We're living in interesting times, a turning point in history.
Are we entering a dark authoritarian era?
Or are we on the brink of a technological golden age or the apocalypse?
No one really knows, but I'm trying to find out.
From New York Times Opinion, I'm Ross Douthat.
And on my show, Interesting Times,
I'm exploring this strange new world order with the thinkers and leaders giving it shape.
Follow it wherever you get your podcasts.
From The New York Times, I'm Rachel Abrams, and this is The Daily.
Over the past 24 hours, the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been plunged into turmoil.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tried to fire the CDC's director after she refused to fire top agency officials or commit to new recommendations on proven vaccines.
The clash has caused a standoff with the White House,
and it's prompted three other senior officials to resign from the agency.
One of them was Dr. Dimitri Daskalakis.
We spoke with him just hours after he left the CDC for good about why he chose to take a stand and what he feels he's leaving behind.
It's Friday, August 29th.
Hello.
Hi. I'm going to let a producer check before we do all our greetings and everything to make sure you're all set up correctly.
I don't have headphones because I was escorted away from my headphones at CDC.