Three Tumultuous Presidencies that Rocked American Health Care and Politics

April 2, 2026, Video: "This hybrid seminar was given on Thursday, April 2, 2026 and revealed how the decisions and actions of Presidents Obama, Trump (1) and Biden fundamentally changed American health care, public health and science. It covered the highlights of Obama’s historic accomplishment of the Affordable Care Act, President Trump’s management of COVID, including how he led the triumphant development of the new COVID vaccine, and the underappreciated success of President Biden’s COVID vaccine campaign. Speakers traced the origins of the second Trump administration’s attacks on the scientific and public health establishment, and highlighted the essential role presidents must play in preparing for the next pandemic. Speakers included David Blumenthal MD, MPP, Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government; Professor of Practice of Public Health and Health Policy, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health; Samuel O. Thier Professor of Medicine Emeritus Harvard Medical School and James Morone, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Brown University."