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Boston Globe
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Who runs ‘MAHA'? Inside Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s inner circle as health secretary.
At the core of the so-called 'Make America Healthy Again' movement is scrutiny of ingredients in food, agricultural production, and vaccines, as well as a rejection of decades of scientific consensus, sometimes favoring fringe and debunked theories. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Here are the key people in Kennedy's orbit leading the charge. Advertisement The inner circle Kennedy's two closest advisers from the MAHA world are Calley Means and Stefanie Spear . Spear, the press secretary for his 2024 presidential campaign, is his deputy chief of staff and senior counselor. She's a longtime environmental activist who joined forces with Kennedy in 2011 to turn her environmental news and activism venture EcoWatch into an online operation. In 2020, she joined Kennedy's antivaccine group, Children's Health Defense, to run its news and activism arm. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., founder of Waterkeeper Alliance, walked through the Cleveland Rowing Federation boathouse with EcoWatch founder Stefanie Spear before speaking at an event in Cleveland in 2011. AP Photo/Mark Duncan/Associated Press At Health and Human Services, Spear remains his top communications adviser, managing his public appearances. She has, at times, drawn consternation from others in the administration for Advertisement Calley Means is a more recent arrival to Kennedy's orbit, having started working with him roughly a year ago, Means said in an interview last month. In that short time, he has become hugely influential. Means told the Globe he helped connect Kennedy with Trump when Kennedy's independent presidential campaign sputtered. Means is a health and wellness influencer and entrepreneur who runs a company that allows people to get letters of medical necessity to use their pre-tax health savings accounts to buy fitness and nutrition products from his company's partners. He is also the brother of surgeon general nominee Casey Means. He is a vociferous critic of sugar and processed foods, as well as the food industry, and has been a Means is serving the administration as a special government employee, an arrangement that allows him to bypass some ethics requirements for administration officials and maintain his ties to his business ventures. He is one of the most visible members of MAHA, appearing regularly in the press and at events organized by outside groups supportive of Kennedy. Means and his sister, however, have The outside influencers MAHA has its roots in social media and podcasts, where a coterie of health and wellness influencers have reached Americans with a broad cross-section of political views. Some are former Democrats, and many lean on their experience as parents to land their message. Advertisement The Free Press' Honestly with Bari Weiss hosts Jillian Michaels, Vani Hari, and Calley Means on January 19 in Washington, X and The Free Press host Inauguration Eve Vani Hari , known online as 'the Food Babe,' has earned millions of social media followers after Jessica Reed Kraus is a self-described 'mommy blogger' with a strong online social following. She built her media presence largely by purveying in celebrity gossip and conspiracy theories, but during COVID, she publicly opposed health mandates and later gained special access to cover the Kennedy campaign and Trump world, according Alex Clark is an online influencer The deputies The government's key health positions have been staffed with Kennedy allies or fellow ideological travelers. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., center, is flanked by, from left, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Markary; Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health; President Trump; and Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as he spoke in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, May 12, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press National Institutes of Health director Jay Bhattacharya joined Kennedy in the world of COVID contrarianism, authoring a declaration from a group of scientists challenging mainstream public health views during the pandemic. Formerly a Stanford professor and physician-economist, Bhattacharya is overseeing efforts to overhaul how government scientific research funding is distributed, halting billions to traditional research with stated goals of investing in understanding the causes of disease rather than treatment. Advertisement Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin A. Makary is one of the longer-standing supporters of MAHA, having testified in Congress last year at a roundtable on the topic. Formerly a liver and pancreatic surgeon and researcher at Johns Hopkins University, Makary is an author who has criticized traditional medicine's dogmas and was also a COVID-era contrarian. Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer, left, and journalist Megyn Kelly attended a confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Secretary of Health and Human Services post at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 29. Ben Curtis/Associated Press Casey Means , the sister of Calley Means, has been nominated to serve as surgeon general. She is a wellness author, influencer, and entrepreneur who has advocated a The outside support Some of Kennedy's staff and allies from his presidential campaign have transitioned to boosting his administration's agenda. Del Bigtree, founder of the Informed Consent Action Network, during an antivaccine rally outside the New York State Capitol in Albany in 2019. DESIREE RIOS/NYT Del Bigtree , a longtime antivaccine activist and filmmaker who served as communications director for Kennedy's campaign, took over as CEO for one of the outside big money groups that backed Kennedy's presidential bid, rebranded as MAHA Action. Bigtree was a constant presence at Kennedy's confirmation hearings, and the group coordinated press coverage of Kennedy's appearances as it produced glossy MAHA promotional content. Before his confirmation, Kennedy transferred ownership of the MAHA trademark to Bigtree. Bigtree, however, recently left the group, Advertisement Separately, publisher Tony Lyons and tech and finance millionaire Mark Gorton recently launched the MAHA Institute, a rebranded version of the dark money group they co-led alongside a political action committee that financially backed Kennedy's presidential bid. Lyons runs Skyhorse Publishing, a The launch of the MAHA Institute earlier this month The Hill ally Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., questioned Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's choice to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as he testified before the Senate Finance Committee during his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29. Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press Kennedy has picked up a number of supporters on Capitol Hill who have taken up his MAHA brand or who share his skepticism of vaccines, but Senator Ron Johnson , Republican of Wisconsin, is arguably his most stalwart ally on the Hill. Last September, not long after Kennedy endorsed Trump and debuted his MAHA message riffing off of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan, Johnson Tal Kopan can be reached at
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Explosive report calls out world leaders for enabling large-scale exploitation: 'This cannot continue'
A report from the World Wildlife Fund called out the Swedish and Finnish governments for their failure to uphold environmental agreements. The report claimed that despite Sweden and Finland's heavily forested lands, not enough effort is being put into protecting their ancient and primary forests. EcoWatch detailed that the WWF found that both Finland and Sweden are falling short of their commitments under the European Union's Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy, the purpose of which is to protect old-growth and primary forests in Europe. Finland and Sweden's forests, which are essential for biodiversity and climate stability, are facing threats from logging practices that aim to exploit policy loopholes. Per EcoWatch, Mai Suiminen, a forest expert with WWF Finland, said in a press release, "Publicly available evidence shows both Finland and Sweden are deviating from EU policies. This cannot continue if we are serious about tackling the climate and biodiversity crises." The WWF shed light on loopholes in forest management policies that make way for destructive logging practices. Both Sweden and Finland are facing increased pressure to allow more logging, which can undermine the integrity of their ancient forests. The report shared that the logging industry is exploiting regulatory gaps, particularly in Sweden, where there are certain known areas that are not legally protected. The protection of ancient forests, like those found in Sweden and Finland, is essential in maintaining biodiversity, fighting a rising global temperature, and preserving the essential services that these forests provide for the planet. Ancient forests house a large variety of plant and animal species, many of which are rare and endangered. These ecosystems are key in preserving biodiversity and maintaining healthy and functioning ecosystems that support life. Ancient forests can also serve as regulatory bodies for the climate, acting as "carbon sinks" and absorbing and storing large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Protecting these forests ultimately helps in the fight against a warming planet, as these trees that get cut down can release stored amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. This is not only an environmental issue but also has significant community implications. For example, according to Swedish Forest Industries, Sweden's forestry industry supports 140,000 jobs, creating a complex challenge of balancing economic reliance on logging with the urgent need to protect these ancient forests. The WWF is urging the Swedish and Finnish governments to take this report seriously and enhance their forest protection policies, especially considering the urgency of addressing the planet's rapid overheating. Per the organization has stated plainly that both countries are "exploiting loopholes to allow logging in forests that should be safeguarded." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Multiple groups prep for court battles that will decide fate of millions of acres of ocean — here's what's happening
Several environmental protection groups are suing the Trump administration after its executive order to increase offshore oil drilling off of Alaska. Up until recently, millions of acres of open ocean were protected, including in the North Bering Sea, as detailed in a Center for Biological Diversity press release. Within President Donald Trump's first 100 days, he signed an executive order reversing Biden-era policy. In response, multiple lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration, calling the order illegal, as reported by EcoWatch. In January 2025, the Biden administration legally protected the North Bering Sea through a 1953 law called the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. This law allows presidents to decide to ban offshore drilling in certain waters off of the U.S. coastline without needing approval from Congress. Earthjustice, one of the environmental groups suing Trump, claims that while it is within any president's power to increase protections over the ocean, it is up to Congress to vote to reduce or remove them and that system of checks and balances must be kept intact. Millions of people rely on clean, healthy oceans to survive. Offshore drilling threatens both human and sea life by disrupting complex ecosystems in the intertidal zone and the continental shelf. Communities around the country rely on thriving oceans to promote strong economies through fishing and tourism. This executive order threatens a cleaner, safer future for all. Additionally, the Alaska coastline is home to more than 20 endangered or threatened species, including beluga and bowhead whales and polar bears. More than 1 million seals, whales, and walruses travel through the Bering Strait to feed and breed in the Arctic, according to the World Wildlife Fund, making it one of the world's largest centers of marine mammal migration and one of the most productive marine ecosystems. Environmental disasters can be caused by offshore drilling, affecting the ecosystem as well as the health of families on the coastline. Not to mention, oil spills threaten carbon-capturing projects that work to reduce climate change. Fortunately, when this situation happened before, the courts favored protecting the environment. In 2016, Trump once again sought to open up waters for drilling; reversing a Barack Obama-era ban on offshore drilling in the Arctic Ocean. The courts found this measure unlawful in 2019, stating that only Congress can vote to open waters for offshore drilling, per New York Times reporting. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Even when the ruling was appealed in 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals yet again affirmed that 128 million acres of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans were permanently safeguarded from increased drilling. Not to mention, "nearly 400 municipalities and over 2,300 elected local, state, Tribal, and federal officials across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts have formally opposed the expansion of offshore drilling in these areas in view of its severe environmental, health, and economic threats," Biden's White House stated in 2025. Senators and governors from both Republican and Democratic parties oppose offshore drilling — and according to the Pew Research Center, most Americans feel the same way. This is why environmental agencies are working hard to protect the democratic process and conserve the ocean and pristine coastline. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New report shows that this energy market is hotter than ever — and it could be a game-changer for consumers
Residential energy storage installations are soaring across the United States, and it's a game-changer for consumers. The U.S Energy Storage Monitor report by the American Clean Power Association (ACP) and Wood Mackenzie, summarized by EcoWatch, said installations of grid-scale and residential energy storage reached record highs in 2024's third quarter. This exciting development demonstrates that the clean energy transition in the U.S. is steaming ahead, with analysts predicting a 30% rise in installations in 2024. This is only predicted to increase in the future, especially in residential areas, as the cost of energy storage and solar power continues to decrease. If you were to install home solar panels, which of these factors would be your primary motivation? Energy independence Lower power bills Helping the planet No chance I ever go solar Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Residential energy storage means people can store surplus energy for later consumption. Energy produced during the day via solar panels can be stored for use at night when the sun isn't shining or when grid supply is disrupted, such as during storms or other severe weather events. Combining batteries with solar panels at home helps make solar power more reliable. As costs for the technology continue to fall, it's making more sense for consumers to switch to renewable energy production to slash bills and ensure the lights stay on — especially as extreme weather events become more intense and long-lasting. Renewable energy, like solar and wind, is also better for the environment since the energy grid still relies on dirty fuels to create power. This technology reduces the pollution our homes are responsible for, making for cleaner air and a cooler planet. "We are seeing the energy storage industry fill a real need across the country to provide reliability in an affordable and efficient manner for communities," said John Hensley, SVP of Markets and Policy Analysis at ACP, in a statement as per EcoWatch. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
