In a plot twist that could make a Hollywood screenwriter blush, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmental lawyer turned vaccine skeptic, has just cleared a significant hurdle on his path to becoming the nation’s next Health and Human Services Secretary. Yes, you heard that right—the man who has spent years questioning the safety of vaccines is now poised to oversee the very agency responsible for public health. You can’t make this stuff up.

The Senate Finance Committee voted 14-13 along party lines to advance Kennedy’s nomination to the full Senate. All 14 Republicans, including Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana—a physician who has previously expressed deep concerns about Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance—voted in favor. Cassidy, after what he described as ‘intense conversations’ with Kennedy and the White House, seems to have had a change of heart. One can only wonder what was said in those meetings to assuage his medical concerns.

Kennedy’s nomination has been a lightning rod for controversy. Democrats, and even some Republicans, have raised alarms about his long history of sowing doubt around vaccine safety. More than 75 Nobel Laureates urged the Senate to oppose his nomination, stating it would ‘put the public’s health in jeopardy.’ Over 17,000 doctors signed an open letter calling Kennedy ‘actively dangerous’ to national healthcare. When you have that many experts sounding the alarm, it’s usually wise to listen.

But let’s not forget, this is Washington, where logic often takes a backseat to political theater. Kennedy, a longtime Democrat who ran for president before throwing his support behind Trump, has promised to maintain scientific independence within public health agencies like the CDC and NIH. He even assured skeptical senators that he would let scientists work ‘independently.’ How reassuring.

The full Senate, currently controlled by Republicans with a 53-47 majority, will now decide Kennedy’s fate. He can afford to lose only three Republican votes if Democrats uniformly reject him. Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitch McConnell are seen as potential swing votes. McConnell, when asked how he would vote, reiterated that ‘vaccines are critically important’ but declined to say more. A profile in courage, indeed.

If confirmed, Kennedy will oversee a department responsible for more than $3 trillion in healthcare spending, including agencies like the FDA and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This is the same man who has referred to the COVID-19 vaccine as ‘the deadliest vaccine ever made.’ Now he’ll be in charge of promoting public health. It’s like putting a vegan in charge of a steakhouse.

Supporters argue that Kennedy’s appointment is a bold move to shake up the status quo and promote healthier living. Together with President Trump, they’ve branded their movement as ‘Make America Healthy Again.’ Critics, however, see it as a dangerous gamble that could undermine decades of public health progress.

In the end, this nomination is a litmus test for the Senate. Will they prioritize the health and safety of the American people, or will they succumb to political expediency? The world is watching, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Because when it comes to public health, there’s no room for conspiracy theories or personal agendas. Let’s hope our senators remember that when they cast their votes.