Post Reports – "The Confusion over Tylenol, Pregnancy, and Autism"
Published: September 23, 2025
Host: Elahe Izadi
Guest: Dan Diamond (White House Reporter, The Washington Post)

Overview

This episode explores the confusion and controversy sparked by the Trump administration’s announcement warning against Tylenol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy, alleging a possible link to autism — a guidance that directly contradicts established medical recommendations. The discussion delves into the origins of this announcement, the science (or lack thereof) behind the claims, reactions from medical experts, the administration's approach to autism research and treatment (including a focus on the drug leucovorin), and escalating presidential skepticism toward childhood vaccines. The episode aims to unpack what this means for pregnant people, children with autism, and broader public health.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Story: Pregnancy Amidst Confusion

• [00:31–02:14]
  Sarah Weller, a pregnant woman and self-described "nerd" for research, shares her process of investigating Tylenol’s risks during pregnancy. Despite online rumors, she felt safe using Tylenol as needed.
  • Quote (Sarah Weller, 01:12):
    “I immediately went through and went down the rabbit hole of, you know, seeking out the actual scientific research.”
    She worries that stigmatizing Tylenol could harm pregnant women’s health and further stigmatize autism.

2. White House Announcement & Contradictory Guidance

• [01:40–03:40]
  President Trump publicly warns pregnant women not to take Tylenol, advocating for warning labels about a possible autism link, despite the lack of causal evidence.
  • Quote (President Trump, 01:40):
    “Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it if you just can’t. I mean, just fight like hell not to take it.” Trump further revives debunked theories connecting vaccines with autism, a stance that “took the breath away” from even some Republicans (Dan Diamond, 03:01).

3. What is Tylenol and Why Is It Targeted?

• [04:21–05:41]
  Tylenol (acetaminophen) is widely used for pain and fever relief, especially in pregnancy. Other pain relievers are riskier during pregnancy.
  • Quote (Dan Diamond, 04:50):
    “It is a go-to across the country… But it is a drug that has come in for scrutiny in the past and there have been efforts to link it to autism before that have been ineffective.”
• [06:09–07:22]
  Trump’s focus stems from a recent review study (Mount Sinai, Harvard) suggesting an association (not causation) between Tylenol and autism/ADHD. Social media amplification and advocacy from government figures like RFK Jr. played a role.

4. Examination of the Science

• [07:22–08:47]
  The cited study is not original research, but a review of existing literature, showing only association, not causation.

  • Quote (Dan Diamond, 07:32):
    “...these studies did not necessarily find a cause of autism linked to Tylenol, more an association which is very different than the recommendations that we might see from the federal government.”

• [08:50–09:20]
  Tylenol's maker disputes the claims, stating,

  “There is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism”
  (Dan Diamond, paraphrasing company statement).

5. Expert Guidance vs. Presidential Advice

• [09:28–10:49]
  Trump argues “there’s no downside” to not taking Tylenol in pregnancy.

  • Quote (President Trump, 09:28):
    “There's no downside. Don't take it. You'll be uncomfortable. It won't be as easy, maybe, but don't take it.” Medical experts, however, warn that untreated fever in pregnancy can increase the risk of neural tube defects, including a higher risk for autism.
    • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:

      “The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks…” (Dan Diamond quoting Stephen J. Fleischman, 10:49).

• [11:05–11:46]
  Tylenol remains the preferred and often only safe analgesic/antipyretic for pregnant people.

6. Quick Policy Change and Mixed Messaging

• [12:39–13:24]
  The FDA letter itself was “mixed,” with warnings about risks at the top and reassurances at the bottom. This has left pregnant people confused and anxious.

• [13:24–13:59]
  Dan emphasizes that medical decisions should be based on consultation with a physician, not White House pronouncements.

  • Quote (Dan Diamond, 13:42):
    “Well, I’m not a doctor, so I think they should talk to one.”

7. Why the Rush? The Politics Driving Autism Policy

• [14:39–16:31]
  Trump’s fixation with autism stretches back decades and is woven with vaccine skepticism. Administration officials, especially Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., declared new answers on autism would arrive by September, pressuring agencies to produce quick results.

8. What is Autism?

• [16:31–17:36]
  Autism is a neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder. Diagnoses have risen, likely due to better recognition and broader criteria, though possible environmental factors remain under study.

9. Leucovorin: A New Hope or Premature Hype?

• [17:36–19:25]
  Leucovorin, a form of vitamin B9 sometimes used in cancer treatment, is highlighted by the administration as a potential autism therapy—based on small, preliminary studies.
  • Quote (Dan Diamond, 18:53):
    “Scott Gottlieb... has said this is promising, but it’s way too early. We need to do bigger studies…”

10. Autistic Community Reactions

• [19:25–21:54]
  The administration’s framing divides the autism community:

  • Some hope for increased attention and resources.
  • Others are wary of rushed science and the stigmatizing implication that autism must be “fixed.”
    RFK Jr. is a particularly polarizing figure due to his history of promoting debunked claims.

• Quote (Dan Diamond, 19:50):
  “…autism research in the past was more carefully done, more openly discussed, and that’s the kind of approach that autism leaders want to see, not something that is essentially a quick fix overnight.”

11. Vaccines: Presidential Misinformation and Public Health Risks

• [21:54–24:06]
  Trump’s renewed skepticism toward routine vaccinations — recommending spacing out vaccines based on personal belief, not science.

  • Quote (President Trump, 22:16):
    “Instead of one visit where they pump the baby, load it up with stuff, you do it over a period of four times or five times.”
  • Public health experts, including some within Trump’s own administration, were “blown away” by these statements.
  • There’s widespread concern about laypeople acting on Trump's words to delay or avoid vaccines, resulting in potential harm.

• [24:17–24:48]
  The consequence: presidential statements carry more weight than those from public health agencies:

  • Quote (Dan Diamond, 24:17):
    “The president… has millions of dedicated followers… and even if the CDC or FDA… are saying something different, the president… is going to have some impact.”

12. What’s Next? Ongoing Autism and Vaccine Policy

• [24:56–26:06]
  The administration is still preparing a broader NIH report on autism — reportedly more rigorous than the rushed Tylenol guidance. Trump is expected to continue using his platform to promote personal beliefs about autism and vaccines, possibly pushing U.S. health policy further from scientific consensus.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sarah Weller (01:12):
  “I immediately went through and went down the rabbit hole of, you know, seeking out the actual scientific research.”
• President Trump (01:40):
  “Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it if you just can’t. I mean, just fight like hell not to take it.”
• Dan Diamond (03:01):
  “What took the breath away from even some Republicans I talked to was the president’s attack on vaccines...”
• ACOG President via Dan Diamond (10:49):
  “…the conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks…”
• President Trump (09:28):
  "There's no downside. Don't take it. You'll be uncomfortable. It won't be as easy, maybe, but don't take it."
• Dan Diamond (13:42):
  “Well, I’m not a doctor, so I think they should talk to one.”
• Dan Diamond (19:50):
  “…not something that is essentially a quick fix overnight that could backfire with misleading belief in drugs and that may or may not be linked to autism after all.”
• President Trump (22:16):
  “Instead of one visit where they pump the baby, load it up with stuff, you do it over a period of four times or five times.”
• Dan Diamond (24:17):
  “The president... has millions of dedicated followers… the president standing behind a podium… is going to have some impact.”

Key Timestamps

• 00:31 – Sarah Weller on pregnancy and Tylenol worries
• 01:40 – Trump’s directive to pregnant women re: Tylenol
• 03:01 – Trump doubles down on vaccine-autism falsehoods
• 04:50 – Tylenol basics and legacy of safety
• 07:22 – Details on the Mount Sinai/Harvard review
• 09:28 – Trump asserts “no downside” to not taking Tylenol
• 10:49 – ACOG statement calling new guidance "irresponsible"
• 13:42 – Advice to listeners: talk to your doctor
• 14:39 – Background: why the administration is rushing results
• 17:36 – Leucovorin as a new, but unproven, autism treatment
• 19:50 – Mixed reactions in the autism community
• 22:16 – Trump on vaccine "spacing"
• 24:17 – Impact of presidential statements on public health
• 24:56 – NIH report and what comes next

Conclusion

This episode underscores a climate of uncertainty for pregnant people and parents, created by the Trump administration’s deviation from mainstream medical guidance on Tylenol and vaccines. The rush to act on thin or associative evidence — and to amplify theories about autism’s causes and cures — is enabled by high-profile political figures wielding their influence over public health.

For anyone affected or confused by this ongoing debate, the strongest advice is clear:

• Consult your doctor, not politicians, on matters of medicine.