New York Times Faces Cherry-Picking Criticism Over 28,783 Pertussis Cases as 2026 Totals Fall
Updated
Updated · Washington Free Beacon · Jun 4
New York Times Faces Cherry-Picking Criticism Over 28,783 Pertussis Cases as 2026 Totals Fall
1 articles · Updated · Washington Free Beacon · Jun 4
Summary
28,783 U.S. pertussis cases were recorded in 2025, down from 43,321 in 2024, while 2026 cases stood at 4,763 by early June—figures critics say undercut the New York Times' alarmist front-page framing.
The disputed article highlighted more than 28,000 cases in 2025 versus about 7,000 in 2023, but omitted the 2024 peak and the lower 2026 tally, drawing accusations that it cherry-picked data to suggest a Trump-linked vaccine crisis.
Six doctors were cited as evidence of worsening illness in unvaccinated children, and critics noted that three had made Democratic political donations that were not disclosed in the report.
Alternative explanations cited for the whooping cough rise included waning immunity from acellular vaccines and reduced population exposure during COVID-19 distancing, rather than only anti-vaccine distrust tied to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Trump.
The clash adds to a broader fight over public-health coverage and media trust, with critics arguing that selective disease reporting can further erode confidence in both journalism and health guidance.