Robert F Kennedy Jr says a worm ate part of his brain and then died

Published

1 year ago

May 8, 2024

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Independent US presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has revealed that a worm ate part of his brain.

It has emerged the 70-year-old made the claim during a 2012 interview, known as a deposition, in his divorce proceedings from his second wife Mary Richardson Kennedy.

At the time, he said his earning power had been diminished by cognitive issues.

He said he had been having memory loss and mental fogginess and so contacted neurologists who spotted a dark spot on his brain scans.

They said he had a tumour but another doctor reached a different conclusion, believing he had a dead parasite in his head, The New York Times reported.

In his 2012 interview, Mr Kennedy said the medic thought that the abnormality “was caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died”.

Mr Kennedy, who is a son of former US attorney general and ex-senator Robert F Kennedy, and nephew of former US president John F Kennedy and ex-senator Ted Kennedy, also said during the deposition that he was diagnosed with mercury poisoning.

He said: “I have cognitive problems, clearly. I have short-term memory loss, and I have longer-term memory loss that affects me.”

He told The New York Times he was certain the mercury poisoning was caused by his diet that included lots of tuna. Tuna contains higher levels of mercury than other fish, according to the NHS.

Environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Mr Kennedy, who is also known by his initials RFK Jr, told the publication: “I loved tuna fish sandwiches. I ate them all the time.”

He said that tests showed his mercury levels were 10 times higher than what the Environmental Protection Agency sees as safe.

A chemist told the same publication that the mercury levels which Mr Kennedy described were high but not surprising for someone consuming that quantity and type of seafood.

Mr Kennedy said he made changes after the health scares, including getting more sleep and cutting down on his fish intake.

He told the paper that he had now recovered from the memory loss and fogginess and had no after-effects from the parasite, which he claimed had not needed any treatment.

Doctors who have treated parasitic infections and mercury poisoning have said both conditions can sometimes permanently damage brain function, but patients also can have temporary symptoms and mount a full recovery, the publication reported.

Mr Kennedy said he did not know what type of parasite it was or where he may have contracted it.

But several infectious disease experts and neurosurgeons told The New York Times that based on what Mr Kennedy described, they believed it was likely a pork tapeworm larva.

When asked if his health issues would impact his fitness to serve as president, a spokesperson for the Kennedy campaign told the publication: “That is a hilarious suggestion, given the competition.”

Mr Kennedy, along with two other third party candidates, philosopher Cornel West, 70, and physician Jill Stein, 73, face Democrat incumbent Joe Biden, 81, and Republican candidate Donald Trump, 77, in November’s presidential race.

In the national polls, Mr Kennedy is currently on about 10%, compared with 41% for Mr Trump and 40% for Mr Biden.

US

Zohran Mamdani: ‘Trump’s worst nightmare’ projected to win New York mayoral race, NBC projects

Published

49 mins ago

November 5, 2025

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Zohran Mamdani: 'Trump's worst nightmare' projected to win New York mayoral race, NBC projects

Democrat Zohran Mamdani – who described himself as “Trump’s worst nightmare” – is set to become New York’s next mayor, Sky’s US partner network NBC News projects.

The projected win – with 60.2% of votes counted – comes after one of the most colourful races in years and looks set to have a profound effect on US national politics.

Mr Mamdani will be the first Muslim, first South Asian, and youngest person in a century to be elected as New York City mayor.

The first reaction from the Democrat came on social media while votes were still being counted, where Mr Mamdani posted a video of a subway coming to a stop as a tannoy says: “The next and last stop is: City Hall.”

After the current Democratic mayor, Eric Adams, announced he would run as an independent after a corruption scandal, Andrew Cuomo emerged as frontrunner to take the party’s nomination.

He was looking to rebuild his career after resigning as governor of New York State in 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment.

But in a major upset, relative outsider Mr Mamdani took the nomination instead, and became the favourite for mayor. Cuomo then chose to run as an independent.

On the eve of the election, Mr Trump said Mr Mamdani – who is known for left-wing policies and campaigning on issues like affordable housing – would bring “disaster” to the city.

He encouraged backers of Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate who trailed in polling, to transfer their votes to Mr Cuomo instead.

New York’s mayoral race was one of four elections on Tuesday serving as a bellwether referendum on Mr Trump’s second term as president.

Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill won their races to become state governor in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively.

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US

Plane crashes near airport in Kentucky

Published

5 hours ago

November 4, 2025

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A cargo plane has crashed near an airport in Kentucky.

Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) say officers are attending the scene of the accident near Louisville International Airport.

The force added: “LMPD and multiple other agencies are responding to reports of a plane crash near Fern Valley and Grade Lane.

“Grade Lane will be closed indefinitely between Stooges and Crittenden. Injuries reported.”

UPS said it has been notified of an incident involving one of its aircraft. In a statement on its website, the company said three people were on board.

A shelter-in-place order was also issued within five miles of the Kentucky airport, which is also home to UPS Worldport, the delivery firm’s largest package handling facility in the world.

The airport said that all arriving and departing flights are temporarily suspended, that the airfield is closed, and warned passengers should closely monitor their flights.

The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said the crash happened around 5.15pm local time (10.15pm UK time) as the plane left the airport, bound for Honolulu in Hawaii.

It added that the aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 plane, primarily used by cargo airlines.

Kentucky governor Andy Beshear added on social media: “First responders are onsite, and we will share more information as available.

“Please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected. We will share more soon.”

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US

Former US vice president Dick Cheney dies

Published

16 hours ago

November 4, 2025

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Former US vice president Dick Cheney dies

Former US vice president Dick Cheney has died from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family has said.

In a statement, his family said the 84-year-old was surrounded by his wife Lynne, daughters Liz and Mary, and other family members.

The Republican was one of the most polarising vice presidents in US history under George W Bush from 2001 to 2009, and was a leading advocate of the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

In later life, he became a target of Donald Trump, especially after his daughter, Liz Cheney, became the leading Republican critic and examiner of Mr Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol.

“In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who was a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump,” Mr Cheney said in a TV advert for his daughter.

“He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. He is a coward.”

Last year he said he was voting for Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, to be president against Mr Trump.

Mr Cheney survived five heart attacks and declared in 2013 he woke up each morning “with a smile on my face, thankful for the gift of another day”.

His family’s statement said: “For decades, Dick Cheney served our nation, including as White House Chief of Staff, Wyoming’s Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President of the United States.

“Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.

“We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country.

“And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.”

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