Ascendant Health & Politics: Recent Episodes
Kyle McGowan & Amanda Campbell
A weekly podcast on public health and politics. Each week, Kyle and Amanda break down the latest public health news and the political influences that impact the lives of everyday Americans, businesses, and communities. They share their insight and experience from years working on Capitol Hill, HHS, and the CDC with listeners. Before starting their own business in August 2020, Kyle and Amanda served as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff at the CDC.
The midterm election results have created an unexpected set of dynamics for the lame duck period and will have further implications for Congress's ability to govern next year.
In this week's episode, Kyle and Amanda talk about the importance of data for public health and public health responses, highlighting some of the historical challenges as well as the solutions needed to ensure our nation is prepared for the next public health threat.
This week, Kyle and Amanda provide the latest updates and outlook on the U.S. response to COVID-19, including a discussion on the many variants of COVID-19 that are now circulating both in the U.S. and globally and what that means for us moving forward.
This week, Kyle and Amanda discuss the recent developments related to the pausing of the J&J vaccine, their own vaccination experience, and the Biden administration's broader public health priorities beyond the COVID-19 response highlighted in the budget proposed for Fiscal Year 2022.
In this week's episode, Kyle and Amanda describe the ins and outs of reconciliation that will be used to pass President Biden's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, and the resulting polarization that now inevitably ensues when Congress utilizes this process. Also discussed is the contentious confirmation of the nominee for the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and what an important role this individual will ultimately play in shaping the Administration's policies if confirmed.
This week, Kyle and Amanda discuss the various approaches states have taken in prioritizing teachers for COVID-19 vaccines, the political pressure coming from teachers' unions, and reopening schools. They also discuss the comments from Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx following the administration change and the challenges they faced during their time on the COVID-19 Task Force.
In today's episode, Kyle and Amanda unpack the Biden administration's COVID-19 response plan and the challenges they will face working with Congress and a 50/50 Senate to enact an aggressive policy agenda. They also cover the differences between the outgoing administration's approach compared to the Biden plan, recalling their experiences during the initial months of the response.
In this episode, Kyle and Amanda recall when they first learned about COVID and the early days of the response. They also cover the latest news regarding vaccine distribution and recent changes to the federal response efforts.
In today's episode, we cover the recent COVID-19 stimulus bill and what's in it for public health, but also discuss the recent events in our nation's Capitol. It's time for leaders with character to step up.
What is Operation Warp Speed? What are the next steps for vaccine approval and distribution? And how are states managing vaccine distribution? In this week's podcast, we address these questions and more, discussing the latest news regarding COVID-19 vaccines.
The incoming Biden health team is a mix of newcomers to the executive branch and former Obama administration officials. We discuss the nominees and offer our insights and recommendations for success, particularly in regards to the ongoing COVID-19 response.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise, what should we expect in the coming weeks as the first vaccines in the U.S. are approved and distribution begins? We discuss the latest news and why it's so difficult to listen and adhere to the advice of our nation's public health experts.
The fight for the majority in the US Senate hinges on two Georgia Senate races. Regardless of who holds the majority, however, big changes are ahead as a number of key committees with jurisdiction over the nation's public health agencies are likely to change leadership and greatly impact the future of the COVID-19 response.
With the recent good news about the Pfizer and Moderna Phase 3 trials exhibiting greater than 90% efficacy, what exactly does this mean and how does it compare to other vaccines? In this episode, we discuss the impact of these results and the next steps in the vaccine distribution process.