The Reason Roundtable RFK Jr.'s Wild Week
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Sep 2, 2025 Joining the discussion are Robby Soave, Senior Editor at Reason magazine, known for his debates on free media, and Zach Weissmueller, Senior Producer at Reason, who defends the Bill of Rights. They delve into the chaos at the CDC under RFK Jr., exploring how public health is increasingly politicized. The panel considers constitutional debates surrounding National Guard deployment in Chicago and strategies for debating when outnumbered. They also analyze a federal court ruling on Trump's tariffs and its implications for trade and libertarian legal thought.
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Chaotic Start At HHS Raises Red Flags
- RFK Jr.'s first week as HHS secretary was frenetic and raised serious concerns about public health stewardship.
- Rapid policy shifts and controversial statements prompted former CDC directors and staff to publicly object.
Vaccine Skepticism Risks Public-Health Gains
- Katherine Mangu-Ward warns RFK Jr.'s vaccine skepticism threatens public-health gains like childhood immunization.
- She stresses the danger of undoing established, effective vaccination programs.
Critique The CDC Without Embracing Anti-Vax Claims
- Robby Soave acknowledges CDC failures during COVID but rejects linking vaccines to long-term harms without evidence.
- He differentiates legitimate critique of policy from spreading debunked vaccine claims.
