Inside the Collapse of USAID: What the Aid Cuts Really Mean for Millions

Eyewitness to Israeli Settler Violence

In this episode of the Pragmatic Idealist, host Mike Brand is joined by Jenna Fischer to discuss her time volunteering with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, engaging in protective presence in the occupied West Bank. Jenna speaks about her time in the village of Umm al Khair in Masafer Yatta, recounts how welcomed she was in the community by Palestinian friends, and how she was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers. Mike and Jenna discuss the expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank, the struggle within the American Jewish community to unlearn what they've been taught about Israel while reconciling with the realities on the ground in Palestine and Israel, and the wider issues of apartheid. In the conversation, Jenna and Mike talk about their personal history with Israel, social justice, Tikkun Olam, and why they continue to speak out against injustices in Israel/Palestine. For more information on some of the topics and organizations discussed in this episode, check out these links:https://cjnv.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHFJSF9KYWJaaXNxazVsbVpCalp0Mk9aVk5Md3xBQ3Jtc0tuY2xuNlY4dnlESFZyUGZDTWNnNkJaOHdWUHd5SVh1OEVzaHJ1SGxEME1xaVFwR2l0UkRLaHJkSFBzZmlwaHhVMlBGTVNMVG5YbDZrc3RDVGtmNmlyQVBkazQ1QlpNbm1VLW1pLU9jSHcxcDU0MXExTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fcjnv.org%2F&v=Xgy08YYfTWI] https://cjnv.org/hineinu/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbi1zdWVfNE9NZ3V6UjdybncxTl84QnRrOGJ5Z3xBQ3Jtc0tuV1hrOGZJUWtzSl90aDh4OEhtQTQxejBNSldkQndHSzlRRzhXbWtDdmpfeVhaeWMwQ2diMXlpNUhyaXRvNUxXNHpoX0dsVG1NMDFTYkRFbS00eV9tQ1VQU0tUUFpjaHpiTVZZWFJJdjU0Z1FXVEFlTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fcjnv.org%2Fhineinu%2F&v=Xgy08YYfTWI] https://www.2j3o.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazJKdkJIZ1Z1UVc3VS1DUUlXbGdXVHR6VnY2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttSUp5bmhucjRQZkNQamNKTFM5eW9VMHM1N0dBem9zSmV5MWl5ay1TWllyVVRkcEdpdzFZbEg2T0VERW1iY3g1Tk9MX3ViR2tqLXNLcElrQS0wZ19OLUtNQzROdmVYQ1A5RFZEdEJOVC1BaU94VmlDdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.2j3o.org%2F&v=Xgy08YYfTWI] https://www.rememberingawdah.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUhNVUNqeVlEUGVsWE12Q09SMHZBWjRyUXcyQXxBQ3Jtc0ttVGthYlczQlRuXzZnclVJMERkZGpkelJoLVVEV3BnX01QVFBabUkyVmljRDZzeDd2TkV4ZEhyYnB1NlZYQk1lc0lvRUFMSUxZZF94Y1NWWktSV19VdnNSc2toVVk0YzhlTkl4MGttZlJIa1ZUV2xtcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rememberingawdah.com%2F&v=Xgy08YYfTWI] https://supportmasaferyatta.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnJiQ1p6SVZVcjFYQjg2Rm0tRHVQcFZZX2FDUXxBQ3Jtc0tsak4yRWxLdGhTNnItT1NlYjd0c3dCYmNBWGc4YTFPRF80eDk0cjF5ak8tMi1JeXVwSm03ZnlkZi1oYUxTTTJZZk00RVpPR0d5Q0E4Q1NaMk05N3VrdUY3ZUVXSHVrenlWSVN4R1N4NUVYMk1LNkc0VQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsupportmasaferyatta.com%2F&v=Xgy08YYfTWI] https://www.rebuildingalliance.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3kxM2luOVdmakZ6cjFERUJRcmg4dExKZHMyQXxBQ3Jtc0ttZS1rN1RVOWY4bTNwV2JDZTRqOXUtMUNmWll1bVh0dTd4amF5M1FJUzRvcnJobE1vWVhEQ1BFUXIxcGRlbzlCYWo5UC1zbDFVY2JTamFRelBwRUx0VzF3TU04cTZWLVpiR3JvN0pyeTZNWlZWQ3JfUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rebuildingalliance.org%2F&v=Xgy08YYfTWI] Subscribe and follow miketheIdealist for more: Tiktok:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa05pY3VJajlIcjhZQ25RR2Zic0lLdUZJYk1IUXxBQ3Jtc0trNlBQMVNmRjg5bmhpRDdSUkExcWlBY3FaRWJaS2ZqT2gyX09qLVE1VmZ0al82aFMwcDdUMDBaNmFBbXZQVjAzNDFKX05SaHFwc3ZaYk9McVJuelZ2cWlzV0w2ZTZFYi05b3Q1Q0ZqeWpNRndCYlMzVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40miketheidealist&v=Xgy08YYfTWI] Twitch:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGZpR2xJMkYxSzg5anVHLXRLN1JtdlRSZXp6UXxBQ3Jtc0tubEI0c2FfNWN5R3Npc0JQZXZEclVkYVBFLU9GemFYNjBIZF9aVm1oYmtTMVIxTWxSM19qbUZTWkV4U3Q4enlpQ0tXTGNqaDZHeHJDOTZzQ1pET29PTWdMYmp1MWFuVnNHNWxWRnZTdmJWVTNlYy1hTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fmiketheidealist&v=Xgy08YYfTWI] Twitter:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa25zZTE2YnlnekZ0Rkk5a1NkQS0ySVJMTnFTd3xBQ3Jtc0trSVJHajFPS3owbjhEZFBteXV6MXU3MXJZMjB5eTYtWndjMW02emY1bEJNZjVnSFVpREdhdk1fSzBlNXp3MlIwU29EVnp1SS01Vlg0aGFieEJ1VzJPZmg1R3NzTEN1Z3FGUWp6QW1objdsWWIzODJncw&q=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmiketheidealist&v=Xgy08YYfTWI] Facebook:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXFxT1pFajN3R3FsOWt4TVdMcW5UZTBaeEl4QXxBQ3Jtc0ttZ1VERDI2NHpnYlZQM1pnT3pQeVFpVU54RGR3aHRDWjZGOHdLZHIyQnRDWlpGdWh4Rkw0ZjJkOTNwSkVnYWRoUzBJS216NW9mRi1LQ1ZGTndrRjNmaV9Yb213N2FiSUh1S2FGVmpXZV94alRqOURmSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmiketheidealist&v=Xgy08YYfTWI] Instagram:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NkMUY4Y0Y1R2Q1THRTUTVpcVJwbkFrQUVQQXxBQ3Jtc0tsTWtISXVHZFVZcEkwWEdMTDQ2U0ZCSjAtd0JwdEJwajZlOWw4RHU4STVtMjZ3VVBwOTRBcTRGMkJIeU1TM3NEMC1nRmNrbm1kdFZ4YzIxNkxtRmdmdmMwRllnVnZqNENfYVlBcE0zR2N0SE96d1dhYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmiketheidealist&v=Xgy08YYfTWI]

Inside the Collapse of USAID: What the Aid Cuts Really Mean for Millions

What really happened inside USAID as the Trump administration dismantled the agency, and what does its collapse mean for global health, humanitarian aid, and US foreign policy?In this in-depth conversation, I’m joined by Julianne Weis, former USAID global health official and Managing Director of Aid on the Hill, to break down the sudden shutdown of USAID, the chaos that followed, and the real-world consequences for millions of people worldwide.Julianne brings nearly 20 years of experience in international development, including years inside USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health. She explains how lifesaving programs were halted overnight, why critical data systems like demographic health surveys and famine early-warning tools went dark, and how political decisions in Washington translated directly into suffering on the ground. Check out https://www.aidonthehill.org to learn more about the work Julianne and many former USAID staff are doing, engaging with members of Congress advocating for a better foreign policy. Subscribe and follow miketheIdealist for more: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@miketheidealist Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/miketheidealist Twitter: https://twitter.com/miketheidealist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miketheidealist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miketheidealist

Gaza, the State of Atrocities Prevention, & What's Next After USAID | The Pragmatic Idealist

In this episode of The Pragmatic Idealist, host Mike Brand sits down with Dr. Saghar Shahidi-Birjandian for a candid conversation about the global state of atrocity prevention in the wake of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, challenges in the prevention and international humanitarian community with the dissolution of USAID, and advice for those seeking a career in the field of atrocity prevention and genocide studies. They discuss the bipartisan Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act and the Global Fragility Act, and how President Trump is dismantling these laws despite signing both bills into law. The fracture within the atrocity prevention community over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, with debate around the International Association of Genocide Scholars’ resolution declaring Israel’s conduct as genocide. And, funding pressures, accusations of antisemitism, and why many organizations stay silent on genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing.Like, comment, and subscribe to support more in-depth discussions on human security, conflict prevention, and global justice. Join the Conversation! What stood out to you in this episode—donor dependency, US policy rollbacks, or the split among genocide scholars over Gaza? Share your thoughts, questions, or resources in the comments.If you value deep dives on atrocity prevention, peacebuilding, and human rights, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss a new episode of The Pragmatic Idealist.Subscribe and follow miketheIdealist for more: Tiktok:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEFjd2g0TE03VHhxd1FtYmJ6dkgtOGs2UmUyZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttb19GNUxQMWdkNmN4QW10UTVYekNTZUpCX3g2a0lva0lsbXp1VnJnQjczQUIzRDJ3N0c1bUNMNkx5QWppRlJRNW1EeTBDQ2RnVHpvLTZqY0hDVnNsZFEwd1IxYVNYQ1d1QU9UWFROOUszbjJ0M1NpTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40miketheidealist&v=leYo7niRqFM] Twitch:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkxseDRzMG5WQkZsRU94bjNLYWR6VW9weWNyd3xBQ3Jtc0tuVnYwaS1UX2Jjbk50Y1FKYnNYeGNLY1p3Sm1ZQ0c4ZUJLWWFPRGZiUS0tQWNoM1RTUFJqWW51YmRPTl9CU1hIRUFNRmFBUVBYeUtEbWZSSFVJTkZxWG9FNVRGb2NodHlsMi10ZkI2WVNqYkNCZ3pFQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fmiketheidealist&v=leYo7niRqFM] Twitter:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjBIUG9VSVZfNURxWE80b3hvQnkySUV2ZFJrUXxBQ3Jtc0ttaVdjNEVKUkEyaVp5ZG1iRU5zYVAycHl0SlBBODcxVnFqLXdWQ01pcTJFQ1lGeHFjNzRXS2cwTThkV1ktNjhJYUpaTWY3OGVBdHVfR2hTR0FfTVpmeVhWc29uSGFMRWgwUlo1MVZiSllNeG5ocHRXSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmiketheidealist&v=leYo7niRqFM] Facebook:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXUyckdZR2gtZG0zYzByUkdFYVZUNnVvNFljd3xBQ3Jtc0ttWmR4djgtVEcwbXVrT3ozWEJRdWhiTHhub1VEdFFsdnduSVREWEdqdlBvQmdUNVVvbjZRR21nV1oxdjdoYUdzYTB1UnRuay1HVHk4TzFRV01vbWlXa2NhQWxvWnd5ZDN3RXpQcW9Rd0dtNUl5TDk0RQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmiketheidealist&v=leYo7niRqFM] Instagram:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXV4bFdhR0M4bVhXYW0tX0tYRVljZFFFNFBDQXxBQ3Jtc0tuMWhuOVE5R3JiUHFrZ1o3cS00U3djVHN3amxGbHdmQmRsdWdQVnRzbE1QU0Rhdlc2SzhxTFZvM2VISURWV2o2bnp6X2xOd09PX0RhWEN2YnVfVkN0TnFLbGh5NGVLaTdIVHl1UlBQOF90VGdDclFiWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmiketheidealist&v=leYo7niRqFM]

A Jewish Call to Confront Genocide in Gaza | End Silence and Complicity

I have spent nearly two decades working to prevent mass atrocities—genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. I was inspired by many in the Jewish community who led the anti-genocide movement 20 years ago to end the genocide in Darfur. Where is that leadership today?In this video, I speak about the blind spot in the Jewish community when it comes to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. While Jewish organizations mobilized against genocide in Darfur, Myanmar, and the DRC, many have stayed silent or worse, justified the atrocities Israel is committing in Gaza and the West Bank.This is a moment of moral reckoning for the Jewish community and the world. If we could speak out against atrocities in Sudan, Myanmar, and elsewhere, we must also speak out for Palestinians. “Never Again” must mean never again for everyone. Watch the video on my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGVdtBmxiig

Israel Plans to Ethnically Cleanse Gaza

Israel stops pretending and announces its plans to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip. Mike Brand, an expert in mass atrocities (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing), responds and provides some context to the latest news. We all need to do more to stand up against mass atrocities wherever they occur. Subscribe and follow miketheIdealist for more: Tiktok:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0hnTmI3U3U0QUVwcms3ckl5cUpuUzU0TGtxQXxBQ3Jtc0tuX0VzNDB4dHFES1BLNnE3NzZrQ2xrVWNBcmowWlBIYjlnMjlxN2hwSTlzYVBsUDJubjVSeTZEWkFWbml3bXY0NUpTcVF0MEszWGMtQU5vRFNZOTVSWEY4Z2YyN0dGSXhqWHpzaE0wb3N0Z3RkQjZnNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40miketheidealist&v=PofV1QSkWHA] Twitch:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWs0Q0xHR2d6UXNJVFNicW1TSUtTbDNfWWxmZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttWTFQM1ppR3l3S0l4WFdBbm1QY0FnV3lwSy1DQmpHb3o2X2toRmtuYmdsYmo3SENOOEFpMUdOdXdiQWhHZDBwbmlpMFZfX19KM196YzZxSng1dXRIbUdRU09XQXpySWpwa3ExWDNKeVRuS0pGX0w5dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fmiketheidealist&v=PofV1QSkWHA] Twitter:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazc2RENYd2VvdVJ3ZXRaM1pxMUQ4b1ViQUkxZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsNE1kZGZBNE84dkRTeVhiaEJ6ZVBEc2lpZ3BBeDJTNUoyMVFfejlodUtfeFFQR2lDRHp0N2pDMUxIYl9ERU94ZHJ0X1ZiZ0lHd2h0V2RBc2VOVHRWUFo3NFFNTzM5aEh5NTBKekh6dERsc0NBbVVsVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmiketheidealist&v=PofV1QSkWHA] Facebook:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa014WVM3UUNTdS14Q2RvQ3NxT0pXcnB6R3hwUXxBQ3Jtc0tuaFlBbkNSRFF5TWpIaDlUTkF0eFFudFRwVlQ5SFhTODhGZmRZdlBfSzVGZTNGVVlZc0czUnpIVjBPalU4M082dFh2WGY1QWdGczdJX3BqdW5OSlIxQk4wS1lpQ2x2X2doNW5YQXhVWlF2RkR4cVRvNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmiketheidealist&v=PofV1QSkWHA] Instagram:   / miketheidealist   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazdwTTRXd21tOVVfbm5hUWhTT3k1YmN1b1hTZ3xBQ3Jtc0trMVpnSWlmTFlWN1o5cjNMQjVDZUJ6UFdwYzh4WUtIcXZuTmpUX2tUSzVpWXRhN3BWbU1JeVpMaTk4Wl9jNEJPdVVzeDdtVzJzSEpDa1BZVnRQOXpGT0hfZjNrRVRWM2NycDltUkJ1V1NsaFhCWm1pOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmiketheidealist&v=PofV1QSkWHA]