The Brian Lehrer Show RFK Jr's 'Chronic Disease Tour' Wraps
Apr 15, 2025
Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News, dives into the fallout from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' tour. She discusses alarming budget cuts to health agencies and their impact on public health initiatives. The conversation shifts to vaccination debates, including recent controversies around the MMR vaccine and their repercussions. Rovner also highlights the significant challenges posed by reduced funding on food quality and public health policies, leaving listeners concerned about the future of health programs.
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HHS Staff Cuts Disrupt Health Programs
- Massive HHS staff cuts have disrupted public health programs and data collection crucial to disease tracking.
- These cuts impair agencies like FDA, CDC, and NIH, affecting nationwide health monitoring and response.
Poverty Stats Team Fired at HHS
- HHS has fired the team compiling poverty stats crucial for eligibility in food stamps, Medicaid, and welfare.
- This threatens the functioning of means-tested social programs dependent on accurate poverty data.
Kennedy's Mixed Vaccine Messaging
- RFK Jr. advocates for vaccine use publicly but also makes misleading claims about vaccine effectiveness.
- He walks a delicate line trying to appeal to both pro- and anti-vaccine supporters.