In a recently viral podcast clip, US Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke candidly about his past struggles with drug addiction, admitting that he used to "snort cocaine off of toilet seats". Kennedy used the provocative anecdote to explain why he was not afraid of germs or viruses during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. He described leading a "pirate group" of recovering addicts who continued to hold in-person meetings despite public health restrictions, stating