Health care group wants RFK Jr. to 'resign' after cocaine confession

Health and Human Services SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.'sshocking admission that hesnorted "cocaine off toilet seats"amid hispast struggle with drug addictionhas led to detractors calling for his resignation, including a prominent health care advocacy group.

Protect Our Care, a nonprofit advocating for better and more affordable health care,issued a statementfollowing Kennedy Jr.'s confession on comedian Theo Von's podcast "This Past Weekend," which aired on Feb. 12.

"With his statement today that 'I'm not scared of a germ. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats,' Trump HHS SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.continues to lay bare why he is the most dangerous, in over his head, ill-suited person ever to lead such an important federal agency that has life-and-death power," the statement reads.

President of Protect Our Care Brad Woodhouse addressed Kennedy Jr.'s remark with a one-word statement: "Resign."

The health secretary has been lambasted by critics over myriad issues ranging from vaccines to fluoride to dietary guidelines. USA TODAY has reached out to HHS for comment.

Robert Kennedy Jr. (R) speaks to the students at Pace University in New York Sept. 18, 2003, after endorsing Democratic Presidential hopeful John Kerry at a press conference. Kennedy endorsed Kerry citing his lifelong commitment and leadership to improve the environment.

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See Senators grill HHS Secretary RFK Jr. over vaccine rulings, CDC turmoil

RFK Jr. discusses sobriety on Theo Von's podcast

Although Kennedy's brief comment about the extent of his past drug use has circulated online, his interview with Von began with the two discussing their sobriety.

Kennedy, who admitted to being sober for more than 40 years, said he and the comedian met during morning recovery meetings before the COVID-19 outbreak and later formed a "pirate" group that continued meeting during the pandemic.

"I said, 'I don't care what happens, I'm going to a meeting every day,'" Kennedy said, explaining his mindset during the pandemic.

Kennedy also recalled thinking, "I know this disease will kill me. If I don't treat it, which for me means going to meetings every day, it's just bad for my life."

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Von and Kennedy also had a wider discussion about helping people addicted to drugs and alcohol, including HHS looking more at the medical "cost of the addict."

Kennedy said that HHS can look at the "collateral damage" in the health care system caused by addiction, including medical costs, lost jobs and inefficiencies. He said HHS is trying to look at the addict and follow them over the lifespan of their addiction.

The department iscurrently doing pilot programsconsisting of early interventions, confronting addicts on the street, getting them out of crisis and into treatment, helping them find a job once sober and stabilizing them, according to the HHS secretary.

"HHS is delivering on our promise to the American people for a healthier, brighter future," Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement about the $100 million pilot initiative. "Through this pilot program, we are launching a comprehensive, integrated care model that not only cures HCV but also tackles critical risk factors like substance use, mental health challenges, and homelessness head-on."

When did RFK Jr. first use drugs?

By Kennedy's own account, his first experience with drugs happened in the summer following the1968 assassination of his father, former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. He said he took the hallucinogen LSD at a party, and was introduced to opioids by his neighbors while walking home later that day.

"They said, 'Try this,' and it was a line of crystal meth," he said during his speech at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Nashville in April 2025. "I took it, and all my problems went away. My addiction came on full force. By the end of the summer, I was shooting heroin, which was my drug of choice the next 14 years."

Also during the speech, Kennedy spoke about how hispolicy perspectives were influencedby the 14-year heroin addiction he overcame.

"I know that the only way I stay sober is through taking responsibility for my daily actions," Kennedy said at the time. "I accept the things I can't control and try to practice gratitude for them. I can have control over my behavior, my daily conduct, but not the world around me."

Watch RFK Jr. on Theo Von's 'This Past Weekend' podcast

Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr./ USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:RFK Jr. should 'resign' after cocaine remark, health care group says

byAsher Jeferson

in

February 14, 2026

Health care group wants RFK Jr. to 'resign' after cocaine confession

Health and Human Services SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.'sshocking admission that hesnorted "cocaine off toilet...

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'The Simpsons' hits historic 800th episode. Here's how to watch.

"The Simpsons"is delivering a historic doubleheader of episodes this week, including the long-running animated series's 800th episode.

"The Simpsons," which began its four-decade TV run in 1989, is currently in Season 37. The 800th episode, entitled "Irrational Treasure," airs on Fox on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. That episode is followed by the season finale "Homer? A Cracker Bro?" at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

In the milestone 800th episode, the family enters their pet, Santa's Little Helper, into a dog show, but during this process, they are led on an adventure straight out of "National Treasure." Guest stars include "Abbott Elementary" star and creatorQuinta Brunsonand The Roots drummerAhmir "Questlove" Thompson.

In the second episode of the night, Homer and Milhouse's father team up on a business venture that becomes successful but creates problems. R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe will play himself as a special guest voice in the Season 37 finale.

Here's what to know about the double helping of "The Simpsons."

"The Simpsons," which has provided satirical reflections on society for four decades, celebrates its 800th episode, entitled "Irrational Treasure," which airs Sunday, Feb. 15. Here's some images from that and other episodes.

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'The Simpsons' hits 800 episodes. See some scenes from the series

"The Simpsons," which has provided satirical reflections on society for four decades, celebrates its 800th episode, entitled "Irrational Treasure," which airs Sunday, Feb. 15. Here's some images from that and other episodes.

10 movies to stream right now:From 'Predator: Badlands' to 'Eternity'

When does the 800th episode of 'The Simpsons' come out?

The 800th episode of "The Simpsons" will air on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. The second episode will air immediately after at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

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Where to watch 'The Simpsons'?

"The Simpsons" is available to watch on local Fox channels carried by cable, satellite and fiber-delivered TV plans. You can also get local Fox channels via streaming services such asDirecTV Stream,Fubo,Sling TV,YouTube TV, andFox One.

The streaming service Hulu has all the current season's episodes of "The Simpsons" available on demand. Disney+ has the first 36 seasons of the TV series available on demand.

Local Fox channels can also be viewed using an over-the-air antenna, as most TVs have a built-in digital tuner.

The series, created by Matt Groening, first aired on TV in April 1987 as animated shorts on "The Tracey Ullman Show." Fox, which launched "The Simpsons" as a standalone series in December 1989,renewed it for four more seasons, extending the show to its 40th season.

"The Simpsons" is already the longest-running scripted primetime series in TV history. Asecond "Simpsons" feature filmis also in the works and scheduled for release in July 2027.

Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him atmikegsnider&@mikegsnider.bsky.social&@mikesnider& msnider@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'The Simpsons' 800th episode airs this week. Here's how to watch.

byAsher Jeferson

in

February 14, 2026

'The Simpsons' hits historic 800th episode. Here's how to watch.

"The Simpsons"is delivering a historic doubleheader of episodes this week, including the long-running animated...

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Jason Alexander wasn't the only choice for iconic 'Seinfeld' role; actor reveals surprising alternatives

Jerry Seinfeld'sbest friend on the hit sitcom "Seinfeld" almost looked different.

During a recent episode of his podcast, "Really? no, Really?," Jason Alexander and his co-host, Peter Tilden, sat down with Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, the author of the 2016 book "Seinfeldia," which delved into the history of the hit sitcom and included behind-the-scenes secrets.

During their conversation, Alexander and Armstrong discussed how he got the role of George Costanza and later shared which other famous actors were considered to play the character.

"I know some of the people," Alexander said. "So, I know about Chris Rock. I know about Danny DeVito. I know about Paul Schaefer. And I know about, um, Rosie O'Donnell."

'Seinfeld' Trio Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-dreyfus And Larry David Reunite In Rare New Photo

Armstrong added that, during her research, she heard that Steve Buscemi was also in contention for the role.

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Seinfeld created the hit sitcom alongside Larry David, who went on to create and star in "Curb Your Enthusiasm." The show resonated with audiences and quickly became known as "the show about nothing" because it often focused on the humor in mundane everyday occurrences.

"He … also loves to perform. He loves it. I think one of the reasons that he was, so I don't know that he was frustrated. That's the wrong word. But Larry wanted to be in the [show]," Alexander said about David. "You know the 'Curb' arc where he plays George. He wanted to play George. I mean, he was a good George."

The show ran on NBC for nine seasons from 1989 to 1998 andwon 10 Emmy Awards,including outstanding comedy series, supporting actor and supporting actress.

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In an interview with People in May 2023, Julia Louis-Dreyfus recalled the different emotions she felt when the show came to an end.

"There wasa real grief periodwhen the show ended that was real and felt," she said. "Because we all loved each other so much."

Dreyfus has gone on to have a successful career after her time on "Seinfeld," including starring roles in "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and "Veep," a project that earned her numerous Emmy Awards, Golden Globe and SAG Awards.

Although she has found success outside the hit sitcom, her portrayal of Elaine remains what she is best known for.

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"I think it's incredibly cool that it continues to have life,"she said of the show. "I'm not surprised because it's funny, and it stands the test of time."

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Original article source:Jason Alexander wasn't the only choice for iconic 'Seinfeld' role; actor reveals surprising alternatives

byAsher Jeferson

in

February 14, 2026

Jason Alexander wasn't the only choice for iconic 'Seinfeld' role; actor reveals surprising alternatives

Jerry Seinfeld'sbest friend on the hit sitcom "Seinfeld" almost looked different. During a recen...

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Did Jackie Kennedy Really Hate Daryl Hannah?

No matter how the relationship betweenJohn F. Kennedy Jr.and his girlfriendDaryl Hannahcame to an end, at least one person was left mooning over the actress, who split with Kennedy just before he began seeingCarolyn Bessette. "I fell in love with her," says Dree Hemingway, who plays Hannah in the new FX seriesLove Story. "I love her so much."

It isn't hard to see why. While the series leaves it to viewers to decide what made the spark between theSplashstar and the political scion fizzle—was it his mother's apparent disapproval, the hectic life and schedule of a movie star, Kennedy's trouble trusting people, or just the end of the affair?—Hemingway made it her business to portray her character as willing to fight for the romance. "You have to live in the moment, when they're still together," she says. "I think theirs was an on-and-off relationship, and when you get to the end of having been together for a long time, it either works or it doesn't. Sometimes you can really love a person and it just doesn't work out. I wanted to be sensitive to the fact that this is her real life and have respect for people who have relationships that end."

It's most apparent that Hannah is hoping to save the relationship in the series' third episode when, after they'd seemingly split, she returns to New York City to be with Kennedy afterthe death of his mother. "I wanted to play her as somebody who's really in love with this person," Hemingway says. "And we rush to the people who we love to be there for them in their hardest moments."

Despite the fact that the two had decided to end things—and the tragic death of Hannah's dog seemed to symbolize the end of whatever was left between them—Hemingway saw the moment as one where Hannah was willing to put aside the couple's differences. "There was a sense that, even after the situations that had occurred, she was asking, 'Can you let me in now? Do you need me?'" It also could have served as a kind of restart for the couple, making clear for them what was truly important. Hemingway says, "My inner dialogue was like, this could be the beginning of the next steps of our lives—until it's not."

The reunion also came on the heels of whatLove Storydepicts as a less-than-warm reception for Hannah from Kennedy's mother,Jackie Kennedy Onassis. In one scene, Hannah joins Kennedy and his family for dinner at his mother's home, only to find that Jackie is unwilling to come to the table. For Hemingway, Hannah's willingness to go to Jackie's apartment, to dress to impress the former First Lady, to put aside her own stardom to try to win over her boyfriend's mother, speaks volumes. "I think she's really trying," Hemingway says. "She's like,OK, that's not working, let me try another way. She works so hard to be accepted, and I'm sure there's a reason that Jackie didn't like her. It hit hard when we were filming that."

(Of course,Love Storyis a dramatization of these characters' lives. Hannah's mother once toldPeople, "The stories I've heard are just unbelievable. Daryl told me [Onassis] has been very warm and affectionate.")

Even the mere act of a person trying to make nice with a boyfriend's parents gets at the heart of one ofLove Story's themes: these characters, who were all rich and powerful and many of whom would become legendary, were all just people. "We can forget that everybody's a real person," Hemingway says. "John was born into these circumstances, so maybe he was expected to have an easier time, and Daryl was an actress who was dating American royalty. But what people forgot, and what I think they still forget, is that behind closed doors, everybody has feelings and they have things going on that are so normal."

Hemingway plays Hannah as someone who's trying her best to make a difficult situation work. "Daryl so badly wants to be accepted into this family because she loves John so much," she says. "I think she wants to have this connection, and she's so badly wanting to settle down and be more to this person, but there's a conflict there. He's met somebody who he has these sparks with."

Above all, Hemingway says, "I think her heart is what I want people to take away. I really felt that while I was studying Daryl, and it's what made me fall for her."

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byAsher Jeferson

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Did Jackie Kennedy Really Hate Daryl Hannah?

No matter how the relationship betweenJohn F. Kennedy Jr.and his girlfriendDaryl Hannahcame to an end, at least one pers...

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Sen. Mark Kelly's lawyer urges DOJ officials not to seek indictment for a second time over video

An attorney for Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., is urging U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Attorney General Pam Bondi not to pursue an indictment for a second time against a group of lawmakers who participated in a video encouraging members of the military to ignore "illegal orders," according to a letter first obtained by NBC News.

The letter, sent Friday from Kelly's attorney Paul Fishman to Bondi and Pirro, warns the Department of Justice against attempting to go to a second grand jury to seek an indictment against the six Democratic lawmakers who participated in the video, saying "that course of action would be a remarkable abuse of the Department's power. There has never been any factual or legal basis for such an investigation or prosecution."

NBC News wasfirst to reportthat the Trump administration had failed to indict the lawmakers on Feb. 10, withno grand jurorsfinding that the Justice Department had reached the low probable cause threshold needed to indict.

The prosecutors attempted to indict Kelly and Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania.

An attorney for Slotkin alsosent a letter to Pirro and Bondi yesterday, saying, "The grand jury has spoken, loudly, clearly, and unanimously."

"Indeed, continuing to pursue this matter would violate clear ethical duties and Justice Department policy," Preet Bharara wrote in the letter.

The lawmakers have become a target of the Trump administration since they released a video in November telling military members, "You can refuse illegal orders," adding: "Now, more than ever, the American people need you. Don't give up the ship."

President Donald Trump previously accused the Democrats in the video of "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. It's not clear what charges the grand jury rejected during the DOJ's first attempt in February.

The letter from Kelly's attorney also cites a recent ruling by a federal judge that blocked the Department of Defense from punishing him for participating in the video as a reason why the Justice Department should not try to seek an indictment against him again.

"This Court has all it needs to conclude that Defendants have trampled on Senator Kelly's First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees,"U.S. District Judge Richard Leon wrotein his ruling blocking the Pentagon's attempt to downgrade Kelly's military retirement rank and pay.

Fishman cited the ruling in his letter, saying, "The District Court's reasoning applies with even greater force to the more severe punishment of criminal prosecution."

"Because Senator Kelly's speech is protected by the First Amendment, it cannot be the basis for a criminal charge," Fishman said. "And a grand jury properly instructed on the law could not conceivably conclude otherwise."

byAsher Jeferson

in

February 14, 2026

Sen. Mark Kelly's lawyer urges DOJ officials not to seek indictment for a second time over video

An attorney for Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., is urging U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Attorney General Pam Bondi not to pursue an indictment...

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US military reports a series of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military on Saturday reported a series of strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria in retaliation for the December ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter.

U.S. Central Command said in a statement that American aircraft had conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 IS targets between Feb. 3 and Thursday, hitting weapons storage facilities and other infrastructure.

At least 50 members of IS have been killed or captured, while more than 100 IS targets have been struck since the United States began its strikes after the Dec. 13 ambush, according to Central Command. That attack killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, the civilian interpreter.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Defense Ministry said Thursday that government forcestook control of a basein the east of the country that was run for years by U.S. troops as part of the fight against IS. The Al-Tanf base played a major role after IS declared a caliphate in large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014.

The U.S. military on Friday completedthe transfer of thousands of IS detaineesfrom Syria to Iraq, where they are expectedto stand trial. The prisoners were sent to Iraq at therequest of Baghdad, in a move welcomed by the U.S.-led coalition that had for years fought against IS.

byAsher Jeferson

in

February 14, 2026

US military reports a series of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military on Saturday reported a series of strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syri...

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