Nancy Bolan — who has spent over 25 years saving the lives of mothers and newborn babies — was fired from her health care position at USAID on January 28 as part of Elon Musk's purge at the U.S. Agency for International Development. A native of Queens and now a resident of the Bronx, NY, and a registered nurse practitioner and certified midwife, Nancy has devoted her career to helping the most vulnerable women and children, in some of the most war ravaged places on earth. She is committed to the cause of helping fragile lives — babies in intensive care, immigrant communities in New York City, people facing Covid in the South Bronx-- and to training the next generation of nurses. She spent six years at USAID after a long career in health care and public health both in the United States and around the globe. All she wants to do is to return to her job — saving lives.
Congressman Ritchie Torres is the U.S. Representative for New York's 15th congressional district. He is a member of the Committee on Financial Services and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Previously, Torres served as the New York City Councilmember for the 15th district. Torres was the first openly LGBTQ+ candidate to be elected to legislative office in the Bronx, and the youngest member of the city council.
D’s in Congress: zero cooperation w Rs until Musk/DOGE fired! Stop the Coup!
They are doing what they can, but they are in the minority now. We have to reach the Reublicans who are not understanding their own power, and STOP DT.
No cooperation —includes re appointments & funding (3/14)!
Thank you ALL for your service.
The next and most terrifying battle is the refunding of the government. I like Rahm Emanuel’s advice to Dems. I do not want to have the government fail on 3/14. Talking about waste and abuse, along with fraud! That takes the entire cake!
And yet Rump/Musk are dismantling it piece by piece. Maybe having it happen all at once will wake people up! And the Rs have the power—let them figure out how to fund it! (Then they’ll own it).
I bow to whoever makes the call to do this, but my belief is that it is exactly what DT wants. He is exactly following Hitler’s playbook. They will not “own it” they will run away laughing with their ill gotten gains and evil intent to destroy the checks and balances. They WANT to destroy the government!
How do we rebuild trust with all the countries and people whom Trump/Musk have betrayed?
Decades I’m afraid. 😧
Easy: Get rid of the Putin symps. Musk, Trump, Vance, Oligarchs, etc. The free world will be grateful and eager to re-friend us. Not decades; days. BTW: have you noticed 99% of the Dems in Congress are feckless and inept?
Run for office. If you're sure you aren't reckless and inept.
Please stop. We need all attention on the villains and the coup. We need to be focused to break through the noise to get the attention of those voters who are starting to notice the harm Musk/Trump & their cult are causing our country. Don’t waste a minute of the precious time we have left by denigrating our side.
Thank you for putting a real face with the problem. It's critical that more people who are impacted are in the spotlight for greater understanding among MAGA supporters regarding how real people are being affected in their own communities. As we writers know all too well: Don't just tell them, show them.
Just a disgusting situation for everyone not in this treasonous administration. Karma can’t come soon enough. Thank you, Dr Bolen, and to Mr Torres and The Contrarian for keeping this at the forefront.
Is there no irony here that the pernicious administration responsible for this labels itself "pro-life?" Is there no contradiction that the zealots who wave the "pro-life" banners are all in for the cretins leading this horror? Do they not see that irony and contradiction? Or is it just as simple as that they are "pro" the right kind of life?
Why doesn't Nancy Bolan and others like her consider suing or a class action for civil damages and pain and suffering as well as possible libel (they said they were all incompetent) . Suing all involved (except Trump because of immunity) would help deter future illegal actions.
They eould have every right to sue, but doing so, particularly during unemployment, would be hard. I’m sure there’s a lot to think about such action. Maybe some of the people are considering it and putting thoughts together. As for the courts, having a majority stand up Wright’s today was helpful, and if we can get more people on the Supreme Court to stick together doing what is right, possibly someone could request or suggest that action be taken to reverse the immunity ruling which was made for that office. As you said, supported the court is needed, and that ruling ruled it out.
Trump and his minions make American look like a s******* country. No warning that you’re going to get fired? Most states have a law that requires layoff notices 30-60 days prior to event.
Wonderful interview Jen with Congressman Torres and the fired US Aid worker, Dr. Bolen. Two very exceptional, bright and tremendously caring, humane humans. This interview was so informative but what came across so immediately was their caring hearts so they both gave me hope still in humanity. They both are examples of where we should evolve to in heart consciousness and out of our individualistic egos. It is unconscionable that the USAid program was gutted. I'm so sorry for the workers such as Dr. Bolen. Also, the 15th congressional district in NY is so fortunate to have Torres as their representative. Thank you Jen.
What a stain on our country. So many lives affected by this! It’s like a genocide of people they deem worthless just so they can enrich themselves. It’s devastating to think about. How do they sleep at nite? I sure can’t.
This humanitarian effort worldwide engenders goodwill in other countries toward the US. I fear these cuts, firings and the abruptness of these actions will turn the local people on us. More terrorism creeping in perhaps? Puts the US at risk in more ways than simply politically.
Maybe the individuals forcing the cuts should go there to tell the huge groups of people in person. The people should know who exactly is wishing and forcing such adversity on them. Surely they must realize that it is not the choice of the wonderful people who have been helping them, and it is not the choice of our country as a whole. I do not think we could manage to cover an independent organization to help this necessary work continue, but I wish we could.
FYI: Millions dying ~ especially non-white, non-christian people ~ is a feature, not a bug. Musk and his oligarch friends likely figure losing 3 - 4 BILLION people would be a good thing. The intention is clear. Maybe another reason the Dems should get their shit together and stop him.
I agree that it is clear that they are trying to rid the world of much of its population, and we can see their for toons as you describe, Steven. I have seen that they are thinking that way for a long time, and I had hoped it all could be prevented. This reality is sickening. I think all of Congress and all of the courts should step in immediately halt the cruelty, stop the defamation of our country, and to give support to everyone who is threatened and/or afraid so our government can stand in unity. Is that possible somehow?
Such a high value professional. The global and domestic issues around perinatal mortality and morbidity desperately need people like this doctorally trained NP. Infectious diseases will be global problems and too soon global warming will continue to affect rapidly mutating, novel and existing pathogens which kill and disable people, no matter the continent. Soft power diplomacy dismantling is a national security concern for every US citizen or resident. Covid may well pale in comparison with powerful pathogen spread. What we ignore today will be tomorrow’s peril.
Thank you, Jen. I had no idea of the range and importance of the work that USAID has performed. Courts have halted the freezing of the agency's funds; what will it take to get Republicans to allow continuation of USAID's invaluable work? An Ebola epidemic perhaps??
I think it will take a feeling of security, security beyond their elected positions, but I am not sure how that can be done. I am not sure that would work in each situation.
Dr Bolan, thank you for sharing your story. How can we help?
Jen, thank you for having these valuable guests regarding our loss of USAID and their wise elaboration on repercussions in other countries as well as our own because of the cruel closing of it by the president and company who are throwing havoc on places around the world as well as at home. I was especially interested in hearing some of the detailed ways help is given and more from Nancy Bolan and to learn of her outstanding qualifications. Rep. Ritchie Torres also is very impressive, and he expressed what I have suspected, that certain Congressmen are “redefining themselves out of fear”. That is the only explanation I could figure for the behaviors so out of character, behaviors they have exhibited even before this term, I think beginning with his previous one. Something must be done, but I do not know what. I wonder how we can help, and I wish we could make them feel safe in numbers so they could resume responsible characteristics and stand together as our Congressional unit to do what must be done to save our country. I find all of your interviews valuable, but this one goes clear through me beyond what I have already been feeling on the topic.
Bravo to Nancy Bolan for making it easy to see understand a bit better the big picture and the very personal nature USAID activity that has done good around the world and at home ... with bipartisan support until #47. The only thing deserving of the wood chipper is DOGE and the bald faced lies told about USAID.
Thank you for this. The shortsightedness and cruelty shown is beyond measure.
We cannot blame Democratic congressional reps for the spinelessness of the Republicans in Congress. The problem is DT. IMPEACHMENT is the answer. And an injunction to stop Musk and the Muskrats before they do any more damage.
this was excellent. Having real people share their stories is extremely helpful. Most of us have no idea how these programs work or the public health implications of their demise. More please.
I'm glad Mr. Torres is standing up for foreign aid workers, but as long as he is promoting cryptocurrencies, I'd prefer he not be given a platform
TRANSCRIPTS, PLEASE. I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR VIDEO, which takes about 3 times as long.
There are transcripts.
😭😡