Jack Pitney
@jpitney.bsky.social
Professor of government, Claremont McKenna College.
Trump and RFK Jr floated the idea that vaccines cause autism. A new lit review undercuts it. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/lit-...
Lit Review Undercut Tylenol Accusation
A number o f posts discussed Trump 's support for discredited notion s about autism T he Sept 22 White House news conference w...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Trump and RFK Jr floated the idea that vaccines cause autism. A new lit review undercuts it. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/lit-...
To paraphrase the late, great Roman Hruska: "There are a lot of unprincipled schemers who will sell out anybody and anything to get ahead. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance?" www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Stefanik’s run for New York governor could be a gift to Democrats
Stefanik’s Trump support will be easy fodder for Gov. Kathy Hochul and down-ballot House candidates.
www.politico.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:06 PM
To paraphrase the late, great Roman Hruska: "There are a lot of unprincipled schemers who will sell out anybody and anything to get ahead. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance?" www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Study: advocacy programs for Latino families can help them get autism services for their children as they age out of school-based programs. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/advo...
Advocacy Programs for Latino Families
In The Politics of Autism , I write about the experiences of different economic , ethnic and racial groups . Inequality is a b...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Study: advocacy programs for Latino families can help them get autism services for their children as they age out of school-based programs. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/advo...
Good news & bad news from the Annenberg Public Policy Center.
Good news: most Americans know that vaccines don't cause autism.
Bad news: that majority has been shrinking.
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/vacc...
Good news: most Americans know that vaccines don't cause autism.
Bad news: that majority has been shrinking.
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/vacc...
Vaccines, Autism, and Public Knowledge
In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Good news & bad news from the Annenberg Public Policy Center.
Good news: most Americans know that vaccines don't cause autism.
Bad news: that majority has been shrinking.
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/vacc...
Good news: most Americans know that vaccines don't cause autism.
Bad news: that majority has been shrinking.
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/vacc...
Report from Center for American Progress: staff cuts in the Education Department's civil rights office could slow down cases that already can last for years. And in K-12 special ed, services delayed are services denied. Autistic kids will suffer. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/gutt...
Gutting Civil Rights Enforcement
Center for American Progress: In The Politics of Autism , I discuss the issue's role in presidential politics. Many posts have discus...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Report from Center for American Progress: staff cuts in the Education Department's civil rights office could slow down cases that already can last for years. And in K-12 special ed, services delayed are services denied. Autistic kids will suffer. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/gutt...
With the Trump administration effectively shutting down federal oversight, special education is likely to deteriorate. Autistic kids will suffer. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/with...
Without Federal Oversight, Special Education Will Likely Deteriorate
In The Politics of Autism , I discuss the issue's role in presidential politics. Many posts have discussed Trump's bad record on di...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM
With the Trump administration effectively shutting down federal oversight, special education is likely to deteriorate. Autistic kids will suffer. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/with...
RFK Jr. has long pushed the lie that measles vaccinations cause autism. The US is about to lose its measles elimination status. Heckuva job, Bobby. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/the-...
The US and Canada Will Likely Lose Measles Elimination Status
In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:41 PM
RFK Jr. has long pushed the lie that measles vaccinations cause autism. The US is about to lose its measles elimination status. Heckuva job, Bobby. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/the-...
There is a place in Hell for quacks who exploit the desperate parents of autistic children. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/pare...
Parents Are Vulnerable to Autism Quacks
A utism parents are highly vulnerable to pitches for quack "cures." In The Politics of Autism , I write: The conventional wisdom is...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:58 PM
There is a place in Hell for quacks who exploit the desperate parents of autistic children. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/pare...
Maybe leucovorin will ease some symptoms in some autistic kids. But we autism parents remember a long history of "miracle treatments" such as secretin, lupron, and chelation. They have never lived up to their billing and have often proved harmful. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/leuc...
Leucovorin
A number o f posts discussed Trump 's support for dubious notion s about autism . The history of autism "cures" is a history of das...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Maybe leucovorin will ease some symptoms in some autistic kids. But we autism parents remember a long history of "miracle treatments" such as secretin, lupron, and chelation. They have never lived up to their billing and have often proved harmful. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/leuc...
Study: children born to mothers who had COVID-19 while pregnant face an elevated chance of autism. Contrary to RFK Jr's lies, vaccines don't cause autism. And in this case, they might help prevent it. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/covi...
COVID-19 As Risk Factor
In The Politics of Autism , I discuss various ideas about what causes the condition . A release from Mass General Brigham: Children b...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Study: children born to mothers who had COVID-19 while pregnant face an elevated chance of autism. Contrary to RFK Jr's lies, vaccines don't cause autism. And in this case, they might help prevent it. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/covi...
A few days after Trump posted a dire warning about Tylenol and the Texas AG sued its manufacturer, RFK Jr. admitted that the evidence "is not sufficient to say it definitely caused autism." Link in first comment.
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/rfk-...
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/rfk-...
RFK Jr. Walks Back Tylenol Claim
A number o f posts discussed Trump 's support for discredited notion s about autism T he Sept 22 White House news conference w...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:38 PM
A few days after Trump posted a dire warning about Tylenol and the Texas AG sued its manufacturer, RFK Jr. admitted that the evidence "is not sufficient to say it definitely caused autism." Link in first comment.
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/rfk-...
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/rfk-...
Casey Means, Trump's choice for surgeon general, has given credit to the debunked and dangerous notion that vaccines cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/case...
Casey Means
In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Casey Means, Trump's choice for surgeon general, has given credit to the debunked and dangerous notion that vaccines cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/case...
Study: Measles outbreaks impose costs on governments and individuals, averaging $43k per case. The US could soon lose measles elimination status, in part because RFK Jr's lie that vaccines cause autism. Heckuva job, Bobby. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/meas...
Measles Outbreaks Are Expensive
In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Study: Measles outbreaks impose costs on governments and individuals, averaging $43k per case. The US could soon lose measles elimination status, in part because RFK Jr's lie that vaccines cause autism. Heckuva job, Bobby. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/meas...
Trump's Truth Social post gives nutty health advice. Contrary to his lies, vaccines don't cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/trum...
Trump's Firehose of Lies
A number o f posts discussed Trump 's support for discredited notion s about autism T he Sept 22 White House news conference w...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Trump's Truth Social post gives nutty health advice. Contrary to his lies, vaccines don't cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/trum...
CBC journalists analyzed 200 TikTok videos discussing cancer treatments and autism therapies. Most of the remedies lack scientific evidence. Some, such as chelation, are downright dangerous. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/tikt...
TikTok: A Vector for Dangerous Misinformation
In The Politics of Autism , I examine the role of social media in the development of the issue . Dexter McMillan at CBC Marketpla...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
CBC journalists analyzed 200 TikTok videos discussing cancer treatments and autism therapies. Most of the remedies lack scientific evidence. Some, such as chelation, are downright dangerous. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/tikt...
Antivaxxers have found lots of ways to make money from their movement. Take Andrew Wakefield, who lost his British medical license because of his fraudulent article linking vaccines and autism. Today he's on the lecture circuit and living large in Texas. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/anti...
Antivaxxers Making Money
In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 25, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Antivaxxers have found lots of ways to make money from their movement. Take Andrew Wakefield, who lost his British medical license because of his fraudulent article linking vaccines and autism. Today he's on the lecture circuit and living large in Texas. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/anti...
Bad news for RFK Jr and his MAHA grifters: a new lit review finds no good evidence that "alternative" therapies (e.g., supplements) help with core or associated symptoms of autism. t.co/kYwiYQx3z8
http://www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/lit-review-no-good-evidence-that.html
t.co
October 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Bad news for RFK Jr and his MAHA grifters: a new lit review finds no good evidence that "alternative" therapies (e.g., supplements) help with core or associated symptoms of autism. t.co/kYwiYQx3z8
Trump and RFK Jr. push the lie that vaccines cause autism. They have had an effect. By AP's count, 26 anti-vaccine measures have passed in 11 state legislatures this year. As a result, vaccine-preventable diseases will spread. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/anti...
Antivax Legislation in the States
In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Trump and RFK Jr. push the lie that vaccines cause autism. They have had an effect. By AP's count, 26 anti-vaccine measures have passed in 11 state legislatures this year. As a result, vaccine-preventable diseases will spread. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/anti...
The Trump administration wants to move special education to HHS. The department has no institutional knowledge of the issue, and its secretary is peddling dangerous lies about the causes of autism. What could go wrong? www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/movi...
Moving Special Ed to HHS
In The Politics of Autism , I discuss the issue's role in presidential politics. Many posts have discussed Trump's bad record on dis...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:50 PM
The Trump administration wants to move special education to HHS. The department has no institutional knowledge of the issue, and its secretary is peddling dangerous lies about the causes of autism. What could go wrong? www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/movi...
Education Secretary Linda McMahon is claiming that her layoffs are no biggie because schools have not immediately stopped special education. It's like the captain of the Titanic reassuring passengers that the ship is still afloat five minutes after hitting the iceberg. t.co/cLkgV873as
http://www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/consequences-of-cuts.html
t.co
October 20, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Education Secretary Linda McMahon is claiming that her layoffs are no biggie because schools have not immediately stopped special education. It's like the captain of the Titanic reassuring passengers that the ship is still afloat five minutes after hitting the iceberg. t.co/cLkgV873as
In 1776, the original #NoKings protesters proclaimed that "all men are created equal." Our would-be king has proclaimed: "They say all men are created equal. It’s not true." www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/m...
If He Builds It (Published 2009)
www.nytimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
In 1776, the original #NoKings protesters proclaimed that "all men are created equal." Our would-be king has proclaimed: "They say all men are created equal. It’s not true." www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/m...
RFK Jr. is gutting CDC and spreading the lie that vaccines cause autism. So far in 2025, the US has had 1,596 cases of measles -- the most in decades. Heckuva job, Bobby. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/in-p...
1596
In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:43 PM
RFK Jr. is gutting CDC and spreading the lie that vaccines cause autism. So far in 2025, the US has had 1,596 cases of measles -- the most in decades. Heckuva job, Bobby. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/in-p...
Trump is trying to gut the federal special education office. Without its monitoring, a lot of states and school districts are going to screw kids with disabilities such as autism. That's the point. Trump despises people with disabilities. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/slas...
Slashing the Special Ed Office: Long-Term Impact
In The Politics of Autism , I discuss the issue's role in presidential politics. Many posts have discussed Trump's bad record on dis...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Trump is trying to gut the federal special education office. Without its monitoring, a lot of states and school districts are going to screw kids with disabilities such as autism. That's the point. Trump despises people with disabilities. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/slas...
A judge has paused Trump's firings in the special education office. People in the autism community should not get their hopes up. Even if the pause holds up on appeal, this lawless administration is likely to ignore or circumvent it. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/judg...
Judge Pauses the Attack on Special Ed
In The Politics of Autism , I discuss the issue's role in presidential politics. Many posts have discussed Trump's bad record on dis...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:50 PM
A judge has paused Trump's firings in the special education office. People in the autism community should not get their hopes up. Even if the pause holds up on appeal, this lawless administration is likely to ignore or circumvent it. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/judg...
Trump is gutting the federal law on special education by firing most of the staffers who enforce it. He is endangering the 7.5 million students in special ed. Their parents should be screaming. So should congressional Democrats. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/trum...
Trump's Attack on Special Ed
In The Politics of Autism , I discuss the issue's role in presidential politics. Many posts have discussed Trump's bad record on dis...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Trump is gutting the federal law on special education by firing most of the staffers who enforce it. He is endangering the 7.5 million students in special ed. Their parents should be screaming. So should congressional Democrats. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/10/trum...