{"id":2434174,"date":"2025-05-13T14:43:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T18:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/local-man-swims-in-creek-media-freak-out\/"},"modified":"2025-05-13T14:46:02","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T18:46:02","slug":"local-man-swims-in-creek-media-freak-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/local-man-swims-in-creek-media-freak-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Local Man Swims In Creek, Media Freak Out"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flocal-man-swims-in-creek-media-freak-out%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2434174&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses an incident involving the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who was spotted swimming in Rock Creek, Washington D.C., during Mother&#8217;s Day weekend. This act attracted critically important media attention, raising questions about the appropriateness of swimming in a body of water that is <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >generally deemed unsafe due<\/a> to pollution, including E. coli and bacteria from sewage disposal. The piece argues that the outrage expressed by the media is misdirected, suggesting it overlooks larger issues related to the city&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/w-h-o-says-most-of-its-pandemic-medical-aid-to-poorer-countries-will-end-up-as-waste\/\" title=\"W.H.O. Says &#039;Most&#039; of Its Pandemic Medical Aid to Poorer Countries Will End Up as Waste\">waste management practices<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The author reflects on the absurdity of the situation, pointing out that many Americans have fond memories of swimming in natural bodies of water, regardless of their cleanliness. The criticism of Kennedy&#8217;s swim is positioned as symptomatic of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-picks-up-united-farm-workers-endorsement-as-united-auto-workers-strike-continues\/\" title=\"Biden secures United Farm Workers support amidst ongoing United Auto Workers strike.\">broader societal issue<\/a>: the tendency of the government to overly regulate personal choices and the resulting frustration among citizens who desire the freedom to assess their own risks regarding health and safety.<\/p>\n<p>the piece argues that Kennedy&#8217;s popularity stems from his understanding of a balanced approach to health, challenging the nanny state mentality that seeks to overly protect individuals from making their own informed decisions. The article reflects a desire for autonomy and responsibility in health choices, framing Kennedy&#8217;s actions as a symbolic resistance to excessive governmental oversight.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-body body-md bdr-top-black pt-30\">\n<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<figure class=\"article-thumbnail mb-30 mb-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span>FDRLST\/Canva, park sign from  <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Rock_Creek_Park_NPS_sign.jpg\">Trailvoice\/wikimedia commons<\/a> \/<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>        <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-share text-center article-share-simple\">\n<h5 class=\"label-sm mb-10\">Share<\/h5>\n<ul class=\"article-share-list list-unstyled m-0 p-0\">\n<li class=\"article-share-facebook m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/05\/13\/local-man-swims-in-creek-media-freak-out\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Facebook<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-twitter m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Local%20Man%20Swims%20In%20Creek,%20Media%20Freak%20Out&amp;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/05\/13\/local-man-swims-in-creek-media-freak-out\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Twitter<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-truth-social m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/share?title=Local%20Man%20Swims%20In%20Creek,%20Media%20Freak%20Out&amp;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/05\/13\/local-man-swims-in-creek-media-freak-out\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" style=\"width:36px;height:auto;\" viewbox=\"0 0 92 93\"><path d=\"M69.444 55.716H56.772v10.37h12.672zM64.487 37.795V27.32H38.666v38.664h13.18v-28.19zM21.05 27.321h12.653v10.471H21.051z\" https:><\/path><\/svg>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Truth Social<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-link m-0\">       <button data-clipboard-text=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/05\/13\/local-man-swims-in-creek-media-freak-out\/\" data-tooltip-content=\"Copied!\" class=\"clip tooltip\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-link-variant\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Copy Article Link<\/span>       <\/button>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\">       <a href=\"mailto:?subject=Local%20Man%20Swims%20In%20Creek,%20Media%20Freak%20Out&amp;body=Americans%20want%20the%20freedom%20to%20make%20their%20own,%20informed%20choices%20about%20their%20health%20--%20both%20which%20risks%20to%20take%20and%20which%20ones%20not%20to.%20https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/05\/13\/local-man-swims-in-creek-media-freak-out\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-email\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article via Email<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\"><span class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignleft\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF &amp; Email\"><span id=\"printfriendly-text2\" class=\"pf-button-text\"><i class=\"mdi mdi-printer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>The secretary of Health and Human Services took a dip in Washington D.C.&rsquo;s Rock Creek with his grandkids over Mother&rsquo;s Day weekend. If you&rsquo;re wondering why that deserved a story from all the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reports-joe-biden-seeking-oil-deal-with-socialist-venezuela-russias-best-friend\/\" title=\"Reports: Joe Biden Seeking Oil Deal with Socialist Venezuela, Russia&#039;s Best Friend\">major corporate media outlets<\/a>, that&rsquo;s a great question. <\/p>\n<p>It appears the city of D.C. takes such a prehistoric approach to waste management that none of its waterways are deemed safe for swimming, including Northwest D.C.&rsquo;s Rock Creek, the site of the Kennedy family&rsquo;s excursion. A hygienic person might think that septic incompetence scandalous &mdash; but Washington&rsquo;s hometown paper and the rest of its media ilk have pinned the outrage on Kennedy for taking a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RobertKennedyJr\/status\/1921609958631575969\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sunday afternoon plunge<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2 d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-1865512291\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1463670073398-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><\/figure>\n<p>Because D.C. dumps sewage into its waterways, Rock Creek is apparently ripe for E. coli and bacteria caused by fecal matter. Never mind the fact that bodies of water everywhere are home to fish and other organisms that all produce waste. (Though, to be fair, D.C. is home to some next-level crap.) As far as the media are concerned, Kennedy might as well have been swimming laps in the East River.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <span class=\"vLS8hikqbAiPWxodtwly296ZpeButrmpabTwfsJDOBe6Gc15957R4QAJXHaDCK2\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ratio ratio-16x9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"EAST RIVER #seinfeld #comedy #funny #laugh #jerryseinfeld #kramer #eastriver #swimming #contaminated\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LtgExKiUJ2U?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>It&rsquo;s a ridiculous non-scandal, but more than that, it&rsquo;s a perfect illustration of the media failing to understand Kennedy&rsquo;s appeal. Did they never swim in lakes and creeks of questionable potability as children? My friends and I swam in still lakewater that fermented in 100-degree Florida heat all summer. Whenever some E. coli outbreak somewhere made the news, our mothers told us to try and keep our heads above water and poured peroxide in our ears as we dried off. I assume most Americans have similarly fond childhood memories of swimming in lakes, creeks, rivers, and bays around the country. When D.C. shut down public pools in 2020 in the name of &ldquo;stopping the spread&rdquo; of Covid, locals <a href=\"https:\/\/wamu.org\/story\/20\/08\/03\/district-of-columbia-md-rock-creek-can-you-swim\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">decided<\/a> a plunge in Rock Creek was worth the risk.<\/p>\n<p>We&rsquo;re tired of having a nanny state tell us we can&rsquo;t be <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/10\/01\/government-wants-to-ban-everything-that-helps-keep-humans-alive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trusted to take normal risks<\/a> like shooting guns, drinking raw milk, using gas-powered stoves and cars, shooting fireworks, or swimming in a germy creek. They shut down the whole country, forced us to cover our faces, and banished us from gathering and worshiping with friends and family, all &ldquo;for our protection.&rdquo; At the same time, as the feds allow harmful chemicals in our food supply while regulating family farms out of existence and city water treatments leave our tap water contaminated with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/birth-control-pills-hormones-estrogen-drinking-water-health-effects-2019-10#:~:text=Very%20little%20of%20that%20estrogen,found%20in%20US%20drinking%20water.\">syn<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/birth-control-pills-hormones-estrogen-drinking-water-health-effects-2019-10#:~:text=Very%20little%20of%20that%20estrogen,found%20in%20US%20drinking%20water.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">t<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/birth-control-pills-hormones-estrogen-drinking-water-health-effects-2019-10#:~:text=Very%20little%20of%20that%20estrogen,found%20in%20US%20drinking%20water.\">hetic hormones<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/news\/national-news-release\/tap-water-study-detects-pfas-forever-chemicals-across-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PFAS<\/a>, we&rsquo;re not supposed to notice.<\/p>\n<p>Americans don&rsquo;t want a government that forcibly bubble-wraps them and treats them like children to be scolded into submission for their own good. They also don&rsquo;t want government regulators and perverse incentive structures to make raising and feeding a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/were-on-our-heels-democrats-reportedly-confront-campaign-leadership-after-republicans-flip-texas-seat\/\" title=\"\u2018We\u2019re On Our Heels\u2019: Democrats Reportedly Confront Campaign Leadership After Republicans Flip Texas Seat\">healthy family<\/a> so hard. They want the freedom to make their own, informed choices about their health &mdash; both which risks to take and which ones not to. And they&rsquo;re smart enough to know that the government has a terrible track record at making risk analyses for us.<\/p>\n<p>That&rsquo;s why Kennedy is so <a href=\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/politics\/2025\/04\/poll-finds-this-person-is-the-most-popular-political-figure-among-dozens.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">popular<\/a>. He seems to understand that holistic health is not the same thing as maximum protection from risk. And if he wants to swim in a questionable creek instead of public pools contaminated by dirty diapers and forever chemicals, that&rsquo;s his prerogative. Rock Creek certainly isn&rsquo;t the swampiest place in the city.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">      Elle Purnell is the assignment editor at The Federalist. She has appeared on Fox Business and Newsmax, and her work has been featured by RealClearPolitics, the Tampa Bay Times, and the Independent Women&#8217;s Forum. She received her B.A. in government with a minor in journalism. Follow her on Twitter @_ellepurnell.<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-30 bdr-top-bold-black\">\n<div class=\"row g-0 align-items-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"article-author-profile d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-md-start\">\n<div class=\"article-author-details\">\n<div class=\"label-md\">Elle Purnell<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-twitter label-sm d-flex align-items-center mt-10\">             <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter me-5\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>             <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Visit on Twitter<\/span>            <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_ellepurnell\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-decoration-none\">@_ellepurnell<\/a>           <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 d-flex justify-content-center justify-content-md-end mt-15 mt-md-0\">        <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/author\/ellenreynolds\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">More Articles<\/a>     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-tags bdr-top-black mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-15 pt-md-45\">\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center mb-0 mx-n10 p-0\">\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/government-regulation\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">government regulation<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/health\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">health<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/health-and-human-services\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Health and Human Services<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/maha\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">MAHA<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/make-america-healthy-again\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Make America Healthy Again<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/rfk\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">RFK<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/rfk-jr\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">RFK Jr.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/rock-creek\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">rock creek<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/rock-creek-park\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">rock creek park<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/swimming\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">swimming<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Health and Human Services secretary swam in Rock Creek, D.C. with his grandkids on Mother&#8217;s Day weekend<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1353,"featured_media":2434175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rcp.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546,33651],"tags":[38524,36854,39539,13746],"class_list":["post-2434174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","category-the-western-journal","tag-community-events","tag-local-news","tag-media-reaction","tag-swimming"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rcp.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1353"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2434174"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2434178,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434174\/revisions\/2434178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2434175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2434174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2434174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2434174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}