What happens when a moment of national crisis becomes the catalyst for a long-simmering worldview, propelling a once-fringe voice into the political mainstream?

In Part 3 of The Rise of RFK Jr., host Raney Aronson-Rath speaks with filmmaker Michael Kirk about how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s public life. Already known for anti-vaccine advocacy, RFK Jr. seized on lockdowns, mandates and widespread fear to expand his reach. Through social media and livestreams, he framed vaccines as dangerous, public-health restrictions as oppression, and government agencies as untrustworthy — positioning himself as a truth-teller at a moment when millions were searching for answers.

Kirk explains how the COVID-19 pandemic brought together core elements of Kennedy’s ideology: deep mistrust of authority, childhood trauma and a belief that powerful institutions were harming the public. As schools closed, churches shuttered and daily life was disrupted, Kennedy’s message resonated with a growing audience that felt alienated, confused and angry. What had once been marginal views now found mass appeal.

This episode continues FRONTLINE’s serialized audio adaptation of The Rise of RFK Jr., tracing how the pandemic marked a turning point, transforming Kennedy from an activist on the sidelines into a political figure with national influence, and setting the stage for the next chapter of his ascent.

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