The Princeton Pulse Podcast

Fighting Hunger in America: The Future of SNAP and the Evolution of Food Policy

About 40 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Since 1964, this federal program, formerly known as food stamps, has prevented low-income households, children, people with disabilities, veterans, and other vulnerable populations from going hungry. But changes are coming. On this episode, we explore how major policy reforms, budget cuts, and the Make America Healthy Again Movement are set to transform the way benefits are administered and who is eligible to receive them.  Host Heather Howard [https://spia.princeton.edu/faculty/heatherh], a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, is joined by two guests: Benjamin Chrisinger [https://as.tufts.edu/commhealth/people/faculty/benjamin-chrisinger], an assistant professor at Tufts University and a visiting research scholar at Princeton’s Center for Health and Wellbeing, whose work examines food access, safety net programs, and other issues related to health and health disparities; and Gina Plata-Nino [https://frac.org/news/plataninosnapdirectornov2025], SNAP Director for the Food Research and Action Center, where she advocates for policies to restore, protect and strengthen the SNAP program. The panel explains the latest research regarding SNAP’s impact on food security, health outcomes, and the broader community, as well as challenges that threaten the program’s effectiveness. They also cover how states are considering changes of their own, from restrictions on SNAP-eligible foods to a shift from food vouchers to cash transfers. Finally, they highlight ways to inform hunger-fighting policies while improving public health, reducing health care costs, and boosting local economies. Visit the FRAC website [https://frac.org/research/resource-library] for fact sheets, reports and other resources related to SNAP.   See recent SNAP-focused publications authored by Ben Chrisinger: Removing Unhealthy Foods From SNAP—A MAHA Strategy to Take Seriously [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2845476] Keeping SNAP in Line with Global Evidence on Food Security | New England Journal of Medicine [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2407583] Read Heather Howard’s piece in the New England Journal of Medicine: The Rural Health Transformation Program — An Avenue for Promoting Administrative Policies | New England Journal of Medicine [https://www-nejm-org.ezproxy.princeton.edu/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2515454]  The Princeton Pulse Podcast [https://chw.princeton.edu/princeton-pulse-podcast] is a production of Princeton University's Center for Health and Wellbeing [https://chw.princeton.edu/] (CHW). The show is hosted by Heather Howard, a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, produced by Aimee Bronfeld, and edited by Alex Brownstein. You can subscribe to The Princeton Pulse Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1647857963], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3zaKlMYrXMi1K6TFvwk0ZP], or wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

An Insider’s View on the Future of U.S. Health Policy

This special episode of the Princeton Pulse Podcast features a conversation with Chiquita Brooks-LaSure [https://tcf.org/experts/chiquita-brooks-lasure/], former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, known as CMS. Host Heather Howard [https://spia.princeton.edu/faculty/heatherh], a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, recently sat down with the renowned Princeton alumna to discuss the future of U.S. health care policy. Their talk was held in front of a live audience to kick off the Dean’s Leadership Series [https://spia.princeton.edu/events/deans-leadership-series-chiquita-brooks-lasure-96-fmr-administrator-centers-medicare-and], hosted by the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure is an inspiring changemaker in the realm of health and health care. She was the first Black woman to lead CMS, where she oversaw programs serving more than 150 million Americans. Under her leadership, from 2021-2025, CMS doubled health coverage under the Affordable Care Act marketplaces from 12 to 24 million enrollees, expanded and strengthened Medicaid, lowered prescription drug prices, and raised maternal health standards.  This candid and rich discussion addresses the future of Medicare and Medicaid under the current administration, policy pathways to strengthen these programs, and opportunities for advancing equity, access, and innovation in U.S. health care.  --- Learn more about Brooks-LaSure’s views on Medicare and Medicaid:  Medicare and Medicaid Turn Sixty [https://tcf.org/content/commentary/medicare-and-medicaid-turn-sixty/] Medicare Check-Up With Former CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xYxAeIeloY] The Princeton Pulse Podcast [https://chw.princeton.edu/princeton-pulse-podcast] is a production of Princeton University's Center for Health and Wellbeing [https://chw.princeton.edu/] (CHW). The show is hosted by Heather Howard, a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, produced by Aimee Bronfeld, and edited by Alex Brownstein. You can subscribe to The Princeton Pulse Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1647857963], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3zaKlMYrXMi1K6TFvwk0ZP], or wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

The Devastating Health Impacts of U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts

This episode of the Princeton Pulse Podcast addresses the public health implications of U.S. foreign aid cuts, which have sent shock waves across the world. With the stroke of a pen, billions of dollars were abruptly pulled from projects dedicated to HIV prevention, treatments for deadly diseases, basic health care for children, and other essential services – rolling back decades of progress with severe consequences that could affect generations to come.  Without U.S. support, countless lives are at risk. While populations in low-income countries will hurt the most, citizens of all countries will pay the price, including Americans, as global health systems collapse, infectious diseases soar, and the world is less prepared for emerging health threats. Host Heather Howard [https://spia.princeton.edu/faculty/heatherh], a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, is joined by two distinguished guests. Pascaline Dupas [/people/pascaline-dupas], professor of economics and public affairs and director of the Center for Health and Wellbeing at Princeton University, and also a scientific director for JPAL [https://www.povertyactionlab.org/], is a development economist. Over the past two decades, Dupas has conducted research [https://sites.google.com/view/pascaline-dupas/research?authuser=0] aimed at reducing global poverty and identifying evidence-based solutions for critical health challenges in low-income settings. Also joining the show is Cindy Huang [https://www.cgdev.org/expert/cindy-huang] from the Center for Global Development [https://www.cgdev.org/], who has over 20 years of experience leading humanitarian and international development efforts across government and non-profit sectors.  The panel discusses the reach and effectiveness of global health programs, why U.S. foreign aid cuts will impede the discovery and adoption of life-saving interventions, how countries can become less reliant on external aid, and hope for the path forward. --- Articles relevant to topics discussed: Subsidizing secondary education has huge benefits, for this generation and the next [https://voxdev.org/topic/education/subsidising-secondary-education-has-huge-benefits-generation-and-next] Free contraception had no impact on birth rates in Burkina Faso [https://voxdev.org/topic/health/free-contraception-had-no-impact-birth-rates-burkina-faso] The impact of price on take-up and use of preventive health products [https://www.povertyactionlab.org/policy-insight/impact-price-take-and-use-preventive-health-products]  The Future of US Foreign Assistance: Lessons and Strategic Directions [https://www.cgdev.org/blog/future-us-foreign-assistance-lessons-and-strategic-directions]  How Many Lives Does US Foreign Aid Save?  [https://www.cgdev.org/blog/how-many-lives-does-us-foreign-aid-save] The Princeton Pulse Podcast [https://chw.princeton.edu/princeton-pulse-podcast] is a production of Princeton University's Center for Health and Wellbeing [https://chw.princeton.edu/] (CHW). The show is hosted by Heather Howard, a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, produced by Aimee Bronfeld, and edited by Alex Brownstein. You can subscribe to The Princeton Pulse Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1647857963], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3zaKlMYrXMi1K6TFvwk0ZP], or wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

Innovations in Vaccine Development and Delivery

Imagine a tiny patch that could painlessly deliver life-saving vaccines without a trained medical professional. Or a malaria vaccine that doesn’t require refrigeration, making it easier to distribute in tropical countries where the disease is commonly transmitted. Those innovations, among others, are on the cusp of transforming vaccine development and delivery, a top priority in global health.  This episode of the Princeton Pulse Podcast concludes a two-part series on vaccines, which protect hundreds of millions of people from preventable illnesses like smallpox, polio, and measles. The last show addressed concerning shifts in U.S. vaccine policy. This one focuses on progress and promise, even in the face of dwindling global health resources and a host of other challenges.  Host Heather Howard [https://spia.princeton.edu/faculty/heatherh], a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, is joined by two guests: Princeton Professor Andrea Graham [https://eeb.princeton.edu/people/andrea-graham], an evolutionary ecologist with strong research interests in immunity, disease ecology, and disease transmission; and Janeen Madan Keller [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cgdev.org%2Fexpert%2Fjaneen-madan-keller%23%3A~%3Atext%3DJaneen%2520Madan%2520Keller%2520is%2520Deputy%2Ceconomics%2520of%2520global%2520health%2520challenges.&data=05%7C02%7Cabronfeld%40Princeton.EDU%7C32fcea82f177496e1c8808ddca190b7b%7C2ff601167431425db5af077d7791bda4%7C0%7C0%7C638888931239761912%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RV1q5raWKOGiZR9sM48kRvyS0CqyUBESJ8PX5HMUp9Q%3D&reserved=0], deputy director of global health policy and policy fellow at the Center for Global Development. Together, they highlight scientific discoveries that set the stage for a new generation of vaccines that could boost immunization rates around the world while preparing us for the next pandemic.  The panel shares exciting advances in the lab, from mRNA technology that can train the immune system to recognize, remember, and target invading pathogens, to plant-based edible vaccines. They also talk about overcoming barriers to access with solar-powered refrigerators that don’t depend on unreliable energy sources, combination vaccines that reduce the number of injections and medical visits, and other potential game changers that could ensure vaccines reach the people who need them most. --- Learn more about the Center for Global Development [https://www.cgdev.org/] and its Tough Times, Tough [https://www.cgdev.org/tags/tough-times-tough-choices] Choices series. Visit Andrea Graham’s website [https://algraham.princeton.edu/] to read about her lab’s research on the immune system and disease transmission. Listen to Alarming Trends in U.S. Vaccine Policy – And What We Can Do About It [https://chw.princeton.edu/news/podcast-alarming-shifts-us-vaccine-policy-%E2%80%93-and-what-we-can-do-about-it] The Princeton Pulse Podcast [https://chw.princeton.edu/princeton-pulse-podcast] is a production of Princeton University's Center for Health and Wellbeing [https://chw.princeton.edu/] (CHW). The show is hosted by Heather Howard, a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, produced by Aimee Bronfeld, and edited by Alex Brownstein. You can subscribe to The Princeton Pulse Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1647857963], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3zaKlMYrXMi1K6TFvwk0ZP], or wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

Alarming Shifts in U.S. Vaccine Policy – And What We Can Do About It

In this episode, the Princeton Pulse Podcast explores recent developments in federal vaccine policy that have public officials deeply worried, along with strategies for reducing vaccine hesitancy and restoring public trust. Will Americans lose access to life-saving vaccines, one of the greatest achievements in public health? Will we see a resurgence of previously eradicated diseases, like measles, which is dangerously on the rise? What can we do at the state and local levels to counter misinformation and protect people from harmful diseases?  Host Heather Howard addresses these questions and more with two guests: Dr. Céline Gounder [https://www.celinegounder.com/], a practicing infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist as well as a senior fellow at KFF, editor-at-large at KFF Health News, and medical contributor for CBS News; and Jason Schwartz [https://ysph.yale.edu/profile/jason-l-schwartz/], associate professor at the Yale School of Public Health, whose research examines vaccination and public health policy, medical regulation, and the impact of science in government decisions.  The panel discusses alarming trends in U.S. vaccination and immunity rates, our increasing vulnerability to disease outbreaks, the erosion of transparency and processes in scientific decision-making, and how states, the medical community, and researchers can help to rebuild trust in science and public health. --- Learn about the Vaccine Integrity Project of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cidrap.umn.edu%2Fvaccine-integrity-project&data=05%7C02%7Cabronfeld%40Princeton.EDU%7C533e81813aa04998209408ddc56b8f67%7C2ff601167431425db5af077d7791bda4%7C0%7C0%7C638883787945008163%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1uSRoY3bN9uPzTIjGIe8iq1w79i1sp4TCw6YN3%2BG9Z8%3D&reserved=0] and the Edelman Trust Barometer [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.edelman.com%2Ftrust%2Ftrust-barometer&data=05%7C02%7Cabronfeld%40Princeton.EDU%7C533e81813aa04998209408ddc56b8f67%7C2ff601167431425db5af077d7791bda4%7C0%7C0%7C638883787945030046%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=i1OyF%2Bc57cI8vubRiZrhlz8jxkq%2FXOCEKl0iuIXU1dU%3D&reserved=0], which reports on public trust in institutions, media, and other sources of health information. View Jason Schwartz’s research [https://medicine.yale.edu/lab/jschwartz/] at Yale School of Public Health. Dr. Céline Gounder shares health news, articles, and research at https://x.com/celinegounder [https://x.com/celinegounder]. Read a recent op-ed co-authored by Professor Howard: New Jersey must act to protect public health from federal sabotage [https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/06/op-ed-protect-new-jersey-vaccine-safety-public-health-from-federal-sabotage/]. The Princeton Pulse Podcast [https://chw.princeton.edu/princeton-pulse-podcast] is a production of Princeton University's Center for Health and Wellbeing [https://chw.princeton.edu/] (CHW). The show is hosted by Heather Howard, a professor at Princeton University and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, produced by Aimee Bronfeld, and edited by Alex Brownstein. You can subscribe to The Princeton Pulse Podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1647857963], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3zaKlMYrXMi1K6TFvwk0ZP], or wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.