Roger Bate
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Articles by Roger Bate
Equity with Accountability in Pandemic Preparedness
Before asking how power in global health should be rebalanced, reformers must confront a prior question: have existing policies and practices created a growing dependency on donor countries and international organisations? In many low-resourced countries, earmarked finance, externally selected priorities, imported program designs, a growing non-state and donor-dependent workforce, and donor reporting requirements have weakened the link between national choices and national accountability.
Equity with Accountability: What the UN Political Declaration on Pandemic Preparedness Leaves Unresolved
On 12 October 2026, the United Nations General Assembly adopted its Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR). The World Health Organization welcomed it as a commitment to sustained investment and international cooperation. Supporters hailed a victory for solidarity and equity. Yet adoption of a non-binding declaration is not agreement on how to deliver its promises. The question is whether it addresses the failures of pandemic governance—or perpetuates them.
Bill Frist Archives
Commentary A Tale of Two Filibusters Commentary Reconciling with the Past Commentary Roll Call Here’s the Rx for a Bipartisan Health Care Reform Bill Commentary The Washington Post Government in Denial Commentary In U.S. Immigration Debate, Specter Has It Right Commentary Coming Soon–Big Growth, Big Effect Commentary United Nutters Commentary Los Angeles Times Shameful Games at the United Nations
Marty Makary: A quiet blockade on safer nicotine
There are moments in public health when the path forward is unusually clear, when the evidence aligns with behavior, when risks are well understood, and when policy has a genuine opportunity to reduce harm at scale. This should be one of those moments.
Marty Makary: The FDA’s Quiet Blockade On Safer Nicotine – OpEd
There are moments in public health when the path forward is unusually clear, when the evidence aligns with behavior, when risks are well understood, and when policy has a genuine opportunity to reduce harm at scale. This should be one of those moments.
Marty Makary: The FDA’s Quiet Blockade on Safer Nicotine
There are moments in public health when the path forward is unusually clear, when the evidence aligns with behavior, when risks are well understood, and when policy has a genuine opportunity to reduce harm at scale. This should be one of those moments.
Health Policy Without Accountability: The Rise of Global Health DoDOs
ICLE Issue Brief Executive Summary Global health governance has shifted in ways that weaken democratic accountability while concentrating policy influence. The World Health Organization (the WHO), once a technical coordinating body, now operates within a broader ecosystem of Democratically Deficient Organizations (DoDOs)—intergovernmental institutions, philanthropic foundations, NGOs, and private actors that shape policy without meaningful public oversight.
What The IHRP Report Means For America, WHO, And The Future Of Global Health – OpEd
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed deep failures in global health governance. That much is now widely acknowledged, even by institutions that initially resisted self-examination. For example, the recent Lancet Commission on Covid-19 substituted advocacy for analysis, evaded institutional accountability, and ultimately clarified little about why global pandemic governance failed.
What the IHRP Report Means for America, WHO, and the Future of Global Health
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed deep failures in global health governance. That much is now widely acknowledged, even by institutions that initially resisted self-examination. For example, the recent Lancet Commission on Covid-19 substituted advocacy for analysis, evaded institutional accountability, and ultimately clarified little about why global pandemic governance failed.
How to Build a Post-WHO Global Health Architecture
The United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) is more than a diplomatic rupture. It creates a unique opening to rethink how global health cooperation should actually work. We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.
How To Build A Post-WHO Global Health Architecture - OpEd
The United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) is more than a diplomatic rupture. It creates a unique opening to rethink how global health cooperation should actually work. The real question is not whether countries should cooperate. They must. Humans matter. Health brings economic stability. Pathogens cross borders. Data sharing matters. Standards matter. Scientific collaboration matters.
How to Build a Post-WHO Global Health Architecture
The United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) is more than a diplomatic rupture. It creates a unique opening to rethink how global health cooperation should actually work. The real question is not whether countries should cooperate. They must. Humans matter. Health brings economic stability. Pathogens cross borders. Data sharing matters. Standards matter. Scientific collaboration matters.
FinCEN’s Warning-And The Predictable Failure Of Prohibition - OpEd
Over the past few years, quiet but extraordinary warnings have emerged from the US Treasury Department. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network reports that illicit e-cigarettes are being used as part of trade-based money-laundering schemes linked to fentanyl trafficking. Illegal vaping products are no longer just a regulatory nuisance or a youth-use talking point. They have become a financial instrument in the cartel economy.
FinCEN’s Warning-and the Predictable Failure of Prohibition
Over the past few years, quiet but extraordinary warnings have emerged from the US Treasury Department. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network reports that illicit e-cigarettes are being used as part of trade-based money-laundering schemes linked to fentanyl trafficking. Illegal vaping products are no longer just a regulatory nuisance or a youth-use talking point. They have become a financial instrument in the cartel economy.
The Problem With America First Global Health - OpEd
The US government is now committing tens of billions of dollars to global health through a growing web of bilateral agreements branded as the “America First Global Health Strategy.” These deals are pitched as a way to protect Americans from infectious disease threats by strengthening surveillance and outbreak response overseas.
The Problem with America First Global Health
The US government is now committing tens of billions of dollars to global health through a growing web of bilateral agreements branded as the “America First Global Health Strategy.” These deals are pitched as a way to protect Americans from infectious disease threats by strengthening surveillance and outbreak response overseas.
The Role of NRT Fatally Undermines the Anti-Vape Case
Public health authorities insist they are guided by science. But when it comes to nicotine, policy is driven less by toxicology than by symbolism. Regulators approve long-term daily nicotine use through patches, gum and lozenges, while portraying nicotine as inherently dangerous when delivered through consumer products like vapes or pouches. This contradiction is neither subtle nor tenable. The belief that nicotine causes most smoking-related diseases is widespread—and wrong.
Trump’s withdrawal from 66 organizations
When the Trump administration announced its withdrawal from, and defunding of, 66 international organizations and treaty bodies on January 7th, much of the media coverage framed the move as reckless isolationism or short-term budget cutting. That framing misunderstands what is actually happening. This is not primarily a cost-saving exercise.
Trump’s withdrawal from 66 international organisations is a challenge to a global governance that perpetuates problems
by Rhoda Wilson, Expose News: Last week, we highlighted that President Donald Trump had signed a memorandum to withdraw the US from the UNFCCC, the UN’s foundational climate change treaty. The UNFCCC is one of the 66 international organisations named in the memorandum. Withdrawing from these 66 international organisations is a strategic break from a model of global governance that perpetuates problems rather than resolving them.
Trump’s Withdrawal From 66 Organizations
When the Trump administration announced its withdrawal from, and defunding of, 66 international organizations and treaty bodies on January 7th, much of the media coverage framed the move as reckless isolationism or short-term budget cutting. That framing misunderstands what is actually happening.
How America Can Shape Global Health Without the WHO
The United States formally withdraws from the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 22, leaving the leading United Nations health agency without its largest historical funder and most capable public-health partner. Much commentary has framed the move as reckless disengagement. That misunderstands both the rationale for withdrawal and the opportunity it creates.
After Withdrawal: How the United States Can Shape Global Health from Outside the WHO
When President Donald Trump announced that the United States (US) would withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020, the impact was short lived as President Joe Biden reversed the decision before it came into effect. By contrast, the 2025 decision by the United States to withdraw from the WHO, which will enter effect in January 2026, will have a deep impact on the organization and America’s global health engagement more broadly.
Trump’s Withdrawal From 66 Organizations - OpEd
When the Trump administration announced its withdrawal from, and defunding of, 66 international organizations and treaty bodies on January 7th, much of the media coverage framed the move as reckless isolationism or short-term budget cutting. That framing misunderstands what is actually happening. This is not primarily a cost-saving exercise.
Trump’s Withdrawal from 66 Organizations ⋆ Brownstone Institute
When the Trump administration announced its withdrawal from, and defunding of, 66 international organizations and treaty bodies on January 7th, much of the media coverage framed the move as reckless isolationism or short-term budget cutting. That framing misunderstands what is actually happening. This is not primarily a cost-saving exercise.
How a techno-optimist became a grave skeptic
AI-generated image. Before Covid, I would have described myself as a technological optimist. New technologies almost always arrive amid exaggerated fears. Railways were supposed to cause mental breakdowns, bicycles were thought to make women infertile or insane, and early electricity was blamed for everything from moral decay to physical collapse. Over time, these anxieties faded, societies adapted, and living standards rose.
How A Techno-Optimist Became A Grave Skeptic - OpEd
Before Covid, I would have described myself as a technological optimist. New technologies almost always arrive amid exaggerated fears. Railways were supposed to cause mental breakdowns, bicycles were thought to make women infertile or insane, and early electricity was blamed for everything from moral decay to physical collapse. Over time, these anxieties faded, societies adapted, and living standards rose.
Washington Post Won’t Say Why Trust in Vaccines Is Gone
by Roger Bate, Activist Post: The Washington Post recently published a detailed investigation showing that childhood vaccination rates across the United States are falling sharply, particularly for measles. Fewer counties now meet the 95 percent coverage level commonly associated with herd immunity, and millions of children attend schools in communities below that threshold.
How a Techno-Optimist Became a Grave Skeptic ⋆ Brownstone Institute
Before Covid, I would have described myself as a technological optimist. New technologies almost always arrive amid exaggerated fears. Railways were supposed to cause mental breakdowns, bicycles were thought to make women infertile or insane, and early electricity was blamed for everything from moral decay to physical collapse. Over time, these anxieties faded, societies adapted, and living standards rose.
Washington Post Won’t Say Why Trust In Vaccines Is Gone - OpEd
The Washington Post recently published a detailed investigation showing that childhood vaccination rates across the United States are falling sharply, particularly for measles. Fewer counties now meet the 95 percent coverage level commonly associated with herd immunity, and millions of children attend schools in communities below that threshold. On the basics, it’s true that routine childhood measles shots are among the most effective measures for keeping that particular infection at bay.
Washington Post Won’t Say Why Trust in Vaccines Is Gone ⋆ Brownstone Institute
The Washington Post recently published a detailed investigation showing that childhood vaccination rates across the United States are falling sharply, particularly for measles. Fewer counties now meet the 95 percent coverage level commonly associated with herd immunity, and millions of children attend schools in communities below that threshold. On the basics, it’s true that routine childhood measles shots are among the most effective measures for keeping that particular infection at bay.
Should Argentina Leave The WHO? - OpEd
Argentina’s government has become increasingly skeptical of the World Health Organization, reflecting a wider reconsideration of international health institutions in the aftermath of Covid-19. Although Argentina has not formally withdrawn, it has expressed dissatisfaction with the WHO’s performance, its growing reliance on donor-funded agendas, and its push for expanded treaty authority.
Should Argentina Leave the WHO? ⋆ Brownstone Institute
Argentina’s government has become increasingly skeptical of the World Health Organization, reflecting a wider reconsideration of international health institutions in the aftermath of Covid-19. Although Argentina has not formally withdrawn, it has expressed dissatisfaction with the WHO’s performance, its growing reliance on donor-funded agendas, and its push for expanded treaty authority.
Coffee, Nicotine, and the Politics of Acceptable Addiction ⋆ Brownstone Institute
Every morning, hundreds of millions of people perform a socially approved ritual. They line up for coffee. They joke about not being functional without caffeine. They openly acknowledge dependence and even celebrate it. No one calls this addiction degenerate. It is framed as productivity, taste, wellness—sometimes even virtue. Now imagine the same professional discreetly using a nicotine pouch before a meeting. The reaction is very different.
Why Governments Prefer Cigarette Revenue over Safer Alternatives ⋆ Brownstone Institute
In December 2024, Congress did something unusual: it introduced a bill that openly acknowledges tobacco harm reduction. The POUCH Act of 2024, sponsored by Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) and co-sponsored by Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), aims to prevent states and cities from banning or restricting FDA–authorized lower-risk products, including modern nicotine pouches and vaping products. It is a modest bill, but one that finally moves federal policy in a sensible direction.
The WHO’s Campaign Against Safe Nicotine ⋆ Brownstone Institute
Every two years, the 183 Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) meet for the Conference of the Parties (COP). This is the treaty’s governing body: a closed-door diplomatic forum where decisions are made on global tobacco policy, regulatory guidelines, technical documents, and the political direction of the treaty system. Civil society is largely excluded. Journalists are barely tolerated.
They’ve learned nothing — because that would expose too much - Daily Telegraph NZ
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has finally released the core political chapters of its long-awaited report. After nearly three years of hearings, millions of documents, and tens of millions of pounds spent on legal fees, the conclusion is now unmistakably clear. They’ve learned nothing, as I detail in my latest research. Worse, they may not want to learn.
They’ve Learned Nothing — Because That Would Expose Too Much
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has finally released the core political chapters of its long-awaited report. After nearly three years of hearings, millions of documents, and tens of millions of pounds spent on legal fees, the conclusion is now unmistakably clear. They’ve learned nothing, as I detail in my latest research. Worse, they may not want to learn.
Who Funds the Room Where It Happens? ⋆ Brownstone Institute
When delegates gather in Geneva on November 17 for the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), few will ask the obvious question: who pays for the room where it happens? The FCTC is the world’s only binding treaty on tobacco control. It now shapes national law far beyond its original remit, guiding taxation, packaging, advertising, and—indirectly—the regulation of new nicotine products.
Tariffs, Tobacco, and Policy Whiplash ⋆ Brownstone Institute
When politicians talk tough on trade, they usually promise to protect American jobs. But sometimes those gestures do the opposite. The Trump administration’s proposed 100 percent tariff on large cigars imported from Nicaragua is a case in point. According to my latest research, the tariff would shrink US GDP by $1.26 billion, reduce total output by $2.06 billion, eliminate nearly 18,000 jobs, and cost state and local governments $95 million in tax revenue. There is no domestic industry to protect.
From Tobacco to COVID, WHO’s War on Dissent Continues – DC Journal - InsideSources
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control promised open science and plural debate. Two decades on, much of it feels like choreography: dissent ushered to the wings, innovation told to wait in the lobby. Now comes the sequel — the World Health Organization’s Pandemic Agreement — built on the script of centralize first, question later. The evidence didn’t go the way the treaty crowd expected with tobacco harm reduction products.
FDA’s Bizarre Decisions about Nicotine Pouches Leads to the Wrong Products on Shelves ⋆ Brownstone Institute
A walk through a dozen convenience stores in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, says a lot about how US nicotine policy actually works. Only about one in eight nicotine-pouch products for sale is legal. The rest are unauthorized—but they’re not all the same. Some are brightly branded, with uncertain ingredients, not approved by any Western regulator, and clearly aimed at impulse buyers.
FDA’s War on Commonsense Nicotine Regulation
Cigarettes kill nearly half a million Americans each year. Everyone knows it, including the Food and Drug Administration. Yet while the most lethal nicotine product remains on sale in every gas station, the FDA continues to block or delay far safer alternatives. Nicotine pouches—small, smokeless packets tucked under the lip—deliver nicotine without burning tobacco. They eliminate the tar, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens that make cigarettes so deadly.
FDA’s War on Commonsense Nicotine Regulation ⋆ Brownstone Institute
Cigarettes kill nearly half a million Americans each year. Everyone knows it, including the Food and Drug Administration. Yet while the most lethal nicotine product remains on sale in every gas station, the FDA continues to block or delay far safer alternatives. Nicotine pouches—small, smokeless packets tucked under the lip—deliver nicotine without burning tobacco. They eliminate the tar, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens that make cigarettes so deadly.
Bootleggers and Bureaucrats Agree on Global Health
by Roger Bate, Activist Post: Global public health has long been animated by moral purpose and collective ambition. When nations join under the banner of “health for all,” it reflects both humanitarian conviction and political calculation. Yet, the architecture of global health governance often produces outcomes that diverge from its lofty ideals.
Bootleggers and Bureaucrats Agree on Global Health ⋆ Brownstone Institute
Global public health has long been animated by moral purpose and collective ambition. When nations join under the banner of “health for all,” it reflects both humanitarian conviction and political calculation. Yet, the architecture of global health governance often produces outcomes that diverge from its lofty ideals.
Tag Archive: West Africa
Op-Ed US Can’t Ignore the Battle of the Mosques in Africa Multimedia Speaking on Biafra: Rubin at the House Office Building Op-Ed Why Finland, Norway, and Sweden Shouldn’t Top Freedom Rankings Post No More Delays: Try Liberia’s War Profiteers Press Discussing necessary changes to US to address coups in Africa: Zimmerman on Straight Arrow News Op-Ed Wagner’s Next Targets in Africa: Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast Post Another Human Rights Group Scams the West Op-Ed Biden Should Support...
Tag Archive: drug safety
Op-Ed Will Trump Follow Federal Law and Move To Shutter ‘Safe Injection’ Sites Where Addicts Openly Use Illegal Drugs? Op-Ed One Man’s Quest to Keep Kids Away from Drugs Op-Ed “Harm Reduction” Is No Solution Op-Ed As Fentanyl Overdose Crisis Hits Americans Hard Where’s Proof That “Safe Injection Sites” Work?
compassionate conservatism Archives
Op-Ed (Part 2 of 2) Gradually and Then Suddenly: The Sixty-Year Crack-Up of Federal Funding for Nonprofits Press Discussing Compassionate Conservatism: Streeter on Philanthropy Daily’s “The Giving Review” Article Q&A with Yuval Levin: The Necessary Conservative Revival Post AEIdeas Taking Stock of the War Against Malaria Article Conservatives Shouldn’t Obsess over 2016 Article The Holy War over Trump Article Constructing a ‘majority’ Press Discussing the Future of Conservatism: Brooks on...
Experts Ask WHO to Change to Address Health Issues
Roger Bate, Nonresident Scholar at ICLE was quoted in this Manila Standard article on World Health Organization and its effectiveness in addressing global health issues. Read the full story here. “The WHO needs fundamental reform,” said Roger Bate, a global health policy expert at the International Center for Law and Economics, during a panel organized by the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA). Bate said the WHO has “failed repeatedly” in areas ranging from COVID-19 response to tobacco policy.
Voter Opinion about WHO Driven by Party Affiliation
As David Bell has pointed out often on these pages, the World Health Organization (WHO) needs reform. But will that reform happen? I’ve explained elsewhere my serious concerns about the US leaving the WHO, as President Trump intends. Anecdotally I’ve found that conservatives have a far lower opinion of it than liberals, and are supportive of President Trump’s move to withdraw the US from the WHO.
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