Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s antics have captured the national spotlight, but his influence pales in comparison to the broader menace lurking beneath the surface: the "Make America Healthy Again" (Maha) movement. This grassroots crusade has been quietly rolling out hundreds of state-level legislative initiatives aimed at dismantling public health advances and embracing pseudoscience.
While Kennedy's personal controversies garner headlines, a staggering 420 anti-science bills have been introduced in states across the US this year alone, with dozens already becoming law. The Medical Freedom Act in Idaho, which renders vaccine requirements null and void within its borders, is just one example of the extreme legislation that is gaining traction.
The consequences of these measures are dire. Vaccines have prevented over a million childhood deaths since 1994, while raw milk has been linked to 840 times more illnesses than pasteurized milk. Fluoride, meanwhile, has been shown to decrease cavities by 25%. Yet, these facts seem to be losing out to the misinformation peddled by figures like Kennedy and Maha proponents.
The financial incentives driving this movement are clear: major food and drug companies stand to reap significant benefits from promoting raw milk, anti-vaccine agendas, and fluoridation bans. But it's not just corporate interests at play – several lobbying groups connected to Kennedy himself are also backing these bills. The AP reported on Mark McAfee, a California farmer with a history of salmonella outbreaks linked to his raw milk operation, who has raked in $32m in sales this year.
What's more alarming, however, is the potential for long-term damage from state-level anti-science policy. Unlike federal-level reversals, these measures can be stubbornly persistent and have irreversible national effects. The ongoing measles outbreak that began in Texas has already spread to multiple states, highlighting the urgent need for public health reform.
To combat this epidemic of Maha misinformation, it's not enough to simply condemn RFK Jr.'s antics; we need a more holistic approach that reclaim traditional political power and wins hearts and minds on new terrain. By supporting science-supporting politicians, healthcare workers, and grassroots initiatives, we can begin to push back against the tide of pseudoscience that threatens our collective health.
While Kennedy's personal controversies garner headlines, a staggering 420 anti-science bills have been introduced in states across the US this year alone, with dozens already becoming law. The Medical Freedom Act in Idaho, which renders vaccine requirements null and void within its borders, is just one example of the extreme legislation that is gaining traction.
The consequences of these measures are dire. Vaccines have prevented over a million childhood deaths since 1994, while raw milk has been linked to 840 times more illnesses than pasteurized milk. Fluoride, meanwhile, has been shown to decrease cavities by 25%. Yet, these facts seem to be losing out to the misinformation peddled by figures like Kennedy and Maha proponents.
The financial incentives driving this movement are clear: major food and drug companies stand to reap significant benefits from promoting raw milk, anti-vaccine agendas, and fluoridation bans. But it's not just corporate interests at play – several lobbying groups connected to Kennedy himself are also backing these bills. The AP reported on Mark McAfee, a California farmer with a history of salmonella outbreaks linked to his raw milk operation, who has raked in $32m in sales this year.
What's more alarming, however, is the potential for long-term damage from state-level anti-science policy. Unlike federal-level reversals, these measures can be stubbornly persistent and have irreversible national effects. The ongoing measles outbreak that began in Texas has already spread to multiple states, highlighting the urgent need for public health reform.
To combat this epidemic of Maha misinformation, it's not enough to simply condemn RFK Jr.'s antics; we need a more holistic approach that reclaim traditional political power and wins hearts and minds on new terrain. By supporting science-supporting politicians, healthcare workers, and grassroots initiatives, we can begin to push back against the tide of pseudoscience that threatens our collective health.
. It's like they're trying to undo everything we've learned about vaccines and public health over the years. I mean, have you seen those statistics on vaccine deaths? Like, come on! And don't even get me started on fluoride – it's a proven fact that it reduces cavities by 25%! 
What's driving this movement is clear: big money from corporations trying to sell us raw milk and anti-vax stuff. But what's really scary is the long-term damage these bills could cause. We can't just sit back and let our states become lab rats for pseudoscience experiments 
. We need to support people who actually care about science and public health, like our healthcare workers and politicians who are fighting against Maha 
I mean, come on... 420 anti-science bills? That's just crazy talk! 
. I mean, 420 anti-science bills introduced this year is wild! 
You know what's even crazier? People still drinking raw milk after salmonella outbreaks 
. Anyway, we gotta stop Maha before it's too late and our kids keep dying from preventable illnesses 
. We need to get behind science-y people who actually know what they're talking about 
. Oh, and if you haven't already, do a quick Google on Mark McAfee... let's just say his business model is a bit sketchy 
The facts are clear: vaccines save lives, fluoridation prevents cavities, and raw milk can be super bad for you. 
But what really freaks me out is how these bills can be super hard to reverse once they're passed, so we need to take action ASAP! 
what if we lost access to fluors that have been shown to decrease cavities by 25%? or worse what if we lose the lifesaving benefits of vaccines 
We need to support our health experts and politicians who actually care about science, not just lining the pockets of big corporations 
. and it's not just him, all these major food and drug companies are backing this raw milk/anti-vaccine nonsense 
. I mean, have you seen Mark McAfee's sales numbers? $32m?! that's insane 
.
like vaccines have saved millions of lives since 1994 but some ppl still think raw milk & fluoridation are bad news 