow5WxO992">pic.twitter.com/4ow5WxO992</a></p>&mdash; HHS.gov (@HHSGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSGov/status/1968340321500311721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Former CDC Director Susan Monarez delivers her opening statement: &quot;Today should not be about me. Today should be about the future of trust in public health.&quot; <br><br>Ms. Monarez details her time at the CDC and her firing from the agency. <a href="https://t.co/a45ZiXGZ0n">pic.twitter.com/a45ZiXGZ0n</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1968328090288881978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Describing extraordinary turmoil inside the nation's health agencies, Monarez and former CDC Chief Medical Officer Chief Debra Houry described exchanges in which Kennedy or political advisers rebuffed data supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccines.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Former CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry opening statement. <a href="https://t.co/5bK99PFZQY">pic.twitter.com/5bK99PFZQY</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1968328629521105280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Monarez, who was fired after just 29 days on the job following disagreements with Kennedy, told senators deadly diseases like polio and whooping cough, long contained, are poised to make a comeback in the U.S.</p><p>“I believe preventable diseases will return, and I believe we will have our children harmed by things they don’t need to be harmed by,” Monarez said before the Senate health committee.</p><h2>Monarez describes her firing by RFK</h2><p>Monarez said she was ordered by Kennedy to resign if she did not sign off on new vaccine recommendations, which are expected to be released later this week by an advisory panel that Kennedy has stocked with medical experts and vaccine skeptics. She said that when she asked for data or science to back up Kennedy’s request to change the childhood vaccination schedule, he offered none.</p><p>She added that Kennedy told her “he spoke to the president every day about changing the childhood vaccination schedule.”</p><p>Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the powerful health committee, listened intently as Monarez and Houry described conversations with Kennedy and his advisers.</p><p>“To be clear, he said there was not science or data, but he still expected you to change schedule?” Cassidy asked.</p><p>Cassidy carefully praised President Donald Trump for his commitment to promoting health policies but made it clear he was concerned about the circumstances surrounding Monarez's removal.</p><p>Houry, meanwhile, described similar exchanges with Kennedy's political advisers, who took an unprecedented role in preparing materials for meetings of the CDC's advisory vaccine panel.</p><p>Ahead of this week's meeting of the panel, Houry offered to include data around the hepatitis B shot that is administered to newborns to prevent spread of the deadly disease from the mother. She said a Kennedy adviser dismissed the data as biased because it might support keeping the shots on the schedule.</p><p>"You’re suggesting that they wanted to move away from the birth dose, but they were afraid that your data would say that they should retain it?" Cassidy asked.</p><h2>Critical vaccine decisions are ahead</h2><p>During the Senate hearing, Democrats, all of whom opposed Monarez's nomination, also questioned Kennedy's motives for firing Monarez, who was approved for the job unanimously by Republicans.</p><p>“Frankly, she stood up for protecting the well-being of the American people, and for that reason she was fired,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats.</p><p>Monarez said it was both her refusal to sign off on new vaccination recommendations without scientific evidence and her unwillingness to fire high-ranking career CDC officials without cause that led to her ousting.</p><p>Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-senate-cdc-3a5a090fc9d9f547377203fe5c61ffa2">has denied</a>&nbsp;Monarez’s accusations that he ordered “rubber-stamped” vaccine recommendations but has acknowledged he demanded firings. He has described Monarez as admitting to him that she is “untrustworthy,” a claim Monarez has denied through her attorney.</p><p>While Senate Republicans have been mostly loath to challenge Trump or even Kennedy, many of them have expressed concerns about the lack of availability of COVID-19 vaccines and the health department’s decisions to scale back some childhood vaccines.</p><p>Others have backed up Kennedy’s distrust of the nation’s health agencies.</p><p>Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, a doctor, aggressively questioned Monarez about her “philosophy” on vaccines as she explained that her decisions were based on science. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Trump was elected to make change and suggested Monarez's job was to be loyal to Kennedy.</p><p>“America needs better than this,” Tuberville said.</p><p>The Senate hearing was taking place just a day before the vaccine panel starts its two-day session in Atlanta to discuss shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox. It’s unclear how the panel might vote on the recommendations, though members have raised doubts about whether hepatitis B shots administered to newborns are necessary and have suggested COVID-19 recommendations should be more restricted.</p><p>The CDC director must endorse those recommendations before they become official. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jim-oneill-cdc-kennedy-trump-vaccines-58fd24f678bf46ea6ec96a2b09f85ff4">Jim O’Neill</a>, now serving as the CDC’s acting director, will be responsible for that.</p><p>“I'm very nervous about it,” Monarez said of the meeting.</p><p>——</p><p>Associated Press writers Mike Stobbe in New York and Lauran Neergaard in Washington contributed.</p>