What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | How Trump Got Obsessed with Autism
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Sep 26, 2025 
Dan Diamond, White House correspondent for The Washington Post, discusses the alarming announcement linking Tylenol to autism. He examines the public health community's shocked reaction and clarifies the lack of evidence supporting the claim. Diamond reveals the political motivations behind the announcement and the historical context of Trump and RFK Jr.'s fixation on autism. The conversation also highlights the dangers of oversimplifying complex medical issues and advises families on navigating conflicting medical messages.
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Unprecedented White House Health Claims
- The White House announcement combined anti-vaccine rhetoric with alarm about acetaminophen during pregnancy.
- Dan Diamond calls it possibly the most dangerous modern U.S. public-health announcement because it mixes unproven claims with presidential authority.
Association ≠ Causation
- The administration leaned on an August scoping review that found associations, not causation, between acetaminophen and autism.
- Diamond stresses the study raised questions but did not confirm that acetaminophen causes autism.
Genetics And Detection Drive Autism Rates
- Most researchers view autism as largely genetic with possible environmental contributors.
- Rising diagnosis rates reflect better detection and broader definitions, not necessarily a sudden epidemic.