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Robert F Kennedy jnr and his wife actress Cheryl Hines on stage in April after announcing his candidacy for US president. Photograph: Scott Eisen/Getty
Robert F Kennedy jnr and his wife actress Cheryl Hines on stage in April after announcing his candidacy for US president. Photograph: Scott Eisen/Getty

Robert F Kennedy jnr is on the campaign trail, attempting to get on the ballot for the US presidential election.

A scion of the Kennedy political dynasty, he had hoped to challenge Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination but when that hope faded, he announced he would continue as an independent candidate.

The long-time environmental lawyer is the son of the former US attorney general and senator Robert F Kennedy, and a nephew of president John F Kennedy. He’s also a controversial figure not least for his anti-vaccine activism.

Dr Pippa Malmgren, former economic adviser to president George W Bush explains how RFK jnr could shake up the presidential race and tells why Americans who don’t want either Donald Trump or Biden just might be persuaded to vote for him.

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Last week he announced his running mate and Irish Times Washington correspondent Keith Duggan explains why he chose California lawyer Nicole Shanahan, ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergei Brin.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast