The Al Franken Podcast Dr. Tom Frieden and Brandy Zadrozny on RFK Jr. and the CDC
Sep 28, 2025
Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC Director and head of Resolve to Save Lives, and Brandy Zadrozny, an investigative reporter at NBC/MSNBC, dive into the chaos sparked by RFK Jr.'s rise in health policy. They discuss serious public health risks stemming from vaccine skepticism and misinformation. The guests highlight Trump and RFK Jr.'s troubling claims about Tylenol and autism, explore the impact of political interference on CDC morale, and unpack the dangers of eroding vaccine access and protections under new leadership.
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Get Medical Advice From Clinicians
- Don't take medical advice from politicians or lawyers.
- Ask your doctor; for pregnant women with fever, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safest.
Big Rigorous Studies Trump Flawed Ones
- High-quality, rigorous studies matter more than isolated associations.
- The large Swedish study found no real link between prenatal acetaminophen and autism after proper controls.
Autism Is Complex And Multi‑Factorial
- Autism trends reflect better diagnosis and multiple causes, not a single known cause.
- Known risk factors include folate deficiency and increasing parental age, but much remains unknown.