BROADCASTS.com

Dr. Deborah Birx, former Trump White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator and renowned global HIV/AIDS leader, spoke to us about a rich assortment of issues: the recent drama surrounding her statements about the Trump administration; her almost 7 months on the road across America, far from Washington, visiting with 44 governors; the corrosive divisions in our society; what might cure vaccine hesitancy; President Biden\u2019s early achievements; DOD\u2019s profound contributions; the secret power of millennials and retailers; the potential value of a 9/11 Commission, and more. \u201cThis virus does not recognize party. .. The more we make this pandemic partisan, the more it divides us.\u201d\xa0\xa0\u201cI have worked in pandemics that were highly politicized\u2026 that creates vulnerabilities,\xa0we could not see\xa0it here.\u201d In March, 2020, people were listening, responding to science and data, how to stop the spread, what it might do to our health system. Then the focus swiftly morphed to the economy.\xa0\u201cFor those of us who stayed.. we believed we could recapture how severe this pandemic is.\u201d By the fall, \u201cwe were never able to move people to testing as a public health measure in itself.\u201d\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0On vaccine hesitancy, her message to\xa0all mothers: \u201cNo matter what age your son, tell him for your peace of mind to get vaccinated.\u201d\xa0\u201cTo daughters and sons, call your dads.\u201d\xa0\u201cDo it for your family.\u201d\xa0\n\xa0\nDr. Deborah Birx is Senior Fellow at the George W. Bush Institute.