Latest news with #TheCatsRoundtable
Irish Daily Star
22-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Star
RFK Jr. claims autism 'dwarfs' COVID-19 because it hits kids not 'old people'
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proclaimed that the impact of autism greatly exceeds the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American lives. The known conspiracy theorist made the claim during an appearance on The Cats Roundtable radio show on WABC 770 AM on Sunday. "It dwarfs the COVID epidemic and the impacts on our country because COVID killed old people," Kennedy told the show's host, John Catsimatidis. "Autism affects children and affects them at the beginning of their lives, the beginning of their productivity.' 'And it's absolutely debilitating for them, their families, their communities and for our county — just the pure economic cost of autism,' he added. According to Kennedy Jr., autism will eventually cost the economy '1 trillion dollars a year' by 2035. The HHS secretary did not elaborate on where he got that figure. Read More Related Articles Deranged Donald Trump posts mad 184-word Easter message taking aim at all his enemies Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'dumbest President ever' after six-word comment about Congo Kennedy's statement comes hot on the heels of his previous comments saying that children with autism will face a lot of "nevers" in their lives, including never holding a job and never going on a date. The claim went further than just saying kids with autism will never have a job or fall in love, as according to him, they won't be able to play sports, write creatively, or use the bathroom unattended either. "These are kids 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," RFK Jr. said. Several X users called him "cruel" and "dehumanizing" for making such a statement on live television while providing zero evidence . "This is cruel, ableist rhetoric masquerading as concern. RFK Jr. reduces children with disabilities to economic burdens and stripped humanity," a user wrote on X under a clip of RFK making the statement posted by the X user Acyn. "This kind of blanket statement is harmful, dehumanizing and flat-out wrong," another wrote. "This is f****** disgusting," another commented. "This absolutely disgusting. He is vile," another wrote in the comments. RFK Jr. recently said autism is a "preventable disease" caused by "environmental exposure" and added that "it has to be, genes do not cause epidemics." While the exact cause of autism is not known, researchers have reported that there can be multiple causes of the disorder, leaving the process of pinpointing one cause to be complex. However, researchers have made it clear that genetics have a large part to play in diagnosing the disorder. In his speech, Kennedy cited a recent statistic from the CDC that found 1 in 31 children are diagnosed with autism by the age of 8 in America. He then vowed to find the cause of the "disease" by September, despite researchers and scientists studying the disorder for multiple decades without being able to do so. "By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic, and we'll be able to eliminate those exposures," Kennedy said in a cabinet meeting earlier this month.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rosie O'Donnell Slams RFK Jr. After COVID And Autism Impact Comparison
Rosie O'Donnell is not Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s biggest fan right now. The comedian is raining down heavily on the politician for his insensitive comments comparing the effects of autism and COVID-19 on the American population. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. famously dropped his presidential ambition last year to throw his weight behind Donald Trump's campaign and earn him the top seat in the Oval Office. Donnell replied to Robert's comment via a post on her Instagram. The comedian shared a selfie with her 12-year-old autistic daughter, Clay, who wore a red sweater and a beanie to match. She accompanied the picture with another slide, spreading more positive awareness about autism. The slide came with the words: "Autism, the one where being different is what makes you beautiful." In the caption, Donnell gave RFK a piece of her mind, writing, "robert kennedy u should be ashamed of urself #autismawarenessmonth." The post has garnered over 17,000 likes and hundreds of comments supporting her stance on RFK's statement. "He's a public health threat and should be fired!" wrote one commenter. Another user stressed that RFK and his peers are not "self-aware enough to feel anything but arrogance." A third Instagram user noted, "He should focus his expertise on addiction since that is something he is familiar with. Clearly, he knows nothing about autism." As noted by PEOPLE, Robert expressed in a recent interview on The Cats Roundtable radio show that the impact of autism on American lives surpasses that of COVID-19. He emphasized that while COVID primarily affected older populations, autism begins to impact children at a crucial stage in their development. The government official stressed that the ailment significantly affects their lives, families, and communities. The secretary highlighted the substantial economic burden of autism, predicting that it could cost the economy up to $1 trillion annually by 2035, although he did not provide sources for this claim. His remarks followed a press conference held on April 16, where he expressed the view that autism "destroys families," suggesting that affected individuals would struggle to achieve typical life milestones. His statements have drawn criticism from autism advocates, who argue that such rhetoric perpetuates damaging stereotypes and negative perceptions about individuals with autism and their potential contributions to society. Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation also criticized remarks made by the secretary. According to her, Robert's comments suggested that individuals with autism lead worthless lives, a conclusion she termed that "couldn't be further from the truth." A recent CDC study revealed that one in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism by age eight, marking an increase over the past two decades. However, experts believe that this rise is not indicative of more children developing autism but rather reflects improved diagnostic capabilities. Dr. Alex Kolevzon, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Seaver Autism Center in New York City, reassured parents, stating that the situation does not signify an epidemic of autism. As noted by The Blast, Robert's decision to align himself with Trump during his campaign was met with immediate disapproval from his family. In a joint statement, his relatives, including Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy, and Rory Kennedy, made it clear that his choice did not reflect their values. They emphasized their support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, advocating for an America rooted in hope, individual freedom, and national pride. They described Robert's endorsement of Trump as a betrayal of their family's principles, dubbing it a "sad ending to a sad story." Additionally, Jack Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy's grandson and Robert's cousin, criticized Robert's decision on social media, labeling him a sell-out. Last August in Arizona, the politician announced that he would suspend his campaign. According to him, he no longer saw a "realistic path of electoral victory" due to relentless censorship and media control. He expressed concern for his staff and volunteers, emphasizing that he could not justify the extended hours and financial demands on his donors without a clear chance of winning. Despite the suspension, he confirmed that his name would still appear on ballots in most states and revealed his intention to support Trump in the upcoming election. This decision marked a significant shift in his political stance, as just three months prior, he had openly challenged Trump to a debate at the Libertarian National Convention. Trump's response was to label him a "Democrat Plant" and a "Radical Left Liberal" on his social media platform, Truth Social. How will RFK Jr. respond to the clapbacks?
NDTV
21-04-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Autism Dwarfs Covid Epidemic, Says US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr
US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has called autism a far worse epidemic than Covid-19. Speaking on ' The Cats Roundtable' radio show, Kennedy Jr argued the impact of autism on the country was devastating, particularly because it affected children from a young age. "This is an epidemic. It dwarfs the Covid epidemic and the impacts on our country because Covid killed old people," he said. "Autism affects children and affects them at the beginning of their lives, the beginning of their productivity." Kennedy Jr underscored one in every 31 Americans was now diagnosed with autism, warning the economic cost of the disorder could rise to $1 trillion annually by 2035. He also mentioned that about 26 per cent of individuals with autism may never live independently, and some may never reach their potential due to the early onset of the condition. "We're taking kids that should be healthy, that should be contributing to society ... that should be ... reaching their potential ... and we're injuring them very early in life. It's an epidemic," he said. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains a condition with no single known cause, though both genetics and environmental factors are believed to play a role, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Last week, Kennedy Jr announced that his department would investigate several " environmental factors" that could contribute to the rise in autism diagnoses, including ultrasound scans, mould, pesticides, food chemicals, medicines, and contamination in air and water. Kennedy Jr also accused the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the CDC of blocking studies on environmental causes of autism over the years. He pointed out that while genes contribute to autism, there was a need to examine environmental toxins, which is what his department would focus on in the coming studies. Fifteen teams will be deployed to investigate various potential exposures, such as mould, food additives, pesticides, vaccines, and even plastic bottles, the added. "We're going to look at the age of the parents. We're going to look at everything that could contribute to it ... We're going to figure out what it is," Kennedy Jr said. Kennedy Jr's views clash with the findings of a recent CDC study, which suggested that the increase in autism diagnoses is due to improved early detection methods and heightened awareness of the condition. According to the CDC, one in 31 children under the age of eight is diagnosed with autism, up from one in 54 in 2016 and one in 150 in 2000. The Autism Society of America also spoke against Kennedy Jr's statements, saying that the rise in diagnosis is " diagnostic progress" rather than an epidemic. Kennedy Jr, who has long been criticised for his scepticism about vaccines, also suggested compensating families of those affected by severe autism. "More than 25 per cent of people who have severe autism will never go on a date, write a poem, live independently, or have a job," Kennedy Jr said in a Fox News interview last week. "We need to identify the exposures that are causing this epidemic and compensate the families of the injured."
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. Calls Autism Worse than Covid in New Bonkers Rant
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. again likened autism to an 'epidemic' and said it is far worse than millions of COVID-19 deaths. The health and human services secretary made the comparison during a Sunday interview with billionaire GOP donor John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM's The Cats Roundtable. Moreover, he claimed that the 'pure economic cost of autism' will cost the United States $1 trillion a year in lost 'productivity' by 2035. 'Autism affects children and affects them at the beginning of their lives, the beginning of their productivity,' RFK Jr. said. 'It dwarfs the COVID epidemic and the impacts on our country because COVID killed old people.' He added: 'It's absolutely debilitating for them, their families, their communities.' RFK Jr. comments come on the heels of a Wednesday press conference in which he claimed that children with autism won't grow up to live full lives. '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,' RFK Jr. said. His comments sparked the ire of several autism awareness advocates, celebrities with autistic children, and medical professionals who ripped the secretary as misinformed. '[Autism] is not an epidemic, nor should it be compared to the COVID-19 pandemic, and using language like that perpetuates falsehoods, stigma and stereotypes,' said Autism Society of America president and CEO Christopher Banks in response to the comments. RFK Jr. has also suggested that autism is the result of environmental factors and vaccines. However, the Centers for Disease Control, which RFK Jr oversees, reported that family history is the greatest risk factor for autism, in addition to birth complications. In his interview with Catsimatidis, RFK Jr. clarified that his press conference comments were directed at people with 'profound autism.' 'Many of these kids are aging out and their parents worry every day. And I'm talking about people with severe autism, what's called profound autism, which is about, which is about 26 percent of the total people who are diagnosed with autism,' RFK Jr. alleged. 'Those families, those children are non-verbal, they're non-toilet trained. They have all this stereotypical features of autism, head banging, toe walking, stimming, agonizing gut pain and head banging. Those kids are kids that will not hold jobs.'
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. calls autism an epidemic: It ‘dwarfs COVID'
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in a new interview, said autism was an epidemic with an impact that surpasses the COVID-19 pandemic. 'This is an epidemic. It dwarfs the COVID epidemic and the impacts on our country because COVID killed old people. Autism affects children and affects them at the beginning of their lives, the beginning of their productivity,' Kennedy said during a Sunday interview with radio host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM's 'The Cats Roundtable.' 'And it's absolutely debilitating for them, their families, their communities,' he added. His statements come after the secretary faced scrutiny earlier this week for claiming 'autism destroys families' at a Wednesday press conference. In the past, Kennedy has also promoted anti-vaccine rhetoric with unproven theories that vaccinations are linked to autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), children have a greater risk for autism if there's a family history of the disorder, if the mother experiences complications at birth or if chromosomal conditions pose a threat to their development. Kennedy's comments to Catsimatidis insinuated that the rate of autism was rapidly increasing and causing an uptick in health costs. 'For our country, just the pure economic cost of autism is, will be by 2035, $1 trillion a year. That's just the beginning because many of these kids are aging out and their parents worry every day. And I'm talking about people with severe autism, what's called profound autism, which is about, which is about 26 percent of the total people who are diagnosed with autism,' he said. 'Those families, those children are non-verbal, they're non-toilet trained. They have all this stereotypical features of autism, head banging, toe walking, stimming, agonizing gut pain and head banging. Those kids are kids that will not hold jobs. And many kids with autism, many of the higher functioning autism actually can, have tremendous potential to live independently, to get jobs, take care of themselves,' he continued. However, CDC experts disagree and have noted autism cases are increasing due to better screening. Minnesota's first lady, Gwen Walz recently called out Kennedy's comments surrounding autism and criticized the leader for downplaying the contributions of individuals diagnosed with the disorder. 'This is deeply upsetting, especially coming from our nation's highest-ranking health official,' Gwen Walz said in her post Thursday on X. 'Individuals with autism are family, neighbors, students, and coworkers and they contribute more to this nation than this man ever will.' Kennedy's comments about autism have also been condemned as 'disrespectful,' 'unrealistic and misleading' by lawmakers and awareness groups that have raised concerns over the secretary's announcement last week launching a 'massive testing and research effort' for the disorder. 'Referring to autism as a chronic disease…and using medical terminology like 'epidemic' are really dehumanizes autistic individuals and perpetuates stigma and stereotypes,'The Autism Society of America's Chief Marketing Officer Kristyn Roth told The Hill in previous comments. 'It really reverses a lot of progress that has been made over the last decades.' She said the rate at which Kennedy is promising to provide the cause of the disability is alarming. 'It's giving people a lot of false hope,' she said. 'True, rigorous, peer-reviewed science takes time to find quality answers.' In his Sunday interview with Catsimatidis, Kennedy touted his proposed research by slamming the National Institute of Health (NIH) and CDC for researching gene linkage to autism instead of more environmental contributors. 'The problem is that NIH and CDC have blocked all the studies that would determine the environmental exposure. So we don't know. And instead they've studied genes and genes contribute to autism, but they, you know, like I said, you need an environmental toxin. And that's what we're, that's what we are now going to look for,' Kennedy said. 'And we're going to identify it and using AI [artificial intelligence] and the best scientific protocols, all of it, very transparent. We're deploying 15 teams to look at all the potential exposures and that could be mold. It could be food additives. It could be pesticides. It could be vaccines. It could be ultrasound,' he proposed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
