{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/senate-committee-advances-nicole-saphiers-surgeon-general-nomination","slug":"senate-committee-advances-nicole-saphiers-surgeon-general-nomination","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/senate-committee-advances-nicole-saphiers-surgeon-general-nomination","title":"Senate committee advances Nicole Saphier's surgeon general nomination","subtitle":"The HELP committee voted 12-11 to advance the nomination of Dr. Nicole Saphier.","excerpt":"The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted to advance Dr. Nicole Saphier's nomination for surgeon general. The committee advanced her nomination on a 12-11 vote.","category":"Politics","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T16:25:49.009Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-09-30T15:52:03.287Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T16:25:49.009Z","readTime":"3 min read","scores":{"trust":50,"critic":60,"hype":20,"notes":{"trust":"Central claim attributed to named bodies, with two independent outlets and a document cited.","critic":"Reporting includes quotes from affected parties and names specific individuals and dates.","hype":"Headlines and presentation are measured and proportionate to the story's substance."}},"tags":["#NicoleSaphier","#SurgeonGeneral","#Senate","#Vaccines","#BernieSanders","#BillCassidy"],"entities":["Dr. Nicole Saphier","Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions","Sen. Bernie Sanders","Sen. Bill Cassidy","President Donald Trump"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["Dr. Nicole Saphier's nomination for surgeon general has moved forward after a Senate committee vote.","The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted 12 to 11 to advance her nomination.","Saphier stated she does not believe childhood vaccines cause autism and called the MMR vaccine a key tool against measles.","Sen. Bernie Sanders indicated he would vote against the nomination, citing Saphier's past questioning of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Dr. Nicole Saphier's nomination for surgeon general advanced from a Senate committee on Wednesday. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted 12 to 11 to move her nomination forward. Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News Channel contributor, faced questions during her confirmation hearing regarding her views on vaccines."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"During the hearing, Saphier stated that she does not believe childhood vaccines cause autism. She also said that the MMR vaccine is the greatest tool for combating measles infections. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the ranking member of the committee, announced he would vote against Saphier's nomination. Sanders cited Saphier's past questioning of the necessity of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth as a reason for his opposition."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on hepatitis B vaccine stance"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The Independent reported that Sen. Bernie Sanders stated Saphier \"has questioned the need for the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.\" In contrast, The Independent also reported that Saphier stated at her confirmation hearing that the universal birth dose of hepatitis B was safe and effective."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the left-rated digests mention the 12-11 vote count for advancing Dr. Nicole Saphier's nomination. None of the centre-rated digests mention Sen. Bernie Sanders' specific reason for voting against the nomination. None of the right-rated digests mention Dr. Nicole Saphier's statement that she does not believe childhood vaccines cause autism."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"NBC News","url":"https://nbcnews.com/health/health-news/nicole-saphier-surgeon-general-senate-committee-advances-nomination-rcna600708","headline":"Senate committee advances Dr. Nicole Saphier’s nomination for surgeon general","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T15:52:03.287Z"},{"sourceName":"Pittsburgh Post-Gazette","url":"https://post-gazette.com/news/health/2026/09/30/nicole-saphier-surgeon-general-nomination/stories/202609300046","headline":"Senate committee advances Dr. Nicole Saphier’s nomination for surgeon general","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T15:49:51.105Z"},{"sourceName":"WBAL","url":"https://wbal.com/senate-committee-advances-dr-nicole-saphiers-nomination-for-surgeon-general","headline":"Senate committee advances Dr. Nicole Saphier's nomination for 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These reports highlighted her confirmation hearing, where she was questioned about her stance on vaccines. They noted her statement that she does not believe childhood vaccines cause autism and her assertion that the MMR vaccine is a primary tool against measles. The reports also included Sen. Bernie Sanders' stated intention to vote against her nomination due to her questioning the need for the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. The Independent's full report also mentioned questions raised by Sen. Ron Wyden regarding another nominee, Chris Klomp, and his association with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr."],"centre":["Centre-rated reports from CBS News, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, WBAL, Washington Top News, Winnipeg Free Press, The Record, WKMG, and Political Wire focused on the advancement of Dr. Nicole Saphier's nomination for surgeon general by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. These digests noted the 12-11 party-line vote. CBS News' full report included President Trump's description of Saphier as a \"STAR physician\" and \"an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR.\" It also detailed Sen. Bill Cassidy's support for Saphier, citing her statements on vaccine safety, and mentioned that Saphier's nomination followed the withdrawal of another nominee, Casey Means. The digests generally stated Saphier's background as a radiologist and former Fox News contributor."],"right":["The right-rated report from the Washington Examiner focused on President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Nicole Saphier, being approved by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The digest stated that Saphier convinced key Republican senators of her support for childhood vaccines, a position that puts her at odds with other parts of the Trump political coalition. 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