An independent researcher. We encourage readers to verify information.
Kennedy Debunked | Vol. 1
Kennedy Debunked
Explore Debunks
Explore Debunks
The claim that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. didn’t qualify for Secret Service protection due to polling requirements has been widely cited but is misleading. A deeper look into public records, federal law, and the decision-making process reveals significant issues with transparency and fairness in how such protection was wrongfully denied six times. Here’s what really happened.
Secret Service Protection: What the Law Says
Federal law authorizes the Secret Service to protect major presidential and vice presidential candidates. According to the statute, this decision is made after consulting an advisory committee composed of:
- The Speaker of the House
- The Minority Leader of the House
- The Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate
- An additional member chosen by the committee
The law itself does not include polling requirements for determining eligibility. Instead, these were guidelines introduced by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. According to these guidelines, Democratic and Republican candidates needed to poll above 15% nationally, while Independent candidates were required to poll above 20%. This additional threshold for Independents is not codified in law and was an arbitrary addition by Mayorkas.
The Timeline of RFK Jr.’s Requests
Kennedy’s campaign made six formal requests for Secret Service protection:
- May 26, 2023
- August 24, 2023
- October 25, 2023
- January 2, 2024
- March 1, 2024
- March 29, 2024
Each request was denied, with the justification frequently citing Kennedy’s polling numbers as insufficient. However, this argument is undermined by the law’s lack of any polling requirement, leaving the decision squarely in the hands of the advisory committee and key officials.
Who Was Responsible?
The advisory committee included the following members during this period:
- Chuck Schumer (Senate Majority Leader)
- Mitch McConnell (Senate Minority Leader)
- Karen Gibson (Senate Sergeant at Arms)
- Mike Johnson (Speaker of the House)
- Hakeem Jeffries (House Minority Leader)
Additionally, both Secretary Mayorkas and President Biden held the authority to unilaterally grant Secret Service protection. Their decisions—or lack thereof—played a central role in Kennedy’s delayed protection.
A Revealing Email from 2020
An email from 2020, inadvertently included in the public records released through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, sheds light on the extent of discretionary power in this process. Sent from the Office of the Chief Counsel, the email explicitly states that “the Director has the unilateral authority to authorize this action.” This confirms that the Secret Service Director could have approved protection independently, without advisory committee approval.
Furthermore, the email notes that such protection could also be authorized by presidential memorandum. This means that multiple individuals—including the advisory committee members, Secretary Mayorkas, and President Biden—had the power to grant Kennedy protection but chose not to act.
A Good Faith Attempt for Transparency
On October 16, 2023, Senator Ted Cruz sent a letter to Mayorkas demanding answers about why RFK Jr.’s requests were denied and why the decision-making process was so delayed. This was one of the few public attempts by lawmakers to hold the administration accountable.
President Biden’s Decision in July 2024
The situation reached a turning point on July 15, 2024, when President Biden directed Mayorkas to provide Kennedy with Secret Service protection. This decision came after months of public and political pressure, as well as an attempted assassination on President Trump. Notably, this decision further disproved the claim that polling thresholds were an immovable requirement.
What This Reveals About the Process
The delays in granting Kennedy protection raise serious questions about the transparency and fairness of the process. The 2020 email confirms that the decision could have been made unilaterally by the Secret Service Director, the advisory committee, or through a presidential directive. Despite these multiple avenues, key officials and the committee failed to act promptly, leaving Kennedy without protection for over a year with credible threats.
It certainly was not about being outside of 120 days before the election. Bernie Sanders received SS 279 days before the 2016 election, Benjamin Carson received SS 362 days before the election, and Barack Obama 551 days before the 2008 election. A candidate has never been denied Secret Service protection who asked for it before. Why was RFK Jr the first?
Of course the answers have been hidden due since the information “would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions fi such disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law.” At least, that’s what the government says.
Conclusion
The claim that RFK Jr. didn’t qualify for Secret Service protection due to polling thresholds doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. The law does not mandate polling requirements, and key officials had the discretion to approve his protection at any time. The delays not only placed a presidential candidate at unnecessary risk but also exposed a lack of accountability in the system.
Reality: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ate a goat in Patagonia while news sources claim he ate a dog in Korea. RFK Jr. put these rumors to bed.
The Source of the Story
In early July, Vanity Fair posted an article claiming that RFK Jr. ate a dog and that a veterinarian had confirmed that. Other news sources quickly picked up the story, like the New York Post, and spread this misinformation.
What RFK Jr. Had to Say:
“You know they did this story that I ate a dog and they have a picture of me supposedly eating a dog. I, of course, it’s not a dog and they said I was eating a dog in Korea and that they had checked with experts , meta data experts, and identified it as Korea and checked with veterinarians who who validated that it was a dog. It’s a goat and it’s in Patagonia.”
RFK Jr also posted a humerous video about the situation to his social media: https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1810106227101519960
Conclusion
Once again the main stream media has broken the trust of the people by running stories that are full of information. That is why we try to keep you informed here at Kennedy Debunked and we always tell you to independently verify information.
Reality: The decline in vaccination rates in Samoa began years before Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 2019 visit and was influenced by various factors, including a tragic vaccine mix-up in 2018. The measles outbreak in Samoa was part of a global surge in cases, and attributing it solely to Kennedy ignores the broader context and complexities involved.
Mother Jones, one Democrat funded tabloid source that blames Kennedy for the measles cases, concluded that Kennedy must be to blame because he visited the island a few months before the outbreak. However, we know that correlation does not equal causation. In this article we dive into the specifics of the events that unfolded.
Declining Vaccination Rates in Samoa Since 2014
The decline in vaccination rates in Samoa is a complex issue that began long before Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s visit to the island nation in 2019. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, Samoa experienced a significant dip in vaccination coverage since 2014. By 2017, vaccination rates had fallen to 67% for one-year-old children. This decline was further exacerbated in 2018 after a tragic incident that shook public confidence in vaccines.
The Tragic Vaccine Mix-Up in 2018
In July 2018, two infants in Samoa tragically died within minutes of being administered the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. The deaths were caused by a nurse mistakenly mixing the vaccine with a muscle relaxant. This human error led to widespread fear and mistrust of vaccines among the Samoan population. In response, the Samoan government paused the MMR vaccination program for nearly a year, leading to a further drop in vaccination rates.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 2019 Visit to Samoa
In the summer of 2019, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Samoa to attend the 57th Independence Celebrations. By this time, the MMR vaccination rates in Samoa were already low, a situation that had developed over several years and was compounded by the 2018 vaccine mix-up. Despite claims that Kennedy’s visit contributed to the decline in vaccination rates, the evidence shows that the downward trend began well before his arrival.
Kennedy’s visit was later used as a focal point in efforts to blame him for the subsequent measles outbreak, but this ignores the broader context of declining vaccination rates and other factors of the spread of measles.
The Global Measles Outbreak in 2019
The measles outbreak in Samoa was part of a much larger global trend. In 2019, measles cases worldwide surged to 869,770 the highest number in over two decades, according to WHO data. Notably, while the outbreak in Samoa has been unfairly attributed to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., similar outbreaks occurred around the world without any connection to him. The attempt to single out Kennedy as the cause of the outbreak in Samoa is not only misleading but also ignores the broader global context.
Misleading Statistics on Vaccination Status
Statistics that claim the majority of measles patients are unvaccinated can be misleading. In many cases, individuals are categorized as unvaccinated if their vaccination status is unknown or uncertain. Furthermore, vaccinated individuals who contract measles may be underreported or not tested due to fears of false positives, leading to an overrepresentation of unvaccinated cases in official statistics as previously reported.
Kennedy Responds to The Allegations
When talking with Brian Cohen, RFK Jr says:
“The best evidence shows that the deaths that occurred from measles that year were a result of a defective vaccination of the people who died were people who got the vaccine while they had measles, which you should never do. In Tonga which is next door, which also had a measles outbreak and where they were not given the vaccine, there were no deaths.
Of course the vaccine cartel and the public health cartel that likes a propaganda on this issue points this and say oh ‘the deaths occurred because of a because lower vaccination rate.’ But there is no data that shows that. There’s no paper that shows that. There’s no science that shows that. There’s just propaganda.
The best science indicates that the actual reasons for those deaths in Samoa were a defective vaccine that was brought in from Australia and then was pulled when the Public Health authorities realized that it was killing people.”
Kennedy’s Advocacy for Better Nutrition and Vaccine Choice
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long advocated for better nutrition, recognizing its critical role in building immunity and preventing disease. NIH research supports this, stating, “Vitamin A deficiency is a recognized risk factor for severe measles infections.” Additionally, studies have shown that more than half of the sampled population in Samoa were not meeting the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calcium (59.0%), 44.6% were not meeting the RDA for potassium, and intake of vitamin A and E was inadequate among 25.9% and 25.6% of the population, respectively.
These nutritional deficiencies were contributing factors to the severity of the measles outbreak. Kennedy’s platform is not about taking vaccines away from those who want them; rather, he advocates for informed choice and improved safety standards. His focus on nutrition aligns with his broader commitment to enhancing public health through holistic approaches.
Conclusion
The claim that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is responsible for the measles outbreak in Samoa and the deaths of 83 people is a gross oversimplification of a complex situation. The decline in vaccination rates in Samoa began years before his visit and was influenced by a range of factors, including the 2018 vaccine mix-up. The outbreak in Samoa was part of a global surge in measles cases in 2019, a phenomenon not unique to Samoa or related to Kennedy’s actions. It is essential to approach public health issues with a nuanced understanding, recognizing the multifactorial causes of outbreaks and deaths rather than resorting to simplistic blame.
In discussions surrounding mental health and violence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been misrepresented as claiming that antidepressants cause school shootings. In reality, he has pointed out the black box warning of antidepressants and called for additional studies.
RFK Jr.’s Statements on Antidepressants
During a recent interview with Dr. Phil, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed concerns about the potential link between antidepressants, specifically SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and benzodiazepines, and violent behavior. Here is what he said:
“You mentioned the school shootings. When the Columbine shooting happened, I think five families brought lawsuits against the maker of Prozac, which had just been released. But there have been many, many articles since then and a lot of evidence that some of these mass shootings that we’re seeing in this country may be related to this new class of drugs—SSRIs and benzos. Those drugs have a black box warning on them that says they cause homicidal and suicidal behavior.”
It is essential to understand that Kennedy is not making a definitive claim that antidepressants cause school shootings. Instead, he is advocating for further research into the potential side effects of these medications, particularly given the FDA’s black box warning.
The Scientific Perspective
The scientific community has long debated the relationship between antidepressants and violent behavior. The FDA issued a black box warning concerning the risk of suicidality associated with the use of antidepressants in children and adolescents in 2004. However, this warning is not a conclusive statement that these medications cause violence. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states:
“The FDA has issued a black box warning concerning the risk of suicidality associated with the use of antidepressants in children and adolescents from 2004. Despite this fact, whether or not antidepressants truly increase suicidality is up for debate because depression itself is associated with an increased risk of suicide.”
This underscores the complexity of the issue. Depression, the condition being treated by these medications, is itself linked to an increased risk of suicide. The black box warning serves as a precaution, not a definitive causal link.
The Need for Further Research
RFK Jr.’s call for more research is both reasonable and necessary. Understanding the full range of effects of antidepressants, especially in vulnerable populations like children and adolescents, is crucial for developing safe and effective treatment protocols.
RFK Jr has said repeatedly that he will change his views if new data is presented to him. All he is asking for is credible research free from big-pharma’s influence.
Conclusion
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. does not claim that antidepressants cause school shootings. He advocates for more research into the potential side effects of these medications, especially given the FDA’s black box warning. Understanding the complex relationship between mental health treatment and behavior requires careful study and balanced discussion. It is crucial to approach this topic with the nuance and sensitivity it deserves, avoiding the pitfalls of oversimplification and misrepresentation.
We all agree that every school shooting is a tragedy and we should join together to find the cause to them to prevent further harm.
Mainstream media, including CNN, has portrayed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a proponent of vaccine misinformation and accused him of making antisemitic remarks regarding Covid-19. However, the media refuses to report the context of his statement and the fact that he was talking about an NIH funded study.
Claim 1: Kennedy’s Remarks About Covid-19 Were Antisemitic
What CNN Reported:
CNN and other media outlets reported that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made antisemitic remarks by suggesting that Covid-19 was engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people. During a congressional hearing, Congresswoman Schultz echoed this sentiment, accusing Kennedy of spreading a baseless conspiracy theory.
Kennedy’s Response:
Kennedy clarified under oath that he was referencing a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was not promoting a conspiracy theory. He stated that his remarks were taken out of context and misrepresented by the media.
The Study in Question:
The study Kennedy referred to can be found here. The research indicates that a specific genetic variant, ACE2-K26R, which is more frequent in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, may decrease the electrostatic attraction between SARS-CoV-2 and the ACE2 receptor. This scientific finding was discussed in a private setting where Kennedy was assured that no recording devices were allowed. He later told CNN that he would have never said those remarks knowing they were going to be taken out of context like they were. Kennedy told CNN, “I wish I hadn’t said them, you know. What I said was true, the only reason I wouldn’t talk publicly about this … is that I know that there’s people out there who are antisemitic and can misuse any information.”
Context and Misrepresentation:
The media’s portrayal of Kennedy’s remarks as antisemitic neglects the context in which they were made. He was discussing a legitimate scientific study and not endorsing any conspiracy theory. The selective reporting by outlets like CNN has contributed to a misunderstanding of Kennedy’s intentions and statements and, in bad faith, interfered in the election process.
Claim 2: Kennedy is a Leading Proponent of Vaccine Misinformation
What CNN Reported:
CNN and other media sources have labeled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a leading proponent of vaccine misinformation. This characterization has been used to discredit his views and public statements on vaccines and public health.
Kennedy’s Advocacy:
Kennedy has been a vocal advocate for vaccine safety and transparency. He has raised concerns about vaccine ingredients, the regulatory processes, and potential conflicts of interest between pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies. Kennedy’s stance is often misrepresented as being entirely anti-vaccine, whereas he emphasizes the need for safer vaccines and informed consent. It is important to note that Kennedy has stated that he will not take anyone’s vaccines away.
The Broader Issue:
The label of “vaccine misinformation” is frequently used to dismiss legitimate concerns and criticisms of the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory practices. Kennedy’s advocacy for vaccine safety should be seen in the context of promoting public health and ensuring that vaccines are safe and effective for all individuals. This is no different from his public health stance on other medicines and even getting rid of harmful chemicals in our food and water.
Conclusion
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been unfairly characterized by mainstream media as promoting antisemitic ideas and spreading vaccine misinformation. By examining the context of his statements and the scientific research he referenced, it becomes clear that these claims are based on selective reporting and misrepresentation. Kennedy’s commitment to vaccine safety and transparency reflects a broader concern for public health, and his efforts should be understood in this light.
President Trump and President Biden were fact-checked multiple times from the Presidential Debate. Here we go through the claims that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made during The Real Debate that his campaign hosted along side the CNN debate.
Economy
“President Trump came into office promising to balance the budget. Instead, he spent more money in office than every president in the United States history combined from George Washington from George W. Bush.”
“(President Biden) He’s already run up 6.3 trillion dollars in debt and by the time he leaves office he’ll have run up more than President Trump.”
Almost
Joe Biden has approved 6.2 trillion of new borrowing but has also approved 1.9 trillion in deficit reduction, amounting to a total of 4.3 trillion so far in his term.
“The interest alone on that debt is costing us more than our military budget.”
True
So far in 2024, 601 billion has been spent on the interest on the debt and 576 billion has been spent on National Defense.
Covid
“These two presidents shut down every business in our country. 3.3 million businesses with no due process, no just compensation.”
True and Almost
The NIH study that records this was analyzing this data found that 3.3 million businesses were closed in April 2020. This indicates that this happened under President Trump. According to the Federal Reserve, many, not all, closures remained until mid 2021.
“They shifted 4.3 trillion dollars upward to this new oligarchy of billionaires that he was talking about. They created a billionaire a day in 500 days.”
True – and some.
Many sources even show more than 4.3 trillion. This source shows 5 billion of wealth was shifted up during the pandemic.
“We ended up having the worst record of, body count, of any country in the world. We had 16% of the covid deaths under these two presidents. We only have 4% of the world’s population.”
True
According to John Hopkins data, we had the highest number of covid deaths than any other country at 1,123,836. Forbes wrote this when referencing that same data, “The U.S. has 4% of the world’s population but recorded 16% of Covid-19 deaths.”
Abortion
“I believe it should be limited, late term, should be limited. Absolutely. That’s what was permitted under Roe v Wade.”
True
During the debate, there was back and forth between the candidates about the limitations, if any, Roe v Wade provided. RFK Jr. is correct when he said that it limited late term abortions.
“That’s what every European country, has the same law.”
With one exception.
Poland only allows abortion in the cases where the life of the mother is at risk. There are five other countries that also ban abortion, but the average person would not consider them countries since they are the size of a small city. See image below.
“52% of abortions in this country, the woman says economic considerations played a key role in her decision.”
True
Percentages change drastically depending on what source you use. For example, this medical paper by Dr. Dawn Stacey lists “not financially prepared,” with 40% and, ‘unable to provide a “good” life,’ with 12%. This equals the 52% Kennedy was most likely referring to. According to this medical journal, 73% of women reported getting an abortion because they could not afford a baby. Point is, Kennedy is correct that a majority of abortions take place because of financial reasons.
“Every million dollars that we spend on weapons provides two jobs, creates two jobs. Every million dollars that we spend on childcare creates 22 jobs.”
The idea is true – more research is needed on the specific numbers.
Many sources conclude the idea that an investment in childcare creates more jobs than investments in defense do. However, I have had a difficult time trying to find the exact data Kennedy referenced to. According to Brown University, a one million investment in federal defense creates 6.9 jobs. They do not list childcare specifically, but they do list education which is usually tied into that. The same investment in elementary and secondary school creates 19.2 jobs.
Equitable Growth noted, “In one economic model, for example, fully subsidizing child care costs so that parents paid nothing rather than an average of $89 per week (in 2021 dollars) increased the rate of maternal employment from 37 percent to 87 percent.17“
Feel free to email info@kennedydebunked.com if you have any additional data.
Immigration
“I think almost everything that President Biden said I know to be, not to be true, including his claim that he was endorsed by the border patrol.”
True
During the debate, President Biden made the comment that the Border Patrol endorsed him. Kennedy then said he knew that was false, and that is correct. The Border Patrol Union posted during the debate, “To be clear, we never have and never will endorse Biden.”
“You know the border, there’s been at least 7 million people who have come across the border. This is without the got aways which are another 2 million.”
True
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, total border encounters are at 8,280,550. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, there have been 1,849,515 gotaways between 2021 and 2023. According to the Homeland Security Committee in the House of Representatives, they also estimate roughly 2 million gotaways under President Biden’s term.
“President Biden, when he became president, ordered a stop on the construction of the wall.”
True
On President Biden’s first day in office, he issued a proclamation to stop the construction at the border wall. The Biden administration is currently in litigation over this decision. Plaintiff’s argue that congress appropriated that money for the building of the wall and the executive branch does not have the authority to redirect those funds.
“The two laws that were changed under President Biden, the day they came in that catch-and-release law…”
Kennedy ran out of time during the middle of this statement. Because of that, I will not comment on the validity of it. I will, however, provide additional information.
On February 4th, 2021, President Biden issued a memorandum which essentially reinstated catch-and-release that was revoked under the Trump administration. On President Biden’s first day in office he signed executive order 13993. This order revoked an executive order from President Trump that enforced many aspects of the immigration law. This move is seen to have opened the border on Biden’s first day in office.
“We’re seeing rises in crime that are associated with the immigrants.”
True
The number of arrests have gone up in recent years according to the U.S. Customs and Border protection. Many people believe that crime rate among undocumented immigrants is much lower than U.S. citizens. However, there is competing data on this. The Department of Justice reports, “we observe considerably lower felony arrest rates among undocumented immigrants compared to legal immigrants and native-born US citizens.” This report is from 2020. On the other hand, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports, “64% of all federal arrests were of non-U.S. citizens.” Because of this, I revert back to the U.S. Customs and Border protection.
“The border patrol takes, because they’ve been ordered to not to do their job, you know catch-and-release. They bring them to the Uma airport, put them on a plane to any destination they want… and they pay their ticket. They have an asylum court date seven years in the future.”
True
Dr. Phil interviewed the president of the Border Patrol Union and many border agents about this issue. If you do not believe Kennedy or Dr. Phil, listen to the agents who work at the border below.
Watch Part 1 on Dr. Phil here.
Watch Part 2 on Dr. Phil here.
Ukraine – Russia War
“Putin has been asking to settle this war from the beginning. In fact, he agreed to two separate treaties, the Minsk Accords in 2019. Which Zelensky ran in 2019 and ran promising to sign the Minsk Accords.
True
According to Geopolitical Economy, ‘When Zelensky ran for president, he had differentiated himself from Poroshenko by pledging to “reboot” peace negotiations with the Russian-speaking separatists in the east and “continue in the direction of the Minsk talks and head towards concluding a ceasefire”.’
“President Putin did not go into Ukraine intending to conquer Europe.”
True – at least that is what Putin says.
Tucker Carlson sat down for an interview with Putin in 2024. Tucker Carlson asked Putin, “Well the argument is, I know you know this, is that well, he invaded Ukraine he has territorial aims across the continent.” Putin responded with, “It is absolutely out of the question. You just don’t have to be any kind of analyst. It goes against common sense to get involved in some kind of global war.”
“They negotiated a beautiful treaty in April of 2022. They signed the treaty. The one thing that Putin wanted was that we didn’t put NATO in Ukraine. He didn’t want to conquer Europe. They signed it. Putin was withdrawing his troops. And what happened, President Joe Biden sent Boras Johnson over to Kiav and forced Zelensky to tear up that agreement.”
True
According to the Russian News Agency, ‘”This happened only because the United States had put pressure on them and said that no negotiations must be held,” the secretary of Russia’s Security Council stressed.
Russia pulled out its forces from the Kiev and Chernigov areas. However, the negotiations on the peaceful settlement were totally frozen after that and, as Russian President Vladimir Putin said, Kiev gave up the accords reached in Istanbul.
In October last year, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky enacted a decision by the country’s National Security and Defense Council on banning any talks with Putin.’
The European Conservative states, “Russia was ready to end the war and withdraw its troops in exchange for Ukrainian neutrality just a few months after the invasion began and was refused partly because of ex-British PM Boris Johnson.”
“President Trump was part of it. President Trump gave the first 1.3 billion to Ukraine in 2017 of the first offensive weapons.”
False
According to Defense News, 1.5 billion has been sent to Ukraine from 2014-2019. President Trump eventually sent 400 million after originally stalling its release. This stalling ultimately got him impeached.
“Then he walked away from the intermediate range nuclear treaty with Russia unilaterally.”
True
According to BBC, the US formally withdrew from The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) in 2019.
Israel – Hamas War
“Hamas, which is a genocidal organization, which has pledged to Israel’s anialation, it’s pledged to the extermination of jews and it does not want a two state solution. It wants a one state solution which is Israel gone. It actually has in it’s charter a provision that says that it is against Islamic law to even negotiate with Israel.
True
According to the HAMA Covenant, “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.”
“[Peace] initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement.”
“The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them.”
“Israel is in a five front war with Hamas, which is a proxy of Iran.”
True
According to the same covenant, “the Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinian movement.”
“Israel is the only democracy in the Mid-East.”
True
According to the V-Dem Institute, Israel is the only democracy in the middle east. The rest of the countries have autocracies (absolute power is held by a ruler.)
“Hezbollah is the most proficient guerrilla army in the world and probably in history. Iran is now a super power in the mid-east.“
True
According to a congressional report, “Lebanon’s Hezbollah is a Shiite Islamist militia, political party, social welfare organization, and U.S. State Department-designated terrorist organization. Its armed element
(referred to by many in Lebanon as “the resistance”) receives support from Iran and Syria and
possesses significant paramilitary and unconventional warfare capabilities that rival and in some
cases exceed those of Lebanon’s armed forces and police. The United States government holds
Hezbollah responsible for a number of kidnappings and high-profile terrorist attacks against U.S.,
European, and Israeli interests since the early 1980s.”
NATO
“President Eisenhower said in 1959, if we do our job with NATO it will be gone in ten years.”
Almost True – He got the date wrong.
When Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first NATO supreme allied commander, he wrote in 1951 that “If in 10 years, all American troops stationed in Europe for national defense purposes have not been returned to the United States, then this whole project [NATO] will have failed.”
In 1961, Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”
“We have double the military budget that we had in real dollars than at the height of the cold war.”
Not double – but close.
In 2023, the US military budget was 851 billion dollars. The height of the cold war is subject to one’s opinion. Some sources say 1962. In 1962, the military budget was 49.4 billion. Accounting for inflation, the 1962 military budget would be 513.7 billion today.
The Constitution
“President Biden, 37 hours after he took the oath of office, was ordering social media sites to censor his political opponents. He opened a portal to the FBI, the CIA, CISA, NIH, DHS, the IRS and other agencies to go in and tamper with the social media sites and take out things that were not politically palatable.”
True
This is well documented in this congressional report and in the case Murthy v Missouri. The court case went to the Supreme Court where they decided there was a lack of standing and the cases will have to be litigated in lower courts. This case has over 20,000 pages of evidence from the Biden administration and social media companies. We will have to wait for these courts to run their course in lower courts.
*The next four claims I do not note if it is true or false. I leave this to the reader since it could depend on how you interpret the law.*
“They violated [Trump and Biden] freedom of assembly with mask regulations that again, the top scientist in this country Anthony Fauci, admitted to congress two weeks ago that they were not scientifically based.”
Anthony Fauci testified to the Covid select subcommittee. In his testimony in response to social distancing, he said “You know, I don’t recall. It sort of just appeared. I don’t recall, like, a discussion of whether it should be 5 or 6 or whatever. It was just that 6 foot is—.” When asked if he looked at any studies for wearing masks, he said, “You know, I might have, Mitch, but I don’t recall specifically that I did. I might have.”
The first amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
“They shut down 3.3 million businesses with no due process, no just compensation, a violation of the fifth amendment.”
According to the fifth amendment, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”
“They shut down the seventh amendment right to jury trials by saying you couldn’t sue somebody who was involved in covid counter measures no matter how negligent that corporation.”
According to a congressional report, “Under the HHS Declaration and its amendments, covered persons are generally immune from legal liability (i.e., they cannot be sued for money damages in court) for losses relating to the administration or use of covered counter measures against COVID-19. The sole exception to PREP Act immunity is for death or serious physical injury caused by “willful misconduct.”” Even then, you would not sue the company, but the tax payers will pay out for damages.”
The seventh amendment says, “In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.”
“They shut down the fourth amendment’s prohibition against warrantless searches and seizures with this track and trace surveillance.”
In a paper discussing the security and privacy on covid-19 tracking apps it says, “In most apps, users were monitored and tracked without the user’s consent.” The fourth amendment says, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Issues Facing the Middle Class
“70% of the American public say they don’t want this contest.” – Referring to Trump and Biden.
True
According to a Harvard/Harris pol in October of 2023, 66% of voters want an alternative to Joe Biden and Donald Trump. The same poll in September of 2023 showed 72%. This question is not asked in most polls so this is the closest one I could find.
“71% of people in this country are making less than the cost of basic human needs.”
False
Answers vary depending on the source and depending on how you interpret the statement. According to the Federal Reserve, 71% of respondents say they took at least one action to adjust their lifestyle for inflation such as switched to cheaper products, delayed a major purchase, got another job, or similar. 37% of adults would not be able to pay for a $400 expense right now. 17% of people were not able to pay their bills in full last month.
“I want to talk about the fact that under their administrations the top 1% of Americans now own more than the 60% that represent the middle class.”
True depending on what percentiles you consider the middle class.
According to the Federal Reserve, the bottom 60% of Americans hold 24 trillion in wealth, while the top 1% holds 35 trillion in wealth.
Inflation, Crime, and Education
“I agree with the assessment that inflation is disproportionately hurting black people because they’re wage earners, they’ve got disproportionately fixed incomes.”
True
According to Liberty Street Economics, Hispanics are being hit the hardest with inflation with blacks being the next highest. Whites were then next hit the hardest with Asian American/ Pacific Islanders being hit the least hardest. Possibly a better explanation for this disparity is in income brackets. So those with lower incomes were more affected by inflation than those with high incomes.
“We spend 50 billion dollars a year on the Department of Education.”
False
We spend about 80 billion a year for the Department of Education.
“President Biden passed the drug act in 1986, that he wrote, that gave 100 times the penalty for crack cocaine as powder cocaine. It was designed to put blacks in jail. Then he passed in 1994 omnibus crime bill with the super predatory provisions, the mandatory sentencing, three strikes your out. Those two bills doubles the amounts of blacks in American prisons.”
In 1986, Joe Biden co-sponsored H.R.5484 – Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. He did not write it. According to the Equal Justice Initiative, “The law created a significant disparity in the sentences imposed in federal courts for crimes involving powder cocaine versus those imposed for crimes involving crack cocaine, with mandatory minimum sentences set at a 100:1 ratio.”
The Violent Crime bill was written by Joe Biden and passed in 1994. This bill, in coordination with the 1986 bill, have been attributed to mass incarceration rates.
Environment
“We give carbon 5.2 trillion dollars in subsidies a year.”
Needs more information
Carbon subsidies have reached 7 trillion across the globe according to the International Monetary Fund. However, in the US it’s in the billions. It is hard to pinpoint an exact number because there are various direct and indirect subsidies which can be found at the Environmental and Energy Study Institute.
“President Biden’s program, which is the Inflation Reduction Act, does a few good things, but the bulk of it is large subsidies to the oil industry and to Blackrock, and other really sinister corporations.”
Read below and form your own opinion.
According to Opensecrets.org, “Last year’s most-lobbied congressional bill by the oil and gas industry, and all other industries, was the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the nation’s largest climate spending package ever. The landmark bill, which Biden signed into law on Aug. 16, 2022, directs billions of dollars — including tax incentives — into clean energy technology in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emission.” The U.S. Department of Labor says, “It is estimated that more than 70% of that investment will be delivered through tax incentives.”
“Stopping the discharge from coal burning power plants which are costing half a trillion dollars in respiratory injuries annually. Poisoning every fresh water fish in our country with mercury…”
True
According to this Science Direct article, carbon emissions from burning coal lead to a variety of health issues including lung, immune, heart, brain, reproductive, and even DNA problems. While I could not find an exact cost to these health problems as a result of burning coal, it is a very well documented health problem. According to the EPA, “Power plants are the largest source of airborne emissions of mercury. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin which affects the nervous system and brain functions, particularly in infants and children, and is known to cause other significant health effects.”
Social Secuity
Kennedy agreed with the host that social security is going bankrupt.
True
According to the Social Security Administration, “benefits are now expected to be payable in full on a timely basis until 2037, when the trust fund reserves are projected to become exhausted.”
“We need to solve our chronic disease epidemic which is the biggest cost, 4.3 trillion.”
Close
According to the CDC, “About 90% of the annual $4.1 trillion health care expenditure is attributed to managing and treating chronic diseases and mental health conditions.”
“When I was a kid, our country owned half the wealth on the face of the earth.”
Almost
According to Forbes, the U.S. had 40% of the world’s GDP. In 2019, it was 24%.
Child Care
“Child care for black Americans, John, is 37% of income. A single child.”
It depends on the childcare used and where you live.
According to care.com, the average weekly cost of daycare is $321 for one child. This can range depending on where you live and if you use a nanny, babysitter, daycare, or after school care. I totaled that weekly cost by 45 weeks and ended up with a total yearly cost of $14,445. This number divided by the average household income in the U.S. results in daycare costing 19% overall of household income. When you break this down by race it amounts to 27% for black Americans, 23% for Hispanic Americans, 18% for white Americans, and 13% for Asian Americans.
Nuclear War
“We fired a missile in coordination with Ukraine, a series of missiles, into crimea with cluster bombs. Which every nation in the world except for us and North Korea says is a war crime. We dropped them on a civilian population. People who were sitting, sunning themselves on a beach and we killed a lot of children.”
True
According to Russian media and the U.S media, four people died including two children, and about 150 people were injured.
Russia equally blames the U.S. for supplying the weapons and using American satellites to guide the missiles.
Russian officials said “The involvement by the United States, the direct involvement, as a result of which Russian civilians are killed, cannot go without consequences.”
“The previous week, the Russians are in Cuba firing missiles because they’ve warned us.”
Read below to form your own opinion.
In early June, three Russian military ships and a nuclear submarine arrived in Cuba for military exercises. American ships were deployed in response.
“The [Russia] have 2,500 more nuclear weapons than we do.”
There is no way to tell.
Russia does not disclose how many nuclear weapons they have. According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia has about 500 more weapons.
Closing Argument
“In 2013 there was a poll taken that asked young people under 35 in this country, “are you proud of the United States?” 85% said yes. The same poll taken five months ago , 18% said yes.”
True
According to a 2013 Gallup poll, 85% of 18-29 were extremely proud to be an American. The result across all ages was also 85%. The same poll in June of 2023 shows 18% of 18-35 year olds say the same. Out of all age groups in 2023, 67% say they are extremely proud to be an American.
“…rather than spending 8 trillion dollars on regime change wars that have left every nation we’ve touched worse off than we found it.”
Some of this is opinion so I will add some facts for you to decide.
According to Watson Institute at Brown University, “Through Fiscal Year 2022, the United States federal government has spent and obligated $8 trillion dollars on the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and elsewhere.” They go on to say that this money was almost entirely borrowed which increased the deficit. The interest on this debt could total over 6.5 trillion by 2050.
Watch the Entire Debate Here:
Reality: Kennedy has repeatedly emphasized that he does not plan to confiscate firearms or restrict Second Amendment rights. The data shows gun ownership levels have remained the same while mental health issues have drastically increased. He stresses the need for a comprehensive approach that includes better mental health care and understanding the underlying factors contributing to violence, rather than simply imposing gun restrictions.
RFK Jr.’s Position on Gun Ownership
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been profoundly impacted by gun violence with the tragic assassinations of his father, Robert F. Kennedy, in 1968, and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, in 1963. However, in various interviews Kennedy has reiterated his commitment to protecting Second Amendment rights while seeking to address the complex factors contributing to gun violence. In response to a question about banning assault weapons, RFK Jr. stated:
“I am not going to take people’s guns away. If there was consensus where Republicans and Democrats voted a majority to do that, I would sign the bill.”
He acknowledges that significant changes to gun laws would require bipartisan support, which is currently very unlikely given the strong opposition to gun restrictions among Republicans. However, the data shows that guns are not causing the increase in mass shootings.
Gun Ownership and Violence Data
Contrary to the notion that reducing gun ownership would decrease violence, data shows a different trend. According to the Violence Policy Center, gun ownership rates have remained relatively stable since the early 2000s, with only slight fluctuations.
Active Shooting Incidents
Data from the Pew Research Center indicates a rise in active shooting incidents over the years, despite stable gun ownership rates. This suggests that other factors are contributing to the increase in violence.
The Role of Mental Health
Rising violence, particularly among younger individuals, correlates more closely with increasing mental health issues than gun ownership. Research by the American Psychological Association highlights a significant increase in mental health disorders among young Americans over the past decade:
- Major depression in adolescents increased by 52% from 2005 to 2017.
- Serious psychological distress in young adults increased by 71% from 2008 to 2017.
- Suicidal thoughts and attempts among young adults increased by 47% from 2008 to 2017.
Kennedy continually emphasizes that studies should be done to find out why this is happening.
RFK Jr.’s Policy on Addressing Gun Violence
In a NewsNation Townhall, Kennedy elaborated on his approach to addressing gun violence:
Audience Question: I want to know how are you going to use federal resources to slow and or end the epidemic of gun violence in America.
RFK Jr.: Thank you for that question. For me, it’s a very tough question. You know, I lost my father to gun violence. I lost my uncle to gun violence, and many friends. So, I’m aware and sensitive to the injuries that that can cause to generations.
We have a gun problem in this country. We have a Supreme Court now that has given a very expansive view of the Second Amendment. I believe in the Constitution, including the Second Amendment. Practically, I do not believe that there is, within that Second Amendment, that there is anything we can meaningfully do to reduce the trade and ownership of guns and I’m not going to take people’s guns away.
Because telling the people that I’m gonna take their guns away is not practical. Anybody who tells you that they’re going to have a reduced gun violence through gun control at this point, I don’t think is being realistic. I think we have to figure out other ways to do that. I think we have to figure out other ways to reduce that violence.
Ultimately, my hope is that we can bring Americans together, get them to trust each other, get them to trust their government again, and then we can work out. You know, every American, whether their a Republican gun carrier a Democrat who is, you know, who believes that nobody should own guns, we all want the same thing. We want to keep our children safe and want to keep our neighborhoods safe.
I think we have to look at what the alternatives are for doing that. Some of the things I’ve talked about are that we need to look at some of the other causes of violence. One is the division among Americans, and the hatred, we need to reduce that. The distrust of government, need to reduce that. We also need to look at the contribution, you know, particularly with the school shootings of some of these psychiatric drugs. I’m not saying they’re causing it, I’m saying there is evidence they are and that evidence…
Interviewer: What’s that evidence?
RFK Jr.: Well, part of the evidence includes the fact that for SSRIs, almost all of them have on their manufacturers inserts, among the listed side effects, are homicidal and suicidal behavior.
Interviewer: That doesn’t mean antidepressants caused any of these people to commit mass shootings.
RFK Jr.: Of course it doesn’t. But we ought to be looking at it, shouldn’t we? Should we be looking at video games, and cell phones, and some of the social media stuff. We should be looking at all these things, including the SSRI’s. By the way, there are studies out there that indicate a higher percentage of the people who committed the school violence were on SSRIs.
Interviewer: Yeah, but they’re also like ten’s and ten’s of millions of Americans on antidepressants who don’t commit mass shooting.
RFK Jr.: Of course. There are people who smoke cigarettes and don’t get cancer. Shouldn’t we be looking at those things? Something happened in this country. Something happened that we can’t really explain and that we need to explain. NIH really ought to be explaining it to us, but it doesn’t do these studies. It will not do the studies where there may be a big shot as the culprit.
You know when I was a kid, many of the schools that my friends attended had gun clubs in them. The kids brought their rifles to school every day and nobody was shooting children. In all of human history, all of the nations in the world, there’s never been a time when people randomly went into a group of children and start shooting them. Why did this suddenly start? Why is it not happening in Switzerland, which has, you a comparable number of guns per capita that we have?
Interviewer: No, we have far more guns per capita.
RFK Jr.: We have far more, but they have a lot of guns, but their last school shooting was 21 years ago. We’re having them every 21 hours.
Interviewer: We have few more questions we want to get to. But very quickly in ten…
RFK Jr.: But do you believe we shouldn’t even look at that issue?
Conclusion
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., someone affected by the gun violence himself, is committed to finding balanced, effective solutions to reduce violence. He respects the cultural significance of gun ownership for many Americans and supports democratic processes in determining gun policy. Given the current political landscape, significant gun restrictions are unlikely to gain bipartisan support, making the claim that Kennedy will take away guns both misleading and unfounded.
Kennedy’s focus is on evidence-based measures that starts with good scientific studies, not on infringing on the rights of responsible gun owners. It is crucial to understand the full context of his statements and to understand the data on gun ownership, as well as mental health throughout the years.
Reality: Kennedy’s focus is on the potential endocrine-disrupting effects of chemicals like atrazine, which the CDC themselves have issued a Public Health Statement saying, “atrazine is commonly found in the water collected from drinking water,” and “atrazine can affect your health is by altering the way that the reproductive system works.” He did not say it is causing kids to turn transgender, he simply repeated what the CDC, NIH, and others have noted in the scientific literature.
The Origin of the Claim
The assertion that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. believes water is turning children transgender stems from comments he made during an interview with Jordan Peterson. In the interview, Kennedy discussed the impact of environmental chemicals on children’s health, particularly the role of endocrine disruptors like atrazine. Watch the interview on Rumble Here or listen on Spotify Here. The frog study Kennedy refers to is an NIH published study here.
“I see these huge levels of depression and despair, loneliness in kids. I don’t think there’s a single cause to it. I think blaming it on depression about climate is probably over simplistic. In fact, I think a lot of the problems we see in kids, and particularly in boys, it is probably underappreciated how much of that is coming from chemical exposures. Including a lot of the sexual dysphoria that we’re seeing. These kids are being overwhelmed by a tsunami, I mean they’re swimming through a soup of toxic chemicals today, and many of those are endocrine disruptors. There is atrazine throughout our water supply. Atrazine, by the way, if you put atrazine in a tank full of frogs, it will chemically castrate and forcibly feminize every frog in there. 10% of the male frogs will turn into fully viable females able to produce viable eggs. If it’s doing that to frogs, there is a lot of other evidence that it is doing it to human beings as well.”
The Propaganda
This is what media outlets like CNN and The New York Times had to say:
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a history of repeatedly sharing unfounded conspiracies that man-made chemicals in the environment could be making children gay or transgender and causing the feminization of boys and masculinization of girls.” – CNN
“But no evidence exists to indicate that the chemical, typically used on farms to kill weeds, causes the same effects in humans, let alone gender dysphoria.” – The New York Times
Now let’s look at what the CDC and NIH have to say.
What the CDC and NIH have to say:
Kennedy’s statements were focused on the potential health effects of environmental pollutants like atrazine, a widely used herbicide known to be an endocrine disruptor. The CDC acknowledges that atrazine can persist in water sources and has been linked to reproductive system alterations in animals. The CDC also notes:
“Any atrazine that is washed from the soil into streams and other bodies of water will stay there for a long time, because breakdown of the chemical is slow in rivers and lakes. It will also persist for a long time in groundwater. This is one reason why atrazine is commonly found in the water collected from drinking water wells in some agricultural regions.”
“One of the primary ways that atrazine can affect your health is by altering the way that the reproductive system works. Studies of couples living on farms that use atrazine for weed control found an increase in the risk of pre-term delivery. These studies are difficult to interpret because most of the farmers were men who may have been exposed to several types of pesticides. Atrazine has been shown to cause changes in blood hormone levels in animals that affected the ability to reproduce. Some of the specific effects observed in animals are not likely to occur in occur in humans because of biological differences between humans and these types of animals. However, atrazine may affect the reproductive system in humans by a different mechanism. Atrazine also caused liver, kidney, and heart damage in animals; it is possible that atrazine could cause these effects in humans, although this has not been examined.”
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH) confirms that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like atrazine can interfere with hormonal functions, leading to a variety of health issues. According to the NIH:
“Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or human-made chemicals that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. These chemicals are associated with a wide array of health issues.”
Forever Chemicals and Their Effects
Atrazine is not the only concern. Other chemicals, such as antidepressants, are also persistent in the environment and have been found in water sources. According to the NIH, antidepressants are considered PFAS or commonly known as “forever chemicals.” This study says, “high concentration of antidepressants was detected in the raw and treated wastewater.” The NIH notes an adverse effect; “SSRIs are well-known to impair sexual function while they are being taken.”
RFK Jr. Wants to do the Science
To summarize the findings, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is correct that Atrazine is found in water and that it has potential harmful health effects. Not only that, many other forever chemicals, such as SSRI’s, are also known to cause sexual dysfunction among other side effects. These chemicals have either not been studied in humans or studied very little. They certainly have not been studied to see how they react together in the human body over time.
Kennedy consistently advocates for thorough, independent scientific studies on the effects of environmental pollutants, free from corporate influence.
Kennedy/Shanahan Policy on These Chemicals
The claim that RFK Jr. says our water is turning kids transgender is a gross misrepresentation of his actual stance. Kennedy is focused on the potential endocrine-disrupting effects of chemicals like atrazine and advocates for thorough scientific research to understand their impact on human health. His focus is on ending the chronic disease epidemic which starts with good science. This also goes hand in hand with his environmental policy since he wants to clean up these forever chemicals up from our water and food supply.
As always, it is crucial to look beyond sensational headlines and consider the full context and scientific evidence before forming conclusions.
Reality: Official records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) show no donations from AIPAC to Kennedy’s campaign or any PAC supporting him.
Understanding the FEC Website
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that oversees the financing of federal elections in the United States. The FEC provides public access to a comprehensive database of campaign contributions, including details of all donations made to political candidates and committees. This database allows anyone to search for and verify contributions by specific organizations or individuals to various campaigns.
The Evidence
A review of the FEC’s official records clearly shows that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and any PACs supporting him have not received any contributions from AIPAC. The screenshot from the FEC website displays the filtered results for campaign contributions for the 2023-2024 election cycle, specifically looking for donations from AIPAC to Kennedy-related entities. As illustrated, there is no data available, confirming that no such contributions exist.
Conclusion
The claim that RFK Jr. is funded by AIPAC is false. According to the official FEC records, neither Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nor any associated PAC has received money from AIPAC. This debunks the narrative that AIPAC is financially supporting Kennedy’s campaign. Always verify such claims against reliable sources like the FEC to avoid misinformation.
