#Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health Advocacy

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

WTF: What Happens When “Nature” Speaks on Politics in Wrong Time and Wrong Place

A Reflection on Science, Trust, and Boundaries A heartfelt appeal to Nature and other science journals: Focus on the strengths of scientific inquiry and leave politics behind “What the F*ck!” my 87-year-old distinguished mentor blurted out when he saw the tweet I shared with him yesterday. He was visibly frustrated. I could feel his dismay. This man has spent decades shaping the scientific…

[ultimate-healing-blog]

RFK Jr.'s Vision for Addiction Recovery: A Controversial Approach

CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE - #Addiction #Fentanyl #Opiods Crises #AddictionRecovery #HealthAndWellness #SubstanceAbuse #OpioidCrisis #MentalHealth #RecoveryJourney #RFKJr #12StepProgram #DrugPolicy #SupportRecovery #HealingFarms #AddictionAwareness #Sober

When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reflects on the path that has increasingly directed his attention towards health and wellness—culminating in his recent confirmation hearings for the role of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services—it’s intriguing to note that his journey did not originate from a typical medical background or a robust foundation in research. Instead, it was significantly shaped by…

[autisticadvocacy]

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network urges the Senate not to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy’s long record of spreading misinformation about autism in particular and public health in general makes him a disastrous choice for this role. His opposition to life-saving vaccines, his belief that HIV may not cause AIDS, his desire to increase the use of quack autism “treatments” and his comments about putting people taking psychiatric medication in labor camps should all be immediately disqualifying. Autistic people, the disability community, and the nation’s public health will all suffer if he is confirmed. 

Vaccines save lives

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the founder of Children’s Health Defense, a prominent anti-vaccine group. He has claimed that no vaccine has been proven safe and effective, that the recommended vaccine schedule for children is dangerous, and that “autism does come from vaccines.”  He has also fought against COVID-19 vaccination, falsely calling an early COVID vaccine “the deadliest vaccine ever made.”

Vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccines do not cause autism. The idea that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is linked to autism comes from one fraudulent 1998 publication claiming that the vaccine had caused autistic traits in 12 children. The man responsible for this publication, Andrew Wakefield, used unethical methods and failed to disclose financial conflicts of interest. The paper did not give enough evidence for its claim that the MMR vaccine could cause autism. It was later retracted by the journal that published it, and Wakefield had his medical license revoked.

In spite of the fraudulent origins of the idea that vaccines cause autism, and in spite of decades of replicable research proving that this is not true, some people, like Kennedy, continue to perpetuate the myth. These lies do very real harm to the autistic community. Kennedy has described autistic people in insulting ways meant to inspire fear, saying that “their brain is gone” and that the purported effects of vaccination are “a Holocaust.” By working to prevent childhood vaccination, he effectively communicates the message that living as an autistic person is a worse fate than dying of measles or pertussis. 

The anti-vaccine movement has led to a wave of fake “autism cures,” many of which have very real health risks. Kennedy recently promoted two of these fake cures when he accused the FDA of suppressing “hyperbaric therapies, chelating compounds.” Hyperbaric therapy, a treatment for decompression sickness in divers, has been promoted as a fake autism cure in spite of a complete lack of evidence and associated health risks. Chelation, a treatment for heavy metal poisoning, is another fake cure, and its off-label use for autism has been associated with at least one death. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his allies claim that autistic people did not exist in his youth and that “I have never in my life seen a man my age with full-blown autism.” The idea that autistic people of Kennedy’s age (70) do not exist is not true. Autistic people have always been here, but before widespread autism diagnosis, we either went undiagnosed, or received different diagnoses than would be used today — for example, the outdated diagnosis of “childhood schizophrenia” for autism, or diagnosing people who today would only have an autism diagnosis with intellectual disability. Autistic people in Kennedy’s generation were all too often institutionalized or incarcerated. Even if Kennedy is telling the truth about not seeing us, that does not mean we were not there. 

Of course, Kennedy’s lies about vaccines do not just hurt autistic people. Kennedy and his nonprofit played an active role in a recent measles outbreak in American Samoa, spreading vaccine misinformation until the vaccination rate dropped low enough that 5,700 people were infected with measles, and 83 people died. Kennedy has also made false claims about COVID-19 vaccine trials and about the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, blaming unrelated deaths on COVID vaccinations. Anti-vaccine misinformation like that promoted by Kennedy’s group has led to a reduced rate of childhood vaccinations in the United States since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Lies about public health endanger everyone

Kennedy has taken other stances on public health, also based on misinformation, that disproportionately harm disabled people. He has opposed COVID-19 vaccination when people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at risk for worse outcomes if we get COVID. He wants to take fluoride out of drinking water, making everyone’s dental health worse, when people with IDD have worse dental health outcomes to begin with. He opposes the use of medication for ADHD in spite of research demonstrating that these medications are safe and can prevent deaths among people who take them. He has falsely linked antidepressants, which for many people are life-saving medication, to mass shootings. None of these beliefs are based on evidence, and all of them would make terrible public health policy. 

Kennedy’s fringe beliefs have led him to propose some truly disturbing disability policies. Notably, he has discussed sending people who struggle with addiction or take psychiatric medications to “wellness farms,” where they could labor for several years and would be forbidden to use cell phones. In the autism community, we have seen farms promoted as a housing solution before, and we recognize this idea for what it is: a proposal to institutionalize the 16% of Americans who take psychiatric medication and the 16% of Americans who struggle with substance use. 

Kennedy’s commitment to spreading misinformation about public health extends beyond developmental disability. He claims that drinking raw milk has health benefits at a time when bird flu is spreading and foodborne diseases like listeria are becoming more common. He has suggested that AIDS may not be caused by HIV, and has participated in transphobic fear-mongering by claiming that chemicals in drinking water may change children’s gender identity. Once again, there is no evidence for any of these beliefs. 

We should never take “a break” from public health

At an anti-vaccine conference last year, Kennedy said that if he became President, he would tell the National Institutes of Health, “Thank you for public service. We’re going to give infectious disease a break for about eight years.” Instead, he pledged to focus NIH’s efforts entirely on chronic disease like diabetes. Pivoting government research away from infectious diseases during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic would have disastrous consequences. And Kennedy’s claim that he will focus on chronic disease is short-sighted — chronic disease is often caused or worsened by infectious diseases like COVID. Diseases don’t take a break from threatening our lives and health, and we shouldn’t take a break from trying to prevent and mitigate diseases.

The worst public health harms in US history have been inflicted on marginalized communities when our public health systems “took a break” from protecting us. In the same way, marginalized communities would bear the brunt of a decision to abandon HHS’ responsibility to study infectious diseases.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promotes policies that will actively harm the health of all Americans. He intends to twist the federal agencies in charge of our health into engines of misinformation. We are dismayed by his nomination not only as self-advocates and professionals in health policy, but also as human beings who want our government to safeguard our health and embrace science. The Senate must not confirm Kennedy as Secretary of HHS. 

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities. We work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community, and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us. Nothing About Us, Without Us!

[madamepestilence]

2024 US Election Information

We have roughly 1 year until the 2024 US election. I've put in some research, and here are my conclusions.

TLDR for those of you who don't have time or focus: Cornel West (Democratic Socialist running as People's Party -> Green Party) is the ideal candidate to vote for - normally I wouldn't advocate voting third party, but we may actually have a shot for once, and he has excellent policies. Jill Stein (Green Party) is a potential backup, though if West drops out, our best option for Democratic party is Marianne Williamson.

Please spread this information, especially to residents of Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada. Detailed information under the cut.

Current Fascist and Republican Candidates

Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Asa Hutchinson, Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, Ryan Binkley, and Doug Burgum.

I'm not going to entertain their details, but I will note that the information I picked up while being exposed to alt-right communities from the inside via my fascist parents earlier this year shows strong evidence that Republicans are likely going to split between Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis (viewed as a betrayal by Trump supporters), and openly fascist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (I'll cover him later).

My guess is a 6/3/1 Republican vote split between Trump/DeSantis/Kennedy, Jr..

Current Democratic Candidates

Joe Biden, Marianne Williamson, and Dean Philips.

Biden has overall failed to complete the majority of his campaign promises, and has been directly supporting Israel during the genocide of Palestine, as well as deferring to Republicans to be "bipartisan" (I don't think I have to stress enough that a bipartisan democrat is not a democrat) - do not vote for him.

Williamson is a high-school educated 71-year-old author from Los Angeles, California. She is known for being Oprah Winfrey's, "spiritual advisor," (double red flag), and dropped out during the 2020 election (another red flag).

While she supports the reinstatement of Roe v. Wade, the decriminalization of cannabis and psychedelic drugs, the reduction of CO2, and moving to 100% renewable energy by 2035, her advocacy for the outright banning of assault and semi-assault weapons for civilians without military reform of the same is a slight red flag when combined with her relationship with Oprah Winfrey (an Obama supporter, the president who authorized quite a lot of drone strikes in West Asia) and drop-out makes her not a great candidate.

Philips is a Bachelor's (Brown University) and Master's Business (University of Minnesota) educated 54-year-old three-term congressman who is noted for criticizing Biden running for a second term on account of both political moderacy and medical concerns.

Philips unfortunately wants to increase police funding for some reason, but advocated for better training, including mental health training. He also advocates for what he calls, "comprehensive immigration reform," in the form of increased border security and streamlining legal entry (this ignores the problem outlined by the UN that people seeking asylum are likely to have to enter a country illegally before they can seek support), and the only real good stance he has is giving reproductive rights to patients, rather than politicians.

Philips is essentially a moderate Republican, and is a bad candidate. Do not vote for him.

Current Independent Candidates

Fascist (not his stated political stance, but it's what he is)

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is a fascist that has openly quoted Nazi propaganda in his political campaigns, is an anti-vaccine activist, and has spread anti-science conspiracy theories such as vaccines causing autism and the non-existence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. I cannot stress this enough, do not fucking vote for Kennedy, Jr.

Democratic Socialist

Cornel West is a Bachelor's (Harvard University), Master's, and Ph.D. (both Princeton University) educated 70-year-old progressive activist that switched his running party from the People's Party to the Green Party, despite being a both public- and self-described democratic socialist.

When asked why he wasn't running as a Democrat against Biden, he stated that, "Neither party is speaking to the pressing needs of poor and working people."

His party plans are a wealth tax on the rich, a national $27 minimum wage, a federal Universal Basic Income, 6 months of paid family leave, a 4-day work week, national free Pre-K childcare, "Immediate cessation of all oil and gas leasing projects on federal lands and waters," "Federal moratorium on fracking, carbon capture, and direct air capture technologies, geoengineering, and other false climate solutions," putting abortion rights in the Constitution, and nationalized healthcare.

Here's where I want to lay out something important. I normally wouldn't advocate for voting for a third party candidate due to the Spoiler Effect, but

Considering the United States' Democratic majority, popular vote records showing a common Republican minority, the absolutely incredible policies West stands for,

The growing support for third parties in the United States, and his policies aligning with public opinion,

Cornel West is the ideal candidate to vote for. Spread this information like wildfire - we may have one shot at the first third party win in US history in the upcoming 2024 election, and

If successful the dominant parties will be Fascist vs. Socialist, denying most, if not all, future Republican wins.

Our target toss-up states are Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada.

Converting Texas to third party, or even just Democrat, will throw the Republican vote entirely and all but guarantee a Democrat, or hopefully third party, 2024 election win,

Which is absolutely possible, as Texas is majority Democrat and wins Republican votes via gerrymandering despite public opinion, which is why it swings occasionally.

Democrat states also need to be switched to majority third party votes, with particular emphasis on California, New York, and Illinois.

GET PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR CORNEL WEST!

Reference map of polling for the future 2024 election:

Libertarian (slightly Conservative to alt-right, really depends on the person)

Chase Oliver is a surprisingly progressive high school educated 38-year-old anti-war Libertarian that left the Democratic party after witnessing Obama's aggressive anti-West Asian war policies who has expressed desires for criminal justice reform and ending wars abroad, though hasn't elaborated on either.

Green Party

Jill Stein is a Bachelor's (Harvard University) and Medical (Harvard Medical University) 73-year-old Jewish doctor who previously ran for and represented the Green-Rainbow Party as the governor of Massachusetts.

Stein is notable for being an activist and protestor who has both protested outside buildings and testified before legislative and other government bodies against coal plants, mercury leaks, and unclean and unsafe groundwater.

Presumably, her stances will focus on environmental protections, trans rights, and Jewish protections, making her a potential alternative should West drop out.

Conclusions:

Again, don't fucking vote for Trump, Haley, Ramaswamy, Hutchinson, Scott, DeSantis, Christie, Binkley, Burgum, Biden, Philips, or Kennedy, Jr..

Our potential backup Democratic candidate is Williamson.

The ideal candidate is West, with Stein as a viable backup.

As absurd as it sounds, I want you to vote third party for Cornel West.

If you want a wealth tax on the rich, a national $27 minimum wage, a federal Universal Basic Income,

6 months of paid family leave, a 4-day work week, national free Pre-K childcare,

"Immediate cessation of all oil and gas leasing projects on federal lands and waters," "Federal moratorium on fracking, carbon capture, and direct air capture technologies, geoengineering, and other false climate solutions,"

putting abortion rights in the Constitution, and nationalized healthcare,

VOTE FOR CORNEL WEST AND GET OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME.

WE HAVE A CHANCE AT THE FIRST THIRD PARTY WIN IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE DENIAL OF FUTURE REPUBLICAN WINS.

[misfitwashere]

The man no rational person would put in charge of the public’s health

ROBERT REICH

JAN 28

Friends,

Tomorrow, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear before the Senate Finance Committee for the first of two confirmation hearings as Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. 

This is a big deal. Kennedy Jr. is a nutcase and conspiracy theorist with racist tendencies. 

If confirmed, he’d have sweeping control over 18 agencies critical to the nation’s health, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

In his confirmation hearings, keep your eye on these three big issues: 

Vaccines

Kennedy Jr. has assured senators that he doesn’t want to take vaccines away from Americans but just wants to cast more “sunlight” onto the science behind them. 

But his history of anti-vaccine advocacy has made those promises difficult to believe.

Over the past five years, Kennedy Jr. has repeated over 100 times false claims linking vaccines to autism — a theory debunked by decades of scientific research.

He has claimed that COVID-19 was “targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people” and that “the people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.”

And that “the Chinese are spending hundreds of millions of dollars developing ethnic bioweapons and we are developing ethnic bioweapons. They’re collecting Russian DNA. They’re collecting Chinese DNA so we can target people by race.”

He was a leading proponent of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, erroneously suggesting the vaccine has killed more people than it has saved.

In his 2021 book, The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health, he alleged, without plausible evidence, that Dr. Fauci performed “genocidal experiments, sabotaged treatments for AIDS, and conspired with Bill Gates to suppress information about COVID-19.” This is libelous nonsense.

RFK Jr.’s misinformation about vaccines continues to endanger public health.

Kennedy Jr.’s nomination comes as childhood vaccination rates are falling. According to KFF, a nonprofit group that researches health policy issues, less than 93 percent of kindergartners had received all of their state-required vaccines in the 2023-2024 school year, compared with 95 percent in the 2019-2020 school year.

The secretary of Health and Human Services also shares with the surgeon general the nation’s highest pulpit for speaking about health care. That means that Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vax bias is likely to deter more parents from getting their children vaccinated. 

The good news is we’ve largely eliminated these diseases. The bad news is we’ve eliminated the memory of these diseases. So parents are now more prone to worry about the safety of vaccines.

Kennedy has opposed vaccine mandates — including those for children to attend schools. He could direct the Center for Disease Control to remove requirements that children receive certain vaccines, and leave the decision up to parents or guardians. 

He cold also stop shielding manufacturers and providers of COVID vaccines from legal liability — which would spur a tidal wave of litigation over alleged injuries from the shots.

Bird flu

The H5N1 bird flu virus is ripping across America. As of January 16, an estimated 928 herds of dairy cattle in 16 states have been infected, according to the Agriculture Department.

Experts worry that bird flu has the potential to set off another pandemic if it were to mutate to spread easily among people. So far, at least 67 cases have been found in people, mostly farmworkers. One person has died from the virus.

There have been no documented instances of human-to-human transmission of bird flu in the United States, at least so far. 

Kennedy Jr. would oversee the CDC, which has managed much of the outbreak and tracked the risk to humans, as well as the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, an agency responsible for managing the nation’s stockpile of flu vaccines, which currently includes two bird flu vaccine candidates. 

He’d also have authority over the FDA, which would need to authorize the vaccines before they could be used in people.

Given his anti-vax advocacy, there is no reason to trust his judgment on any of this. 

Public health insurance 

If confirmed, Kennedy Jr. would also oversee Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. Taken together, these three programs provide health insurance to more than half the American population. 

Many Republicans in Congress want to let expire the subsidies that make Obamacare premiums more affordable. They have also expressed interest in imposing work requirements for Medicaid eligibility. Trump’s nominee to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Mehmet Oz, has previously expressed support for privatizing Medicare. 

We don’t know Kennedy Jr.’s views on any of this, but I’m wary. 

The bigger picture 

Kennedy Jr. is not just a nutcase. He’s also a designated hitter in the oligarchy’s efforts to get government out of public health — and force Americans to rely instead on private for-profit corporations for their health insurance, hospitalization, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals. 

These corporations continue to merge into giant for-profit monopolies and oligopolies. 

Recall that Kennedy Jr.’s candidacy for president was supported by billionaire Timothy Mellon — grandson of Andrew Mellon and an heir to the Mellon banking fortune — who donated $15 million to Kennedy Jr.’s SuperPAC. (Mellon was also a major donor to PACs supporting Trump.)

Friends, I knew and worked for Robert F. Kennedy. Robert F. Kennedy Junior is no Robert F. Kennedy. Robert F. Kennedy was passionately committed to social justice. He would never have suggested that a deadly virus was targeted at certain races. 

In 1962, when Robert F. Kennedy was President John F. Kennedy’s attorney general, JFK signed the Vaccination Assistance Act in order to, in the words of a CDC report, “achieve as quickly as possible the protection of the population, especially of all preschool children … through intensive immunization activity.”

The Senate should reject RFK Jr.’s nomination to be secretary of Health and Human Services. 

[darkmaga-returns]

An investigation into an independent expenditure group opposing the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has been revealed to be an effort underwritten by Bill Gates meant to derail President Donald Trump’s health and human services nominee.

This week, RFK will likely see his fate placed in the hands of the U.S. Senate, where Republicans have largely received his nomination warmly. However, a chorus of far-left voices has sought to discredit Trump’s controversial pick to lead the U.S. Health and Human Services, including the Committee to Protect Health Care, a third-party group quoted by mainstream media outlets as evidence that Kennedy is lacking support within the medical community.

Earlier this month, the Committee to Protect Health Care released a public letter opposing RFK’s nomination, which was allegedly signed by more than 15,000 healthcare professionals. Breitbart reports that this was a ruse; instead, the group’s leadership willingly accepted fake signatures to bolster the number of signers.

“The health and well-being of 336 million Americans depend on leadership at HHS that prioritizes science, evidence-based medicine, and strengthening the integrity of our public health system,” reads the letter, NBC reported. “RFK Jr. is not only unqualified to lead this essential agency — he is actively dangerous.”

In practice, the so-called physicians’ advocacy group did not screen signatures submitted for its letter, and a Breitbart reporter signed up as “Dr. Donald Duck, OG, of Disney World, FL, specializing in podiatry.” A similar parody was performed by Alex Jones, who announced his findings in a January 24th episode of his online show.

[o-wild-west-wind]

Updated my phone script to representatives as of 1/28/25. This is time sensitive—if you feel hopeless in the US right now, this is a huge thing you can be doing and only takes ~1 minute per rep. Please share and call 🤙

“Hello! My name is [], my phone number is [], and I’m calling as a constituent from [] to urge Senator/Representative [] to oppose the pause on NIH study sections and the communications freeze, as well as the pause on work with the WHO and the pause on federal grants and OMB funding. These freezes will all have huge repercussions on the health of American citizens by slowing life-saving medical research, and will cost us jobs and lives. I also want to urge you to oppose the nomination of RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary—as his dangerous and misinformed beliefs about autism in particular and public health in general will significantly harm autistic people and the disabled community—and also to oppose Jay Bhattacharya as the head of the NIH, as he will be supporting RFK Jr. in this agenda. I hope you will help reject this dangerous and life-threatening politicization of science, medicine, and health, and thank you so much for your time.”

Some articles for context under the cut:

[foreverlogical]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, far-right MAGA conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers angrily railed against vaccines — falsely claiming, with zero evidence, that they were dangerous. President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci, his top White House medical adviser, pushed back against their claims and assured Americans that the COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer and others were perfectly safe.

Even former President Donald Trump himself encouraged vaccination, maintaining his opposition to vaccine mandates. Some conspiracy theorists, including Infowars' Alex Jones, saw Trump's pro-vaccine stand as a betrayal.

Anti-vaxxers and medical conspiracy theorists are still plentiful in MAGA World. And according to Mother Jones' Kiera Butler, they are making their presence felt among autism groups and falsely claiming that vaccines are a cause of autism.

READ MORE: How a urine-drinking QAnon anti-vaxxer missed his chance to 'confront Trump': report

"For a quarter of a century," Butler explains in an article published by Mother Jones on April 13, "proponents of unproven autism treatments have overlapped with anti-vaccine activists. The vaccine skepticism movement took off after British physician Andrew Wakefield published a study in 1998 suggesting that routine childhood vaccinations caused autism. That study was later found to be fraudulent, the paper retracted, and Wakefield barred from practicing medicine in the United Kingdom."

Butler continues, "Nonetheless, the myth of vaccines causing autism persisted and has been amplified by organizations like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s Children's Health Defense and celebrities including Jenny McCarthy, and Oprah Winfrey. Even the largest and most powerful autism advocacy organization, Autism Speaks, which was founded in 2005 and today runs a $50 million budget, did not officially distance itself from vaccine skepticism until 2015. Over the last few decades, many groups and individuals who spread falsehoods about vaccines as the cause of autism began to promote unproven and sometimes dangerous treatments for it — special diets, supplements, cleanses, and pricey medical spa experiences."

RFK, Jr.'s Children's Health Defense (CHD) should not be confused with the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), which is in no way affiliated with RFK, Jr.'s organization. Children's Health Defense and the Children's Defense Fund are totally separate groups with different views.

Butler notes, "This world of dubious autism treatments used to be mostly limited to private social media groups and conferences. Indeed, beginning about a decade ago, the very notion of autism as a disorder began to lose currency among many autistic people and scientists who study autism: They started to view the condition not as an affliction, but rather as an innate brain difference. Autistic people experience the world differently, and that difference, they say, is something to be honored rather than treated."

READ MORE: How 'right-wing anti-vaxxer' conspiracy theorists have targeted East Palestine residents: report

Read Mother Jones’ full report at this link.

VISIT WEBSITE

[ear-worthy]

Slate Podcasts This Week: Bullies, Crypto-Bros, AI, RFK Jr., Social Media, Immigration

Slate podcasts had a busy week with episodes that ranged from bullies to ballsy.

**************************************** Death, Sex & Money hosted by Anna Sale Anna Sale explores the things we think about a lot and need to talk about more. *NEW EPISODE*: The Kind of Man a Bullied Boy Becomes with Comedian Gary Gulman Comedian Gary Gulman is used to dealing with bullies. He grew up with older brothers, who he describes as “aggressive” and “unenlightened,” and he’s witnessed plenty of unkind behavior from his peers in the New York City comedy scene. This is all despite being, in his words, “very, very sensitive.” This week, Gary Gulman talks about managing that sensitivity, standing up for his principles, and becoming more secure in who he is as a comedian and a man.

******************************************

 Amicus hosted by Dahlia Lithwick A show about the law and the nine Supreme Court justices who interpret it for the rest of America. *NEW EPISODE*: Trump’s Unconstitutional Rampage Against Immigration It’s barely been a week and the torrent of horrible coming from the pens and mouth of President Trump is staggering. Many of the executive orders signed this week focus on immigration, and that is where we have our eyes trained as well. This week, to help listeners make sense of the whirlwind that threatens to upend the lives of millions of people Dahlia Lithwick talks to Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Senior Fellow and former policy director at the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigrant nonprofit aiming to defend immigrants through litigation, advocacy, and more. Not all executive orders are created equal, and so Aaron leads listeners through what’s constitutionally possible, legally probable, and already swinging into action from Trump’s immigration edicts. ******************************************************************** ICYMI hosted by Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay Slate’s podcast about internet culture. *NEW EPISODE*: Social Media Has Become A Minefield Kate Lindsay and Candice Lim discuss how so many of their favorite social media platforms have gone openly pro-Trump since the election, and how they feel about it. With more social media platforms cozying up to this administration, is it time to boycott the big ones? Are apps like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok actually essential to our daily lives? And without them, where do we go? ************************************************************************ Slate Money hosted by Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers Sharp financial analysis and economic news. *NEW EPISODE*: Trump’s TikTok Backtrack This week: Tiktok gets a stay of execution in America. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers speculate on the reasons Trump changed his mind on the TikTok ban and who will ultimately win the jackpot if an American company gets a stake. Then, in a move that’s sketchy at best, Trump launched a memecoin just as he became president again, and the crypto-bros aren’t happy. Finally, digital shoplifting is a thing. And if you’re a Gen Z or Millennial, you’re probably doing it. ********************************************* What Next: TBD hosted by Lizzie O’Leary A twice-weekly podcast about tech, power, and the future. *NEW EPISODES*: The A.I. Will See You Now & RFK Jr. Is a Feature, Not a Bug The A.I. Will See You Now: Artificial intelligence is coming to a doctor’s office near you—if it isn’t already there, working in an administrative role. Are you ready for generative A.I. to help your doctor diagnose you? Is your doctor ready to listen—with the necessary mix of humility and skepticism? RFK Jr. Is a Feature, Not a Bug: Trump has tapped Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the role of health secretary. He presents himself as someone willing to say what other politicians won’t. But during his Senate confirmation hearings, both Democrats and Republicans questioned his previous statements about vaccines and whether he even knows what the job he’s trying to get entails. But his nomination signals that maybe it isn’t about vaccines - it’s about wanting to blow up the whole healthcare establishment.

[trendingnews19]

WASHINGTON —  Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has pledged to “make America healthy again” as President Trump’s secretary of Health and Human Services, faced aggressive questions Wednesday from senators who were troubled by his skepticism of vaccines, embrace of debunked medical claims, financial conflicts of interest and 11th-hour changes on issues such as abortion rights.Kennedy portrayed himself as an advocate for regular folks who feel outgunned by entrenched interests.“In my advocacy, I’ve often disturbed the status quo by asking uncomfortable questions,” the Brentwood resident said. “Well, I’m not going to apologize for that. We have massive health problems in this country that we must face honestly, and the first thing I’ve done every morning for the past 20 years is to get on my knees and pray to God that he would put me in a position to end the chronic disease epidemic and to help America’s children.”He was met with tough questions, especially from Democrats, but also from some Republicans.“The receipts show that Mr. Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, quacks and charlatans, especially when it comes to the safety, the efficacy of vaccines,” Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, said in the opening minutes of the hearing.“He has made it his life’s work to sow doubt and discourage parents from getting their kids life-saving vaccines,” Wyden said. “It has been lucrative for him and put him on the verge of immense power. This is the profile of someone who chases money and influence wherever they lead, even if that means the tragic deaths of children and other vulnerable people.”In his testimony, Kennedy frequently contradicted his past positions, appeared to not fully grasp details of major health programs he will be charged with running if confirmed and said that allegations he is a conspiracy theorist have been leveled against him because of his willingness to challenge conventional scientific wisdom.“That is a pejorative … that’s applied to me mainly to keep me from asking difficult questions of powerful interests,” said Kennedy, 71, the son of former Atty. Gen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy.Wednesday’s hearing was the first of two for senators to consider Kennedy’s nomination to lead a sprawling federal health bureaucracy with a $1.8-billion budget and 90,000 employees. The Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health fall under the department’s umbrella. A committee vote on whether to advance the nomination to the full Senate has not yet been scheduled, and his chances for confirmation remain unclear.Kennedy’s wife, actor Cheryl Hines, and other family members sat behind him during the 3½-hour session. A few hundred people crowded the chamber, mostly Kennedy supporters who wore T-shirts from his unsuccessful 2024 presidential bid and “Make America Healthy Again” baseball caps.But there were some opponents, two of whom were ejected from the Senate committee hearing room after interrupting the proceedings. One screamed, “He lies!” and the other waved a sign that read “Vaccines save lives.” Members of the crowd yelled, “We love you, Bobby!” as the latter was led out by Capitol Police officers.Many of the senators’ questions focused on Kennedy’s past skepticism of vaccines. After being a lauded environmental attorney, Kennedy served for several years as the chair of Children’s Health Defense, a nonprofit that falsely claims childhood vaccines cause autism.Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) displayed pictures of organic infant onesies sold by the group for $25.99 that read “Unvaxxed, Unafraid” and “No vax. No problem,” then pressed Kennedy to disavow them.Kennedy responded that he had no control over the organization, which he recently left. “I’m supportive of vaccines,” he said.Earlier, Kennedy argued that news reports about his views on vaccines were misleading, noting that all of his children were vaccinated, and said that he supported the childhood vaccination schedule.“The only thing I want is good science,” he said.But his purported role in a deadly outbreak of measles in Samoa was raised frequently during the hearing.The outbreak was prompted by the deaths of two children who received vaccines prepared with an expired muscle relaxant instead of water. The Samoan government halted vaccinations for 10 months while it investigated. During that period, Kennedy visited Samoa and met with prominent anti-vaccine activists and engaged in “a significant disinformation campaign” that undermined confidence in the measles shots, Alec Ekeroma, the country’s director general of health, told the Guardian.By the time the outbreak ended, more than 5,700 people had been sickened by measles and 83 of them died. Nearly all of them were infants, toddlers and children under the age of 5. Sen. Bernie Sanders points to a display of anti-vaccination infant onesies during Robert Kennedy’s confirmation hearing. (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) Kennedy, who sent a letter to the Samoan prime minister urging him to investigate whether the vaccines themselves could have caused the illnesses, said Wednesday he had no role in the outbreak.On Wednesday, Kennedy expressed his support for the measles vaccine, as well as the polio vaccine, potentially an attempt to win the support of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who suffered from the disease as a child.Kennedy tried to focus his remarks on issues where there is broad agreement, such as nutrition and substance abuse.Senators expressed support for Kennedy’s goal of improving the quality of food available through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Currently, the program can be used to buy snack foods such as potato chips and sugary sodas.Kennedy blamed the nation’s worsening health in part on the rise of “highly chemical-intensive processed foods.” He noted that items such as French fries and breakfast cereals contain more ingredients in the U.S. than in other countries and said, without evidence, that scientists have made “a deliberate choice not to study the things that are truly making us sick.”“We need to fix our food supply,” he said.During an exchange about mental health and substance abuse, Kennedy mentioned his well-known 14-year heroin addiction — an issue that resonates with Americans grappling with the fentanyl crisis and in the aftermath of the opioid crisis.Caroline Kennedy, a former Democratic ambassador and the daughter of John. F. Kennedy, touched upon her cousin’s drug use in a letter released Tuesday arguing against his confirmation.In addition to describing his earlier abodes as drug dens that led other family members into addiction, she blasted Kennedy for his views on vaccines, said he is addicted to power and described disturbing scenes where he would use a blender to mince chickens and mice to feed his hawks. The letter was first reported by the Washington Post.Kennedy was a Democrat for decades before unsuccessfully running for president as an independent in 2024. He dropped out of the race in August and endorsed Trump, a man he had previously described as “probably a sociopath.” Senators on both sides of the aisle sought to use Kennedy’s past liberal positions to their advantage.Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) thanked Kennedy for his environmental and children’s health advocacy and recalled when Kennedy called him to discuss working with Trump about a shared goal — addressing the root causes of chronic illnesses, which afflict 60% of Americans.“We need to get to the answers of this, but even more, we need to heal and unify this divided nation,” Johnson said. “I thought, wow, here’s somebody from the left, somebody I don’t agree with on many issues politically, coming together with President Trump, and focusing on an area of agreement, something that the American people desperately want.” Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi shakes hands with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his 2019 visit. (Misiona Simo/Samoa Observer via Associated Press) Democrats highlighted Kennedy’s public support for abortion rights to needle their GOP colleagues.“It is remarkable that you have such a long record of fighting for women’s reproductive freedom, and it’s really great that my Republican colleagues are so open to voting for a pro-choice HHS secretary,” Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) said. Kennedy was peppered with questions about his ability to work for a president who has already taken steps to restrict abortion access. He replied by pointing to disagreements about the issue in his large Catholic family.“I came from a family that was split on life and choice. I have cousins today who believe that abortion at any stage is equivalent to homicide,” Kennedy said. “Now there are other people who believe the opposite. But the good thing with my family that I really loved is that we were able to have those conversations and respect each other, and I wish that we could do that nationally.”Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Assn., said after the hearing that he was troubled by Kennedy’s lack of experience in both healthcare and management, and that the nominee didn’t seem to understand the difference between the Medicaid program and the exchanges where people can shop for insurance plans.“He hasn’t given me any confidence that he follows the evidence of science,” said Benjamin, who previously served as secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

[home-inspiration-blog]

From anti-vaccine advocacy to raw milk, many of RFK Jr.’s views fall outside the mainstream

By LINLEY SANDERS, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine advocacy is outside the mainstream. His previous statements on abortion could alienate Republicans. But a new poll finds that not all of his controversial health goals are unpopular — in fact, at least one has broad support among Democrats and Republicans. As Kennedy’s Senate confirmation hearings begin,…

[sofyatoop]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent public figure known for his environmental advocacy and political activism, often finds himself the subject of public scrutiny. One recurring topic of discussion is his physical appearance, particularly his complexion, which some speculate could indicate a liver ailment. This article dives into the available evidence and explores whether such claims hold any merit.

Source:

[newsmatik]

Donald Trump decided to fire the health care expert for the White House budget

Unlock White House Watch for free Your guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world Donald Trump is poised to appoint a health care chief to a top budget job, risking a blow to Robert F Kennedy Jr’s plan to shake up the sector, people say aware of this issue. Don Dempsey, head of policy and research at the advocacy group Better Medicare Alliance – an insurance fund,…

[autisticadvocacy]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promotes policies that will actively harm the health of all Americans. The Senate must not confirm Kennedy as Secretary of HHS.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Michael Luciano at Mediaite:

NewsNation host Leland Vittert cast the opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services strictly as the handiwork of moneyed interests instead of the nominee’s baseless and potentially harmful views on vaccines. President-elect Donald Trump nominated Kennedy to lead HHS, and the political scion will go before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee next week for his confirmation hearing. Kennedy has long been an outspoken critic of vaccines, which he has baselessly claimed cause autism. The nominee has also falsely claimed the Covid vaccine has killed millions of people. [...] At no point did they address the nominee’s opposition to vaccines, which has arguably already had deadly effects.

What a disgraceful segment from Leland Vittert on Friday’s edition of On Balance by glossing over RFK Jr.’s record of anti-vaxxer extremism.

From the 01.17.2025 edition of NewsNation's On Balance With Leland Vittert:

[eton75]

I Thought I Knew Bobby Kennedy—But Clearly, I Do Not

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., once associated with environmental activism and public health advocacy, has taken stances that are reshaping his public image. His lawyer, Aaron Siri, filed a petition in 2022 on behalf of the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN) to revoke FDA approval of the polio vaccine—one of the most important medical advances in history. This is just one of Kennedy’s controversial positions that could have significant implications for public health and policy.

Key Points on the Polio Vaccine Petition:

• What’s in the Petition?

• Siri called for the withdrawal of the IPOL vaccine (the only single-antigen polio vaccine recommended in the U.S.) until a new double-blind trial is conducted to assess its safety.

• The petition stems from ICAN’s broader campaign questioning vaccine safety.

• The Vaccine’s Legacy:

• The polio vaccine has been instrumental in eradicating the disease in the U.S.

• Pre-vaccine, polio caused 16,000 paralysis cases annually in the U.S.

• Reactions:

• Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor, called this petition a dangerous attempt to undermine trust in proven vaccines.

• Public health experts, including the CDC, emphasize that the scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the safety and necessity of polio vaccines.

What Else Does Kennedy Believe?

Kennedy’s controversial positions don’t stop with the polio vaccine. He’s advocated for:

• Eliminating Childhood Vaccine Mandates: Kennedy opposes vaccine mandates, claiming they infringe on personal freedoms.

• Questioning mRNA Technology: He’s raised doubts about COVID-19 vaccines, despite overwhelming evidence of their efficacy.

• Revisiting Public Health Authority: Kennedy has criticized institutions like the CDC and NIH, proposing reforms that could weaken their influence.

• Limiting Environmental Regulations: Paradoxically, he has expressed willingness to align with deregulation policies, despite his history as an environmental advocate.

• Promoting Health Freedom Laws: These would prioritize personal choice over established public health protocols, potentially increasing risks during outbreaks.

What’s Next for Public Health?

If Kennedy gains significant influence—especially through roles in health policy under the Trump administration—these beliefs could lead to a dramatic rollback of decades of progress in public health. While some applaud his focus on “health freedom,” others warn it could undermine trust in life-saving interventions like vaccines and lead to resurgences of preventable diseases.

The question is: are these ideas a step forward—or dangerously backward?

#RobertFKennedyJr #PublicHealth #VaccineDebate #PolioVaccine #HealthPolicy #ICAN #FDA #Misinformation