Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday launched an online cooking series aimed at helping Americans prepare healthy, budget-friendly meals as part of the Trump administration&#8217;s &#8220;Make America Healthy Again&#8221; initiative.
The new series, &#8220;The Real Food Show,&#8221; features Kennedy traveling across the country to meet with chefs and culinary experts who demonstrate recipes using minimally processed ingredients.
“Inspired by President Trump&#8217;s Make America Healthy Again agenda, Secretary Kennedy is bringing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to life and showing that cooking with real food can be practical, approachable, and affordable for every family,” the Department of Health and Human Services <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/real-food-show/index.html">said</a> in a statement.
“Every episode is packed with affordable, budget-friendly recipes and easy cooking techniques designed to save you time and money,” the department added.
In a promotional video announcing the series, Kennedy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWBP4REwZeY">said</a> the goal is to encourage Americans to embrace healthier eating habits through simple home cooking. 
“Thanks to President Trump, we flipped the food pyramid and put real food back to where it belongs — at the center of the American plate,&#8221; Kennedy said. &#8220;America, it&#8217;s time to eat real food. Let’s get cooking.” 
The new series premiered Thursday on the HHS website and YouTube. Celebrity chef Andrew Gruel joined Kennedy for the first episode, where they prepared crispy wild Alaskan salmon cakes served with an apple, white bean and greens salad.
&#8220;I&#8217;m excited to be part of the premiere episode because I believe the message is much bigger than a cooking show,&#8221; Gruel <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/rfk-jr-takes-maha-kitchen-hhs-cooking-series-promoting-healthy-meals-under-5">told</a> Fox News Digital.
&#8220;My hope is that this series helps demystify cooking and shows people that preparing crave-worthy, healthy meals doesn&#8217;t require professional training or expensive ingredients,&#8221; he added.

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Move Over, Food Network: RFK Jr. Has A Cooking Show

Department of Health and Human Services

Food

Health

MAHA

nutrition

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

TV Shows

YouTube

Measles, the world’s most infectious disease once declared eliminated, has made a comeback in the United States, ravaging states such as South Carolina, Florida, Utah, Virginia and Texas.
Multiple outbreaks occurred over the past year across the United States, costing millions in taxpayer money. South Carolina has<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html"> suffered</a> through 670 cases this year. Virginia has <a href="https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/">reported</a> 176 confirmed cases and eight hospitalizations, and the Texas Department of State Health Services has <a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vaccine-preventable-diseases/vaccine-preventable-disease-conditions/measles-rubeola/measles-rubeola/measles-rubeola-data">reported</a> a total of 182 cases as of July 15.
The airborne virus is notorious for spreading rapidly. Nine out of 10 people who come into close contact with a person infected with measles can come down with the illness if they are not protected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html">reports</a>. This makes the disease about five to six times more contagious than the common cold.
Three to four million Americans contracted the disease every year in the 1950s and 60s. However, Health officials declared measles eliminated in 2000 after 12 consecutive months without endemic transmission. 
However, resistance to taking vaccines has grown over the years. This is partly due to people refusing vaccines produced using cell lines originally derived from aborted fetal tissue obtained in the 1960s — <a href="https://www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-safety/vaccine-ingredients/fetal-tissues">such as</a> the rubella vaccine in the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Additionally, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10224336/">studies</a> have found that many parents remain concerned about a possible link between vaccines and autism.
As fewer people take the measles vaccine, more cases are popping up in the United States. Johns Hopkins University, which manages a <a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/resources/us-measles-tracker">tracker</a> for measles cases, reports that the number of cases for 2026 has reached 2,295 — the highest number of cases since 1991
“This is not simply the return of a childhood rash illness,” epidemiologist Dr. Syra Madad <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/22/health/us-hits-most-cases-of-worlds-most-contagious-disease-in-35-years/">told</a> the New York Post. “Measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization and death, especially in young children and medically vulnerable people.”
Measles can also create the condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. This is a fatal neurological condition that causes inflammation and scarring of the brain, the National Institutes of Health <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560673/">reports</a>. This condition can take up to 20 years after a measles infection to develop. 
Prominent health officials in the Trump administration have called on all Americans to take the measles vaccine, especially after the 2025 measles outbreak.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/02/09/us-news/measles-outbreak-surges-in-us-as-dr-oz-begs-people-to-get-vaccinated/">told</a> Americans to “take the vaccine, please.”
“Not all illnesses are equally dangerous and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses,” Oz said on CNN&#8217;s “State of the Union.” “But measles is one you should get your vaccine [for].”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for being skeptical about the benefit of modern vaccines rolled out by Big Pharma, has urged parents to consult their doctors about vaccinating their children.
“The measles outbreak in Texas is a call to action for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to public health,” Kennedy <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/robert-f-kennedy-jr-measles-outbreak-call-action-all-us?title=op-ed%20for%20Fox%20News">said</a> in an opinion piece last year. “By working together — parents, healthcare providers, community leaders, and government officials, we can prevent future outbreaks and protect the health of our nation.” 
“Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” Kennedy added.
This article has been updated to correct that South Carolina has reported 670 cases in 2026, not 997.

Screenshot 2026-07-22 at 2.35.02 PM

A Disease Once Thought Defeated Is Spreading Across America

The World’s Most Infectious Disease Is Making a Comeback in the United States

Florida

Measles

Mehmet Oz

South Carolina

Texas

Utah

Vaccines

Virginia

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday directed every state Medicaid program to begin phasing out the use of mercury-containing dental fillings, The Daily Wire has learned.
CMS, which is part of the Robert F. Kennedy Jr.-led Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), told state Medicaid directors to restrict or end Medicaid coverage for “dental amalgams,&#8221; fillings which are roughly 50% mercury. According to HHS, the material poses health and environmental risks.
State Medicaid directors were told to &#8220;end the use of mercury-containing dental amalgam in its facilities by 2027.” The notification added, “This reflects growing environmental and health concerns regarding mercury exposure, along with global efforts to reduce the use of mercury-containing materials.&#8221;
“Mercury has no place in the mouths of our children or in modern American health care,” RFK said in a statement sent to The Daily Wire. “For decades, we have relied on a material that contains one of the world’s most toxic heavy metals when safe, effective mercury-free alternatives are widely available.&#8221;
&#8220;The Make America Healthy Again agenda means confronting outdated practices that needlessly expose Americans to toxic substances,&#8221; Kennedy added. &#8220;Taxpayer dollars should support the safest care available — not yesterday&#8217;s materials. It’s time to turn the page on dental amalgam and help every state move toward safer, mercury-free care.”
HHS says mercury exposure from dental amalgam may pose elevated health risks to vulnerable people, including pregnant women and their babies, women trying to become pregnant, children under six years old, and people with neurological diseases or impaired kidney function.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz similarly said the move is fully in line with the MAHA agenda.
“Americans should feel confident that the health care they receive is always working in their best interest,” Dr. Oz said. “That’s why we&#8217;re urging state Medicaid programs to end the use of mercury-containing dental fillings. This is a straightforward and meaningful step that reflects our shared commitment to safe, higher quality care for all Americans and supports the Trump Administration&#8217;s broader goal to Make America Healthy Again.”
Since President Trump returned to office, HHS has made reducing exposure to chemicals and other potentially harmful substances a centerpiece of the MAHA agenda, including efforts targeting food dyes, additives, school nutrition, and infant formula standards.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rfk-punishes-blue-states-for-rampant-fraud-concerns?trueLinkId=P%2FGps7vsLowr2pwr%2F2JS%2FgoZjrOloijVv93ikqdGim%2FhUXfTjo2HE3PY%2BkaLCUuL97Ef79SmBP%2FsNypb6Pxq5g%3D%3D&amp;trueLinkTs=1782820892&amp;trueLinkExpiry=43200">RFK Punishes Blue States For Rampant Fraud Concerns</a>

GettyImages-2258942424

EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Oz, RFK Take Action On Mercury In Your Dental Fillings

EXCLUSIVE: CMS Directs States To Stop Use Of Mercury For Dental Practices 

Dentist

Medicaid

Trump Administration

The Trump administration is withholding more than $1 billion in federal Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota while demanding the Democrat-led states prove questioned Medicaid claims were lawful and not the result of waste, fraud, or abuse. 
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services are deferring about $867.5 million in payments to California and another $199 million to Minnesota after federal reviews flagged high-risk Medicaid claims requiring additional documentation.
&#8220;Medicaid exists to serve vulnerable Americans — not to bankroll unsupported claims,&#8221; Kennedy said in a <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-defers-medicaid-payments-california-minnesota-fraud-review.html">statement</a>. &#8220;Under President Trump&#8217;s leadership, we are restoring accountability across our public programs and protecting taxpayer dollars.&#8221;
Kennedy stressed that the money has not been permanently withheld and said both states can recover the funds by documenting that the claims comply with federal Medicaid requirements. 
&#8220;If those states want that money, they need to provide documentation that these payments are legitimate,&#8221; Kennedy said during a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YezwEkqMDHo">press conference</a> announcing the action.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the agency is abandoning what he described as a reactive approach that attempts to recover taxpayer money only after it has already been spent.
&#8220;CMS is done trying to chase down stolen and misused funds after they&#8217;ve already left the building,&#8221; Oz said. &#8220;By stopping waste and fraud before the check clears, CMS is delivering record-high savings for taxpayers and ensuring that their hard-earned dollars reach the vulnerable Americans Medicaid is meant to serve.&#8221;
According to CMS, California&#8217;s deferred payments stem primarily from questions surrounding certain in-home care programs after federal reviewers identified spending growth that significantly exceeded national trends. Oz said reviewers also identified claims involving individuals with what he described as &#8220;unsatisfactory immigration status,&#8221; as well as claims connected to services allegedly billed after beneficiaries had died.
Minnesota&#8217;s payment deferral follows a review of Medicaid claims across 14 high-risk service categories that federal officials said included providers previously flagged through program integrity investigations along with other claims presenting potential eligibility or billing concerns.
The Medicaid payment freeze is part of the Trump administration&#8217;s broader effort to combat fraud across federal healthcare programs. Kennedy also announced that HHS is expanding efforts to permanently exclude individuals and organizations found to have committed fraud from participating in Medicare and Medicaid.
Kennedy said CMS increasingly relied on artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and other data tools to identify potentially fraudulent claims before federal matching funds are released. 
California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom rejected the administration&#8217;s allegations, calling the announcement &#8220;the same recycled political stunt we&#8217;ve seen before.&#8221;
&#8220;California isn&#8217;t being targeted because Trump has evidence of fraud,&#8221; Newsom wrote on <a href="https://x.com/govpressoffice/status/2079606256101171441">X</a>. &#8220;We are being targeted for political reasons.&#8221;
Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz likewise dismissed the administration&#8217;s justification, arguing the move was designed to finance Republican tax policies. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t about fraud — it&#8217;s about cutting your healthcare so that Trump can afford the tax cuts he gave to billionaires,&#8221; Walz <a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/2079622267307258033">wrote</a>. &#8220;They&#8217;re cutting more money in healthcare than they&#8217;ve prosecuted for fraud.&#8221;

President Trump Participates In Swearing-In Ceremony For Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz

RFK Punishes Blue States For Rampant Fraud Concerns

Health and Human Services

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. didn&#8217;t mince words on Fox News on Monday night, declaring that the world is looking in the wrong direction — at Israel — if it wants to find a genuine genocide unfolding in the Middle East.
Kennedy, whose father was assassinated by a Palestinian, noted that Jewish and Christian populations have been quietly erased across Arab nations for decades.
“If you look at the Middle East, there is an ongoing genocide against Jews and Christians in all the nations in the Middle East,” he pointed out. “In 1948, there was [sic] a million Jews in the Middle East in the Arab countries. Today, there&#8217;s about 15,000 left. 20% of the population was Christian, now it&#8217;s 5%.”
“In Israel, in contrast, there were 150,000 Palestinians in 1948,” he explained. “Today, there&#8217;s almost two million; 20% of the population. If Israel wanted to commit a genocide against Palestinians, they could do it in a minute. It&#8217;s doing the opposite. Palestinian population is growing enormously around Israel. There are no Jews in Jordan. There are no Jews in Gaza. The number of Christians in Gaza has dropped by about 80% over the past 10 years. If you want to see where a real genocide is happening, it&#8217;s not in Israel. It&#8217;s happening in all the nations around it.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
US Secretary of Health RFK Jr.:
If Israel wanted to commit a genocide against Palestinians, they could do it in a minute. That&#39;s doing the opposite. The Palestinian population is growing enormously around Israel.
If you want to see what a real genocide is, it&#39;s not happening in… <a href="https://t.co/i4tAUgsNoU">pic.twitter.com/i4tAUgsNoU</a>
&mdash; Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://x.com/Osint613/status/2071872674033279322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In the roughly 30 years after Israel declared its independence in 1948, approximately 850,000 to 900,000 Jews fled, migrated, or were expelled from Arab countries (and around one million if you include non-Arab Muslim nations like Iran and Turkey).
The underlying numbers on Christian persecution are grimly real and well-documented.
In Iraq and Syria, ISIS waged a campaign against religious minorities so brutal that the State Department, the U.N., and the European Parliament all formally branded it genocide. Churches were leveled, ancient Assyrian and Chaldean communities were gutted, and hundreds of thousands of Christians fled Mosul as militants offered them a grim choice: convert, pay a medieval-style tax, or die. Iraq&#8217;s Christian population has cratered from about 1.5 million before the 2003 war to a sliver of that now.
Yazidis fared even worse. <a href="https://www.savethechildren.net/news/about-1300-yazidi-children-still-missing-10-years-after-genocide">Save The Children</a> reported, &#8220;The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) killed, captured, and displaced <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/CoISyria/A_HRC_32_CRP.2_en.pdf">all 400,000 Yazidi people</a> living in Sinjar on 3 August 2014 in a genocide that disproportionately affected children. About 10,000 Yazidis were killed or abducted, <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002297">half of all those executed were children</a>, according to a report by multi-national researchers in the journal PLoS Medicine.&#8221;
Egypt&#8217;s Coptic Christians, among the oldest Christian communities on Earth, have endured a <a href="https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/egypt-s-copts-warn-of-surging-violence-as-houses-torched">relentless string of attacks</a>, from the 2017 Palm Sunday church bombings that killed dozens to a deadly ambush on a busload of pilgrims the same year. Watchdog groups say Minya Governorate, a region in upper Egypt, has become a flashpoint for sectarian violence, with Coptic churches forced to shutter under threat and intimidation.
And in Nigeria, advocacy organizations <a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/36727/html/">estimate</a> that more than 37,500 people have died since Boko Haram&#8217;s insurgency erupted in 2009, with Fulani militant violence adding thousands more victims — a toll some rights groups insist is driven chiefly by religious hatred, even as Nigerian officials and other observers dispute that characterization.
Kennedy sees the picture clearly: the true erasure of ancient minority communities is happening outside of Israel&#8217;s borders, not within them.

Democratic Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Delivers Address To Jewish Community In New York

RFK Jr. Exposes The Middle East’s ‘Real Genocide’

Christian Persecution

genocide

Israel

Muslims

A coalition of America&#8217;s major beverage makers is making it easier for consumers to access information about ingredients used in their products, a nod to the continued success of the &#8220;Make America Healthy Again&#8221; movement.
The American Beverage Association this month unveiled a first-of-its-kind system that allows shoppers to simply scan a QR code to access clear information about beverage ingredients, as well as easy-to-read health and safety information. The codes direct users to <a href="https://goodtoknowfacts.org">GoodToKnowFacts.org</a>, which is billed as a comprehensive database that provides “factual, non-industry information about more than 140 beverage ingredients.”
“Consumers want greater transparency and deserve to have confidence in the safety of their foods and beverages,” ABA President and CEO Kevin Keane said about the initiative. “Transparency means more than simply listing ingredients — it means providing relevant context that helps people understand where specific ingredients are used, what function they serve and how regulators in different countries view them.”
Adding the QR codes to drinks will give consumers “clear and reliable information right at their fingertips,” Keane said. 
&nbsp;
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GoodToKnowFacts collects information from the FDA, the European Food Safety Authority, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, and Health Canada on the 140-plus different ingredients used across the beverage sector. It also gives the general definition of an ingredient, where else the ingredient is often found, and other names for the ingredient in question. Its &#8220;bottom line&#8221; section usually states where the ingredient has authorized use.
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The ABA, a coalition of hundreds of beverage producers, distributors, and franchise companies, said its companies started adding these QR codes in the first quarter of 2026, adding that they’ve &#8220;committed to achieving full or near-full market penetration across all beverage portfolios by the end of 2027.&#8221;
The voluntary, cross-industry collaboration to provide transparency is the latest sign that the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement isn&#8217;t going anywhere. Americans have shown a willingness to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/these-11-maha-approved-products-are-winning-the-war-on-toxic-ingredients">spend more money</a> for healthy, organic foods, and fabrics. The Trump administration continues to signal its involvement with the MAHA crowd, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy — an originator and leader of the movement — boasting that he&#8217;s converted a number of cabinet officials to a diet of grass-fed beef and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rfk-sparks-diet-craze-in-the-presidents-cabinet">fermented food</a> like sauerkraut.
One of the officials on Kennedy&#8217;s diet is Vice President JD Vance, who recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-jd-vance-is-installing-a-maha-staple-at-the-veeps-residence">installed a chicken coop</a> at his official residence, another practice popular among MAHA followers in search of healthy proteins. On a policy level, the Trump administration has pushed the MAHA agenda beyond Kennedy&#8217;s work at HHS, including its recent launch of Moms.Gov, a federal website where expectant and new mothers can access information about pregnancy and childcare, including information about <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-white-house-launches-moms-gov-a-win-for-pro-life-and-maha-movements">health and diet.</a>

Cans of Pepsi and Coke are set up for a photograph in New Yo

American Beverage Makers Go MAHA With Ingredient Transparency Tool

Major Brands Like Coke, Pepsi Make First-Of-Its-Kind ‘MAHA’ Change

Manufacturing

The Trump administration is moving to more closely track and study microplastics and pharmaceuticals in Americans&#8217; drinking water, marking the first time federal regulators have formally flagged them as potential contaminants.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that microplastics are a “growing threat to human health.”
The effort is split into two initiatives, first shared with The Daily Wire.
The Environmental Protection Agency will consider microplastics and pharmaceuticals a “priority contaminant group” in a current draft list. At the same time, a Health and Human Services-backed agency is launching the Systematic Targeting of Microplastics (STOMP) project to investigate the impact of microplastics and their effects on human health.
&#8220;For too long, Americans have vocalized concerns about plastics and pharmaceuticals in their drinking water. That ends today,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said on Thursday.
Microplastics have been detected in water, food, and household products, and some research has linked them to serious health issues like cancer, though scientists say more study is needed to understand their full impact, according to <a href="https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/01/microplastics-in-body-polluted-tiny-plastic-fragments.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stanford University School of Medicine</a>.
“Americans deserve clear answers about how microplastics in their bodies affect their health,&#8221; Kennedy Jr. said. &#8220;Through [Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health’s] STOMP program, we will measure microplastic exposure, identify sources of risk, and develop targeted solutions to reduce it,” he said.
As for the administration’s initiatives, the goal of STOMP is to focus on the impact of microplastics in the body, specifically how to “measure,” “target,” and “remove” them. It will identify the most dangerous microplastics and how they affect the human body.
The EPA’s decision to include microplastics on its draft Contaminant Candidate List “does not constitute regulation, but signals that a substance warrants serious scientific attention and may be considered for future regulatory action,” the agency told The Daily Wire.
“By placing microplastics and pharmaceuticals on the Contaminant Candidate List for the first time ever, EPA is sending a clear message: we will follow the science, we will pursue answers, and we will hold ourselves to the highest standards to protect the health of every American family,” Zeldin explained.
Kimberly Wise White, Ph.D., who serves as vice of regulatory and scientific affairs at the American Chemistry Council, said the organization supports &#8220;science-driven monitoring of microplastics in drinking water and research to better understand potential impacts.&#8221;
&#8220;People want clear answers on microplastics, and any drinking water monitoring program must address <a href="https://2244cf6a.streak-link.com/C1L0mjfUFGcEd_K5ZA0yrYvB/http%3A%2F%2Flink.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com%2Fls%2Fclick%3Fupn%3Du001.Qyj58FigvMRC96dcC2S4KNjCL20O7sP-2B4Pjq84SIXsEHUfMcmsBXBIl8DmU73q7pkMjL_SRyOrIcdwJbpfaG7RzzySYK8nAywSKGplH3LOjf4JVtkcvJrNDWVwpIurOw1tOLOU8IlSbJpQxLsxantCzquhbBXxlYNYtGXx9jLylLa4TmmrSrNcYZTV90UX2gJpZg-2B4QM4t7n2iNMEZX9KlwWHDxFMZWa9Z-2B1QTMDYG1BZIxbO1fhmIIajpIJMYEwHwjfONpNpI5UYWWaWr7r4pTlNsGKK5JzokpzVUBV7Tc9yyS3DTLgaZ6jr1OAJHqvS-2BUbTte2eSvXf7TpqKOLO2sUxfA6OIDxLnZ-2Ffyb7Fx7317OgFVi9xe0q7QKqDCCXxO6-2BOooz-2FuVNZEmrSOMQLUAwfFs1nc-2BLnUZ8Q6xJEw5Z6Aaj-2F8qXwwUkME-2BBSxTH1AOYHKzsLwq00fT2ILtrVxZ2cMA-3D-3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">several existing hurdles</a>, including developing clear definitions, ensuring adequate lab capacity, and standardizing sampling and testing methods to be used consistently across the country,” she added.
Zeldin and Kennedy Jr. are expected to formally announce the effort in Washington, D.C. on Thursday afternoon.

Richmond Water Crisis

Trump Admin Announces Major Steps Countering Big Pharma And Microplastics

Lee Zeldin

With all of the seriousness that envelopes most of the day-to-day operations within the government, sometimes it&#8217;s good to let down the hair, loosen the neckties, and think up a good prank for the social media team to run with for April Fools&#8217; Day.
The Department of Health and Human Services led the charge with a post showing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — notorious for his strict diet and opposition to fake dyes and additives in food — at a grocery store buying items that would definitely be considered contraband.
&#8220;BREAKING NEWS: SECRETARY KENNEDY CAUGHT PURCHASING ARTIFICIALLY-DYED CANDIES IN BULK,&#8221; the headline read.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/oOBv1uuT0g">pic.twitter.com/oOBv1uuT0g</a>
— HHS Rapid Response (@HHSResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSResponse/status/2039330926191165716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kennedy followed with a post of his own admitting that it was a joke.
The Department of Homeland Security shared a poster advertising free flights to the moon for illegal aliens. &#8220;FLY TO THE MOON FOR FREE!&#8221; the poster read, along with a caption that said, &#8220;This April 1st, we kindly ask all aliens to GO HOME.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This April 1st, we kindly ask all aliens to GO HOME. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArtemisII?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArtemisII</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheyAreGoingBack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheyAreGoingBack</a> <a href="https://t.co/RJ2Z5yH33E">pic.twitter.com/RJ2Z5yH33E</a>
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2039409788908371996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The National Archives got in on the joke with screenshots of a &#8220;group chat&#8221; between the Founding Fathers as they prepared to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson kicked off the conversation: &#8220;Ok, patriots, the final draft is ready.&#8221;
&#8220;Wait, do I sign with my real signature or my cool one?&#8221; John Hancock wanted to know.
&#8220;Make it BIG, John,&#8221; Benjamin Franklin advised. &#8220;Go viral or go home.&#8221;
Another frame showed the men arguing about how long the process was taking and who had brought the snacks.
&#8220;Can someone please proofread before I sign?&#8221; George Washington asked — and Jefferson replied, &#8220;Too late. I already tweeted it.&#8221;
The last line showed King George III of England being added to the chat, and he responded with just an emoji: wide eyes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Breaking news: The National Archives has released the Founding Fathers group chat for the signing of the Declaration of Independence.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AprilFoolsDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AprilFoolsDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/2YHku5K4VI">pic.twitter.com/2YHku5K4VI</a>
— U.S. National Archives (@USNatArchives) <a href="https://twitter.com/USNatArchives/status/2039352671392485401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The U.S. Department of the Interior went for the two-fer in a post outlining proposed changes to the national animal ahead of the United States celebrating its 250th birthday in 2026.
&#8220;As part of preparations for America’s 250th anniversary, Interior is reviewing wildlife nomenclature to better reflect the nation’s history and character. Following this review, the raccoon (Procyon lotor) will be renamed the Liberty Bandit, effective April 1, 2026,&#8221; the first post read.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Known for its resourcefulness and ability to operate under cover of night, the Liberty Bandit reflects a distinctly American spirit of independence.
Additional updates will be announced in phases, including renaming the skunk (Mephitis mephitis) the Freedom Fogger. 😉 <a href="https://t.co/TzKJIAQ5Dj">pic.twitter.com/TzKJIAQ5Dj</a>
— US Department of the Interior (@Interior) <a href="https://twitter.com/Interior/status/2039334053334200641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
An immediate follow up added that in addition to giving the raccoon a place of prominence as the &#8220;Liberty Bandit,&#8221; they also planned to rename the skunk the &#8220;Freedom Fogger.&#8221;
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service promised immediate compliance with the new nomenclature, saying, &#8220;We&#8217;ll get this updated on our website ASAP.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We&#8217;ll get this updated on our website ASAP. <a href="https://t.co/FoHyeLuS3n">https://t.co/FoHyeLuS3n</a>
— U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (@USFWS) <a href="https://twitter.com/USFWS/status/2039391809579692339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command (ACIC) stole the show with new guidance detailing the proper headgear for soldiers with Top Secret security clearances.
&#8220;The new Frequency Obstructing Interception Layer (FOIL) covers are designed to mitigate unauthorized SIGINT collection and ensure your thoughts remain on a &#8216;need to know&#8217; basis,&#8221; the description read — and the accompanying illustration showed eight different types of military headgear redone as tinfoil hats.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ACIC releases headwear guidance for Soldiers with Top Secret clearances.
The new Frequency Obstructing Interception Layer (FOIL) covers are designed to mitigate unauthorized SIGINT collection and ensure your thoughts remain on a &#8220;need to know&#8221; basis.
(Graphic made with AI) <a href="https://t.co/KJFdVLIlu1">pic.twitter.com/KJFdVLIlu1</a>
— Army Counterintelligence Command (ACIC) (@Real_ArmyCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/Real_ArmyCI/status/2039315175677849932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Screenshot/HHS

Even The Government Is Getting In On The Joke Today

Media

Military

Politics

Social Media

Cheryl Hines is pushing back on claims from leftist comedian Chelsea Handler that she and her husband, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., sold her a “toxic” $6 million home in Los Angeles.
The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” alum provided her version of events on an upcoming episode of the “Tomi Lahren is Fearless” podcast, questioning why Handler is creating the drama years after purchasing the property. 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Cheryl Hines Gets Candid on Politics, Trump, and Life With RFK Jr." width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MXTRs5279sk?start=446&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“She bought this house five years ago and she&#8217;s just now complaining about it,&#8221; Hines said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know that she&#8217;s getting a lot of sympathy from people. She&#8217;s buying a $6 million house&#8230;and talking about how she feels duped and that we tried to sell her a house that was, her word, ‘toxic,’ which also doesn&#8217;t make sense.&#8221;
Hines went on to say Handler’s claim “doesn&#8217;t really hold water,” pointing to what she described as a friendly and open line of communication during the sale. 
“I did write her a personal note when she moved in, just saying how much we love the house. And I hope that she has a beautiful life in this house. And if you need anything, call me. And I left my number,” Hines said. “So I don&#8217;t know… if we were trying to unload a toxic house on her, I wouldn&#8217;t have left my number.”
Hines had some theories about why Handler would be making the claims now, telling the podcast host that Handler is “just trying to get attention” and that it&#8217;s “probably fun for her to make fun of&#8221; Kennedy.
“So, what are you going to do? She&#8217;s trying to get a laugh, I guess, and some likes,” Hines added.
Handler, meanwhile, says she has experienced problems with the home for years. During an appearance on &#8220;Jimmy Kimmel Live!&#8221; earlier this month, she blamed Kennedy and Hines for issues that were not caught during inspection.
“It took me four years to move in. There [were] a lot of problems with the house — I blame him,&#8221; she said, referring to RFK Jr. &#8220;And that didn’t get caught during inspection. And a lot of drama with the house. But I did just move in for the first time yesterday. So, I’m good.&#8221;
“I mean, I have chlamydia, herpes, and what else does he have?” Handler joked. “Oh, measles. I have chlamydia, measles, and herpes.”
Handler first brought up the topic during an episode of her “Dear Chelsea” podcast, saying the home was “toxic” and uninhabitable when she purchased it. 
“I still have not lived in this house. That&#8217;s how f***ed up this house was,” she said at the time.
Handler also confirmed Hines&#8217; story about leaving a note and said she wouldn&#8217;t have purchased the home had she known who previously owned it.
“Cheryl Hines sent me a note saying, ‘Thank you, we’re so excited you bought our house. Let us know if there’s anything we can do,’” Handler said on her podcast. “And I was like, ‘Oh no! I bought RFK Jr.’s house?’ Like the one person in the world that I would flag whose house not to buy.”

Cheryl Hines

RFK Jr.’s Wife Cheryl Hines Fires Back At Chelsea Handler Over ‘Toxic’ Accusation

Chelsea Handler

Entertainment

Hollywood

A Biden-appointed judge in Oregon on Thursday said he would block a Trump administration declaration stating that transgender medical procedures for children are not “safe” or “effective.” 
U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai sided with more than a dozen Democratic attorneys general who challenged the <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/declaration-pediatric-sex-rejecting-procedures.pdf">policy</a> issued by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in December 2025.
In that declaration, the Department of Health and Human Services said that “sex-rejecting procedures for children and adolescents are neither safe nor effective as a treatment modality for gender dysphoria, gender incongruence, or other related disorders in minors, and therefore, fail to meet professional recognized standards of health care.”
The administration <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ord.191371/gov.uscourts.ord.191371.86.0_1.pdf">argued</a> the declaration was a general statement of policy. However, Kasubhai indicated that Kennedy did not follow the required procedures in issuing it.
“The notion that ‘I will go forward and issue a declaration and see if we can get away with it’ is not a principle of governance that adheres to the overarching commitment to a democratic republic that requires the rule of law to be regarded and respected and honored as a sacred,” Kasubhai <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/us/rfk-jr-transgender-care-ruling.html">said</a>. 
The judge delivered a verbal ruling from the bench and said a written decision would follow. 
The declaration addressed treatments including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries like mastectomies and vaginoplasties.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of the plaintiffs in the case, celebrated the ruling.  
“Health care services for transgender young people remain legal, and the federal government cannot intimidate or punish the providers who offer them,” James said. “It is my duty and my privilege to stand with trans New Yorkers and their families. I will always fight for the LGBTQ+ community.”
The ruling comes as the Trump administration has taken steps to cut off federal funding for all providers that offer such treatments to minors. In December, HHS <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-to-cut-funding-from-all-hospitals-that-perform-trans-procedures-on-kids">posted rules</a> to bar hospitals providing transgender procedures to minors from participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs, and would prohibit Medicaid’s Children’s Health Insurance Program from being used for transgender procedures for individuals under 19.

FDA Unveils New Framework To Speed Ultra-Rare Drug Approvals

Your Tax Dollars Could Still Be On The Line In Fight Over Trans Surgeries for Kids

Letitia James

Oregon

Transgender

transgender surgery

Hollywood is great at keeping secrets. 
Ellen DeGeneres built a career on a relentlessly nice persona that belied her behind-the-scenes cruelty. Harvey Weinstein’s Midas touch distracted us from his predatory encounters with starlets. And Sean “Diddy” Combs turned out to be more than a music mogul — he allegedly presided over a garish, sex-obsessed ring.
The new Hollywood Blacklist, by comparison, is out in the open. Conservative artists, beware. Sharing your point of view can cost you. Dearly.
Yet very few industry types will admit or decry it. And we’re seeing even more evidence of it.
<div id="attachment_1059531" style="width: 842px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1059531" class="size-large wp-image-1059531" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-854869502-832x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 27: Cheryl Hines and Larry David attend the &quot;Curb Your Enthusiasm&quot; season 9 premiere at SVA Theater on September 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)" width="832" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-854869502-832x576.jpg 832w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-854869502-300x208.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-854869502-768x532.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-854869502.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 832px) 100vw, 832px" />Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images</div>
Cheryl Hines has been working nonstop for decades, even if we all know her best as Larry’s exasperated wife (then ex-wife) on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
But a funny thing happened to Hines on the way to her husband Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.&#8217;s endorsement of Donald Trump.
The roles dried up.
The in-demand comic actress hasn’t had a new gig since “Curb” wrapped two years ago. Is she turning work down? Or did her phone stop ringing? What could have changed?
Hines has been polite on the subject in a barrage of interviews, suggesting her Hollywood friendships have strained under that political weight. She also isn’t a part of Larry David’s upcoming HBO comedy series, an untitled satire co-produced by the Obamas.
The Daily Mail added that the Obamas <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15000917/Cheryl-Hines-Larry-David-new-HBO-barack-michelle-obama.html">won’t allow Hines</a> to be part of the show.
She even got <a href="https://x.com/bradleywhitford/status/1827444691316732393?lang=en">called out</a> by Emmy winner Bradley Whitford on social media for her political ties.
<blockquote>…way to stay silent while your lunatic husband throws his support behind the adjudicated rapist who brags about stripping women of their fundamental rights. Gutsy. Great example for the kids. Profile in courage.</blockquote>
She also may have lost a long-term friendship with former podcast partner Tig Notaro. The two <a href="https://people.com/tig-notaro-reflects-on-strange-friendship-fallout-from-cheryl-hines-over-rfk-jr-trump-ties-11923515">hosted “Tig and Cheryl: True Story”</a> for three years before ending the show in May of 2023. Notaro helped end the show due to Hines’ husband’s political aspirations, though it’s unclear why that element had to be a show stopper.
<div id="attachment_1059545" style="width: 825px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1059545" class="size-large wp-image-1059545" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-13-Mar-2026-01-23-PM-8640-815x576.jpg" alt="PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Cheryl Hines attends the Third Annual &quot;Starry Starry Night Gala&quot; at Chaparral Country Club on January 31, 2026 in Palm Desert, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Getty Images)BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 07: Tig Notaro attends the 62nd Cinema Audio Society Awards on March 07, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Lizeth Ramirez/Getty Images)" width="815" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-13-Mar-2026-01-23-PM-8640-815x576.jpg 815w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-13-Mar-2026-01-23-PM-8640-300x212.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-13-Mar-2026-01-23-PM-8640-768x543.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-13-Mar-2026-01-23-PM-8640-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-13-Mar-2026-01-23-PM-8640-2048x1448.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px" />Hines: Photo by David Crotty. Notaro: Photo by Lizeth Ramirez</div>
Notaro suggests politics didn’t end their friendship, although it clearly forced her to quit the podcast.
<blockquote>I realized one day that she doesn’t ever reach out to me anymore. She responds to me, but she doesn’t reach out to me. I had to kind of shake myself out of denial that, ‘Oh, she’s gone,’ and, ‘OK, I need to let this go. I need to let it go.’</blockquote>
Others in Hollywood likely did just that to Hines. The Hollywood Reporter even suggested that would <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/cheryl-hines-rfk-jr-drop-presidential-race-trump-1235981992/">happen due to her political ties</a>. The actress has been on the Left for some time, for what it’s worth, but she’s being judged based on her husband’s views.
Dennis Quaid has defied the new Hollywood Blacklist. For now.
The 71-year-old screen legend stays busy, including a supporting turn in the new Netflix action romp “War Machine.” He even starred as the title character in 2024’s “Reagan” and admitted to being a President Donald Trump supporter during the film’s publicity push.
<div id="attachment_1059553" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1059553" class="size-large wp-image-1059553" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2263942335-865x576.jpg" alt="CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 27: Actor Dennis Quaid (R) joins U.S. President Donald Trump as he speaks at the Port of Corpus Christi on February 27, 2026 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Trump visited Texas to deliver remarks on affordability and economic issues less than a week before the state's midterm primary elections on March 3rd. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)" width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2263942335-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2263942335-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2263942335-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2263942335.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" />Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images</div>
Still, the work keeps on coming. That’s more common with established, Right-leaning actors like Tim Allen, Kelsey Grammer, and Jon Voight. But Quaid’s political leanings, which he describes as more independent than doctrinaire conservative, still found him singled out by a peer.
A peer who recently joined him on screen.
Nick Offerman and Quaid worked together on last year’s “Sovereign,” the story of an anti-government zealot (Offerman) who pushes his conspiracy theories too far.
Offerman didn’t share a negative word about his time on the set with Quaid on the “Lovett or Leave It” podcast with former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett. Instead, he insulted the actor <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg2smuJfxN8&amp;t=1s">for thinking the “wrong” way</a>.
“Right after we finished the movie, he suddenly came out with a gospel country record and went on Tucker Carlson and f***ing [Sean] Hannity to play his Trump gospel songs,” Offerman said. 
“What? He’s a hero of my life. I’ve looked up to him. He’s a great actor.”
<div id="attachment_1059591" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1059591" class="size-large wp-image-1059591" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2219737581-864x576.jpg" alt="SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 12: Nick Offerman speaks during a press conference at Pier One Sydney Harbour on June 12, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. Offerman and Mullally will take the stage for, Unscripted and Unfiltered, to close out Vivid Sydney 2025. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2219737581-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2219737581-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2219737581-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2219737581.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Brendon Thorne/Getty Images</div>
Later, the “Parks &amp; Recreation” alum doubled down on both Dennis and brother Randy Quaid. The latter worked in Hollywood for years, but a <a href="https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/randy-quaid-wife-evi-hollywood-refugees-exclusive-interview/story?id=12020421">series of bizarre incidents</a> coaxed his exit from the industry.
“[Randy Quaid] was very crazy, and he went away, but Dennis kept it under wraps until last year,” he continued. “But he’s now gone.”
The Blacklist-style bigotry isn’t relegated to the film industry. Hip hop superstar Nicki Minaj didn’t don a red MAGA hat during President Trump’s first term, but in recent months, she noticed how the Republican leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-deep-sense-of-gratitude-nicki-minaj-praises-trump-for-action-on-persecuted-christians">supported Christians being persecuted in Nigeria</a>.
<div id="attachment_1059621" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1059621" class="size-large wp-image-1059621" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2258679012-864x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 28: Musician Nicki Minaj (L) joins U.S. President Donald Trump on stage as he delivers remarks during the Treasury Department's Trump Accounts Summit at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on January 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. &quot;Trump Accounts&quot; are a portion of recently passed tax and spending legislation where the federal government will deposit $1,000 into investment accounts for every child born between 2025 and 2028 once parents sign their children up while filing their income taxes.  (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2258679012-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2258679012-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2258679012-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2258679012.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Win McNamee/Getty Images</div>
That resonated with her, and she eventually threw her celebrity cache behind the unorthodox leader. Within weeks, she became the comic target of Grammy host Trevor Noah at the gala’s annual soiree.
<blockquote>Nicki Minaj is not here…She’s still at the White House with Donald Trump, discussing very important issues.</blockquote>
He then broke out his Trump impression as the Tony crowd chortled.
<blockquote>Actually Nicki, I have the biggest ass! Everybody’s saying it. I know they say it’s you, but it’s me. WAP, WAP, WAP. Look at it, baby.</blockquote>
Her crime? Being an independent thinker, and no progressive star in Hollywood or the music industry had her back.
And actress Katherine Heigl could be next. The once-in-demand star of “Grey’s Anatomy” appeared in public earlier this month to support the Big Dog Ranch Rescue gala at Mar-A-Lago, Trump’s private retreat.
<div id="attachment_1058339" style="width: 973px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1058339" class="size-large wp-image-1058339" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Katherine-Heigl-963x576.jpg" alt="Katherine Heigl" width="963" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Katherine-Heigl-963x576.jpg 963w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Katherine-Heigl-300x180.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Katherine-Heigl-768x460.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Katherine-Heigl.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px" />Manny Hernandez/Getty Images</div>
She even brought her mom to the red carpet gala.
Heigl had to make a public statement after appearing at the apolitical event, defending her passion for worthy causes by saying, <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/03/11/celebrity-news/katherine-heigl-hits-back-at-fans-politicizing-her-attendance-at-mar-a-lago-rescue-event/">“animals don’t vote.”</a> Could that one appearance impact her chances at a Hollywood comeback?
Ask Offerman.
And this is the stuff we see in public, not the behind-the-scenes cancellations and attacks. It’s likely far worse there.
The unofficial conservative blacklist may have weakened in recent months, with high-profile stars like Zachary Levi and Sylvester Stallone supporting Trump without overt blowback.
In some ways the bigotry against Right-leaning artists is as strong as ever.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

President Trump Speaks Port Of Corpus Christi In Texas

Hollywood Still Blacklists Conservatives — Now They Don’t Even Hide It

Cancel Culture

Comedy

Conservatives

Dennis Quaid

Donald Trump

Nicki Minaj

White House

When President Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for HHS Secretary in late 2024, some <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5099888-advancing-american-freedom-opposes-kennedy/">Beltway Republicans</a> tried to tank his nomination. For conservatives, these critics’ strongest argument was that Kennedy was for decades a liberal Democrat who supported abortion on demand.
I’m a pro-life conservative. So why did I, along with millions of others like me, support Kennedy’s nomination and tell skeptical pro-life critics to give him the benefit of the doubt?
For me, the story starts with the COVID lockdowns in 2020. I spent the better part of that year co-authoring <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Price-Panic-Tyranny-Pandemic-Catastrophe/dp/1684511410/ref=sr_1_1">the first book</a> to make the case that locking down the population would do far more harm than good. COVID was the greatest test of wisdom and courage in a generation. Most public officials, from both parties, failed the test. Kennedy aced it.
The raspy-voiced lawyer helped millions of Americans see the dangers of a “biomedical security state” that blurred the binary mental map of free versus communist countries that had served us well during the Cold War. That framework was of limited value for fighting this new, domestic threat to our civil and medical freedom: a corporatist state.
Post-Covid, millions of Americans realized our problem was not just Big Government or Big Business. The problem is, in effect, a cartel that blurs the lines of public and private — one often enabled by a corporate media too dependent on ad revenue to speak truth to the real power.
The lockdowns and draconian vaccine mandates taught another lesson: past partisan ties do not guarantee good future results. For many of us, resisting the COVID-inspired assaults on our liberty was a better credential than party affiliation.
This is one of several reasons millions of conservative voters began to warm to Kennedy, even if they planned to vote for Donald Trump in the general election. And that latent support for Kennedy <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/polls-show-americans-conflicted-on-robert-f-kennedy-jr-and-his-health-stances">exploded</a> after he announced his support for Donald Trump on August 23, 2024.
This was no mere marriage of convenience. It was the first sign of a political realignment. No doubt many staunch progressives <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/08/23/as-rfk-jr-exits-a-look-at-who-supported-him-in-the-2024-presidential-race/">abandoned Kennedy</a> when he endorsed Donald Trump. But many independents and disgruntled Democrats stayed. A new MAGA-MAHA coalition was born.
What made Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump truly historic was the topic he chose to elevate — one of deep concern to tens of millions of American families across the political spectrum but mostly missing from our two major party platforms: the staggering rise of chronic diseases among American children.
As HHS secretary, Kennedy has made the fight against childhood chronic disease his lodestar. And despite constant efforts by critics to paint him as extreme, almost everyone is now taking chronic disease seriously.
But what about the year-old charge that Kennedy would be a cheerleader for abortion? It was wrong. As HHS Secretary, he lacks the power to stop all abortions or close every Planned Parenthood clinic. Kennedy must also work within the constraints of the president who nominated him. But within Kennedy’s remit, his actions have been encouraging.
Last September, for instance, he announced a new FDA review of the safety and approval process of the abortion pill mifepristone. Abortion advocates <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/health-secretary-rfk-jr-launches-review-abortion-pill/story?id=125908299">are not pleased</a>. After all, in a Post-Roe world, <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020">most abortions are chemical</a>, not surgical.
In late January, <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/conscience-dlc.html">he beefed up federal conscience safeguards</a> for healthcare workers. This protects providers from being forced to participate in abortions or other procedures. This includes new policy guidance and investigations into violations.
Most dramatically, <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/wtas-hhs-bars-research-using-human-fetal-tissue-from-elective-abortions.html">he has just barred</a> HHS-funded research from using human fetal tissue from elective abortions. Pro-life Americans have asked for this ban for decades. The practice continued even during the tenure of NIH director Francis Collins, an evangelical Christian, who <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/18/anti-abortion-groups-francis-collins-nih-1068724">explicitly defended</a> it.
Like Nixon visiting China, I hope Kennedy will do more to defend pre-born human life. It’s not a vain hope. During one telling interview last year, Kennedy denounced a CDC publication that listed “abortion” as one of the top 10 health achievements of the 20th century.
The press “fact-checked” the comment, since <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm4812.pdf">the document</a> he likely had in mind listed “family planning” rather than “abortion.” (Pro-life advocates recognize the family planning as a euphemism for abortion.) But most missed the crucial “tell”: Kennedy recoiled from the notion that abortion could be cited as a health care achievement.
For pro-life conservatives, supporting Kennedy’s nomination posed some risk. One year in, however, my choice to support Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is an easy one.
* * *
Jay W. Richards, PhD, is Vice President for Social and Domestic Policy at The Heritage Foundation.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

I’m a Conservative. Here’s Why I Support Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

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