Emily Bass on PEPFAR’s Data Spin, What South Africa’s Oral Histories Reveal & the future w/ AIDS2060

Investigative journalist and public health expert Emily Bass returns to A Shot In The Arm with the most consequential update on the global HIV response in months. Drawing on a brand-new report from Physicians for Human Rights and South African partners — built from 40 oral histories — Emily walks Ben Plumley through the human cost of the Trump administration’s foreign aid disruptions, the staggering waste of dismantled prevention infrastructure, and the bizarre data spin emerging from the State Department. The episode also covers Dr. mike Reed’s headline-making resignation as PEPFAR’s Chief Scientific Officer, the dangerous quiet around supply chain contracts and bed-net procurement, and what the new “America First Global Health Strategy” is choosing to celebrate — and choosing to obscure. Ben closes with a preview of two new initiatives: AIDS 2060, a long-horizon project from A Shot In The Arm Media, and the rebrand of MTV Staying Alive Foundation to Shuga Global. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 01:18 Global Health Upheaval 03:13 PEPFAR Data Spin 04:07 South Africa Report 05:51 Prevention Platform Collapse 09:27 Clinic Breakdown Story 12:52 Why 18 Percent Matters 16:33 Community Resilience 19:22 Research Partnerships Lost 22:12 Treatment Disruptions 25:26 Trauma to Transition 31:11 Data Blackout Returns 39:07 Prep Data Mirage 42:08 Kids Treatment Declines 44:55 Age Data Removed 47:02 Congress Pushback 52:02 Supply Chain Breakdown 59:38 Last Mile Disaster Story 01:02:16 Orderly Transition Demands 01:06:23 AIDS 2060 Vision 01:10:35 Sugar Global Storytelling 01:15:20 Africa Led Future 01:20:42 Closing Thanks Read Emily Bass’ Substack: 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.