Amanda Prestigiacomo

Overall, there's just a real shift at HHS in what the department is prioritizing. Kennedy famously took doge like actions to the department last month and he terminated tens of thousands of employees that he said were either from duplicate departments or unnecessary bureaucracy. He's also reallocating funds he's cut from NIH and the CDC to instead address chronic disease.

And as I mentioned earlier, tens of millions of dollars are going towards autism research. But this seems like just step one for Kennedy in his MAHA actions. He signaled that he's taking on the pharmaceutical industry next.

And as I mentioned earlier, tens of millions of dollars are going towards autism research. But this seems like just step one for Kennedy in his MAHA actions. He signaled that he's taking on the pharmaceutical industry next.

You're welcome.

You're welcome.

While taking questions from reporters in the White House this week, Trump seemed to endorse a baby bonus.

While taking questions from reporters in the White House this week, Trump seemed to endorse a baby bonus.

The White House is reportedly reviewing proposals aimed at boosting the U.S. birth rate, including a possible $5,000 baby bonus for new mothers. President Trump called the idea a good one, but an official says no final decisions have been made. Vice President J.D. Vance has pushed for expanded incentives, including tax breaks for married couples and medals for large families.

The White House is reportedly reviewing proposals aimed at boosting the U.S. birth rate, including a possible $5,000 baby bonus for new mothers. President Trump called the idea a good one, but an official says no final decisions have been made. Vice President J.D. Vance has pushed for expanded incentives, including tax breaks for married couples and medals for large families.

The discussions come as the U.S. faces a years-long decline in marriage and birth rates.

The discussions come as the U.S. faces a years-long decline in marriage and birth rates.

Yeah, well, Kennedy first announced the results of a CDC study on autism. He said that autism now affects one in 31 children in the U.S., and that's nearly five times higher than when the CDC first started these surveys back in 1992. Just two years ago, the prevalence was one in 36 children. RFK broke down those findings even further.

Yeah, well, Kennedy first announced the results of a CDC study on autism. He said that autism now affects one in 31 children in the U.S., and that's nearly five times higher than when the CDC first started these surveys back in 1992. Just two years ago, the prevalence was one in 36 children. RFK broke down those findings even further.

He said that boys were far more at risk with 1 in 20 chances of having autism. And in California, it was even higher. 1 in 12.5 boys were diagnosed. Obviously, very alarming findings and even more troubling. Kennedy said that a lot of these cases are now severe.

He said that boys were far more at risk with 1 in 20 chances of having autism. And in California, it was even higher. 1 in 12.5 boys were diagnosed. Obviously, very alarming findings and even more troubling. Kennedy said that a lot of these cases are now severe.

RFK also asserted that the increasing rate of autism can be attributed in large part to environmental factors. He specifically cited mold, pesticides, other food chemicals, and medications as potentially being linked. Kennedy really stressed that he believes the increased rate of autism is an epidemic. Now that's significant because critics have said that autism is mostly genetic.

RFK also asserted that the increasing rate of autism can be attributed in large part to environmental factors. He specifically cited mold, pesticides, other food chemicals, and medications as potentially being linked. Kennedy really stressed that he believes the increased rate of autism is an epidemic. Now that's significant because critics have said that autism is mostly genetic.

RFK called such critics epidemic deniers. He also had Dr. Walter Zarodny touch on this issue at the conference. He's a long-term autism researcher, and he's an associate professor at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

RFK called such critics epidemic deniers. He also had Dr. Walter Zarodny touch on this issue at the conference. He's a long-term autism researcher, and he's an associate professor at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Kennedy announced earlier this month that his department will find the cause of autism in a matter of months. Here he is speaking to President Trump.