The Bulwark Podcast Nicholas Kristof: Gratuitous Cruelty
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Jun 27, 2025 
Nicholas Kristof, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and advocate against global hunger, joins Senator Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and author of an economic war plan for the Democrats. They discuss the heartbreaking mismanagement of humanitarian aid, including unused resources while lives are lost. Kristof shares insights from his memoir 'Chasing Hope' and the urgent need for efficient aid systems. Slotkin addresses housing crises and the importance of connecting with the working class, highlighting the complexities of modern political engagement.
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Tragic Impact of USAID Cuts
- Evan Ansu, an AIDS orphan in South Sudan, died after USAID cuts removed access to antiretrovirals.
- Such stories highlight how policy decisions have direct, fatal consequences for vulnerable children.
Wasted Miracle Malnutrition Paste
- Plumpy'Nut, a miracle peanut paste, dramatically reduces child malnutrition deaths but is currently unused due to bureaucratic indecision.
- This inefficiency wastes resources that could save children's lives abroad cheaply and effectively.
Idle Drugs for River Blindness
- Donated Merck drugs to prevent river blindness in Sierra Leone sit unused and nearing expiration due to canceled drug distribution programs.
- These drugs have proven effectiveness, yet inefficiency and policy choices allow them to waste away while preventable diseases persist.
