Stacey Abrams

I gave a little bit of a primer at the top of the episode, but I want to spend a few minutes with you really making sure we understand what the Department of Health and Human Services is and why these attacks matter. So number one, can you break down what we need to understand about the agencies within HHS? And what are you most closely paying attention to?

I gave a little bit of a primer at the top of the episode, but I want to spend a few minutes with you really making sure we understand what the Department of Health and Human Services is and why these attacks matter. So number one, can you break down what we need to understand about the agencies within HHS? And what are you most closely paying attention to?

So let's go back to the CDC for one second. When we hear about dividing the CDC, what does that mean and why should we be worried?

So let's go back to the CDC for one second. When we hear about dividing the CDC, what does that mean and why should we be worried?

When I think about all of these agencies and how they intertwine, one of the conversations then is how easy is it to do this? And I know you focus on public health and not necessarily the ins and outs of congressional action, but how easy would it be to divide the CDC or to allow the FDA to rescind the polio vaccination authorization? Yeah. Are those things that take a lot of time?

When I think about all of these agencies and how they intertwine, one of the conversations then is how easy is it to do this? And I know you focus on public health and not necessarily the ins and outs of congressional action, but how easy would it be to divide the CDC or to allow the FDA to rescind the polio vaccination authorization? Yeah. Are those things that take a lot of time?

Are those things that are imminent? Is it something that happens by executive order? Can you talk a little bit about how public health actually gets changed in this country?

Are those things that are imminent? Is it something that happens by executive order? Can you talk a little bit about how public health actually gets changed in this country?

And I would also throw out there that there are budgetary implications, and that means Congress gets involved. And when someone, let's say Mitch McConnell, flags that he is very unhappy about the threat to the polio vaccine, his lever of power is whether or not something moves through. Even though he's not going to be the majority leader, he has a vote in the Senate and a little bit of influence.

And I would also throw out there that there are budgetary implications, and that means Congress gets involved. And when someone, let's say Mitch McConnell, flags that he is very unhappy about the threat to the polio vaccine, his lever of power is whether or not something moves through. Even though he's not going to be the majority leader, he has a vote in the Senate and a little bit of influence.

So I want folks to understand that the straightforward decision demand for action does not necessarily translate into immediacy of that action being taken. Would you agree?

So I want folks to understand that the straightforward decision demand for action does not necessarily translate into immediacy of that action being taken. Would you agree?

Fantastic. So health is not simply the ability to know what diseases and threats are out there. You know, it's also about the ability to get help. And that means we also have to pay attention to the healthcare access side of things. So, for example, Project 2025 proposes to roll back the progress that the Biden administration has made in reducing drug prices.

Fantastic. So health is not simply the ability to know what diseases and threats are out there. You know, it's also about the ability to get help. And that means we also have to pay attention to the healthcare access side of things. So, for example, Project 2025 proposes to roll back the progress that the Biden administration has made in reducing drug prices.

It also wants to accelerate the privatization of Medicare, which older and disabled Americans rely on. And they want to break up Medicaid into block grants, which will set fixed amounts that go to states, regardless of the actual cost of health care or the size or needs of the population. Okay. What are you concerned about when it comes to this administration's impact on health care access?

It also wants to accelerate the privatization of Medicare, which older and disabled Americans rely on. And they want to break up Medicaid into block grants, which will set fixed amounts that go to states, regardless of the actual cost of health care or the size or needs of the population. Okay. What are you concerned about when it comes to this administration's impact on health care access?

And how would you process this information as a layperson?

And how would you process this information as a layperson?

So you know a lot and you have been all over the world, all over the U.S., You decided to take your experience in epidemiology, but you've really channeled it into sharing information in a way that is extraordinarily accessible.

So you know a lot and you have been all over the world, all over the U.S., You decided to take your experience in epidemiology, but you've really channeled it into sharing information in a way that is extraordinarily accessible.