2026 US Midterms Results - What Global Health Priorities Should We Fight For?

Ben Plumley and Emily Bass discuss recent election results in multiple countries and an energized Democratic midterm performance in the United States, then debate priorities for a Democrat-controlled Congress: They frame global health as health security, urging Congress to oversee and obtain documents/data on the America First Global Health Strategy, track spending (including PEPFAR-linked funds), and balance country ownership with human-rights protections, emphasizing rebuilding trust and establishing global health as a part of effective soft power. They urge congress to focus on affordable healthcare, housing, education, a living wage, and immigration enforcement via budget tools while avoiding an overload of investigations yet still pursuing accountability for corruption and harm from the dissolution of USAID. They argue for constitutional fixes to prevent future abuses and call for RFK Jr.’s removal due to damage to CDC/NIH, vaccine trust, and outbreak readiness, citing risks like measles resurgence and avian flu.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:15 Midterm Blue Wave

01:17 Election Night Rituals

03:28 Democratic Priorities

07:01 Fixing Democracy Rules

10:39 RFK Jr Health Fallout

14:12 Science Leaders Hold Line

16:55 Why Global Health Matters

21:52 Follow the Money Oversight

23:47 Pandemic Threats Ahead

25:30 Reframing Aid as Security

28:24 Can America First Be Salvaged

29:45 PEPFAR Skepticism History

31:09 Tracking the 1.7B Spending

32:48 Tracking the Money

34:01 MOUs And Missing Lists

35:37 APS Funding Explained

37:28 Country Voices in Decisions

40:04 Rethinking PEPFAR Reauthorization

43:34 Soft Power and Sovereignty

50:15 Country Led but Rights

55:17 Accountability Without Control

01:01:02 Health as Security Frame

01:05:40 Wrap Up and Thanks

Read Emily Bass’ Substack - To End a Plague: Again

https://substack.com/@emilysbass

Check Out Ben’s Substack:

https://substack.com/@benplumley1

Join the Conversation!

How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Subscribe & Stay Updated:

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.

Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health.