'Intentionally got measles': Republican drops bizarre remark minutes after Fauci barrage
Scott said he and children in his neighborhood intentionally contracted measles and other childhood illnesses while growing up.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYRaw Story presents original reporting with an identified author and direct interviews with senators. The article provides limited evidence for some broad claims and little detail about the outlet’s correction practices, keeping the institutional score moderate.
- Source type — A national news publisher, though its partisan profile warrants caution.
- Editorial standards — The reporting includes direct interviews and attributed quotations, but the article’s framing is pointed.
- Author attribution — The article names its reporter.
- Correction history — The article provides no information about corrections practices.
The article includes firsthand interviews and quotes several senators with differing views. However, its medical context is thin, the statement that many experts disagree is not tied to named experts, and the piece offers limited evidence or countervailing context for its claims about vaccine effects and public trust.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article reports Republican senators’ reasoning as well as a Democratic senator’s concern about vaccine trust. Its critical framing and lack of named medical experts or detailed evidence supporting competing claims limit its balance.
- Counterarguments presented — Republican explanations and a Democratic criticism appear, but their supporting evidence is not developed.
- Source diversity — Multiple senators are interviewed, but no named medical experts are quoted.
- Loaded language — The framing characterizes Republican conduct in strongly critical terms.
- Omitted context — The article gives little detail about the medical evidence behind the disputed vaccine claims.
The article frames Republican criticism of Fauci as contributing to vaccine distrust and contrasts it with Democratic concern about trust in science. It includes Republicans’ explanations, but its language and framing are notably critical of them.
- Language tone — Uses critical phrasing about Republican rhetoric and its possible effects.
- Framing — Connects Republican criticism of Fauci to the context of a measles outbreak and vaccine skepticism.
- Source selection — Quotes several Republican senators and one Democratic senator, but gives little space to independent medical experts.
At a Senate hearing focused on Anthony Fauci’s COVID response, several Republican senators criticized him as measles cases rise. Rick Scott said children in his neighborhood intentionally contracted measles while growing up, and other senators discussed vaccine skepticism and public trust.
Republican senators questioned Fauci about the COVID response at a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing. Rick Scott, Bernie Moreno and Josh Hawley criticized him. Rand Paul defended the criticism, said vaccine hesitancy was caused by dishonesty, and threatened to hold Fauci in contempt after Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times.
Scott told reporters that he and children in his neighborhood had intentionally contracted measles and other childhood illnesses. Joni Ernst said she believed in vaccination, including the measles vaccine, but that families should make their own decisions; she also said the federal government would have to earn public trust. Andy Kim said Republican rhetoric was undermining trust in science and medical professionals.
Community verdict
11 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Florida senator discussing measles vaccination and vaccine confidence
Committee chair defending Republican criticism of Fauci
Paul's version of this story ↗Ohio senator criticizing Fauci at the hearing
New Jersey senator criticizing Republican rhetoric about Fauci
President under whom Fauci served
President under whom Fauci served
Health and Human Services secretary praised by Scott
West Virginia senator asked about vaccine skepticism
Missouri senator criticizing Fauci at the hearing
Iowa senator discussing vaccination and the government’s role
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