Southern Co. Slides to 380th in Trading Volume Amid $260M Market Share Drop

On August 28, 2025, The recorded a trading volume of $0.26 billion, ranking 380th among listed stocks. Southern Co. (SO) declined 1.11% on the same day.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) experienced significant turmoil as its newly confirmed director, Dr. Susan Monarez, was abruptly terminated within weeks of her Senate-confirmed appointment. This decision, attributed to political pressures from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., triggered mass resignations of senior CDC officials, including the chief medical officer and vaccine policy leaders. Critics labeled the move as politically motivated, citing concerns over the agency’s credibility and its ability to respond to public health threats. Monarez’s legal team contested the dismissal, arguing that only the president could legally remove a Senate-confirmed appointee.

Kennedy’s restructuring of public health institutions has drawn widespread condemnation from medical experts. The CDC’s advisory committee on immunization practices was entirely replaced with members perceived as lacking scientific credibility, while investments in mRNA vaccine research were halted. These actions have raised alarms about the politicization of evidence-based health policies and the potential erosion of the U.S. global health leadership. The agency’s leadership vacuum coincides with a surge in respiratory diseases, intensifying fears of inadequate preparedness for emerging health crises.

Jim O’Neill, deputy HHS secretary and a former Silicon Valley investor, is expected to assume the acting CDC director role. His background in vaccine advocacy and regulatory reform contrasts sharply with the recent departures of seasoned public health experts. O’Neill’s appointment underscores a shift toward politically aligned leadership in federal health agencies, further distancing them from their traditional scientific foundations.

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