The Daily

The Public Health Officials Under Siege

Nov 11, 2021

Mike Baker, the Seattle bureau chief for The New York Times, delves into the struggles faced by public health officials during the pandemic. He discusses how over 100 new laws have curtailed their authority, undermining the response to health crises. The conversation reveals a troubling erosion of trust between officials and the public fueled by misinformation and political tensions. Baker emphasizes the implications of these legislative changes and the resulting conflicts that have left public health agencies vulnerable and less effective.

26:36

Creator website

Episode guests

Mike Baker

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Episode notes

Intro

4min

Legislative Restrictions on Public Health Authority

2min

Navigating Trust and Tension in Public Health

11min

Challenges Facing Public Health Officials Amid Legislative Changes

3min

Public Health Under Siege

9min

This episode contains strong language.

When the coronavirus hit the United States, the nation’s public health officials were in the front line, monitoring cases and calibrating rules to combat the spread.

From the start, however, there has been resistance. A Times investigation found that 100 new laws have since been passed that wrest power from public health officials.

What is the effect of those laws, and how might they affect the response to a future pandemic?

Guest: Mike Baker, the Seattle bureau chief for The New York Times.

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Background reading:

State and local public health departments have endured not only the public’s fury, but also widespread staff defections, burnout, firings, unpredictable funding and a significant erosion in their authority to impose the health orders that were critical to America’s early response to the pandemic.

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