Apr 26 Fact-checking RFK Jr.'s claim that environmental toxins cause autism By Madison Czopek, PolitiFact HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attributed increasing autism rates to environmental toxins. Autism researchers told PolitiFact that lacks evidence and omits other important factors such as growing awareness that help explain the increase. Continue reading
Apr 24 Recounting heroin addiction and spiritual awakening, RFK Jr. urges focus on prevention and community By Travis Loller, Associated Press Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called addiction “a source of misery, but also a symptom of misery." In a speech that mentioned God more than 20 times, he pointed to his own experience feeling as though he had been… Continue reading
Apr 23 Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s statements on autism By Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact Medical experts, along with people on the autism spectrum, told PolitiFact that Kennedy’s portrayal was skewed. Continue reading
Apr 22 WATCH: RFK Jr and health officials move to phase out artificial dyes from food supply By JoNel Aleccia, Matthew Perrone, Associated Press The move would trigger an overhaul of scores of products on U.S. grocery store shelves. The plan was announced Tuesday afternoon by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary. Continue reading
Apr 18 Watch 5:59 What happened when Calgary removed fluoride from its water supply By William Brangham, Sam Lane Earlier this month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to end the federal recommendation that municipalities add fluoride to their drinking water. Amid the renewed debate, William Brangham spoke with Lindsay McLaren of the University… Continue watching
Apr 16 Watch 7:16 What research reveals about the rise in autism diagnoses and why vaccines aren't the cause By Ali Rogin, Frank Carlson Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged to find out what's driving the country's rise in autism spectrum disorder after a new CDC report said that rate had continued to climb. There are reports that the CDC plans to study… Continue watching
Apr 16 Watch 5:11 'Good science takes time': Researcher skeptical autism cause will be found by September By Stephanie Sy, Mary Fecteau, Frank Carlson In a news conference on the rise in autism spectrum disorder, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made no mention of vaccines and instead emphasized the government’s plans to study potential environmental factors. To help put Kennedy's pledge in context,… Continue watching
Apr 16 WATCH: RFK Jr. holds news briefing for CDC findings on the increase of autism prevalence By Amanda Seitz, Associated Press Kennedy described autism as a “preventable disease,” although researchers and scientists have identified genetic factors are associated with it. Autism is not considered a disease, but a complex disorder that impacts the brain. Continue reading
Apr 10 CDC officials start planning for the splintering of their agency By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Several parts of CDC — mostly those devoted to health threats that aren't infectious — are being spun off into the soon-to-be-created Administration for a Healthy America, the agency official told senior leaders in calls and meetings. Continue reading
Apr 10 FDA reverses course on telework after staff reductions threaten basic operations By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press A spokeswoman for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the administration is returning to “pre-COVID telework arrangements for reviewers, whose read and write work output is tracked in 15-minute increments to ensure productivity and accountability.”… Continue reading