We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode 862: Some Things We Don't Do Anymore

862: Some Things We Don't Do Anymore

2025/6/22
logo of podcast This American Life

This American Life
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
J
John Norris
J
Joshua Craze
M
Marco Rubio
M
Mushtaq Khan
N
Navin Salem
Topics
Navin Salem: 作为一家接受美国国际开发署资助的非营利机构的负责人，我亲身经历了援助中断带来的混乱和不确定性。资金链断裂、合同被取消、官僚系统瘫痪，这些都直接影响了我们向需要帮助的儿童提供营养食品的能力。我感到非常沮丧，因为我看到原本可以挽救生命的物资滞留在仓库里，而官僚主义的障碍却让我无法及时将它们送到需要的人手中。我一直在努力通过各种渠道发声，希望能够尽快恢复援助，但前景仍然不明朗。 Mushtaq Khan: 作为阿富汗营养项目的负责人，我深切感受到美国国际开发署援助中断带来的危机。我们的仓库空空如也，医疗机构的物资也即将耗尽。我非常担心，如果情况没有改变，可能会出现灾难性的后果。那些严重营养不良的儿童，他们的生命线就是这些RUTF（即食治疗食品），没有它们，后果不堪设想。我感到非常无助，因为我无法为那些需要帮助的儿童提供足够的食物。 Joshua Craze: 我认为美国对外援助在很多情况下并没有达到预期的效果。援助资金有时会被用于支持那些不好的政府，甚至被用于支持那些进行种族清洗的人。此外，美国政府常常将援助作为实现其外交和安全政策的工具，而不是真正为了帮助那些需要帮助的人。我认为美国应该重新审视其对外援助政策，确保援助能够真正帮助到那些需要帮助的人，而不是被用于实现其他目的。特朗普政府对美国国际开发署的批评，虽然有些是出于政治目的，但也反映了一些真实存在的问题。 John Norris: 我认为美国国际开发署在历史上取得了一些成就，例如帮助韩国实现经济发展，以及参与根除天花等疾病。然而，在很多情况下，美国国际开发署的援助并没有达到预期的效果。这主要是因为，很多受援国缺乏良好的政府管理和健全的制度，导致援助资金被浪费或挪用。此外，美国政府常常将援助作为实现其外交和安全政策的工具，而不是真正为了帮助那些需要帮助的人。我认为美国应该加强对受援国的监督，确保援助资金能够真正用于改善当地人民的生活。

Deep Dive

Shownotes Transcript

On his first day in office, President Trump decided to freeze all U.S. foreign aid. Soon after, his administration effectively dissolved USAID—the federal agency that delivers billions in food, medicine, and other aid worldwide. Many of its programs have been canceled. Now, as USAID officially winds down, we try to assess its impact. What was good? What was not so good? We meet people around the world wrestling with these questions and trying to navigate this chaotic moment.

Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners) to sign up for our premium subscription.

  • Prologue: Just one box of a specially enriched peanut butter paste can save the life of a severely malnourished child. So why have 500,000 of those boxes been stuck in warehouses in Rhode Island? (13 minutes)
  • Act One: USAID was founded in 1961. Since then, it has spent hundreds of billions of dollars all over the world. What did that get us? Producer David Kestenbaum talked with Joshua Craze and John Norris about that. (12 minutes)
  • Act Two: Two Americans moved to Eswatini when that country was the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic. With support from USAID, they built a clinic and started serving HIV+ patients. Now that US support for their clinic has ended, they are wondering if what they did was entirely a good thing. (27 minutes)
  • Act Three: When USAID suddenly stopped all foreign assistance without warning or a transition plan, it sent people all over the world scrambling. Especially those relying on daily medicine provided by USAID. Producer Ike Sriskandarajah spoke to two families in Kenya who were trying to figure it out. (8 minutes)

Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org)

This American Life privacy policy.)Learn more about sponsor message choices.)