The True Cost of USAID Cuts

Summary

What a Day - Episode: The True Cost of USAID Cuts Release Date: February 21, 2025 Host: Jane Coaston | Produced by Crooked Media

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Introduction

In this episode of What a Day, host Jane Coaston delves deep into the significant ramifications of recent cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The discussion highlights the immediate and long-term impacts on global aid, American businesses, nonprofits, and the dedicated staff within USAID. Additionally, the episode touches on pivotal political events, including the confirmation of Cash Patel as the new FBI Director and Republican Senator Mitch McConnell's announcement of retirement.

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USAID Funding Freezes and Immediate Impacts

Executive Order Surge:
The episode opens with Jane Coaston addressing the flurry of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump within his first month in office. Notably, on his first day, Trump signed an order freezing almost all foreign assistance from the U.S. for 90 days, directly impacting USAID.

Legal Challenges and Operational Strain:
USAID contractors have taken legal action, seeking to hold Secretary of State Marco Rubio and USAID leader Peter Maracco in contempt for not lifting the funding freeze as per a judge's order last week. This freeze has already disrupted aid for millions globally and affected numerous American businesses and nonprofits reliant on USAID partnerships.

Impact on USAID Workforce:
The funding cuts have also taken a toll on USAID employees. Mackenzie Knowles Corson, former deputy head of communications in East Africa for USAID, resigned in protest against the administration's dismantling of the agency. During a conversation from Nairobi, Knowles Corson shared harrowing accounts of how the freeze is jeopardizing essential medical treatments.

[02:23] Greg Walters: "If these kids don't get this medication, they will die. There's no other way around it."

Partial Waivers and Continued Struggles:
The State Department has granted waivers for critical programs, including HIV treatment and tuberculosis (TB) prevention. However, despite these waivers, many programs still face shortages, such as antiretrovirals (ARVs) necessary for treating HIV patients. Knowles Corson highlighted the dire situation:

[02:48] Knowles Corson: "They can probably get another few months, but they're not sure what to do after that. And really the damage has already been done on both staff and patients."

Humanitarian Consequences:
Examples of the freeze's impact include HIV-positive individuals desperately seeking medications to survive and TB patients dealing with halted treatment programs. Over 330 lives have reportedly been lost due to the cessation of TB programs alone.

[05:16] Greg Walters: "This program has completely stopped. It's not happening at all... they've had over 330 people die as a result of this stop work order."

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Administration’s Justifications and Criticisms

Trump Administration’s Defense:
The State Department claims that many funding cuts target programs related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), gender ideology, and other initiatives they argue do not align with the "America First" agenda. While essential life-saving programs received waivers, organizational rhetoric suggests a broader intent to reshape foreign aid priorities.

Calling for Moral Clarity:
Knowles Corson and Greg Walters emphasize the moral imperative for the U.S. to maintain its commitment to global aid. They argue that cutting foreign assistance not only harms international communities but also undermines America's standing and ability to address global challenges like pandemics and environmental crises.

[06:08] Greg Walters: "This is an existential moment for Americans and America... are we okay with famine? Do we not care when a disaster strikes and millions of people's lives are at risk?"

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Political Developments

Confirmation of Cash Patel as FBI Director

Senate Vote Breakdown:
Cash Patel, nominated by President Trump, was confirmed as the new FBI Director by a narrow Senate vote of 51-49. The confirmation process was markedly partisan, with only two Republican senators—Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska—opposing Patel's appointment.

Contentious Confirmation Hearings:
Patel faced intense scrutiny, particularly from Democrats questioning his commitment to impartiality and his connections to conspiracy theorist Stu Peters. During his hearings, Patel declined to categorically state he wouldn't prosecute Trump's political adversaries, raising concerns among his opponents.

[09:15] Jane Coaston: "Kash Patel, mark my words, will cause evil in this building behind us."

Republican Defenders and Democratic Opposition:
While Republicans largely backed Patel, Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse criticized their support, warning of the potential negative impacts of Patel's leadership on the FBI's integrity.

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Senator Mitch McConnell’s Retirement Announcement

McConnell's Decision:
On his 83rd birthday, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky announced he would not seek reelection, marking the end of his extensive tenure in the Senate.

[10:43] Greg Walters: "Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor."

Legacy and Political Influence:
McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, played a pivotal role in shaping the judiciary by blocking Merrick Garland's Supreme Court nomination in 2016 and facilitating Trump's three Supreme Court appointments, solidifying a conservative majority on the bench.

Complex Relationship with Trump:
Despite past collaborations, McConnell distanced himself from Trump following the January 6th Capitol attack, attributing moral responsibility to the former president while still endorsing him for the 2024 race.

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Immigration Policy Shifts

End of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians:
The Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately half a million Haitian migrants, reversing Biden-era protections. This move opens the door for potential deportations starting in August, although some migrants may seek alternative protected statuses. Lawsuits are underway challenging these cuts, especially affecting Venezuelan migrants.

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Middle East Tensions

Hamas-Israel Ceasefire Violations:
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused Hamas of severe violations of the existing ceasefire, citing discrepancies in the remains of hostages returned by Hamas. While Hamas claimed to have returned four bodies, Israeli officials confirmed only three, with one body remaining unaccounted for, exacerbating tensions and casting doubt on the fragile peace agreement set to expire soon.

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Exploring Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS)

Origins and Evolution:
Jane Coaston explores the concept of Trump Derangement Syndrome, tracing its roots back to Bush Derangement Syndrome—a term coined by columnist Charles Krautheimer in 2003 to describe overwhelming negative reactions to President George W. Bush's administration.

Modern Interpretation and Critique:
Today's TDS is portrayed as a polarized phenomenon where both staunch supporters and vehement opponents of Trump are labeled as having the syndrome, regardless of their actual viewpoints. Coaston argues that genuine voters exhibit nuanced opinions, often critical of a politician's actions without descending into irrationalism.

[15:04] Greg Walters: "What we are are Americans who generally don't like what a politician is doing and don't like how he's doing it or why."

Media Representation:
The episode critiques how media outlets like Fox News and personalities like Elon Musk and Sean Hannity perpetuate the idea of TDS, often misrepresenting normal political discourse as pathological.

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Conclusion and Call to Action

Jane Coaston wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to subscribe, leave reviews, and engage with the content. She emphasizes the importance of informed discourse and standing up for meaningful policies, particularly in the face of significant administrative changes like those affecting USAID.

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Notable Quotes

• Jane Coaston [00:02]: "This is what a day. The show that did not get invited to celebrate Black History Month at the White House and is actually pretty okay with that."

• Greg Walters [00:42]: "This administration is off to a historic start. The president has already signed 73 executive orders..."

• Knowles Corson [02:23]: "If these kids don't get this medication, they will die. There's no other way around it."

• Greg Walters [02:48]: "They have basically three months of antiretrovirals. They can probably get another few months, but they're not sure what to do after that."

• Greg Walters [10:17]: "And Republicans who vote for him will rue that day."

• Sheldon Whitehouse [09:15]: "Kash Patel, mark my words, will cause evil in this building behind us."

• Greg Walters [10:43]: "Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor."

• Greg Walters [06:08]: "This is an existential moment for Americans and America..."

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Final Notes

What a Day continues to provide insightful analysis on pressing political and social issues. By dissecting the implications of policy changes and political maneuvers, the episode underscores the profound effects these decisions have on both national and global scales.

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Produced by Crooked Media. For more episodes and updates, subscribe to What a Day on your preferred podcast platform or visit their YouTube channel.

Transcript

[Jane Coaston]

It's Friday, February 21st. I'm Jane Coaston, and this is what a day. The show that did not get invited to celebrate Black History Month at the White House and is actually pretty okay with that. On today's show, Senate Republicans narrowly confirm Cash Patel as the new FBI director. And Mitch McConnell says his time in Congress is coming to an end. But first Thursday marked one month since President Donald Trump officially took office. Since then, he's signed dozens and dozens and dozens of executive orders. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt was practically giddy during her press briefing.

[Greg Walters]

This administration is off to a historic start. The president has already signed 73 executive orders. That is more than double the number signed by Joe Biden and more than quadruple the number signed by Barack Obama over the same period.

[Jane Coaston]

That's not how any of this is supposed to work. And if I recall, Republicans said as much when Obama and Biden signed a lot of their orders. But Republicans don't seem to care now, and neither does Trump. And the fallout from all these unilateral moves is starting to become clear. Case in point. On Trump's first day in office, he signed an executive order freezing virtually all foreign assistance from the US for 90 days. One of the organizations hit hardest was the US Agency for International Development, or USAID. On Wednesday, USAID contractors asked a judge to hold Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the agency's current leader, Peter Maracco, in contempt of court. They argued the two men are violating the judge's order last week to lift the spending freeze. But funding cuts have already hit millions of people receiving aid around the world, as well as many American businesses and nonprofits. More than 80% of the companies that do business with USAID are based in America, according to the data company Development Aid. The cuts are also demoralizing for USAID staffers. Earlier this month, Mackenzie Knowles Corson resigned as deputy head of communications in East Africa for USAID in protest over Trump's dismantling of the agency. Crooked news editor Greg Walters spoke with him earlier this month from Nairobi, Kenya, about his decision. Knowles Corson spoke about a community health provider who cares for children between 2 and 5 years old who have been exposed to HIV. He says the freeze is keeping them from getting the medication they need.

[Greg Walters]

If these kids don't get this medication, they will die. There's no other way around it. Full stop. They will die. They won't be able to suppress these viral loads. Their immune systems are going to get compromised. They're going to get an infection from some opportunistic disease or bacteria, whatever it is, you know they're going to get meningitis or tuberculosis and they will eventually die. It's a death sentence for these kids.

[Jane Coaston]

We reached out to the State Department for comment. In a statement, a spokesperson said some core life saving USAID programs have been granted waivers from the administration's funding freeze, including those for HIV treatment and care and prevention of mother to child transmission. The spokesperson said the department has approved nearly 200 waivers and that more are being granted every day. But they also defended the administration's actions in true Trumpian fashion, arguing that the State Department found that many activities that had previously been described as life saving humanitarian assistance have in reality involved DEI or gender ideology programs, transgender surgeries or other non life saving assistance, and efforts that explicitly go against the America first foreign policy agenda. When in doubt, this administration will always blame imaginary trans people. Knowles Corson acknowledged that yes, some programs have gotten waivers, including in the HIV space, but some are still struggling to get basic things like medicine to treat the disease known as antiretrovirals, or ARVs. Knowles Corson says he spoke to the head of a program that got a waiver.

[Greg Walters]

It still can't pay its salaries. The payment system for USAID is still down. They have basically three months of antiretrovirals. They can probably get another few months, but they're not sure what to do after that. And really the damage has already been done on both staff and patients. The last three weeks, staff were crying and breaking down on a daily basis of, you know, trying to grapple with this moral quandary of do I disobey my orders? Do I let people die?

[Jane Coaston]

Knowles Corson told a devastating story about how even this temporary pause is putting people in desperate situations.

[Greg Walters]

There was a woman who showed up at one of the clinics who said, please just give me 18 months of ARVs, these antiretrovirals. She was HIV positive, so needs this medicine to survive. She said, please give me 18 months. I want to see my son graduate. You know, if I see my son graduate, I can die after that. And they're having, you know, just lots of people that are showing up at their clinics the last three weeks terrified, you know, breaking down, saying, please give me six months, give me 10 months, give me 12 months.

[Jane Coaston]

Knowles Corson also says he spoke to a colleague overseeing a program in Kenya that treats around 100,000 tuberculosis patients each year. He says a lot of those patients have drug resistant TB that's especially hard to treat.

[Greg Walters]

This program has completely stopped. It's not happening at all. And the consequences, I mean, they're already seeing that. The head of this program said, you know, over these last three weeks, they've had over 330 people die as a result of this stop work order.

[Jane Coaston]

So far, the State Department spokesperson did not directly respond to this claim about hundreds of people dying. Why is all of this happening? Because Elon Musk, the world's richest man, whose personal net worth is roughly 10 times the entire budget of USAID, who hasn't been elected and hasn't been confirmed by the Senate, says it's time to feed the agency that helps the world's poorest people into the wood chipper. To do what? Decrease the national debt? Decrease the budget deficit. Eradicate wokeness. Is this really what Americans wanted? I thought they just wanted cheaper eggs. Knowles Corson says this should be a time for moral clarity.

[Greg Walters]

I think this is an existential moment for Americans and America. This is a moment where the rubber hits the road and we are deciding who do we want to be in the world? How do we want to engage with the world? Are we okay with famine? Do we not care when a disaster strikes and, you know, millions of people's lives are at risk? Do we not want to respond? Do we care about containing global pandemics?

[Jane Coaston]

There are people who will tell you that no, they don't care. They don't care about people in foreign countries, they don't care about containing pandemics. And contrary to what they argue on Twitter, when they demand the tiny amount of money we spend on foreign aid, stay home, the evidence is pretty clear that they don't care about homeless veterans or low income families very much either. Some of these people might call themselves realists, but they're nihilists, vice signalers who think that since they don't care about anyone but themselves, no one else does either. Well, I do. And I bet you do too. And we don't have to be like them. We can stand up for USAID because we can stand up for what America can be at its absolute best. And we don't need to listen to the people who want it to be, well, worse. We'll get to more of the news in a moment, but if you like the show, make sure to subscribe. Leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts, watch us on YouTube and share with your friends. More to come after some ads. What a day is brought to you by Zebiotics Pre Alcohol. Let's face it, after a night with some drinks, I do not bounce back the next day like I used to. I have to make a choice. I can either have so much fun that night or have a good next day. That is, until I found Pre Alcohol Diabiotics. Pre Alcohol Probiotic Drink is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Here's how it works. When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in the gut. It's this byproduct, not dehydration, that's to blame for your rough next day. Pre alcohol produces an enzyme to break this byproduct down. Just remember to make pre alcohol your first drink of the night. Drink responsibly and you'll feel your best tomorrow. Every time I have pre alcohol before I go out, I notice a big difference the next day. Even after a fun night, I can confidently plan on working out without worry. And with pre alcohol, I can stay on track and not let winter travel and celebrations like Valentine's Day or Mardi Gras throw me off course. Go to zbiotics.com wad to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use code WAD at checkout. Zebiotics is backed with a 100% money back guarantee, so if you're unsatisfied for any reason, they'll refund your money, no questions asked. Remember to head to zbiotics.com wad and use the code WAD at checkout for 15% off. Here's what else we're following today.

[Greg Walters]

Head of Lines the yeas are 51. The nays are 49. The confirmation is confirmed.

[Jane Coaston]

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm Cash Patel, Trump's pick to head the FBI. The vote was largely along party lines. Only two Republicans voted against Patel, Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Patel had some pretty contentious confirmation hearings. Democrats grilled him about whether he'd use his power as FBI director to prosecute Trump's political enemies. In a back and forth with Hawaii Democrat Mazie Hirono, he refused to say he wouldn't. No one that did not break the law will be investigating. Democrats also raised concerns about Patel's pushing of right wing conspiracies, and he appeared to lie under oath during his confirmation hearings about his ties to conspiracy theorist and Holocaust denier Stu Peters. Patel had appeared on Peters podcast eight times but denied knowing him. The senators Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode island had some strong words for Republicans who backed Patel. Here he is speaking to reporters outside the FBI headquarters before the vote Kash Patel, mark my words, will cause evil in this building behind us.

[Greg Walters]

And Republicans who vote for him will rue that day.

[Jane Coaston]

Also on Thursday, Education secretary nominee Linda McMahon inched closer to confirmation. A Senate committee voted to advance her nomination to the floor for a final vote. The Senate has confirmed 18 members of Trump's cabinet so far. Four more are left, including McMahon. The president is set to hold the first Cabinet meeting of his term next week.

[Greg Walters]

Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor.

[Jane Coaston]

An eighth time Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Thursday he will not seek reelection next year. McConnell made the announcement from the Senate floor on his 83rd birthday.

[Greg Walters]

I've never liked calling too much attention to today's date, February 20th, but I figured my birthday would be as good a day as any to share with our colleagues a decision I made last year.

[Jane Coaston]

McConnell stepped down as a Senate Republican leader last year. He'll go down as the longest serving Senate party leader in U.S. history. The Kentucky Republican was first elected to the Senate in 1984. In 2016, he was instrumental in blocking then President Barack Obama from appointing Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court after the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. And during Trump's first term, McConnell helped usher his three Supreme Court nominations through Senate confirmation, effectively cementing a conservative supermajority on the court. But his ties with Trump were more or less severed when McConnell blamed the president for the January 6th attack on the Capitol. McConnell said, quote, There is no question nonetheless that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day. Still, McConnell did not vote to convict Trump in his impeachment trial over the insurrection. He also endorsed Trump for president in 2024. A profile in courage McConnell's empty Senate seat is set to spark a competitive GOP primary in Kentucky next year. The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday it plans to end deportation protections for about half a million Haitian migrants living in the U.S. the decision reverses a Biden era extension of an immigration program known as Temporary Protected Status, or tps, for Haitians. TPS gives people from certain designated countries the ability to live and work in the US Legally, but it doesn't provide a long term path to citizenship. The Trump administration's decision Thursday means these Haitian migrants could be eligible for deportation as soon as August. Some of them may be able to apply for other kinds of protected status. The White House has made similar moves recently regarding immigrants from other countries, too. An advocacy group is currently suing the administration over cuts to protected status for Venezuelans The Israel Defense Forces Thursday accused Hamas of committing a, quote, severe violation of the ceasefire agreement. It claims the militant organization did not return the remains of one of the hostages it agreed to. In fact, the IDF says the remains Hamas did return don't match any of the hostages taken by the group. Earlier in the day, Hamas claimed it returned the bodies of four hostages to the Israeli government. The militant group said it returned the remains of a mother and her two young children, an infant and a four year old, and as well as the remains of an 83 year old man. Israel later confirmed the identities of three of the bodies, the elderly man and the two children, but officials said that the fourth body did not belong to the mother or to any other Israeli hostage. As of our recording time Thursday evening, Hamas has not issued a response. It's the latest stressor to the very fragile ceasefire that's so far been holding between the two sides, and its future looks increasingly uncertain. The first phase of the deal is supposed to expire next weekend. Israel and Hamas have not yet begun negotiations over its second phase. And that's the news. One more thing. If you're a person who really dislikes Donald Trump, you've probably at some point been accused of having Trump Derangement Syndrome. But no one seems to quite understand what Trump Derangement Syndrome is. See, if you ask Elon Musk, it's whatever this is, per his telling to Fox News. Sean Hannity this week I was at.

[Greg Walters]

A friend's birthday party in la, just a birthday dinner. And it was like a nice quiet dinner and everyone was behaving normally. And then I happen to mention this is before the election, like a month or two, I have to mention the president's name. And it was like they got shot with a dart in the jugular that contained like methamphetamine and rabies. Okay? And like, what is wrong, guys? Like, you just can't have like a normal conversation.

[Jane Coaston]

But the idea of TDS is actually more interesting and more insidious than you might think, because before it was Trump Derangement Syndrome, it was Bush Derangement Syndrome. The late conservative columnist Charles Krautheimer came up with the term in 2003. To him, it meant the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency, nay, the very existence of George W. Bush. In short, if you thought George W. Bush sucked and everything he did sucked, no matter what it was, even the things you might have supported had someone else done them, you had Bush Derangement Syndrome. However, that's not what Trump Derangement Syndrome means. Trump Derangement syndrome seems to mean that if you believe him, you have tds, and if you don't believe him, you have tds. If Trump says that Ukraine started a war with Russia and you take him at his word, you have tds. But also if you don't believe him and think that he's saying this because he's trying to cozy up to his new bff, Vladimir Putin, you also have tds. The only way to demonstrate that you do not have Trump Derangement syndrome is to support literally everything he does forever, but also not take him literally. But fortunately, that's not how actual voters who actually vote see Trump or literally any politician. Here's CNN on Thursday. Well, I think they're telling us that the honeymoon, as much as it may have existed, is over for Donald Trump at the moment. You see that he's upside down here in terms of more people, a majority, slim majority, 52% disapprove of how he's doing in our brand new poll than the 47% who say that they approve of his job performance. See, everyday people vote for people to do stuff. And when those people don't do the stuff voters elected them to do, they tend to be kind of annoyed about it. Trump won by convincing a lot of Americans that he wasn't going to do things he clearly wanted to do and that he was going to do things he had absolutely no interest in. And while that's apparently a great election strategy, it is a difficult governing philosophy because most Americans didn't vote to see veterans fired en masse from government jobs or to destroy foreign aid. I keep thinking about this Wall Street Journal article from earlier this week where a woman told reporter Eliza Collins, when we said safer borders, I thought he was thinking, let's stop the drugs from coming into the country. I didn't know he was going to start raiding places. Now I'm like, dang, why didn't I just pick Kamala? I don't have tds and neither do you. What we are are Americans who generally don't like what a politician is doing and don't like how he's doing it or why. So if someone accuses you of having Trump Derangement Syndrome, you can think about it another way. Someone sees that you're exercising your free speech rights and is very, very mad about it. That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe, leave a review. Think about how the richest man in the world is actually extremely weird and tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading and not just about how Elon Musk is extremely rich, extremely powerful, and also at CPAC on Thursday said the words I am become meme like me. What a Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and [e-mail] subscribe I'm Jane Costen and Money Can't Buy Cool Water Day is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor. Our associate producers are Raven Yamamoto and Emily Foer. Our producer is Michelle Eloi. We had production help today from Tyler Hill, Johanna Case, Joseph Dutra, Greg Walters, and Julia Claire. Our senior producer is Erica Morrison and our executive producer is Adrienne Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka. Our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America East.