WSJ What’s News

Episode: What Scientists Say About Autism and Tylenol Use
Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Caitlin McCabe

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the fallout from President Trump's recent and controversial warning that acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy potentially causes autism—a claim rejected by most scientists. The discussion explores the scientific evidence (and lack thereof) behind the warning, the implications for Tylenol manufacturer Kenview, and broader ramifications for public health messaging. Additional major news items include a Supreme Court case about presidential power over agency heads, a crackdown on drug trafficking in the Caribbean, Argentina's economic crisis, Nvidia's skyrocketing profits, and the Catholic Church's clergy shortage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tylenol, Autism, and Presidential Warnings

• President Trump's Announcement:

  • Trump, flanked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., warned of a potential link between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism:

    “Acetaminophen, which is basically commonly known as Tylenol during pregnancy can be associated with a very increased risk of autism. So taking Tylenol is not good. I'll say it, it's not good.”
    (Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 01:25)

  • The administration’s statement follows ongoing focus on autism, a diagnosis affecting about 1 in 31 children in the U.S.

• Scientific Community Response:

  • Medical experts and organizations rapidly criticized the warning as baseless and potentially harmful—a view echoed throughout the episode.
  • Brianna Abbott (WSJ health reporter):

    “Studies that are looking at a potential link between autism and acetaminophen or Tylenol have been inconclusive.”
    (Brianna Abbott, 02:27)

    • She notes a subset of studies has found some correlation, but “others don’t show that connection.”
  • The complexity of causality is highlighted:

    “Women who take Tylenol are taking it because they have an infection or fever or chronic pain. And that might actually be the increase in autism risk and not the Tylenol. So the results are definitely inconclusive.”
    (Brianna Abbott, 02:52)

• Impact on Kenview (Tylenol’s Maker):

  • With Trump’s warning, Kenview faces a looming wave of lawsuits after previously fending off litigation regarding this issue.
  • The company maintains Tylenol is safe and that scientific evidence does not establish any clear link with autism.

2. Supreme Court to Reconsider Presidential Power Over Agencies

• The Court will hear arguments over whether presidents may fire heads of independent agencies at will, questioning the precedent of Humphrey’s Executor.
• The issue has big implications for agencies like the NLRB, SEC, FTC, and more.
  • Recent actions include granting Trump's request to remove FTC’s Democratic commissioner.

3. Federal Hunger Survey Suspended

• The Trump administration placed federal researchers responsible for the annual hunger survey on leave, having just canceled the Agriculture Department’s report.
• The survey is vital for food assistance policy, funding, and measurement of program efficacy.
  • The Agriculture Dept. criticized the report as “liberal fodder” for expanding federal programs.

4. Drug Trafficking Crackdown in the Caribbean

• U.S. military and Dominican authorities recovered hundreds of cocaine packages after destroying a narco speedboat bound for the U.S.
• Operation marked the first official joint U.S.–Dominican anti-narcotics effort labeled "narco terrorism" (05:38).

5. Trump at the UN and U.S. Foreign Policy Moves

• Trump is set for his first UN General Assembly speech as president, expected to emphasize U.S. sovereignty and criticize the institution’s effectiveness.

• The U.S. record includes budget cuts, diplomatic freezes, and surprising alignment with Russia in some Security Council votes.

  • Robbie Grammer (WSJ reporter):

    “The U.S. has slashed its contribution to the UN budget, it’s positioned itself against longtime allies...”
    (Robbie Grammer, 06:04)

• Meeting with Argentina’s president may yield financial aid (dollar-denominated purchases or swap lines), contingent on economic reforms.

6. Nvidia’s Booming Cash Flow from AI

• After investing $100 billion into OpenAI, Nvidia’s profits are at a record high, with $72 billion in free cash flow over the past year—dwarfing other tech giants.
• Sam Scheckner (WSJ tech reporter):

  “That acceleration in demand…has really given it a geyser of money.”
  (Sam Scheckner, 08:17)

  • Nvidia is reinvesting profits by funding startups (e.g., CoreWeave) that in turn purchase more Nvidia chips, raising investor concerns over potentially circular demand.

  • “The question is, is this actual demand...? Or is Nvidia using the cash it has from chips it’s already sold to help basically fund AI companies buying more of those chips?”
    (Sam Scheckner, 09:23)

7. Catholic Church Faces a Vocation Shortage

• Despite a growing global Catholic population, priest numbers are plummeting due to young people’s reluctance about lifelong commitments, particularly celibacy.

• Margarita Stancati (Rome correspondent):

  “The idea of committing to something for life like the priesthood feels like an overwhelming choice in a society where... we have so many options.”
  (Margarita Stancati, 10:39)

• New Pope Leo—Robert Prevost—has sought to encourage vocations by engaging with Catholic youth and influencers and by highlighting millennials like Saint Carlo Acoutis (11:12).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On science and public health messaging:

  “By issuing the warning, Trump threw the full weight of his office behind a theory that has yet to be proven, defying careful guidance offered by some of the scientific advisors that surround him.”
  (Caitlin McCabe, 01:48)

• On the circular AI economy:

  “Nvidia plowed money into CoreWeave in order to basically give CoreWeave money to then go buy Nvidia's chips.”
  (Sam Scheckner, 08:57)

• On the priesthood crisis:

  “Young people these days have a lot of choice, and the idea of committing to something for life like the priesthood feels like an overwhelming choice.”
  (Margarita Stancati, 10:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Tylenol, Autism & Trump’s Warning: 00:33 – 03:04
• Supreme Court & Agency Power: 03:04 – 04:20
• Federal Hunger Survey: 04:20 – 05:10
• Caribbean Drug Seizure: 05:10 – 06:04
• UN Assembly/Foreign Policy (Argentina): 06:04 – 07:23
• Nvidia & AI Profits: 07:58 – 10:11
• Catholic Priest Vocational Crisis: 10:11 – 11:45

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode delivers clear, concise reporting on a contentious new health controversy stirred up by the White House, putting the spotlight on the unproven claims linking Tylenol to autism and the potential real-world harms of such public health messaging. It moves swiftly through several major stories—from legal battles over executive authority to the mechanics of today’s AI economy and the recruiting challenges facing the Catholic Church—offering a brisk yet thorough snapshot of the day’s most market-moving and society-shaping news.