The hottest Foreign Aid Substack posts right now

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Sorry, I Still Think MR Is Wrong About USAID

Astral Codex Ten • 36891 implied HN points • 29 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Aid NGOs Government programs Public Policy Political Debate
  1. There's a big debate about how much money from USAID goes to charities and how much is wasted. Some people think a lot is wasted, while others argue it’s not as bad as it seems.
  2. The overhead costs of big charities like Catholic Relief Services can look high, but they actually spend most of their money on important stuff like food and health services, not just admin costs.
  3. It's important to figure out if local charities are actually better at helping people than American ones. Finding the right balance between efficiency and trust in aid distribution is crucial.

Money Saved By Canceling Programs Does Not Immediately Flow To The Best Possible Alternative

Astral Codex Ten • 41364 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Aid Government programs Philosophy Public Policy Health Policy
  1. Canceling effective programs like PEPFAR doesn't guarantee that the money will be spent on better programs. It may just sit unspent or be used for less effective initiatives.
  2. People often argue about valuing American lives more than foreign ones, but this doesn't lead to better outcomes for those in need. Many don't consider the long-term effects of cutting foreign aid.
  3. There's a need for balance in helping others. Spending a small percentage of the budget on foreign aid is reasonable, and it shouldn't diminish support for domestic needs.

In Ukraine, USAID aids US hegemony

Aaron Mate • 204 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Aid Government Policy International relations Propaganda Humanitarian Aid
  1. The cuts to USAID by the Trump administration have hurt global relief programs that many depend on for help. This has left some critical health programs in a difficult situation.
  2. USAID is not just about helping people; it can also be used to destabilize countries and push propaganda. This means it might not always be acting in good faith.
  3. In places like Ukraine, USAID has played a big role in U.S. strategies aimed at weakening Russia, highlighting its dual purpose of aiding both humanitarian efforts and political goals.

Nationalists Already Have the World They Want but Need to Pretend Otherwise

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 3706 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Nationalism Foreign Aid Immigration Public Policy Political Discourse
  1. Nationalists often claim that the U.S. government prioritizes foreigners over citizens, but the reality shows that a tiny percentage of the federal budget actually goes to foreign aid. Most funds are directed towards helping American citizens.
  2. Even though nationalists argue for policies that benefit Americans, they often ignore facts about how much the government already does for its own people. This leads to misconceptions about foreign aid and immigration.
  3. The nationalist mindset may come from a tribal instinct, where they feel the need to show loyalty to their group. However, this can make them overlook the good that comes from global connections and shared interests.

USAID Staff Cry for Their Fiefdom

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 20 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Foreign Aid Public Policy Bureaucracy Healthcare
  1. Many USAID employees are upset about being sent home, even though they still get paid. This raises questions about how they handle taxpayer money while many Americans struggle financially.
  2. USAID has been criticized for supporting policies that have led to increased poverty and health issues in other countries. Their actions have harmed many vulnerable communities, conflicting with their mission.
  3. Stopping USAID's programs can directly increase suffering and mortality rates from preventable diseases. There's a need to balance auditing government spending with continued support for global health initiatives.
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Why Trump is So Afraid of the Bipartisan Border Deal

The Message Box • 2122 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Parties Border Security Foreign Aid Bipartisanship
  1. House Republicans killed a bipartisan border deal quickly to prevent Biden from having a victory.
  2. The Senate deal on border security, Ukraine, and Israel is contentious, with Democrats not fully supporting it.
  3. Donald Trump and House Republicans worked hard to stop the Senate bill from passing, showing their fear of the political implications.

Deep State Deconstruction: USAID

Who is Robert Malone • 28 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Aid Government Agencies Public Health Censorship Intelligence Operations
  1. USAID is a major U.S. agency that provides international assistance but is sometimes linked to the CIA in ways that raise concerns about its true role in foreign affairs.
  2. The agency has funded various programs, including controversial health campaigns and misinformation research, blurring the lines between humanitarian aid and political interests.
  3. There are allegations that USAID has been involved in population control initiatives and has funded vaccines, which raises ethical questions about their impact on global health policies.

January 28, 2025

Letters from an American • 24 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy Electoral Politics Civil Service Executive Power Foreign Aid
  1. Trump's Project 2025 aims to turn federal agencies into places with loyal supporters instead of nonpartisan civil servants. This plan seeks to expand presidential power and promote a strong executive control over the government.
  2. The new rules from Trump's administration allow him to remove civil service protections for many federal workers, forcing them to follow his orders or risk losing their jobs. This is seen as a significant threat to the independence of federal agencies like the Department of Justice.
  3. The Trump administration has paused federal grants and loans, creating uncertainty for many programs that aid communities. Critics argue this move undermines important services and threatens lives, showing a blatant disregard for laws established by Congress.

On America's structural inability to effectively compete with China in Africa

An Africanist Perspective • 1345 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Africa USA China Foreign Aid Diplomacy
  1. The US faces challenges competing with China in Africa due to ineffective policy tools and institutions.
  2. America's focus on humanitarian aid and public health through USAID limits its ability to compete effectively with China in infrastructure and commercial projects in Africa.
  3. The structural and institutional biases within American foreign policy result in a lack of attention to African priorities, hindering the ability to effectively engage with the continent.

Pushing Gazans Into Rafah And Then Attacking Rafah, Killing UNRWA Funding Without Evidence

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1434 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Israel Genocide Foreign Aid Government Inequality
  1. Israel preparing for assault in Rafah, pushing Gazans into a dire situation.
  2. Australian foreign minister admits cutting UNRWA funding without evidence of claims.
  3. Questioning the freedom that capitalism gives, highlighting societal injustices and the possibility of a better world.

Why Ukraine Must Win

Diane Francis • 759 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics International relations Military conflict Defense Policy Foreign Aid
  1. Ukraine needs more military aid from the US and Europe to defend itself against Russia. Without this support, Russia could gain even more territory.
  2. If Ukraine gets the right amount of funding and military equipment this year, it could turn the situation around and push back Russian advances.
  3. If Ukraine loses, it would not only be a big shift in power but could also mean more US troops in Eastern Europe to handle the aftermath.

Would It Be Over?

Points And Figures • 932 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Conflict Terrorism Diplomacy Foreign Aid Peace negotiations
  1. The bombing of German cities during WWII had a significant impact on post-war Germany, changing behaviors and diminishing the desire for another war.
  2. A large majority of Palestinians desire the erasure of Israel from the international map, similar to the sentiment among German citizens under Hitler in the 1940s.
  3. Complete and total war on terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah is seen as necessary for the peace of Israel and the world, rather than proposing humanitarian aid or two-state solutions.

What's Martin Luther King, Jr. Got to do with Gaza?

Humanities in Revolt • 339 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Human Rights International Law Conflict Activism Foreign Aid
  1. Hundreds of thousands expected to participate in a mass mobilization against Israel's war in Gaza for ceasefire, end of blockade, and international law mediation.
  2. Growing international awareness and alarm over dire conditions in Gaza leads to increased turnout in historic peace marches.
  3. The principles and practices exemplified by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., such as active justice, love ethic, and opposition to economic injustice, militarism, and racism, resonate with urgent demonstrations for Gaza.

The Wealth Transfer Nobody Talks About

Ijtihad • 57 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending Wealth Inequality Tax policy Foreign Aid Media Critique
  1. The U.S. military spending largely benefits the wealthy, as tax money is used to fund arms sales to other countries.
  2. Around $113 billion has been spent on military assistance to Ukraine and Israel over the past decade, taking funds from public resources.
  3. Mainstream media often ignore this issue, which affects many Americans, likely due to their ties to rich donors.

Zelensky's Five Point Plan is Asking for Ukraine to be Treated like a Normal, Sovereign European State

Phillips’s Newsletter • 92 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🌍 World Politics International relations Sovereignty Defense Policy Foreign Aid Geopolitics
  1. Zelensky presented a five-point plan to emphasize Ukraine's right to be treated like any other European country. This is about making Ukraine part of the normal conversation in Europe.
  2. His plan includes reasonable requests for defense support and economic partnerships, which are common for democratic nations. It shows he is not asking for special treatment.
  3. The straightforward nature of his asks indicates a balanced approach, suggesting Ukraine seeks its rightful place in Europe without making extreme demands.

The best reason to hate international aid

Unreported Truths • 49 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Aid International relations Economics Policy Analysis
  1. International aid can create a dependency that hurts the receiving countries more than it helps. Instead of promoting self-sufficiency, it often makes governments rely on outside support.
  2. Foreign aid often leads to corruption, where local leaders treat it as an easy resource to exploit for their own gain. This can divert attention from genuine development efforts.
  3. Countries that focus on growing their own economies, like China, often do better than those that rely heavily on foreign aid. Sustainable development is more effective when it comes from within, rather than depending on help from others.

Ukraine "foreign aid" bills are taxpayer-funded stimulus packages for the parasites of the D.C. Beltway

The Dossier • 354 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Aid Congress Defense Spending Government funding
  1. American 'foreign aid' to Ukraine is mostly spent in the United States, benefiting Beltway corporations
  2. Government spending on defense does not create real jobs or value, but adds to the national debt and inflation
  3. These 'foreign aid' bills serve as stimulus for the Beltway elite rather than enhancing national security

Labour needs to make the selfish case for foreign aid

Odds and Ends of History • 670 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Foreign Aid Soft Power Corruption International relations
  1. Labour should make the selfish case for foreign aid to appeal to people's self-interest and make it more politically viable.
  2. Talking about foreign aid in terms of soft power and global stability can help reframe its purpose and importance.
  3. Addressing corruption in foreign aid should focus on improving practices rather than using it as an argument against aid altogether.

Ukraine: The Self-Awareness of the Sacrificial Lamb (Part 2 of 2)

Fisted by Foucault • 174 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Conflict Foreign Aid Negotiations
  1. The conflict in Ukraine is escalating with the fall of the city Avdiivka to Russian forces, showing the severe impacts on domestic politics and international support.
  2. The US Senate's failure to agree on sending more money to Ukraine is seen as a significant setback for their battlefield capabilities and a source of growing despair among officials.
  3. Western media's shift towards accepting that Ukraine may not achieve maximalist goals in the war signifies a changing narrative on the feasibility of certain outcomes and the need for peace negotiations.

Agency Capture – Biden Allocated $1.2 Billion To The United Nations Relief And Works Agency (UNRWA). It's Laced With Terrorist Extremists.

OpenTheBooks Substack • 143 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Aid Terrorism Government Accountability Middle East Conflict International relations
  1. Biden allocated $1.2 billion in Palestinian aid to UNRWA, a UN agency linked with terrorist extremists.
  2. President Trump had previously cut U.S. aid to UNRWA to zero due to concerns about funding terrorism.
  3. The United States has been the largest funder of UNRWA since its founding in 1948, providing over one-third of its budget.

Claims about USAID's localization agenda

An Africanist Perspective • 79 implied HN points • 09 Jan 23
🌍 World Politics Foreign Aid Localization NGOs
  1. The majority of USAID funding goes to big American companies and NGOs, raising concerns about lack of direct support to local organizations in developing countries.
  2. USAID aims to allocate at least 25% of funding to local organizations, highlighting the need for capacity building and better collaboration with local partners.
  3. Challenges in USAID's localization initiative include arbitrary overhead limitations, cost expectations, and legal hurdles, emphasizing the importance of listening to feedback from local partners.

Nyhetsbrev steigan.no 10.10.2024

steigan.no • 7 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International relations Military Affairs Foreign Aid Disaster Response Middle East Conflict
  1. The US Navy was reportedly near the Nord Stream explosion site shortly before it happened, raising questions about their involvement.
  2. The US government is sending billions in aid to Ukraine and Israel, while survivors of recent disasters in the US feel neglected and unsupported.
  3. Israel is preparing a deadly response to Iran after recent attacks, emphasizing their military capabilities and intelligence operations.

February 12, 2024

Letters from an American • 11 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics NATO National Security Foreign Aid Supreme Court Republican party
  1. Trump's statements regarding NATO and Russia have been met with strong opposition from both Democrats and Republicans, with concerns about potential consequences for national security.
  2. NATO is an alliance designed for collective defense where each member agrees to aid one another if attacked, based on the principle that an attack on one is an attack on all.
  3. There is ongoing bipartisan support in Congress for aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, despite opposition from Trump-aligned Republicans.

Chiến dịch gây quỹ chống COVID của VietBay đã quyên được hơn 800 nghìn USD

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 19 implied HN points • 06 Oct 21
🌐 International Foreign Aid Vietnam
  1. VietBay's COVID relief fund campaign raised over 800 thousand USD, exceeding the initial goal of 24,000 USD.
  2. The funds received included contributions for main projects, designated charity projects, and have already disbursed over 740,000 USD.
  3. Updates on the campaign's final outcome will be provided by the end of November, with ongoing projects receiving regular updates.