In a Congressional hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) directly confronted anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on his rejection of germ theory—the unquestionable scientific idea that specific pathogenic microbes cause specific diseases. After Kennedy defended his fringe view, Senator Bill Cassidy fact-checked and debunked Kennedy’s denialist arguments in real time.
The exchanges mark a rare instance in which Kennedy’s dismissal of germ theory has been raised in such a high-profile public setting, in this case, a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Kennedy, who has no background in science, medicine, or public health, is well known as an ardent anti-vaccine activist and peddler of conspiracy theories. But his startling rejection of a cornerstone theory in biomedical science has mostly been underreported.
Kennedy wrote about his germ theory denialism explicitly in his 2021 book. In it, he maligns germ theory as a tool of pharmaceutical companies, scientists, and doctors to promote the use of modern medicines. Instead of accepting germ theory, Kennedy promotes a concept akin to the discarded terrain theory, in which diseases stem not from germs, but from imbalances in the body’s inner “terrain.”
He should be a medieval barber on SNL with his “imbalance of bodily humors” shit.
Nerd-19958 on
How does this monumentally ignorant and stupid fool explain the Black Plague of the 14th century, which killed an estimated 25 million people (1/3 of Europe’s population at the time)? What environmental toxins were those victims exposed to, dipshit?
Secretary Jr. should try some of his pre-germ theory practices on his president. There’s that thing where they heat glass circles and put them on the bare skin, and burn welts into the patient . . . there has been conjecture that it took President Washington out. The bleeding thing was very popular for a few centuries, that might be recognized and revived for use by White House medical staff – what could go wrong with that ? ? ?
Romantic_Piscean on
2026, the head of the US Department of Health and Human Services doesn’t believe in germ theory. The lunatics are running the asylum.
monkeywithgun on
Can we just debunk the notion that RFK Jr. is even human at this point. It’s obvious that the ‘brain worm’ was actually a goa’uld that has taken complete control of it’s host and is on a mission to weaken the human race for invasion…
Makes about as much sense as the nonsense that spews from his mouth.
onceinawhile222 on
Kennedy seems to know as much about medicine as Trump knows about war.
Blue_Lake_3386 on
Isn’t he a living example of germ theory? That dude’s got more germs than brain cells.
AdvancedAd6308 on
“[Kennedy’s] preferred theory “emphasizes preventing disease by fortifying the immune system through nutrition and by reducing exposures to environmental toxins and stresses”
Well, he’s a toxin AND a stressor, so let’s get rid of him and see how much healthier we all feel!
thinpile on
I gotta wonder what he sounds like after a hit of helium.
smersh101 on
If this moron truly believes what he says, then surely he wouldn’t mind taking a facefull of anthrax. I say we set up a test and see what happens.
Slide-Maleficent on
If I was given the use of a time machine to erase one man from history retroactively and give all of human history another run without him, it wouldn’t be Hitler, Chinggis Khan, or any of the other great arch-murders of history – it would be *fucking* ***Galen.***
The damage that fucking charlatan continues to do as the ‘earliest father of modern medicine’ with his vibe-coded ‘elemental bodily humors’ garbage was so vast that it was unironically worse for humanity as a medical doctrine than nothing at all. The amount of people who died at the hands of morons who thought they could help because they studied the patron saint of quacks and con-artists is beyond number and rising to this day.
Level_Hour6480 on
American Lysenkoism.
LackingUtility on
There’s a simple solution for this… Have RFKJr. take a nice deep puff from a balloon filled with tuberculosis, pertussis, measles, etc., since he doesn’t think it’ll be a problem. Then we can appoint a new HHS secretary a few days later.
OreoMoo on
AP: “RFK Jr. announces $300 billion campaign to teach blood-letting and phrenology to med students.”
ReceptionUpstairs305 on
He is an IDIOT!!
Acadia02 on
I’d rather see rfk get questioned by scientist not congressmen. Congress can pick and choose who to bring in i would be fine with that but listening to 2 people who aren’t scientist talk about it is so frustrating.
Inspirational_orgasm on
RFK: by allowing access to cleaner water and safer food, we allow the four humours the ability to be in balance in our bodies and keep the demons out of our blood. It’s simple science.
Walzz111 on
Yeah this guy is still here, spouting nonsense
PansophicNostradamus on
RFK, Jr. is the living embodiment of what “debunked” would look like if one could personify all conspiracies.
pjschnet on
Still not convinced someone didn’t just plug a speak-n-spell into a piece of rancid beef jerky and stuff the whole thing into an ugly suit.
YouWereBrained on
Can we get videos of these interactions?
FileHot6525 on
These people hate you and want you to die.
Chaoticallyorganized on
I’m pretty sure it’s safe to assume that RFK Jr doesn’t wash his hands after using the toilet.
damik on
Has the fucker never used a microscope?
RLewis8888 on
I mean how long has this so-called theory been around, anyway?
[hint 150 years]
Curious-Path4549 on
that guy is pure trash
immersemeinnature on
Sideshow Bob!
Please make this happen
EkimGoRedd on
I hope for RFKJ that his vapors and humors are in line.
Tolvat on
Doesn’t surprise me. It’s the basis for defunding your healthcare. Well, you get what you voted for dumbasses.
Mediocrates79 on
Future us will understand all of this so much better than we collectively do now.
Zahgi on
Elementary school students have a better understanding of Germ Theory than does Ridiculous Fucking Kook, Jr.
allenahansen on
[ Removed by Reddit ]
Grove-Of-Hares on
Do we have any substantial proof that RFK Jr. is not just a malfunctioning animatronic skeleton covered in dried beef jerky?
giocondasmiles on
RFK Sr must be rolling in his grave.
LockNo2943 on
I mean wouldn’t the easiest solution be just to spray him with non-existent germs?
37 Comments
In a Congressional hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) directly confronted anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on his rejection of germ theory—the unquestionable scientific idea that specific pathogenic microbes cause specific diseases. After Kennedy defended his fringe view, Senator Bill Cassidy fact-checked and debunked Kennedy’s denialist arguments in real time.
The exchanges mark a rare instance in which Kennedy’s dismissal of germ theory has been raised in such a high-profile public setting, in this case, a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Kennedy, who has no background in science, medicine, or public health, is well known as an ardent anti-vaccine activist and peddler of conspiracy theories. But his startling rejection of a cornerstone theory in biomedical science has mostly been underreported.
Kennedy wrote about his germ theory denialism explicitly in his 2021 book. In it, he maligns germ theory as a tool of pharmaceutical companies, scientists, and doctors to promote the use of modern medicines. Instead of accepting germ theory, Kennedy promotes a concept akin to the discarded terrain theory, in which diseases stem not from germs, but from imbalances in the body’s inner “terrain.”
Full article: [https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/04/rfk-jr-s-rejection-of-germ-theory-debunked-in-senate-hearing/](https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/04/rfk-jr-s-rejection-of-germ-theory-debunked-in-senate-hearing/)
He should be a medieval barber on SNL with his “imbalance of bodily humors” shit.
How does this monumentally ignorant and stupid fool explain the Black Plague of the 14th century, which killed an estimated 25 million people (1/3 of Europe’s population at the time)? What environmental toxins were those victims exposed to, dipshit?
[History of the Plague: An Ancient Pandemic for the Age of COVID-19](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7513766/)
Secretary Jr. should try some of his pre-germ theory practices on his president. There’s that thing where they heat glass circles and put them on the bare skin, and burn welts into the patient . . . there has been conjecture that it took President Washington out. The bleeding thing was very popular for a few centuries, that might be recognized and revived for use by White House medical staff – what could go wrong with that ? ? ?
2026, the head of the US Department of Health and Human Services doesn’t believe in germ theory. The lunatics are running the asylum.
Can we just debunk the notion that RFK Jr. is even human at this point. It’s obvious that the ‘brain worm’ was actually a goa’uld that has taken complete control of it’s host and is on a mission to weaken the human race for invasion…
Makes about as much sense as the nonsense that spews from his mouth.
Kennedy seems to know as much about medicine as Trump knows about war.
Isn’t he a living example of germ theory? That dude’s got more germs than brain cells.
“[Kennedy’s] preferred theory “emphasizes preventing disease by fortifying the immune system through nutrition and by reducing exposures to environmental toxins and stresses”
Well, he’s a toxin AND a stressor, so let’s get rid of him and see how much healthier we all feel!
I gotta wonder what he sounds like after a hit of helium.
If this moron truly believes what he says, then surely he wouldn’t mind taking a facefull of anthrax. I say we set up a test and see what happens.
If I was given the use of a time machine to erase one man from history retroactively and give all of human history another run without him, it wouldn’t be Hitler, Chinggis Khan, or any of the other great arch-murders of history – it would be *fucking* ***Galen.***
The damage that fucking charlatan continues to do as the ‘earliest father of modern medicine’ with his vibe-coded ‘elemental bodily humors’ garbage was so vast that it was unironically worse for humanity as a medical doctrine than nothing at all. The amount of people who died at the hands of morons who thought they could help because they studied the patron saint of quacks and con-artists is beyond number and rising to this day.
American Lysenkoism.
There’s a simple solution for this… Have RFKJr. take a nice deep puff from a balloon filled with tuberculosis, pertussis, measles, etc., since he doesn’t think it’ll be a problem. Then we can appoint a new HHS secretary a few days later.
AP: “RFK Jr. announces $300 billion campaign to teach blood-letting and phrenology to med students.”
He is an IDIOT!!
I’d rather see rfk get questioned by scientist not congressmen. Congress can pick and choose who to bring in i would be fine with that but listening to 2 people who aren’t scientist talk about it is so frustrating.
RFK: by allowing access to cleaner water and safer food, we allow the four humours the ability to be in balance in our bodies and keep the demons out of our blood. It’s simple science.
Yeah this guy is still here, spouting nonsense
RFK, Jr. is the living embodiment of what “debunked” would look like if one could personify all conspiracies.
Still not convinced someone didn’t just plug a speak-n-spell into a piece of rancid beef jerky and stuff the whole thing into an ugly suit.
Can we get videos of these interactions?
These people hate you and want you to die.
I’m pretty sure it’s safe to assume that RFK Jr doesn’t wash his hands after using the toilet.
Has the fucker never used a microscope?
I mean how long has this so-called theory been around, anyway?
[hint 150 years]
that guy is pure trash
Sideshow Bob!
Please make this happen
I hope for RFKJ that his vapors and humors are in line.
Doesn’t surprise me. It’s the basis for defunding your healthcare. Well, you get what you voted for dumbasses.
Future us will understand all of this so much better than we collectively do now.
Elementary school students have a better understanding of Germ Theory than does Ridiculous Fucking Kook, Jr.
[ Removed by Reddit ]
Do we have any substantial proof that RFK Jr. is not just a malfunctioning animatronic skeleton covered in dried beef jerky?
RFK Sr must be rolling in his grave.
I mean wouldn’t the easiest solution be just to spray him with non-existent germs?
Does he believe that atoms exist?