In this very timely and incisive Independent Conversation, renowned healthcare expert and author Dr. Scott W. Atlas, Senior Advisor at the Independent Institute, is interviewed by Independent Executive Director Dr. Graham H. Walker and Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson M. Evers regarding Dr. Atlas's book, A Plague Upon Our House: My Fight at the Trump White House to Stop COVID from Destroying America.

When Dr. Atlas was tapped by President Donald Trump to join his COVID Task Force, he was immediately thrust into a maelstrom of scientific disputes, policy debates, raging egos, politically motivated lies, interest-group politics, and cynical media manipulation. Numerous myths and distortions surround the Trump Administration’s handling of the crisis, and many pressing questions remain unanswered. With conflicting, unscientific claims, is the Biden team now bungling the response to the pandemic? Are the right decisions being made about travel restrictions, lockdowns, and mask mandates?

Graham H. Walker

Graham H. Walker is Executive Director and Assistant Editor for The Independent Review: A Journal of Political Economy at the Independent Institute. He received his Ph.D. in public law and government from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Walker has served as Associate Professor of Politics at Catholic University of America, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Visiting Scholar in Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton, NJ), Senior Research Scholar at the Witherspoon Institute, Headmaster at Oaks Christian School, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, President at Patrick Henry College, Legislative Aide to former Congressman David Stockman, and Fellow at the Presidio Institute.

Scott W. Atlas

Scott W. Atlas, M.D., is Senior Advisor at the Independent Institute, the Robert Wesson Senior Fellow in the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and author of the bestselling book, A Plague Upon Our House: My Fight at the Trump White House to Stop COVID from Destroying America. He has served as Senior Advisor for Health Care to a number of candidates for President of the United States, as well as having counseled members of the U.S. Congress on health care, testified before Congress, and briefed directors of key agencies in the federal government. He served from August to December, 2020, as a Special Advisor to the President and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.