Today I speak with Dr. Nina Schwalbe, a public health scientist and former senior leader at UNICEF and Gavi who helped lead a Biden-appointed $7B global COVID vaccine effort, about why she's running for Congress in New York's District 12 in a crowded, money-dominated primary (June 23). We unpack how fundraising, media coverage, Democratic club endorsements, and super PACs shaped by Citizens United create a self-fulfilling "arms race," and she proposes reforms like campaign finance limits, matching funds, and equal-time standards. We also discuss evidence-based, systems-oriented policy priorities: expanding community health centers, lowering drug prices via pooled purchasing and single-payer, restoring CDC/FDA capacity, strengthening Medicare/Medicaid/ACA, investing in public housing, improving transparency and constituent services, and rebuilding trust in science through listening and primary care.

(01:59) Why She Ran(05:55) Money And Primaries(08:26) Minimum Viable Campaign(12:08) Machine And Super PACs(16:13) Fixing Campaign Finance(17:06) Public Health Mindset(20:52) Transparency And Accountability(23:45) Street Level Messaging(26:08) NYC Infrastructure Priorities(27:49) Hyperlocal Transit Problems(28:06) What Congress Controls(30:46) Abundance Agenda Debate(32:46) Fixing Public Housing(33:23) Trust in Institutions(35:38) Rebuilding Health Trust(37:12) Community Health Centers(38:13) Why Drugs Cost More(39:42) Restore Public Health Agencies(41:35) Economics Shapes Health(43:39) Single Payer and Prevention(45:58) Chronic Illness Care Gaps(48:58) Working With Paul Farmer(52:23) Vision for Healthcare Justice

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