‘Soft Power Suicide’: Samantha Power on One Year Without USAID
Summary
Bloomberg’s David Gurra interviews former USAID Administrator Samantha Power one year after the Trump administration dismantled the agency. Power details the devastating human costs, including rising child mortality and a spiraling Ebola crisis, while criticizing the abrupt termination as "soft power suicide." She also discusses the failed Iran war negotiations, her regrets regarding humanitarian aid in Gaza, and the need for Democrats to reinvent their foreign policy approach.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Genius, Hex, and Chase for Business
Introduction: The dismantling of USAID and Samantha Power
Human cost: Rising child mortality and health crises
Impact on USAID staff and Republican silence
Soft power suicide and $19 billion in wasted funds
Ebola crisis and the loss of rapid response capacity
Sponsors: IBM, Venture Global, and Public.com
Iran war: Negotiations and comparison to JCPOA
Israel-Gaza: Civilian casualties and US weapons
Sponsors: LPL Financial, Venture Global, and Public.com
Reflections on Gaza aid and decision not to resign
Future of Democratic foreign policy and show credits
Sponsors: Hex, 4imprint, and The Hartford
Listen ad-free on Castria