Amanda Prestigiacomo

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.

Right. So Libby was censored by Democrats over a post she published on Facebook. That post highlighted a male athlete winning a state championship in girls' high school pole vaulting. In Maine, males who identify as transgender, they're allowed to compete in girls' sports, which, according to all polls, is not supported by the American people, even in a liberal state like Maine.

Right. So Libby was censored by Democrats over a post she published on Facebook. That post highlighted a male athlete winning a state championship in girls' high school pole vaulting. In Maine, males who identify as transgender, they're allowed to compete in girls' sports, which, according to all polls, is not supported by the American people, even in a liberal state like Maine.

I was able to speak to Representative Libby yesterday. Here she is talking about the censure from state Democrats and the really interesting stipulation applied to her censorship.

I was able to speak to Representative Libby yesterday. Here she is talking about the censure from state Democrats and the really interesting stipulation applied to her censorship.

She told me that she knew immediately after the censure that she had to take legal action to challenge that punishment. She lost at the district of appeals court levels before she eventually appealed in April to the Supreme Court.