**Welker Challenges Sen. Mullin on Vaccine-Autism Claims During "Meet the Press"**

During a recent episode of "Meet the Press," host Kristen Welker engaged in a heated exchange with Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) over his endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the secretary of health and human services. Welker pressed Mullin on Kennedy’s longstanding and debunked view that vaccines are linked to autism, a claim that lacks scientific support.

Welker queried the senator about whether Kennedy's controversial opinions on vaccines would affect his potential confirmation for the cabinet role. Despite the widespread medical consensus against Kennedy's assertions, Mullin attempted to defend him by appreciating Kennedy’s scrutiny of vaccines. He praised Kennedy for his rigorous approach and cited multiple discussions he had with him.

Pivoting the conversation, Mullin tried to align the scrutiny faced by Kennedy and former Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth with the experiences of certain officials appointed during President Joe Biden’s administration. Notably, he mentioned three non-specified administration officials, implying that they were part of the LGBTQ community.

Welker tactfully redirected the discussion, emphasizing Mullin's previous endorsements of vaccine safety and efficacy. She highlighted Mullin’s 2020 op-ed for Oklahoma's Stilwell Democrat Journal where he advocated for the COVID-19 vaccine, assuring readers that "vaccines approved by the FDA are safe and effective."

In response to Welker's question about his concerns with RFK Jr. leading the country's largest health agency, Mullin claimed a historical skepticism towards vaccines. He speculated wildly about autism rates in America, suggesting potential links to factors such as diet or substances in children's systems. Mullin quoted various inflated statistics to question the rising incidence of autism.

Welker firmly countered Mullin's speculations, underscoring that there is no credible evidence linking vaccines to autism. Mullin persisted, arguing that existing vaccine-autism studies are "extremely vague," but Welker maintained her stance, reaffirming that there is no scientific support for such claims.