Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of JFK, says she has a rare terminal cancer
NPR Online NewsNOV 20
JFK's Granddaughter Announces Rare Terminal Cancer Diagnosis
Should this inspire RFK Jr. to change his dangerous policies, or must it not be weaponized against her cousin?
Above: Tatiana Schlossberg attends her book signing in Richmond, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2019. Image credit: Amber De Vos/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This diagnosis shows that no matter who you are, tragedy can strike out of the blue. Tatiana, who's spent her life working to make the world cleaner and healthier, is acutely aware of the need for public health funding, yet she and others like her remain at risk of growing anti-science trends. The life-saving treatments that keep patients like her alive depend on the very government research programs her cousin denigrates, so, hopefully, her story will inspire him to reverse his harmful policies.
Narrative B
Tatiana's tragic diagnosis shouldn't be weaponized against her cousin, who's working hard to prioritize Americans' health over profits, especially by pushing Big Pharma to provide much more detailed, blunt descriptions of side effects in their drug commercials, which they've done since he took office. Her illness is another chapter in the long Kennedy streak of misfortune, but it has no bearing on his efforts to make people healthier.