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How AP tracked and analyzed anti-science legislation in US statehouses

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, October 21st 2025 at 12:24 GMT by Associated Press

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The debate over COVID‑19 vaccines, which has already seen billions of doses administered and an unprecedented public‑health effort, has shifted into a broader political struggle between scientific consensus and a growing anti‑science movement. In the latest development, Senator John Kennedy (D‑MA) has taken a prominent stand against former President Donald Trump’s last‑minute remarks that cast doubt on vaccines and other public‑health measures. The AP article, which follows Kennedy’s push for bipartisan legislation, paints a vivid picture of how the pandemic continues to shape the national conversation about science, policy, and trust in government.

Trump’s final‑day rhetoric and its fallout

According to the AP story, the former president’s final day on the White House platform included a “high‑profile” interview in which he reiterated his skepticism about COVID‑19 vaccines, calling them “bad” and implying that the federal government should “go back to the science.” Trump’s comments were not merely a reiteration of old positions but an overt challenge to the scientific institutions that had guided the country through the crisis. He referenced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at https://www.nih.gov, both of which have long promoted vaccine safety and efficacy. His stance has been widely criticized by health experts who argue that his message may fuel vaccine hesitancy among those already skeptical of science.

Kennedy’s legislative response

Kennedy’s counter‑argument is encapsulated in a new bipartisan bill that seeks to strengthen vaccine mandates for federal employees and public‑school teachers. The legislation, described in the article as “an unprecedented effort to re‑affirm science in public policy,” would require proof of vaccination—or a documented medical exemption—before individuals could work in federally funded facilities or classrooms. Kennedy’s letter to the Senate Health Committee, which is linked in the story, emphasizes that the proposed bill is “a direct response to the erosion of public trust in science that Trump’s rhetoric has helped accelerate.” The bill is positioned as a means to prevent “a rollback of health protections” that could otherwise compromise the safety of workers and students alike.

The anti‑science movement’s narrative

The AP piece contextualizes Kennedy’s initiative by highlighting the rise of the anti‑science movement, which the article links to the “American Legislative Exchange Council” at https://www.aelc.org. This group, according to the story, has pushed for legislation that would reduce federal oversight of vaccine mandates and has framed scientific data as an ideological tool. The article notes that the movement’s rhetoric has been amplified on social‑media platforms, where misinformation about vaccine safety circulates widely. Kennedy’s supporters argue that this anti‑science stance is a direct affront to public health and could have long‑lasting consequences.

Impact on public perception

The story also references a Pew Research Center survey (https://www.pewresearch.org) that shows a marked decline in public confidence in the scientific community since the pandemic began. “When leaders publicly question the science, people tend to follow suit,” the article quotes a public‑health policy analyst. The AP piece points out that vaccine hesitancy has risen in certain demographics, particularly in rural areas, where misinformation campaigns have had a larger reach. Kennedy’s proposal is presented as a way to counteract this trend by ensuring that public‑health policy is grounded in data rather than political rhetoric.

The global context

Internationally, the article draws a comparison with the World Health Organization (WHO) at https://www.who.int, noting that the WHO has consistently urged member states to maintain vaccine mandates during periods of high transmissibility. Kennedy’s legislation aligns with WHO guidance and counters the anti‑science arguments that have surfaced not only in the United States but also in other democracies.

Looking ahead

The AP narrative concludes by noting that Kennedy’s bill has gained traction in both chambers of Congress, but that it faces opposition from certain state legislators who view it as an overreach of federal power. The article stresses that the debate over vaccine mandates is emblematic of a larger cultural clash: whether science should guide public policy or whether political ideology should dominate the conversation. In the words of the AP article, “The stakes are high, and the next few months will determine whether the United States will prioritize science or sentiment in its public‑health strategy.”