2 months ago
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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to end the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation for water fluoridation in the U.S. and is forming a task force to examine fluoride’s health effects. Separately, he has backed the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine he previously criticized.
👥 Who’s Involved: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC, the EPA, Utah State lawmakers, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
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📍 Where & When: Announcement made in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 7, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: “I’m very, very proud of this state for being the first state to ban it, and I hope many more will.” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
⚠️ Impact: Utah is the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water; public water systems must cease fluoridation by May 7.
IN FULL:
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is setting a new course for U.S. water fluoridation policies, advocating for the CDC to withdraw its longstanding support. This initiative is coupled with the assembly of a dedicated task force to evaluate the health implications associated with fluoride use in drinking water.
Kennedy’s announcement came in the wake of Utah’s recent legislative action making it the first state in the nation to implement a ban on water fluoridation. Addressing reporters, Kennedy expressed pride in Utah’s pioneering stance, citing concerns over fluoride as a neurotoxin potentially linked to a variety of health issues, including arthritis and bone fractures. His remarks were backed by Utah lawmakers supportive of the legislation, as well as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin.
Historically, the CDC has positioned water fluoridation as a preventive measure against tooth decay, stipulating an optimal concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter. Despite this, some experts argue that adverse effects may occur at certain exposure levels. A 2023 review by the National Toxicology Program indicated that elevated fluoride exposure could negatively impact children’s IQ scores.
However, the fluoride push comes as Kennedy has alienated many longtime supporters by endorsing the controversial media, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Previously, he has been critical of the combined vaccination, which skeptics have linked to rising levels of autism in children, going so far as to brand it a “NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT” after it allegedly caused a mumps outbreak on a U.S. warship.
He now insists that the “most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine.”
READ:
I came to Gaines County, Texas, today to comfort the Hildebrand family after the loss of their 8-year-old daughter Daisy. I got to know the family of 6-year-old Kayley Fehr after she passed away in February. I also developed bonds with and deep affection for other members of…
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) April 6, 2025
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: American workers are getting behind President Donald J. Trump’s tariff plan to help bring jobs back to America.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, United Auto Workers, Steel Manufacturers Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Southern Shrimp Alliance, National Council of Textile Organizations, and various small business owners and industry leaders.
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📍 Where & When: Across the United States, April 7.
💬 Key Quote: “To see those plants close, one after another, and just sit idle and then fall into disrepair and collapse, they become abandoned buildings… I’m glad to see Donald Trump finally standing up saying he’s going to do something about it,” said retired auto worker Brian Pannebecker.
⚠️ Impact: The Trump tariffs receiving support from industry figures and working-class Americans signals renewed hope for domestic manufacturing and economic growth, despite outcry from financiers.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump’s robust tariff initiative, aimed at countering the impact globalization has had on American industries, is being praised by workers across America. The new direction is garnering support from several industry groups, including the United Auto Workers, Steel Manufacturers Association, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, as well as local business leaders.
Support from American industry is evident across the nation. Illinois cattle farmer Alan Adams highlighted the long-standing issues with foreign tariffs, particularly in beef, noting, “We’d like the same chance to sell the great taste of American beef.”
Acy Cooper, a fourth-generation shrimp producer in Louisiana, underscored the importance of strong domestic production for national resilience, saying, “We’ve been suffering for over 20 years … this country can’t feed itself, this country can’t sustain its own way of life. If we get into a war with China, one of our big importers … how are we going to feed the people of this country? … It has to come [from] within this country.”
In Michigan, retired auto worker Brian Pannebecker said, “To see those plants close, one after another, and just sit idle and then fall into disrepair and collapse, they become abandoned buildings… I’m glad to see Donald Trump finally standing up saying he’s going to do something about it.”
Further support comes from business leaders such as Brian Riley, CEO at Guardian Bikes, who perceives Trump’s trade policy as a welcome shift away from a status quo that “prioritized offshoring production and cheap consumption.”
President Trump is pushing forward with his plan, emphasizing his desire to bolster American industries, create fair trade opportunities, and ultimately enhance the livelihoods of American workers. He urged Americans to stay strong through the market jitters attributed to the tariffs on Monday morning, writing on his Truth Social platform, “The United States has a chance to do something that should have been done DECADES AGO. Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid! Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!).”
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