The Neurodivergent Experience – Hot Topic: Trump, Tylenol & Autism – Why Misinformation Hurts Us All

Hosts: Jordan James & Simon Scott
Release Date: September 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this fiery and humor-laced “hot topic” episode, Jordan and Simon dissect recent misinformation spread by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed a potential link between Tylenol (paracetamol) use and autism. The hosts examine how such high-profile, groundless theories perpetuate stereotypes, devalue neurodivergent identities, and threaten public health. Blending personal perspective, historical context, science, and satire, they passionately advocate for neuroaffirming approaches—and call out dangerous rhetoric wherever they find it.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trump Comments & Public Reaction (03:15–09:43)

• The Claim: Trump claimed there is a link between Tylenol (paracetamol) and autism, referencing rumors and invoking the specter of medical conspiracies. He was joined by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Medical Community Backlash: Jordan cites the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the UK’s National Autism Society, both of whom publicly condemned Trump’s statements as irresponsible and anti-scientific.
• Danger of Platformed Misinformation: The hosts highlight how the magnitude of Trump’s influence amplifies the harm:

  “He sounds like a conspiratorial crazy podcaster… but he has the biggest audience on the planet.” — Simon (06:05)

• Political Motivation & Distraction Tactics: They suspect this rhetoric is political posturing and deliberate distraction:

  “All this is just distraction… and we get caught in the crossfire.” — Simon (09:09)

• Personal Impact: When autism is framed as a “disease” or “epidemic,” the neurodivergent community is infantilized and dehumanized:

  “The worst thing that happens to neurodivergent people when words like suffer, epidemic, and disease are used is it demoralizes us. It makes us out to be non-human—not as good, not good enough.” — Simon (10:31)

2. Debunking Pseudoscience & Historical Context (12:59–19:24)

• Autism Is Not New: The concept of “severe autism” predates modern drugs—severely impacted neurodivergent individuals were documented long before Tylenol or vaccines existed.
• Sloppy Science: The hosts ridicule the leap from correlation to causation, emphasizing the fallacy:

  “If every woman who took Tylenol during pregnancy didn’t have autistic children, that would mean Tylenol prevents autism… you can’t have it both ways.” — Simon (16:32)

• Disregarded Neurobiology: Genuine scientific studies on synaptic pruning and neurodevelopment are purposefully ignored by those pushing an agenda.
• Exaggerated Statistics: Trump’s wildly inaccurate claim that autism rates jumped from 1 in 10,000 to “100 million autistics” in the US is lampooned.

3. Harmful Narratives & Societal Consequences (20:22–25:57)

• Devaluing Autism: The hosts discuss how overblown, negative language (“Autism is horrible, ruins families”) from figures like Trump and Autism Speaks erase the dignity and diversity within the autistic community.
• Media’s Role: Jordan notes how news cycles can be manipulated to bury more substantive stories under sensationalism.
• Internet & Meme Culture: Satirical responses—like jokes about taking Tylenol to “win Warhammer competitions”—emerge, but misinformation can still shape perceptions at a mass scale.

4. Myths About the Amish and Autism (26:16–31:37)

• Trump’s Amish Claim: Trump allegedly stated that “Amish people do not have autism,” suggesting lack of vaccination/medication as the reason.
• Reality Check: The hosts clarify:
  • The underreporting of autism among the Amish is due to limited healthcare access and cultural factors—not an absence of autism.
  • Using such “logic” is akin to claiming “Amish people don’t get cancer because they don’t report it.”
• Satirical Hypothesis:

  “All Amish people are autistic—they're actually a society of autistic people. …If I say it loud enough, it becomes a fact.” — Simon (30:40)

5. Why This Rhetoric is Dangerous (31:37–34:35)

• Health Risks: Advising pregnant women to “tough it out” and avoid Tylenol (potentially risking their and their child’s life) is not only reckless but also rooted in parent-blaming.

  “They are basically saying… the risk of death or other tragedies is better than being autistic. …That is what they are saying.” — Simon (32:22)

• Hypocrisy Exposed: U.S. political discourse is called out for its contradictory stance on life, choice, and disability.

6. More Global Myths: Cuba (35:40–39:36)

• Trump’s Cuba Example: He claimed Cuba’s poverty (and lack of Tylenol) means it has “virtually no autism.”
• Hosts’ Rebuttal:
  • This is based on rumors and a fundamental misunderstanding of statistics and reporting.
  • Underdiagnosis is rampant in low-resource settings; thus, low official numbers don’t indicate actual prevalence.
• Spotlight on Cuban Neurodiversity: Jordan reads a thoughtful quote from a Cuban doctor on Autistic inclusion and unique ways of being (38:37, see below).

7. Underdiagnosis & Prevalence Realities (39:36–42:55)

• Massive Underdiagnosis: Both hosts emphasize that low diagnosis rates, especially among adults or in resource-poor countries, do not equal lower incidence.
• Complex Neurodivergence: Many, even in developed nations like the UK, go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed throughout life.

8. Closing Thoughts: Laughter, Coping & Hope (43:21–44:57)

• The hosts list (with gentle sarcasm) all the things “autism causes”—from Ghostbusters to Warhammer to Dungeons and Dragons—highlighting the absurdity of the “cause” discourse.
• Urge for critical thinking and reliable information:

  “Read the right information and don’t believe every rumor you hear.” — Jordan (44:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Influence:
  “He sounds like a conspiratorial crazy podcaster… but he has the biggest audience on the planet.” — Simon (06:05)
• On Parent Blame & Ableism:
  “This is your fault, your child is like this. You did a bad thing by taking this drug. …So death is better than being autistic. That is what they are saying.” — Simon (32:22)
• On Stereotypes:
  “Autism is an unknown because it’s different for every single human being. …But to say these things cause autism, or even… ‘severely impacted’ autism, is ridiculous because… (such cases) were discovered in 1911.” — Simon (12:59)
• On Underdiagnosis:
  “90% of autistic adults over 40 are undiagnosed, which means they're not part of any statistic. So even UK statistics are completely wrong because they're far too low.” — Simon (39:36)
• On Cuban Inclusion:
  “Every autistic person is unique and their well being depends on listening, understanding and walking alongside them. Knowing that inclusion isn't measured in words, but embraces that respect silence and celebrate different ways of existing.” — Dr. Osmara Delgado Sanchez, quoted by Jordan (38:37)

Key Segment Timestamps

• Trump’s Tylenol claim, backlash, and context: 03:15–09:43
• Why correlation ≠ causation; Tylenol history and real causes of autism: 12:59–19:24
• Negative impact of rhetoric, media distraction: 20:22–25:57
• Amish and autism reporting myths: 26:16–31:37
• Why this misinformation is dangerous, parent-blaming: 31:37–34:35
• Cuba and autism—low reporting, global context: 35:40–39:36
• Widespread underdiagnosis and what “autism causes”: 39:36–44:57

Tone & Style

• Fiercely critical yet peppered with humor and British sarcasm
• Lived experience and advocacy centered
• Encourages critical engagement and skepticism of political “expertise”
• Reinforces the richness and diversity of neurodivergent experiences

Takeaway Message

Misinformation—especially when amplified by powerful figures—perpetuates harmful stereotypes, distracts from systemic issues, and can have life-threatening consequences. The hosts urge listeners to seek evidence-based information, challenge ableist narratives, respect neurodiversity, and recognize that rumors and rhetoric are no substitute for science or lived experience.

Listen, laugh, and think critically—because as Jordan closes:

“Read the right information and don’t believe every rumor you hear.” (44:43)