RFK, Tylenol, and America’s Autism Panic

Oct 13, 2025

Dr. Rachael Bedard, a practicing physician specializing in internal medicine and a columnist, discusses the implications of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s controversial claims linking Tylenol use in pregnancy to autism. She warns that while liberals see RFK Jr. as unappealing, they might be missing his political influence. Bedard explains the strategies behind RFK's rhetoric, his diverse coalition, and the public health implications of his ideas. She emphasizes the importance of clinicians fostering trust with concerned parents and the need for nuanced public health messaging.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Tylenol Claim Lacked Solid Evidence

RFK Jr. announced a claimed link between Tylenol in pregnancy and autism based on thin observational data.
The press framing made it seem like a major discovery despite no new definitive science.

INSIGHT

Maha Coalition's Environmental Focus

The Maha coalition unites varied groups worried about environmental causes of chronic disease, not only vaccines.
RFK chose Tylenol because it fits an exposure-based explanation without immediately attacking vaccines.

INSIGHT

Political Constraints Shaped RFK's Messaging

RFK balanced pleasing his anti-vax base and avoiding actions that would force vaccine policy changes.
He sought a revelatory claim that wouldn't obligate immediate, drastic vaccine actions.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the Trump administration's Health Secretary, outdid himself. During a Thursday Cabinet meeting, he alleged that "children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism." This is part of Kennedy's ongoing quest to link Tylenol use in pregnancy to autism, a theory he previewed in September alongside the president.

My guest today is worried about RFK Jr. Not just because some pregnant women may refrain from taking Tylenol unnecessarily, but because liberals seem to be missing what a dangerous political animal he really is.

"As with Trump, liberals have made the [same] mistake with Kennedy," Dr. Rachael Bedard warns. "We are like, he's so weird. He's so unappealing. How could anyone respond to that? Everything he says is so patently crazy. There's no broad appeal here. And we are missing something happening at a frequency that the elite liberal just cannot hear that does speak to people."

Rachael Bedard, M.D., is a columnist here at The Argument. You may have read her fantastic piece on RFK Jr.'s "mitochondrial malaise.” She is also a practicing physician specializing in internal medicine, geriatrics, and palliative care. From 2016 to 2022 she worked for Correctional Health Services, the public agency that provides medical care in New York City’s jail system. Bedard now cares for homeless New Yorkers in Brooklyn.

The Argument is a podcast dedicated to honest, unflinching debate about the biggest questions facing democracy, culture, and our future. As the host, Jerusalem Demsas will bring together voices across the political spectrum to argue, challenge, and persuade. Each episode is a space where disagreements are confronted directly, with clarity and conviction, rather than hidden or shouted down.

We want to hear from you! If you liked the episode, disagreed with it, or have a guest or episode suggestion, reach out at jerusalem@theargumentmag.com.

For a full-length, ad-free version of our podcast, you can become a paid subscriber. You can watch the full version with ads for free by subscribing to our YouTube channel here. The audio version is also available wherever you get your podcasts.

Articles, studies, and posts referenced in the episode can be found on our website at https://www.theargumentmag.com/s/the-argument-podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Overcast | Pocket Casts

The Argument podcast with Jerusalem Demsas is available wherever you get podcasts (with video here and on YouTube). New shows drop every Monday. If you like the show, leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

The Argument's production team includes Ranjani Chakraborty, Isabella Pereira, Angela Tracy, Eli Richman, and Kate Crawford with music by Breakmaster Cylinder. If you want to hear more of The Argument, you can become a subscriber at The ArgumentMag.com.