Dana Bash grills RFK Jr. in heated CNN interview over vaccines

journalismAug 2, 202629750

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clashed with CNN host Dana Bash on Sunday’s State of the Union over vaccines, COVID-19, autism research, and the nation’s measles surge. Bash told Kennedy the United States has a 35-year high in measles cases and that roughly 93 percent of infections occurred among unvaccinated people; when asked if he accepted any responsibility for rising hesitancy, Kennedy replied, "Absolutely not." Kennedy blamed missed childhood immunizations during the COVID-19 lockdown period and pointed to higher per-capita measles rates in other countries while saying his department has deployed federal public health teams to affected states. Bash repeatedly challenged Kennedy by citing decades of scientific research and public health bodies including the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and she told him that "study after study after study" found no vaccine-autism link. Kennedy rejected those conclusions, arguing research has not adequately examined vaccines given in the first six months of life, and he accused CNN of contributing to misinformation during the pandemic. CNN released a statement defending Bash’s interview and her reporting; the exchange lasted nearly 20 minutes and ended with both sides defending the role of scientific expertise and the need for further study respectively.

Dr. Vin Gupta

@vinguptamd.bsky.social

When pressed by Dana Bash on how to prepare for the next pandemic, RFK Jr said we should “listen” to the “millions” of frontline physician espousing “therapeutics” for COVID out of the mainstream In effect, that is code for Ivermectin, and what else? Liver?

23345d ago

JJ in DC4

I heard a light there’s a light, that you can shine inside, that kills it in a minute.

lacastellana.bsky.social2

As with financial advice, only trust your primary care provider--not the "wellness" influencers who have something to sell you. Snake oil type salesmen abound.

Lauren2

Ivermectin and bleach. Probably some dead whale. Liver. Racoon. I'll take the 10 rounds of heated chemo all over again before I try ivermectin.

kamp1.bsky.social1

If we have another pandemic, common sense is definitely going to play a factor in survival rates.

CapeCodder20251

"millions"? if that's the case the smart, intelligent, front-line Vin Guptas must be tens of tens of millions!! 😊

Lisa LaRue1

Get him out! He’s going to kill is!

Frank Conniff

@frankconniff.bsky.social

Not a fan of anyone on CNN, but the Dana Bash/RFK Jr encounter was mediocre mainstream media vs podcast bro conspiracy culture, and in this case mediocre mainstream media came out on top, which is indicative of just how awful the podcast bros are.

13645d ago

Leon Skum1

RFK jr is a smug, condescending, entitled, dangerous , crazy fraud. I don't think he has had a woman contradict him before. He was 😡😠.

Daniel Tirebiter1

Him and his cohort are pretty dumb, the mildest pushback in a public forum and they turn to pudding.

Fun

@funkelly.bsky.social

rfk: “You probably don’t understand because you’re not a scientist” Bash: “You’re not one either.” get his ass

7545d ago

GeoNinja 🌎🌍🌏🔵1

Best line of the day!!

Marty Taylor

@realmartyt7.bsky.social

www.mediaite.com/media/news/y... #USDemocracy #ProudBlue Kennedy is a merchant of death and a fountain of disinformation. Kennedy is not a scientist or a doctor. RFK Jr is the worlds most famous crackpot God help us if another pandemic rears its ugly head with Kennedy in charge of US response

5545d ago

Ambassador Ken Fairfax (ret)7

Not a pandemic, but it is very instructive to look at the number of measles cases. In 2016, the year before Trump assumed office, there were a total of 86 cases. By 2019 (before CoVid), there were 1,274. In the first 6 months of 2026 there have already been 2,371 cases, 2,700% increase.

neb100.bsky.social4

It is so painful to listen to him constantly interrupting. Not to mention his voice is grating.

bebe1960.bsky.social2

She did a good job pushing back. Maybe she's done with them and their bullshit

KathleenMulcahy2

Remember when Cabinet members were knowledgeable and discussed things reasonably? It was a mark of their abilities to not melt down in informational interviews. A whole generation of kids is growing up thinking decent debate is impossible.

MickeyBuntz Estes1

Another pandemic would easily kill twice as many Americans as Covid-19

Human☮

@4humanunity.bsky.social

Kennedy, you keep daring Dana Bash to "cite one study" showing COVID vaccines helped kids. Here you go, and it's not some fringe source, it's your own agency, CDC. 🧵 ...

3545d ago

Human☮7

CDC published this themselves in MMWR (Dec 11, 2025): 2024-2025 COVID vaccines were 76% effective preventing ED/urgent care visits in kids 9mo-4yrs, and 56% effective for ages 5-17. Not a think tank. Not "the media." CDC's own surveillance data, peer-reviewed: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...

CC Gene7

Where are her producers to give her this info in her earpiece. Do they not have cellphones or computers? MSM is not prepared to do what they need to do to push back. It’s inexcusable TBH.

Mccallan3

He required proof of vaccination at his own party during COVID 😳

Keith Stewart2

RFK Jr is a LIAR

Quoting this

PAM3

Kennedy should not speak. Sickening to hear his voice. Everyone Knows he's Lying‼️

CC Gene3

Where are her producers to give her this info in her earpiece. Do they not have cellphones or computers? MSM is not prepared to do what they need to do to push back. It’s inexcusable TBH.

Sharon 🩺🦋🫶🏻💙🍿🐸🚫👑2

Thank you human! I love when the real data comes out that they ignore!

Mike.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

@dumbmike.bsky.social

DANA BASH: You are the secretary of HHS. Do you take any responsibility for increased vaccine hesitance in the American public? A MEATBALL MADE OF BLEEDING HUMAN MEAT: "..." DANA BASH: It's my wonderful pleasure having you on, sir.

4445d ago

Moments to Remember | News

@moments2remember.link

RFK Jr. accused Dana Bash of being “flustered” as she challenged his vaccine claims. Her reply—“I am frustrated”—captured why the explosive interview became about far more than a CNN shouting match. #RFKJr #DanaBash #PublicHealth

2845d ago

hokusai 🌊🌊🌊

@thebluenami.bsky.social

i ended up watching the full INSANE interview with RFK JR credit to DANA BASH for handling this "interview" an INSANE LIAR as best as possible by calling out his BS we need to hold RFK JR accountable for HIS LIES. OUTRIGHT LIES that will get americans KILLED #blues youtu.be/u-FVCCLsZnQ

2145d ago

Linda1

I’m wondering how much of his frontal lobe is gone?

Linda1

I had to stop more than half way through .

Jen aka Grantifa 🐸

@grantifa9.bsky.social

Sociopaths aren’t able to accept responsibility for failures, so it’s no surprise that RFK Jr told Dana Bash he’s not responsible for the surge in measles cases. “Absolutely not” he said.

1045d ago

paintgarden4.bsky.social

@paintgarden4.bsky.social

RFK Jr. is a completely untrustworthy, unreliable, uninformed, uneducated source of medical information. He’s a narcissistic, self impressed windbag and he was nothing but rude to Dana Bash. Jerk.

1245d ago

pissed-off-g.bsky.social

@pissed-off-g.bsky.social

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. erupted on CNN Sunday morning as anchor Dana Bash grilled him on an ongoing measles outbreak and his anti-vaccination rhetoric. www.rawstory.com/cnn-robert-f...

745d ago

Sarah O

@erniebufflo.bsky.social

Sorry guys, I will not be watching RFK yell at Dana Bash because the sound of his voice makes me want to run into traffic, much like the sound of Trump's voice.

1345d ago

Lori Jaye 🪶🐈‍⬛🇬🇱🥄

@kittypurr1.bsky.social

Brainworm boy RFK Jr: "you're not a scientist" Bash: "neither are you" www.politico.com/news/2026/08...

1145d ago

dharmalee3❌👑

@dharmalee3.bsky.social

"You were part of the problem." RFK Jr. accused Dana Bash of journalism malpractice on live TV. Meanwhile, he pretended that unvetted therapeutics were suppressed. This is peak revisionism. Vaccines saved millions while rogue blog posts put people in ICUs.

645d ago

Michael J. Stern

@michaeljstern.bsky.social

RFK Jr, the head of HHS, is claiming the Covid vaccine did not save lives. First, the Covid vaccine was created under Donald Trump. Second, it went through the FDA medical approval process under Trump. Third, there are tons of studies that show it worked. www.politico.com/news/2026/08...

545d ago

3 sources

cnn.comRFK Jr. targets Fauci and pushes medical misinformation in fiery CNN interview | CNN Politics nbcnews.comTrump gets Covid vaccine and flu shot during second checkup of the year salon.com"My job is to find out the truth": Dana Bash grills RFK Jr. over vaccines - Salon.com

Dana Bash grills RFK Jr. in heated CNN interview over vaccinesjournalism

Dana Bash grills RFK Jr. in heated CNN interview over vaccines

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