An overview of RFK Jr, including his unflattering biography and one med school professor’s critique of his job to date as HHS Secretary.
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References:
Introduction and Summary of HHS
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EPA Deregulation: epa.gov ( https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-launches-biggest-deregulatory-action-us-history )
Life Expectancy vs. Healthcare Spending: Our World in Data ( https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/life-expectancy-vs-health-expenditure )
Prior HHS Secretaries: Wikimedia Commons
Biography of RFK
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Kennedy Family Tree: Useful Charts ( https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1835/6621/files/kennedy-family-tree_22c872da-a998-4366-9af1-3cc19e972334.png )
First arrest for drug possession: New York Times. Aug 7, 1970 ( https://www.nytimes.com/1970/08/06/archives/robert-kennedy-jr-and-cousin-shriver-son-in-marijuana-case-2.html )
Hyannis Port Terrors: New York Post. July 15, 2023 ( https://nypost.com/2023/07/15/if-only-the-walls-inside-the-kennedy-summer-compound-could-talk/ )
RFK’s claim that heroin improved his grades: The Shawn Ryan Show. June 23 2024 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8UExKRembY )
Caroline Kennedy accusing RFK of being a “predator”: NPR. Jan 28, 2025 ( https://www.npr.org/2025/01/28/nx-s1-5278407/caroline-kennedy-rfk-jr-confirmation-hearing )
Second heroin-related arrest: New York Times. Feb 18, 1984 ( https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/18/us/robert-kennedy-jr-admits-he-is-guilty-in-possessing-heroin.html )
RFK’s role in the Samoa measles outbreak: NBC News. Jan 24, 2025 ( https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rfk-jr-samoa-measles-vaccine-crisis-rcna187787 )
RFK’s claim he isn’t antivax: Senate confirmation hearing, Jan 29, 2025 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRYKk18i1Z4 )
Copy of RFK’s infamous “Deadly Immunity” article published and later retracted by salon.com: ( https://web.archive.org/web/20160328154622/http://www.robertfkennedyjr.com/articles/2005_june_16.html )
RFK stating, “There are no vaccines that are safe and effective”: Lex Fridman podcast. July 6, 2023 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPtBkw5uD-0 )
RFK’s claim that drinking water changes kids’ sexuality: CNN. July 13, 2023 ( https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/13/politics/robert-kennedy-jr-chemicals-water-children-frogs )
RFK’s claim that antidepressants contribute to mass shootings: Axios. Aug 28, 2025 ( https://www.axios.com/2025/08/28/school-shooting-kennedy-antidepressants-claim )
RFK’s skepticism that HIV does not cause AIDS: New York Times. July 6, 2023. (https://www.nytimes.com/article/rfk-conspiracy-theories-fact-check.html )
RFK’s skepticism about germ theory: Wall Street Journal. Sept 5, 2025 ( https://www.wsj.com/health/rfk-jr-what-is-terrain-theory-66b4c660?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=ASWzDAhulfZyLGiKbHz1tHUEi88hQcos8XGsB0tOuRYrVUCJH1cM5N5jkPpRgUb3kFA%3D&gaa_ts=68d760f0&gaa_sig=B2ZoOYDPF8tcZYkc31Qx2dt9-2jmiUXgM44xNG_c_5YAk3bCQYOj9AzKqUyJpymHxE13SZMYtO5cQkvUlWMk7Q%3D%3D )
RFK’s claim that Lyme disease was created by the US military as a bioweapon: EE News/Politco. Dec 11, 2024 ( https://www.eenews.net/articles/bioweapons-and-cover-ups-the-untruths-behind-rfk-jr-s-disease-claims/ )
RFK’s claim that COVID-19 was engineered to spare Jewish and Chinese people: New York Post, July 15, 2023 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHyHQiKS3f0 )
RFK’s belief in chemtrail conspiracy theories: The Guardian. June 12, 2025 ( https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jun/12/chemtrails-rfk-jr-truth-behind-conspiracy-theory )
Claim that RFK cut off the head of a whale with a chainsaw: The Independent. Aug 27, 2024 ( https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/rfk-jr-kennedy-whale-head-chainsaw-kick-b2602236.html )
RFK telling his dead bear prank story: Reuters. Aug 5, 2024 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oAjaACI4E0 )
RFK swimming with his grandkids in water contaminated with fecal bacteria: New York Times. May 12, 2025 ( https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/us/politics/rfk-jr-rock-creek-bacteria.html )
RFK’s divorce proceedings: Politico. May 8, 2024 ( https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/08/rfk-jr-brain-worm-00156794 )
RFK’s serial infidelity 1: The Independent. Jan 30, 2025 ( https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/rfk-jr-mary-richardson-wife-cheating-recordings-b2688865.html )
RFK’s serial infidelity 2: New York Post. Sept 20, 2024 ( https://nypost.com/2024/09/20/us-news/inside-rfk-jr-s-secret-sex-diaries-including-the-codes-he-used-for-women-while-grappling-with-his-lust-demons/ )
RFK’s sexual assault allegation: Vanity Fair. July 2, 2024 ( https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/robert-kennedy-jr-shocking-history?srsltid=AfmBOorYm-P2B-EsGQF06SnQ6WjtYHqU_eQpkEp_UIfTmPY83c_mCAdk )
RFK’s affair with political reporter: The Wrap. Oct 15, 2024 ( https://www.thewrap.com/olivia-nuzzi-rfk-jr-affair-ryan-lizza-complaint/ )
Remaining references to be added in the comments…
