PBS Washington Week with The Atlantic - Full Show Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 11/28/25
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Nov 29, 2025 
In this insightful discussion, guests break down the complex role of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in shaping American health policy. Michael Scherer reveals Kennedy's evolution and his significant political value to Trump. Dan Diamond highlights the shared vaccine skepticism between the two, while Julie Rovner examines the troubling impacts of staff cuts at HHS and the CDC’s leadership struggles. The conversation also touches on the political pressures faced by the FDA and the long-term ramifications of the pandemic on public trust in health experts.
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Mission-Driven Political Transformation
- Michael Scherer found RFK Jr. is driven by a personal mission that reshaped his politics and alliances.
- That mission explains his shift from Democratic outsider to influential HHS secretary in Trump's cabinet.
Kennedy's Political Utility To Trump
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. provides political value to Trump by attracting vaccine-skeptical and independent voters.
- The White House sees Maha as a movement they can spotlight for electoral gains.
Broad Coalition Behind Anti-Vax Momentum
- Julie Rovner highlights the anti-vaccine movement's broad coalition spanning far right and far left.
- Social media amplified that loud minority into a more powerful political force over the past decade.