Wednesday, October 8, 2025 – Risks and unintended consequences of terminating USAID

President Donald Trump and his administration abruptly ended billions of dollars in aid to foreign countries, calling it wasteful and inappropriately supporting a liberal agenda. In addition to food and medicine that went directly to Indigenous people who need it, the money and goods also promoted agriculture programs and other incentives toward preventing people with few other options from resorting to the illegal drug trade and other criminal activity that has significant bearing on American interest abroad. We’ll hear about the direct effects of ending U.S. support of foreign countries as well as the long-term implications.

GUESTS

Sandra Lazarte (Quechua), former Indigenous Peoples and Climate advisor for U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Leonardo Crippa (Kolla), senior attorney at the Indian Law Resource Center

Brian Keane, co-founder of Land is Life, former UN Permanent Forum rapporteur, and the first advisor on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues for U.S. Foreign Assistance

Andrew Miller, advocacy director for Amazon Watch

 

Break 1 Music: Côco (song) XOCÔ (artist) XOCÔ (album)

Break 2 Music: Gumshoe (song) Samantha Crain (artist) Gumshoe (album)