Republicans are running around praising RFK for pushing the long-debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. Let’s be clear. For over 20 years, study after study across multiple countries has shown no link between vaccines and autism. The only study that ever suggested otherwise was retracted for fraud.
Autism has always existed. What changed is that we finally started recognizing and diagnosing it correctly instead of ignoring it or mislabeling people. The so-called “rise” in cases is really a rise in awareness.
And here’s the part they never want to admit: autism isn’t a defect. It’s adaptation. Autistic brains are wired differently, and many people on the spectrum have extraordinary abilities in math, writing, memory, and problem-solving. It’s a natural part of human diversity, not something caused by vaccines.
So when RFK and Republicans recycle junk science to score political points, they’re not just wrong. They’re dismissing millions of autistic people whose strengths and perspectives make society better.
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Aaron Rupar
@atrupar
WELKER: Do you have 100% confidence in Secretary Kennedy?
LANKFORD: I believe he's who the president picked. He's challenging some of the assumption -- what is it about autism? He seems to be following the science
WELKER: The science has debunked links between autism and
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