Annie Jacobsen Discusses Biological Threats on PBS News Podcast

Why it matters locally: While not directly affecting Arkansas, discussions around national biosecurity preparedness highlight ongoing efforts by agencies like the Arkansas Department of Health to maintain public health infrastructure and emergency response capabilities, which would be critical in any national biological threat scenario.

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Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Annie Jacobsen discussed the potential for deliberately engineered pathogens as a national security threat on the PBS News podcast, "Settle In." Geoff Bennett, the podcast host, interviewed Jacobsen about the themes presented in her new book, "Biological War: A Scenario." Jacobsen's book examines a scenario where a national security threat does not originate from a missile or a bomb but from a specifically designed pathogen. During her conversation with Bennett, Jacobsen addressed America's readiness to respond to such biological dangers.