Politics Weekly America Why is the Trump administration obsessed with autism?
10 snips
Sep 26, 2025 
Carter Sherman, a reproductive health and justice reporter at Guardian US, dives into the political intersection of autism and public health messaging. They discuss the alarming claims by Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. linking Tylenol to autism, shocking the public due to the drug's widespread use. Sherman critiques the administration's dismissal of scientific authority, the stigma created by 'curing' rhetoric, and the risks posed to families. With a focus on the government's influence over women's health choices, the conversation highlights a troubling political trend.
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Tylenol Is A Household Touchpoint
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is used by over 50 million Americans weekly and is deeply familiar in US households.
- Attacking a household brand like Tylenol makes health claims politically resonant beyond scientific debate.
Public Claims Can Outrun Scientific Evidence
- Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly claimed a causal link between Tylenol in pregnancy and autism despite no scientific proof.
- Those public claims can create fear and change behaviour even if the science rejects the link.
Science Vs Rhetoric
- Scientific consensus finds no causal link between acetaminophen and autism.
- The administration's rhetoric often replaced vetted science with personal belief and
