BY MATT BERG
& CROOKED MEDIA

WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 29, 2025

Frankly, you frighten people.” 

— Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, [a]([link removed])[d]([link removed])[dressing his old law school buddy]([link removed]) RFK Jr.

JUNIOR MINCED

RFK Jr. got thrashed by Democratic senators in a brutal hearing today, as his nomination to become America’s top health official hangs in the balance. Even some Republicans seem wary of this guy, for their own reasons.  

- It’s worth taking a [good, long look]([link removed]) at the views of the kook man tapped to lead American public health policy. To recap: Kennedy [petitioned the FDA to stop]([link removed]) administering COVID vaccinations at a peak of the pandemic; he baselessly claimed that COVID [was genetically engineered]([link removed]) to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people; he wants to remove fluoride from drinking water despite its proven effectiveness to dramatically reduce tooth decay; he founded an anti-vax group that pushed the false theory that vaccines cause autism; and he believes raw milk, which is not safe to drink and can make you ill, is good for people. 

- How do you interview a guy with a track record like that for the actually-very-serious job leading the Department of Health and Human Services? His ideas are so wild that to merely discuss them, as senators were forced to do in today’s confirmation hearing, presented a kind of theater of the absurd. “Did you say that Lyme Disease is highly likely a bioweapon?” Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) [asked]([link removed]). “I probably did say that,” Kennedy responded. (Excuse me?) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) questioned Kennedy about his anti-vax group’s [baby onesies]([link removed]), which are emblazoned with the phrases “Unvaxxed, unafraid,” and “No vax no problem.” In his brusque New York accent, the progressive firebrand asked: “Are you supportive of these onesies?” Kennedy said he has no control over the group.

- Kennedy seemed to stumble over the basic details of health insurance programs used by 150 million Americans, which he would oversee. He ignored the fact that half of Medicare, which covers older Americans, relies on private insurance. Medicaid, he said, is “fully paid for by the federal government,” [which isn’t true]([link removed]). He also claimed that Medicaid premiums and deductibles “are too high,” despite the fact that most enrollees — who are low-income — don’t pay anything for their coverage. Kennedy also [guessed that 30 million infants]([link removed]) are under Medicaid insurance. 30 million! You think babies on Medicaid make up almost one-in-ten Americans, my guy? Sure, yeah, hire him!
 

- At certain points, he “sounded like a college freshman who stayed up all night cramming for a final exam and still couldn't pass,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) told What A Day in a call after the hearing. Will Kennedy be confirmed? Wyden wouldn’t speculate, but “I don't underestimate the White House’s power to try to tell everybody that Western civilization is going to end if they don't get every single one of their nominees.”

 
Kennedy’s downfall could come from one simple fact: Everyone hates something about him.

- The only thing more disturbing than Kennedy’s whackadoo “scientific" views is his relentless fascination with dead animals, which raises serious questions about his psyche. [Trigger warning for this next part: it’s gross.] Caroline Kennedy, his own cousin, [said that]([link removed]) throughout his life, Kennedy “enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks.” He’s also been accused of sawing the head off a beached whale and tying it to the roof of his car. He once posed with a dead bear cub before dumping it in Central Park. A worm once ate part of his brain and died there. 

- Ironically, many Republicans can’t stand him, either. Kennedy was a Democrat for most of his life, switching Independent during his failed presidential bid. An advocacy group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence [has been leading the right-wing charge]([link removed]) against Kennedy, saying this week that he shouldn’t be confirmed because of his pro-choice stance, former addiction to heroin, his past marijuana use, and his support for legalizing psychedelic drugs. He also reportedly cheated on his wife, actress Cherly Hines, numerous times and kept “[secret sex diaries.]([link removed])” (Cheryl: Does the legacy of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” mean nothing to you? Leave this man!)

- Despite all of this, some of Kennedy’s core messages (and even his background!) do in fact resonate with a lot of people, including some of his critics. Kennedy popularized the “Make America Healthy Again” slogan, which aims to remove processed and low-quality foods from the American diet and battle chronic illness through eating well. It’s been compared to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative. [You can even take an online test]([link removed]) to guess who made which comments about public health. He was also a [longtime environmental champion]([link removed]), which has nothing to do with the current job he’s going for, but it’s a huge reason why some people do like him.

Let’s not forget, however, that even his family despises him. Jack Schlossberg, Kennedy’s distant cousin, spent the day ranting [on social media]([link removed]). “Life and death decisions by someone who cannot tell the truth,” he wrote. “Everyone already wants to end chronic disease. Find me one person who is pro-chronic illness.”
 
Got any tips or emails from the Trump administration? Reach me on Signal at 413-726-4767 or email at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). I’ll keep you totally anonymous — I’d love to chat.

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WHAT ELSE?

[The Trump administration rescinded its order for a pause]([link removed]) on federal funds, which sparked pandemonium across the country yesterday. But White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that only the memo is being rescinded, not Trump’s effort to “end the egregious waste of federal funding.” So, yes, we’re all equally confused right now.
 
[Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit in which Donald Trump]([link removed]) sued the tech company for banning him from their platforms following the January 6 riots. Most of that will go toward building his presidential library. Nothing to see here!
 
[Trump said he’ll direct the federal government]([link removed]) to begin preparing Guantanamo Bay to hold 30,000 migrants. He also signed [the Laken Riley Act into law today,]([link removed]) which requires law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants who’ve committed petty crimes like shoplifting. 
 
[ICE agents are planning to conduct major raids in three cities every week]([link removed]), NBC News reports. The next target is Aurora, Colorado, where a large-scale raid will begin Thursday morning, according to people familiar with the plans. ICE agents have been told to arrest 1,500 migrants per day.
 
[The share of Americans who disapprove of Trump’s presidency]([link removed])rose to 46 percent from 39 percent since taking office, according to a new poll. He’s also the [least popular newly-elected president]([link removed]) in eight decades, which is an honor he held when he was first elected, too. Hmmm, why could that be? The mass immigration crackdowns, battle against gender equality, the aura of total chaos, or the economic policies that would raise prices?
 
[Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a waiver that allows humanitarian aid]([link removed]) programs — which provide food, shelter, medicine, medical assistance, and other services around the world — to continue to receive funding. His backtracking on Trump’s near-total foreign aid freeze shows, once again, that this administration isn’t thinking through its massive life-altering decisions before it inflicts them on Americans. Very comforting!
 
[Trump’s “buyout” email last night mirrored a message]([link removed]) that centibillionaire conspiracist Elon Musk sent to Twitter employees three years ago — down to the subject line, “Fork in the Road.” Musk did such a great job transforming Twitter into a hellscape, why not do the same with the federal government?
 
[No, the U.S. did not spend $50 million on condoms in Gaza,]([link removed]) no matter how many times the Trump administration claims it did. 

[Former Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison]([link removed]) today after being found guilty on corruption charges. This guy was a top lawmaker influencing U.S. foreign policy… while accepting bribes that included literal gold bars and a luxury car, among other items. And don’t forget about the [halal beef monopoly]([link removed])!

​​This week on Keep It: The nominations are in! And so are the takes! Tune in as Ira & Louis break down the biggest surprises from the Oscar nods—and don’t miss their chat with the one and only Christina Milian. Take a break from freaking out about the news to freak out about the Challengers score getting snubbed. Catch the episode now, on the [Keep It feed]([link removed]) or on their [YouTube channel]([link removed])!
 

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[Left-leaning media outlets are seeing a “Trump bump” in ratings]([link removed]) after initially seeing a massive drop in viewership. MSNBC has seen a 61 percent bump since Donald Trump’s inauguration. The Guardian, The xxxxxx and The Atlantic [have also seen]([link removed]) increases. For obvious reasons, I love this news.

[Starbucks will no longer charge extra for nondairy milk!]([link removed]) Lactose intolerant crew: Let’s goooooo! 

[Scientists found the building blocks for life on Bennu,]([link removed]) an asteroid visited by a NASA probe five years ago. “I think it shows that the early steps toward the path to life were occurring much more widely and much earlier than we had thought before,” a researcher who published the findings in a research paper today told the Washington Post. Aliens, please take us away from here!!!

[Polar bears’ greasy fur could hold the key to finding alternatives]([link removed]) to “forever chemicals,” a wide range of compounds toxic to humans, according to new research. That’s because of an oily substance secreted by the bears that gives their fur its anti-icing capability. If researchers can figure out how to recreate that substance, they may be able to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals used in anti-icing products. I love nature.
 

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