Category: Public Health

CDC Excludes PA Measles Deaths After RFK Casts Doubt

New CDC Director Erica Schwartz declined to include two Pennsylvania measles deaths in the agency’s weekly tracker, marking the first measles fatalities in the state in 35 years. The decision came after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly cast doubt on whether measles caused the deaths during a Fox News town hall, claiming he had spoken with county officials who disputed the fatalities.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported the deaths on August 25, listing them as “measles-associated.” The CDC’s tracker now contains a note stating the deaths will not be included while the agency reviews additional information, asserting that available data does not establish whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths. This decision contradicted the state health department’s own assessment and drew criticism from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who accused RFK Jr. of launching “into a tirade” during their discussion about the cases.

During his Fox News appearance, RFK Jr. claimed he had spoken with a county coroner or commissioner who said there were no measles deaths in Lancaster County. The Republican coroner acknowledged that one fatality, a newborn, tested positive for measles but stated he did not believe the virus played a role in the infant’s death. RFK Jr.’s public doubting of the deaths followed his broader dismissal of measles outbreak concerns, with reporting indicating he questioned whether media outlets accurately reported disease severity.

The Washington Post described Schwartz’s exclusion of the deaths as “highly unusual.” Shapiro objected to RFK Jr.’s suggestion that the country would be “better off” with “natural measles,” highlighting the fundamental disagreement between state officials and federal health leadership over pandemic response protocols and disease prevention strategies.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/cdc-chief-excludes-pa-measles-deaths-against-states-own-health-dept-assessment-after-rfk-casts-doubt/)

RFK Jr. Dismisses Measles Deaths, Attacks Shapiro

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, attacked media outlets and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro during a Fox News town hall, dismissing concerns about a measles outbreak that has reached a three-decade high with approximately 2,200 cases recorded by mid-July. Kennedy questioned whether two reported measles deaths in Lancaster County were actually caused by measles, accused Shapiro of exploiting the deaths for political gain, and claimed the governor’s response mirrored “the old Covid playbook” of “fear mongering.”

Kennedy claimed that in the past decade, only three measles deaths occurred in America and downplayed the disease relative to other health threats, stating that approximately 1.2 million deaths annually result from food-induced illness. He argued that media and politicians distract from chronic diseases caused by major food and pharmaceutical companies by focusing on infectious disease risks. When directly asked about the MMR vaccine’s recommendation, Kennedy acknowledged its effectiveness at 97 percent efficacy while maintaining his broader critique of public health messaging.

Kennedy attributed declining childhood vaccination rates worldwide to loss of faith in public health systems following the pandemic, framing vaccine hesitancy as a consequence of institutional mistrust rather than his own anti-vaccination advocacy. His response followed Pennsylvania officials’ announcement of measles deaths in the state and preceded a broader surge in preventable disease cases under his health department’s authority. The department previously eliminated routine childhood vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, RSV, bacterial meningitis, influenza, and other diseases from federal recommendations.

Kennedy’s remarks reflect a pattern of dismissing measles as a negligible public health concern while attacking the credibility of elected officials and journalists reporting disease outbreaks. His framing—that food and pharmaceutical industries pose greater threats than vaccine-preventable diseases—redirects responsibility away from vaccination policy changes that have coincided with measles resurgence. Administration health appointees have similarly avoided direct engagement with vaccine safety and efficacy questions, signaling alignment with Kennedy’s anti-vaccination positions across federal health leadership.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/robert-f-kennedy-jr-slams-the-media-and-demagogue-politicians-for-making-americans-terrified-of-measles/)

Trump DOJ Opens Gun Rights Restoration for Felons via Online Portal

The Trump administration, through Attorney General Todd Blanche, finalized a rule allowing people convicted of felonies to petition for restoration of gun ownership rights via an online portal. The process, which circumvents a 1992 congressional ban on federal processing of such applications, marks the latest in the administration’s systematic dismantling of firearm regulations. Blanche framed the rule as protecting the Second Amendment while assessing individual danger to public safety.

The Justice Department stated that restorations will be evaluated case-by-case, denying applicants with violent crime convictions, registered sex offenders, undocumented immigrants, and those deemed threats to public safety, except under “extraordinary circumstances.” However, the Trump administration has already restored gun rights to convicted January 6 insurrectionists and domestic abusers through pardon actions, contradicting claims of rigorous safety screening.

Kris Brown, president of Brady, the gun violence prevention organization, directly criticized the administration’s track record on firearm policy, stating the Trump administration “has no such discretion” and has “consistently” rolled back crime-prevention regulations. Brown documented the administration’s pattern of restoring gun rights to individuals with histories of violence and domestic abuse, demonstrating the rule serves ideological gun deregulation rather than evidence-based public safety.

The rule expansion follows earlier Trump administration moves including reinstatement of the gun show loophole, allowing firearm purchases without background checks, and abandonment of challenges to regulations on firearm suppressors. These actions represent coordinated dismantling of federal gun safety infrastructure across multiple regulatory fronts.



(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/justice-department-creates-pathway-restore-182542276.html?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a83bca5b7ec5e0001afb4fc&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwcGRvZgVmZGlkFlDLoEUz8F4w5Kt-jiLQtVqU4wLQ5g5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeKxwPzo5e3kS4Ekr1wI8DBKSC1ZTgE3b1GHlUn3cnacSKJbSgJNV6JLQuHkg_aem_Ubo0mzJNG5fQ5NOM4_Y2vQ)

Trump Orders Cuts to Childhood Vaccines Without Evidence

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday establishing the “Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations,” which would dramatically reduce federal childhood vaccination guidance by spreading immunizations across separate appointments, splitting the combined MMR vaccine into three individual shots, and reorganizing vaccines into different risk tiers. During the signing ceremony at the White House, Trump claimed the combined MMR vaccine “could” be “quite lethal,” but admitted moments later when pressed by reporters that he had no evidence supporting the assertion.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stood alongside Trump during the order signing, advancing the administration’s push to overturn decades of established federal vaccine recommendations. Trump had previously pressured Kennedy during a May lunch to escalate efforts investigating a debunked link between vaccines and autism, criticizing Kennedy for having “the yips” on the vaccine issue despite White House political advisers urging restraint on vaccine-related messaging.

The executive order reflects Trump’s broader effort to reshape federal health policy through vaccine reduction, following a January Department of Health and Human Services study initiated by Trump in December proposing vaccination against only 11 diseases rather than the current comprehensive schedule. The changes would eliminate or defer federal recommendations for vaccines against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and certain meningitis strains, among others.

Kennedy’s role in overseeing this vaccine overhaul extends beyond childhood recommendations, as he has signaled intent to dismantle and reconstruct the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the federal committee responsible for recommending disease screening tests and determining insurance coverage for preventive care. The administration’s actions align with efforts to eliminate Pentagon mandatory flu vaccination requirements and pursue changes to longstanding public health protocols across federal agencies.

Trump’s unsubstantiated claim about MMR vaccine lethality contradicts the scientific consensus supporting vaccine safety and reflects the pattern of health misinformation advanced by Kennedy and endorsed by the administration without evidentiary support.



(Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/10/trump-administration-order-would-upend-nations-childhood-vaccine-schedule/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social)

Trump Pushes RFK Jr. to Cut Childhood Vaccine Recommendations

President Trump pressured Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a May lunch at Trump’s Virginia golf course to escalate efforts investigating a discredited link between vaccines and autism. Trump criticized Kennedy for having “the yips” on the vaccine issue, according to sources familiar with the conversation, despite White House political advisers urging Kennedy to downplay vaccine-related work ahead of midterm elections.

Trump’s central demand: accelerate efforts to reduce the number of vaccines in federal childhood immunization guidelines. According to sources, Trump stated his expectation that autism rates would decline following such reductions, even acknowledging the effect might take years to materialize. Trump previously ordered federal agencies to align with a January Department of Health and Human Services study proposing reduction of recommended childhood vaccines to only 11 diseases, eliminating vaccines for flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and certain meningitis strains.

Kennedy, long known for vaccine skepticism, reportedly expressed surprise at Trump’s direct intervention, having been asked by White House political advisers to tone down vaccine-focused initiatives before the midterms. Trump, however, steers nearly every conversation with his health secretary back to vaccines and autism, according to sources. Trump’s nominee for U.S. surgeon general, Casey Means, declined to directly answer vaccine guidance questions during Senate testimony despite holding a medical degree, further signaling administration hostility toward established vaccination protocols.

The administration’s push contradicts decades of medical research showing no connection between vaccines and autism. Following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s elimination of mandatory Pentagon flu vaccination requirements in April, a major flu outbreak sickened nearly 160 service members at an Air Force base within two months, demonstrating the real-world consequences of dismantling vaccination protections.

Trump’s intervention bypasses independent scientific evaluation of vaccine safety and efficacy. By directing his health secretary to prioritize a predetermined narrative about vaccines and autism, Trump has weaponized federal health policy to advance a disproven theory, subordinating public health to political ideology and personal conviction.



(Source: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-rfk-jr-cut-vaccine-children-78582411?mod=hp_lead_pos7)

Trump EPA Exempts Data Centers From Acid Rain Pollution Rules

The Trump administration exempted power plants serving data centers from the Clean Air Act’s Acid Rain Program, which mandates reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions that cause environmental damage and respiratory harm. EPA Assistant Administrator Aaron Szabo stated the exemption supports “artificial intelligence dominance” and protects consumer electric bills, claiming “islanded” power plants disconnected from the broader grid fall outside the program’s scope.

The administration justified the exemption by redefining data center power plants as non-utilities ineligible for acid rain restrictions, despite these facilities producing the same pollutants as traditional power plants. The EPA issued guidance after states and companies requested “clarity” on regulatory provisions, effectively granting data centers immunity from pollution controls that protect aquatic ecosystems and human respiratory health.

This exemption advances the administration’s pattern of subordinating environmental protection to corporate interests, particularly those aligned with favored figures like Elon Musk. Last month, the administration backed Musk’s xAI in court against the NAACP’s illegal air pollution accusations and has previously sought to curtail environmental reviews and expedite chemical approvals for data center operations.

The decision abandons enforceable acid rain safeguards in favor of claims that self-powered data centers will reduce grid strain and consumer costs. By allowing these facilities to operate without emission controls, the administration eliminates accountability mechanisms designed to prevent the atmospheric and environmental degradation acid rain causes.



(Source: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5992657-epa-data-center-power-plants-acid-rain/?fbclid=IwdGRjcATU5e1wZG9mBWZkaWQWULbfziC-koGvpXNgWZpPJmSTWBVc82V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7TK-zejq2S6OsAKiZSpqkh6vtbxIdWR_zy9NoY8VIK9YSjUxeosPCv5lLRcQ_aem_bVggeQCJB0yfjGYFUr-yNQ)

RFK Jr. Halts Medicaid Funds to Blue States Despite No Proof of Fraud | The New Republic

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Mehmet Oz announced a $1 billion freeze on Medicare and Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota on Tuesday, accusing the states of “suspected fraud and noncompliance.” Kennedy demanded the states provide documentation proving the payments were legitimate but presented no new evidence supporting the fraud allegations, according to Reuters.

The funding freeze follows a pattern of Trump administration officials targeting Democratic-led states with unsubstantiated accusations of widespread public program fraud. In May, the White House blocked $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements for California; last month Trump directed federal agencies to investigate blocking additional California funding; and the Federal Emergency Management Agency held up disaster aid to blue states earlier this year. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin recently threatened to block federal grants and jail state officials in Democratic states refusing to surrender voter registration data to the administration.

California and Minnesota are expected to challenge the funding cuts in court, where states have previously prevailed in similar disputes. The termination of payments to Democratic states without credible documentation of fraud follows the administration’s broader pattern of weaponizing federal resources against political opponents, as Kennedy has already moved to purge federal health institutions aligned with evidence-based policy.

The Medicaid freeze occurs alongside other administration actions cutting safety net programs. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” slashed food assistance, eliminating SNAP benefits for 4.5 million people, including 1.5 million children, since July 2025. Arizona saw the steepest decline with over 50 percent of its SNAP recipients—more than 440,000 people—dropped from the program in less than a year, with federal officials praising the state for “leading the way” in cutting what the administration characterizes as fraud and waste.

The funding restrictions on Democratic states and cuts to federal benefits demonstrate the administration’s use of federal authority to punish political opponents while dismantling programs protecting vulnerable populations. States challenging these actions will confront an administration unwilling to substantiate its fraud accusations with evidence.



(Source: https://newrepublic.com/post/213335/rfk-jr-halts-medicaid-funds-california-minnesota-no-proof-fraud?fbclid=IwVERDUATM1z1wZG9mBWZkaWQWUK9D1WPZ3x2pxJ1C3SiLuWg7hbLUY2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4LVWXhVRaqodn3njclczLoKR-qXpqfNGVm_vUi6RiM0qc1CaGiwX7UdnWnLQ_aem_PVQGpOuA_mTkTUCEY1xHMQ)willing to substantiate its fraud accusations with evidence.

Dr Oz becomes the latest MAHA advocate to post bizarre workout video: ‘Touch the toilet seat’ | The Independent

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator, posted a workout video on July 11 demonstrating squat technique by advising viewers to imagine sitting on a toilet seat. The 66-year-old, who serves as the latest Trump administration official promoting the Make America Healthy Again agenda, filmed the backyard demonstration on social media while momentarily losing balance during his demonstration.

Oz instructed viewers to avoid leaning forward during squats and to “sit back like your bottom is about to touch the toilet seat,” emphasizing proper form to prevent injury and engage correct muscle groups. He also recommended brisk walking for heart health, comparing arteries to a tube while slapping a children’s slide as a visual aid, and demonstrated pull-ups on a monkey bar without difficulty.

Social media users mocked Oz’s squat form and fitness advice. One commenter stated “This is not proper form for a squat in any capacity” and told Oz to “stick to selling snake oil.” Another user joked about an upcoming book titled “How to Look Like a Complete Dork in the Park,” reflecting widespread criticism of his demonstration.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has similarly posted numerous workout videos to promote MAHA initiatives, including pull-ups and push-ups alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in blue jeans, a 2024 helicopter jump into the Pacific Ocean with Navy SEALs, and a shirtless cold-water plunge and hot tub session with musician Kid Rock while drinking whole milk. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy joined the trend in December 2025, competing against Kennedy in a pull-up competition filmed near Ronald Reagan National Airport, where Kennedy completed approximately 20 pull-ups to Duffy’s 10.

Hegseth has also shared workout content focused on demonstrating physical capability with troops rather than offering fitness instruction, including weight-lifting sessions at Guantanamo Bay and running alongside service members. The administration’s fitness video campaign reflects broader efforts to project health and vigor through social media promotion.



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/dr-oz-maha-workout-video-b3013231.html)ide service members. The administration’s fitness video campaign reflects broader efforts to project health and vigor through social media promotion.

Two months after Hegseth’s regressive move, Air Force base faces major flu outbreak

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth eliminated the Pentagon’s mandatory flu vaccination requirement for service members in April 2026, reversing a longstanding military policy. Hegseth justified the change by invoking “medical autonomy,” despite the military’s historical practice of requiring up to 17 vaccinations depending on deployment location.

Less than two months after Hegseth’s policy reversal, a major flu outbreak sickened nearly 160 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, with one trainee in basic training dying after falling ill. The outbreak spread rapidly through a basic military training wing where recruits sleep in open bays and share communal dining facilities, creating ideal conditions for disease transmission.

Only approximately 40% of Air Force trainees at Lackland opted to receive the flu vaccine following Hegseth’s change, compared to the previous 100% compliance rate under the mandatory policy. In response to the outbreak, Lackland received an exception from Hegseth’s directive and reinstated the flu vaccine requirement for its recruits.

Military readiness has depended on disease prevention for centuries. General George Washington mandated smallpox inoculation for all troops in 1777, a decision that historian Craig Bruce Smith credited with saving countless lives and helping ensure American survival. The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer noted that disease has killed more soldiers throughout human history than any other cause.

Despite the outbreak at Lackland, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman stated the department stands by Hegseth’s decision to end the universal flu vaccine mandate across all military bases. The contradiction between revoking the policy and then reinstating it at a single base reveals the incoherence of an approach that prioritizes ideological framing over military health and operational readiness.



(Source: https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/hegseth-vaccines-air-force-base-flu-outbreak?cid=sm_fb_maddow&fbclid=IwdGRjcAShbURleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeL1WX56j9Hl6vJjx4fJIoH6eujjAQJaCRwTXs_bVGbG2BkkjAtjSxmHL_Nsk_aem_S_8AggQzLGIGLQ18Eg7R2w)of an approach that prioritizes ideological framing over military health and operational readiness.

Trump Orders Agencies to Cut Childhood Vaccine Recommendations

President Trump issued an executive order on Friday directing federal agencies to align with a January Department of Health and Human Services study that proposes reducing the number of vaccines recommended for American children. The study, initiated by Trump in December, recommends vaccinating all children against only 11 diseases, moving vaccines for flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain meningitis strains, and RSV to optional status based on individual risk or doctor recommendation.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, championed the study's recommendations. Kennedy previously fired a 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee and replaced several members with vaccine skeptics. Last year, he unilaterally eliminated CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines in healthy children and pregnant women without citing new scientific data, a decision that public health experts disputed.

Trump's order directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review the study and implement changes while claiming to "provide maximum flexibility to parents and doctors." The order requires all federal agencies to align their actions, regulations, and funding with the study's narrowed vaccine recommendations, bypassing normal scientific review processes and CDC expertise.

A federal judge in Massachusetts previously blocked the administration's attempt to narrow childhood vaccine recommendations, but the administration is appealing that decision. The order notes that states, not the federal government, set school vaccination requirements, though CDC guidance typically influences state policy. Some states have begun forming alliances to counter the Trump administration's vaccine guidance.

This executive order amplifies Kennedy's broader effort to dismantle federal health institutions and restructure disease prevention guidance, continuing the administration's pattern of politicizing public health agencies and subordinating them to ideological preferences rather than scientific evidence.

(Source: https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/29/health/trump-vaccines-executive-order?Date=20260530&Profile=CNN&utm_content=1780111761&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRleASIVNZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe_9SSNgi5lJnc9uNTBItggeu4yMQJN0_56vBJw_acwSjuB0IVPCQ8LXf4Hew_aem_xte3G03mLrJWbqCXcO35ug)

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