How Trump's Aid Cuts Are Costing Lives in Sudan—The Largest Crisis on Earth

How Trump's Aid Cuts Are Costing Lives in Sudan—The Largest Crisis on Earth

Author: Global Dispatches July 3, 2025 Duration: 23:44

As of July 1, what remains of USAID's programming is being folded into the State Department. The independent agency, created 64 years ago to advance American values and support global humanitarian causes, is no more. With USAID's demise comes a staggering human cost. The Lancet today published a study finding that more than 14 million people — a third of them children — will die by 2030 if current U.S. foreign aid cuts remain in place.

Behind those numbers are countless stories of tragedy — and heroism.

My guest today, Katharine Houreld, is the Bureau Chief for East and Southern Africa for The Washington Post, who recently reported from Sudan on the devastating impact of the swift and sudden cutoff of American aid. We begin our conversation with the stories of individuals living through it — from the grieving mother of a toddler who died of an easily preventable chest infection, to the soup kitchen volunteers fighting to keep their neighbors alive as food supplies vanish.

Support the show at a 40% discount

https://www.globaldispatches.org/40PercentOff 


For years, Global Dispatches--World News That Matters has carved out a unique space, going beyond the headlines to explore the forces and figures shaping our world. This isn't about rapid-fire soundbites; it's a series of substantive conversations with the people directly involved-diplomats negotiating treaties, reporters on the ground in conflict zones, and scholars analyzing long-term trends in global development and international relations. The discussions delve into the "why" behind the news, providing context that is often missing from daily reporting. Recognized by The Guardian as a podcast designed to make you smarter, it serves an audience that feels underserved by superficial summaries. Each episode is built on the premise that complex events deserve nuanced explanation. By listening, you gain access to a clearer, more informed perspective on pivotal issues, from geopolitical shifts to humanitarian crises. The podcast’s longevity as an independent program speaks to its consistent quality and dedicated following. Tune in for a deeper, more thoughtful analysis of the stories that truly matter, presented through the voices of those who know them best.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters
Podcast Episodes
What Americans Really Think About Foreign Policy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:02
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs has been tracking American views on foreign policy since the end of the Vietnam War. Last week, it released its 2025 survey—and the results point to a widening partisan divide on som…
Civil War Has Returned to South Sudan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:31
For the past year and a half, South Sudan has been on the brink of a new civil war. A 2018 peace deal that ended the last civil war has been faltering, while the war across the border in Sudan has threatened to spill sou…
One Year On: What Have Trump's HIV/AIDS Cuts Cost The World? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:17
One year ago, the United States was winning the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Thanks largely to American leadership, infections and deaths from HIV/AIDS have dropped precipitously over the past 20 years, ever since the…
Why a U.S. Strike Against Iran May Backfire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:01
Protests sweeping Iran are unlike anything the regime has faced since coming to power in 1979. What began as demonstrations by shopkeepers in Tehran over the sharply devalued Iranian rial quickly morphed into sustained,…
The View from Denmark as Trump Threatens Greenland | Søren Lippert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:13
Danes are reeling from the aggressive nature of Donald Trump's designs on Greenland — but there is little they can do to stop the United States from acquiring the territory, whether by force or coercion. This is an odd p…
How China is Responding to the "Donroe Doctrine" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:38
I'm joined by one of my favorite fellow podcasters and Substackers, Kaiser Kuo, host of the long-running Sinica Podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation on China, Venezuela, and America's shifting role in the world. We s…