Ongoing conflicts — including U.S. “counterterrorism” operations — combined with escalating poverty and repression could amplify the pandemic’s social cost.

Ongoing conflicts — including U.S. “counterterrorism” operations — combined with escalating poverty and repression could amplify the pandemic’s social cost.
The rules of the global economy have created climate change, inequality, and deep vulnerability. But rules can change.
Around the world, LGBTQ people are more vulnerable to the pandemic — especially where their status intersects with poverty.
The U.S. may be at the center of both pandemics, but — as worldwide demonstrations show — each is global.
Future combat, even if broadly directed from Washington, may be only vaguely “American.”
The world’s prevailing socio-political models aren’t going to survive this pandemic. What’s going to replace them?
Being better prepared could save millions of lives and trillions of dollars.
The story line from Reagan to Trump is the same: undermining global public health to serve narrow interests. Only now, we’re in a pandemic.
Deadly, disruptive, and economically devastating as COVID-19 has proved to be, in retrospect it may turn out to have had at least this one silver lining.
Far-right governments are rolling back environmental regulations, while international climate talks stall amid the crisis. But climate activists see opportunity.