In The Politics of Autism, I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism. This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spread. Examples include measles, COVID, flu, and polio. A top antivaxxer is HHS Secretary RFK Jr. He is part of the "Disinformation Dozen." He helped cause a deadly 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa. Last year, he lied about it under oath.
Since Trump took office in 2025, the U.S. has recorded more confirmed measles cases than in the previous 20 years combined.
With more than two months to go in 2026, the US has already DOUBLED its 2025 total.
A child in New York’s North Country died after contracting measles, the first death in the state from the viral disease in 30 years, health officials announced Monday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the death was a signal that public health protections were eroding as a growing number of families forgo vaccinations.
The child died in Lewis County, which is northeast of Syracuse and has recorded 15 measles cases this year, according to the health authorities, who shared few details about the case.
“I am heartbroken to learn that a child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles,” Ms. Hochul said in a statement.
The governor linked the death to Trump administration policies that she said had undermined public confidence in pediatric immunizations.
“This is New York’s first measles-related death in 30 years, a devastating reminder of what’s at stake when Washington deliberately erodes decades of progress in protecting Americans from preventable illnesses,” Ms. Hochul said.
