HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the unusual step of publicly contradicting one of his own agencies today, suggesting that the CDC is wrong about the reasons autism diagnoses are rising, Axios' Tina Reed reports.

• Behind the scenes: Kennedy abruptly called his first Washington news conference shortly after the CDC released a study that said early detection and better diagnostic tools might explain the increase.
• 1 in 31 U.S. children is diagnosed with autism by their eighth birthday, the CDC said, up from 1 in 54 in 2016.

💬 What he's saying: Kennedy said the real reason for the jump isn't better diagnosis — it's environmental toxins that are causing more kids to develop autism.

• "Doctors and therapists in the past weren't stupid, they weren't missing all these cases. The epidemic is real," Kennedy said.
• "External factors, environmental exposures, that's where we're going to find the answer."
• He suggested those factors could include mold, food additives, pesticides, air, water and medicines.

Go deeper.

Roughly a dozen publishers have introduced new, specialized plans to cover women's sports, Axios' Kerry Flynn and Sara Fischer report.

• Ad spending on women's sports more than doubled last year, according to marketing analytics firm EDO. Outlets now see it as a driver of readership, revenue and growth.

📰 Driving the news: USA Today is launching a vertical that will feature coverage of the WNBA and LPGA, among other sports, including college athletics and the Olympics.

• A slew of other major outlets — including AP, Sports Illustrated, CNBC, The Athletic, The Information and The Ringer — have also recently expanded their women's sports coverage.

Share this story.

1. 📈 "Tariffs are highly likely to generate at least a temporary rise in inflation," Fed chair Jerome Powell said in a speech today at the Economic Club of Chicago. Go deeper.
2. 🗳️ Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is seriously considering a run for New York governor after withdrawing her nomination for a Cabinet position. She joins a growing wave of House members looking at runs for higher office. Go deeper.
3. 🎓 Former President Biden is speaking today at an off-the-record event at the Harvard Institute of Politics, the Harvard Crimson reports.

A 2025 Volkswagen Buzz and a 1967 Volkswagen Bus on display today at the 125th New York International Auto Show.

• Kia rolled out an electric sedan that's expected to sell for about $35,000 in the U.S., TechCrunch reports. An affordable electric car could have a big market, but at the same time, selling Americans on a sedan, rather than an SUV, is tough.