Axios

President Trump told pregnant women to "tough it out" and "don't use Tylenol" during pregnancy on Monday, suggesting a link to autism despite inconclusive evidence.

Why it matters: Implying pregnant women are to blame for their child's neurodevelopmental condition — and that their pain should be tolerated — could be mentally damaging to the mom and physically harmful to the baby.

Tylenol's maker rebutted President Trump's warning to pregnant women, saying there is "no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism."

Why it matters: Decades of evidence show Tylenol is safe in pregnancy when used as directed, but Trump's claims fueled fears among expectant mothers, pressuring the drugmaker to defend its brand.

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continues to back acetaminophen as a safe option during pregnancy, a stance also supported by outside experts.
• The Food and Drug Administration moved to add a pregnancy warning to acetaminophen, even as the agency admitted studies have shown only correlation and not yet causation for any neurological conditions.

Driving the news: Kenvue, Tylenol's maker, responded that untreated fevers and pain — especially in the first trimester — pose risks of their own, framing Tylenol as the safer choice under medical supervision.

Zoom out: Tylenol's ad reflects a shift in how pharmaceutical companies counter political claims and misinformation.

• Kenvue inherited both Tylenol's reputation as a trusted brand and Johnson & Johnson's history of product-safety litigation, including lawsuits claiming its talc-based baby powder caused cancer.
• The backlash against Trump's comments also hit markets: The Johnson & Johnson spinoff saw shares rise 6% Tuesday morning, rebounding from a record low after investors dismissed Trump's claims as unsubstantiated.

What they're saying: In a statement, Kenvue said: "Over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals and global health regulators, confirms there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism. We stand with the many public health and medical professionals who have reviewed this science and agree."

What we're watching: Will parents sue Tylenol and generic manufacturers based on Trump's claims? And will regulators offer stronger guidance to reassure the public about medication use and side effects?

Scroll through TikTok, and it might feel like the end of the world.

The big picture: Videos about an alleged Rapture have taken TikTok by storm, as end times discussion finds a new vehicle — algorithmic social media.

President Trump's linking Tylenol to autism could stoke a new round of litigation against the manufacturer of the painkiller and its generic versions.

The big picture: Trump's claim relies on evidence from scientists whose expert testimony was dismissed by a federal court as not sufficiently proving a link.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is facing three counts of crimes against humanity in connection with his years-long deadly war on drugs, International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors announced Monday.

The big picture: Duterte, who said he launched the crackdown to stop drugs from destroying his country, is accused of committing the crimes during his time as mayor of Davao City and later as president.

Just weeks after President Trump said "pure and simple," vaccines work, he floated a slew of unproven theories linking vaccines to autism, before praising shots in a wide-ranging press conference on Monday.

Why it matters: Trump's back and forth on vaccines amid consistent science finding them effective risks confusing the public and undermining trust in U.S. medical professionals.

President Trump on Monday warned pregnant women to limit the use of Tylenol, reviving a contentious debate over whether its active ingredient —acetaminophen — is linked to autism.

Why it matters: Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made broad assertions about the cause of a condition that affects about 1 in 31 children up to age 8.

The American dream now carries a $5 million price tag, up from $4.4 million last year, according to an Investopedia report.

The big picture: Milestones like retirement, home ownership and comfortably raising two children are slipping out of reach.

The Johnson & Johnson spinoff that sells Tylenol is defending the medicine's safety profile as it comes under attack from the Trump administration.

Why it matters: The over-the-counter drug is a critical product for Kenvue, anchoring the company's "self-care" segment, which brings in about 42% of its total revenue.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine advisers insisted they were upholding the "gold standard" science late last week — even as they cited unvetted studies and dismissed concerns about the lack of rigorous review while discussing risks around COVID-19, hepatitis B and MMRV shots.

The big picture: It was a rocky debut for the newly constituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, as some on the 12-member panel over two days struggled with procedural questions and at times didn't appear to understand what they were voting on.

The Trump administration's changes at the Social Security Administration have hurt many disabled and poor Americans, says a report coming out next month.

Why it matters: The findings, based on interviews with 14 benefits specialists, attorneys and others who help multiple people apply for benefits, show how the process is pushing many of the poorest Americans closer to the financial edges: potential homelessness, food insecurity and suicidal ideation.

Republican senators are having early discussions about modifying enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits to allow for an extension of the subsidies before they expire at year's end.

Why it matters: As Congress careens toward a shutdown, the ACA has become a centerpiece of a possible government funding deal and the top ask of congressional Democrats.

Charlie Kirk's memorial service Sunday left little doubt that his Turning Point USA organization would outlive him as a force in conservative politics — but with more attention than ever to a supercharged evangelical Christian message.

Why it matters: The five-hour service, webcast to millions and broadcast at one point by all major networks, was a call to action more than to grief. It canonized the 31-year-old conservative icon as not just a martyr to free speech, but to his faith as well.

President Trump and his top health officials are expected to draw a link between autism and the use of Tylenol during pregnancy at a White House event on Monday afternoon.

Why it matters: The mention of a connection, first reported by the Wall Street Journal earlier this month, would revive a medical controversy over the use of Tylenol's active ingredient acetaminophen early in a pregnancy.