Podcasts Health Take as Directed Dan Diamond, Washington Post: Easier to play offense than defense

Dan Diamond, Washington Post: Easier to play offense than defense

Published: June 22, 2023, 7:18 p.m.

Dan Diamond, Washington Post, reflects on big emerging themes. The administration\u2019s scientific, biomedical, and public health leadership has emptied. What should we make of Mandy Cohen\u2019s appointment to be the next Director of CDC? With the turnover, who will be the \u201cquarterback\u201d of government during the next crisis?\xa0Congressional panels are raising \u201cuncomfortable\u201d questions about Covid's origins. It is an \u201copen question\u201d what happens with the reauthorization of PEPFAR and the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). The shift of opinion against NIH and CDC will leave\xa0\u201cthe brands damaged.\u201d\xa0Presidential campaigns\u2014Governor DeSantis\u2019 attacks against \u201cFaucism\u201d and RFK Jr\u2019s anti-vaxxer efforts\u2014 offer \u201cnothing good for public health.\u201d Attacks upon science and public health have far more energy than the defenders. \u201cEasier to play offense than defense.\u201d