Crackpots

The Daily Beast reports: Fox News has taken aim at a tough new political opponent—Kermit the Frog. The prominent Muppet gave a commencement speech at the University of Maryland on Thursday, chosen to honor his creator, Jim Henson. An economics major, Henson graduated from Maryland in 1960 and died in 1990. Kermit’s appearance drew the ire of conservative commentator and …

USA Today reports: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. blames ultra-processed foods, environmental chemicals, lack of physical activity, chronic stress and “overmedicalization” for driving chronic diseases in U.S. children, according to his Make America Healthy Again commission report published May 22. The 69-page report, titled “Making Our Children Healthy Again,” also says these drivers are partly propelled by corporate influence …

The Hill reports: Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) filed a Wednesday resolution to expel Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) over pending federal charges related to a scuffle involving lawmakers, protesters and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers outside an migrant detention facility in New Jersey. “Members of Congress swear an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of this country — …

Politico reports: The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing on how “health officials downplayed and hid myocarditis and other adverse events” associated with Covid-19 vaccines comes a day after federal health officials released a new framework for vaccines. The witnesses at today’s hearing represent a more extreme contingency of vaccine skeptics, and their testimony could show how they feel …

Politico reports: Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) shared a photo of what she described as a “naked silhouette” of herself that she said was taken without her consent while renewing allegations of sexual abuse against multiple men, including her ex-fiancé, during a House subcommittee hearing Tuesday. The four men Mace has accused of crimes have repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The South Carolina …

“I think wokeness and DEI and cancel culture is starting to exit the building, and we can thank President Trump for leading that charge once again. I call him the dragon slayer in that regard, ‘cuz he just came and slit the throat of DEI and wokeness. “There’s always gonna be cancel culture at some level, somebody getting butt sore …

The New York Times reports: Come this fall, only older Americans and those with chronic health problems may be urged to get the Covid shot — assuming the vaccine is available at all. The advisers are expected to decide on a way forward at a meeting in June. But the debate may have become irrelevant. New requirements for clinical testing …

The Texas Tribune reports: A bill that would make it easier for parents to exempt their children from school-required vaccinations passed the Texas House 83-54 on Wednesday. If House Bill 1586 by state Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, becomes law, the state’s current exemption form could be downloaded from the internet, bypassing the need to contact the Texas Department of State …

The Associated Press reports: President Donald Trump’s new pick for surgeon general wrote in a recent book that people should consider using unproven psychedelic drugs as therapy and in a newsletter suggested her use of mushrooms helped her find a romantic partner. Dr. Casey Means’ recommendation to consider guided psilocybin-assisted therapy is notable because psilocybin is illegal under federal law. …

NBC News reports: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday sidestepped a question about vaccines and whether he would choose to vaccinate his children today against a number of diseases, saying, “I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.” Kennedy’s comment was in response to Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., during a House Appropriations …

We can only hope for another brain worm: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed Sunday that he took a dip in Washington, D.C.’s, Rock Creek with his grandchildren, despite long-standing warnings that high bacterial levels make the Potomac River tributary unsafe. According to the National Park Service (NPS), “swimming and wading are not allowed due to high bacteria levels.” …

The Independent reports: Dr. Mehmet Oz believes it is the “patriotic duty” of Americans to stay healthy, but hearing the assertion from the head of Medicare and Medicaid, which are currently facing potential cuts, did not inspire patriotism in all Americans. “Seventy percent of the money we spend is on chronic illness, and we’re not getting our money’s worth,” Oz …

Politico reports: The measles outbreak has surpassed 1,000 cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Friday, a grim milestone that has only been achieved twice in the last 30 years. Three people have died in the outbreak, according to the CDC, including two school-aged children in Texas. Children under 5 account for roughly one third of the 1,001 …

“The attacks that Casey is unqualified because she left the medical system completely miss the point of what we are trying to accomplish with MAHA. Casey is the perfect choice for Surgeon General precisely because she left the traditional medical system–not in spite of it. Her leadership has inspired many doctors to reform the system and forge a new path …

The Associated Press reports: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a plan Wednesday to use medical data and records from people on Medicaid and Medicare to help study autism although experts say it’s unlikely to help reveal the condition’s root causes. The program will involve a data sharing agreement between the National Institutes of Health, the government’s health research …

The Independent reports: A former Bush administration official has made startling claims, alleging that the United States government has built an extensive underground network of bunkers worth $21 trillion. The bunkers, as the official said, were constructed from 1998 till 2015 and with “unauthorized spending.” Catherine Austin Fitts, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1989 until 1990, under …

“I am pleased to announce that Dr. Casey Means, will be nominated as our next Surgeon General of the United States of America. Casey has impeccable “MAHA” credentials, and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease …

The Tallahassee Democrat reports: As of July 1, it’ll be against the law to fluoridate water in Florida. On May 6 in Miami, Gov. Ron DeSantis, accompanied by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, signed the “Florida Farm Bill” (SB 700), which prevents local municipalities from adding fluoride to their water. During his press conference, behind a …

Bloomberg News reports:  Mehmet Oz, the US Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services leader, suggested he supports reducing federal Medicaid funding for the millions of people who gained access to the program through the Affordable Care Act. The US government pays for a larger share of the medical costs for those people, compared with individuals who qualify for conventional Medicaid. …

CNN reports: Lawmakers in Florida approved a bill to prohibit certain additives in drinking water, effectively banning fluoride, and the measure now goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis for a signature. If it’s finalized, Florida will become the second state to ban fluoride in municipal drinking water. The Florida Farm Bill includes language banning the use of any additive in a …