Noah, thank you for exposing the dilettante RFK, Jr for the ignorant, heartless, uninformed idiot that he truly is. His comments have rightly been answered with a tsunami of outrage. His niece, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, warned us about him before he was elevated to a job for which is is pathetically unqualified by another dangerous, unfit lunatic (Drumpf). Mehmet Oz is just another one of the cast of characters (Linda "A.1" McMahon also comes to mind) who are unserious and unqualified to serve. But, you see, that's the whole idea: appoint to destroy. And the madness continues.
Agreed, Tami. That's why we must not remain silent. Call your members of Congress and let them know what you're thinking about the carnage going on in our country right now. The very existence of the rule of law and our Constitutional rights depend on it. This is a noble and worthy fight that we must engage in. On les aura!!
Kennedy is not a doctor. He is not a scientist. He is an environmental attorney and therefore has a view of the world where effects have causes that he views as environmental. This precludes any other potential causes for autism, such as genetics, giving a false view of reality.
Maybe, but you'd think someone who is so interested in medicine and science that he wants to control our food, medications, and vaccines, should at least have taken a class or two in the relevant disciplines.
Kennedy makes the (inaccurate) point that people with autism "will never pay taxes". Is he trying to contend that they are "takers", like Trump and his Billionaire Bros, whose tax burden is a miniscule fraction of what the rest of us pay?
I look forward to seeing Kennedy showing his concern for government revenue by vigorously advocating for all people, especially the rich, to meet their full responsibilities according to the tax code.
I had a mentally challenged nephew. His "taxes" were "paid" by his mother when she purchased his medicine or paid his rent at the group home. As for them "never having a job", in some cases, that's correct. But the vast majority of the mentally challenged can and do hold down regular jobs, and they pay their own dam taxes, with help. How many of you can do your own taxes? Am I angry? You bet I am. I hate hearing this moron make such wide statements about something he knows nothing about. My nephew held down a job until he couldn't anymore. And his taxes were paid every year, until he couldn't anymore.
My Nephew was a bright, happy baby and an even brighter and happier man. I think that's b/c he didn't know how bad this world, this country, was getting. Hell, the rest of us barely understood it. His name was Glenn, and when he was born, the doctor said he probably wouldn't live past 4 or 5. He was in his early 40s when he passed. But he was still 4 or 5 in his brain. I don't think that's what the doctor meant. I still miss him, and I think of him often. He brought a joy and a presence in my life that I'd never had before and that can never be replaced. In many ways, he knew a lot more than Gravel Throat will ever know.
Thank you for this newsletter- I have a grandson who has both Asperger’s and Tourette’s, and the thought of him being considered to be a waste of resources makes me angry. It brings to mind an experience I had several years ago when a traveling Anne Frank museum visited my city. There were photos from Auschwitz depicting the Nazi soldiers inspecting children to decide which were considered non-worthy of living, and a child with an un-treated club foot was classified as such, which meant that child would not be allowed to live. My daughter was born with a severe club foot, so this was personal to me. The messaging from Raffles is dangerous for any neurodivergent child or adult.
My gay son has Tourette's and I just found out today that Tourette's is now under the autism umbrella. So I guess according to RFK Jr., my son, like your grandson, is of no worth to society. My son has always been super intelligent and creative and though he went through some rough times when he was young, he's a successful, well-adjusted man in his 30s with a master's degree and a great job. He's one of the most adventurous, wonderful, kind people I know. So fuck RFK Jr. and everyone around him. I would imagine lots of Trump voters are incensed by these comments, but they chose this regime of hatred, cruelty and stupidity.
I applaud your son and his accomplishments! My grandson is also very intelligent (I have decided that individuals under the umbrella just have brains that are much more developed than others). RFK is an idiot
His ignorance is astounding! I know plenty of high-functioning people on the spectrum. I still can't understand how a non-scientist conspiracy theorist could be appointed to head HHS.
As a father of two autistic children, I am deeply angry and concerned that this entire ordeal is just a way to backfill a reason to claim autism is either bullshit or it is the parents’ fault.
Oz: “It is the patriotic duty of all Americans to take care of themselves." So, when Trump had a serious case of COVID it was his own fault (yes, some of it was his refusal to take precautions), and it was wrong that it cost the taxpayers so much money? This hatred from the same Party that consistently refuses to insist on preventative care, including vaccines, has no problem with women bleeding out in parking lots from a miscarriage, is okay with the highest rates of maternal death, and cuts funding for medical research. They associate their good health with their superiority, ignoring the fact that their wealth assures them the best regular healthcare available. BTW, I'm on the autism spectrum, diagnosed when I was in my mid-60s. I'm a retired academic (BA, MBA, PhD accounting, CPA) and associate dean in a business school for a long time. I was realistic about my strengths and weaknesses, and I learned a lot of techniques so as not to be noticed. Knowing my strengths allowed me to choose a career where those strengths (memory, focus, independent working, etc.) were valued. I was described as shy, and then introverted; picky eater; stubborn; "cold"; outspoken - you get the picture. I began working at age 12 babysitting neighborhood children and doing odd jobs before getting a series of "paycheck" jobs when I turned 16 to save for college. My diagnosis allowed me to better understand myself and I'm good with who I am, especially since I try to solve problems using facts and logic, not emotion. RFK, Jr doesn't appear to be able to think rationally. But Oz is a physician (although he decided scamming was more profitable) so I blame him more.
As luck would have it I'm the father of 34 year old young man with autism and he's one of the relatively large proportion with a severe disability. He's non-verbal and only partially toilet trained. He still lives with us and last time I checked the family was undestroyed - though I certainly have seen families destroyed under the pressure of severely disabled children. (My career was spent working in schools with intellectually disabled students).
That said his life is certainly heavily blighted by the severity of his disability and with all respect to the non-disabled neuro-divergent difference-is-beautiful crowd if there's anything to be celebrated about him having no speech and less knowledge of people's speech and body language than an intelligent dog, I have not detected it.
Nevertheless, I knew Kennedy was a dangerous, uninformed ideologue but I didn't think he was quite this ignorant about the reality of the large number of non-disabled people with autism. He must be walled off from people who know anything about what he's supposed to be running, or like Trump surrounded himself with loyalists who won't tell him.
Despite all the above I don't think Kennedy is likely to do much harm to autistic people, whatever their severity. I think inertia will dissipate his malign influence. Deeply as I care about the disabled I am much more frightened that large numbers of ignorant or ideologically mislead parents will refuse or not get around to vaccinating their kids. IF THAT HAPPENS CHILDREN WILL NEEDLESSLY DIE!!!
MAGAs used reproductive rights to begin their eventual attack on all rights for women. MAGAs use immigrants to begin their eventual attacks on all vulnerable minorities. MAGAs use trans people to begin their attacks on all LGBTQ+ people. MAGAs use neurodivergent people to begin their attack on all people who have any mental or physical health challenges. The fascist MAGA goal is white, male patriarchy. MAGA is fighting this war against humanity on every front.
JFK Jr. is wrong about everything. He is a danger to society who is in a position to do and is doing tremendous harm. He epitomizes the ignorance and depravity of trump regime.
The article pits mistreatment of autistic people against simply accepting them and accommodating them.
If those were our only two choices, of course we should go with accommodating them.
And maybe society only has resources for one thing. But meanwhile, we are pouring toxic chemicals into our environment and in our food, and some people may prefer for their children to grow up without these impacts.
The same impacts also can cause cancer and autoimmune disease, and are we gonna say that all these things simply build character?
I'm arguing that we should not confuse a desire to help people with challenges, with allowing these challenges to arise if there is a way they can be prevented. I have a degree in public health.
they also are destroying regulations that kept mercury out of the environment while whining about how mercury in vaccines (which there no longer is) has been so destructive. There is no end to the cognitive dissonance with these people.
Noah, thank you for exposing the dilettante RFK, Jr for the ignorant, heartless, uninformed idiot that he truly is. His comments have rightly been answered with a tsunami of outrage. His niece, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, warned us about him before he was elevated to a job for which is is pathetically unqualified by another dangerous, unfit lunatic (Drumpf). Mehmet Oz is just another one of the cast of characters (Linda "A.1" McMahon also comes to mind) who are unserious and unqualified to serve. But, you see, that's the whole idea: appoint to destroy. And the madness continues.
" And the madness continues." Only if we allow it to.
Agreed, Tami. That's why we must not remain silent. Call your members of Congress and let them know what you're thinking about the carnage going on in our country right now. The very existence of the rule of law and our Constitutional rights depend on it. This is a noble and worthy fight that we must engage in. On les aura!!
Kennedy is not a doctor. He is not a scientist. He is an environmental attorney and therefore has a view of the world where effects have causes that he views as environmental. This precludes any other potential causes for autism, such as genetics, giving a false view of reality.
I just can’t with him.
I heard on a podcast awhile back (can't remember which one) that Kennedy didn't even take a 200+ level biology class in college.
Wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
I thought his major was law?
Maybe, but you'd think someone who is so interested in medicine and science that he wants to control our food, medications, and vaccines, should at least have taken a class or two in the relevant disciplines.
Kennedy makes the (inaccurate) point that people with autism "will never pay taxes". Is he trying to contend that they are "takers", like Trump and his Billionaire Bros, whose tax burden is a miniscule fraction of what the rest of us pay?
I look forward to seeing Kennedy showing his concern for government revenue by vigorously advocating for all people, especially the rich, to meet their full responsibilities according to the tax code.
Yes! Or even better - advocate for a much fairer tax code so billionaires actually pay their fair share!
I had a mentally challenged nephew. His "taxes" were "paid" by his mother when she purchased his medicine or paid his rent at the group home. As for them "never having a job", in some cases, that's correct. But the vast majority of the mentally challenged can and do hold down regular jobs, and they pay their own dam taxes, with help. How many of you can do your own taxes? Am I angry? You bet I am. I hate hearing this moron make such wide statements about something he knows nothing about. My nephew held down a job until he couldn't anymore. And his taxes were paid every year, until he couldn't anymore.
My Nephew was a bright, happy baby and an even brighter and happier man. I think that's b/c he didn't know how bad this world, this country, was getting. Hell, the rest of us barely understood it. His name was Glenn, and when he was born, the doctor said he probably wouldn't live past 4 or 5. He was in his early 40s when he passed. But he was still 4 or 5 in his brain. I don't think that's what the doctor meant. I still miss him, and I think of him often. He brought a joy and a presence in my life that I'd never had before and that can never be replaced. In many ways, he knew a lot more than Gravel Throat will ever know.
BTW, has he ever gotten that worm removed?
Thank you for this newsletter- I have a grandson who has both Asperger’s and Tourette’s, and the thought of him being considered to be a waste of resources makes me angry. It brings to mind an experience I had several years ago when a traveling Anne Frank museum visited my city. There were photos from Auschwitz depicting the Nazi soldiers inspecting children to decide which were considered non-worthy of living, and a child with an un-treated club foot was classified as such, which meant that child would not be allowed to live. My daughter was born with a severe club foot, so this was personal to me. The messaging from Raffles is dangerous for any neurodivergent child or adult.
My gay son has Tourette's and I just found out today that Tourette's is now under the autism umbrella. So I guess according to RFK Jr., my son, like your grandson, is of no worth to society. My son has always been super intelligent and creative and though he went through some rough times when he was young, he's a successful, well-adjusted man in his 30s with a master's degree and a great job. He's one of the most adventurous, wonderful, kind people I know. So fuck RFK Jr. and everyone around him. I would imagine lots of Trump voters are incensed by these comments, but they chose this regime of hatred, cruelty and stupidity.
I applaud your son and his accomplishments! My grandson is also very intelligent (I have decided that individuals under the umbrella just have brains that are much more developed than others). RFK is an idiot
His ignorance is astounding! I know plenty of high-functioning people on the spectrum. I still can't understand how a non-scientist conspiracy theorist could be appointed to head HHS.
With Trump picking the cabinet, Michele, all things are possible.
As a father of two autistic children, I am deeply angry and concerned that this entire ordeal is just a way to backfill a reason to claim autism is either bullshit or it is the parents’ fault.
I hadn't heard what Oz said at his swearing in, but I'm not surprised. "Quack" is generous. He's an actual physician who knows better.
What we know: Kennedys destroy families:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/01/robert-f-kennedy-jr-richardson-divorce-polygamous-secret-recording-suicide-department-health-and-human-services-trump/
Wow. Thanks for posting. He is such an awful person.
Oz: “It is the patriotic duty of all Americans to take care of themselves." So, when Trump had a serious case of COVID it was his own fault (yes, some of it was his refusal to take precautions), and it was wrong that it cost the taxpayers so much money? This hatred from the same Party that consistently refuses to insist on preventative care, including vaccines, has no problem with women bleeding out in parking lots from a miscarriage, is okay with the highest rates of maternal death, and cuts funding for medical research. They associate their good health with their superiority, ignoring the fact that their wealth assures them the best regular healthcare available. BTW, I'm on the autism spectrum, diagnosed when I was in my mid-60s. I'm a retired academic (BA, MBA, PhD accounting, CPA) and associate dean in a business school for a long time. I was realistic about my strengths and weaknesses, and I learned a lot of techniques so as not to be noticed. Knowing my strengths allowed me to choose a career where those strengths (memory, focus, independent working, etc.) were valued. I was described as shy, and then introverted; picky eater; stubborn; "cold"; outspoken - you get the picture. I began working at age 12 babysitting neighborhood children and doing odd jobs before getting a series of "paycheck" jobs when I turned 16 to save for college. My diagnosis allowed me to better understand myself and I'm good with who I am, especially since I try to solve problems using facts and logic, not emotion. RFK, Jr doesn't appear to be able to think rationally. But Oz is a physician (although he decided scamming was more profitable) so I blame him more.
As luck would have it I'm the father of 34 year old young man with autism and he's one of the relatively large proportion with a severe disability. He's non-verbal and only partially toilet trained. He still lives with us and last time I checked the family was undestroyed - though I certainly have seen families destroyed under the pressure of severely disabled children. (My career was spent working in schools with intellectually disabled students).
That said his life is certainly heavily blighted by the severity of his disability and with all respect to the non-disabled neuro-divergent difference-is-beautiful crowd if there's anything to be celebrated about him having no speech and less knowledge of people's speech and body language than an intelligent dog, I have not detected it.
Nevertheless, I knew Kennedy was a dangerous, uninformed ideologue but I didn't think he was quite this ignorant about the reality of the large number of non-disabled people with autism. He must be walled off from people who know anything about what he's supposed to be running, or like Trump surrounded himself with loyalists who won't tell him.
Despite all the above I don't think Kennedy is likely to do much harm to autistic people, whatever their severity. I think inertia will dissipate his malign influence. Deeply as I care about the disabled I am much more frightened that large numbers of ignorant or ideologically mislead parents will refuse or not get around to vaccinating their kids. IF THAT HAPPENS CHILDREN WILL NEEDLESSLY DIE!!!
MAGAs used reproductive rights to begin their eventual attack on all rights for women. MAGAs use immigrants to begin their eventual attacks on all vulnerable minorities. MAGAs use trans people to begin their attacks on all LGBTQ+ people. MAGAs use neurodivergent people to begin their attack on all people who have any mental or physical health challenges. The fascist MAGA goal is white, male patriarchy. MAGA is fighting this war against humanity on every front.
And just look at the enormous successes of this Administration so far … proof that white supremacy brings chaos and injury, not cohesion.
Does RFK Jr know that Musk has been diagnosed within the spectrum of ASD?
JFK Jr. is wrong about everything. He is a danger to society who is in a position to do and is doing tremendous harm. He epitomizes the ignorance and depravity of trump regime.
Yep, Becky and he's got plenty of mates in the Trump cabinet.
I guess as a doctor I have one more comment.
The article pits mistreatment of autistic people against simply accepting them and accommodating them.
If those were our only two choices, of course we should go with accommodating them.
And maybe society only has resources for one thing. But meanwhile, we are pouring toxic chemicals into our environment and in our food, and some people may prefer for their children to grow up without these impacts.
The same impacts also can cause cancer and autoimmune disease, and are we gonna say that all these things simply build character?
I'm arguing that we should not confuse a desire to help people with challenges, with allowing these challenges to arise if there is a way they can be prevented. I have a degree in public health.
Prevention is important when possible.
they also are destroying regulations that kept mercury out of the environment while whining about how mercury in vaccines (which there no longer is) has been so destructive. There is no end to the cognitive dissonance with these people.
"The way to reduce drug spending is to use less drugs because you don’t need them because you are healthy.”
I very much look forward to Dr. Oz telling me what foods to eat and exercises to do so that I am healthy enough to avoid, say, breast cancer.
Thanks Noah for writing this. I wish more attention was paid to RFK jrs statement. Just one more falsehood he enjoys spreading.