Anthony McDonnell
@mcdonnell.bsky.social
Economist in global health, mostly working on infectious diseases
at the @cgdev.org. I like new ideas, fun stories & evidence based policy.
I'm dyslexic, views are my own, he/him.
at the @cgdev.org. I like new ideas, fun stories & evidence based policy.
I'm dyslexic, views are my own, he/him.
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
“Even countries that have been successful in keeping AMR rates under control cannot afford to be complacent. Unless AMR programs are protected from aid cuts, resistance rates will likely increase.
@mcdonnell.bsky.social discusses the tool in @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
@mcdonnell.bsky.social discusses the tool in @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
July 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
“Even countries that have been successful in keeping AMR rates under control cannot afford to be complacent. Unless AMR programs are protected from aid cuts, resistance rates will likely increase.
@mcdonnell.bsky.social discusses the tool in @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
@mcdonnell.bsky.social discusses the tool in @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
ICARS' Executive Director, Sujith J. Chandy, recently joined @Kevin Outterson, @carb-x.bsky.social, Misbah Khan, @tbij.bsky.social, and Anthony McDonnell, @cgdev.org, for an interesting discussion on designing an effective Independent Panel on #AMR.
🔗Read more about the side-event at #WHA76 ⬇️
🔗Read more about the side-event at #WHA76 ⬇️
ICARS joins the global dialogue on establishing an independent panel for evidence for action on AMR – ICARS
On May 21st, the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) participated in a high-level event, From Evidence to Action: Designing an Effective Independent Panel on Antimicro...
bit.ly
May 27, 2025 at 10:08 AM
ICARS' Executive Director, Sujith J. Chandy, recently joined @Kevin Outterson, @carb-x.bsky.social, Misbah Khan, @tbij.bsky.social, and Anthony McDonnell, @cgdev.org, for an interesting discussion on designing an effective Independent Panel on #AMR.
🔗Read more about the side-event at #WHA76 ⬇️
🔗Read more about the side-event at #WHA76 ⬇️
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
The New York Times is the first to put out comprehensive estimates on the cost of a year without U.S.A.I.D. and they’re higher than I thought:
- 1.65 million deaths from AIDS
- 500,000 from lack of vaccines
- 550,000 from lack of food aid
- 290,000 from malaria
- 310,000 from TB
- 1.65 million deaths from AIDS
- 500,000 from lack of vaccines
- 550,000 from lack of food aid
- 290,000 from malaria
- 310,000 from TB
Killing children is by design, I'm afraid. "Pro-natalists" like Musk claim they aren't racist, but their pressure to have children is solely focused on white women, while they back policies that literally kill of non-white children.
He's a eugenicist.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
He's a eugenicist.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isn’t True.
A journey through the front lines of global poverty shows that when the world’s richest men slash aid for the world’s poorest children, the result is sickness, starvation and death.
www.nytimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 4:42 PM
The New York Times is the first to put out comprehensive estimates on the cost of a year without U.S.A.I.D. and they’re higher than I thought:
- 1.65 million deaths from AIDS
- 500,000 from lack of vaccines
- 550,000 from lack of food aid
- 290,000 from malaria
- 310,000 from TB
- 1.65 million deaths from AIDS
- 500,000 from lack of vaccines
- 550,000 from lack of food aid
- 290,000 from malaria
- 310,000 from TB
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
“Pepfar has saved more than 26 million lives and prevented roughly 1,000 babies a day from being born with the HIV virus”
Superb piece on how cuts to USAID will affect the world’s poorest, focusing on HIV
on.ft.com/3QX1HhP
Superb piece on how cuts to USAID will affect the world’s poorest, focusing on HIV
on.ft.com/3QX1HhP
February 27, 2025 at 7:49 AM
“Pepfar has saved more than 26 million lives and prevented roughly 1,000 babies a day from being born with the HIV virus”
Superb piece on how cuts to USAID will affect the world’s poorest, focusing on HIV
on.ft.com/3QX1HhP
Superb piece on how cuts to USAID will affect the world’s poorest, focusing on HIV
on.ft.com/3QX1HhP
I've written a blog post looking at how US AID cuts could impact drug resistance to TB drugs, and intern then negative long term consequences this could have for Americans.
www.cgdev.org/blog/tubercu...
www.cgdev.org/blog/tubercu...
Tuberculosis Doesn’t Respect Borders—US Aid Cuts Could Fuel a Global Health Crisis
Reducing access to vital treatments against drug-resistant TB will likely pose huge risks for everyone, including Americans. The 90-day freeze on most aid while this assessment is carried out causes r...
www.cgdev.org
February 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I've written a blog post looking at how US AID cuts could impact drug resistance to TB drugs, and intern then negative long term consequences this could have for Americans.
www.cgdev.org/blog/tubercu...
www.cgdev.org/blog/tubercu...
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer just cut the UK aid budget from 0.5% of GNI to 0.3% in 2027 to fund increases in defence spending.
He says he’s making tough choices, but cutting funding for the world’s poorest people is the easiest—and cruellest—choice he could make (1/4)
He says he’s making tough choices, but cutting funding for the world’s poorest people is the easiest—and cruellest—choice he could make (1/4)
February 25, 2025 at 2:18 PM
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer just cut the UK aid budget from 0.5% of GNI to 0.3% in 2027 to fund increases in defence spending.
He says he’s making tough choices, but cutting funding for the world’s poorest people is the easiest—and cruellest—choice he could make (1/4)
He says he’s making tough choices, but cutting funding for the world’s poorest people is the easiest—and cruellest—choice he could make (1/4)
For as long as Democratic Europe has been united, we've been able to rely on America's for support. That is no longer true, and as @gideonrachman.bsky.social argues policies must change. "Europe must now start the painful process of “de-risking” its relationship with the US."
"Many Europeans will balk at these ideas, dismissing them as impossible. But they need to understand that their freedom is now at stake. Vance was right about that. Just not in the way he thought." - brilliant column by @gideonrachman.bsky.social:
Vance’s real warning to Europe
Europeans need to reduce their dangerous dependence on an adversarial America
www.ft.com
February 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
For as long as Democratic Europe has been united, we've been able to rely on America's for support. That is no longer true, and as @gideonrachman.bsky.social argues policies must change. "Europe must now start the painful process of “de-risking” its relationship with the US."
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
We already see the shutdown's cost. Kids with drug-resistant TB, turned away from clinics, are not just dying - they're spreading the disease. People around the world w HIV, denied their medicine, will soon start transmitting virus. The damage is global.
February 6, 2025 at 8:59 PM
We already see the shutdown's cost. Kids with drug-resistant TB, turned away from clinics, are not just dying - they're spreading the disease. People around the world w HIV, denied their medicine, will soon start transmitting virus. The damage is global.
The WHO plays a vital role in so many areas of global health, it reduces the risk of pandemics, enables sharing of scientific expertise & provides some essential services. After US cuts, please consider giving them a dollar (or more) to keep going #WHO ❤️ whofoundation.donorsupport.co/page/FUNEKRB...
1 Dollar, 1 World
I have been at WHO for over 10 years. Like my colleagues, I have worked my butt off day and night to fight Covid and work towards universal access to health care. This place frustrates me every day.
whofoundation.donorsupport.co
February 6, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The WHO plays a vital role in so many areas of global health, it reduces the risk of pandemics, enables sharing of scientific expertise & provides some essential services. After US cuts, please consider giving them a dollar (or more) to keep going #WHO ❤️ whofoundation.donorsupport.co/page/FUNEKRB...
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
USAID’s website has been deleted, all that is left is a note saying all personnel are now on administrative leave and personnel outside the US are to be brought home. Completely illegal, no act of congress or even executive order was signed to dismantle the agency
February 5, 2025 at 2:29 AM
USAID’s website has been deleted, all that is left is a note saying all personnel are now on administrative leave and personnel outside the US are to be brought home. Completely illegal, no act of congress or even executive order was signed to dismantle the agency
CDC brings so much expertise to projects that include the WHO. Engaging with the WHO enables the CDC to better understand and prepare America for others are dealing with aka Mpox. Everybody loses here, except maybe America's advisories who'll seek to fill any vacuum www.statnews.com/2025/01/27/c...
CDC ordered to stop working with WHO immediately, upending expectations of an extended withdrawal
U.S. public health officials have been told to stop working with the World Health Organization, effective immediately.
www.statnews.com
January 27, 2025 at 10:47 PM
CDC brings so much expertise to projects that include the WHO. Engaging with the WHO enables the CDC to better understand and prepare America for others are dealing with aka Mpox. Everybody loses here, except maybe America's advisories who'll seek to fill any vacuum www.statnews.com/2025/01/27/c...
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
Exactly this.
Reviewing foreign aid for consistency w/admin policy goals is reasonable. Many programs can absorb a 90 day pause w/o catastrophic impact.
But a real stop work on bi-partisan malaria & HIV programs--delivering lifesaving medicines & bednets--quite literally means people will die.
Reviewing foreign aid for consistency w/admin policy goals is reasonable. Many programs can absorb a 90 day pause w/o catastrophic impact.
But a real stop work on bi-partisan malaria & HIV programs--delivering lifesaving medicines & bednets--quite literally means people will die.
Glad to read there has been a waiver for emergency food aid, but the same has to urgently apply to other programs providing life-saving support where 90 days could be too late: PEPFAR, PMI...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Trump pause applies to all foreign aid; Israel, Egypt get waiver, says State Dept memo
U.S. President Donald Trump's 90-day foreign aid pause applies to new and existing assistance, according to a State Department memo seen by Reuters on Friday, which also states that waivers have been issued for military financing for Israel and Egypt.
www.reuters.com
January 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Exactly this.
Reviewing foreign aid for consistency w/admin policy goals is reasonable. Many programs can absorb a 90 day pause w/o catastrophic impact.
But a real stop work on bi-partisan malaria & HIV programs--delivering lifesaving medicines & bednets--quite literally means people will die.
Reviewing foreign aid for consistency w/admin policy goals is reasonable. Many programs can absorb a 90 day pause w/o catastrophic impact.
But a real stop work on bi-partisan malaria & HIV programs--delivering lifesaving medicines & bednets--quite literally means people will die.
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
Trump has not just paused new foreign aid. Today Marco Rubio sent a cable to all US diplomatic missions calling for immediate “stop work” orders on *existing* projects.
This is sweeping and reckless. People are going to die.
This is sweeping and reckless. People are going to die.
January 25, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Trump has not just paused new foreign aid. Today Marco Rubio sent a cable to all US diplomatic missions calling for immediate “stop work” orders on *existing* projects.
This is sweeping and reckless. People are going to die.
This is sweeping and reckless. People are going to die.
I will be giving an LSE lecture on the economics of antimicrobial resistance at 6pm today. The event is virtual, and you can register below. Hope to see you there.
lse.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
lse.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
January 21, 2025 at 4:01 PM
I will be giving an LSE lecture on the economics of antimicrobial resistance at 6pm today. The event is virtual, and you can register below. Hope to see you there.
lse.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
lse.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Most Republicans seem to see China as America's biggest threat. If this is the case, then even from an America First stand point, it seems very short sighted to abandon the world's poorest and create a vacuums for China to fill. apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump suspends US foreign assistance for 90 days pending reviews
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order temporarily suspending all U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days pending reviews to determine whether they are aligned with his policy goals...
apnews.com
January 21, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Most Republicans seem to see China as America's biggest threat. If this is the case, then even from an America First stand point, it seems very short sighted to abandon the world's poorest and create a vacuums for China to fill. apnews.com/article/trum...
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
Seriously grim. Breaks my heart that fellow Jews can't see the obvious parallels.
Even if in their own self-interest. A world of hatred based on identity never works out well for us.
Even if in their own self-interest. A world of hatred based on identity never works out well for us.
The sort of language being normalised in a British broadsheet: "she places Islam outside the spheres of progress and modernity, embracing the dagger with both hands...if the barbarians tumble into the lowlands, our culture is lost." www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01...
The West stands on the brink of destruction
Melanie Phillips is no stranger to dismantling fashionable orthodoxies. She is now making her most robust challenge yet
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 19, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Seriously grim. Breaks my heart that fellow Jews can't see the obvious parallels.
Even if in their own self-interest. A world of hatred based on identity never works out well for us.
Even if in their own self-interest. A world of hatred based on identity never works out well for us.
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
It will be a degrees warmer than JFK's, 2 degrees colder than Obama's first and Carters. All of which were outside. Ulysses Grant managed on what is still the coldest March day on record.
It will be ten degrees warmer and far less windy than Reagan's second inauguration the only other one inside.
It will be ten degrees warmer and far less windy than Reagan's second inauguration the only other one inside.
January 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
It will be a degrees warmer than JFK's, 2 degrees colder than Obama's first and Carters. All of which were outside. Ulysses Grant managed on what is still the coldest March day on record.
It will be ten degrees warmer and far less windy than Reagan's second inauguration the only other one inside.
It will be ten degrees warmer and far less windy than Reagan's second inauguration the only other one inside.
Conference organiser: "Please share your most recent high-resolution headshot"
Anthony: "This photo I really like from April 2018 is definitely my most recent right?"
Anthony: "This photo I really like from April 2018 is definitely my most recent right?"
January 17, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Conference organiser: "Please share your most recent high-resolution headshot"
Anthony: "This photo I really like from April 2018 is definitely my most recent right?"
Anthony: "This photo I really like from April 2018 is definitely my most recent right?"
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
With Trump's inauguration just days away, many people are worried about what his second term will mean for global reproductive rights. In a new blog, my colleagues and I argue that the UK should step up to champion family planning and reproductive rights:
www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-...
www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-...
https://www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-election-gives-uk-clear-global-health-mission-champion-family-planning-and-reproductive"
January 15, 2025 at 11:48 AM
With Trump's inauguration just days away, many people are worried about what his second term will mean for global reproductive rights. In a new blog, my colleagues and I argue that the UK should step up to champion family planning and reproductive rights:
www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-...
www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-...
20 years ago, a teacher told that a child had been conceived using two eggs, and no sperm. I asked if it would work using only sperm and what would happen if a child got two Y genes. Some kids ridiculed me thinking the question implied I was gay, our teacher led the mocking. Things changed fast.
January 15, 2025 at 1:36 PM
20 years ago, a teacher told that a child had been conceived using two eggs, and no sperm. I asked if it would work using only sperm and what would happen if a child got two Y genes. Some kids ridiculed me thinking the question implied I was gay, our teacher led the mocking. Things changed fast.
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
New CGD event! On Jan. 29, experts will explore the impact of AMR on up to 140 different countries, as part of a new, interactive data visualization tool.💊
Ft: Prof Dame Sally Davies, Tim Laurence, Amanda Countryman, and Anthony McDonnell.
RSVP to join us ⬇
bit.ly/40vholF
Ft: Prof Dame Sally Davies, Tim Laurence, Amanda Countryman, and Anthony McDonnell.
RSVP to join us ⬇
bit.ly/40vholF
January 14, 2025 at 9:29 PM
New CGD event! On Jan. 29, experts will explore the impact of AMR on up to 140 different countries, as part of a new, interactive data visualization tool.💊
Ft: Prof Dame Sally Davies, Tim Laurence, Amanda Countryman, and Anthony McDonnell.
RSVP to join us ⬇
bit.ly/40vholF
Ft: Prof Dame Sally Davies, Tim Laurence, Amanda Countryman, and Anthony McDonnell.
RSVP to join us ⬇
bit.ly/40vholF
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
Terrific column - also highlights one absurdity among many of the calls for a further inquiry: the people doing so will openly admit that they “know” what the problem is and some will even say precisely what extreme means should follow from this knowledge - yet their call is another inquiry.
Column on how means conquered ends www.economist.com/britain/2025...
January 9, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Terrific column - also highlights one absurdity among many of the calls for a further inquiry: the people doing so will openly admit that they “know” what the problem is and some will even say precisely what extreme means should follow from this knowledge - yet their call is another inquiry.
Jimmy Carter’s legacy is immense, but one moment stands out: seeing a woman in Ghana, incapacitated by Guinea worm, he vowed to fight the disease. Thanks in large part to his efforts, cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to near eradication. A true champion of global health. Rest in peace.
December 29, 2024 at 11:49 PM
Jimmy Carter’s legacy is immense, but one moment stands out: seeing a woman in Ghana, incapacitated by Guinea worm, he vowed to fight the disease. Thanks in large part to his efforts, cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to near eradication. A true champion of global health. Rest in peace.
The reason the UK has the highest tax rates in 70 years and crumbling public services is in large part due to a lack of growth over the last 16 years.
We shouldn't back growth at all costs, but it's disingenuous to say that it won't benefit struggling communities, who need public services most.
We shouldn't back growth at all costs, but it's disingenuous to say that it won't benefit struggling communities, who need public services most.
Growth for whom? Who will benefit? Not children in poverty or financially struggling communities
UK PM, Chancellor, business secretary order the FCA, Ofgem, Ofwat, other regulators to come up with ideas to boost economic growth of their industries.
It is a race-to-the-bottom and bonfire of people's rights.
Remember deregulation and the 2008 crash.
news.sky.com/story/amp/st...
It is a race-to-the-bottom and bonfire of people's rights.
Remember deregulation and the 2008 crash.
news.sky.com/story/amp/st...
December 29, 2024 at 11:14 AM
The reason the UK has the highest tax rates in 70 years and crumbling public services is in large part due to a lack of growth over the last 16 years.
We shouldn't back growth at all costs, but it's disingenuous to say that it won't benefit struggling communities, who need public services most.
We shouldn't back growth at all costs, but it's disingenuous to say that it won't benefit struggling communities, who need public services most.
Reposted by Anthony McDonnell
New @cgdev.org policy paper:
*MALARIA VACCINES* are a huge scientific breakthrough. But the world is dragging its feet on rolling them out.
We examine why, and how to go faster.
🧵
*MALARIA VACCINES* are a huge scientific breakthrough. But the world is dragging its feet on rolling them out.
We examine why, and how to go faster.
🧵
December 16, 2024 at 11:37 AM
New @cgdev.org policy paper:
*MALARIA VACCINES* are a huge scientific breakthrough. But the world is dragging its feet on rolling them out.
We examine why, and how to go faster.
🧵
*MALARIA VACCINES* are a huge scientific breakthrough. But the world is dragging its feet on rolling them out.
We examine why, and how to go faster.
🧵