For ads-free news, click here.
The Senate confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is being held Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. ET, before the Senate Finance Committee.
President Donald Trump nominated Kennedy to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy, 71, is the son of former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy.
A former life-long Democrat, Kennedy left the Democrat Party in 2023 and registered as an Independent.ย He ran for president in the 2024 election, before finally dropping out and endorsing Trump.
Kennedy’s key campaign message centered around health, but Democrats turned on him over his opposition to some vaccines. After he endorsed Trump, he and Trump embraced the slogan: “Make America Healthy Again.”
On Monday, prominent X user and market researcher Anna Matson posted a list of Kennedy’s qualifications and accomplishments and argued that he is highly qualified to serve as HHS Secretary.ย (Scroll down to see the list.)
WATCH LIVE COVERAGE of Kennedy’s Senate confirmation hearing in one of the videos below.ย It is scheduled to start Wed. Jan. 29 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Below is the important thread of information about Kennedy, as shared by Anna Matson on Monday:
๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐.
Every single democrat will say RFK Jr. is not qualified, but they wonโt tell you the truth. Here is everything RFK Jr has done in his career that makes him fully qualified to run HHS.
Wait til you see Bidenโs secretaryโs qualifications at the end.
๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐.
Every single democrat will say RFK Jr. is not qualified, but they wonโt tell you the truth. Here is everything RFK Jr has done in his career that makes him fully qualified to run HHS.
Wait til you see Bidenโs secretaryโs qualifications at the end.
๐งต pic.twitter.com/lNnoM2JKjH
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. Attorney General and presidential candidate, and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy – both of which were assassinated. His family background is deeply rooted in public service and advocacy.
Growing up, he spent much of his time outdoors and engaged in civil debates with his family.
๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. Attorney General and presidential candidate, and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy – both of which were assassinated. His family background is deeply rooted inโฆ pic.twitter.com/VrvbHPKNsp
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Kennedy attended Harvard University for his undergraduate studies, earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law, and obtained a Master of Laws from Pace University in 1987.
๐๐จ-๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅโ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐.
Kennedy received a special permit from New York to allow ten law students to practice law against Hudson River polluters.
๐๐จ-๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅโ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐.
Kennedy received a special permit from New York to allow ten law students to practice law against Hudson River polluters. pic.twitter.com/pOjvjRStkJ
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
โRiverkeeper protects and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies, through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science and lawโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ.โ
In 1984, Kennedy Jr. became a part of Riverkeeper, which was then known as the Hudson Riverkeeper Fund. Throughout his tenure, he held the role of Chief Prosecuting Attorney on staff and later served on the Board of Directors from 2000 until his departure in 2017.
Furthermore, the organization closed one of the stateโs most notoriously harmful landfills and helped protect New York Cityโs upstate reservoir system.
๐๐๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
โRiverkeeper protects and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies, through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science and lawโโโโโโโโโโโโโโฆ pic.twitter.com/FSE7UEU7Mr
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐
This organization fights for clean water all across the globe.
Kennedy not only helped start the Waterkeeper Alliance, but was also the president from 1999-2020.
Under his leadership, the Alliance grew to be the worldโs largest nonprofit focused solely on clean water. There are now more than 350 Waterkeeper groups in 48 countries, patrolling and protecting 2.8 million square miles of watersheds.
๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐
This organization fights for clean water all across the globe.
Kennedy not only helped start the Waterkeeper Alliance, but was also the president from 1999-2020.Under his leadership, the Alliance grew to be theโฆ pic.twitter.com/OnqsrTGaEu
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐
He negotiated the New York City watershed agreement on behalf of environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers. It is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development.
๐๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐
He negotiated the New York City watershed agreement on behalf of environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers. It is regarded as an international modelโฆ pic.twitter.com/JnkMr6AXLd
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฅ, ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ โ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ.โ
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฅ, ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ โ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ.โ pic.twitter.com/KQVaHr7MRZ
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐, ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ-๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐ ๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ
The firm has won numerous cases including a $70 million settlement for Florida property owners affected by toxic chemicals and a $670 million settlement for residents in Ohio and West Virginia whose water was contaminated by DuPont.
๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐, ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ-๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐ ๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ
The firm has won numerous cases including a $70 million settlement for Florida property owners affected by toxic chemicals and a $670 million settlement for residents in Ohio and West Virginia whose water wasโฆ pic.twitter.com/b1afOGwBe8
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฌ
His environmental work was celebrated by democrats so much that he testified in congress by Ed Markeyโs request (who now turned on him). This hearing was in 2008.
๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฌ
His environmental work was celebrated by democrats so much that he testified in congress by Ed Markeyโs request (who now turned on him). This hearing was in 2008. pic.twitter.com/2AIfSamRZ3
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ
As President-elect, Obama strongly considered RFK Jr for Administrator for the EPA. Politico even said this would, โraise the profile of the EPA.โ
๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ
As President-elect, Obama strongly considered RFK Jr for Administrator for the EPA. Politico even said this would, โraise the profile of the EPA.โ pic.twitter.com/UtiWEIjtRW
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐
This is where Kennedy and his team won the monumental Roundup case. This secured a landmark $289 million verdict for a California groundskeeper who developed cancer due to exposure to the herbicide Roundup.
This triggered many more cases against Monsanto.
๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ ๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐
This is where Kennedy and his team won the monumental Roundup case. This secured a landmark $289 million verdict for a California groundskeeper who developed cancer due to exposure to the herbicide Roundup.โฆ pic.twitter.com/Y0nRNnepSB
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ (๐๐๐)
CHD is a nonprofit organization that focuses on health advocacy, particularly in areas related to children’s health.They focus on raising awareness, promoting informed consent, and pursuing legal action against regulatory agencies and corporations they believe are failing to protect public health.
Kennedy was the Chairman and Chief Legal Counsel from 2016-2024.
๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ (๐๐๐)
CHD is a nonprofit organization that focuses on health advocacy, particularly in areas related to children’s health.They focus on raising awareness, promoting informed consent, and pursuing legal actionโฆ pic.twitter.com/ValOCe5V0s
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ
He has written many books about politics, environmental policy, and public health throughout his life.
This includes the New York Times Best Seller, The Real Anthony Fauci, where he outlines the corruption between the government agencies and pharmaceutical companies.
His ethics disclosure also indicated two more books are written and waiting release.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ
He has written many books about politics, environmental policy, and public health throughout his life.
This includes the New York Times Best Seller, The Real Anthony Fauci, where he outlines the corruption between the government agenciesโฆ pic.twitter.com/N9R1exDIEe
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค
RFK Jr. has been deeply involved in environmental and clean technology initiatives. He co-founded Keeper Springs, donating all profits to the Waterkeeper Alliance, and served as a senior advisor at VantagePoint Capital Partners, supporting companies like Tesla and BrightSource Energy. Additionally, he co-founded EcoWatch, advised on sustainable water and energy projects, and partnered with companies like ColorZen to reduce environmental impact in industries such as cotton dyeing and grid management.
Minority and Poor Communities:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long advocated for environmental justice in underserved communities. He represented the NAACP in opposing a garbage transfer station in a minority neighborhood, successfully reopened Croton Point Park for Bronx residents, and forced the reopening of Pelham Bay Park, which had been converted into a police firing range.
International and Indigenous Rights:
Kennedy has worked globally to protect indigenous rights and preserve natural habitats. He assisted tribes in Chile, Canada, Ecuador, and Mexico in opposing large-scale projects that threatened their lands and ecosystems. Notable successes include derailing most proposed dams on Chile’s Biobรญo River, halting Mitsubishi’s salt facility in Baja, and preventing dams on Chile’s Futaleufรบ River.
Military and Vieques:
Kennedy challenged environmental damage caused by the U.S. military, notably suing the Navy over bombing exercises in Vieques, Puerto Rico. He was imprisoned for protesting the exercises, which eventually led to their termination. He has also been vocal about pollution caused by military activities, describing the Department of Defense as a major environmental offender.
๐๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค
RFK Jr. has been deeply involved in environmental and clean technology initiatives. He co-founded Keeper Springs, donating all profits to the Waterkeeper Alliance, and served as a senior advisor at VantagePoint Capital Partners, supporting companiesโฆ
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฉ๐จ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฒ
Democrats say RFK Jr is unqualifiedโฆbut is he?
When Bidenโs Secretary of HHS was being confirmed, Democrats praised Xavier Beceera for his qualifications. His background? A lawyer. RFK Jr.โs background? A lawyer.
But unlike Beceera, Kennedy has been fighting for families all across America for clean food, clean water, and to get corruption out of our government. Beceera is simply a lifetime politician.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฉ๐จ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฒ
Democrats say RFK Jr is unqualifiedโฆbut is he?
When Bidenโs Secretary of HHS was being confirmed, Democrats praised Xavier Beceera for his qualifications. His background? A lawyer. RFK Jr.โs background? A lawyer.
But unlike Beceera, Kennedy hasโฆ pic.twitter.com/CGuPDkeBBQ
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
Now please tag, call, and email your senators. Let them know the real RFK Jr.
You know the best qualification of them all?
He was finally able to get health center stage in politics and inspired people from all over the country to take their health seriously.
Thatโs the kind of Secretary of HHS that I want.
You know the best qualification of them all?
He was finally able to get health center stage in politics and inspired people from all over the country to take their health seriously.
Thatโs the kind of Secretary of HHS that I want. pic.twitter.com/8rZfnHJKgZ
โ Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 28, 2025
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
