An epic CNN shouting match earned scathing rebuke for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Sunday after he “barked” unsubstantiated facts then accused his interviewer of being “flustered.”
“I am not flustered,” host Dana Bash replied. “I am frustrated.”
Bash’s frustration was shared by CNN viewers who professed themselves shocked by Kennedy’s response to repeated questions about President Donald Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, a U.S. measles outbreak and the legitimacy of his anti-vaccination rhetoric.
“I don’t think she was the one who was flustered,” replied New York Times reporter Glenn Thrush.
During the interview, Kennedy nearly lunged across the table, jabbed his finger at Bash, interrupted her questions and hurled insults.
“You probably don’t understand this because you’re not a scientist,” Kennedy told Bash.
“You’re not, either,” Bash replied.
Added X influencer Covie, “She just pointed out at he’s not a scientist while he’s been yelling lies about vaccines and someone she is the one who is flustered?”
Kennedy also dodged Bash’s questions about why he wanted Americans to get the measles vaccine if we felt vaccines for infants up to six months old had not been properly vetted.
“It’s the only one that has been studied,” Kennedy claimed, falsely, and not for the first time.
In January, Kennedy’s Health and Human Services department released a new childhood immunization schedule that reduced the number of universally recommended vaccines from 17 to 11, cutting hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, flu, RSV, and COVID immunity shots.
Bill Hanage, professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said at the time, “The bottom line is that if fewer people are protected, there will be more preventable illness, suffering, and death.”
Such fears are why U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) decided to post a lengthy response to Kennedy’s interview that included insults he argued needed to be said.
“If slow the deployment of vaccines that have kept people from getting measles, polio, hepatitis and countless other communicable diseases, people will die,” wrote Casten. “Not because RFK Jr. is evil. But because he is a true believer who is totally unqualified for his job.”
Casten issued a jab at the Republicans who nominated and appointed Kennedy to his role for granting status and power to a man with no medical degree.
“The danger however comes when we confuse his title for his expertise,” he wrote. “Far better to say ‘Heroin addict Kennedy’, ‘Man who eats road kill and has a brain worm’, ‘Harvard drug dealer’ or even ‘Nuzzi’s ex boyfriend’.”
Casten then justified his insults.
“Not to be mean,” he said. “But because all of those things do a better job of attuning the public to whatever he is about to say next. And it’s the best way to ensure that the kooky s— he says doesn’t get any more people killed.”
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