really bad that was going on at the cdc, the centers for disease control. the cdc, over decades, over generations, built a reputation for excellence and solid science that made it really the international gold standard for public health. cdc science, cdc advice, cdc guidelines are unparalleled worldwide in terms of their influence, their authority, the respect with which they are treated and followed. it is a part of the u.s. government that we can righteously and uncomplicatedly be really proud of as americans in terms of us having an absolutely uncontested best in the world status. absolutely global leadership. and then the trump administration happened. and they recognized that when the pandemic hit, the world would be looking to the cdc for gold standard science and guidance on how to understand it, how to combat it. the whole country, the whole world would be looking to the cdc for what counts as scientifically sound policy response to that crisis. so the trump administr