RFK Jr.’s “Confirmation Hearing” - A Broken Process
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s HHS confirmation hearing perfectly illustrates how a crucial vetting process has devolved into little more than political theater, rather than substantive debate.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent Senate “confirmation hearing” for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) was yet another installment in the ongoing reality show that our nation’s critical nomination process has become. What should be a serious inquiry into a nominee’s qualifications and ideas has dissolved into grandstanding, gotcha questions, and political theater. And judging by the performance of key Democratic senators, the farce was on full display.
A Broken Process
This hearing was reminiscent of recent spectacle-driven confirmations—no genuine attempts to uncover new information, no real debate over policy, and certainly no exploration of how the nominee might lead America’s largest government department. Instead, the Senators seemed far more interested in using their allotted five minutes to pontificate, throw out one-liners, and bolster their own personal platforms.
Ever since the highly polarized Kavanaugh hearings, this pattern of theatrics has become the norm. Senators line up to deliver bombastic speeches or ask rhetorical questions designed to “catch” nominees in old quotes or statements—often taken out of context. Nothing meaningful emerges, minds are rarely changed, and nominees walk away having shed no new light on the most pressing challenges our country faces.
RFK Jr. Under Fire—and Unfazed
Despite the outrageous nature of the spectacle, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. handled himself better than many expected. He has been labeled by detractors as a “conspiracy theorist” simply for asking questions about pharmaceutical companies’ influence, the causes of chronic disease in America, and why, despite record-setting profits in Big Pharma, Americans seem sicker than ever. These questions might be uncomfortable, but in a country spending more on healthcare than any other—particularly through HHS—they are questions worth asking.
RFK Jr. has long been a Democrat, and this could make for surprising alliances in the final vote, despite vocal opposition from certain party members. Furthermore, he has garnered support from some of the biggest names and pockets in America—Nicole Shanahan even threatened to bankroll a primary challenger for any Republican senator who votes against him, and Elon Musk and President Trump have also signaled their support.
The reason for this deep-rooted opposition from establishment Democrats and so-called “RINO” Republicans is straightforward: Kennedy has spent years taking on the very organizations he would be tasked with overseeing, from NIH to Big Pharma, and he literally wrote the book on Fauci. If anyone knows where HHS needs to be dismantled and rebuilt from the ground up, it’s a man who has studied its failings—often in court. HHS commands a staggering share of the national budget, even outspending the military. Yet public trust in this critical agency has cratered, fueled further by COVID-era missteps and confusing guidance.
The Circus Begins
Two exchanges from the hearing capture the absurdity of the proceedings more than any broad description can. The first involved Senator Warren, who opened her questioning with an attempt to corner RFK Jr. on potential post-government lobbying or consulting, implying he might just be another insider waiting to cash in. Her line of questioning was at odds with everything we know about Kennedy’s longstanding opposition to Big Pharma:
SENATOR WARREN:
“THAT ALSO SOUNDS GREAT. HERE IS AN EASY QUESTION. WILL YOU COMMIT THAT WHEN YOU LEAVE THIS JOB YOU WILL NOT ACCEPT COMPENSATION FROM A DRUG COMPANY, MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANY, HOSPITAL SYSTEM, OR HEALTH INSURER FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS, INCLUDING AS A LOBBYIST OR BOARD MEMBER?”RFK JR:
“WHO, ME?
I WILL HAPPILY COMMIT TO THAT.
I DON’T THINK THEY WANT TO GIVE ME MONEY, BY THE WAY. (LAUGHTER)”
Having quickly secured his agreement, Warren then took her questioning a step further—reportedly attempting to box RFK Jr. into pledging he would not sue pharmaceutical companies during or after his tenure, despite his well-documented record of litigating against these very entities. This line of questioning seemed designed to protect the interests of Warren’s own major donors—an estimated $800,000 from Big Pharma—rather than to elucidate Kennedy’s intentions or policies. The irony is hard to miss: RFK Jr. has made a career of challenging pharmaceutical giants, while Senator Warren appeared intent on ensuring he would not go after a sector that has generously supported her campaign coffers.
The second notable exchange came from Senator Whitehouse, who showcased the epitome of this hearing’s underlying flaw: using one’s time to deliver speeches rather than ask questions.
SENATOR WHITEHOUSE:
“MR. KENNEDY, I ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES WITH YOU, AND I’VE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH CMS, SO YOU’RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO LISTEN.”
The entire world’s eyes rolled at this moment. We knew exactly what was coming: a drawn-out diatribe parroting party talking points rather than genuine questions for the nominee. One could almost imagine the Senator saying, “Instead of asking you questions, I’m just going to lie to Americans for 5 minutes straight, and I expect you to listen to it, Mr. Kennedy.” At least that would have been more honest.
And listen he did, with minimal opportunity to respond. This was confirmation theater at its finest—a Senator refusing to hear more than a soundbite from the nominee, while presumably patting himself on the back for appearing “tough” on camera.
Why This Matters
The HHS is arguably the most important department in our government—its policies directly affect the healthcare and well-being of every American. With chronic disease on the rise, skyrocketing healthcare costs, and eroding trust in the agencies meant to keep us healthy, this hearing should have been a substantive debate on strategies for reform. Instead, it devolved into political posturing and personal attacks, more reminiscent of a social media spat than a thoughtful governmental process.
Kennedy’s potential to disrupt the status quo explains the ferocity of the opposition. HHS has become a monolith, deeply intertwined with Big Pharma and weighed down by bureaucracy. Anyone willing to expose its flaws and demand accountability is bound to meet resistance. Yet, if ever there were a time for a disruptor—a figure unafraid to challenge entrenched interests—this is it.
Whatever you think of RFK Jr.’s views—whether you consider him an inspired choice or a polarizing one—the Senate’s behavior offered little confidence that Americans’ best interests were top of mind. Gotcha questions and grandstanding overshadowed any meaningful consideration of how to fix a department that influences the health and finances of millions.
Ultimately, these hearings should be about ensuring the best leader for a critical agency, but they’ve instead become prime-time spectacle. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. remained composed in the face of misleading questions, showing more seriousness of purpose than the Senators who rarely let him speak. It’s time for lawmakers to overhaul this broken confirmation process—or scrap it altogether—and give the American people the thoughtful vetting they deserve.
Excellent handling of the political theater today. I listened to all 3.5 hours. Your middle view nails the importance of HHS, the sad partisan reality, and the corrupted performances by key individuals. Well done!
My biggest surprise about what seemed missing today was any substantive discussion of GLP-1 drugs.