Why were some Republican senators concerned about the Trump administration’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? Why did U.S. officials respond the way they did to the Covid pandemic? And why was the pandemic a “stress test” for U.S. democracy?

We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. We bring on our colleague Sarah Owermohle to discuss the White House’s sudden move to withdraw the nomination of Dave Weldon as its pick to run the CDC just hours before Weldon’s confirmation hearing.

It’s also the five-year anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic. We chat with Princeton political scientist Frances Lee about a new book she co-authored that offers an unflinching assessment of the U.S. policy responses to the pandemic and raises some provocative questions about what went wrong.

For more on the withdrawal of Weldon’s nomination, go here; for a deep dive on Weldon’s long history supporting anti-vaccine theories, go here; and to learn more on Lee’s new book, go here.

Be sure to sign up for “The Readout LOUD” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.