| ‘Spotlighting RFK Jr.’s Anti-Science Healthcare Views’
CFI’s Quackwatch highlights Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s anti-science views; OPP urges support for Michigan’s ‘Civil Celebrant’ bill; updated Generations Skeptics website; and more
Cause & Effect No. 259: December 18, 2024
Cause & Effect is the biweekly newsletter of the Center for Inquiry community, covering a wide range of work that you help make possible.
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| Quackwatch Sets Its Sights on RFK Jr. Nomination
Medical professionals and science advocates across the country and throughout the world stand opposed to the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—a lawyer without any medical training or experience in public health—to become the Secretary of Health and Human Services. CFI President and CEO Robyn E. Blumner called Kennedy “the worst possible choice” and “manifestly unfit” to lead America’s top public health agencies. CFI’s Office of Public Policy created an easy-to-use Action Alert so you can add your voice to the growing chorus of opposition.
CFI’s Quackwatch has created a new resourcepage called “RFK Jr. Watch” to compile news and opinion pieces detailing Kennedy’s alarming anti-science history and public statements. RFK Jr. Watch documents Kennedy’s long history of undermining public confidence in vaccines (and spreading thoroughly debunked misinformation about them being linked to autism), as well as other outlandish claims regarding public health matters such as:
- Calling the COVID-19 vaccine the “deadliest vaccine ever made” and promoting ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as effective treatments for COVID-19;
- Claiming that 5G wireless network service is being used to “control our behavior”;
- Arguing that HIV does not cause AIDS;
- Linking mass shootings to the use of antidepressants.
Knowledge will be key to stopping this nomination; a recent poll showed most voters disapprove of Kenney’s nomination once they learn about his views. We hope you’ll join us in sharing the information gathered for RFK Jr. Watch with as many people as possible, so they can see for themselves how devastating Kennedy’s confirmation would be to the health and welfare of our nation. |
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OPPUrges Support for Michigan’s ‘Civil Celebrant’ Bill
CFI’s Office of Public Policy (OPP) is asking Michigan residents to contact their state representatives in support of SB 1044, a Secular Celebrants bill currently pending before the state House. The bill would amend state law, which currently only allows religious leaders and a small number of government officials to solemnize a wedding, to empower “civil celebrants” to solemnize marriages as well. CFI Director of Government Affairs Azhar Majeed praised the “simple and open-ended” bill, which passed the state Senate on December 5. CFI has long advocated for such a choice in marriage through litigation, legislative action, and policy work, as well as our Secular Celebrant Program, which provides training and certification to individuals who wish to become secular celebrants themselves. |
| Fuel the Flame of Inquiry: Double Your Impact through December 31!
With 2025 right around the corner, the need to defend evidence-based science and humanist values has never been greater. CFI is proud to lead the charge on behalf of reason, science, and secular values, but we cannot do it without your generous support. Now through the end of the year, you can double the impact of your CFI donation, as every gift to CFI will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $250,000, doubling our ability to combat misinformation and defend rational thought as we step into the new year.
Thank you for joining us to champion a more rational and compassionate world! |
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CFI Investigations Group and the ‘South Carolina Telepathic Transmitter’
The Center for Inquiry Investigations Group (CFIIG) recently tested Leon S., an applicant for the long running CFIIG Paranormal Challenge. Leon claimed “mind reading and ESP abilities” as well as a “6th sense” for people; a new recap on the CFIIG website tells the full story of how the team decided to test Leon’s supposed ability, the full in-person test (which took about ten minutes), and how Leon responded to the result. |
| Generation Skeptics Debuts Updated Website Design
CFI’s Generation Skeptics program provides free lesson plans and resources designed to help teach K–12 students important skills such as critical thinking, media literacy, and how to identify the techniques used to spread misinformation. We recently released an updated Generation Skeptics homepage to make it easier than ever to find and utilize those free resources! The new homepage design also makes it easier to read, navigate, and find information on upcoming children’s events and teacher workshops. You’ll also find a handy guide for how to start a GenSkeps club at your child’s school or college. |
| Latest Hot Takes and Long Reads
Highlights from CFI magazines, online columns, blogs, and media appearances: |
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| Paul Offit on the importance of the polio vaccine. Following a recent report that RFK Jr.’s attorney petitioned the FDA to rescind approval of the polio vaccine in 2022, vaccine expert andCSI Fellow Paul Offit spoke to the New York Times about the polio vaccine’s essential role in public health. Referencing recent cases of polio-related paralysis in Gaza and Rockland County, New York, Offit warned that similar outcomes will continue if people stop getting the vaccine. READ NOW |
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| Benjamin Radford on the recent ‘mystery drone’ sightings.Skeptical Inquirer Deputy Editor Benjamin Radford examines the return of the “mystery drone” phenomena that has been plaguing northeastern states (among other places). Radford writes, “It’s easy to forget in an era of attenuating attention spans and a continual churn of news, but these drone scares are nothing new.” READ NOW |
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| Mick West on ‘drone madness’. Frequent Skeptical Inquirer contributor and CSI Fellow Mick West lays out his take on the recent “mystery drone” sighting in a new video, saying, “There’s no good evidence that any of the ‘large drone’ sightings in New Jersey are actually … large drones.” West also shared suggestions and tools to help anyone better evaluate videos they’re seeing. WATCH NOW |
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‘Unprayerful reflections’ from Ronald A. Lindsay. In his latest Unprayerful Reflections column, Free InquiryEditor Ronald A. Lindsay laments the “misguided efforts to offer ‘scientific’ explanations of the Christmas star.” Calling it a “prostitution of science,” Lindsay writes, “There is no more point to providing a scientific explanation for the stories of the Bible than there is to providing a scientific explanation of Greek myths.” READ NOW
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| Upcoming CFI Events
Want to connect with fellow skeptics, freethinkers, and nonbelievers? Check out our Find a Group Map to find CFI-affiliated groups in your area!
CFI Transnational
CFI West (Los Angeles)
CFI Austin
CFI Indiana
CFI New York City
CFI Portland
CFI Western New York
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Dearborn Blog 