862: Some Things We Don't Do Anymore

This episode of "This American Life" investigates the impact of the Trump administration's foreign aid cuts, specifically focusing on USAID. The episode begins by describing a warehouse full of nutritional peanut paste, Plumpy Nut, intended for malnourished children in countries like Mali and South Sudan, which has been stalled due to the aid freeze. The podcast explores the history of USAID, its successes and failures, and the consequences of abruptly halting funding, including potential increases in disease and mortality rates. The narrative then shifts to Eswatini, examining how PEPFAR, a major AIDS relief program, has both helped and potentially hindered the country's healthcare system. The episode concludes with personal stories of individuals affected by the aid cuts, highlighting the disruptions in access to medication and the resulting human cost.