It Could Happen Here – “Does Tylenol Give Your Baby Autism?”

Date: October 1, 2025
Hosts: James, Dr. Kaveh Hoda, Dr. Tyler Black
Podcast Network: Cool Zone Media / iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode of It Could Happen Here investigates the recent public and political scrutiny on acetaminophen (known as Tylenol in the US) and its alleged link to autism, prompted by a major governmental announcement and ongoing anxieties about rising autism rates. Host James is joined by two experts: Dr. Kaveh Hoda, a medical doctor and host of House of Pod, and Dr. Tyler Black, a Canadian psychiatrist specializing in child and adolescent mental health. Together, they critically analyze the scientific evidence, discuss how misinformation and political motivations shape public health discourse, and reflect on the wider harm to autistic people and pregnant people.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Are We Asking if Tylenol Causes Autism?

• The “Tylenol causes autism” theory has gained renewed attention due to policies and campaign promises by high-profile politicians, including RFK Jr. after becoming HHS Secretary.
• As Tyler Black explains, much of this is fueled by a “quest to find some environmental cause” for autism rooted in dubious interpretations of scientific data.
• Tylenol is often referenced by brand name in American discourse, though the issue concerns acetaminophen more broadly.

Notable Quote

"RFK wields science...having a conclusion and then finding the science to support it."
— Tyler Black [04:24]

2. Summarizing the State of the Science

• Drug safety in pregnancy is complex due to ethical limits on experimental trials. Most evidence on medications like acetaminophen comes after decades of real-world use (pharmacovigilance).
• The strongest study to date (a 2024 Swedish cohort study, involving 2.5 million people and sibling-pair analysis) found no evidence for a causal link between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism. Smaller studies had found minor correlations, but these appear to be due to confounding factors.
• Narrative reviews (such as Dr. Baccarelli’s 2025 publication) tend to cherry-pick data and inflate weaker studies over high-quality data.

Timestamps & Quotes

• [06:57] Tyler Black: “In that group, they had 16,000 sibling pairs both exposed to and not exposed to acetaminophen...they found no relationship.”
• [08:00] Kaveh Hoda: “Once you account for some of these really tough variables...most of these other studies are not causal but correlative relationships.”
• [10:00] Tyler Black: "In the real world, that larger study would dwarf the significance of the other ones...you can see how you could shape a narrative, which is what a narrative review is."

3. The Real Reasons Autism Diagnoses are Rising

• Most of the increase in autism rates is due to expanding diagnostic criteria, broader awareness, and changes in education/health systems.
• Some genuine risk factors exist: advanced paternal age and increased survival of premature or at-risk infants.
• The so-called “autism epidemic” is more a matter of classification than a real explosion in prevalence.

Notable Explanation

[12:16] Tyler Black: “When RFK was a kid...the kids now labeled with autism were called spazzes and goofs...now, if you apply systematic diagnostic criteria to adults, you find the same rates as in kids.”

4. Gender & Social Aspects of Autism Diagnosis

• Diagnostic stereotypes mean boys are more likely to be labeled as autistic compared to girls, who may have subtler symptoms or be mislabeled as anxious or shy.
• The pathologization and stigmatization of autism is discussed, with a strong argument against framing autism as an epidemic or a tragedy.

Quote

[17:11] Tyler Black: “Autistic people are perfectly content to be autistic...this whole idea of autism being this travesty is doing a disservice.”

5. Political Motivations and Real Dangers

• The conversation critiques the political push—particularly from Trump and RFK Jr.—to restrict Tylenol in pregnancy, revealing how precautionary principles are misapplied (i.e. “what's the harm in not taking it?” ignores the real dangers of untreated fever/pain).
• Both hosts emphasize this advice may directly harm pregnant people and lead to preventable deaths.

Notable Quotes

[18:33] Kaveh Hoda: "We're always trying to find ways to blame mothers...the only medicine we've told them they can use during pregnancy."
[21:20] Tyler Black: "I'm a champion of all Tylenol should be like the UK in individually wrapped pieces...there is evidence that that reduces the rate of intentional overdose."
[32:15] Tyler Black: “[Not taking Tylenol] will kill people...fevers can kill you. They just can.”

6. The Weaponization of Scientific Nuance

• The anti-vaccine movement and the current debate feign nuance, using small statistical uncertainties to justify gross distortions and bad policy.
• Tylenol, while imperfect and not risk-free, does not account for autism increases and remains an appropriate treatment when used judiciously in pregnancy.

Quote

[27:54] Tyler Black: "The one thing they've tried to do is inhabit nuance and then disingenuously use it."

7. Advice for Pregnant People & Information Sources

• Medications in pregnancy are always a risk-benefit consideration; most are neither “100% safe” nor categorically dangerous.
• Always consult a doctor; if not possible, use reliable health agencies (like Mayo Clinic, HealthLink BC) and remain skeptical of anyone selling cures, detoxes, or "ancient remedies" on social media.
• Watch for financial conflicts in sources advocating for or against specific medications.

Quote

[41:36] Kaveh Hoda: "The preponderance of evidence and scientific belief and medical belief in this one goes against what they're saying...If you have a question, talk it over with your doctor."
[44:10] Kaveh Hoda: "Be wary of anyone that ... uses the words detox. Be wary about ancient remedies. Be wary about anyone that is selling something...We don't sell shit."

8. Broader Cultural and Political Implications

• There’s wide concern that political misinformation, especially about medical issues, is eroding public trust and directly harming vulnerable communities.
• The episode draws parallels to anti-trans policy and generally anti-scientific currents in politics.

Quotes

[45:17] Tyler Black: "Misinformation has won the day and literally misinformers are the political leaders now. And misinformation has just eroded science to the point where I don't know if America’s ever going to get it back."

9. Debunking “I Didn’t Know Any Autistic People” Claims

• The first ever diagnosed autistic person, Donald Triplett (diagnosed 1943), lived to be 89; there have always been older autistic individuals, but lack of recognition or diagnosis kept them invisible.

Quote

[46:33] Tyler Black: "RFK ... and a whole bunch of people have said, ‘I didn't know anybody autistic when I was a kid’...Donald Triplett...died last year...Autistic people are old too. It was just not diagnosed."

Memorable Moments & Lighter Asides

• Kaveh joking about having “two Y chromosomes” and thus being “hairy in the ears” [15:46]
• Everyone riffing on the absurdity of medical advice from politicians (“Trump gave this terrible advice…”) [29:03, 31:28]
• The group’s weariness at finding themselves defending Tylenol and pharma companies against “the medical freedom crowd” [21:35]
• Running joke about “the hospital” vs “hospital” [32:57]

Conclusion & Takeaways

• There is no credible evidence that Tylenol (acetaminophen) causes autism when confounding factors are properly controlled.
• Banning or demonizing Tylenol in pregnancy could leave pregnant people at risk for far greater harm from untreated fever or pain—an approach that’s scientifically unfounded and socially damaging.
• Increased autism diagnoses are a product of better awareness and shifting definitions, not an environmental epidemic.
• The current climate of science misinformation, especially when entangled with politics, is creating tangible dangers for marginalized and vulnerable groups.

Where to Find the Guests

• Dr. Kaveh Hoda: Podcast: House of Pod, Blue Sky (@kavehmd), rarely on Twitter and Instagram
• Dr. Tyler Black: Twitter: @tylerblack32, appears on various podcasts

References to Noteworthy Segments (Timestamps)

• Introduction to Tylenol Question: 04:04–06:58
• Discussion of Swedish Study: 06:57–09:30
• Diagnosing Autism Rates: 11:45–14:26
• Gender and Diagnostic Trends: 15:22–17:50
• Political Implications and Risks: 18:33–21:35, 32:15–34:44
• Debunking Myths About Old Autistic People: 46:28–47:36
• Advice on Information Sources: 43:03–44:10

Notable Final Thought:

“If you have a question, talk it over with your doctor...this is well out of [Trump’s] range of understanding.”
— Dr. Kaveh Hoda [41:36]

This summary provides a comprehensive overview and practical guide to the evidence, arguments, and concerns voiced on the episode—valuable both for those catching up and those wanting a deeper understanding.