Today, Explained DOGE-y behavior
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Feb 11, 2025 
Andrew Natsios, a former USAID administrator and professor, and Dylan Matthews, a senior correspondent at Vox.com, delve into the issues surrounding the potential dismantling of USAID. They discuss the geopolitical repercussions of reduced funding, highlighting how it could weaken U.S. influence and empower rivals like China. The conversation also tackles the humanitarian crisis stemming from funding cuts, international aid challenges, and the evolution of political support for foreign aid, emphasizing the dangers of a strategy to undermine crucial agencies like USAID.
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Famine and Genocide Experiences
- Andrew Natsios witnessed children dying during the Somali famine of 1991-92.
- He also saw the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, highlighting the impact of USAID's work.
Importance of Early Warning
- The Famine Early Warning System, a predictive model using satellite imagery and ground teams, is crucial for USAID's work.
- Shutting it down is like "driving a car with no steering wheel."
Foreign Aid as an Easy Target
- The Trump administration consistently proposed cuts to foreign aid during Trump's first term.
- It's an easy target because it affects people who don't vote in the U.S.