Post-Pandemic Order: Rep. Elissa Slotkin on “Smart Stimulus” and Rethinking Defense
In this week’s episode of “Post-Pandemic Order,” we’re back in Washington where Derek Chollet is joined by Michigan congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D-MI 8) whose extensive background in national security is informing the way she is fighting the coronavirus pandemic within her district, and from a foreign policy and defense perspective.
With Congress passing trillions of dollars in relief bills, Rep. Slotkin and Derek talk about the view from Capitol Hill, and how the U.S. balances a new web of public health, economic, and national security imperatives moving forward -- and why more strategic thinking and “smart stimulus” are essential. Slotkin, who was part of the Pentagon’s response to the Ebola crisis before running for Congress, notes how the coronavirus has exposed unpreparedness at the global level to confront health crises at this scale; and says the entire international community needs to cooperate on a huge “lessons learned” process.