Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know Inside the Destruction of USAID with Dr. Atul Gawande
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Sep 3, 2025 
In a compelling discussion, Atul Gawande, former USAID Head of Global Health and a Harvard professor, dives into the catastrophic cuts to USAID and their implications for global health. He highlights the agency's past successes and the chilling prospect of preventable deaths due to misinformation. Gawande also critiques media biases affecting public perception of global health funding. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for activism to counteract these damaging trends and the vital role of institutions in supporting vulnerable populations.
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Conspiracies From Partial Truths
- Technical programs that collected and analyzed viruses were twisted into claims that USAID 'created' COVID.
- Gawande warns that mixing partial truths with conspiracy accelerates agency dismantling.
Chaos During The Purge
- Gawande recounts the agency pausing assistance, staff switching to secure apps, and programs halting midstream.
- Lives were immediately at risk: HIV treatments stopped and outbreak surveillance paused.
Court Delays Enable Immediate Damage
- Legal rulings allowed the administration to proceed with dismantling while courts slowly litigate legality.
- That meant programs could be terminated immediately despite pending legal challenges.