Left Brain/Right Brain

Left Brain/Right Brain was established in 2003. Since then, it has undergone several changes, but its main focus has consistently been on autism and the related news, science, and misconceptions. Kevin Leitch is the founder of Left Brain/Right Brain. Throughout the years, a variety of individuals, including autistic people, parents, and professionals, have shared their insights and articles.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Didn’t See Autistic People-But They Were There

1 week ago | leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk | Matt Carey

Kennedy wants us to believe that autism was vanishingly rare when he was young. Instead, he’s revealed something much simpler: he didn’t know what autism looked like. Robert Kennedy Jr. often tells a story meant to bolster the idea that autism is a modern epidemic. When he was a teenager, he volunteered at the Wassaic State School in New York. His takeaway? He never saw anyone with autism. The implication is clear: autism must be new. An epidemic, and one caused by vaccines.
“if you’ve been involved in good science, you have got nothing to worry about” Why did you lie, Mr. Kennedy?

2 weeks ago | leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk | Matt Carey

We have recently seen a huge layoff at HHS. It’s amazing to think that just 2 months ago, Robert Kennedy was saying this wouldn’t happen. On February 14, Robert Kennedy promised that people involved in good science would have nothing to worry about in terms of losing their jobs. He had a “generic list” of people who should be let go, but people working on good science were safe.
James Terence Fisher: RFK Jr., autism and long-debunked theories

2 weeks ago | leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk | Matt Carey

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has an article by James Terence Fisher: RFK Jr., autism and long-debunked theories. If I start quoting, I’ll copy the whole article. So, I’ll just recommend you follow the link and read the article in place. Prof. Fisher mentions “Autism families of a certain vintage”. I am of that vintage. I’ve watched his son grow up through blog posts over the years. I too saw Robert Kennedy over decades and David Geier promote bad science and bad medicine.
RFK Jr’s Pee Wee Herman moment

3 weeks ago | leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk | Matt Carey

This would be funny if Mr. Kennedy weren’t playing games with one of America’s greatest assets: our public health system. What specifically this time, you may ask? The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Mr. Kennedy plans to reinstate many fired employees (RFK Jr. Plans to Reinstate Some Federal Workers, Programs). Which is a very good thing. Except they (and the rest) should never have been let go in the first place.
Operation Dork Speed (RFK Jr’s lack of publicity skills)

3 weeks ago | leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk | Matt Carey

Axios has an article (White House fed up with RFK Jr.’s sluggish press shop) about how Robert Kennedy’s mismanagement of press events is frustrating White House staff. The story is worth a read and I don’t want to just copy it here. But here’s one anecdote:On March 11, HHS held its first “MAHA Moms” event behind closed doors with Kennedy, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. No press was notified.
How RFK Jr. could add $100B a year to the debt

3 weeks ago | leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk | Matt Carey

If autism were a vaccine injury, i.e. if it was legitimate to add autism to the vaccine injury table, I would say, “change the schedule now and pay however many families deserve it, no matter the cost.” But autism is not a vaccine injury. I will note that if Mr. Kennedy truly believed autism is a vaccine injury, he wouldn’t have hired David Geier to do the studies. Having Mr. Geier run an autism study is the equivalent of using loaded dice in a game of craps.
David Geier now works for HHS. He’s supposedly going to do autism/vaccine studies

1 month ago | leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk | Matt Carey |Steven Novella |David Gorski

I’ve been waiting for an announcement like this since Robert Kennedy was named Secretary of HHS. Someone from his community, someone known for pushing out bad and very biased studies, would be named to do vaccine/autism research. I’ll admit, my money was on someone else. But, in general, this announcement does not surprise me. I first saw this in a link someone sent to me from the Washington Post: Vaccine skeptic hired to head federal study of immunizations and autism. The story is by Lena H.
Farewell to Steve Silberman

1 month ago | leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk | Matt Carey

For those who don’t know, Steve Silberman passed away recently. I’ve been trying to find a good way to write about his passing here. Steve wrote Neurotribes, a book which changed the way people see autism. For that I will always be grateful. He was a great science journalist, an expert on the Grateful Dead and other music and so much more. His family and friends held a life celebration for Steve and I’ve linked to it below. The video will only be live for a short while, so don’t put off watching it.
Robert Kennedy isn’t just weird. Apparently, he’s also creepy.

Oct 3, 2024 | leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk | Matt Carey

Robert Kennedy (RFK Jr) has been a parasite on the autism community for decades. In that time he has failed to impress on scientific acumen and integrity. Recent news articles have shown Mr. Kennedy to make very questionable choices. Such as leaving a dead bear cub in central park and transporting the head of a dead whale on the roof of his car. But a story out today, if true, shows Mr. Kennedy to be beyond weird. He may be a slimy creep.
Team Trump, ever classy, stigmatize people with mental illness to excuse their own bad behavior

Aug 27, 2024 | leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk | Matt Carey

NPR reports Trump campaign staff had altercation with official at Arlington National Cemetery. Apparently, members of Mr. Trump’s team chose to disrespect on of America’s most sacred places:A source with knowledge of the incident said the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump staffers from filming and photographing in a section where recent U.S. casualties are buried.