Good afternoon, Press Pass readers. What a week, huh? Amazingly, it’s not even over. We can help you get through it (and many similar weeks to follow) with reporting and analysis free from the constraints of legacy media and both sidesism. Sign up to get access to everything we offer and join our community. Today’s edition starts with lawmakers’ perspectives on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s promise to remove fluoride from the United States’ public water supply. It turns out, there are several dentists serving in Congress. And they aren’t very fond of Kennedy’s proposal, no matter how good it might be for the fillings-and-root-canals business. In addition, Donald Trump’s new federal “department,” which will have Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy at the helm and a mandate to root out government waste, is rife with conflicts of interest and would usurp Congress’s duties. I spoke to some top Republicans about how they feel about having Trump basically decide to give someone else their job. All that and more, below. GOP Dentists: RFK Will Rot America’s Teeth“It would be good for the dental profession. A lot more cavities to fill.”
“On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted on X just days before Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. “Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease.” Kennedy’s claim sent shockwaves, not just because it flew in the face of extensive scientific research but because it indicated that he expects to have a tremendous amount of influence over the American health agenda in the new year. Trump had promised to let him “go wild on health.” The tweet made it look like that promise was quite real. Now, Hill Republicans have been largely deferential to Trump as he assembles his team of advisers. But among the GOP lawmakers in Congress are several dentists. I wanted to see how they were receiving Kennedy’s plan to sundown fluoride. Among the dentist-lawmakers I spoke to, there was a considerable amount of skepticism about Kennedy’s claims, and some openly condemned his plan. When I asked Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) about Kennedy’s anti-fluoride proposal, he said, “I’m tempted to give you a smart-ass answer.” “I’m all ears,” I replied... Join The Bulwark to unlock the rest.Become a paying member of The Bulwark to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content. A subscription gets you:
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