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R. Z. Halleson's avatar

I sign petitions and write to congress people, but I'm 89 years old and not in great health. What else can I do? Tell me please.

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Jeremy Faust, MD's avatar

you are doing more than most! email Atul's remarks (the link to this) to anyone you think will listen!

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Nurse Jenny's avatar

Phone calls! ❤️

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Jeremy Faust, MD's avatar

yes! post #s to reps please!

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R. Z. Halleson's avatar

I'll try.

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Lyn Horan's avatar

I keep telling people to join their municipal local commissions. Every city has commissions on public health., disability, public safety, safe housing and the list goes on. They’re all in need of volunteers. Google your city Council and look for these various commissions. The time invested is minimal, but the value of what they do on the ground to people in need is invaluable. For instance., I chair my cities commission on disabilities.

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Jan's avatar

Heartbreaking and so wrong.

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Jeremy Faust, MD's avatar

first we document. then we fight

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Nurse Jenny's avatar

🙌👏💪

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Patricia Taylor's avatar

I have been implementing USAID's global health programs for more than 40 years. Without a shred of credible evidence, the American people have been told by President Trump, Mr. Musk, and Secretary Rubio that USAID is a criminal organization, a perpetrator of waste, fraud and abuse, and an entity so corrupt it couldn’t be reformed, so they had to destroy it instead. We know that these are nothing but self-serving lies, but if social media is any indication, many Americans believe them. Thank you for circulating Dr. Gawande's concise and powerful remarks. I sincerely hope that the Senators listened to him and that they will act before it is too late to save USAID's important work. The same goes for the work of the CDC, NIH, FDA, DOE, and all the other government and multi-lateral entities (including Gavi and WHO) that have made the world a safer and more hospitable place for all of us.

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Nurse Jenny's avatar

Trying to keep up with all of this crazy chaos is just mind blowing! Every time more devastation is released, I feel like we are all in a bad dream that just won’t give!! Thanks again so much for helping us all to keep informed! Very much appreciated!

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Maureen Finegan's avatar

Thank you for bringing us the testimony of Dr. Gawande. His summary is concise, precise, and illustrative; it should be put out on the airwaves for all to see and hear. It is also heartbreaking. USAID was one the very first targets of DOGE after the inauguration and it remains perhaps the most brutal and cruel of all.

Although I could not find coverage of it in MSM (not surprising), I was able to find this Foreign Relations Committee Press Report:

https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/dem/release/ranking-member-shaheen-hosts-roundtable-on-the-trump-administrations-dangerous-elimination-of-us-global-health-programs

The page lists the eight senators who were invited, including Elizabeth Warren. We could call or write to them and urge them to get this message out. And we can ask them what they plan to do with this information. To quote Dr. Gawande, "We need you in Congress to stop this process. USAID cannot be restored to what it was. But we must salvage what we can of our health, science, and development infrastructure and stop the destruction."

There is also a video link at the bottom of the page if you would like to watch the hearing.

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Maxine Lu's avatar

SpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin land $13.7 billion in national security launches (Orlando Sentinal Newspaper, today)

😡

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