Staff Reports
It used to be easy to write Robert F. Kennedy Jr. off as a cranky East Coast protester. I sure did. Then he became the secretary of Health and Human Services and surprised a lot of people — me included. Now he works closely with President Trump and is getting things done in a place that needed fixing. That deserves credit, even from a skeptic.
From Loud Neighbor to HHS Secretary
Back when he was showing up at town halls with friends like Alec Baldwin, Kennedy was loud and often rude. I escorted him out once, and it was memorable. People change. Politics makes odd bedfellows. Secretary Kennedy has moved from protest lines to policy rooms. He and President Trump found common ground. Roger Stone helped spark that deal. The result has been a surprising teamwork that is producing real action at HHS.
Real Reform, Not Rhetoric
What matters is policy. Secretary Kennedy is tackling prior authorization, drug prices, and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz is also working to root out waste. Those are the problems that cost families and taxpayers money every day. Doctors are squeezed by low reimbursements and red tape. Home health and programs like PACE are being lifted up in states where they work. These are the kinds of fixes conservatives should cheer: less bureaucracy, lower costs, and better care.
Common Sense Hits the Airwaves
And yes, a man can complain about the ads. Do we need to see medical infomercials while eating dinner? No. It is a small complaint, but it shows a practical streak — fix the big problems and trim the annoyances. Secretary Kennedy seems willing to pick his fights and deliver results. That pragmatic approach is rare and useful in Washington.
Republicans should not let old grudges get in the way of good policy. If HHS under Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration can make healthcare cheaper, cut fraud, and free doctors to treat patients instead of paperwork, that is a win for voters. The midterms will decide if this agenda keeps moving. For now, give credit where it is due: Kennedy has surprised his critics and shown that policy wins over protest can still happen in Washington. That’s a story worth following.
