John Oliver Slams RFK Jr.: ‘Clearly in Way Over His Worm-Riddled Head'

Yahoo

07-05-2025

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
John Oliver on 'Last Week Tonight' - Credit: Courtesy of HBO
John Oliver took aim at RFK Jr. on the most recent episode of Last Week Tonight. The late-night host discussed the Secretary of Health and Human Services's cuts to his department, his anti-vaccine stance, and his 'dehumanizing' recent comments about autistic people.
'RFK needs to go,' Oliver said on the talk show. 'And by impeachment if necessary.'
More from Rolling Stone
He continued, 'This is a man who is clearly in way over his worm-riddled head. He doesn't know what he's doing, he doesn't know who he's fired, he doesn't even know how many diabetic people there are in China. And if that wasn't bad enough, he's currently spreading dangerous nonsense and gutting life-saving research, all while bringing in a basement quack [David Geier]. RFK in this job is dangerous.'
In discussing the erratic cuts made to the Department of Health & Human Services, Oliver noted, 'The rules for restructuring HHS should be the same as the ones for a bris. It is crucially important to know exactly what you are cutting. Speed is just not the most important thing.'
Oliver was even more blunt when responding to RJK Jr.'s comments about autistic people, which saw the politician claiming, 'these are kids of who will never pay taxes, they'll never hold a job, they'll never play baseball, they'll never write a poem, they'll never go out on a date, many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.' 'Fuck you,' the host responded.
'Look, I'm not saying that our system was perfect before this,' Oliver continued. 'Over the years we've done multiple stories about shortcomings in various parts of HHS. But our solution was always: It needs to be strengthened. And not, here's a good idea: Let's cut its budget and put a dipshit screaming 'A-ha!' in charge. But unfortunately it feels right now we're all about to get a harsh lesson in what each part of our public health system does as it gets taken away. Which is sort of like finding out what each of your organs does as someone removes them one by one.'
The host added that many of his staff reached out to doctors and scientists they've spoken while reporting on other health-related topics over the years and largely received the same response.
'They've been utterly shattered by the last few months,' Oliver said. 'When we started making calls after the election, they sounded alarmed but they were still holding off judgment, saying 'Well, let's just see how this goes.' But more recently those same people have been telling us, flat out: 'This is a disaster. People will die because of the mistakes we're making right now.''
Elsewhere in the episode, Oliver reflected on the death of Pope Francis, which happen to occur only a day after he met with vice president J.D. Vance. 'Honestly, relatable,' Oliver quipped. He then discussed the potential successors, who include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and the incredibly-named Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
'His name in Italian literally means 'pizza dance,'' Oliver said of Pizzaballa. 'And I know that it sounds almost offensively Italian, but do keep in mind every last name in Italy means 'pizza dance.' Now, would electing a 'Pope Pizzadance' instantly repair the reputation of the Catholic Church? Obviously the answer is we won't know until we try. So J.D. Vance, you stay the fuck away from Cardinal Pizzadance. You don't meet him, you don't go near him, you don't even think about him. Sure, he might be a terrible Pope, but don't take away Papa Pizzaballa from us. The way the world is, we need this right now.'
Best of Rolling Stone
Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.