Stacey Abrams

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.

You and I met actually in the midst of the COVID pandemic and you invited me to be on a podcast, but it was such an important conversation because you're just a really fantastic communicator on really complicated issues. Was there an inciting incident for you that made you decide, I not only have to know what I know, I need other people to understand what I know?

You and I met actually in the midst of the COVID pandemic and you invited me to be on a podcast, but it was such an important conversation because you're just a really fantastic communicator on really complicated issues. Was there an inciting incident for you that made you decide, I not only have to know what I know, I need other people to understand what I know?

Which brings us to the doing section of this conversation. You have been such a thoughtful partner to powerful people. But as you pointed out, you've also been doing that work with local organizations, with town hall meetings, helping citizens understand their power. How do we as individuals push back and meet this moment?

Which brings us to the doing section of this conversation. You have been such a thoughtful partner to powerful people. But as you pointed out, you've also been doing that work with local organizations, with town hall meetings, helping citizens understand their power. How do we as individuals push back and meet this moment?

We know there has been a recent tragedy where vigilante justice seemed like a solution to someone. But we know that that's not the answer. So how do we think about what else we can do? We know we talk about voting, and for some that didn't seem to work this time. It does work. It just doesn't work all the time in the ways we want it to work.

We know there has been a recent tragedy where vigilante justice seemed like a solution to someone. But we know that that's not the answer. So how do we think about what else we can do? We know we talk about voting, and for some that didn't seem to work this time. It does work. It just doesn't work all the time in the ways we want it to work.

But how do we talk about starting at the local level, using public health as the point of entry? Give us our marching orders. What do we do?

But how do we talk about starting at the local level, using public health as the point of entry? Give us our marching orders. What do we do?

Dr. Celine Gounder, thank you so much for joining us here and informing us here at Assembly Required. At Assembly Required, we encourage the audience to be curious, solve problems, and do good through a segment we call Our Toolkit. Now, we're going to fight the allergy to science and information by being curious.