Weekly civic intelligence report · v2.2
RFK Jr., in a Trump administration health role, warned against vaccinating chickens for bird flu, contradicting public health guidance. This represents potential public health policy deviation from scientific consensus.
A-score 27.6: Regulatory capture (4) dominates as anti-vaccine advocate influences agricultural/health policy against scientific consensus. Civil rights (3) reflects public health risk from policy deviation. Rule of law (2) for undermining expert agency guidance. Separation (1) for executive influence on technical decisions. Policy mechanism modifier 1.25, federal scope 1.3. Severity: precedent 1.15 (normalizing anti-science in policy), durability 1.1 (can persist through term), reversibility 0.95 (easily reversed but damage to trust harder). B-score 33.4: Layer 1 (16.5/30): High media friendliness (9) - controversial figure, public health angle. Outrage bait (8) - vaccine opposition, chicken angle absurdity. Meme-ability (7) - RFK Jr chicken memes. Novelty (6) - specific but predictable. Layer 2 (13.1/30): Pattern match (9) - classic RFK Jr anti-vax positioning. Mismatch (8) - agricultural policy framed as constitutional crisis. Narrative pivot (7) - shifts from substantive health policy to culture war. Timing (5) - ongoing RFK Jr appointment concerns. Intentionality 8/15 (weight 0.136): Fits established anti-vax narrative, predictable controversy, contradicts consensus. D-score: -5.8. B exceeds 25, D < -10, qualifies as List B distraction despite real capture concerns.
Monitor for actual policy implementation that blocks poultry vaccination programs or undermines USDA/CDC bird flu response protocols. Track whether this rhetoric translates to regulatory changes affecting agricultural biosecurity or public health preparedness. Distinguish between controversial statements and concrete institutional damage to scientific advisory processes.