The Atlantic Monthly sanewashes HHS director about to issue a fraudulent report to justify ending childhood vaccinations
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What can you even say at this point?
This is, I swear to Christ, the lead story at the Atlantic Monthly right now
[image or embed]— Scott Lemieux (@lemieuxlgm.bsky.social) Sep 1, 2025 at 12:54 PM
The sole mention of RFK Jr's opposition to vaccines is a throwaway aside in the 12th graf of the story, amidst some credulous useful idiocy from Zeke Emanuel. Nothing about his destruction of medical research in America. It treats him like he and Obama are pursuing the same goal slightly differently
[image or embed]— Scott Lemieux (@lemieuxlgm.bsky.social) Sep 1, 2025 at 12:58 PM
It’s an absolute disgrace to have published this. As I’ve said before, there are at least two things going on here: residual Kennedy worship, and the fact that RFK Jr.’s eugenicist focus on health as an almost entirely personal responsibility appeals to the class prejudices of a lot of elite journalists. This would seem to be more behind door #2, but whatever explains it everyone who could have vetoed publishing this and didn’t should be ashamed.
As it happens, earlier this weekend 9 former heads of the CDC wrote about the immense dangers posed by RFK Jr. replacing medical science with literally medieval superstition [gift link]:
Mr. Kennedy has fired thousands of federal health workers and severely weakened programs designed to protect Americans from cancer, heart attacks, strokes, lead poisoning, injury, violence and more. Amid the largest measles outbreak in the United States in a generation, he’s focused on unproven treatments while downplaying vaccines. He canceled investments in promising medical research that will leave us ill prepared for future health emergencies. He replaced experts on federal health advisory committees with unqualified individuals who share his dangerous and unscientific views. He announced the end of U.S. support for global vaccination programs that protect millions of children and keep Americans safe, citing flawed research and making inaccurate statements. And he championed federal legislation that will cause millions of people with health insurance through Medicaid to lose their coverage. Firing Dr. Monarez — which led to the resignations of top C.D.C. officials — adds considerable fuel to this raging fire.
We are worried about the wide-ranging impact that all these decisions will have on America’s health security. Residents of rural communities and people with disabilities will have even more limited access to health care. Families with low incomes who rely most heavily on community health clinics and support from state and local health departments will have fewer resources available to them. Children risk losing access to lifesaving vaccines because of the cost.
Just like Michelle Oba…I’ll come in again.