Newsletter: 29/01

RFK Jr. Labelled “Predator” by Cousin ahead of the Health Secretary Nomination.

On Tuesday, Caroline Kennedy released a letter denouncing Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s nomination as health secretary. She described him as unfit and a “predator.” Ms. Kennedy criticized her cousin’s controversial views on vaccines. Mr. Kennedy has questioned its safety, including measles and polio. He also blamed Samoa’s measles outbreak in 2019 on vaccines, which killed 83 people. If nominated, Mr. Kennedy would become responsible for all funding and nationwide health policies.

Ms. Kennedy wrote he benefited from his anti-vaccination campaign, citing hypocrisy. Mr. Kennedy owns a stake in Merck, a pharmaceutical company responsible for HPV vaccines. Ms. Kennedy, a U.S. ambassador to Australia, heavily contributed towards promoting the vaccine.

“[RFK. Jr.] preys on the desperation of parents of sick children – vaccinating his own children,” she wrote. Ms. Kennedy is not the only relative to speak out. His brother, Joseph Kennedy II and his sister Kerry Kennedy described his comments as “deplorable and untruthful.” Jack Schlossberg, Ms. Kennedy’s son, posted a video of his mother reading her letter.

She closed by pleading with senators to veto her cousin’s nomination on behalf of health professionals. “They deserve a stable, moral and ethical person at the helm of this crucial agency. They deserve better than Bobby Kennedy – and so do the rest of us.”

Trump Administers Sweeping Changes to the U.S. Healthcare.

Only a week in office, President Donald Trump sealed his second term by sanctioning tight executive orders to the U.S. healthcare department. Some changes include:

‘Exodus’

Trump began his second term with an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization. WHO alerts disease outbreaks, helping members obtain the necessary information to help their citizens. The effects of Trump’s decision affect the organization greatly, as the U.S. is its largest donor. This may halt the speed of necessary alerts and even minimize medical expertise to the agency.

‘Abortion’

On Friday, Trump issued another executive order to reinstate “Mexico City Policy”. It is a long-standing Republican anti-abortion proposal which forbids federal funding from going to any overseas nongovernmental organization that performs or promotes abortion. He also revoked two Biden administration executive orders that aimed to expand access to abortions in the United States.

‘DEI’

On his first day in office, Trump ordered an end to all federal government initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion. These policies specifically target LGBTQ+ people. Trump signed another order announcing that the U.S. government will recognize only two sexes, male and female, discriminating against transgender and non-binary people.