Fresh Air RFK Jr.'s Impact On Americans' Health
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Sep 3, 2025 Cheryl Gay Stolberg, a health policy reporter for The New York Times and a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, dives into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s tumultuous role as Health and Human Services Secretary. She discusses alarming staff cuts and vaccine research cancellations that could affect public health. The conversation also touches on his controversial pivot to anti-vaccine activism during the pandemic and the political ramifications on COVID vaccine guidelines and public trust. In a lighter moment, Stolberg briefly reviews the series 'Butterfly' and its intricate family dynamics.
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Rapid Reshaping Of Public Health
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s early actions as HHS secretary have rapidly reshaped public health infrastructure.
- His moves include staff cuts, advisory firings, and shifted vaccine guidance that affect everyday Americans.
Trauma Shaped A Complex Career Path
- Kennedy's childhood trauma and addiction informed his later life and career shift to environmental law.
- He became a prominent environmental lawyer before moving into vaccine activism.
How He Entered Vaccine Activism
- Kennedy seized on thimerosal concerns and wrote influential but flawed articles that amplified vaccine fears.
- His Rolling Stone piece and other work helped cement his role in the anti-vaccine movement.
