RFK Jr. Insists Scientific Journal Explain Retraction Of Anti-Vaxx Article He Liked | Techdirt Techdirt is off for the holiday! We'll be back with our regular posts this weekend. https://www.techdirt.com/ • • Sign In (https://www.techdirt.com/my-account/) • Register (https://www.techdirt.com/register/) • Preferences (https://www.techdirt.com/preferences/) Techdirt - [x] • TechDirt (https://www.techdirt.com/) • GreenHouse (https://www.techdirt.com/edition/greenhouse/) • Free Speech (https://www.techdirt.com/edition/freespeech/) • Error 402 (https://www.techdirt.com/edition/webmonetization/) • Ctrl-Alt-Speech (https://www.techdirt.com/edition/ctrlaltspeech/) • Deals (https://deals.techdirt.com/) • Jobs (https://jobs.techdirt.com/) • Support Techdirt (https://www.techdirt.com/support/) https://www.techdirt.com/blog/podcast/ Internet Age-Gates Are A Growing Global Threat (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/internet-age-gates-are-a-growing-global-threat/) Trump DOJ Trying To Protect Musk From Lawsuit Over Memphis AI Data Center Pollution (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/18/trump-doj-trying-to-protect-musk-from-lawsuit-over-memphis-ai-data-center-pollution/) RFK Jr. Insists Scientific Journal Explain Retraction Of Anti-Vaxx Article He Liked https://www.techdirt.com/?s&topic=failures Failures (https://www.techdirt.com/?s&topic=failures) from the too-much-free-time dept Wed, Jun 17th 2026 08:08pm - Timothy Geigner (https://www.techdirt.com/user/ronalddumsfeld/) We were just talking about (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/15/rfk-jr-is-very-mad-about-reports-that-hes-checked-out-of-most-of-hhs-work/#comments) how angry RFK Jr. was at a report that he’s been out to lunch on most of what HHS’ work entails, choosing instead to focus his time and attention on his own pet interests, like curtailing vaccine programs (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/05/11/trump-admin-appeals-acip-court-ruling-so-rfk-jr-can-continue-fucking-with-vaccines/) in America, chasing chemtrails (https://www.techdirt.com/2025/05/01/rfk-jr-wants-you-to-know-hhs-is-committed-to-stopping-chemtrails-from-poisoning-you/), and a newfound love for snake-handling. Kennedy denied all of this of course, commenting that everyone was freaking out just because he missed “a couple” of meetings. He then suggested that real journalists would check his public calendar to see how busy he’s been, despite his calendar apparently not being in any way public. The question that leaps to mind in all of this is where the rest of Kennedy’s time is going, if not spent on HHS’ core functions. The answer appears in part to be demanding that scientific journals explain their decisions to retract articles (https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5924878-kennedy-demands-answers-vaccine-study/), so long as they were articles that fit Kennedy’s agenda. Ina letter dated June 11 (https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/2066551769006538847), Kennedy wrote to Toxicology Reports Editor-in-Chief Lawrence H. Lash concerning a 2021 study titled “Vaccines and sudden infant death (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8255173/): An analysis of the VAERS database 1990–2019 and review of the medical literature.” The study in question was authored solely by Neil Z. Miller and was among those cited by Kennedy’s former personal lawyer Aaron Siri in a presentation he gave before a federal vaccine panel in support of altering thechildhood immunization schedule (https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5673251-cdc-reduces-childhood-vaccines/). Those alterations to the vaccine schedule, and the panel that approved them, have since beenblocked by a federal judge (https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5786565-judge-blocks-kennedy-vaccine-changes/). Miller, who identifies as a “medical research journalist” in his author biography, is a prominent vaccine skeptic, having published numerous books questioning the safety and efficacy of immunizations. Now, a couple of things to note here. First, Toxicology Reports has a bit of a reputation problem that arose during the COVID era. It is considered a generally reputable outlet, to be clear, but it had several controversies that arose in 2020 and 2021. Lash is actually the founding editor of the journal, but he had stepped away during this controversial period, during which the journal published articles of a conspiratorial nature (https://forbetterscience.com/2023/09/18/lashing-out-at-toxicology-reports/) around COVID and 5G technology. Lash returned as Editor in Chief of the journal in late 2021. Importantly, that happened after the article in question was published (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8255173/). Lash has apparently been attempting to reestablish the reputation of Toxicology Reports and has, on occasion, gone back and retracted articles that don’t meet his renewed standards. That’s, you know, the work an Editor-in-Chief does. Kennedy’s demands for an explanation why an article he liked was retracted is particularly odd, since the retraction came along with the journal’s justification. The article was about research the author had done in correlating data in the VAERS database with vaccine injury and infant death. A large problem with such research is, as was detailed often during the height of the pandemic, that VAERS is largely a self-reporting system. Claims of vaccine injury that are reported are not verified. If you try to get at the data yourself (https://wonder.cdc.gov/vaers.html), you will first see a disclaimer you have to acknowledge that includes the following text: Key considerations and limitations of VAERS data: • The number of reports alone cannot be interpreted as evidence of a causal association between a vaccine and an adverse event,or as evidence about the existence, severity, frequency, or rates of problems associated with vaccines. • Reports may include incomplete, inaccurate, coincidental, and unverified information. • VAERS does not obtain follow up records on every report. If a report is classified as serious, VAERS requests additional information, such as health records, to further evaluate the report. • VAERS data are limited to vaccine adverse event reports received between 1990 and the most recent date for which data are available. • VAERS data do not represent all known safety information for a vaccine and should be interpreted in the context of other scientific information. And the justification for the retraction follows along those lines. In its removal notice, Elsevier, the publisher of Toxicology Reports, stated, “Given the inherent limitations of passive reporting systems, including the expected temporal clustering of events independent of causality, the conclusions presented in the article are not supported by the methodology employed.” “In light of these concerns, and given the potential implications for medical practice, the Editor-in-Chief has decided that the article should be removed. The author disagrees with this decision and disputes the grounds for removal,” the publisher added. That’s really all you need to know. The dataset the study was built on is unreliable when it comes to the conclusions the research attempted to draw. And that’s before we get into the inappropriate nature of the sitting Secretary of HHS reaching out to scientific journals to demand explanations on matters of medicine and science when he is neither a doctor nor a scientist. I’ll note that the editorial board for Toxicology Reports is chockablock full of PHDs and MDs. If Kennedy finds the real work at HHS boring, then he should quit and go back to advocating for people to be less healthy from infectious diseases for which we have vaccines. Otherwise, there are about a half a dozen health crises going on right now that he could work on instead of harassing the editors of science journals about their independent editorial decisions. Filed Under: aaron siri (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/aaron-siri/), anti-vaxxers (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/anti-vaxxers/), lawrence lash (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/lawrence-lash/), rfk jr. (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/rfk-jr/), science (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/science/), toxicology reports (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/toxicology-reports/), vaccines (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/vaccines/), vaers (https://www.techdirt.com/tag/vaers/) https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/https://reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.techdirt.com%2F2026%2F06%2F17%2Frfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked%2F&title=RFK%20Jr.%20Insists%20Scientific%20Journal%20Explain%20Retraction%20Of%20Anti-Vaxx%20Article%20He%20Likedhttps://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.techdirt.com%2F2026%2F06%2F17%2Frfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked%2F&text=RFK%20Jr.%20Insists%20Scientific%20Journal%20Explain%20Retraction%20Of%20Anti-Vaxx%20Article%20He%20Liked&via=Techdirthttps://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.techdirt.com%2F2026%2F06%2F17%2Frfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked%2F&t=RFK%20Jr.%20Insists%20Scientific%20Journal%20Explain%20Retraction%20Of%20Anti-Vaxx%20Article%20He%20Likedhttps://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&ro=false&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.techdirt.com%2F2026%2F06%2F17%2Frfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked%2F&title=RFK%20Jr.%20Insists%20Scientific%20Journal%20Explain%20Retraction%20Of%20Anti-Vaxx%20Article%20He%20Liked 21 Comments (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comments)Leave a Comment (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comments) If you liked this post, you may also be interested in... • RFK Jr. Is Very Mad About Reports That He's Checked Out Of Most Of HHS' Work (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/15/rfk-jr-is-very-mad-about-reports-that-hes-checked-out-of-most-of-hhs-work/) • Bill Cassidy: Unaccountable & Tone Deaf On RFK Jr. (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/11/bill-cassidy-unaccountable-tone-deaf-on-rfk-jr/) • US Researchers Say Trump's Attack On Science Has Resulted In Self-Censorship (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/11/us-researchers-say-trumps-attack-on-science-has-resulted-in-self-censorship/) • RFK Jr. Talks About How Great A Job He's Doing Managing The Measles Outbreak (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/10/rfk-jr-talks-about-how-great-a-job-hes-doing-managing-the-measles-outbreak/) • Trump Attempts To EO America Into Mimicking Denmark's Vaccination Schedules (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/09/trump-attempts-to-eo-america-into-mimicking-denmarks-vaccination-schedules/) Click to toggle (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/)https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/ Rate this comment as insightful Rate this comment as funny You have rated this comment as insightful You have rated this comment as funny Flag this comment as abusive/trolling/spam You have flagged this comment The first word has already been claimed The last word has already been claimed Comments on “RFK Jr. Insists Scientific Journal Explain Retraction Of Anti-Vaxx Article He Liked” Subscribe: RSS (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/comments/feed/)Leave a comment (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#respond) • Filter comments in by Time • Filter comments as Threaded • Filter only comments rated Insightful • Filter only comments rated funny LOL • Filter only comments that are Unread 21 Comments Collapse all replies This comment is new since your last visit. This comment has been deemed insightful by the community. Pixelation says: June 17, 2026 at 9:03 pm (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5406986) Hey RFK, it was retracted because it is wrong. Not just a little. Like you, it is wack-a-doodle. Collapse replies (1)Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5406986#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5406986)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5406986) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [2] Daveshistory(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/dave-m/)says: June 18, 2026 at 5:31 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407904) Re: That’s why he’s confused. In Trump’s orbit, truth is measured by how closely it accords with what the powerful have to say. The memory hole is only supposed to be used to chuck out things that aren’t official doctrine anymore. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407904#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407904)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407904) This comment is new since your last visit. This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it. Anonymous Coward says: June 17, 2026 at 10:36 pm (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407171) The reality is that scientific journal publications and retractions are ROUTINELY political. So yes, his concern is completely valid. There is (sadly) basically NO scientific validity conferred by journal publication, which is why pre-print servers are a thing. Sorry that you don’t understand. Collapse replies (6)Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407171#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407171)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407171) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [2] This comment has been deemed insightful by the community. TKnarr(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/tknarr/)says: June 18, 2026 at 1:09 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407428) Re: Publication in a scientific journal is supposed to indicate that the article has been peer-reviewed and meets minimum standards for such things as proper methodology, validity of data and so forth. At reputable journals this is the case, and when articles get through that turn out not to meet those standards they’re routinely retracted. If Kennedy had any legitimate questions about the basis for the retraction, he’d be citing experts in the field other than the study’s author supporting the position that the methodology is correct and the conclusions are supported. He doesn’t because he can’t. Pre-print servers have nothing to do with this, they exist to host papers that haven’t been through the complete peer-review process so experts can read and review them and add informed opinions to the peer-review process. Collapse replies (1)Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407428#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407428)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407428) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [3] Anonymous Coward says: June 18, 2026 at 3:10 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407635) Re: Re: Even if an article makes it through a peer-review process with no notes, there is still the repeatability problem, especially in the “soft” sciences. No few attempts to repeat a study have found the original results could not be verified. And not necessarily through fault of the original researchers. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407635#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407635)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407635) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [2] Daveshistory(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/dave-m/)says: June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407907) Re: There are many flaws to the peer-reviewed journal industry but “routine” retractions for political reasons really isn’t one of them. Unless you’re in political science or something. I guess there ALL the retractions must be political. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407907#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407907)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407907) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [2] This comment has been deemed insightful by the community. Strawb(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/strawb/)says: June 18, 2026 at 5:44 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407928) Re: The reality is that scientific journal publications and retractions are ROUTINELY political. No, they’re routinely scientific. Politics rears its head every now and then, but it’s not the routine. So yes, his concern is completely valid. No. RFK has no background in anything that would make his concern valid, especially when he’s demanding an explanation for something that has already been explained. If anything, the publisher’s reason for retracting the “study” is what’s valid. There is (sadly) basically NO scientific validity conferred by journal publication, which is why pre-print servers are a thing. That depends entirely on the journal in question. If something is published in journals such as Nature or JAMA, it has enormous scientific validity. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407928#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407928)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407928) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [2] Anonymous Coward says: June 18, 2026 at 7:22 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5408106) Re: Sure bud. The journals are too political. Not like RFK Jr. Dipshit. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5408106#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5408106)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5408106) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [2] MrWilson(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/mrwilson/)says: June 18, 2026 at 5:48 pm (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5409225) Re: I’ll take your point as soon as you agree to follow all of Junior’s crazy health advice and conspiracy theories and document for us how your health is doing as a result. Start with snorting cocaine off a toilet seat, then swim in a sewage river before heading to a measles party so you can grow stronger immunity. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5409225#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5409225)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5409225) This comment is new since your last visit. David says: June 17, 2026 at 11:58 pm (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407319) Huh? If Kennedy finds the real work at HHS boring, then he should quit and go back to advocating for people to be less healthy from infectious diseases for which we have vaccines. But that’s exactly what he is doing now, except with a salary and influence. There is no point in him changing what he is doing. There would be a point in Congress impeaching and removing him, of course. You don’t really expect the fox guarding the hen house to hand in their resignation, do you? Collapse replies (3)Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407319#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407319)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407319) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [2] Anonymous Coward says: June 18, 2026 at 2:27 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407563) Re: If you have questions about foxes, you should go to Fox News. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407563#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407563)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407563) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [2] Daveshistory(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/dave-m/)says: June 18, 2026 at 5:34 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407911) Re: A proper Congress would but in this case he is doing exactly what the people who nominated and confirmed him wanted him to do. It’s not like they didn’t know what they were getting or that he made these views secret until he got the job. In the GOP caucus even medical doctors were happy to endorse this. Collapse replies (1)Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407911#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407911)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407911) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [3] David says: June 18, 2026 at 6:09 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407982) Re: Re: You are being unfair Not everything tastes equally well to a lickspittle, even if it all goes down. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407982#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407982)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407982) This comment is new since your last visit. Darkness Of Course(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/darkness/)says: June 18, 2026 at 2:39 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407582) HIs Brain Worm Starved To Death But, but, RFK Jr liked that one, because it matched his dogma. Remember, he’s been booking $750K-$1M/year since he started his vax-autism scam Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407582#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407582)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407582) This comment is new since your last visit. Anonymous Coward says: June 18, 2026 at 3:17 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407655) the inappropriate nature of the sitting Secretary of HHS reaching out to scientific journals to demand explanations on matters of medicine and science when he is neither a doctor nor a scientist. … ? I mean, yes, demanding answers is high-handed and peremptory. But permission to ask questions should not be dependent upon one’s education, career, or station. Heck, I’m Joe Blow from Podunk Alaska, and I’m interested in such answers. And I’m not making government policy based on presumed accuracy of research! Collapse replies (1)Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407655#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407655)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407655) This comment is new since your last visit. Threaded [2] Rocky(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/derocky/)says: June 18, 2026 at 10:44 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5408498) Re: But permission to ask questions should not be dependent upon one’s education, career, or station. Sure, but it is kind of stupid to ask a question when the answer has already been provided. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5408498#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5408498)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5408498) This comment is new since your last visit. This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it. Raj Driver(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/personaldriversrilanka/)says: June 18, 2026 at 4:54 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407830) Explore Sri Lanka with a Trusted Private Driver Travel around the island comfortably with a professional Private Driver Sri Lanka service. Enjoy flexible schedules, personalized itineraries, airport transfers, and hassle-free transportation to Sri Lanka’s top attractions. Whether you need a Sri Lanka Private Driver for a day tour or a complete island journey, our experienced Sri Lanka Personal Driver services ensure a safe, comfortable, and memorable travel experience. For More Information Visit https://personaldriverssrilanka.com/ Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407830#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407830)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407830) This comment is new since your last visit. Kinetic Gothic says: June 18, 2026 at 5:24 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5407887) Kennedy should just STFU on this one, because it’s an open invitation for the journal editors to spell out in painfully precise detail how badly flawed the paper’s methodology was and how it’s an excellent example of being tinfoil hat standard science, rather than than the “Gold Standard Science” he espouses. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5407887#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5407887)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5407887) This comment is new since your last visit. Anonymous Coward says: June 18, 2026 at 11:20 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5408571) Seeing that the retraction came with the reason why the article was retracted I’d be so terribly tempted to do the childish reaction if it were my responsibility. Hire a person who makes audiobooks for a living to set the retraction to voice. Then a public letter expressing astonishment that someone this high up in the government and a lawyer too boot can’t read nor having someone around to read relevant documents/information to them. And finally a link to the audio. extremely childish I know but it makes it very clear that RFK Jr. ignored the reason. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5408571#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5408571)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5408571) This comment is new since your last visit. BernardoVerda(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/bernardoverda/)says: June 18, 2026 at 11:31 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5408594) Anti-vaxxers love to support their position by appealing to untenable “analyses” of VAERS data, while persistently ignoring the well-known and clearly described limitations of that data, and pretend that these analyses are somehow still scientifically valid despite these intrinsic flaws. This is hardly surprising. After all, citing such arguments and “scientific studies” based on abusing VAERS reports is one of their most persuasive tools for propagandizing a scientifically naive general public. So to RFK Jr and the rest of the anti-vaxx conspiracy-theorist crowd, the explanation provided by Toxicology Reports for retracting the study in question (that the “data” does not and by its nature can not support the stated conclusions) simply can not and will not be acknowledged as a legitimate explanation , nor as an appropriate, scientific reason for retracting the study. Therefore, such actions by the scientific community must be portrayed as being motivated by corruption and political motives, rather than by trustworthy scientific judgment. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5408594#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5408594)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5408594) This comment is new since your last visit. That One Guy(profile) (https://www.techdirt.com/user/thatoneguy/)says: June 19, 2026 at 8:59 am (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#comment-5410902) 'Any other stupidly simple questions you want answered while we're at it?' I’d love it if they responded by issuing a public letter explaining to him that the ‘study’ was retracted because it was junk science based upon the medical equivalent of ‘Trust me bro’ since that’s ultimately what the VAERS system is. Reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/?replytocom=5410902#respond)View in chronology Make this comment the first word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=first-word&comment=5410902)Make this comment the last word (https://www.techdirt.com/pin_comment/?promote=last-word&comment=5410902) Close • says: https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/# Add Your Comment Cancel reply (https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#respond) Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked * Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now (https://www.techdirt.com/my-account/?redirect_to=https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/17/rfk-jr-insists-scientific-journal-explain-retraction-of-anti-vaxx-article-he-liked/#respond). Want one? 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(https://.../?utm_source=&utm_medium=js-dealfeed&utm_content=&utm_campaign=) Techdirt Insider Discord The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel... • Leah Abram:(I don't know if Mr. C. Doctorow would agree with my usage of that term, though) • John Roddy:They already started rolling it back • Leah Abram:Wait, what? BlueSky disenshittified themselves? • John Roddy:They seemed to be genuinely shocked by the backlash. • I don't understand how • Leah Abram:So Trumpy rolled back his $1.8B IRS scam and BlueSky walked back their enshittifying changes? • Am I feeling…pride? • [[gifv]https://klipy.com/gifs/what-nani-1](https://klipy.com/gifs/what-nani-1) • John Roddy:Mamdani suspended bedtimes • candescence:Must've been a well-intentioned change that the staff really did not think through • But they really should stop with these sudden changes without community input • John Roddy:That's what gets me. BlueSky is one of the very few startups that genuinely took moderation and trust& safety serious from day one • How did they walk into such an obvious backlash like this? • aabsurdity:There were reports that one of the people affected was given a 22 day timer, shown on posts. Because your entire post history dissolves into chastity after 22 days somehow, I guess? • Bluesky moderation has stepped on a few rakes, but this really scared the whole artist community, given all the NSFW and SFW creators whose lives and livelihoods were decimated by PayPal in recent months. • https://bsky.app/profile/safety....https://bsky.app/profile/safety.bsky.app/post/3mnb7cza5yc2g (https://bsky.app/profile/safety.bsky.app/post/3mnb7cza5yc2g) I really could do without the idea that the concept of humans having bodies is inherently harmful to people until they turn 18. • Generations of kids have been taught how to deal with being on fire, but nobody wants to have a talk with their kids about other people because it's icky. • benv0727:Today, I joined @IJM to call for the Senate to immediately hold a vote on my STOP CSAM Act—which advanced unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Children need protections from predators on the internet, and this bill is an essential first step. There is no more time for delay. • https://x.com/i/status/206185715...https://x.com/i/status/2061857154957468115 (https://x.com/i/status/2061857154957468115) • aabsurdity:If you're quoting someone, it's generally accepted that you will use quote marks to indicate this. • BentFranklin:Microsoft CEO: We’re moving from OS and apps to agents instead • https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/02/m...https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/02/microsoft-ceo-were-moving-from-os-and-apps-to-agents-instead/ (https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/02/microsoft-ceo-were-moving-from-os-and-apps-to-agents-instead/) • . • Mike Masnick:at some point i'm going to write something about this, but an agentic-first computing paradigm really would fuck up all the efforts to age gate the internet... so I get why people don't like it for the AI of it all, but there are some interesting side effects • John Roddy:I know it usually misses the point to investigate how it would break once it's been established that the break is inevitable. But hey, that's still fascinating to weirdos like me. • Also, Matt Taibbi is appealing his defamation loss to the 2nd Circus. • Get in, losers. We're going losing! • candescence:https://bsky.app/profile/yashara...https://bsky.app/profile/yasharali.bsky.social/post/3mndxlp273d2g (https://bsky.app/profile/yasharali.bsky.social/post/3mndxlp273d2g) • https://bsky.app/profile/justinb...https://bsky.app/profile/justinbaragona.bsky.social/post/3mndxll2mvk2l (https://bsky.app/profile/justinbaragona.bsky.social/post/3mndxll2mvk2l) • Nick Bilton is a thin-skinned stooge. • Mike Masnick:meanwhile... [[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36jxNeV5L1Q](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36jxNeV5L1Q) • aabsurdity:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3...https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3fS5NyKzygU (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3fS5NyKzygU) • Seems to be a decent summary. • Leah Abram:I concur. • imatool13:@Mike Masnick with the prolifieration of Agents is MCP (mixed with skills) protocol above platform? Seems a whole lot of companies open themselves up to AI Agents more than just integrations, curious your thoughts. • BentFranklin:I didn't think we were ever going to get the Musk versus Zuckerberg slapfight we were promised, but now that we will have a cage right there, it would be wasteful not to use it at least a few more times before dismantling it. • aabsurdity:Especially now that Trump wants to keep it forever as a commemoration of his bestest and happiest birthday, like the Eiffel Tower. • intelati:What the [[article]https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/03/trump-ufc-arena-white-house-claw-permanent/90387950007/](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/03/trump-ufc-arena-white-house-claw-permanent/90387950007/) I hate this timeline • aabsurdity:It's amazing how Trump does not, and never has, and never will, have any class whatsoever. He genuinely cannot see the difference between the engineering marvel of the Eiffel Tower, and a commonplace (though still a significant technical achievement in its way) lighting scaffold. They're both made of metal. • BentFranklin:How long until his ballroom guests mosey over after dinner to watch gladiators fight to the death with Trump having the final say with or ? • aabsurdity:I can't imagine he'd be interested. He'd have to be able to care if people other than himself are alive or dead. • intelati:Not this bout. The next one is a 50/50 shot. And increasing therein • BentFranklin:You know how mobsters will make you do a crime before they can trust you? So they will always have something on you? I think about that whenever someone says "I was just Epstein's lawyer," or broker, or anything significant. • John Roddy:I someone describe the BAM article as "climbing Mount Masnick" • And my brain immediately did the movie trailer guy voice for "from the makers of Driving Ms Daisy" • Leah Abram:Maybe it’s because of where I live but when I see “BAM” I think “Brooklyn Academy of Music” • aabsurdity:[[link]https://fxbsky.app/profile/presidentkelly.blacksky.app/post/3mnkf25iyjs2s](https://fxbsky.app/profile/presidentkelly.blacksky.app/post/3mnkf25iyjs2s)[[article]https://fxbsky.app/profile/yeti-detective.bsky.social/post/3mnkhrida222h](https://fxbsky.app/profile/yeti-detective.bsky.social/post/3mnkhrida222h) AI hiring screeners apparently retaining their rejection score for applicants across multiple different jobs, at all the companies they service, for nearly a year. So, get rejected for one job, basically you're unhireable by any company that also uses that tool, for any position, for the next 330 days. That's... Pretty dang bad if true... • BentFranklin:The Smart TV in Your Living Room Is a Node in the AI Scraping Economy • [[article]https://blog.includesecurity.com/2026/06/the-smart-tv-in-your-livingroom-is-a-node-in-the-aiscraping-economy/](https://blog.includesecurity.com/2026/06/the-smart-tv-in-your-livingroom-is-a-node-in-the-aiscraping-economy/) • Leah Abram:This is why Dumb TVs are a smart option! • I want a TV dumber than Pete Hegseth! • tomacamot:Or simply don't connect your TV to the Internet • candescence:Scott Pelley is now free to shit on his former bosses and tell the world how much of a propaganda rag CBS is becoming: https://youtu.be/ePqdmbgQ4BI?si=...https://youtu.be/ePqdmbgQ4BI?si=DZq7rY81Ur9IcKUt (https://youtu.be/ePqdmbgQ4BI?si=DZq7rY81Ur9IcKUt) • Quotes include "Bari Weiss Emailed my Boss and asked 'Can you make the protestors look more violent?'" and "Can you describe Renee Good as 'driving at the officer'?" • This is why you don't fire people who know where the bodies are buried. • aabsurdity:Someone said something today that I genuinely hadn't considered, which was the idea that this isn't an anti-journalism conservative deliberately torching a journalistic institution because the money they're spending doesn't mean anything any more, or that the death of CBS is simply advantageous, and instead that this is a project someone believes in and thinks it's going to work. And I have to admit that I didn't even see that as a possibility, but now that I have, that might make it worse. • Mike Masnick:Oh, they absolutely believe it's going to work. The Bari Weisses of the world believe fully that their view of the world has a silent majority behind them who were just waiting to have what The Free Press was delivering to the world... • aabsurdity:Genuinely baffling. • intelati:https://bsky.app/profile/cdelawa...https://bsky.app/profile/cdelawalla.bsky.social/post/3mnrigweehc2t (https://bsky.app/profile/cdelawalla.bsky.social/post/3mnrigweehc2t) • candescence:It looks like Microsoft and Sony's gaming divisions have almost entirely reverted back to exclusivity • Leah Abram:The golden age is over. This is like when Comedy Specials went from DRM-free video files to being included with streaming services • candescence:Sony's pulling back from single-player PC releases is a bit more questionable since low sales there are kinda self-inflicted due to late but overpriced releases, but the Xbox division has a new boss and it seems she's decided that multiplatform releases simply aren't working and are hurting the brand • timothygeigner:Trust me, the exclusivity thing is on my radar. I definitely have things to say about it. • Though why Microsoft won't just admit that they lost the console wars is beyond me. • John Roddy:My favorite was the clarification that the new Gears of War would be exclusive to Xbox. • And PC. • The ol' Ubisoft-style definition of exclusive. • aabsurdity:As a PC gamer... • BentFranklin:Landmark German ruling declares Google's AI Overviews are Google's own words and makes it liable for false answers • [[article]https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/](https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/) • aabsurdity:> First I came for the Communists > And I laughed > Because I was not a Communist > Then I came for the Socialists > And I laughed > Because I was not a Socialist > Then I came for the trade unionists > And I laughed > Because I was not a trade unionist > Then I came for the Jews > And I laughed > Because I was not a Jew > Then they came for me > “If he would do that to me, he would do that to anybody,” I said > “There’s never going to be good enough for him, other than 100 percent, you know, slavish adherence to whatever he wants.“ • BentFranklin:Extinction-level capitalism a citizen’s thoughts on AI risk • [[article]https://matthewbutterick.com/extinction-level-capitalism.html](https://matthewbutterick.com/extinction-level-capitalism.html) • bode000:yeah they definitely want it to work. I see that "they want to destroy it" claim all the time. They don't want to really destroy it, they want to repurpose it for propaganda. Like Twitter. Or Newsweek. Or the Baltimore Sun. All bought by right wingers to seed bullshit in the electorate. And they want it to make money. The problem for them is they aren't competent. • John Roddy:The people taking over might be nepo babies, but they're not stupid. They see exactly what damage is being done to these once-successful brands. • aabsurdity:A while ago I heard the phrase "ownership is not a skill"... • It comes in handy for so many things... • John Roddy:That isn't a side effect. It's not even the goal. Just a bonus. • bode000:I think they want to leverage the credibility of existing brands to convert them into propaganda and confuse the electorate with bullshit. I also think they're ok if the patient dies on the table during that procedure. • not to say that sometimes they don't just want to kill an outlet outright, like gawker • John Roddy:Even then, Gawker was already dying when thiel got involved. • bode000:the only thing that could save us (in a country without any useful media reform policies or a working opposition party) is these folks have no idea what they're doing. • John Roddy:I think that highlights how much this has escalated since then • bode000:it's just wild now. I'm seeing people actually interested in conversations about media consolidation now. • everybody's eyes used to glaze over when I brought it up • John Roddy:And then one of those people explains how the fairness doctrine would've prevented this, and that's why I went on the rampage, your honor. • bode000:I see that exchange 50 times a day (you know the fairness doctrine only covered broadcast and was neither well crafted nor enforced, right?) • Leah Abram:Far too many liberals think the fairness doctrine is a panacea. • bode000:and Republicans spent 40 years whining about it only to engage in far, far worse. great stuff! • John Roddy:And today's existential horror is titled "Europe attempts to integrate American tech policy, but ends up only grabbing the Fifth Circuit Court instead" • Mike Masnick:and a week after the EU laid out its plan for building a local internet. and the cjeu jumps in with "lol, good luck" • BentFranklin:If people really want the Iran war to end, maybe stop rubbing Trump's failure in his face. It's schadenfreudtastic as all hell and really all most of us can do, but note that the Iranians seem to have stopped taunting him. • Also it's really nice to see Netanyahu on the outside for once. Maybe this war will get some regime change after all. And maybe Bibi can drag down Lindsay Graham with him. • timothygeigner:I'm very excited to find out Friday just how much Trump capitulated in whatever this "deal" is. The fact that they won't release the text until after signing is, well, quite transparent. • John Roddy:"Iran agrees to purchase Ninja Theory and Compulsion Studios" • timothygeigner:And to never vaccinate against anything ever again. All my worlds colliding at once. • John Roddy:The US agrees to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. • Leah Abram:My new BlueSky handle is ironcurtain.northsky.social • Mike Masnick:The Northsky folks are great • Leah Abram:Thank you, Mr. Masnick! Become an Insider! 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