RFK Jr.: Don't Take My Health Advice

5.14.25

Happy Wednesday evening, readers, and welcome back to Common Sense, your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment.

Even GOP members of Congress say umm wtf to Qatar gift of new $400M Air Force One to Trump… NPR reports, “Republican lawmakers are signaling growing concern over President Trump's openness to accepting a $400 million plane from Qatar to serve as the new Air Force One, an unprecedented move fraught with ethical and legal issues that is testing even his biggest loyalists. The chorus of reservations being expressed by Republican lawmakers represents a rare break with the president, who typically enjoys near total unanimity from the party. On Wednesday, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, was among those taking issue with the idea. McCaul said he certainly received gifts in his former role as chair of the House Foreign Affairs committee and believed countries can gift to other countries, but a luxury Boeing 747 jet may go too far.” Okay… but will it have KFC on board??

Iran apparently willing to give up nuclear ambitions if U.S. lifts all sanctions… NBC News reports, “Iran is ready to sign a nuclear deal with certain conditions with President Donald Trump in exchange for lifting economic sanctions, a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader told NBC News on Wednesday. Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military and nuclear adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is one of the most senior Iranian officials to speak publicly about the ongoing discussions. He said Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons, getting rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium which can be weaponized, agree to only enrich uranium to the lower levels needed for civilian use, and allow international inspectors to supervise the process, in exchange for the immediate lifting of all economic sanctions on Iran.” OUR TAKE: If Trump wanted to, just once, be the master of the art of the deal, he would tell Iran it must do one more thing: Stop supplying Russia with drones that kill Ukrainian civilians and destroy infrastructure. If there’s a de facto second Cold War, Russia and Iran will be allied. Iran gives up its program, great. It still has a massive military and Russia could station nukes there. NEVER accept an aggressor state’s first offer!

U.S. head of health RFK Jr. says don’t take medical advice from me… We are at a loss for words on this one. On the one hand, YES, we agree with that statement. On the other hand it comes from an odd messenger and we have so many questions about why he would take an appointment only to admit he knows nothing about the subject. Reminder: Senate Republicans confirmed this guy. CBS News reports, “When asked hypothetically if he would vaccinate his children today for measles during a House hearing Wednesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said ‘probably,’ but added he doesn't think people should be taking medical advice from him. ‘My opinions about vaccines are irrelevant,’ he said in response to the question from Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin during the House Appropriations Committee hearing. "I don't want to seem like I'm being evasive, but I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me.’ When pressed, he repeated he didn't want to give advice to other people. ‘But that's kind of your jurisdiction, because CDC does give advice, right?’ Pocan asked. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is under HHS.”

Photo credit: The Texas Tribune

Putin too chicken to meet with Zelensky in Turkey for talks he proposed… Russians go back on their word and don’t follow through? Color us SHOCKED. Also, what a weak man Putin is. He’s too uncomfortable to leave Mother Russia’s protection, apparently. He can hide in the Kremlin as his military bombs Ukrainian civilians. Zelensky was brilliant to call his bluff, even though talks is not what he wanted – he wanted a 30-day ceasefire. Let’s hope Donald Trump follows through with his promise to the Europeans for further sanctions against Russia. Politico reports, “Russian President Vladimir Putin will not travel to Turkey to attend peace talks with Ukraine that he himself suggested, the Kremlin announced Wednesday evening. The news is of little surprise, as Putin had never confirmed he would attend in person. Many observers, including EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, predicted he wouldn’t elect to meet directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Putin offered the talks to Ukraine on May 11. Zelenskyy responded positively but cautiously, demanding a 30-day ceasefire as a starting point for negotiations. Russia and Ukraine have been at war since February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor.”

Today’s Furry Friend

Sometimes, motherly instinct kicks in and a stray dog delivers her puppy directly to the vet. For this, she was given an appropriate name: “Mom.”

Today’s Buzz

Diddy Trial Day 7: Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, takes stand for 12 hours of brutal testimony… This article was difficult to read. Given the nature of Ventura’s testimony, we won’t quote/describe the ABC News report, but we will link it here and allow you to choose if you wish to read it.

Thank you for reading and please check back with us tomorrow evening as we bring you the next edition of Common Sense.