RFK Jr.'s refusal to 'give advice' on vaccines is in fact dangerous advice
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. escalated his anti-vaxxer agenda at a congressional hearing on Wednesday, peddling the line that 'my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant' to the American public and claiming nobody should 'take advice' from him on whether to get one — despite the fact that his role as HHS secretary entails just that, upholding standards for public health guidance.
And Kennedy's seemingly self-effacing posture is in and of itself a position on vaccines: It implicitly encourages people who are hesitant toward or skeptical of vaccines to shun evidence-based guidance on their effectiveness and safety. That in turn could accelerate the dangerous decline in vaccination rates.
During a House Appropriations Committee hearing, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., asked Kennedy whether, if he had a young child today, he would vaccinate the child for measles.
'For measles? Um, probably for measles,' Kennedy replied, with hesitation. Then he went on to say:
What I would say is my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant. I have directed [the director of the National Institutes of Health] Jay Bhattacharya to do the science so that everyone can make that decision. I don't want to seem like I'm being evasive, but I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me. If I answer that question directly that will seem like I'm giving advice to other people and I don't wanna be doing that.'
When Pocan responded, 'That's kind of your jurisdiction, because the CDC does give advice,' Kennedy replied, 'What we're gonna try to do is lay out the pros and cons, the risks and benefits, accurately as we understand them, with replicable studies.'
Pocan then asked Kennedy whether he'd vaccinate a young child against chicken pox or polio, and in both instances Kennedy declined to answer one way or another, saying again that he didn't want to 'give advice.'
Kennedy's position is a shocking dereliction of duty. He is one of the most influential public health officials in the federal government, and vaccinations are certainly under his purview. (Marissa Levine, a professor of public health practice at the University of South Florida, has likened Kennedy's refusal to give advice on vaccines to a transportation secretary refusing 'to answer a question about whether he would fly.') And Kennedy must know that his refusal to 'give advice' and affirm long-held childhood vaccination health guidance backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is itself a kind of directive to the public.
Coming from a champion of the anti-vaxxer movement which has long pushed false claims about the effectiveness and dangers of vaccines, Kennedy's comment insinuates that vaccines are risky enough that the federal government ought to stop recommending them. And his language suggesting that standard, demonstrably safe vaccines require new studies — such as his new initiative to study the long-debunked link between vaccines and autism — implicitly casts doubt on the vast bodies of evidence on how well they work and the systems of ongoing monitoring of vaccines that are already in place to guard against hazards.
Kennedy had his now-adult children vaccinated in the past, but he has also claimed he regretted doing so.
Kennedy knows it's his job to advise the public on vaccines. His refusal to offer any guidance on them reduces the credibility of the government as an authority on vaccines, and encourages a mode of conspiracy-fueled health libertarianism at odds with the premise of public health thinking. Similarly to his advice for Americans to 'do your own research' on vaccines, the effect is to sow mistrust in credentialed institutions, and compel people to turn instead to self-declared experts on the internet and pray for the best.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
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Hamilton Spectator
29 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Anti-Trump demonstrators crowd streets, parks and plazas across the US. Organizers say millions came
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Demonstrators crowded into streets, parks and plazas across the U.S. on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump, marching through downtowns and blaring anti-authoritarian chants mixed with support for protecting democracy and immigrant rights. Organizers of the 'No Kings' demonstrations said millions had marched in hundreds of events. Governors across the U.S. had urged calm and vowed no tolerance for violence, while some mobilized the National Guard ahead of marchers gathering. Confrontations were isolated. Huge, boisterous crowds marched in New York, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, some behind 'no kings' banners. Atlanta's 5,000-capacity event quickly reached its limit, with thousands more gathered outside barriers to hear speakers in front of the state Capitol. Light rain fell as marchers gathered for the flagship rally in Philadelphia. They shouted 'Whose streets? Our streets!' as they marched to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where they listened to speakers on the steps made famous in the movie 'Rocky.' 'So what do you say, Philly?' Democratic U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland shouted to the crowd. 'Are you ready to fight back? Do you want a gangster state or do you want free speech in America?' Trump was in Washington for a military parade marking the Army's 250th anniversary that coincides with the president's birthday. About 200 protesters assembled in northwest Washington's Logan Circle and chanted 'Trump must go now' before erupting in cheers. A larger-than-life puppet of Trump — a caricature of the president wearing a crown and sitting on a golden toilet — was wheeled through the crowd. In some places, organizers handed out little American flags while others flew their flags upside down, a sign of distress. Mexican flags , which have become a fixture of the Los Angeles protests against immigration raids, also made an appearance at some demonstrations Saturday. In Minnesota, organizers canceled demonstrations as police worked to track down a suspect in the shootings of two Democratic legislators and their spouses. In Charlotte, demonstrators trying to march through downtown briefly faced off with police forming a barricade with their bicycles, chanting 'let us walk,' while law enforcement in northern Atlanta deployed tear gas to divert several hundred protesters heading toward Interstate 285. In Florida, one march approached the gates of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Plm Beach, where sheriff's deputies turned them back. The demonstrations come on the heels of protests over federal immigration enforcement raids that began last week and Trump ordering the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, where protesters blocked a freeway and set cars on fire. Philadelphia Thousands gathered downtown, where organizers handed out small American flags and people carried protest signs saying 'fight oligarchy' and 'deport the mini-Mussolinis.' Karen Van Trieste, a 61-year-old nurse who drove up from Maryland, said she grew up in Philadelphia and wanted to be with a large group of people showing her support. 'I just feel like we need to defend our democracy,' she said. She is concerned about the Trump administration's layoffs of staff at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fate of immigrant communities and Trump trying to rule by executive order, she said. A woman wearing a foam Statue of Liberty crown brought a speaker system and led an anti-Trump sing-along, changing the words 'young man' in the song 'Y.M.C.A.' to 'con man.' Los Angeles Thousands gathered in front of City Hall, waving signs and listening to a Native American drum circle before marching through the streets. As protesters passed National Guard troops or U.S. Marines stationed at various buildings, most interactions were friendly, with demonstrators giving fist bumps or posing for selfies, but others chanted 'shame' or 'go home' at the troops. Amid signs reading 'They fear us don't back down California' and 'We carry dreams not danger, ' one demonstrator carried a 2-foot-tall (60-centimeter) Trump pinata on a stick, with a crown on his head and sombrero hanging off his back. Another hoisted a huge helium-filled orange baby balloon with blond hair styled like Trump's. A few blocks from City Hall, protesters gathered in front of the downtown federal detention center being guarded by a line of Marines. Peter Varadi, 54, said he voted for Trump last November for 'economic reasons.' Now, for the first time in his life, he is protesting, waving a Mexican and U.S. combined flag. 'I voted for Donald Trump, and now I regret that, because he's taken this fascism to a new level,' Varadi said. 'It's Latinos now. Who's next? It's gays. Blacks after that. They're coming for everybody' New York City Marchers in the crowd that stretched for blocks along Fifth Avenue had diverse reasons for coming, including anger over Trump's immigration policies, support for the Palestinian people and outrage over what they said was erosion of free speech rights. But there were patriotic symbols, too. Leah Griswold, 32, and Amber Laree, 59, who marched in suffragette white dresses, brought 250 American flags to hand out to people in the crowd. 'Our mother's who came out, fought for our rights, and now we're fighting for future generations as well,' Griswold said. Some protesters held signs denouncing Trump while others banged drums. 'We're here because we're worried about the existential crisis of this country and the planet and our species,' said Sean Kryston, 28. North Carolina Crowds cheered anti-Trump speakers in Charlotte's First Ward Park before marching, chanting 'No kings. No crowns. We will not bow down.' Marchers stretched for blocks, led by a group of people holding a giant Mexican flag and bystanders cheering and clapping along the way. Jocelyn Abarca, a 21-year-old college student, said the protest was a chance to 'speak for what's right' after mass deportations and Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles. 'If we don't stop it now, it's just going to keep getting worse,' she said. Naomi Mena said she traveled an hour to demonstrate in Charlotte to represent her 'friends and family who sadly can't have a voice out in public now' to stay safe. Mississippi A demonstration of hundreds of people opened to 'War Pigs' by Black Sabbath playing over a sound system on the state Capitol lawn in Jackson. 'A lot of stuff that's going on now is targeting people of color, and to see so many folks out here that aren't black or brown fighting for the same causes that I'm here for, it makes me very emotional,' said Tony Cropper, who traveled from Tennessee to attend the protest. Some people wore tinfoil crowns atop their heads. Others held signs inviting motorists to 'Honk if you never text war plans.' Melissa Johnson said she drove an hour-and-a-half to Jackson to protest because 'we are losing the thread of democracy in our country.' ___ Associated Press journalists across the country contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Los Angeles Times
40 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
‘Protest is patriotic.' ‘No Kings' demonstrations across L.A. against ICE sweeps, Trump presidency
Tens of thousands of demonstrators fanned out across Southern California Saturday for 'No Kings Day' protests against President Trump, depicting the president as an aspiring monarch who violates Democratic norms as he has clashed with California leaders over his deployment of the military to clamp down on at times violent protests sparked by immigration raids. The images — signs referencing the nation's 1776 founding, crossed-out crowns; American, Mexican, Guatemalan and El Salvadoran flags; and the words 'protest is patriotic' — stood in stark contrast to displays in Washington, D.C., where Trump's birthday coincided with a day of carefully orchestrated concerts and exhibitions celebrating the U.S. Army's 250th birthday before an up to $45-million parade replete with tanks, gun salutes and soldiers in fatigues. 'All of our rights are being violated,' said Michelle Verne, 56, who marched in downtown Los Angeles with roughly 30,000 others. She held a laminated copy of the Constitution that was shredded at the bottom. 'We've had other administrations deport people, but not like this,' she said, referencing this month's immigration enforcement that has swept up families at homes, in workplaces and while in vehicles. 'We love our country, that's obvious,' Verne said. 'We're fighting for our rights.' The protests — more than 2,000 were scheduled nationally and dozens in Southern California — were largest downtown. In Los Angeles County, marches were scheduled in Woodland Hills, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Pasadena, Whittier, Thousand Oaks, South Bay and scores of other neighborhoods. Some social media posts and photos shared between friends showed Saturday's crowds in a festive mood at times. In downtown L.A., state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo danced with protesters at Plaza Olvera. Thousands lined Torrance Boulevard for roughly a mile from Hawthorne Boulevard past Maple Avenue, where raids have felt personal after a 9-year-old Torrance Elementary School student and his father were deported to Honduras after being detained during an immigration hearing in Los Angeles last month. 'When I saw that fourth-grade boy taken from his family, it gave me chills thinking of how scared he was,' said Laurie Pisano, a retired school librarian from Rancho Palos Verdes. 'Democracy is important, and that's not what's happening.' There was also a spattering of pro-Trump counter-activists who said they supported the president's stated mission to carry out 'the largest domestic deportation operation' in U.S. history. After nine straight days of immigration raids, several hundred immigrants have so far been detained around Los Angeles — a small drop of the more than 11 million in the U.S. The Trump administration has painted its actions as a matter of safety and law and order, pointing to several individuals with violent criminal histories that it has netted. Opponents of the sweeps say many immigrants whose only legal violations are their immigration statuses are being swept up. They note that the actions have created a widespread sense of fear even among citizens, visa holders and permanent residents, many of whom are part of mixed-status families. In Huntington Beach, a Republican stronghold, opposing crowds of pro- and anti-Trump protesters faced off on opposite corners of the intersection at Main and the Pacific Coast Highway, shouting epithets. 'Make America Great Again' and 'Trump 2024' signs were widely present. 'Support your local ICE raid,' read a sign held up by a teenage boy, which also used the epithet to describe how people should treat 'foreign friends.' In West Hollywood Park, rainbow flags were commonplace as activists spoke out against many of the president's policies, including his push against transgender teens playing on school sports that match their gender identity. 'He portrays us as un-American, as people who hate this country just because we come out against him,' said Magdalena Jamieson, 29, of West Hollywood. 'In reality, we are standing up against the ways he breaks the rules and harms people. His anti-LGBTQ+ policies, his anti-DEI policies, his extreme way he's treating immigrants and then using the military here.' Many of those who came out across the region said they were there to support undocumented immigrants who were afraid to be present. In multiple interviews, individuals also described protesting as a democratic duty. 'How else are we going to express ourselves publicly in our society that something is wrong? The minute we are afraid to be ourselves outside, that's when tyranny takes over,' said Jonathan Santiago, a 31-year-old Burbank resident demonstrating in downtown Los Angeles. By mid-afternoon Saturday, a crowd of a few hundred protesters had surrounded the Federal Building downtown, where dozens of U.S. Marines stood guard at the entrance, clutching their guns and shields. The crowd chanted 'shame,' 'leave L.A.' and 'we don't want you.' The Los Angeles protests that started on June 6 after news spread of potential immigration raids southeast of downtown have quickly expanded to the Civic Center and pockets of other areas such as Santa Ana. Incidents over the days have included a brief blocking of the 101 Freeway, viral images of a Waymo vehicle on fire and incidents of vandalism and theft at businesses downtown, including in Little Tokyo. Overall, there have been roughly 500 arrests. At a Saturday morning press conference, Mayor Karen Bass made a plea for peaceful protests, warning 'the eyes of the world' were on Los Angeles. 'Please, please, do not give the administration an excuse to intervene,' she said. Bass said an 8 p.m. curfew would remain in effect Saturday night and implored protesters to stay away from violence and vandalism. 'Don't even try,' she warned. The mayor emphasized there had been no cooperation between the Los Angeles Police Department and the federal government, leaving local leaders guessing where federal troops would crop up Saturday among the thousands of California National Guard troops and hundreds of U.S. Marines authorized by Trump. 'We are functioning based on rumors that we hear ... I'm still waiting to hear if the president will take my call,' she added. Police officers, she said, had been deployed 'strategically' and would continue to operate under a unified command with the California Highway Patrol, the Sheriff's Department and Los Angeles Fire Department. Tensions between California leaders and Trump have been high since shortly after the protests broke out. A federal judge this week said the White House had to hand over National Guard control back to Gov. Gavin Newsom. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals quickly put a pause on that order. A hearing on the matter is scheduled Tuesday. Trump has also suggested Newsom should be arrested for his response to protests. In another incident, the FBI handcuffed and briefly detained California Sen. Alex Padilla after he attempted to ask a question of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a news conference this week in Los Angeles. On Saturday, the Senate Democratic caucus joined Padilla in urging President Trump to remove National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines from Los Angeles, writing in a letter that the deployment amounts to 'an alarming abuse of executive authority.' The deployment 'continues to inflame the situation on the ground, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states,' the letter read. 'We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles unless their presence is explicitly requested by the Governor and local leaders.' An official with Padilla's office said the letter amounted to 'a significant push as the Senator finds ways to unite Democrats in the fight against Donald Trump's overreach and abuse of power.' Trump has defended the federal government's actions. 'If I didn't send the military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now. We saved L.A.,' the president posted on his Truth Social account Friday. Local law enforcement and politicians have disputed that depiction. Speaking to reporters Thursday at the White House, Trump briefly addressed the 'No Kings Day' events. 'I don't feel like a king, I have to go through hell to get stuff approved,' he said, referencing the fact that he has had to negotiate with members and his party to accomplish legislative priorities. 'No, no, we're not a king, we're not a king at all, thank you very much.' Washington Bureau Chief Michael Wilner contributed from Washington, D.C., staff writers Dakota Smith and Karla Marie Sanford from Los Angeles and Sean Greene from Thousand Oaks.
CNBC
an hour ago
- CNBC
Military parade set to kick off in nation's capital as protesters around the country decry Trump
Tanks, troops and marching bands assembled in the nation's capital Saturday for a massive parade of American military power requested by President Donald Trump, a show that was met by thousands of Americans around the country displaying another kind of power: protest. Hours before the parade honoring the Army's 250th anniversary was set to start, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to decry the Republican president as a dictator or would-be king. They criticized Trump for using the military to respond to those protesting his deportation efforts and for sending tanks, thousands of marching troops and military aircraft out for a show in the U.S. capital. In Washington, anti-war protesters unfurled signs that said "Homes not drones" not far from a display of armored vehicles, helicopters and military-grade equipment on the National Mall set up to commemorate the Army's birthday. Bowls of red, white and blue punch were ladled out to attendees, along with slices of a large Army-themed cake that uniformed officials cut with a sabre. Vendors outside the festival sold gear marking the military milestone. Others hawked Trump-themed merchandise. Trump has been wanting a military parade in Washington ever since he watched one in France with tanks, soldier and jets overhead in 2017. His dream is set to finally be realized on a day that coincides with his 79th birthday and Flag Day, after organizers tacked the parade onto the lineup for the Army celebration. Trump got regular updates on the planning and made requests for aircraft and hardware to capture the might of the military. The Air Force also was expected to have a role, a U.S. official confirmed on Saturday. U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and F-22 fighter jets were to fly over the National Mall at the start of the parade — a late addition to the schedule at the specific request of the White House, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. It wasn't clear why they were added, since the 250th birthday festival and parade are solely featuring Army units, vehicles and equipment; the Army does not have fighter jets — only the Air Force and Navy do. Doug Haynes, a Navy veteran who voted for Trump, attended the daylong festival to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday, but said that the parade scheduled for later "was a little over the top." Pointing at a nearby tank, Haynes said that having them roll down the street is a "very bold statement to the world, perhaps." The military procession was set to step off from the Lincoln Memorial later Saturday, under the threat of stormy weather and to the accompaniment of protests elsewhere in the city. Trump brushed off the possibility of both disruptions, with a social media post Saturday morning that said the "great military parade" would be on "rain or shine." The protests, he said earlier, "will be met with very big force." Hours ahead of the parade, crowds of protesters with anti-Trump signs marched toward the White House, escorted by police vehicles and officers on bicycles. Some held a giant banner that read: "TRUMP MUST GO NOW." The parade has drawn criticism for its price tag of up to $45 million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. The Army has taken a variety of steps to protect the streets, including laying metal plates along the route. About 6 in 10 Americans said Saturday's parade was "not a good use" of government money. The vast majority of people, 78%, said they neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The daylong display of America's Army comes as Trump has shown his willingness to use the nation's military might in ways other U.S. presidents have typically avoided, inviting an array of lawsuits and accusations that he is politicizing the military. In the last week, he has activated the California National Guard without the governor's permission and dispatched the U.S. Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests related to immigration raids, prompting a state lawsuit to stop the deployments. Earlier this week, Trump raised eyebrows during a speech at Fort Bragg when members of the 82nd Airborne Division, who were directed to stand behind Trump, booed and cheered during his incendiary remarks, including condemnation of his predecessor, Joe Biden. Saturday's event is expected to include about 6,600 soldiers, 50 helicopters and 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks, as well as possibly 200,000 attendees and heightened security to match. The parade will wind down Constitution Avenue, lined with security fencing and barriers. Army helicopters and aircraft will fly above, and the march will be capped off by a parachute jump, a concert featuring "God Bless the U.S.A." singer Lee Greenwood and fireworks. It remained unclear whether any protests would disrupt the parade, though several hundred demonstrators assembled in the hours before. Hundreds marched through the city to Lafayette Park on the north side of the White House with signs that said, "Trump must go now." They had set out from northwest Washington's Logan Circle, where they handed out signs and danced to upbeat music from a local street band, including "This Land Is Your Land." A larger-than-life puppet of Trump was wheeled through the crowd, a caricature of the president wearing a crown and sitting on a golden toilet. Protests dubbed "No Kings" rallies were being held around the country. Organizers picked the name to support democracy and speak out against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration, including the crackdown on immigration. In Washington, protesters waved pride flags and hoisted signs, some with pointed messages such as "I prefer crushed ICE," referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Other messages were: "The invasion was HERE Jan. 6th, NOT in L.A." and "Flip me off if you're a FASCIST." Officials have said they had no indication of any security threat. The Army expects as many as 200,000 people to attend the festival and parade. But with rain expected, there was a chance the parade could be interrupted by thunderstorms. The parade is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT, but parts of it — including the horse-drawn caissons and other units — start at the Pentagon, head over a bridge and meet up with some of the heavier tanks and equipment. Officials did not want the more-than-60-ton M1A1 Abrams tanks and Stryker vehicles crossing the bridge. Timed down to the minute, the march will be divided into sections by history — with equipment and troops in full dress from each period. It will include a total of 6,169 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery, while 62 aircraft fly overhead. At the end of the parade, Trump will swear in 250 new or reenlisting troops, and the Army's Golden Knights parachute team will jump onto the Mall. That will be followed by a concert and fireworks.
