WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
IT HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK!
THE WHITE HOUSE COMPLETED A
PRISONER SWAP WITH RUSSIA,
VENEZUELA'S DISPUTED ELECTION
SPARKED PROTESTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, AND DONALD TRUMP HAD A
DISASTROUS APPEARANCE BEFORE THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK
JOURNALISTS, WITH MAYBE THE LOW
POINT BEING THIS.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT VICE
PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS ONLY
ON THE TICKET BECAUSE SHE IS A
BLACK WOMAN?
I CAN SAY NO, I THINK IT'S
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
SHE WAS ALWAYS OF INDIAN
HERITAGE, AND SHE WAS ONLY
PROMOTING INDIAN HERITAGE.
I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS BLACK
UNTIL A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WHEN
SHE HAPPENED TO TURN BLACK.
NOW SHE WANTS TO BE KNOWN AS
BLACK.
SO I DON'T KNOW.
IS SHE INDIAN, OR IS SHE BLACK?
SHE WAS INDIAN ALL THE WAY, THEN
ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE MADE A TURN
AND BECAME A BLACK PERSON.
I MEAN THIS IN THE MOST
THAT
WENT ABOUT AS WELL AS COULD BE
EXPECTED.
PUTTING TRUMP IN FRONT OF A
BLACK AUDIENCE AND ASKING HIM TO
SPEAK ON RACE WAS NEVER GOING TO
GET MORE ELEVATED THAN "THE LADY
SAID SHE WAS BOTH INDIAN AND
BLACK, THAT'S CHEATING."
ALSO-- NOT THAT THIS NEEDS
SAYING-- HARRIS DIDN'T "MAKE A
TURN" INTO BEING BLACK LIKE IT'S
AN INTERSTATE OFFRAMP.
HER FATHER'S BLACK AND HER
MOTHER WAS INDIAN.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT
J.D. VANCE-- A MAN WITH THREE
BIRACIAL CHILDREN-- WAS
THINKING WHILE WATCHING TRUMP
THERE.
ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE WAS PROBABLY THINKING "MMMM.
LOOK AT THAT LUSCIOUS
UPHOLSTERY.
DO THOSE CUSHIONS COME ALL THE
WAY OFF?"
BUT WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO THE
OLYMPICS.
THEY'VE BEEN GOING ON ALL WEEK,
WITH SOME NOTABLE HICCUPS--
FROM THE OLYMPIC FLAG BEING
FLOWN UPSIDE-DOWN, TO THE SOUTH
KOREAN DELEGATION BEING
INTRODUCED AS THE "DEMOCRATIC
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA"
WHICH IS-- FUN FACT-- THE
WRONG KOREA, TO THE TRIATHLON
TAKING PLACE IN THE SEINE
DESPITE IT PREVIOUSLY FAILING
MULTIPLE TESTS FOR POLLUTION.
THOUGH THAT DID GIVE US THIS
AMAZING BIT OF COLOR COMMENTARY
REGARDING U.S. TRIATHLETE SETH
RIDER'S PREPARATIONS.
HE PREPARED HIMSELF FOR WHAT
HE WOULD FACE HERE BY
ESSENTIALLY MICRODOSING E. COLI.
HE SAID THAT HE WAS TRYING TO
GET HIS BODY USED TO IT IN SMALL
DOSES.
AND HE WOULD DO THINGS LEADING
UP TO THESE GAMES, LIKE NOT
WASHING HIS HANDS AFTER HE WOULD
GO TO THE BATHROOM.
STUFF LIKE THAT.
WOW.
TURNS OUT THERE IS SUCH A THING
AS "TOO MUCH" OLYMPIC BACKSTORY.
NOW, I SHOULD SAY-- RIDER'S
SINCE SAID HE WAS KIDDING, WHICH
IS GOOD FOR MULTIPLE REASONS,
NOT LEAST THAT NOT WASHING YOUR
HANDS ISN'T HOW YOU MICRODOSE
E. COLI.
THE WAY YOU DO THAT IS BY EATING
AT CHIPOTLE.
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.
BUT THERE'VE BEEN SOME GLORIOUS
MOMENTS, TOO-- FROM SIMONE
BILES' TRIUMPHS, TO THIS BADASS
SOUTH KOREAN SHARPSHOOTER
WINNING SILVER, TO THIS GUY WHO
MEDALED WHILE LOOKING LIKE HE
JUST HAPPENED TO WANDER PAST THE
OLYMPICS.
HE LOOKS LIKE HE WAS CALLED IN
FOR "ONE LAST JOB" AND THAT JOB
INVOLVED MICROSOFT EXCEL.
SADLY, THERE WERE ALSO SOME
INCREDIBLY STUPID CONTROVERSIES.
THERE WAS A WILDLY TRANSPHOBIC
UPROAR OVER THIS ALGERIAN BOXER
SUPPOSEDLY BEING TRANS--
DESPITE THE FACT SHE ISN'T.
AND THERE WAS EVEN ANGER OVER
THE INCREDIBLY FRENCH OPENING
CEREMONY, WHICH FEATURED A
CHORUS OF BEHEADED
MARIE ANTOINETTES, A TORCH RELAY
ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS OF PARIS AND
A CANCAN ALONG THE SEINE.
THE ONLY WAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN
MORE FRENCH IS IF THERE'D BEEN A
MENAGE A TROIS BETWEEN THREE
PEOPLE DRESSED IN CLOWN OUTFITS
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE WAS.
THERE WAS A CLOWN THREESOME.
ALTHOUGH ONE ELEMENT OF THE
CEREMONY GOT SOME EXTRA BLOWBACK
THIS SCENE, IN WHICH DRAG
QUEENS AND OTHER PERFORMERS WERE
GATHERED AT A TABLE.
IT WAS MEANT TO EVOKE PAGAN
FEASTS, BUT SOME SAW SOMETHING
ELSE IN IT, AND WERE FURIOUS.
I THOUGHT THAT THE OPENING
CEREMONY WAS A DISGRACE,
ACTUALLY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A DISGRACE.
THE MOCKING OF THE LAST
SUPPER?
CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS
ACROSS--
I THOUGHT--
ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE
OUTRAGED.
I MEAN, THEY CAN DO CERTAIN
THINGS, I THOUGHT IT WAS...
TERRIBLE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS
STRANGE TO WATCH TRUMP ACT LIKE
HE CARES ABOUT RELIGION BECAUSE,
TO ECHO SOMETHING I HEARD
SOMEONE SAY RECENTLY, "I DIDN'T
KNOW HE WAS CHRISTIAN UNTIL A
NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WHEN HE
HAPPENED TO TURN CHRISTIAN...
ALL OF A SUDDEN HE MADE A TURN
AND BECAME A CHRISTIAN PERSON."
CRITICISM OF THAT SCENE ALSO
FOCUSED ON THIS NEARLY-NAKED
MAN, MEANT TO EVOKE THE GREEK
GOD DIONYSUS, ALTHOUGH HE MAINLY
LOOKED LIKE A PERVERTED SMURF
CRASHING A WEDDING RECEPTION.
HE ACTUALLY WENT ON CNN TO KIND
OF APOLOGIZE, THEN RESPONDED TO
A FOLLOW UP QUESTION WITH A
QUINTESSENTIALLY FRENCH ANSWER.
WERE YOU ABLE TO WASH ALL THE
BLUE PAINT OFF AFTER THE
PERFORMANCE?
I LOVE IT.
EVERY PART OF THAT IS GREAT--
NOT JUST SHOWING THE REPORTER
HIS BLUE BELLY BUTTON, BUT THE
WAY HE INTRODUCES IT BY SAYING
"THERE ARE STILL TRACES OF THE
PAST."
"LOOK, WE ARE ALL ZE PRODUCT OF
OUR CHOICES, OUR DECISIONS.
WE ARE ZE SUM OF WHAT CAME
BEFORE.
ZE PAST, SHE DOES NOT WASH OUT,
NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU, HOW YOU
SAY, SCRUB-A-DUB."
AND LOOK, THERE'LL CLEARLY BE
MORE TO SAY ABOUT THE OLYMPICS
AS THEY GO ON, BUT WE'RE GOING
TO DIVE STRAIGHT IN WITH OUR
THE 2024
ELECTION.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE LAST
STORIES YOU WANT US TO COVER
RIGHT NOW, BELOW HIPPO
HEMORRHOIDS, BUT ABOVE "YOUR
PARENTS' SEX LIFE."
THEY TRIED
WHEELBARROW, THAT'S HOW YOUR DAD
HURT HIS HIP.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT THESE TWO CANDIDATES, BUT
WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.
VOTERS HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT
RFK RECENTLY-- FROM THE FACT
HIS DISTINCTIVE VOICE IS CAUSED
BY A CONDITION CALLED SPASMODIC
DYSPHONIA, TO THE NEWS THAT
DOCTORS ONCE FOUND A DEAD WORM
IN HIS BRAIN, TO EVEN HIS
PHYSICAL FITNESS ROUTINE, WHICH
HE'S PUT FRONT AND CENTER IN ADS
LIKE THIS.
I GO TO THE GYM EVERY DAY.
I HIKE EVERY DAY.
I DON'T EVER EAT PROCESSED FOOD.
I DO INTERMITTENT FAST.
COOL.
TO BE HONEST, THAT LOOKS LESS
LIKE A CAMPAIGN AD AND MORE LIKE
THE DATING PROFILE OF A GUY WHO
JUST LOST CUSTODY.
AND WHILE IT'S A BIT WEIRD TO BE
WORKING OUT IN JEANS-- FROM ONE
JOCK TO ANOTHER, I GET IT.
YOU GOTTA PUT IN THE TIME AND
WORK TO GET OUR KIND OF BODY.
AROUND THE GYM I'M KNOWN AS
"JOHN OLIVER ESQUIRE" BECAUSE I
ALWAYS HAVE PERMISSION TO
APPROACH THE BENCH.
IS THIS HGTV?
BECAUSE I'M ALL GAINS.
CALL ME THE THIRD LITTLE PIG,
BECAUSE I'M BUILDING.
A BRICK.
HOUSE.
KENNEDY'S CAMPAIGN HAS REALLY
LEANED INTO HIS QUIRKINESS,
OFFERING SUPPORTERS THE CHANCE
TO WIN THINGS LIKE "GO WHALE
WATCHING WITH RFK, JR.
AND HIS WIFE CHERYL HINES" OR
"WIN A DAY OF FALCONRY WITH RFK,
JR."
FEATURING THIS IMAGE OF HIM AND
A FALCON THAT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE
ASKING YOU TO BE THEIR THIRD.
AND HE'S ATTRACTED A BROAD BASE
OF SUPPORTERS, WITH POLLS
FINDING THERE ISN'T A SINGLE
ISSUE OR TOPIC THAT SEEMS TO
UNIFY RFK VOTERS, WHO CAN BE
DRAWN TO HIM FOR ALL SORTS OF
REASONS.
HE'S AN HONEST CANDIDATE,
HE'S VERY TRUTHFUL.
THE KENNEDYS ARE REALLY
ROYALTY IN THIS COUNTRY, BECAUSE
THEY DO THE RIGHT THING.
HIS FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN
INTO THE RIGHTS FOR THE
UNDERPRIVILEGED.
HE'S COMING TO ALL VOTERS AND
SAYING THAT IF YOU VOTE FOR ME,
LIKE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO AFFORD
TO BUY A HOUSE.
HE'S ANTIESTABLISHMENT
WITHOUT ALL THE BAGGAGE.
YOU KNOW, HE'S GOING TO RESTORE
TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY TO OUR
FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE
HE'S A MAN OF INTEGRITY.
HE HAS HONOR AND HE'S HONEST.
YEAH, PEOPLE LIKE HIM
FOR A BUNCH OF REASONS.
ALTHOUGH, CALLING A KENNEDY
"ANTIESTABLISHMENT" IS A
STRETCH.
IT'S LIKE CALLING THE WINDSORS
"ANTI-HAT."
THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
THE KENNEDYS ARE THE VERY
DEFINITION OF "THE
ESTABLISHMENT," AND THE WINDSORS
ARE FAMOUSLY HAT BITCHES.
BUT THE THING MOST PEOPLE KNOW
ABOUT RFK IS THAT HE'S OFTEN
CALLED A CONSPIRACY THEORIST.
IT'S A CHARGE BROUGHT UP SO
OFTEN, HE WAS ABLE TO READ OFF A
LIST OF INSULTS IN THIS AD.
"HE'S A WALKING, TALKING
CONSPIRACY THEORY,"
"THE NEW YORK TIMES."
"HE'S COMPLETELY DIVORCED FROM
REALITY," "THE GUARDIAN."
"HE IS VILE," THE WHITE HOUSE.
"BEING WITH HIM WAS A LOW POINT
OF MY SUMMER," "VANITY FAIR."
"HE HAS CONVERSATIONS WITH
DEAD PEOPLE," "THE GUARDIAN."
I WOULDN'T VOTE FOR THAT GUY
EITHER.
THAT'S PRETTY LIKEABLE!
AND KUDOS TO "VANITY FAIR" FOR
NOT SOFT-PEDALING IT WITH "VILE"
OR "DIVORCED FROM REALITY" AND
INSTEAD GOING FOR THE JUGULAR
WITH, "THIS GUY'S VIBE IS SO BAD
IT WAS THE LOW POINT OF MY
SUMMER."
THAT IS, GENUINELY, SO MEAN, AND
I COULDN'T RESPECT IT MORE.
BUT DESPITE THAT, RFK'S
CURRENTLY POLLING AROUND 6%--
AND IN SOME CRUCIAL SWING
STATES, LIKE MICHIGAN, HE COULD
TIP THE BALANCE-- ESPECIALLY
GIVEN, AS OF TAPING, TRUMP AND
HARRIS ARE NECK AND NECK THERE,
AND RFK IS POLLING CLOSE TO 7%.
AND TO QUOTE ABSOLUTELY NO ONE
WE
SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT
MICHIGAN.
SO IF HE'S THIS POPULAR, AND HAS
THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE THIS MUCH
INFLUENCE, TONIGHT, LET'S TALK
ABOUT RFK JR.
AND LET'S START WITH THE
OBVIOUS.
HE'S, FIRST AND FOREMOST, A
KENNEDY.
HIS UNCLE, JFK, WAS THE 35TH
PRESIDENT WHO, AS HISTORY BUFFS
MAY KNOW, WAS ASSASSINATED IN
1963.
FIVE YEARS LATER, HIS DAD WAS
ALSO ASSASSINATED, WHEN KENNEDY
WAS JUST 14 YEARS OLD.
IN HIS LATER TEENS AND TWENTIES,
HE STRUGGLED WITH DRUG
ADDICTION, BUT IN 1983, HE GOT
SOBER AND SOON BECAME THE CHIEF
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FOR WHAT
WOULD BECOME THE
ENVIRONMENTALIST GROUP
RIVERKEEPER, KICKING OFF A
CAREER DOING SOME GENUINELY
LAUDABLE WORK-- RAILING AGAINST
FRACKING, HUDSON RIVER
POLLUTION, AND GREEDY
CORPORATIONS POISONING NATURAL
RESOURCES.
THAT'S WHY NEW YORK MAGAZINE
CALLED HIM "THE KENNEDY WHO
MATTERS," AND TIME NAMED HIM A
"HERO FOR THE PLANET."
AND AS A CANDIDATE HE'S TRIED TO
TAP INTO THE LIBERAL CREDIBILITY
HIS WORK GOT BACK THEN.
HE'S PROMISED TO BE "THE
GREATEST ENVIRONMENTAL PRESIDENT
IN AMERICAN HISTORY," AND HAS
TALKED ABOUT A BUNCH OF THINGS
WE'VE COVERED, LIKE SO-CALLED
"FOREVER CHEMICALS" OR PFAs,
AND THE PROLIFERATION OF
MICROPLASTICS.
YOU KNOW, ALL THE FUN STUFF
YOU EXPECT FROM OUR COMEDY SHOW,
WHICH AT THIS POINT SHOULD
PROBABLY BE CALLED "YOU HAVE
ALREADY BEEN POISONED," WITH THE
DUOLINGO OWL'S BIOLOGICAL UNCLE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT-- HE'S
ALSO PROPOSED RAISING THE
MINIMUM WAGE TO $15, AND MAKING
STUDENT DEBT DISCHARGEABLE VIA
BANKRUPTCY.
AND IF I ENDED THE PIECE RIGHT
NOW, IT'D HONESTLY BE A PRETTY
GOOD AD FOR RFK, JR.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A
LOT MORE TO SAY.
AND LET'S START WITH HIS OTHER
POLICY PROPOSALS.
BECAUSE SOME ARE, TO PUT IT
MILDLY, UNDERBAKED.
ONE OF HIS MARQUEE PROMISES IS
OFFERING FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS A
3% MORTGAGE RATE, FUNDED BY
TAX-FREE GOVERNMENT ISSUED
BONDS.
HERE HE IS DESCRIBING THE PLAN
AND SEE HOW FAR HE GETS INTO
HIS PITCH BEFORE YOU START
HEARING ALARM BELLS.
IF YOU HAVE A RICH UNCLE, UM,
WHO WILL CO-SIGN YOUR MORTGAGE,
YOU CAN GET A MUCH BETTER RATE.
I'M GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY A
RICH UNCLE, ALL THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE, WHICH IS UNCLE SAM.
WHICH IS GOING TO GUARANTEE YOUR
MORTGAGE.
SO THAT'LL ALLOW YOU TO GET THAT
3% RATE.
AND IF YOU DEFAULT ON IT, YOU
KNOW, WE WILL INHERIT-- THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL
INHERIT-- THIS IS HOW FREDDIE
MAC AND FANNIE MAE OPERATED.
RIGHT.
HE'S SUGGESTING GIVING
LOW-INTEREST HOME LOANS TO
BUYERS WITH BAD CREDIT,
GUARANTEED BY FANNIE AND
FREDDIE, AN IDEA WITH NO BAD
HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS
WHATSOEVER.
AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING,
"DOESN'T THAT GUY REMEMBER
2008?"
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I SHOULD
POINT OUT, THEY DIDN'T FIND THE
WORM UNTIL 2010.
SO HE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE AN
AMAZING EXCUSE THERE.
BUT "NOT FULLY THINKING THROUGH"
POLICIES IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
BECAUSE YOU SHOULD KNOW--
RFK'S ALSO A LOT MORE
RIGHT-WING ON CERTAIN ISSUES
THAN YOU MIGHT ASSUME.
ON IMMIGRATION, HE ENDORSED
TRUMP'S "REMAIN IN MEXICO"
POLICY, AND PLEDGED TO FINISH
THE WALL.
AND ON GAZA, HE'S REPEATEDLY
OPPOSED A CEASE-FIRE DEAL,
COMPARED THE WAR THERE TO THE
DENAZIFICATION OF GERMANY, AND
CALLED PALESTINIANS ARGUABLY THE
MOST PAMPERED PEOPLE BY
INTERNATIONAL AID ORGANIZATIONS
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD."
AND IT SEEMS YOU CAN SAY ANY
STUPID THING IF YOU PUT THE WORD
"ARGUABLY" IN FRONT OF IT.
ARGUABLY, BOEING IS HAVING A
GREAT YEAR.
IT ISN'T, BUT YOU COULD ARGUE
IT, AND THEN LOSE THE ARGUMENT.
AND IT'S NOT JUST POLICY WHERE
KENNEDY MIGHT NOT BE WHO YOU
WANT HIM TO BE.
HE'S ALSO ADMITTED TO FLYING ON
EPSTEIN'S PRIVATE JET, AND, WHEN
ASKED ABOUT THAT ON A PODCAST,
GAVE AN ANSWER SO HONEST, THE
HOST SEEMED TO FEEL THE NEED TO
TRY AND RESCUE HIM.
GIVE THE CONTEXT TO THE
EPSTEIN THING.
CAUSE YOU BASICALLY GOT OUT
AHEAD OF THE...
YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, YOU
KNOW I'M IN NEW YORK FOR MOST OF
MY LIFE.
SO, AND YOU RUN INTO EVERYBODY
IN NEW YORK.
I MEAN, I KNEW HARVEY WEINSTEIN,
I KNEW ROGER AILES, I KNEW--
O.J. SIMPSON CAME TO MY HOUSE.
BILL COSBY CAME TO MY HOUSE.
YOU ALSO KNEW GOOD PEOPLE.
I DID KNOW A LOT OF THEM, BUT
YOU DON'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE ARE
SWAMP CREATURES UNTIL ALL THIS
STUFF COMES OUT.
I MEAN, SURE, BUT
THAT'S STILL A "WHO'S WHO" OF
'90s MURDERERS AND SEX
OFFENDERS THERE.
AND WHILE THERE ARE LOTS OF
THINGS YOU CAN SHRUG OFF WITH
"THAT'S JUST NEW YORK," I'M NOT
SURE THIS IS ONE OF THEM.
RATS?
THAT'S JUST NEW YORK.
DRAGGING YOUR CLOTHING FOUR
BLOCKS ONCE A WEEK?
THAT'S JUST NEW YORK.
ONE PERSON IN YOUR SUBWAY CAR
TALKING ABOUT JESUS AND ANOTHER
DOING FLIPS AND EVENTUALLY THE
ONE DOING FLIPS ACCIDENTALLY
KICKS THE ONE TALKING ABOUT
JESUS?
THAT'S JUST NEW YORK.
BUT HAVING A ROLODEX THAT TURNS
OUT TO BE PART SEX-OFFENDER
REGISTRY?
THAT'S A YOU PROBLEM, BOBBY,
LEAVE THE REST OF US OUT OF IT.
AND IN OTHER PERSONAL STORIES,
HE COMES OFF EVEN WORSE.
JUST LAST MONTH, A "VANITY FAIR"
ARTICLE REVEALED THAT A FORMER
BABYSITTER HAD ACCUSED HIM OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'D
EXPECT HE'D HAVE A STRONG DENIAL
FOR, BUT INSTEAD, WHAT YOU GET
IS THIS.
LISTEN, I'VE SAID THIS FROM
THE BEGINNING.
I AM NOT A CHURCH BOY.
I AM NOT RUNNING LIKE THAT.
I SAID IN MY...
I HAD A VERY, VERY RAMBUNCTIOUS
YOUTH.
I SAID IN MY ANNOUNCEMENT SPEECH
THAT I HAVE SO MANY SKELETONS IN
MY CLOSET THAT IF THEY IF THEY
COULD ALL VOTE, I COULD RUN FOR
KING OF THE WORLD.
OKAY, I'M SORRY, FIRST
"NOT A CHURCH BOY?"
IF THE IMPLICATION IS "PEOPLE
AFFILIATED WITH THE CHURCH DON'T
COMMIT SEXUAL ASSAULT," BOY DO I
HAVE BAD NEWS FOR YOU AND YOUR
MASSIVE CATHOLIC FAMILY.
ALSO, "RAMBUNCTIOUS YOUTH" IS A
TERRIBLE WAY TO RESPOND TO
ALLEGATIONS YOU ASSAULTED A
BABYSITTER, NO MATTER WHAT, BUT
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE
ALLEGED ASSAULT TOOK PLACE WHEN
YOU WERE 40 YEARS OLD.
AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, WHEN HE
WAS ASKED WHETHER MORE WOMEN
MIGHT BE COMING FORWARD, BILL
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
AND THE ONLY WORSE WAY HE COULD
FOLLOW THAT UP IS WITH "BILL
COSBY'S BEEN TO MY HOUSE."
BUT OBVIOUSLY, THE BIGGEST ISSUE
WITH RFK IS HIS REPUTATION AS A
CONSPIRACY THEORIST AND
ANTI-VAXXER.
AND IF YOU SUPPORT HIM, YOU MAY
THINK THAT'S BEEN OVERBLOWN.
YOU MIGHT THINK, "HE WENT ON A
PODCAST I LISTEN TO, AND HE
SEEMED TOTALLY REASONABLE."
AND HE DOES DO A LOT OF THEM.
WE LISTENED TO A BUNCH, AND IN
DOING SO, NOTICED AN INTERESTING
ON THE MORE MAINSTREAM
ONES, HE'LL GO OUT OF HIS WAY TO
SEEM REASONABLE AND OPEN-MINDED
IN FACT, HE'S GOT A LINE HE
LIKES TO DEPLOY A LOT, IN
PODCASTS AND OTHER SETTINGS.
I HAVE A CRITICAL MIND.
IF SOMEBODY SHOWS ME WHERE I GOT
IT WRONG, I'LL CHANGE.
I'M NOT DUG IN.
I'M NOT HARDHEADED IN THAT
SENSE.
I WILL CHANGE MY MIND ALWAYS
IF-- IF SOMEBODY CONFRONTS ME
WITH WITH FACTS.
IF SOMEBODY SHOWS ME A FACT
AND I'M WRONG, I'M GOING TO
CHANGE MY OPINION AND I'LL
APOLOGIZE.
THAT SOUNDS PRETTY
GOOD!
EVEN IF "SHOW ME A FACT" SOUNDS
LIKE WHAT A JOHN OLIVER ACTION
FIGURE WOULD SAY WHEN YOU PULL
THE STRING ON HIS BACK.
THAT AND "IT'S NOT SEXUAL
HARASSMENT IF IT'S A HORSE."
UNFORTUNATELY, HISTORY HAS SHOWN
HIM TO BE MUCH MORE DUG-IN THAN
HE LIKES TO IMPLY.
AND BEFORE WE GET TO HIS MORE
FAMOUS VIEWS ON VACCINES AND
COVID, YOU SHOULD KNOW THEY'RE
BY NO MEANS HIS ONLY ALARMING
STANCES.
TAKE AIDS.
IT IS A SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN
FACT THAT AIDS IS CAUSED BY
HIV.
BUT IN THE EARLY '80s, PEOPLE
LOOKED AT THE FACT IT WAS
SPREADING IN THE U.S. AND EUROPE
LARGELY WITHIN THE GAY
COMMUNITY, AND TRIED TO LOCATE
OTHER FACTORS THAT MIGHT BE
CAUSING IT.
NOWADAYS, MOST PEOPLE ACCEPT
THOSE EARLY THEORIES WERE DEAD
ENDS, BUT AMAZINGLY, AS RECENTLY
AS THREE YEARS AGO RFK WAS OUT
THERE SAYING SHIT LIKE THIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
SAID IT'S NOT A VIRUS, THE VIRUS
IS A-- A PASSENGER VIRUS, AND
THESE PEOPLE ARE DYING MAINLY
BECAUSE OF POPPERS.
100% OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED IN
THE FIRST-- OF THE FIRST
THOUSAND WHO HAD-- WHO HAD AIDS
WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE ADDICTED TO
POPPERS WHICH ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE
KAPOSI SARCOMA IN RATS.
AND-- AND YOU KNOW, THEY WERE
PEOPLE WERE PART OF A GAY
LIFESTYLE THAT-- WHERE THEY
WERE BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH
ENDS.
OKAY, THERE'S A LOT
THERE, FROM "A GAY LIFESTYLE" TO
REPEATING THE CLAIM THAT "PEOPLE
WERE DYING MAINLY BECAUSE OF
POPPERS," TO THE NOTION THAT
POPPERS CAUSED KAPOSI SARCOMA,
WHICH-- FOR THE RECORD-- THEY
DO NOT.
MULTIPLE STUDIES IN HUMANS
HAVE FOUND THAT EVEN HEAVY
POPPER USE SHOWED NO SIGNIFICANT
ASSOCIATION WITH THE RISK OF
KAPOSI SARCOMA.
WHICH DOES MAKES SENSE, GIVEN
THAT POPPERS ARE STILL SOLD
EVERYWHERE IN THIS CITY.
I GOT THESE THREE BLOCKS FROM
HERE, AS I DO BEFORE EVERY
TAPING OF THIS SHOW.
HOW ELSE DO YOU THINK I GET
THROUGH THIS SHIT?
BUT IT DIDN'T STOP THERE.
KENNEDY'S ALSO ARGUED THAT
ANTHONY FAUCI-- WHO AT THE TIME
WORKED WITHIN THE NIH-- AND
OTHER EXPERTS WANTED TO CALL
HIV A VIRUS PARTLY SO HIS
AGENCY, AND THE PHARMACEUTICAL
INDUSTRY, COULD PROFIT FROM THE
PRODUCTION OF AZT, WHICH WAS THE
FIRST DRUG APPROVED BY THE FDA
TO TREAT HIV AND AIDS.
THAT'S PART OF A SERIES OF
ARGUMENTS KNOWN AS "AIDS
DENIALISM," WHICH HAS DONE REAL
DAMAGE.
ONE OF ITS BIGGEST PROPONENTS, A
SCIENTIST NAMED PETER DUESBERG,
ACTUALLY HELPED PERSUADE THE
SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT TO
FOREGO SUPPLYING AZT TO THOSE
WITH AIDS-- A DECISION THAT'S
BEEN ESTIMATED TO HAVE COST OVER
330,000 LIVES THERE.
YET RFK RECENTLY WROTE THAT
DUESBERG'S ARGUMENTS WERE "SO
CLEAN, SO ELEGANTLY CRAFTED AND
SO COMPELLING."
AND "ELEGANTLY CRAFTED?"
THAT'D BE ANNOYING IF YOU WERE
WRITING COPY ON THE BACK OF A
$12 CHOCOLATE BAR, BUT
IN THIS INSTANCE, IT'S JUST
OBSCENE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST AIDS WHERE
KENNEDY'S MADE BIG EYE-CATCHING
CLAIMS THAT BEAR NO RESEMBLANCE
TO REALITY.
HERE HE IS LAST YEAR, IN A
"TWITTER SPACES" CHAT WITH ELON
MUSK, SUGGESTING THAT
PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS MAY BE A CAUSE
OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS.
PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF
PROZAC, WE HAD ALMOST NO-- NONE
OF THESE EVENTS IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND WE NEVER SEEN THEM IN HUMAN
HISTORY, WHERE PEOPLE WALK INTO
A SCHOOL ROOM OF CHILDREN OR
STRANGERS AND START SHOOTING
PEOPLE.
THERE'S OTHER NATIONS THAT HAVE
AS MANY GUNS PER CAPITA AS WE
DO.
SWITZERLAND, THE LAST SCHOOL
SHOOTING WAS 21 YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE ONE EVERY 21 HOURS.
THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE
THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY IN
THE WORLD IS THE AMOUNT OF
PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS OUR CHILDREN
ARE TAKING AND OUR PEOPLE ARE
TAKING AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT
THAT.
OKAY.
SO BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, LET
ME JUST SAY-- I ALSO DON'T WANT
TO BE DOING THIS.
I DON'T WANT TO BE DEBUNKING HIS
ARGUMENTS AT LENGTH.
I'M SO CLOSE TO TAKING A HIT OF
THESE POPPERS, YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
BUT HE'S MADE SO MANY CONFIDENT
ASSERTIONS THERE, AND IF YOU
LEAVE EVEN ONE UNCHALLENGED,
PEOPLE WILL THINK, "WELL, MAYBE
THERE'S SOMETHING TO IT."
SO WITH THAT IN MIND.
PROZAC HIT THE MARKET IN
1988, AND AS YOU PROBABLY
THERE WERE TONS OF
SHOOTINGS AND MASS SHOOTINGS
BEFORE THEN, INCLUDING AT
SCHOOLS.
AS FOR THE CLAIM "OTHER
COUNTRIES HAVE AS MANY GUNS AS
WE DO," THEY JUST DON'T.
US CIVILIANS HAVE THE HIGHEST
RATE OF GUN OWNERSHIP IN THE
WORLD BY A FACTOR OF MORE THAN
TWO.
AND AS FOR LINKING SCHOOL
SHOOTINGS TO "THE AMOUNT OF
PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS OUR CHILDREN
ARE TAKING," RESEARCHERS HAVEN'T
FOUND ANY LINK BETWEEN
ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND SCHOOL
SHOOTINGS.
IN FACT, ONE STUDY FOUND THAT
OVER 87% OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOL
SHOOTERS IT SAMPLED WERE NOT ON
PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS AT THE
TIME OF THEIR ATTACKS.
SO MULTIPLE FACTS THERE ARE JUST
PLAIN WRONG, DESPITE HOW
CONFIDENTLY HE JUST SPEWED THEM
OUT THERE.
HE COULD JUST AS EASILY HAVE
POINTED OUT THE LINK BETWEEN
SCHOOL SHOOTERS AND MILK.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?
A SHOCKING NUMBER HAVE
ABOVE-AVERAGE DAIRY INTAKE.
AND ICE CREAM, IN PARTICULAR,
MAY CONTAIN NEUROGLYCERIDES THAT
INITIATE PSYCHOPATHIC BEHAVIOR.
EXCEPT NONE OF THAT'S TRUE, I
JUST MADE ALL THAT SHIT UP.
NEUROGLYCERIDES ISN'T EVEN A
WORD.
AND LACTOSE QUARTERLY ISN'T A
MAGAZINE.
BUT IT SHOWS JUST HOW EASY IT IS
TO REEL PEOPLE IN WHEN YOU'RE
SPOUTING SELF-ASSURED BULLSHIT
ON AN UNCHALLENGED PLATFORM.
AND IF YOU'RE NOTICING A PATTERN
HERE-- THAT RFK WILL FIND A
PROBLEM, AND THEN WORK BACKWARDS
TO POINT AT A BIG, POWERFUL
ENTITY PULLING THE STRINGS--
THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HE'S DONE
WITH VACCINES.
ALTHOUGH, AGAIN: HE'LL DENY
THAT, INSISTING HE'S NOT
ANTI-VAX AT ALL.
HERE HE IS MAKING THAT POINT,
UNDER OATH, BEFORE CONGRESS.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN ANTI-VAX.
I HAVE NEVER TOLD ANYBODY-- I
HAVE NEVER TOLD THE PUBLIC AVOID
VACCINATION.
THE ONLY THING I'VE ASKED FOR,
AND MY VIEWS ARE CONSTANTLY
MISREPRESENTED, SO THAT THE
TRUTH OF WHAT I BELIEVE IS NOT
ALLOWED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
WITH-- ABOUT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, WHICH I BELIEVE VACCINES
SHOULD BE TESTED WITH THE SAME
RIGOR AS OTHER MEDICINES AND
MEDICATIONS.
YEAH, THAT'S A PRETTY
VEHEMENT DENIAL.
AND, QUICK SHOUT OUT TO THE GUY
RECORDING THAT LIKE IT'S HIS
KID'S DANCE RECITAL.
WHEN ARE YOU GONNA WATCH THIS
THING, DUDE?
YOU DO KNOW THERE ARE OTHER
CAMERAS RECORDING THIS, RIGHT?
BUT HERE'S THE THING-- REMEMBER
WHEN I SAID KENNEDY GOES ON A
LOT OF PODCASTS, AND CAN SOUND
REASONABLE?
HE GOES ON A BUNCH OF FRINGEY
ONES, TOO.
AND WHEN ADDRESSING THOSE
AUDIENCES, SENDS OUT A VERY
DIFFERENT MESSAGE-- LIKE ON
THIS ONE, THREE YEARS AGO.
OUR JOB IS TO RESIST AND TO
TALK ABOUT IT WITH EVERYBODY.
I SEE SOMEBODY ON A HIKING TRAIL
CARRYING A LITTLE BABY AND I SAY
TO THEM, DON'T GET THEM
VACCINATED.
HE HEARD THAT FROM ME.
IF HE HEARS IT FROM 10 OTHER
PEOPLE, MAYBE HE WON'T DO IT.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE HE WILL-- MAYBE
HE WILL SAVE THAT CHILD.
WHEN THEY HEAR THAT FROM 10
PEOPLE, IT'LL MAKE AN IMPRESSION
ON 'EM.
YOU KNOW, AND IF WE ALL KEPT OUR
MOUTHS SHUT, DON'T KEEP YOUR
MOUTH SHUT ANYMORE.
CONFRONT EVERYBODY ON IT.
I LOVE THAT.
I LOVE IT.
THANK YOU.
"I LOVE THAT.
I LOVE IT."
THAT'S EXACTLY
THE KIND OF PERSON I'D EXPECT TO
BE CO-HOSTING AN ANTI-VACCINE
PODCAST.
THE SORT OF PERSON YOU'D EXPECT
TO SEE WALKING AROUND A GROCERY
STORE DURING A COVID SURGE,
LICKING EVERYTHING TO "FORTIFY
HER IMMUNE SYSTEM."
BUT I ONLY SAY THAT BECAUSE SHE
ACTUALLY DID THAT, AND POSTED IT
TO INSTAGRAM, BECAUSE OF COURSE
SHE DID.
BUT ALSO, YOU DON'T GET TO SAY
"I'M NOT ANTI-VAX" AND THEN
WANDER AROUND THE WOODS TELLING
PEOPLE TO NOT VACCINATE THEIR
BABIES LIKE YOU'RE SOME
RED-PILLED VERSION OF SMOKEY THE
BEAR.
WHO I'M REALIZING IS CLEARLY
WHERE YOU GET YOUR WORKOUT
WARDROBE INSPIRATION FROM.
OVER THE YEARS, KENNEDY'S
PROMOTED A NUMBER OF THEORIES
ABOUT VACCINES, INCLUDING HOW
THEY SUPPOSEDLY CAUSE AUTISM.
WE'VE DISCUSSED HIS CLAIM THAT A
PRESERVATIVE CAUSED THIMEROSAL
WAS LINKED TO AUTISM IN OUR
PIECE ON VACCINES SEVERAL YEARS
AGO.
NOT ONLY IS IT BULLSHIT,
THIMEROSAL HASN'T BEEN IN
CHILDREN'S VACCINES SINCE 2001,
EXCEPT FOR THE FLU VACCINE, AND
EVEN THEN, THERE WAS, AND
REMAINS, A VERSION WITHOUT
THIMEROSAL IN IT.
BUT KENNEDY PARLAYED THE INITIAL
PANIC HE HELPED CAUSE INTO
FOUNDING THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH
DEFENSE, ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S
LEADING ANTI-VACCINE
ORGANIZATIONS.
AND HE'S CONTINUED TO FEARMONGER
ABOUT A CONNECTION BETWEEN
THIMEROSAL AND AUTISM EVER
SINCE.
IN 2015, HE SAID OF KIDS GETTING
VACCINATED, "THEY GET THE SHOT,
THAT NIGHT THEY HAVE A FEVER OF
A HUNDRED AND THREE, THEY GO TO
SLEEP, AND THREE MONTHS LATER
THEIR BRAIN IS GONE...
THIS IS A HOLOCAUST, WHAT THIS
IS DOING TO OUR COUNTRY."
WHICH IS CLEARLY ABSURD.
A VACCINE CAN'T MAKE SOMEONE'S
BRAIN GO AWAY, ALTHOUGH I'M
INCREASINGLY BELIEVING THAT A
DEAD WORM MIGHT BE ABLE TO.
AND IF YOU'RE NOTICING A CERTAIN
CRUELTY IN HOW KENNEDY TENDS TO
TALK ABOUT AUTISTIC PEOPLE,
YOU'RE NOT WRONG.
IT GOES WELL BEYOND THE ANTI-VAX
COMMUNITY'S GENERAL GROSS
TENDENCY TO IMPLY THEY'D RATHER
HAVE A KID DIE FROM POLIO OR
MEASLES THAN BE DIAGNOSED WITH
AUTISM.
JUST LISTEN TO HIM HERE.
I BET YOU'VE NEVER MET
ANYBODY WITH FULL BLOWN AUTISM
YOUR AGE.
YOU KNOW, HEADBANGING, FOOTBALL
OR A HELMET ON, NON-TOILET
TRAINED, NONVERBAL.
I MEAN, I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY
LIKE THAT MY AGE, BUT IN MY KIDS
AGE NOW, ONE IN EVERY 34 KIDS
HAS AUTISM AND HALF OF THOSE ARE
FULL BLOWN MEANING THAT
DESCRIPTION.
OKAY, FIRST, IF THERE'S
LIMITED VARIETY IN THE PEOPLE
YOU'VE MET YOUR AGE, MAYBE IT'S
BECAUSE YOU ONLY EVER HUNG OUT
WITH THE SAME CIRCLE OF FIVE OR
SIX SEX OFFENDERS OR MURDERERS,
I DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST ASKING QUESTIONS.
AND I COULD TALK ABOUT THE
HISTORY OF AUTISM DIAGNOSES, AND
HOW THEY'RE STILL SO NEW, THE
FIRST PERSON TO BE GIVEN ONE
DIED JUST LAST YEAR.
I COULD TALK ABOUT AUTISTIC
PEOPLE WERE LONG MISUNDERSTOOD
AND INSTITUTIONALIZED.
I COULD ALSO THROW IN THAT
THERE'S DEFINITELY NO SUCH
DIAGNOSIS AS "FULL-BLOWN
AUTISM."
OR YOU KNOW WHAT?
I COULD JUST LET THIS GUY WITH
AUTISM POINT OUT THAT JUST
BECAUSE RFK DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE
WITH AUTISM, DIDN'T MEAN THEY
DIDN'T EXIST, IN THE MOST
DELICIOUSLY DERISIVE WAY.
FUCKING MOUNT EVEREST WASN'T
DISCOVERED UNTIL 1852 BUT I'M
PRETTY SURE IT WAS STILL THERE.
ALSO, YEAH LIKE ALL THOSE
FUCKING OLD GRANDPAS WITH LIKE A
GIANT ASS TRAIN COLLECTION, YOU
DON'T THINK THEY'RE JUST A
LITTLE BIT ON THE SPECTRUM?
JUST A TEENY WEENY?
FUCKIN', GOD, CONSPIRACY
THEORISTS ARE THE DUMBEST PEOPLE
ON THE PLANET BAR NONE.
YEAH.
I HONESTLY CAN'T PUT IT MUCH
BETTER THAN THAT.
AND LOOK, RFK WILL INSIST HE
JUST WANTS VACCINES TO BE TESTED
FOR SAFETY AND EFFICACY, BUT AS
THEY HAVE
BEEN, AND REPEATEDLY.
NOT ONLY ARE VACCINES ALREADY
HELD TO A HIGHER SAFETY STANDARD
THAN OTHER MEDICATIONS--
THOUSANDS OF STUDIES HAVE FOUND
THEY'RE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.
INCLUDING A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF
OVER 160 STUDIES ON VACCINE
SAFETY THAT FOUND ANY SERIOUS
ADVERSE REACTIONS WERE
"EXTREMELY RARE."
YOU COULD ALSO LOOK AT THIS
STUDY OF OVER 650,000 CHILDREN
BORN IN DENMARK-- SOME
VACCINATED, SOME NOT-- WHICH
CONCLUDES THAT MMR VACCINATION
DOES NOT INCREASE THE RISK FOR
AUTISM, OR THIS META-REVIEW OF
10 STUDIES INVOLVING OVER 1.25
MILLION CHILDREN, WHICH ALSO
REVEALED NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
VACCINATION AND AUTISM.
THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES LIKE
THIS, AND IT'S WHY EXPERTS WILL
TELL YOU THAT A PERSON'S CHANCE
OF HAVING A BAD REACTION TO A
VACCINE IS ABOUT ONE IN A
MILLION.
AS ONE EXPERT WE SPOKE TO
POINTED OUT, GIVEN WE HAVE OVER
40,000 DEATHS BY CAR ACCIDENT IN
THE U.S. PER YEAR, THE MOST
DANGEROUS ASPECT OF VACCINATING
CHILDREN IS DRIVING TO THE
DOCTOR'S OFFICE TO GET THEM.
ESPECIALLY, BY THE WAY, IF THE
KIDS ARE SINGING "BABY SHARK"
THE WHOLE TIME.
BECAUSE THAT WILL MAKE YOU
DRIVE OFF A CLIFF.
AND I KNOW THIS CAN ALL SEEM
VERY ABSTRACT.
BUT THE THING IS, KENNEDY'S
IDEAS HAVE BEEN PUT TO THE TEST
IN THE REAL WORLD, SOMETIMES
WITH HIDEOUS CONSEQUENCES.
TAKE WHAT HAPPENED IN SAMOA.
IN 2018, THERE WAS A HORRIBLE
ACCIDENT, WHEN TWO CHILDREN DIED
FROM A MEASLES VACCINE THAT TWO
NURSES HAD INCORRECTLY MIXED
WITH A MUSCLE RELAXANT.
IT WAS AWFUL, BUT IT WAS HUMAN
ERROR.
NEVERTHELESS, THE ANTI-VAX
MOVEMENT SEIZED ON THE SUDDEN
FEAR OF VACCINES THERE, AND THE
FOLLOWING YEAR, KENNEDY VISITED
SAMOA, IN A TRIP ARRANGED BY A
LOCAL ANTI-VACCINE INFLUENCER.
THERE, HE MET WITH OTHER
ANTI-VACCINE ACTIVISTS,
INCLUDING ONE WHO WROTE THAT THE
MEETING WAS "PROFOUNDLY
MONUMENTAL ...
FOR THIS MOVEMENT."
HE EVEN MET WITH THE PRIME
MINISTER, WITH WHOM HE DISCUSSED
VACCINES, IN HIS WORDS, "A
LIMITED AMOUNT."
AND WHEN, A FEW MONTHS LATER,
THERE WAS A MEASLES OUTBREAK IN
SAMOA, RFK WROTE A FOUR-PAGE
LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER IN
WHICH HE SUGGESTED THE MEASLES
VACCINE ITSELF MIGHT BE THE TRUE
CAUSE OF THE CRISIS.
IN THE END, THAT OUTBREAK KILLED
83 PEOPLE, MOSTLY INFANTS AND
CHILDREN, IN LARGE PART DUE TO
THEIR LACK OF VACCINATIONS-- AN
OUTBREAK KENNEDY LATER REFERRED
TO AS "MILD."
AND WHEN CONFRONTED ABOUT ALL
THIS, HE'S QUICK TO TRY AND
DISTANCE HIMSELF.
YEAH I'M AWARE THERE WAS A
MEASLES OUTBREAK BUT I DIDN'T
HAVE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, I HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH WITH PEOPLE
NOT VACCINATING IN SAMOA.
I NEVER TOLD ANYBODY NOT TO
VACCINATE.
I DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, GO THERE FOR
ANY REASON TO DO WITH THAT.
GOT IT!
SO YOU JUST POPPED IN TO ONE OF
THE MOST REMOTE COUNTRIES ON
EARTH, AND JUST HAPPENED TO
ENCOUNTER ALL YOUR ANTIVAX
BUDDIES ALONG THE WAY.
IT'S THE ULTIMATE CONSPIRACIST
NOTHING IS A COINCIDENCE
EXCEPT WHEN I DO IT."
AND LOOK, ON SOME LEVEL, I DO
GET WHY PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO RFK.
THERE'S AN EARNED DISTRUST OF
BIG PHARMA, AND MEDICAL
AUTHORITIES.
AND ILLNESS AND DISEASE ARE
SCARY.
KENNEDY'S EXPLANATIONS-- AS
BULLSHIT AS THEY MAY BE-- CAN
ALMOST BE COMFORTING AT A
FRIGHTENING TIME.
THAT'S AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH
HE THRIVES.
AND IT MAY EXPLAIN WHY HIS
POPULARITY TOOK OFF DURING THE
COVID PANDEMIC.
THERE WAS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY
BACK THEN, AND MEDICAL EXPERTS
WERE UNDERSTANDABLY MAKING
MISTAKES AND LEARNING IN REAL
TIME.
KENNEDY SAW THAT, AND POUNCED.
HE TOOK A LOT OF BIG SWINGS,
INCLUDING WRITING A BOOK IN
WHICH HE CLAIMED FAUCI WAS USING
COVID TO EXECUTE A HISTORIC COUP
D'ETAT AGAINST WESTERN
DEMOCRACY.
AND ONCE AGAIN, HIS "JUST ASKING
QUESTIONS" CAUSED REAL HARM TO
REAL PEOPLE.
HE PUSHED THE IDEA
THAT THE COVID VACCINE WAS
DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY TO YOUNG
PEOPLE-- EVEN WRITING THE
FOREWORD TO THIS BOOK CALLED
"CAUSE UNKNOWN: THE EPIDEMIC OF
SUDDEN DEATHS IN 2021 & 2022," A
COMPILATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO'D DIED SUDDENLY, HEAVILY
IMPLYING THEIR DEATHS WERE
CAUSED BY THE VACCINE.
AND LOOK, IT'S TRUE THAT A VERY
FEW YOUNG PEOPLE REPORTED HEART
COMPLICATIONS AFTER RECEIVING
THE VACCINE, BUT NOT ONLY IS THE
RISK RARE, AND MOST PATIENTS
FELT BETTER QUICKLY, BUT
IMPORTANTLY, IN CHILDREN AND
TEENS, THE RISKS OF GETTING
COVID AND DEVELOPING SEVERE
ILLNESS THAT COULD SERIOUSLY
IMPACT THE HEART ARE FAR GREATER
THAN THE RISK OF DEVELOPING
POSTVACCINE HEART COMPLICATIONS.
NEVERTHELESS, IN THAT BOOK'S
FOREWORD, RFK WROTE THAT IT
PROVES AN UNDENIABLE AND URGENT
REALITY, LAID OUT WITH FACTS
THAT CAN BE CONFIRMED BY ANY
READER, POINT BY POINT, PAGE BY
PAGE.
HE EVEN WENT ON JOE ROGAN TO
GIVE THE BOOK A HARD SELL.
IT'S THE KIND OF BOOK-- IF
YOU HAVE A SKEPTIC AND YOU CAN
GET THEM TO SIT DOWN FOR 90
MINUTES WITH THIS BOOK WHEN THEY
GET UP THEY WILL UH THEY WILL
HAVE CONVERTED.
MMMM.
AND IT'S REALLY, IT'S
SICKENING.
I MEAN, IT'S TERRIBLE.
THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE BEAUTIFUL
CHILDREN WHO WERE DYING ON THE
PLAYING FIELD.
AND COVID WAS KILLING PEOPLE,
BUT IT WAS OLD PEOPLE.
CAUSE UNKNOWN, THE EPIDEMIC
OF SUDDEN DEATHS IN 2021 AND
2022.
EDWARD DOWD.
YEAH.
DIED AFTER FIRST VACCINE DOSE.
DIES AT HOSPITAL.
FOOTBALL.
DIED ON THE FIELD.
OKAY, SET ASIDE THAT
JOE ROGAN'S JUST MUTTERING
RANDOM WORDS OFF THE COVER WITH
AN ENERGY LEVEL I'D DESCRIBE AS
"JUST ATE A FISTFUL OF
MELATONIN PILLS," THAT'S A
GIVE
THIS BOOK TO PEOPLE FOR 90
MINUTES AND THEY'LL BE
CONVERTED.
BUT HERE'S THE THING.
THE AP FOUND THAT DOZENS OF
INDIVIDUALS INCLUDED IN THE BOOK
DIED OF KNOWN CAUSES NOT RELATED
TO VACCINES-- INCLUDING SUICIDE
AND CHOKING WHILE INTOXICATED.
THE BOOK EVEN INCLUDES ONE
PERSON WHO DIED IN 2019.
SO UNLESS THE HEADLINE WAS,
"TIME TRAVELER DIES OF COVID
VACCINE," THEY DON'T REALLY
BELONG IN THERE.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.
BECAUSE WHEN THE BOOK WAS FIRST
PRINTED, ONE OF THE KIDS ON THE
COVER WAS BRADEN FAHEY, WHO DIED
AFTER COLLAPSING DURING FOOTBALL
PRACTICE AT JUST 12 YEARS OLD.
BUT WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE
COVID VACCINE DIDN'T KILL
BRADEN, BECAUSE HE WASN'T
VACCINATED.
HE DIED FROM A MALFORMED BLOOD
VESSEL IN HIS BRAIN.
AND NO ONE EVER CONTACTED HIS
PARENTS TO ASK ABOUT THEIR SON'S
DEATH, OR FOR PERMISSION TO USE
HIS PHOTO.
SOMETHING THEY ARE,
UNDERSTANDABLY, FURIOUS ABOUT.
IT'S JUST ANOTHER GUT PUNCH.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN PUNCHED IN
THE GUT AS HARD AS YOU CAN BE
PUNCHED IN THE GUT.
AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE
RIGHT AFTER, YOU KNOW.
YOU TRY SO HARD TO EACH DAY
TO HEAL.
AND THEN YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE
ON A WHOLE OTHER NIGHTMARE.
AND PART OF YOU WANTS TO JUST
DISMISS IT AND GO, "WE'VE DEALT
WITH SO MUCH, WE CAN'T DEAL WITH
ANY MORE."
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST
HAVE TO DO IT FOR YOUR SON AND
WE CAN'T AS HIS PARENTS LOOK THE
OTHER WAY.
THAT'S AWFUL.
THEY'VE HAD TO GO OUT OF THEIR
WAY TO CORRECT THE RECORD ABOUT
THEIR SON'S DEATH, IN THE FACE
OF SOMEONE WHO NOT ONLY HAS THE
PLATFORM OF A KENNEDY BUT ALSO
OF A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
AFTER
THAT STORY, BRADEN WAS REMOVED
FROM THE COVER OF SUBSEQUENT
EDITIONS OF THAT BOOK.
BUT NOT ONLY IS THE PUBLISHER
STILL SELLING THE FIRST VERSION,
WITH HIM ON THE COVER, ON
AMAZON, EVEN THE NEWER EDITION
DESPITE EVERYTHING WE JUST
TOLD YOU-- STILL INCLUDES HIM
INSIDE THE BOOK ITSELF.
AND THE PUBLISHERS' EXCUSE FOR
THIS IS ENRAGING, BECAUSE THEY
ARGUED TO US THIS WEEK THAT THE
BOOK NEVER SPECIFICALLY SAYS
THAT THE PEOPLE SHOWN IN IT DIED
FROM THE COVID VACCINE, JUST
THAT IT HIGHLIGHTS "A NEW TREND
OF PEOPLE DYING SUDDENLY FOR
UNKNOWN CAUSES."
WHICH IS NOT WHAT THE BOOK DOES,
AT ALL.
AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT WHAT RFK
DID WHEN HE TWEETED OUT ITS
COVER, WITH BRADEN'S PICTURE ON
IT, AND CLAIMED THE BOOK SHOWED
"THE COVID SHOTS ARE A CRIME
AGAINST HUMANITY."
THAT TWEET IS STILL UP, WHICH IS
A LITTLE ODD TO ME, BECAUSE--
WHAT WAS IT KENNEDY LIKED TO
SAY?
IF SOMEBODY SHOWS ME A FACT
AND I'M WRONG, I'M GOING TO
CHANGE MY OPINION AND I'LL
APOLOGIZE.
HUH.
THAT'S WEIRD.
BUT I GUESS IT MAKES SENSE.
SAYING, "IF SOMEBODY SHOWS ME A
FACT AND I'M WRONG, I'M GOING TO
TOTALLY IGNORE IT AND FORCE
GRIEVING PARENTS TO RELIVE THE
WORST THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED
TO THEM" DOESN'T QUITE HAVE THE
SAME RING TO IT, DOES IT?
AND LOOK, I COULD LITIGATE
KENNEDY'S STUPID ARGUMENTS ALL
NIGHT, BUT I REALLY DON'T WANT
TO DO THAT TO MYSELF, OR TO YOU.
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH POPPERS IN
THE WORLD TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF
ALL THIS, AND TO QUOTE HIS
NEUROLOGIST, "I REALLY DON'T
HAVE TIME TO GO DOWN ALL THESE
WORM HOLES."
HOPEFULLY, THOUGH, AT THIS
POINT, YOU'VE GOT A BETTER SENSE
OF WHO THIS MAN ACTUALLY IS.
AND IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF
THIS, I DO GET WHY YOU MIGHT
LIKE HIM.
BECAUSE THE IDEA OF RFK IS
APPEALING.
BUT SO MANY OF THE REASONS TO
SUPPORT HIM, JUST DON'T STAND UP
UNDER THE SLIGHTEST SCRUTINY.
IF YOU'RE VOTING FOR HIM BECAUSE
HE SEEMS HONEST, OR TRUSTWORTHY,
I THINK YOU'VE SEEN OTHERWISE.
IF IT'S THE KENNEDY LEGACY, YOU
SHOULD KNOW OVER A DOZEN MEMBERS
OF HIS FAMILY HAVE COME OUT
AGAINST HIS CAMPAIGN.
IF YOU'RE VOTING FOR THE
ENVIRONMENTAL HERO OF THE 90S,
MUTIPLE
PROMINENT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
HAVE OPPOSED HIS CAMPAIGN,
INCLUDING MANY FORMER
COLLEAGUES.
IF YOU LIKE THAT HE'S AGAINST
POLLUTERS AND BIG PHARMA, I GET
IT.
WE CRITICIZE THEM ALL THE TIME.
BUT WHEN WE DO THAT, WE MAKE
SURE WE'VE GOT OUR FACTS RIGHT
AND DON'T JUST PULL THEM OUT THE
ASS OF OUR BEST WORKOUT JEANS.
AND FINALLY, IF YOU'RE
FRUSTRATED WITH THE TWO-PARTY
SYSTEM-- ME, TOO.
BUT HONESTLY, THE WAY TO
DISMANTLE THAT ISN'T THROUGH
VOTING FOR ONE MAGICAL
CANDIDATE, IT'LL COME FROM
BUILDING A MOVEMENT TOWARD
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING.
AT
LEAST ONE OF THOSE PARTIES MAY
NOT BE AS OPPOSED TO KENNEDY, AS
HE SAYS HE IS TO THEM.
BECAUSE REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE
COUNTING ON HIM TO SIPHON OFF
DEMOCRATIC VOTES.
HIS CAMPAIGN'S LARGEST
CONTRIBUTOR IS TIMOTHY MELLON, A
REPUBLICAN MEGADONOR WHO HAS
ALSO DONATED $50 MILLION TO A
PRO-TRUMP GROUP THIS ELECTION.
AND IF TRUMP WINS A SECOND TERM,
KENNEDY MAY WIND UP WORKING FOR
HIM.
BECAUSE WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO
RFK'S CAMPAIGN THIS WEEK, THEY
TOLD US HE AND TRUMP HAVE
DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A
CABINET POSITION FOR HIM,
SPECIFICALLY HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES.
AND IF THAT'S TRUE, THAT'S A
FUCKING NIGHTMARE.
THERE'S NO GOOD OUTCOME HERE.
EVEN IF RFK DROPS OUT TOMORROW,
HE'LL HAVE INJECTED AND
AMPLIFIED MISINFORMATION THAT,
AS YOU'VE SEEN, TAKES A LOT OF
EFFORT TO DEBUNK.
AND IF HE STAYS IN, HISTORY HAS
SHOWN SPOILER CANDIDATES CAN DO
INTENSE DAMAGE TO NO REAL END.
AND DON'T JUST TAKE THAT FROM ME
RALPH NADER, FAMOUSLY, HELPED
SWING THE ELECTION FOR
GEORGE W. BUSH BACK IN 2000.
AND THERE WAS A GUY BACK THEN,
SMARTLY IMPLORING HIM TO DROP
OUT.
DESPITE FADING POLL NUMBERS,
THE CORE SUPPORT BEHIND NADER'S
CANDIDACY IS MAKING SOME LIBERAL
DEMOCRATS UNHAPPY.
THERE'S A POLITICAL REALITY
HERE, WHICH IS THAT HIS
CANDIDACY COULD DRAW ENOUGH
VOTES IN CERTAIN KEY STATES FROM
AL GORE TO GIVE THE ENTIRE
ELECTION TO GEORGE W. BUSH.
RIGHT.
EXACTLY.
THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I'M GOING
TO SAY THIS, BUT RFK IS-- AND
DON'T YOU DARE TAKE THIS OUT OF
FUCKING CONTEXT-- MAKING A
REALLY GOOD POINT THERE.
BUT THE FACT IS, THE REST OF THE
TIME, KENNEDY'S A FULL-BLOWN
MENACE, AND FRANKLY SPENDING
THIS MUCH TIME THINKING ABOUT
HIM HAS BEEN-- IF I MAY QUOTE
"VANITY FAIR"-- THE LOW POINT
OF MY SUMMER.
AND NOW, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, I
THINK I'VE EARNED THESE.
AND NOW, THIS.
AND NOW,
LOCAL NEWS CELEBRATES A
SURPRISINGLY DIVISIVE HOLIDAY.
HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT
CHEESECAKE?
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE
DESSERTS.
TODAY'S YOUR DAY IS BECAUSE
TODAY'S NATIONAL CHEESECAKE DAY.
GIVE ME A NEW YORK STYLE
CHEESECAKE AND IT'S GOING TO BE
15 POUNDS BACK ON ME AGAIN.
I'LL BE CELEBRATING TODAY FOR
SURE.
TODAY'S NATIONAL CHEESECAKE
DAY.
I'M NOT A FAN OF CHEESECAKE.
I DON'T LIKE CHEESECAKE.
WOW.
YOU DON'T LIKE CHEESECAKE?
I DON'T, THERE'S JUST
SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE IN MY BRAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE
FLAVOR OR THE TEXTURE.
BOTH.
IT'S JUST SO--
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE
CHEESECAKE?
I'M NOT A CHEESE GUY.
IT'S JUST THE IDEA OF IT.
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED IT?
I DON'T WANT TO TRY IT.
THAT'S OUR SHOW,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
GOOD NIGHT!
WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME,
"AND NOW THIS"."
"IT'S NOT SEXUAL
HARA