Amanda Prestigiacomo

Hey, John. Yeah, some in the Republican Party say that they're worried about farmers in their districts who rely on pesticides like glyphosate, which has caught the eye of HHS. And there have been reports that there are concerns from within the White House that abrupt regulatory action on these chemicals could trigger supply chain issues.

Hey, John. Yeah, some in the Republican Party say that they're worried about farmers in their districts who rely on pesticides like glyphosate, which has caught the eye of HHS. And there have been reports that there are concerns from within the White House that abrupt regulatory action on these chemicals could trigger supply chain issues.

Now, on the other side of this, you have some Republicans and this Maha coalition of activists who want to see pesticides that have been banned in other countries to be banned here as well. Or at the least, there are some GOP representatives who are currently fighting off efforts in their states to shield pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits over apparent harms they cause, including even cancer.

Now, on the other side of this, you have some Republicans and this Maha coalition of activists who want to see pesticides that have been banned in other countries to be banned here as well. Or at the least, there are some GOP representatives who are currently fighting off efforts in their states to shield pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits over apparent harms they cause, including even cancer.

Well, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spoken out about pesticides for years now. He said that they're poisoning American children. He's not backing down from that, but his department, HHS, is really towing the line between these two camps and the GOP.

Well, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spoken out about pesticides for years now. He said that they're poisoning American children. He's not backing down from that, but his department, HHS, is really towing the line between these two camps and the GOP.

Top Kennedy advisor Callie Means, for example, earlier this month, he said that while HHS will state the truth about pesticides, he said the department has no desire for nanny state regulatory measures on these chemicals. Here's Means at an Axios event.

Top Kennedy advisor Callie Means, for example, earlier this month, he said that while HHS will state the truth about pesticides, he said the department has no desire for nanny state regulatory measures on these chemicals. Here's Means at an Axios event.

Means added that HHS would love to help harness the private sector to help combat this issue.

Means added that HHS would love to help harness the private sector to help combat this issue.

So the big fight here is over pesticide manufacturer Bayer. That's a German-based company that acquired Monsanto in 2018. There's legislation in more than a dozen states right now to shield Bayer from forthcoming legal action over its failure to warn about potential harms associated with its products, specifically Roundup, which contains glyphosate.

So the big fight here is over pesticide manufacturer Bayer. That's a German-based company that acquired Monsanto in 2018. There's legislation in more than a dozen states right now to shield Bayer from forthcoming legal action over its failure to warn about potential harms associated with its products, specifically Roundup, which contains glyphosate.

I spoke to Missouri Republican lawmaker Nick Schroer, who's fighting efforts to shield Bayer in his state.

I spoke to Missouri Republican lawmaker Nick Schroer, who's fighting efforts to shield Bayer in his state.

Schroer told me that there are almost 200,000 lawsuits that have been filed nationwide over Roundup, allegedly causing different diseases, cancers, and even deaths. In his state, Republicans are split on passing a bill to shield Bayer. Schroer told me that that divide has a lot to do with lobbying efforts.

Schroer told me that there are almost 200,000 lawsuits that have been filed nationwide over Roundup, allegedly causing different diseases, cancers, and even deaths. In his state, Republicans are split on passing a bill to shield Bayer. Schroer told me that that divide has a lot to do with lobbying efforts.

However, he also explained that worries about farmers are a real concern for some representatives.

However, he also explained that worries about farmers are a real concern for some representatives.

So far, GOP-led states like North Dakota and Georgia have passed laws to shield bear. Other states like Iowa, Idaho, Florida, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have similar legislation pending.

So far, GOP-led states like North Dakota and Georgia have passed laws to shield bear. Other states like Iowa, Idaho, Florida, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have similar legislation pending.