Tony Lyons: The Strategist Powering RFK Jr.’s MAHA Movement

Tony Lyons, the founder of Skyhorse Publishing, has positioned his independent press as the primary media engine for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. Through a dedicated MAHA imprint and a series of high-profile titles, Lyons has bridged the gap between political activism and the publishing industry, turning his company into a hub for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And his allies.

Skyhorse Publishing, established by Lyons in 2006, previously carved out a market with sports and fishing titles, as well as political works such as Jesse Ventura’s American Conspiracies. The press also became known for publishing authors who had been dropped by major houses, including Philip Roth biographer Blake Bailey and Woody Allen.

The Publishing Strategy of MAHA

The relationship between Lyons and Kennedy has resulted in the publication of over a dozen books by the Health Secretary. Among the most prominent is The Real Anthony Fauci, a nearly 500-page work that challenges the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and suggests that drugs like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine are effective treatments.

The Skyhorse catalog for the movement extends to Kennedy’s inner circle and family. The publisher has released a memoir by Cheryl Hines and a satirical book about Anthony Fauci written by Robert Kennedy III. A children’s book titled Making America Healthy Again is scheduled for release in August 2026, focusing on the progress of the MAHA movement and the prioritization of what the author describes as safer vaccine options.

Lyons also manages the financial and contractual side of these literary endeavors. Before Kennedy’s confirmation as Health Secretary, it was disclosed that Kennedy would receive advances between $2 million and $4 million from Skyhorse for three upcoming books. One such project, which Lyons confirmed is in development, focuses on an alleged cover-up of vaccine harms by the CDC.

Media Integration and the MAHA Action Media Hub

Beyond traditional print, Lyons has integrated his publishing interests with digital media through the MAHA Action Media Hub. This livestreamed show, hosted by Lyons every Wednesday afternoon, serves as a promotional platform for Skyhorse authors and MAHA figures.

The show features a variety of personalities, including:

• Senator Rand Paul, whose 2023 Skyhorse book Deception: The Great COVID Cover-Up has been promoted during his appearances.
• British comedian Russell Brand, whose book How to Become a Christian in Seven Days is slated for publication by Skyhorse in May 2026.
• Robert Malone, who has authored several conspiracy-themed books for the publisher regarding government and media information control.

Lyons’s role extends into commercial media production. As president of the nonprofit MAHA Center, he was responsible for the Super Bowl commercial featuring former boxer and Trump supporter Mike Tyson, which featured the athlete eating apples.

Personal Motivations and Ideology

Lyons’s commitment to the movement is rooted in personal experience. He has described his adult daughter, Lina, as vaccine-injured and stated that she has severe autism. Lyons promotes the use of facilitated communication, a method where a non-speaking person spells words with a facilitator’s help, despite the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and other medical organizations considering the technique scientifically discredited.

Lina is currently writing a book using this facilitated communication technique, which Lyons expects to publish in the summer of 2026.

Lyons maintains that the MAHA movement is not anti-vaccine but is instead focused on medical freedom and challenging established taboos. He argues that the movement is being unfairly maligned by major newspapers and corporate interests who seek to protect pharmaceutical profits.

Political and Strategic Influence

While Skyhorse provides the media infrastructure, Lyons also operates as a political strategist. He serves as the president of MAHA Action and co-president of MAHA PAC, the movement’s political arm. Through these entities, he works to elect Republican candidates who support the MAHA agenda.

Lyons has stated his intention to back up to 20 Republicans in the upcoming midterms. This includes a $1 million contribution from MAHA PAC to Louisiana congresswoman Julia Letlow, who is running in a Republican primary against Senator Bill Cassidy.

Lyons’s strategic goal is to convince GOP leaders to embrace the MAHA Winnable Middle by focusing on popular issues, such as removing artificial food dyes and banning soda from SNAP benefits, while handling more divisive vaccine issues with nuance.