Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell Understanding Trump's authoritarianism
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Aug 22, 2025 Professor Christina Pagel, a public health expert from University College London, dives into the troubling rise of authoritarianism during Trump's presidency. She discusses the manipulation of health policies, including the appointment of controversial figures that jeopardize scientific integrity. Pagel highlights how the U.S.'s withdrawal from global health organizations threatens pandemic preparedness and vulnerable populations. Furthermore, she emphasizes the alarming shift of power towards the executive branch and the implications for democracy and civil liberties in America.
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Systematic Realignment Of Science
- The administration is systematically realigning science to match an anti-science ideology rather than acting randomly.
- This includes defunding climate research and reshaping priorities to exclude topics like DEI and inequality.
Advisory Board Purged And Replaced
- Christina Pagel describes how RFK Jr. undermined vaccine advisory independence and fired the entire committee.
- She says he replaced them with handpicked vaccine skeptics and attacked independent reports as pharma-funded.
Regulatory Moves Deter Vaccine Supply
- Policy changes target vaccine ingredients and force costly placebo trials for reformulated vaccines to deter manufacturers.
- The net effect will be fewer vaccine options and slowed vaccine innovation in the US.