TDS Time Machine | Daily Showographies Pt. 2 - RFK Jr., Ted Cruz, Jeff Bezos, and More

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The Kennedys, an American dynasty, the Kardashians of the capital.

SPEAKER_10 (1:24)

We choose to go to the moon.

SPEAKER_8 (1:26)

For over a century, the steady hand of the Kennedy family has led America through its greatest challenges.

Gavin Newsom (1:32)

The hope still lives and the dream shall never die.

SPEAKER_8 (1:36)

They aren't just in politics. They are politics. Ich bin ein Springfielder. And in 2024, our abnormal times call for an abnormal Kennedy.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (1:48)

I don't like when I choose. I never have.

SPEAKER_8 (1:50)

This is The Daily Showography of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Immune to Normal.

Bobby Kennedy Jr. was born in 1954 into the most prestigious clan of… Wait, is that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt? How powerful is this family? Anyway, there he is. No, there. No, there. You're there. The third of Senator Robert Kennedy's 11 children and the one lucky enough to share his name.

Despite his proximity to power, Bobby Jr. wasn't initially drawn to the family business.

SPEAKER_13 (2:23)

Have you committed yourself to the political future?

SPEAKER_14 (2:25)

I don't think so. We can't all go.

SPEAKER_8 (2:28)

It would turn out to be the first of many things he would be wrong about. As a young man, Bobby's unique personal story landed him a spot at Harvard. Such amazing luck. After studying law at the University of Virginia, he became an assistant district attorney in Manhattan before pausing to take part in a personal research trial of a promising new drug called heroin.

Rehab and court order community service had him cleaning up both himself and pollution in the Hudson River, which led him to a career in environmental law.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (3:03)

The project that I work on is river protection.

SPEAKER_8 (3:06)

While most environmentalists are about as effective as a Trump gag order, RFK Jr. was massively successful, winning huge cases with his team of young law students and earning him the title, Hero for the Planet. And that's the end of this great man's story.

Wait, there's more? Ah, shit.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (3:28)

A year ago.

SPEAKER_8 (3:29)

In 2005, a woman came to RFK Jr. with an unbelievable story. Her son had gotten autism from childhood vaccines. And while normal people don't believe unbelievable stories, Kennedy was sold. After doing his own research, he published his findings in the acclaimed medical journal Rolling Stone, where it was the second most important article of the month. Despite having been completely wrong, Kennedy doubled down.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (3:57)

There's no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective.

SPEAKER_8 (4:01)

Indeed, he developed a natural immunity to all criticism.

SPEAKER_6 (4:05)

You've said previously that no vaccine is safe or effective, which is...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (4:09)

I've never said that.

SPEAKER_6 (4:10)

You did say that in a podcast interview in July.

SPEAKER_8 (4:13)

As his ideas spread and spread and spread, RFK Jr. gained potency. For him, this fight is personal. You can hear it in his voice.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (4:22)

We ought to be debating the science.

SPEAKER_8 (4:24)

Which was damaged by a neurological condition called spasmodic dysphonia. While doctors weren't sure how he contracted the disease, Kennedy did his own research and, surprise, blamed his annual flu shot.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (4:36)

It occurred to me that this might be a vaccine injury. I don't know, but it's certainly a possibility.

SPEAKER_8 (4:43)

Hey, he wasn't going on WebMD and thought, oh shit, I definitely have that.

And then came his big moment, the COVID vaccine. When RFK Jr. rolled up his sleeves, it was to fight.