RFK Jr. splinters Americans over vaccines and food regulation

Americans across the political spectrum support efforts to increase food regulation, a major priority for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — but there's a partisan split over his views on childhood vaccines. Why it matters: Polling shows the broad popularity of some of Kennedy's views, even as he deeply divides the country over vaccines — and throws the federal agencies he oversees into chaos.By the numbers: Kennedy's push to improve Americans' food supply has significant support from voters across the political spectrum. A whopping 87% of respondents in an Axios-Ipsos survey conducted in June said the government should do more to make sure food is safe. 90% said it should be easier for the average American to understand food safety guidelines, something Kennedy has said he's working on. Zoom in: Independents tend to align with Republican voters on some of Kennedy's key agenda points.For example, 72% of independent voters in the Axios-Ipsos poll agreed that American kids take too many prescription medications.Among Republicans, 82% agreed with the statement, compared with 54% of Democrats. Yes, but: There's a widening partisan split over the importance of childhood vaccines, according to a Gallup poll conducted in July. 93% of Democratic and Democrat-leaning voters said it's extremely or very important that parents get their kids vaccinated, and another 6% called it somewhat important. That's compared to 52% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters who said childhood vaccination is extremely or very important, though another 26% said it was somewhat important. The intrigue: Overall, more Americans disapprove than approve of Kennedy's work as health secretary so far, according to a survey conducted by Pew this spring.43% of adults surveyed said they strongly or somewhat disapprove of how Kennedy is doing, compared to 36% who strongly or somewhat approve. 21% weren't sure. But he's viewed more favorably than other Trump administration officials, including President Trump himself — at least according to Gallup's August poll on public opinion of select newsmakers. Republicans and Democrats currently hold similar approval ratings for the Department of Health and Human Services, with roughly half of each group saying they have a favorable opinion of the agency, according to a Pew survey conducted in August.

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