Senate panel advances RFK Jr.'s nomination to be health secretary
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RFK Jr. Clears Senate Finance Committee Vote to Become Health Secretary
Above: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US Pres. Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services testifies during his confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Kevin Dietsch/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The US Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday voted 14-13 to advance Pres. Donald Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department.
This comes as Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a medical doctor and the chair of the Senate Health Committee, cast the decisive vote for Kennedy after the nominee made several commitments to him in intense talks before the vote.
Cassidy said that Kennedy pledged to keep federal vaccine recommendations, not to remove online information about vaccine safety and autism, not to set up alternate approval systems for vaccines, and to have a close relationship with the Health Committee.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
RFK Jr. may have it right that America has an issue with corporate influence over health regulations. However, he would represent a serious threat to public health if confirmed as health secretary as his Make America Healthy Again movement promotes a plethora of conspiracy theories.
Republican narrative
Liberals are fearmongering over Kennedy becoming health secretary as if he would impose his personal health opinions — and even some views he doesn't support — on the nation. That's just not gonna happen. Unlike Democrats, RFK Jr. is treating Americans as adults and allowing them to make informed choices.
Metaculus Prediction
Public Figures
The Controversies
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