Stopping Ebola Requires Multilateralism. America's Retreat Is Making That Harder | To Save Us From Hell

Stopping Ebola Requires Multilateralism. America's Retreat Is Making That Harder | To Save Us From Hell

Author: Global Dispatches May 21, 2026 Duration: 37:58

An Ebola outbreak is spiraling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — and one of the clearest lessons from past outbreaks is that Ebola requires multilateralism: countries working together through existing institutions like the United Nations and the World Health Organization to contain the disease, support frontline health workers, share information, and prevent cross-border spread.

But the Trump administration's retreat from the global health architecture built for precisely this kind of emergency has made that task harder. In this episode of To Save Us From Hell, Mark Leon Goldberg and Anjali Dayal discuss how American attacks on the WHO and other key nodes of our global defenses against disease outbreaks have made this particular Ebola outbreak more difficult to contain than it ought to be. Later in the show, they discuss the newest entrant in the race for UN Secretary-General — and whether we can expect more candidates to throw their hats in the ring.

 


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: 50

Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters
Podcast Episodes
What Cuba's Doctors Reveal About U.S. Policy Toward Havana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:50
For decades, Cuba has deployed doctors on medical missions around the world, often to places where skilled health workers are badly needed. These missions have a genuine humanitarian component—but they also generate bill…
Helen Clark on Whether the World Is Ready for the Next Pandemic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:31
The world promised to be better prepared for the next pandemic. But has it followed through? Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who co-chairs the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, join…
Russia's War Economy Is Starting to Crack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:48
Russia's economy once seemed remarkably resilient in the face of international sanctions. But in recent months, a growing number of indicators suggest that Russia's war economy is coming under strains not seen since the…
How the Civil War in Myanmar Became the Deadliest Conflict in Asia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:12
The civil war in Myanmar recently passed a grim milestone. According to the conflict-monitoring NGO ACLED, an estimated 100,000 people have been killed since the war broke out in 2021. Seventy percent of them were civili…
Josh Rogin on Iran, NATO, and the Latest in Trump Foreign Policy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:09
It was a pleasure to welcome The Washington Post's Josh Rogin for a wide-ranging discussion of the foreign policy topics du jour — from Iran and NATO to Syria, Ukraine, and the latest moves from the Trump administration.…