Post Election Blues & Reds - A Shot in the Arm Podcast

Summary5 min read

A Shot in the Arm Podcast

Episode: Post Election Blues & Reds
Host: Ben Plumley
Date: November 7, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode, recorded the day after the 2024 US Presidential election, explores the implications of the election results for global health policy, particularly focusing on the challenges and opportunities that come with political transition. Host Ben Plumley discusses democracy’s ongoing nature, urgent issues facing the new administration, and the future of the global AIDS response. The episode offers a thoughtful reflection on shared responsibility, sustainability, and the crucial role of digital technology and communication in shaping health outcomes and public discourse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Meaning of Democracy Post-Election

Democracy as an Ongoing Process
- Plumley reflects on the polarized environment:
  
  “Democracy is not a moment in time every four years, but what we all do say and how we treat each other every day. That's true for winners and losers.”
  [00:21]
- Emphasizes the responsibility of both citizens and leaders to engage constructively, regardless of the election outcome.

Implications for Health and Policy During Transition

Health as a Key Priority for the Administration
- Plumley highlights the urgent tasks for the incoming administration:
  
  “…building back mutual trust in medical science, preparing for new pandemics and fighting existing ones at home and abroad, investing in research and funding the frontline services we desperately need.”
  [00:47]
- Stresses that these challenges transcend political wins and affect everyone.

Triple Threats: Pandemics, Climate, and Conflict

Global Risks in the 21st Century
- The host underscores the interconnectedness of health threats:
  
  “The triple threats of pandemics, climate and conflict place our world in the third decade of the 21st century at an unprecedented level of risk. It's not just our economies. Our whole ways of life are on the line.”
  [01:20]

Focus on the Global AIDS Response

Concerns about AIDS Funding and Sustainability
- Questions about continued US commitment to programs like PEPFAR and the Global Fund come to the fore.
- Plumley acknowledges the debates:
  
  “How LONG Is the U.S. taxpayer going to be expected to pay for these programs? Programs that are keeping people alive? When do national governments step up and take responsibility and do these so called entitlement programs limit the creativity and ingenuity of countries to mount their own responses free from outside interference?”
  [01:45]
- He pushes back against simplistic views:
  
  “Viruses like HIV have no concept of funding cycles, budgets and national boundaries. So ending AIDS is something we all have to be responsible for in the US and internationally.”
  [02:28]

Balancing Shared Responsibility

Collaboration and Accountability
- Importance of strengthening global mechanisms (e.g., the Joint UN Program on AIDS).
- Preview of upcoming podcast series exploring future AIDS response:
  
  “We're going to ask the questions, what will the long term global AIDS response look like after 2030. How much will it cost? Who's going to pay for it? And how do we protect communities and sustain our commitment to people with HIV?”
  [02:52]
- Acknowledges shifting global attention:
  
  “Many were already saying that AIDS’ moment in the sun is over, that it's time to pass the baton onto other equally needy causes. But we see AIDS differently. It's the canary in the coal mine…”
  [03:12]

Lessons from the Election and the Impact of Technology

The Pervasive Role of Digital Technology
- Observes technology’s impact on communication, trust, and democracy:
  
  “If there's one very specific lesson from November 5th, it's that we really do not understand the outsized role of digital technology and social media networks on every aspect of our lives.”
  [03:38]
- Warns that we must learn to use these technologies proactively:
  
  “…these technologies have embedded themselves deeply into our lives and our health, and we had better start figuring out how best we use them rather than us being used by them.”
  [04:13]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On democracy’s everyday relevance:

“Democracy is not a moment in time every four years, but what we all do say and how we treat each other every day.” – Ben Plumley [00:21]
On global challenges:

“The triple threats of pandemics, climate and conflict… our whole ways of life are on the line.” – Ben Plumley [01:20]
On AIDS as a continued priority:

“It's the canary in the coal mine, perhaps the first of this era… certainly not its last.” – Ben Plumley [03:12]
On digital technology’s role:

“We really do not understand the outsized role of digital technology and social media networks on every aspect of our lives.” – Ben Plumley [03:38]

Important Segment Timestamps

00:00 – 01:19: Post-election reflections and the meaning of democracy
01:19 – 02:28: Health priorities for the new US administration
02:28 – 03:12: Challenges and responsibilities in the global AIDS response
03:12 – 03:38: Shifting priorities and the importance of sustained focus on AIDS
03:38 – 04:13: The influence of digital technologies and social media on health and politics
04:13 – End: Call to action and preview of upcoming initiatives

Closing: Call to Action

The podcast team, including co-hosts Eric Goosby, Yvette, Jeff, Waisha, and others, urges listeners to stay engaged, watch for new ways to participate, and reflect on the broader meaning of democratic action and shared health responsibility.
Ben signs off with encouragement and care:

“…for now, get some sleep and have a great week and a safe week, everyone.” [04:22]

Summary Takeaway

This episode frames the aftermath of the US election as a moment to reflect on the everyday work of democracy, the heightened global dangers of pandemics, climate, and conflict, and the critical questions facing the future of the AIDS response. It challenges listeners to engage thoughtfully with technology, policy, and each other to sustain commitment to global health and equity.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:00]
A
Hi everyone, I'm Ben Plumlee from A Shot in the Arm podcast and the Global Health Diplomats. Well, like a lot of people in the us I'm guessing I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. As the results of the US Presidential election came in, there were a couple of things we just wanted to say. As the dust settled last night, we saw democracy in action. The people spoke. And in a sharply divided country, as in many countries around the world, we need to remember that democracy is not a moment in time every four years, but what we all do say and how we treat each other every day. That's true for winners and losers. It's also true that the transition team for the new administration has a lot to do to prepare for assuming the responsibilities of power in January 2025. That is particularly true when it comes to health, whether it's building back mutual trust in medical science, preparing for new pandemics and fighting existing ones at home and abroad, investing in research and funding the frontline services we desperately need. The transition period, no matter who won the election, was going to have to be a top priority for all of us, but is all the more so now.
[01:20]
The triple threats of pandemics, climate and conflict place our world in the third decade of the 21st century at an unprecedented level of risk. It's not just our economies. Our whole ways of life are on the line. And a particular concern for us at the Global Health Diplomats and a Shot in the ARM podcast is the state of the global AIDS response. Questions floating in circles across all sides of the aisle centre on PEPFAR and the Global Fund. How LONG Is the U.S. taxpayer going to be expected to pay for these programs? Programs that are keeping people alive? When do national governments step up and take responsibility and do these so called entitlement programs limit the creativity and ingenuity of countries to mount their own responses free from outside interference? Well, it's just not in any way that simple. Viruses like HIV have no concept of funding cycles, budgets and national boundaries. So ending AIDS is something we all have to be responsible for in the US and internationally. What does that shared responsibility look like? How do we strengthen coordinating mechanisms like the Joint UN Program on AIDS to be laser focused on ensuring our investments deliver? Well, you might have seen my Global Health Diplomats co host Eric Goosby and I commit in our last episode to launch a dedicated set of podcasts designed to reach policymakers, influencers and the general public. We're going to ask the questions, what will the long term global AIDS response look like after 2030. How much will it cost? Who's going to pay for it? And how do we protect communities and and sustain our commitment to people with HIV? On life saving ARVs around the world, many were already saying that AIDS moment in the sun is over, that it's time to pass the baton onto other equally needy causes. But we see AIDS differently. It's the canary in the coal mine, perhaps the first of this era, zoonotic infections transmitted from animals to humans, such as certainly not its last. There is no monopoly of wisdom. There's no political party completely right and the other completely wrong. We have a lot we must learn from each other. And if there's one very specific lesson from November 5th, it's that we really do not understand the outsized role of digital technology and social media networks on every aspect of our lives.
[04:02]
From building trust to predicting the outcomes of elections and the way we communicate with each other or at each other. Regardless of who you wanted to WIN in the U.S. presidential election, these technologies have embedded themselves deeply into our lives and our health, and we had better start figuring out how best we use them rather than us being used by them. So from Eric, you, Yvette, Jeff, Waisha, and all the team at A Shot in the Arm podcast, and the Global Health Diplomats, we hope you will join us on this necessary, essential journey. In the coming few days, we'll be announcing specific ways you can help, so keep an eye on your news feeds from us. But in the meantime, and for now, get some sleep and have a great week and a safe week, everyone.