Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the first step toward implementing regulations or health warnings for cellphones, wifi, and other technologies based on fringe concerns that electromagnetic radiation could cause health problems.
Page H2From§Eachthe late evening edition — 17 September 2026
THE OUTBREAK LEDGER
RFK Jr.'s first regulatory act targets cellphone radiation, not the deadly measles outbreak he's accused of fueling.
“The guy running our health department goes eight months without writing one new rule, then finally regulates — cellphones, not the measles that's already killed four people in Pennsylvania this year. He tells the anti-vax crowd he used to run that they've got a friend in the White House, calls polio a fraud, and reshuffles the one panel that's supposed to keep the vaccine schedule honest. That's not incompetence, that's the fox filing the henhouse paperwork.”
“Asking for public feedback on cellphone radiation is just responsible process — sunshine works both ways. The task force overhaul is routine personnel review that happens under every administration; the timing being the same week as the conference is coincidence, not strategy. And Pennsylvania's outbreak is a state matter — the Secretary was simply accepting a speaking invitation, which, okay, he did use it to call the polio vaccine a fraud, but — that's not landing the way I wanted.”
The receipts
The US eliminated measles in 2000 — the last two years carry more cases than the rest of the century combined, the worst count since 1991. The Hill / CDC measles data, July 2026
Pennsylvania reports two new measles deaths as Gov. Josh Shapiro blames RFK Jr.Pennsylvania reported two additional deaths related to a measles outbreak, which later led to Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) pointing the finger at Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The selections suggest the Trump administration may be trying to move the United States Preventive Services Task Force in a direction that serves its political ideology.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered a keynote speech Thursday at a conference for Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group.
Two of the last three years carry more measles cases than the rest of the century combined -- the worst count since 1991 The Hill / CDC measles data, July 2026
Pennsylvania asks CDC for emergency assistance amid RFK Jr. clash over measlesPennsylvania's health department has started the process of requesting emergency assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help control a deadly and rapidly spreading measles outbreak, according to a letter sent to the CDC from state officials. But the request for that assistance, known as Epi-Aid, comes on…
The US declared measles eliminated in 2000; the last two years carry more cases than the rest of the century combined - the worst count since 1991 The Hill / CDC measles data, July 2026
RFK Jr. Assures Vaccine Skeptics They Have a ‘Friend at the White House’The health secretary spoke at a conference featuring misinformation about vaccines, including a claim that the success of the polio vaccines was a “fraud.”
The US declared measles eliminated in 2000; the last two years carry more cases than the rest of the century combined The Hill / CDC measles data, July 2026
Pennsylvania's growing measles outbreakClick in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Healthcare Healthcare The Big Story Pennsylvania sees third measles-associated death A coroner in Pennsylvania reported another death tied to the state’s worsening measles outbreak. © Sean Rayford, Getty Images The Jefferson County coroner in a release initially posted to Facebook said a…
The US has more measles cases in the last two years than the rest of the century combined, the worst since 1991 The Hill / CDC measles data, July 2026
Kennedy fans vaccine injury concerns at anti-vaccine eventClick in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Healthcare Healthcare The Big Story Kennedy fans vaccine injury concerns at anti-vaccine event Returning to the anti-vaccine group he long chaired on Thursday, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert. F. Kennedy Jr.
The US declared measles eliminated in 2000. The last two years carry more cases than the rest of the century combined - the worst count since 1991 The Hill / CDC measles data, July 2026
RFK Jr. says anti-vaccine group has a 'friend at the White House'Speaking to the anti-vaccine group he once led, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Thursday the Trump administration supports its cause.
The US declared measles eliminated in 2000. The last two years carry more cases than the rest of the century combined - the worst count since 1991 The Hill / CDC measles data, July 2026
RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group they have a 'friend' in the White HouseHHS Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense on Thursday they "have a friend in the White House" in President Donald Trump.
· ‘How Many More People Need to Die?’ Calls for RFK Jr. to Resign Grow After Two Measles Deaths from the morgue, 25 Aug 2026
· Lancaster County infant confirmed to have died from measles in Pennsylvania from the morgue, 4 Sep 2026
· RFK Jr. feuds with Shapiro, spreads vaccine misinformation from the morgue, 26 Aug 2026
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front. The byline is a pen name for a column drafted by a machine and checked by the editor: how this is made.