Malcolm Gladwell

I should point out, guess who Woody Harrelson is good friends with? RFK Jr. So maybe what we're looking at here is not two Beshampians who arrived at the same conclusion independently, but one Beshampian who infected another. In defiance of everything Beshampian. Of course, there is some truth to terrain theory.

I should point out, guess who Woody Harrelson is good friends with? RFK Jr. So maybe what we're looking at here is not two Beshampians who arrived at the same conclusion independently, but one Beshampian who infected another. In defiance of everything Beshampian. Of course, there is some truth to terrain theory.

Diabetes and heart disease are the result, in part, of what Béchamp would call a disturbed terrain, a body that because of obesity or smoking or bad nutrition or a lack of exercise has become vulnerable to chronic disease. But Kennedy doesn't stop there. He's a radical Béchampian. He believes that if you're otherwise healthy, the cold virus is just not going to be an issue.

Diabetes and heart disease are the result, in part, of what Béchamp would call a disturbed terrain, a body that because of obesity or smoking or bad nutrition or a lack of exercise has become vulnerable to chronic disease. But Kennedy doesn't stop there. He's a radical Béchampian. He believes that if you're otherwise healthy, the cold virus is just not going to be an issue.

HIV is probably not going to give you AIDS, not if you take care of yourself. There's a whole chapter on HIV and AIDS in his book, making a version of this argument. Early in his time as Secretary of Health and Human Services, there was a major outbreak of measles in Texas. And Kennedy's response was so lackadaisical that his press secretary quit, it seems, in disgust. Measles?

HIV is probably not going to give you AIDS, not if you take care of yourself. There's a whole chapter on HIV and AIDS in his book, making a version of this argument. Early in his time as Secretary of Health and Human Services, there was a major outbreak of measles in Texas. And Kennedy's response was so lackadaisical that his press secretary quit, it seems, in disgust. Measles?

It's only a problem if you're unhealthy. The virus is the symptom, not the cause. It took several months, two children dying, and over 500 cases for him to finally give an interview where he said, OK, you should get the measles shot. Kennedy is unhappy to this day that in the 19th century battle between Louis Pasteur and Antoine Béchamp, Pasteur came out on top.

It's only a problem if you're unhealthy. The virus is the symptom, not the cause. It took several months, two children dying, and over 500 cases for him to finally give an interview where he said, OK, you should get the measles shot. Kennedy is unhappy to this day that in the 19th century battle between Louis Pasteur and Antoine Béchamp, Pasteur came out on top.

Listen, this is from the audiobook version of the real Anthony Fauci, being read by what really, really seems like AI.

Listen, this is from the audiobook version of the real Anthony Fauci, being read by what really, really seems like AI.

Just so you're aware, if you're thinking of getting the audiobook, you're in for 27 hours and 20 minutes of this.

Just so you're aware, if you're thinking of getting the audiobook, you're in for 27 hours and 20 minutes of this.

What doesn't RFK Jr. like? Pills, powders, pricks, and potions. The very things that the Department of Health and Human Services brings to the world. And of all the pills and powders and pricks within his domain, the one he hates the most is Rodotech. And why does he hate Rodotech? Because he's a Bishampian. And a Bishampian has to hate Rodotech.

What doesn't RFK Jr. like? Pills, powders, pricks, and potions. The very things that the Department of Health and Human Services brings to the world. And of all the pills and powders and pricks within his domain, the one he hates the most is Rodotech. And why does he hate Rodotech? Because he's a Bishampian. And a Bishampian has to hate Rodotech.

Because if Kennedy admits that Rodotech works, then the whole edifice of 19th century pseudoscience that he has committed himself to comes tumbling down. RFK Jr. likes to pretend that he is alarmed by vaccines that do not work. No, he's alarmed by vaccines that do work. Heaven, help us. Next time on Revisionist History, the plot thickens and the virus spreads from RFK Jr. to Joe Rogan.

Because if Kennedy admits that Rodotech works, then the whole edifice of 19th century pseudoscience that he has committed himself to comes tumbling down. RFK Jr. likes to pretend that he is alarmed by vaccines that do not work. No, he's alarmed by vaccines that do work. Heaven, help us. Next time on Revisionist History, the plot thickens and the virus spreads from RFK Jr. to Joe Rogan.

Revisionist History is produced by Lucy Sullivan, Nina Bird Lawrence, and Ben-Nadav Hafri. Our editor is Karen Shakerji. Fact-checking by Kate Furby. Original scoring by Luis Guerra. Engineering by Nina Bird Lawrence. Mixing and mastering on this episode by Marcelo D'Oliveira. Production support from Luke Lamond. Our executive producer is Jacob Smith.

Revisionist History is produced by Lucy Sullivan, Nina Bird Lawrence, and Ben-Nadav Hafri. Our editor is Karen Shakerji. Fact-checking by Kate Furby. Original scoring by Luis Guerra. Engineering by Nina Bird Lawrence. Mixing and mastering on this episode by Marcelo D'Oliveira. Production support from Luke Lamond. Our executive producer is Jacob Smith.

Special thanks to Sarah Nix and El Jefe Greta Cohn. I'm Malcolm Gladwell.

Special thanks to Sarah Nix and El Jefe Greta Cohn. I'm Malcolm Gladwell.