Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has replaced every member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) important vaccine advisory group, with people whose opinions on vaccine safety and effectiveness have worried many in the medical field. The ACIP has a key role in shaping public health policy by advising the CDC on which vaccines should be recommended for children and adults. 6v6124

These recommendations directly affect which vaccines insurance companies cover and which ones are given for free to millions of low-income children through the government-funded Vaccines for Children program. The ’s choices ultimately impact the health of every American, according to NPR.

Secretary Kennedy’s unusual move to remove all 17 of the current ACIP and then appoint people who have openly questioned vaccines has caused widespread concern among immunization experts. Some of the new became well-known during the COVID-19 pandemic for publicly disagreeing with government policies on school closures, lockdowns, and the use of mRNA vaccines. Additionally, at least one of the new appointees is connected to a group that actively warns about what they see as vaccine risks, which has added to fears about where the committee might be headed.

RFK Jr. has replaced the CDC committee with those friendly to his views 5l696f

Experts in immunization and infectious diseases are very worried that the new committee’s existing doubts about vaccines could lead to less emphasis on certain vaccines. This, in turn, might make it harder for families to get potentially life-saving preventive care. The ACIP’s recommendations directly affect insurance coverage because the Affordable Care Act requires health insurers to cover all vaccines approved by the committee.

If the changes the current vaccine schedule, insurance might stop covering some vaccines, putting an extra financial strain on families. The ’s advice also affects state-level policies, including which vaccines are required for children to attend school. If these recommendations become weaker, vaccination rates among school-aged children could drop, raising the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases. The impact would be especially hard on vulnerable groups who depend on the Vaccines for Children program.

Any changes to the recommended vaccine schedule could create major obstacles for a large number of children in the United States, possibly undoing decades of progress in preventing diseases. Another big concern is the possibility that the new ACIP might change more vaccine recommendations to what is called “shared clinical decision-making.” Routine recommendations usually say that everyone in a certain risk group should get a specific vaccine unless there’s a medical reason not to. “Shared clinical decision-making,” however, means the doctor and patient decide together whether the vaccine is right for them.

This kind of change could have serious effects on vaccine availability, especially in rural areas. Many family doctors in these areas already struggle financially to keep vaccines in stock, and a shift to shared clinical decision-making could make them even less likely to do so. The way the ACIP phrases its recommendations also plays a big role in how doctors talk to patients about vaccines. Routine recommendations give a clear and straightforward message, making it easier for healthcare providers to explain the importance of vaccines to families.

A move toward shared clinical decision-making, on the other hand, could create uncertainty and confusion, making it harder for families to make informed decisions. Some argue that when medical professionals seem unsure about whether a vaccine is necessary, it can create distrust and make families less likely to follow vaccination advice. There is concern that switching to shared clinical decision-making will create doubt about vaccines with strong safety and effectiveness records.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s influence on the healthcare system is reportedly giving a fringe group called the “bleach community” the confidence to rebrand industrial cleaner as a Swiss Army knife for human illness.

There’s a strange intersection happening between online echo chambers, politics, and RFK Jr.’s MAHA. According to Wired, the substances these groups are currently promoting as medicine include chlorine dioxide solution and water purification solution — the latter better known in fringe wellness circles as “God’s detox.” To be clear: at the core of both is still the same toxic bleach you’d use to scrub your toilet. But hey, this is what happens when the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services tells the public to “do your own research.”

According to these groups’ kitchen-conducted research, bleach can cure malaria, autism, cancer, COVID-19, HIV, and probably a broken heart. This probably doesn’t need clarification, but there is absolutely zero scientific evidence ing any of these claims. Authorities have even issued formal warnings, reminding everyone that selling this stuff as “medicine” is actually a crime.

Despite science, common sense, and several government warnings, the bleach community has a twinkle in their eye. They think their time has come. These groups have been around since the 1990s, lurking in the corners of the internet.

Lately, though, they’ve gotten a boost. They believe RFK Jr. might actually be on their side. Sure, he doesn’t trust the CDC — but according to activists, the “bleachers” have recently been invited into the MAHA inner circle. 

The flirtation started during his confirmation hearing, when he praised Trump’s infamous suggestion that maybe chlorine dioxide could be used to treat COVID-19. That was all the encouragement the bleach folks needed. They started coming forward with tales of private conversations and secret handshakes.

First came Michelle Herman, who sells chlorine dioxide nasal spray — yes, that’s apparently a thing — and says she spoke to RFK Jr. before he ed Trump’s istration. She claims she warned him about the “war on chlorine dioxide” and that he seemed interested. Herman told the publication, without a hint of irony, “We are thrilled that RFK Jr. is in charge.”

Then there’s Peter Kory, another star in the bleach saga. Kory revealed on a podcast that RFK Jr. personally called him during his confirmation hearing to ask about bleach as medicine. The two now appear to be on glowing , exchanging public praise like it’s an MLM conference. Kory is even writing a book called The War on Chlorine Dioxide.

RFK Jr. hasn’t answered any questions about his stance on chlorine. Meanwhile, the bleach community keeps thriving online. There’s still an active Telegram group where hype each other up to chug cleaning products. One reportedly took 30 drops of sodium chlorite and had to call an ambulance. Maybe this is what RFK Jr. meant when he said America’s children are highly medicated.

There are way too many people in this community pushing dangerous claims. And it would all be laughable — hilarious, even — if the person whose literal job it is to stop this sort of thing wasn’t maybe kind of in on it.

The bleach community’s first goal was to pressure the FDA to remove its warning about chlorine dioxide. And wouldn’t you know it — without any announcement, RFK Jr. quietly archived the warning. The “bleachers” took that as a sign. A very bleachy green light.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that all seventeen of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have been removed and will be replaced by people who have not yet been named.

Kennedy called this a “clean sweep” and said it was needed to rebuild public trust in vaccine science. However, the decision has quickly led to strong criticism from many health officials, organizations, and experts.

The ACIP is a group of independent experts who advise the CDC on vaccine safety, effectiveness, and whether they are clinically necessary. All seventeen current were appointed during the Biden istration, with thirteen of them ing in 2024. Kennedy argued that this timing would have prevented the Trump istration from appointing most of the Committee’s until 2028.

Kennedy said in a Wall Street Journal post found by ABC News, “A clean sweep is necessary to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science. ACIP new will prioritize public health and evidence-based medicine. The Committee will no longer function as a rubber stamp for industry profit-taking agendas.”

Kennedy has let go of the vaccine committe 1g571s

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a statement ing Kennedy’s decision, saying the istration is focused on restoring trust through unbiased science. Kennedy also wrote an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal explaining his reasons, saying the Committee had too many conflicts of interest. However, the CDC has publicly listed conflict of interest disclosures from voting since 2000.

This move goes against what Kennedy had said before. In February, Senator Bill Cassidy said Kennedy had promised not to make any changes to the ACIP. After the announcement, Cassidy said he was worried the new Committee might be filled with people who doubt vaccines, and he plans to keep talking with Kennedy to make sure that does not happen.

The decision has been met with immediate backlash. The president of the American Medical Association said this could damage trust in a system that has saved many lives, especially as measles cases rise and childhood vaccination rates fall. Former CDC directors also expressed concerns, saying this could create confusion and make people doubt public health processes. One former director said the secretary’s decision spreads confusion and undermines clear public health protections.

RFK Jr. had already been doing things without the committee’s permission, and a man who says not to take his medical advice getting rid of people who give good medical advice seems to be par for the course. A pediatric infectious disease specialist who serves on the FDA’s vaccine advisory called the decision very dangerous, saying the ACIP’s work has clearly improved children’s health. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America also said this decision creates uncertainty and could harm progress made through vaccines. Stock prices for some vaccine companies dropped slightly after the news.

The HHS did not provide specific proof that the removed ACIP had conflicts of interest with the vaccine industry. The CDC’s website, last updated in March, showed that one current member had stepped back from voting on certain vaccines because of past work on clinical trials. Experts in vaccine law pointed out that the ACIP has always been non-political and that past presidents have not usually influenced its hip.

Donald Trump‘s istration has taken a peculiar stand: Advocating for the salvation of Canadian ostriches.

According to The New York Times, the Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, British Columbia, faces a government-mandated cull after two birds tested positive for H5N1 avian flu last December. Despite the farm’s assertion that the outbreak has subsided and the majority of the 400 ostriches remain healthy, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) insists on culling the entire flock to prevent potential mutations and transmission risks.

RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz to the rescue 5q562g

Now, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Director Dr. Mehmet Oz (Dr. Oz) have proposed relocating the ostriches to Dr. Oz’s 900-acre ranch in Florida.

Their plan, backed by billionaire John Catsimatidis, aims to preserve the birds for scientific research, highlighting their potential in studying disease resistance and developing antibodies. Okay, maybe that’s not such a bad idea after all, but even still, importing the birds does sound risky.

The CFIA, however, remains steadfast, emphasizing the need for a “stamping out” policy to protect public health and the poultry industry.

The farm’s owners have challenged the cull in court, arguing that the surviving ostriches have developed natural immunity and could offer valuable insights into combating avian flu.

Trump could have PTSD: Peanut the squirrel damage 1s5t50

Trump has a history of animal euthanasia intervention. In late 2024, New York State wildlife officials confiscated and euthanized Peanut, a pet squirrel, for being an unlicensed wild animal kept as a pet, despite protests, petitions, and a tearful outcry from followers.

At a campaign rally that year, Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, said Trump was “fired up” about Peanut’s death. According to the BBC, Vance said, “The same government that doesn’t care about hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant criminals coming into our country, doesn’t want us to have pets. It’s the craziest thing.”

Whether Trump has Peanut in mind while his istration ponders an ostrich rescue remains to be seen. While the Trump istration’s proposed ostrich plan may seem unorthodox, the complexities of disease management are underscored, as is the balance between public health measures and scientific exploration. As the debate continues, the fate of these ostriches hangs in the balance, caught between international policies and the pursuit of knowledge.

Because, of course, he did Donald Trump has declared that autism isn’t a naturally occurring condition but something “artificially induced,” blaming everything from vaccines to food dyes to, who knows, maybe wind turbines next.

The former president made the eyebrow-raising claim at a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission event this week, sparking backlash from scientists, medical experts, and anyone who has ever read a peer-reviewed study.

“There’s no way this stuff just happens” 666f2y

“There’s no way this stuff just happens. It’s being caused. Artificially induced,” Trump claimed, as though solving autism was akin to spotting a fake handbag. In classic Trump fashion, the comment was bombastic, evidence-free, and delivered with absolute confidence.

Meanwhile, RFK Jr. can’t stick to his own deadline 6m375f

Standing awkwardly nearby was Trump’s handpicked Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), who previously promised he’d uncover the root cause of autism by September. Like, this September. As in, just a few months from now.

But in a recent CNN interview, Kennedy appeared to pull the emergency brake on that bold timeline. Now, he says he’s pushing the actual discovery phase back “at least six months.” So much for lightning-fast science.

Instead of original research, Kennedy now wants to “replicate” older studies first—a move many researchers would consider table stakes, but which RFK Jr. is treating like a moon landing.

Let’s not forget: RFK Jr. is still anti-vax k6z2v

Yes, this is the same RFK Jr. who has spent years cozying up to the fringe anti-vaccine crowd and citing long-debunked research. During his Senate confirmation hearings, he refused to state outright that vaccines don’t cause autism, despite overwhelming scientific consensus to the contrary. Spoiler alert: they don’t.

So, if you’re wondering what the MAHA Commission is up to besides pushing pseudoscience, the answer is: targeting corporations. In a recent report, the commission blasted everyone from Bayer to Facebook to “Big Food” for supposedly poisoning America’s kids and fueling a surge in chronic illness, including autism.

Autistic people: still not lab experiments 3k6x2k

Lost in this medical melodrama is the actual autistic community, which has been trying—loudly—to remind people that autism is a spectrum, not a tragedy. Will Palmucci, a 21-year-old who was diagnosed with autism as a child, recently shared his experience to push back on the harmful rhetoric. He’s a poet, musician, and film student who calls RFK Jr.’s comments “out of touch.” He added, “They don’t represent me or my reality,” effectively saying what many people on the spectrum are thinking.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just bluster. Trump and Kennedy have already taken a hammer to public health infrastructure, firing thousands of federal health workers who didn’t toe the istration line.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced strong criticism from Democratic senators during his recent appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee. The confrontation marks the latest in a series of congressional hearings where Kennedy has appeared unaware of decisions made by his own department.

According to MSCBC, during the hearing, Kennedy repeatedly claimed no knowledge of various policy changes and funding cuts that had been implemented under his leadership. When questioned about cuts to ALS research funding, the secretary stated that this was the first he had heard about such measures.

This pattern of apparent unawareness has become a recurring issue for Kennedy. In a previous interview with CBS News, he consistently told chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook that he was unaware of controversial actions LaPook referenced. Similar situations occurred during Kennedy’s testimonies before House and Senate committees last week.

Senator Murray questions who is making decisions at HHS 384936

Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington expressed profound concern over Kennedy’s testimony. “Secretary Kennedy, listening to your testimony last week frankly left me pretty confused and concerned about what’s happening at your department,” Murray stated. “You repeatedly claimed that staffing and funding cuts that have been reported on publicly and even confirmed by [HHS] staff are not happening. So either you’re lying, or you’re not the one making decisions.”

Kennedy appeared displeased with this characterization but proceeded to Murray’s point in his response to her follow-up question. When asked specifically about who made the decision to withhold Child Care and Development Block Grant funding, Kennedy simply replied, “That was made by my department.”

Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois also pressed Kennedy during the hearing. When Durbin inquired about HHS cutting funding for ALS research, Kennedy claimed this was the first time he had heard about such cuts, raising further questions about his awareness of departmental operations.

These exchanges have intensified concerns about Kennedy’s competence and his role in the department he leads. Political observers note that Murray’s pointed question about whether Kennedy is “the one making decisions” at HHS is likely to be echoed by others as scrutiny of his leadership continues.

The repeated instances of Kennedy being unaware of his department’s actions have become a significant issue. Critics argue that his inability to answer basic questions about HHS operations indicates either a lack of engagement or a deliberate attempt to distance himself from controversial decisions.

It’s not every day you see a multimillionaire political heir get verbally body-slammed in front of Congress. That’s exactly what happened when Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen decided to turn a humdrum congressional hearing into an impromptu reckoning for Robert F. Kennedy Jr (RFK Jr.) And let me tell you, the result was pure, organic, fair-trade, small-batch schadenfreude.

Picture it: RFK Jr., the self-styled renegade Democrat, leaning back in his chair, likely expecting a friendly grilling from his Republican allies about his dubious crusades against science and reason. What he probably didn’t expect was to be confronted about his long history of what many see as ethical depravity. Enter Cohen, a man whose personal brand is built on fighting corporate greed and social injustice. The contrast couldn’t be sharper if someone had sliced it with an oversized, ethically sourced butter knife.

‘You’re killing poor kids in Gaza’ 1ng4o

The scene went viral within hours – and for good reason. As Cohen unleashed a verbal smackdown, RFK Jr. looked like a stunned raccoon caught in the harsh light of ability. The ice cream mogul, a man more accustomed to handing out Cherry Garcia than congressional takedowns, channeled the icy resolve of his brand’s namesake, grilling Kennedy (and Congress) over their deeply problematic positions.

On X comment noted how Cohen got roughed up by security, watching as Cohen calmly yet firmly dismantled RFK Jr.’s carefully curated image as a misunderstood truth-teller. The takedown was a masterclass in public shaming, a pointed reminder that sometimes, speaking truth to power means bringing the receipts – and a thick skin.

Generally, though, social media applauded Cohen’s bravery. RFK Jr. managed to keep his composure – sorta. He flailed through a defensive response, his voice hitting that familiar, strained that makes one wonder if vocal cords can protest irony. Yet, the damage was done.

For a man who has built his current career on questioning the moral fiber of Big Pharma and government institutions, it was an awkward, uncomfortably public moment of having his ethics called into question by a guy whose company once handed out free ice cream to Occupy Wall Street protestors.

“RFK is jumpy ASF!” 144e2y

As the confrontation drew to a close, Cohen left RFK Jr. and the assembled committee to marinate in the awkward silence of someone who just got thoroughly pantsed on a national stage. You could almost hear the internal monologue: Maybe it’s time to rethink this whole outsider-populist persona. Maybe the guy known for peddling mint chocolate chip is onto something.

In a world where political figures often dodge real ability like it’s a fistful of unpopped popcorn, this moment stood out – not just for its sheer entertainment value but for the reminder that, yes, even the rich and connected can be held to , sometimes by a guy in a tie-dye shirt who just wants everyone to chill out and eat a pint of Half Baked.

Perhaps the most biting irony of the whole affair? As Cohen left the room, RFK Jr. looked as shaken as a blender on frappe – a fitting fate for a man whose shaky relationship with the truth just met the ice-cold reality of public scrutiny. Now that’s what I call a rocky road.

In a rare moment of clarity, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) took a break from his usual medical hot takes to it something astonishing during his May 14th congressional testimony.

According to USA Today, RFK Jr. said when asked about the measles vaccine, “What I would say is my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant. I don’t want to seem like I am being evasive, but I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.” Finally, something we can all agree on.

Kennedy, who has spent decades cultivating a reputation as the country’s most famous anti-vaccine crusader, appeared before the House Appropriations Committee, ostensibly to discuss the Health and Human Services (HHS) budget.

But the conversation quickly veered into his history of promoting fringe medical theories, a topic as inseparable from his public persona as questionable selfies with bodies of water that might double as bacterial soup.

Of course, this is the same RFK Jr. who runs Children’s Health Defense, an organization that has spread more health misinformation than a suburban Facebook group during cold and flu season. Over the years, he’s managed to link vaccines to autism, Wi-Fi to brain cancer, and 5G to — well, pick a random ailment.

Science has politely, but firmly, disagreed with him at every turn. But why let that ruin a perfectly good conspiracy?

RFK’s theories don’t hold (sewage-filled) water 4n6q2w

And it’s not just vaccines. Recently, RFK Jr. found himself in hot water – or more accurately, murky water – when he posted photos of himself taking a dip in Washington D.C.’s Rock Creek, a waterway notorious for its raw sewage contamination. Clearly, the man has a unique interpretation of the term “immunity booster.”

As social media collectively shuddered, the National Park Service gently reminded everyone that the creek is less a swimming hole and more a bacterial amusement park, with pathogens ranging from E. coli to norovirus likely partying just beneath the surface.

Um, that’s kind of your “jurisdiction,” Mr Kennedy 82d3j

Back in the hearing room, Kennedy’s attempt at self-awareness landed with all the grace of a cannonball into that same polluted creek. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle seemed as skeptical of his sudden humility as they are of his medical theories.

Democratic Representative Mark Pocan and Republican Mike Simpson took turns grilling him over his past statements, clearly perplexed at his newfound commitment to not being taken seriously as a health authority.

Pocan said, “That’s kind of your jurisdiction because CDC does give advice,” referring to RFK’s don’t make my advice comment. “What we’re trying to do is to lay out the pros and cons, the risks and benefits accurately as we understand them, with replicable studies.”

Yet, Kennedy was there to defend more than just his questionable public health advice. He also backed the Trump istration’s budget proposals, which, among other things, call for deep cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the elimination of 10,000 health department jobs.

This, during a time when the country has seen a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, no thanks in part to anti-vax rhetoric. In a twist worthy of an Alanis Morissette song, RFK Jr. is now simultaneously telling us not to trust his health opinions while pushing for policies that would make the country more dependent on questionable sources of medical information. Neat trick.

So, what have we learned from RFK Jr.’s first dance in the congressional spotlight? Maybe just this: if even he is warning you not to take medical advice from him, it might be time to stop. Or, at the very least, hold off on that sewage-soaked swim.

Imagine having the whale-decapitating, bear corpse planting, literally worm-brained Robert F. Kennedy Jr for a dad. Trump’s Secretary of Health looks and sounds like a disease elemental and appears to be on a one-man crusade to re-establish measles as a leading cause of death for American children.

But let nobody accuse him of not putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to exposing kids to disease. Kennedy spent Mother’s Day taking his kids and grandkids on a hike at Dumbarton Oaks Park near Georgetown, Washington, presumably hoping to have a pleasant day spent in nature. But with Kennedy, pestilence is never far away and he led his family straight into the filthy, bacteria-infested, and highly dangerous Rock Creek:

Mother’s Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek. pic.twitter.com/TXowaSMTFY

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 11, 2025

As was quickly pointed out by comments (and in a community note), swimming or bathing in Rock Creek is explicitly forbidden by the National Park Service as it’s brimming with human sewage, urban runoff, and pet waste, and as such contains “high levels of bacteria”. And we don’t just mean regular high, we mean newsworthy high. In a 2021 piece for the Washington Post, environmental consultant Marchant Wentworth laid out the extent of the pollution:

“For example, on July 14, 2015, the DC Department of Energy and the Environment found bacteria levels over 2,420 times the most probable number of colonies in 100 milliliters (MPN). This is far in excess of the Environmental Protection Agency standard of 410 MPN. On that same day, no rain was detected in any of three rain gauges around the city. Similarly, on Aug. 27, 2016, at the water sampling site maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey, the bacteria level was measured at an astoundingly dangerous 40,000 MPN. No rain was reported either that day or the day before.”

“Catastrophic diarrhea” 2d4y47

The primary danger is those “astounding” levels of E. coli bacteria, which commonly causes catastrophic diarrhea (sometimes bloody!), vomiting, abdominal cramps, and fever. That’s serious enough, but E. coli exposure can result in life-threatening conditions like peritonitis, sepsis, and pneumonia. Disturbingly, young children are most severely affected, so maybe the Kennedy clan should visit a doctor as soon as possible.

What makes matters worse is that Rock Creek is surrounded by signs spelling out these dangers, explicitly warning anyone visiting the area that entering or even touching the Rock Creek waters can result in serious illness. But Kennedy – who has previously been skeptical of the existence of germs – appeared not to care about his or his children’s welfare.

Cards on the table here, while Kennedy has put his kids and grandkids in harm’s way, he’ll most likely be fine. It’s the bacteria and germs in Rock Creek I’m worried about, which now have to compete with whatever cadaverous slime sloughed off Kennedy’s hide when he entered the water. At this point, the National Parks Service should update the warning signs to add an additional notice: “Warning: RFK Jr once bathed in this creek. Toxic materials likely remain”.

Measles was a solved problem. For most of the 20th century potentially deadly virus infected between three and four million people each year, resulting in the unnecessary deaths of thousands of children. In 1971, the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) was approved for use and measles rapidly became just a bad memory.

By the 2000s the confirmed cases of measles each year in the United States had dropped to just 40-70, with a low in 2004 of only 37. Now, thanks to the antivax lies spouted by the current US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr, it’s making one heck of a comeback.

We’re only five months into 2025 and there have already been over a thousand measles cases, with 11 states currently suffering from active outbreaks. Children are now dying needlessly as their parents choose to deprive them of the life-saving vaccine, herd immunity is being lost, and the formerly vanquished virusis rearing its ugly head across the nation.

So, with what’s now a public health crisis with kids’ lives on the line, what does Kennedy have to say for himself?

RFK Jr once again showing us how he feels about the sick and disabled.

“Only sick children should die of measles”.

No. No children should die of measles. It’s a vaccine preventable illness we had all but eliminated.

Also, sick & disabled kids aren’t expendable! pic.twitter.com/pkON41wL5g

— Kelly (@broadwaybabyto) May 11, 2025

Well, there you have it folks, “only very sick children should die of measles”. Lord Farquaad in Shrek comes to mind: “Some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.” Apparently the lives of “very sick” children are pretty much expendable – I guess from Kennedy’s point of view they’re probably going to die of something sooner or later, it being measles is simply one of those weird things.

For the record, Kennedy continues to spout lies about the MMR vaccine, including that it contains “a lot of aborted fetus debris“. It doesn’t, though this claim has been spread far and wide by Christian groups urging parents to deprive their kids of MMR on religious grounds. But it won’t be the parents whose health is affected by that decision, and many of them who’ve swallowed these lies will one day be staring down at their child’s freshly dug grave and wondering if they made the right call.

Having the Secretary of Health regurgitate this harmful nonsense will only make matters worse, effectively transforming the MMR vaccine uptake into a political issue. After all, does it mean you don’t the Trump istration if you give your kids MMR? Whether that means Kennedy has blood on his hands is up to interpretation, but either way, your kids are in danger because of his decisions.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who somehow ended up as Health and Human Services Secretary, seems to have an odd fixation these days. Out of all the crises plaguing the nation this guy has decided to laser-focus on one thing: teenager boys’ sperm count. It’s starting to get a little creepy.

What began as a seemingly straightforward announcement about phasing out artificial food dyes quickly spiraled into Kennedy’s apparent fixation on the virility of America’s youth. During a Tuesday appearance on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime, Kennedy was ostensibly there to discuss his department’s initiative to remove eight artificial food colorings from the American diet by 2026. 

Instead, viewers were treated to a meandering diatribe about how “the food our kids are eating today is not really food” before Kennedy launched into his greatest hits of health alarmism. The Health Secretary rattled off statistics about chronic disease and obesity before landing on his apparent favorite talking point – that today’s American teenage boys supposedly have testosterone levels comparable to senior citizens.

The real question here is, how does RFK Jr. know that? Does he sneak into teenage boys rooms to check their testosterone levels and their sperm counts? Those are the real questions we should be asking, Jesse!!!! https://t.co/Gxndr4qU4R

— Shayne Bilbrey (@shaybilb09) April 23, 2025

“An American teenager today has less testosterone than a 68-year-old man,” Kennedy declared. It’s hard to take him seriously when his priorities are so out of whack. Even host Jesse Watters appeared caught off guard.

Let’s not forget that this isn’t RFK Jr.’s first foray into questionable health claims. This is the same man who has spent years spreading misinformation about vaccines, claiming they cause autism—a theory that has been thoroughly debunked by every credible scientist on the planet. So when he starts throwing around wild numbers and apocalyptic warnings about teenage testosterone, it’s hard not to roll your eyes.

As I sit here finishing this article, I can’t help but wonder if somewhere in Washington, an aide is desperately trying to redirect the Health Secretary’s attention toward, I don’t know, actual healthcare policy. Or perhaps they’re just sighing and ordering another bulk supply of testosterone testing kits for Kennedy’s next impromptu high school science experiment. In the meantime, American teenagers can rest assured that regardless of what’s happening with their hormones, their Health Secretary is very, very concerned about it – possibly more than they are themselves, which might be the most unsettling part of this entire story.

Despite looking (and acting) like an alien inhabiting a decomposing flesh suit, Robert F. Kennedy Jr is somehow the United States’ Health Secretary. Not to put too fine a point on it but the man clearly has a head full of bad wiring, but as a carnivorous worm ate part of his brain, perhaps that’s to be expected.

Kennedy’s current mission is to take on autism, which he began last night by dismissing children with autism as society’s dead weight, claiming that they “will never pay taxes, they’ll never hold a job, they’ll never play baseball, they’ll never write a poem, they’ll never go out on a date, many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”

So, what warped ideas does Kennedy actually believe in? Roll up your sleeves and pull on your latex gloves, because we’re going to root around in that tortured cranium for some answers.

RFK Jr and autism 5n2mj

Today, 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism, a dramatic rise from 1 in 333 in 1990, which is an 825% increase.

During this time, more and more untested chemicals are put in the food we eat every day, and in the air we breathe, and more vaccines are injected into our… pic.twitter.com/dLSOHubRQp

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr. | Commentary only (@RFKJr_Official) April 16, 2025

Kennedy Jr. argues that autism is primarily triggered by environmental factors, which have created what he bills as an “autism epidemic.” He thinks exposure to “toxins” during critical developmental periods – particularly before birth or early childhood – is the root cause of autism.

He points to the increase in autism diagnoses, which he says may be caused by the following: mold, food additives, pesticides, air pollution, and, notably, certain “medicines.” Folded into that is the non-too-subtle insinuation that none of this is by accident, whether by the actions of shady government or corporate actors.

Kennedy has a history of being firmly anti-vaccine, promoting the repeatedly debunked theory linking them, particularly those containing the preservative thimerosal, to autism. He’s also suspicious of pesticides like glyphosate, heavy metals in air and water, and food additives as potential contributors to autism. He also highlights mold exposure, citing anecdotal cases where children developed autism-like symptoms after living in mold-infested environments. More recently, he’s added ultrasound scans to his list of bugbears, presumably to terrify moms-to-be even more.

It cannot be underlined enough that all of Kennedy’s beliefs run counter to the evidence produced by the scientific community. Their position is that the roots of autism are complex and currently unknown, though they are theorized to be a mix of genetic predispositions and unknown environmental influences. Boiling that down to a “toxin” that must be avoided is simplifying the matter to a ridiculous degree.

In ordinary times, Kennedy’s crackpot ideas and complete distrust of the medical and scientific community would make him the absolute last person you want as U.S. Secretary of Health. However, he did a deal with Donald Trump to drop out of the 2024 presidential race and endorse him, and being given this top job was his price. So buckle up America, and uh, try not to die.