The Graham Platner Situation Has Divided The Internet & How Joe Rogan is Changing Cancer Research

Maine Democratic candidate Graham Platner faces controversy over an alleged Nazi 'death's head' tattoo and past offensive social media posts, while RFK Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement influences a surge of anti-science legislation, and Donald Trump seeks a massive payment from the DOJ run by his allies.

• Graham Platner faces scrutiny over a controversial tattoo and past remarks, impacting his Senate campaign.

• RFK Jr.'s movement fuels a rise in anti-science legislation, leading to serious public health risks.

• Donald Trump seeks $230 million from a DOJ led by his former defense attorneys, raising ethical alarms.

Democratic candidate Graham Platner is under fire for a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol and resurfaced social media posts, prompting mixed public reactions and skepticism, though he maintains his innocence and commitment to his Senate run. Simultaneously, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement is linked to a significant increase in anti-science legislation at the state level, promoting conspiracy theories about vaccines, fluoride, and raw milk, with some bills becoming law and leading to serious public health incidents. Furthermore, former President Donald Trump is demanding $230 million from the Department of Justice for past investigations, a claim that would be decided by top DOJ officials who are his former lawyers, raising significant ethical concerns.

Graham Platner Controversy

• 00:00:05 Maine Democratic candidate Graham Platner is embroiled in controversy over a tattoo on his arm that appears to be a 'death's head' skull, a symbol strongly associated with Nazi SS divisions since World War II, despite its older German military origins. Platner claims he got the tattoo while drunk in 2007 during his Marine Corps service and only recently learned of its Nazi resemblance, asserting he has since had it covered up. He also faces scrutiny for past social media posts that questioned Black people's tipping habits, mocked rural Americans, and dismissed military sexual assaults, which he attributes to a 'dark time' in his life due to PTSD after leaving the army, though a former political director alleges he knew the tattoo's meaning.

Anti-Science Legislation Surge

• 00:03:51 Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement is linked to a significant increase in anti-science legislation across U.S. state houses, with an AP investigation identifying over 400 such bills this year alone. These legislative proposals, many of which are anti-vaccine, promote conspiracy theories like fluoride poisoning in drinking water or the belief that pasteurization reduces milk's nutritional value. While most bills have not passed, the 26 that have been adopted in 11 states are raising concerns about compromised herd immunity and potential harm, exemplified by cases like Liam Dahlberg's death from a vaccine-preventable disease and a toddler's near-fatal illness after consuming raw milk, which RFK Jr. has publicly endorsed.

Joe Rogan & Ivermectin Research

• 00:07:49 Florida is allocating taxpayer money to research ivermectin as a cancer treatment, a move largely influenced by discussions on Joe Rogan's podcast, where Mel Gibson reportedly touted its success against stage four cancer. Despite oncologists and medical experts noting a lack of evidence for ivermectin's efficacy in treating human cancer, the drug, popularized by Rogan during the pandemic, is receiving disproportionate attention and funding compared to other scientifically promising compounds. Experts question this use of public funds, emphasizing the need to prioritize research into compounds with stronger scientific justification, rather than those driven by celebrity endorsement.

Trump's DOJ Compensation Claim

• 00:10:28 Donald Trump is seeking $230 million in taxpayer money from the Department of Justice as compensation for past criminal investigations into Russian election meddling and the Mar-a-Lago classified documents search. The decision on these administrative claims will be made by top DOJ officials, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch and Chief of the Civil Division Stanley Woodward Jr., both of whom previously served as Trump's personal lawyers, creating a blatant ethical conflict of interest. Despite the clear conflict, a DOJ spokesperson would not confirm if these officials would recuse themselves, and the former Attorney General Pam Bondi notably fired the department's top ethics advisor in July, further exacerbating concerns about the impartiality of the process.