Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s influence on the healthcare system is reportedly giving a fringe group called the “bleach community” the confidence to rebrand industrial cleaner as a Swiss Army knife for human illness. There’s a strange intersection happening between online echo chambers, politics, and RFK Jr.’s MAHA. According to Wired, the substances these groups are currently promoting as medicine include chlorine dioxide solution and water purification solution — the latter better known in fringe wellness circles as “God’s detox.” To be clear: at the core of both is still the same toxic bleach you’d use to scrub your toilet. But hey, this is what happens when the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services tells the public to “do your own research.” According to these groups’ kitchen-conducted research, bleach can cure malaria, autism, cancer, COVID-19, HIV, and probably a broken heart. This probably doesn’t need clarification, but there is absolutely zero scientific evidence supporting any of these claims. Authorities have even issued formal warnings, reminding everyone that selling this stuff as “medicine” is actually a crime. Despite science, common sense, and several government warnings, the bleach community has a twinkle in their eye. They think their time has come. These groups have been around since the 1990s, lurking in the corners of the internet. Lately, though, they’ve gotten a boost. They believe RFK Jr. might actually be on their side. Sure, he doesn’t trust the CDC — but according to activists, the “bleachers” have recently been invited into the MAHA inner circle. The flirtation started during his confirmation hearing, when he praised Trump’s infamous suggestion that maybe chlorine dioxide could be used to treat COVID-19. That was all the encouragement the bleach folks needed. They started coming forward with tales of private conversations and secret handshakes. First came Michelle Herman, who sells chlorine dioxide nasal spray — yes, that’s apparently a thing — and says she spoke to RFK Jr. before he joined Trump’s administration. She claims she warned him about the “war on chlorine dioxide” and that he seemed interested. Herman told the publication, without a hint of irony, “We are thrilled that RFK Jr. is in charge.” Then there’s Peter Kory, another star in the bleach saga. Kory revealed on a podcast that RFK Jr. personally called him during his confirmation hearing to ask about bleach as medicine. The two now appear to be on glowing terms, exchanging public praise like it’s an MLM conference. Kory is even writing a book called The War on Chlorine Dioxide. RFK Jr. hasn’t answered any questions about his stance on chlorine. Meanwhile, the bleach community keeps thriving online. There’s still an active Telegram group where members hype each other up to chug cleaning products. One user reportedly took 30 drops of sodium chlorite and had to call an ambulance. Maybe this is what RFK Jr. meant when he said America’s children are highly medicated. There are way too many people in this community pushing dangerous claims. And it would all be laughable — hilarious, even — if the person whose literal job it is to stop this sort of thing wasn’t maybe kind of in on it. The bleach community’s first goal was to pressure the FDA to remove its warning about chlorine dioxide. And wouldn’t you know it — without any announcement, RFK Jr. quietly archived the warning. The “bleachers” took that as a sign. A very bleachy green light.