iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

Center for Global Development @cgdev.org · 20/07/2025

“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...

theguardian.com

Superbugs could kill millions more and cost $2tn a year by 2050, models show

Exclusive: Research on burden of antibiotic resistance for 122 countries predicts dire economic and health outcomes

051

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

Bill McKay @mckay4senate.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

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

22995035309

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Obviously this isn't true, but if it was it's an easy choice. Any half decent politician would choose deference in this situation over seeing their country be destroyed.

010

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

Alice Evans @draliceevans.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

“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

810862

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

Ian Mitchell @ianmitchell1.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

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)

22314

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

I once saw one for a half marathon, where a woman complained that her day was ruined by the weather...

020

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

It's surely possible to build in much better safety checks than appear to be in the US system.

000

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Fair, I was more responding to the tweet you're quoting. I think many on the left and right are guilty of the same thing, that competence correlates. He's good at business so must be smart and good at govt, vs he's bad at gov so must be bad at everything.

110

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

I share your/ most people's grave concerns about Musk in his government roles, and suspect he's struggling a bit elsewhere too. But he built some spectacular businesses, is clearly very smart and is/was brilliant. Too often we paint people as only being competent or incompetent.

100

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

As for life experience vs 18 year olds. you have to draw the line somewhere. There is a big difference at that age, they'll likely have a much better memory of the previous election, have spent far more time at an age where people might talk to them about politics etc.

000

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

I think there are 3 main arguments against it. 1) That their brains aren't sufficiently developed to think things through 2) that they lack the life experience and 3) that they're not invested enough in society. You can reduce the significance of 1 and 2 through education. 3 isn't a real concern.

100

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

I’m for votes at 16, but you could say that with less life experience 16 year olds need more education to get them to a point where they can vote well. And this is currently lacking.

100

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Until now the general strategy from those who oppose Trump has been to provide a long list of grievances. It's allowed him to conjure up a sense that there's a witch hunt, there's also not enough time to focus on any one thing in detail. Personally I think fewer topics in more depth would help.

010

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

So maybe It was the FAA's fault, but we don't know if any FAA changes impacted this flight yet. So maybe we should focus on the things we do know, like the known risks in changes to the FAA, or that the president has essentially said he's above the law, or the millions who now can't access HIV meds.

110

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

I know, Trump is playing with fire, but it's not clear he started this fire. The crash happened outside of the FAA's jurisdiction.

100

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

They did this cause they had few actual things they could pin on Biden. There are so many things that are definitely Trump's fault, why waste air bigging up the things that might be.

110

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

If you're going to blame the Trump for an accident that happens in another country then I think you need to be clearer about the mechanism. Otherwise I think you risk playing into his narrative that some people blame him for everything, this makes it harder to draw attention to the real harms.

041

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Call it an own gaol and Badenoch will be there in a flash!

010

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Do you think the UK should be trying to help people in Ukraine? Is there a better way to help them than helping to deter future attacks and ensure peace should a ceasefire be agreed?

0180

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

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."

010

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

I know this is probably not your decision, but please make this the Economist's front cover tomorrow, I'll take out a second subscription!

110

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

Atul Gawande @agawande.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

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.

10869345

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

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...

whofoundation.donorsupport.co

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.

021

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

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

“On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST).

For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming.

Thank you for your service”

13513096112083

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

So awful, I'm really curious to what they think this will achieve.

000

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

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...

statnews.com

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.

010

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

Rachel Bonnifield @rachelbonnifield.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

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.

37026

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

Justin Sandefur @justsand.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

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.

36729

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Ireland had it in our constitution, and in 2004 80% of people voted to remove it.

000

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

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...

Picture of Anthony McDonnell, alongside the text saying

"UNDERSTANDING THE ECONOMIC BURDEN OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
Anthony McDonnell, Centre for Global Development
Michael Anderson, LSE Health

Tuesday 21 January 2025
6.00pm - 7.30pm

Online Public Lecture
#LSEHealth

LSE Health"

040

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

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...

apnews.com

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...

000

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Sorry should have been clearer, I meant appointing judges, McConnell was good at getting them through the senate!

010

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

He was quite successful with the courts, and breaking things like institutional norms that were/will be hard to fix.

1150

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

I presume you chose GB to leave Northern Ireland out. MI5 still spend 20% of their resources there.

100

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

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.

50905168

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

It will be two degrees warmer than JFK's, 4 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 18 degrees warmer and far less windy than Reagan's second inauguration the only other one inside.

000

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

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.

5103

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

It probably is reasonable that it's inside, but it also reminds me of the president who did not want to visit a US cemetery in the rain, and so pretended there was an issue with security.

120

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

5103

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

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?"

000

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

100%, this also highlights why it’s a bad idea for governments to put forward referenda that they don’t believe in. If the referendum had been called by a UKIP government, they would had been forced to put out some kind of plan, and that would have been compared to the status quo.

1100

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

There would be less civil wars in Africa for sure, but then subsaharan Africa would be wealthier, and Michael Clemens research suggests more likely migrate!

000

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Really great blog post Katherine, well done.

010

Reposted by Anthony McDonnell

katherineklemperer.bsky.social @katherineklemperer.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

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-...

cgdev.org

276

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

10 years ago, 62% of the people in Galway voted to legalise same sex marriage. Also I've no idea where our science teacher got the conception story from, but it wasn't true.

000

Anthony McDonnell @mcdonnell.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

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.

130