In a memorable scene from Ted Lasso, the folksy American coach challenges his adversary to a game of darts. As Ted prepares his final throw, he shares a profound insight: “Be curious, not judgmental,” attributing the quote to Walt Whitman. Ted explains that people who belittle others often lack curiosity—they think they have everything figured out, so they judge everything and everyone without asking questions.

What follows is cinematic gold. Ted reveals he played darts every Sunday with his father for six years. With expert precision, he hits his mark and wins the game, demonstrating that judgment without curiosity leads to dangerous underestimation.

Kirsten Weeks working with leaders of an indigenous community in Banten, Indonesia to address maternal and newborn mortality. Credit: Photo courtesy of the subject

This scene resonates with me deeply as I watch the current administration’s approach to USAID, where I’ve worked on life-saving health programs (including HIV, pandemic threats, and maternal and child health and nutrition) with implementing partners for over 25 years, and done this work from Durham for the past six. The administration seems to be playing darts without asking if anyone else in the room might know how to throw.

The midnight Twitter rants comparing USAID to a “ball of worms” exemplify this judgment-first approach. Ironically, with just a bit more curiosity, they might discover that in vermiculture, a ball of worms actually indicates a healthy ecosystem—much like how USAID creates healthy partnerships globally.

The lack of curiosity has led to embarrassing contradictions. The administration has loudly condemned projects they themselves designed. The Sri Lanka journalism program, awarded under Trump’s first term, includes standard journalism training with a single slide on gender-inclusive reporting. Yet it’s been characterized as some radical agenda.

The promised “90-day review” of foreign assistance has been anything but thoughtful. Programs mandated by Congress have stalled despite assurances of waivers. If the administration were curious enough to investigate, they might learn that the “wasteful” economic and governance activities they’ve criticized were designed during Trump’s first term and celebrated as successes under his Prosper Africa Initiative.

With curiosity, they might discover that helping other governments improve their revenue systems creates stability and reduces dependence on foreign aid. They might understand that global monitoring of diseases like avian flu and Ebola protects Americans at home.

If North Carolina’s Republican senators applied Ted Lasso-level curiosity, they’d learn that our state receives the fourth-largest allocation of USAID funds nationwide, creating thousands of local jobs. This might inspire them to stand up for constituents like me—currently furloughed due to reckless funding cuts.

When you’re curious instead of judgmental, you learn that tax dollars spent on foreign assistance return multifold benefits: increased exports, new markets, strategic partnerships, and enhanced national security. You discover that these programs have historically enjoyed strong bipartisan support because they serve America’s interests while helping others.

As Ted would say, “Barbecue sauce.” (That’s Lasso-speak for “mic drop.”)

The administration needs to put down the Twitter megaphone and pick up some questions. Stop the mayhem. Apply curiosity. Use data and evidence instead of assumptions and rush judgments. Senators Budd and Tillis should question the administration’s statements and advocate for their constituents.

In governance, as in darts, it’s better to ask questions before throwing. Because when you assume without investigating, well—you know how that saying ends.

And that’s no way to run a dart game, let alone American foreign policy.

Kirsten Weeks is a proud Durhamite, UNC-Chapel Hill grad, and global public health leader with over 25 years of experience working with USAID and international donors. Currently navigating a career transition due to the USAID funding stoppage, she remains curious about new opportunities where her expertise in strategic leadership and systems thinking can create meaningful impact.

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