Hi everyone,

In this interview I talk to Debbie Lerman, an investigative journalist, about the key players and decision-making processes behind the pandemic response in the United States. She reveals that the National Security Council (NSC) took over as the lead policy group, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) becoming the lead federal agencies. This shift in power sidelined the CDC and HHS, which were traditionally responsible for managing infectious disease outbreaks. Debbie also explores the appointment of Deborah Birx as the head of the White House Task Force and questions the involvement of Matt Pottinger, a China expert, in the decision-making process. The conversation explores the role of the government and public health officials in the COVID-19 response.

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Takeaways:

* The National Security Council (NSC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took over as the lead policy and federal agencies, respectively, in the pandemic response.

* Deborah Birx was appointed as the head of the White House Task Force, but the involvement of Matt Pottinger in the decision-making process is questionable.

* The decision-making process behind the lockdowns and the development of vaccines was influenced by the defense industry and lacked democratic participation.

* There is a need to restructure pandemic response plans to ensure that the right people with reasonable training and the right temperament are in charge.

* Revoking emergency declarations and promoting democratic participation are essential to maintain trust in public health and prevent a bioterrorism-like response in the future.

Watch:

Apple / Spotify

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Debbie Lerman's Investigative Journalism on the Pandemic

04:48 The Key Players: National Security Council and Department of Homeland Security

10:02 Sidelining the CDC and HHS in the Decision-Making Process

26:10 Deborah Birx's Controversial Appointment

29:34 Questioning the Involvement of Matt Pottinger

31:27 Deborah Birx and the Non-Traditional Approach to Public Health

34:50 The Decision-Making Process Behind the Lockdowns

41:04 The Development of Vaccines and Operation Warp Speed

47:47 The Ineffectiveness of Contact Tracing

52:23 Treating COVID-19 as a Bioterrorism Crisis

59:33 Restructuring Pandemic Response Plans and Promoting Democratic Participation

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