Political Gabfest Seize and Sell
51 snips
Jan 8, 2026 
This week, Dr. Josh Sharfstein, a public health professor and pediatrician at Johns Hopkins, delves into significant changes to the federal childhood vaccine schedule. He discusses the implications of these changes, warning that downgrading vaccine recommendations could foster confusion and decrease vaccination rates. Sharfstein highlights the potential risks of increased outbreaks and stresses the challenges pediatricians may face in addressing parents' concerns. He also explores global vaccine skepticism and how the administration's rhetoric may contribute to these trends.
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Unilateral Force Undermines Global Order
- The Trump administration's Venezuela action signals a return to unilateral military adventurism rather than coalition-based interventions.
- Emily Bazelon warns this unpredictability undermines international order and risks long-term destabilization in Latin America.
Whim-Driven Policy Breeds Uncertainty
- John Dickerson stresses unpredictability when presidential whims replace clear national interests.
- He argues acting without Congressional debate makes US foreign policy erratic and harder for allies to trust.
Personal Motives Can Drive Military Action
- The panel ties the Venezuela operation to personal motives and internal administration ideologies.
- Emily Bazelon and David Plotz note it may be a spectacle to demonstrate power, not a clear national-interest move.
