Mr. Kennedy appears to have most Republicans behind him as he seeks the job of health secretary, though he couldn’t escape his past stances on vaccines and abortion.

The many controversial people appointed to the Trump administration, from Elon Musk to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have at least one thing in common: They dislike and distrust experts. While anti-intellectualism and populism are nothing new in American life,

Alexandra Sifferlin, a health and science editor for Times Opinion, hosted an online conversation on Wednesday with the Opinion columnist Zeynep Tufekci and the Opinion writers David Wallace-Wells and Jessica Grose about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first of two confirmation hearings for secretary of health and human services.

During the first round of his Senate confirmation hearings on Wednesday, Robert F Kennedy Jr, President Donald Trump’s pick for US Department of Health and Human Services secretary, appeared to be at odds with his past self.

Senators pressed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on his past vaccine and abortion remarks in the first of two days of hearings before senators vote on whether to confirm him as President Trump’s health secretary.

During the first round of his Senate confirmation hearings, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary, appeared to be at odds with his past self.

Kathleen Sebelius, who served under Barack Obama, said she's "very concerned" that Kennedy doesn't "understand the agency that he's been nominated to run."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services, squared off with Democratic senators for more than four hours in a contentious confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.

Kennedy vowed to fight chronic disease and called abortion a tragedy.

From Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s views on vaccines to Medicaid, here are some ways his nomination for head of the Department of Health and Human Services could have sweeping effects on health care

Democrats focused on Kennedy's anti-vaccine advocacy. Republicans probed the former Democratic leader on his abortion and agriculture views.

President-elect Donald Trump (R) announced author, lawyer, and 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his nominee for secretary of health and human services on November 14, 2024. This presidential appointment requires Senate confirmation.