♪ ♪
>> John: HI THERE!
WELCOME TO THE SHOW,
STILL STUCK IN THIS BLANK VOID.
TV'S GREATEST CELEBRATION OF
WHITE EMPTINESS SINCE
"EMILY IN PARIS."
LOOK, IT'S BEEN AN UNPLEASANT
WEEK, FROM NEW YORK GOVERNOR
ANDREW CUOMO ADMITTING TO
WITHHOLDING INFORMATION ABOUT
COVID DEATHS IN NURSING HOMES,
TO THE RELEASE OF GRIM
UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS,
TO THE DEATH OF RUSH LIMBAUGH.
SO, Y'KNOW...
EH.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO START
TONIGHT WITH THIS.
>> NATIONWIDE MISERY.
NASTY WEATHER PUMMELING
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
>> MORE THAN 200 MILLION
AMERICANS ON ALERT
COAST TO COAST.
SNOW AND ICE SENDING BIG RIGS
OUT OF CONTROL ON THE ROADS.
>> IN NASHVILLE, HOME SECURITY
VIDEO CAPTURES A TRUCK SLIDING
SIDEWAYS DOWN A RESIDENTIAL
STREET.
>> John: WOW.
I KNOW THAT TRUCK IS SLOW-MOTION
TOKYO DRIFTING BECAUSE THE
ROAD IS ICY, BUT I ALSO LIKE TO
THINK IT HAD JUST HAD ENOUGH AND
IS PEACING OUT.
"DON, SHERYL, YOU'VE BEEN
PERFECTLY FINE OWNERS, BUT
THERE HAS GOT TO BE MORE TO LIFE
THAN THIS, SO FRANKLY, I'M OUT
OF HERE.
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SUUUCKS."
NOW SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CAUSED
CHAOS THIS WEEK, AND NOWHERE
MORE SO THAN TEXAS.
>> DAY FIVE OF THE POWER CRISIS
IN TEXAS.
DAY FIVE.
>> NOW, WE COULD TELL YOU HOW
COLD IT IS, BUT MAYBE THESE
STUNNING IMAGES TELL THE STORY
BETTER.
BURST PIPES CAUSED ICICLES ON
THIS CEILING FAN.
LOOK AT THIS -- YEP, THAT'S ICE
COMING OUT OF THIS BATHROOM
FAUCET.
AND CHECK OUT THIS CAR WASH IN
AUSTIN.
THE PERSON WHO POSTED THIS
PICTURE SUMMED IT UP PRETTY WELL
SAYING, "GUESS I'LL WAIT 'TIL
NEXT WEEK."
>> John: YEAH, MAYBE DO THAT.
MAYBE WAIT UNTIL YOUR CAR WASH
STOPS LOOKING LIKE A MIDDLE
SCHOOL WENT OVER BUDGET ON THEIR
PRODUCTION OF "FROZEN."
YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE
DRIVING INTO SOMETHING THAT
LOOKS LIKE THE ASSHOLE OF SULLY
FROM "MONSTERS, INC."
TEXAS SAW A FULL-BLOWN
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THIS WEEK,
WITH MANY LOSING ELECTRICITY AND
ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, HOSPITALS
HAVING TO EVACUATE PATIENTS, AND
DOZENS OF DEATHS.
AND IF YOU WATCHED FOX NEWS,
THERE WAS ONE CULPRIT FOR ALL OF
THIS: GREEN ENERGY.
BECAUSE MULTIPLE HOSTS PLACED
THE BLAME FIRMLY ON FROZEN WIND
TURBINES, AND NONE MORE LOUDLY
THAN THIS GUY.
>> THE WINDMILLS FAILED LIKE THE
SILLY FASHION ACCESSORIES THEY
ARE AND PEOPLE IN TEXAS DIED.
GREEN ENERGY MEANS A LESS
RELIABLE POWER GRID, PERIOD.
IT MEANS FAILURES LIKE THE ONES
WE'RE SEEING NOW IN TEXAS.
THAT'S NOT A TALKING POINT,
IT'S NOT A POLITICAL SLOGAN,
WE'RE NOT TAKING MONEY FROM
EXXONMOBIL TO SAY IT.
AGAIN, THAT IS TRUE.
IT'S SCIENCE.
>> John: OKAY, FIRST, WE KNOW
EXXONMOBIL'S NOT PAYING YOU.
ALMOST NO ONE IS.
YOUR SHOW'S LOST SO MANY
ADVERTISERS, YOU'RE BASICALLY
BEING BANKROLLED BY A MAN
IN A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH A PILLOW.
SECOND, JUST BECAUSE YOU LOUDLY
INSIST SOMETHING "IS SCIENCE"
DOESN'T MAKE IT SCIENCE.
THAT'S SCIENCE!
AND FINALLY, CALLING WINDMILLS
"SILLY FASHION ACCESSORIES" IS
JUST ABSURD.
THE ONLY TIME YOU COULD
CONCEIVABLY MAKE THAT CLAIM WAS
WHEN THE "BACHELOR"
CONTESTANT DEANDRA DRESSED UP
AS A WINDMILL FOR HER NIGHT ONE
ENTRANCE IN THE CLEAR ALLUSION
TO PETER AND HANNAH'S FANTASY
SUITE FUCKFEST.
AND EVEN THEN, IT'S NOT SILLY.
IT'S HORNY.
THOSE WINDMILL CLAIMS WERE EVEN
REPEATED BY TEXAS GOVERNOR
GREG ABBOTT, WHO TOLD
SEAN HANNITY, THIS SHOWS HOW
THE GREEN NEW DEAL WOULD
BE A DEADLY DEAL.
BUT HE KNOWS THAT'S HORSESHIT.
TEXAS ONLY RELIES ON WIND POWER
FOR ABOUT 25% OF ITS
ELECTRICITY.
THE VAST MAJORITY COMES FROM
THERMAL HEAT SOURCES LIKE
NATURAL GAS, COAL, AND NUCLEAR.
AND ALL OF THOSE WERE UTTERLY
HOBBLED BY THE COLD THIS WEEK.
EVEN IF EVERY WIND TURBINE IN
TEXAS HAD KEPT SPINNING,
THE STATE STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN
IN DEEP SHIT.
AND THERE WERE SOME UNIQUELY
TEXAN ISSUES AT WORK HERE THAT
MADE THIS THE CALAMITY IT WAS.
STARTING WITH THIS.
>> MOST OF TEXAS RUNS ON ITS OWN
POWER GRID SEPARATE FROM THE
REST OF THE COUNTRY.
STATE LEADERS DESIGNED IT THIS
WAY TO AVOID FEDERAL
REGULATION.
>> John: YEAH, IT'S TRUE.
TEXAS IS THE ONLY STATE
IN THE LOWER 48 NOT
ON THE FEDERAL POWER GRID.
AND SOMETIMES, WHEN YOU'RE
THE ONLY ONE DOING SOMETHING,
YOU'RE A PIONEER.
BUT SOMETIMES, YOU MIGHT BE AN
IDIOT.
IF YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON TRYING
TO SET THE WORLD RECORD FOR
BEING COVERED IN THE MOST BEES,
MAYBE ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT AM I
TRYING TO PROVE HERE EXACTLY?
WHY AM I LIKE THIS?"
BECAUSE THAT INDEPENDENCE MEANT
THAT TEXAS WAS LIMITED IN ITS
ABILITY TO IMPORT ENERGY FROM
NEIGHBORING STATES.
AND IT ALSO MEANT THAT THERE WAS
SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE ON ERCOT,
THE COMPANY THAT MANAGES THE
STATE'S GRID.
ERCOT SCRAMBLED TO MEET SURGING
DEMAND, AND HAVE SINCE ADMITTED
TEXAS WAS "SECONDS AND MINUTES"
AWAY FROM CATASTROPHIC
MONTH-LONG BLACKOUTS.
WHICH IS A BIG SHIFT FROM HOW
THEY WERE TALKING LAST WEEKEND,
WHEN THEY WERE HAVING FUN
TWEETING OUT PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE
ENERGY-SAVING HINTS LIKE,
"UNPLUG THE FANCY NEW APPLIANCES
YOU BOUGHT DURING THE PANDEMIC
AND ONLY USED ONCE."
AND I'M SORRY, BUT A KITCHENAID
ARTISAN DESIGN SERIES 5
QUART TILT-HEAD STAND MIXER
WITH GLASS BOWL IS NOT
JUST A FANCY APPLIANCE.
IT'S GOT TEN SPEEDS AND COMES
WITH A BEATER, DOUGH HOOK,
AND A WIRE WHISK.
NO ONE'S USING THAT ONCE.
YOUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE
FIGHTING OVER THAT WHEN YOU DIE.
ALSO, NOT TO BE A TOTAL BITCH,
BUT WHO TOOK THAT PHOTO?
THE FRAMING'S TRASH, YOU CAN
BARELY SEE THE PLUG -- IT LOOKS
LIKE MARTHA STEWART'S
SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE SHE HIRED
A FOOD STYLIST.
AND YEAH, WE REMEMBER THOSE
DAYS, MARTHA.
YOUR SHIT WAS VILE BACK THEN.
THE POINT IS, ERCOT WAS NOT
PREPARED FOR THIS STORM.
BUT THEY ALSO WEREN'T ALONE IN
THAT.
BECAUSE WHILE ERCOT MANAGES
THE GRID, IT DOESN'T MANAGE THE
POWER COMPANIES THAT SUPPLY IT.
SO IT COULD NOT COMPEL COMPANIES
TO WINTERIZE FACILITIES SO THEY
WOULDN'T GO DOWN DURING A STORM.
THE STATE HAD LEFT THAT CHOICE
UP TO POWER COMPANIES, MANY OF
WHICH OPTED AGAINST THE
UPGRADES BECAUSE THEY WERE
EXPENSIVE.
AND WHILE THIS STORM
WAS UNUSUALLY STRONG,
IT ALSO WASN'T UNPRECEDENTED.
TEN YEARS AGO, TEXAS WAS HIT
WITH A STORM THAT PARALYZED
THE STATE.
AFTER WHICH, FEDERAL REGULATORS
WARNED THAT THEIR POWER PLANTS
NEEDED TO WINTERIZE TO PREVENT
THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
AND STATE OFFICIALS KNEW FULL
WELL WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF THEY
DIDN'T ACT.
>> WE'VE GOT TO LEARN FROM IT
AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THIS
HAPPENS AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S
ONE YEAR FROM NOW, TEN YEARS
FROM NOW, WE DO NOT HAVE THIS
HAPPEN AGAIN.
THERE'S REALLY NO EXCUSE,
IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, THAT
A FACILITY SHOULD GO OFF WHEN
YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO FREEZE
A WEEK OUT.
>> John: THAT HEARING WAS
TEN YEARS TO THE DAY BEFORE THIS
STORM HIT.
SO TEXAS HAD A DECADE TO
PREPARE, AND IT DIDN'T.
AND YOU CAN GET A LOT DONE
IN TEN YEARS!
LOOK AT BEYONCE.
IN THE LAST DECADE, SHE
ANNOUNCED SHE WAS PREGNANT
IN THE COOLEST WAY POSSIBLE.
PERFORMED AT TWO SUPER BOWL
HALFTIMES.
WATCHED SOLANGE KICK THE SHIT
OUT OF HER HUSBAND AND THEN MADE
A WHOLE ALBUM ABOUT IT.
INVENTED THE COLOR YELLOW AND
FOUNDED THE COACHELLA MUSIC
FESTIVAL AND WAS IN A FILM WITH
THE WORLD'S GREATEST ACTOR.
SHE GOT A LOT DONE.
SHE PROBABLY COULD'VE WINTERIZED
TEXAS' POWER PLANTS IF ANYONE
HAD JUST THOUGHT TO ASK HER.
SO MUCH OF THE PROBLEMS THIS
WEEK STEMMED FROM TEXAS'S STATE
PHILOSOPHY OF "EVERY MAN FOR
HIMSELF."
AND THAT ATTITUDE HAS DEFINED
THE RESPONSE FROM THEIR
OFFICIALS, TOO.
ONE MAYOR EVEN POSTED, "NO ONE
OWES YOU OR YOUR FAMILY
ANYTHING; NOR IS IT THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO
SUPPORT YOU DURING TRYING TIMES
LIKE THIS."
THE BACKLASH TO THAT WAS SO
FEROCIOUS, HE HAD TO RESIGN.
AND THEN THERE WAS THE SAGA OF
TED FUCKING CRUZ.
HE FLED THE STATE ON WEDNESDAY,
AND TOOK HIS FAMILY TO CANCUN.
AND WHEN PHOTOS OF HIM ON THE
PLANE EMERGED, HE CAME BACK
THE NEXT DAY, INITIALLY IMPLYING
THAT HIS PLAN HAD ALWAYS BEEN
JUST TO DROP HIS FAMILY OFF AND
COME BACK -- A CLAIM THAT NEVER
RANG TRUE, CONSIDERING HE'D
PACKED THIS SUITCASE.
SURE ENOUGH, HE EVENTUALLY
ADMITTED HE'D PLANNED TO STAY
THE WHOLE TIME, AND BLAMED HIS
PRETEEN DAUGHTERS FOR THE TRIP,
SAYING THEY HAD ASKED HIM TO GO,
AND "I WAS TRYING TO BE A DAD."
BECAUSE THE FIRST RULE OF
FATHERHOOD IS: THROW YOUR
DAUGHTERS UNDER THE BUS.
AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY.
BUT EVENTUALLY, WE GOT THE FULL
STORY OF HOW THE TRIP HAPPENED,
IN SPECTACULAR FASHION, AS
HEIDI CRUZ'S GROUP CHAT WITH
HER FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
LEAKED.
>> MRS. CRUZ, TELLING FRIENDS
HER HOUSE WAS FREEZING,
PROPOSING A VACATION UNTIL
SUNDAY, AND INVITING OTHERS
TO JOIN THE CRUZES AT
THE RITZ CARLTON IN CANCUN,
WHERE THEY'D STAYED BEFORE.
SHE FLOATED A DIRECT FLIGHT
AND HOTELS WITH CAPACITY.
SERIOUSLY.
>> John: I MEAN, THAT'S JUST
INCREDIBLE.
TED CRUZ -- WHO, REMEMBER, WANTS
TO BE PRESIDENT -- TOLD THE
WORLD HE WAS BULLIED INTO
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL BY TWEENS,
THEN GOT CYBERBULLIED INTO
COMING HOME BY THE INTERNET,
LEAVING HIS WIFE TO SOLO-PARENT
TWO KIDS ON VACATION IN ANOTHER
COUNTRY WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHO IN HER MOM GROUP DOXXED
HER.
IT'S ALL AMAZING.
BUT MAYBE THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE
OF SELF-DEFEATING TEXAN SWAGGER
THIS WEEK ACTUALLY CAME FROM
FORMER GOVERNOR AND
U.S. SECRETARY OF ENERGY,
RICK PERRY.
>> PERRY SUGGESTS THAT TEXANS
PREFER BLACKOUTS TO FEDERAL
REGULATION.
HE SAID, "TEXANS WOULD BE
WITHOUT ELECTRICITY FOR LONGER
THAN THREE DAYS TO KEEP THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUT OF THEIR
BUSINESS."
>> John: OH, FUCK OFF,
RICK PERRY.
FAR BE IT FOR ME TO QUESTION
THE WISDOM OF A MAN WHO FAILED
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT TWICE,
AND WHO CAME IN 12TH ON
"DANCING WITH THE STARS" --
MEANING HE LOST TO MITT ROMNEY,
DONALD TRUMP, AND VANILLA ICE.
BUT AS EASY AS IT IS TO VENERATE
SACRIFICE, THE THING ABOUT
SACRIFICE IS, PEOPLE HAVE
TO CHOOSE TO DO IT.
AND THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS DIDN'T
CHOOSE TO LOSE POWER, HEAT, AND
WATER FOR DAYS THIS WEEK.
THIS MESS ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE
THOSE IN CHARGE DIDN'T IMPLEMENT
CRITICAL LESSONS FROM TEN YEARS
AGO, AND WHILE I'D LIKE TO THINK
THEY'LL LEARN LESSONS FROM THIS
WEEK, REMEMBER WHO YOU'RE
DEALING WITH HERE.
AND RIGHT NOW, THOUSANDS OF
TEXANS ARE STILL STRUGGLING.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP, THERE ARE
FEEDING TEXAS AMONG
THEM.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE DO
NEED HELP.
THEY DESERVE IT.
JUST AS THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN
A PAT ON THEIR BACK
FOR THEIR
FORTITUDE AND INDEPENDENCE
AS THEY SHIVER TO DEATH, AND
REPRESENTATIVES WHO FUCK OFF TO
MEXICO AT THE FIRST SIGN OF
DANGER.
AND IF YOU THINK THAT'S UNFAIR,
TED, LET ME KNOW.
BUT DON'T BOTHER CALLING TO
TELL ME.
JUST HAVE HEIDI TEXT IT TO ONE
OF HER FRIENDS.
I'M SURE IT'LL GET BACK TO ME
EVENTUALLY.
AND NOW THIS.
♪ ♪
>> Announcer: AND NOW...
PEOPLE WHO WENT TO HARVARD.
>> I DON'T HOLD MYSELF OUT OF
SOME KIND OF GENIUS, BUT I WENT
TO HARVARD.
>> I WENT TO HARVARD.
>> I WENT TO HARVARD IN THE
MID-'90s.
>> I WENT TO HARVARD.
>> I SHOULD DECLARE SOMETHING, I
AM A HARVARD GRADUATE.
>> I WENT TO HARVARD BUSINESS
SCHOOL AND THAT GOT A DEGREE.
>> I WENT TO HARVARD BUSINESS
SCHOOL AND WORKED AT
GOLDMAN SACHS.
>> I WENT TO HARVARD BUSINESS
SCHOOL AND WORKED AT
GOLDMAN SACHS.
>> I WENT TO HARVARD.
>> I GOT TO TELL YOU, I WORKED
AT HARVARD.
HIS BIG ARM TRADE AND
ECONOMICS, I WORKED AT HARVARD.
>> I WENT FOR HARVARD.
>> I FEEL LIKE WHAT IS
INTERESTING ABOUT ME AS I WENT
TO HARVARD LAW SCHOOL.
>> YOU KNOW, I WENT TO HARVARD
LAW SCHOOL.
>> I DID GO TO HARVARD LAW
SCHOOL.
>> I WENT TO HARVARD LAW SCHOOL.
>> I BELIEVE IN NUMBERSND
FACTS.
>> THAT NUMBER IS FROM HARVARD
UNIVERSITY.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS A
YEAR.
>> I WENT TO HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
♪ ♪
>> John: MOVING ON.
FOR OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT,
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A
PRODUCT THAT'S WILDLY POPULAR IN
THIS COUNTRY.
BUT INSTEAD OF TELLING YOU WHAT
IT IS, I'D RATHER SHOW YOU AN
AD FOR IT.
AND I PROMISE, IF YOU'VE NEVER
SEEN THIS COMMERCIAL BEFORE, YOU
WILL NEVER GUESS WHAT IT'S FOR.
>> MOM, I THINK TRIPPY'S BEEN
DRINKING TOO MUCH MILK.
[TRIPPY GROWLS]
[FAMILY SCREAMS]
>> SOMETIMES YOU JUST DON'T FEEL
LIKE COOKING.
SO I'VE COME UP WITH NEW PERDUE
ENTREES.
FRESH, COMPLETE ENTREES READY IN
UNDER THREE MINUTES.
>> John: WELL, THAT TOOK A TURN.
AND WHAT EXACTLY DOES JIM PERDUE
THINK HE'S DOING THERE?
THAT FAMILY DOESN'T NEED ONE OF
YOUR SHITTY FROZEN MEALS!
THEY NEED SOMEONE TO EXPEL
THE LITERAL DEVIL FROM THEIR
DEMENTED GUINEA PIG.
PERFORM AN EXORCISM OR GET OUT
OF THEIR HOUSE!
THE POINT IS, OUR MAIN STORY
TONIGHT CONCERNS MEAT.
IT'S WHAT I TECHNICALLY AM TO
ANY ANIMAL ABOVE ME ON
THE FOOD CHAIN.
LIKE A BEAR, OR A TIGER, OR --
IF WE'RE BEING TOTALLY HONEST --
A MEDIUM-AGGRESSIVE PIGEON.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING, "I KNOW
WHERE THIS IS GOING.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A GRIM STORY
ABOUT THE CONDITIONS ANIMALS
FACE IN FACTORY FARMS."
YOU'RE ACTUALLY WRONG.
THOSE CONDITIONS ARE HORRIFIC,
BUT THEY DO GET TALKED ABOUT A
LOT.
THIS STORY IS GOING TO BE ABOUT
THE GRIM CONDITIONS HUMANS ARE
FACING WORKING IN MEATPACKING
FACILITIES.
IF YOU ATE MEAT TODAY,
IT PROBABLY WENT THROUGH
ONE OF THEM.
AND MEATPACKING IS A HIGHLY
CONSOLIDATED INDUSTRY.
ROUGHLY 85% OF BEEF PRODUCTION
IN AMERICA IS CONTROLLED
BY THESE FOUR COMPANIES.
AND MORE THAN HALF OF THE
CHICKEN INDUSTRY IS CONTROLLED
BY THESE FOUR.
THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THIS
COUNTRY'S FOOD SUPPLY.
AND, TO HEAR COMPANIES LIKE
TYSON TELL IT, THEY'RE IMPORTANT
TO THEM ON A PERSONAL LEVEL,
TOO.
>> WE'VE ALL GOT THE SAME END
GOAL IN MIND: PROTECT OUR TEAM
MEMBERS.
THEY'RE OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET,
THEY ARE OUR FAMILY.
I SAID EARLIER THAT WE'RE A
FOOD COMPANY, BUT WE'RE A
FAMILY, AND THAT'S GENUINELY HOW
I FEEL AND HOW WE OPERATE.
>> John: OKAY, IF TYSON'S
WORKERS ARE THEIR MOST VALUABLE
ASSET, THEN THEIR WORKERS ARE --
BY DEFINITION -- NOT FAMILY.
BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST:
NOBODY'S FAMILY IS THEIR
MOST VALUABLE ASSET.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO RANK
EVERYTHING IN LIFE BY HOW MUCH
YOU VALUE IT, IT GOES:
NUMBER ONE, YOUR PHONE;
NUMBER TWO, FOOD, WATER, AND
SHELTER; NUMBER THREE,
JUDI DENCH -- SHE'S A FUCKING
TREASURE.
AND THEN, AND ONLY THEN,
YOUR FAMILY.
THAT'S JUST AN EMPIRICAL FACT.
BUT SECOND: IT'S A LITTLE HARD
TO TAKE TYSON'S "WORKERS ARE OUR
FAMILY" TALK, GIVEN THIS.
>> STUNNING ALLEGATIONS MADE
AGAINST MANAGERS AT THIS
TYSON PORK PROCESSING PLANT IN
WATERLOO, IOWA, ONE OF THE FIRST
TO SHUT DOWN WHEN THE
CORONAVIRUS RAGED UNCONTROLLABLY
IN THE SPRING.
A SUPERVISOR ALLEGEDLY TAKING
BETS ON HOW MANY WOULD CATCH
THE VIRUS.
ACCORDING TO THE ALLEGATIONS,
THE "PLANT MANAGER OF THE
WATERLOO FACILITY ORGANIZED A
CASH BUY-IN, WINNER-TAKE-ALL
BETTING POOL FOR SUPERVISORS AND
MANAGERS TO WAGER HOW MANY
EMPLOYEES WOULD TEST POSITIVE
FOR COVID-19."
>> John: HOLY SHIT.
THAT BETTING POOL MIGHT BE
THE MOST DISGUSTING THING EVER
CREATED IN A TYSON FACTORY,
WHICH IS SAYING SOMETHING, GIVEN
TYSON ALSO MAKES RANCH-FLAVORED
CHICKEN CHIPS, A SNACK ONE
CUSTOMER REVIEWED ONLINE WITH
THE NOTE, "DISGUSTING!
I GAGGED IN FRONT OF MY CHILD."
THAT REVIEW IS ON TYSON'S ACTUAL
WEBSITE!
NOW TYSON FIRED SEVEN MANAGERS
AT THAT PLANT AFTER THAT
INCIDENT.
BUT IT SPEAKS TO A LARGER
PROBLEM IN THE INDUSTRY.
BECAUSE WHILE COMPANIES HAVE PUT
OUT ENDLESS PRESS STATEMENTS
ABOUT THE EXPENSE THEY'VE GONE
TO TO PROTECT THEIR WORKERS
DURING THE PANDEMIC, WORKERS
THEMSELVES DISPUTE THOSE CLAIMS
HEAVILY.
AND THEY'VE BEEN HIT HARD.
AS OF FEBRUARY 18TH, AT LEAST
57,000 MEATPACKING WORKERS
HAVE CONTRACTED THE VIRUS,
AND AT LEAST 280 HAVE DIED.
BUT THE BROADER TRUTH IS THAT
THE TREATMENT OF WORKERS IN THIS
INDUSTRY HAS BEEN VERY BAD
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
SO TONIGHT, LET'S LOOK AT THEM.
AND LET'S START WITH HOW PLANTS
OPERATE.
MOST FEATURE A SERIES OF LONG
CONVEYER BELTS WITH WORKERS
PACKED CLOSELY ALONG THE LINE,
CHOPPING, DEBONING, OR TRIMMING
FAT, OFTEN AT BREAKNECK SPEED.
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE LINE SPEEDS
IN POULTRY HAVE ACTUALLY DOUBLED
SINCE 1979, WITH WORKERS
REPORTING AVERAGING 35-45 BIRDS
PER MINUTE.
THAT'S LESS THAN 2 SECONDS PER
BIRD.
THAT'S FAST!
IN THE TIME IT'S TAKEN ME TO
EXPLAIN LINE SPEEDS TO YOU,
A PLANT COULD HAVE PROCESSED
FIVE WHOLE BIRDS!
AND LOOK, THERE'S PLENTY OF
ACTIVITIES THAT SHOULD ONLY TAKE
TWO SECONDS -- CHECKING THE
TIME, CLEARING YOUR THROAT,
DETERMINING THE WORTH OF A TOTAL
STRANGER BY HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO
FUCK THEM.
HEY!
EH, I GET IT.
BUT SAFELY BUTCHERING A CHICKEN
PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE ONE OF
THEM.
AND THANKS TO THIS RELENTLESS
PACE, MEATPACKING WORKERS HAVE
REPORTED IT CAN BE HARD TO TAKE
A BREAK, EVEN TO GO TO THE
BATHROOM.
WHICH MAY EXPLAIN STORIES LIKE
THIS.
>> THIS IS SECURITY CAMERA VIDEO
GIVEN TO OUR SISTER STATION FROM
THE SMITHFIELD PRODUCTION LINE
IN VIRGINIA.
IN THE VIDEO, YOU SEE THE
EMPLOYEE IN FRONT TAKE OFF HIS
GLOVES.
COMPANY OFFICIALS CONFIRM THE
MAN RELIEVES HIMSELF UNDER THE
PRODUCTION LINE, THEN PUTS HIS
GLOVES BACK ON AND CONTINUES TO
WORK.
THE WORKER AT THE CENTER OF
ALL THIS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED
PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE
INVESTIGATION.
>> THAT IS DISGUSTING.
>> John: WELL, YEAH, IT IS.
THE COMBINATION OF URINE AND
PORK IS A BIT UPSETTING.
IT'S ONE OF THE MANY REASONS
I HAVE NO INTEREST IN SEEING
MISS PIGGY'S SEX TAPE.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST THAT THAT MAN
URINATED UNDER THE PRODUCTION
LINE.
IT'S THAT HE WAS PUT IN A
POSITION WHERE HE MAY'VE FELT
LIKE HE HAD TO.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A PROBLEM ACROSS
THE MEATPACKING INDUSTRY.
OXFAM RELEASED A REPORT
DETAILING EXACTLY HOW GRIM
CONDITIONS CAN BE FOR POULTRY
WORKERS, WITH ONE DETAIL IN
PARTICULAR THAT HIT THIS LOCAL
MICHIGAN TALK SHOW HARD.
>> POULTRY INDUSTRY WORKERS ARE
PUT THROUGH SUCH EXTREMES THAT
THEY'RE DENIED BATHROOM BREAKS,
MANY WEARING DIAPERS DURING
THEIR WORK DAY.
>> OH, MY GOODNESS!
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE NEED JOBS AND
THEY NEED TO BE EMPLOYED.
BUT TO HAVE TO STAND IN YOUR
OWN STUFF WHILE YOU'RE WORKING?
>> MY MIND IS RACING WHILE
YOU'RE SHARING THOSE DETAILS.
I'M THINKING, SURELY THIS IS NOT
IN OUR COUNTRY.
>> John: OKAY, I GET THE SHOCK
THERE.
I REALLY DO.
BUT THE THING IS, THIS IS
TOTALLY OUR COUNTRY.
WE LIVE IN A NATION WHERE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
HOMELESS SLEEP ON THE STREETS,
PEOPLE HAVE TO LAUNCH GOFUNDME
CAMPAIGNS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT,
AND WHERE GEORGE ZIMMERMAN CAN
AUCTION OFF THE GUN HE USED TO
KILL TRAYVON MARTIN --
A HORRIFIC STORY, WHICH, BY THE
WAY, YOUR SHOW ACTUALLY COVERED
IN THE SEGMENT DIRECTLY BEFORE
THAT ONE.
SO YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING A
PRETTY GOOD JOB OF SHOWING HOW
FUCKED UP THIS COUNTRY CAN BE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST BATHROOM BREAK
ISSUES.
MEATPACKING HAS SOME OF THE
HIGHEST RATES OF OCCUPATIONAL
INJURY AND ILLNESS IN THE
COUNTRY.
IN FACT, IN A RECENT THREE-YEAR
PERIOD, A WORKER IN THE MEAT AND
POULTRY INDUSTRY LOST A BODY
PART OR WAS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL
FOR INPATIENT TREATMENT ABOUT
EVERY OTHER DAY.
AND A LOT OF THIS IS DOWN TO
DANGEROUS WORKING CONDITIONS.
PLANTS ARE SO CROWDED, A COMMON
INJURY IS A CUT FROM YOUR
NEIGHBOR'S KNIFE.
AND THOSE RAPID LINE SPEEDS CAN
EXACERBATE OTHER PROBLEMS, SUCH
AS REPETITIVE STRESS INJURIES,
LIKE CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME.
ALL OF WHICH CAN LEAVE WORKERS
FEELING PRETTY DISPOSABLE.
>> I MEAN, YOU GOT 2,000 HOGS AN
HOUR GOING THROUGH.
>> YOU'RE COVERED WITH BLOOD,
FECES, URINE.
IT'S EASY TO GET HURT DOWN
THERE.
>> YOU'RE DOING THAT SAME
MOVEMENT FOR THAT SAME PIECE OF
THE HOG.
AND IT'S NONSTOP, YOU KNOW,
BASICALLY YOU'RE TREATED
AS A HUMAN MACHINE.
>> John: LOOK, THAT IS CLEARLY
TERRIBLE.
NOBODY SHOULD BE TREATED
LIKE A MACHINE.
UNLESS, OF COURSE, IT'S A FUN
MACHINE LIKE AN IMMERSION
BLENDER!
I'D LOVE TO BE TREATED LIKE
AN IMMERSION BLENDER!
OH, YOU WANT ME TO STAY IN A
COMFY DRAWER MOST OF THE DAY,
AND THEN OCCASIONALLY COME OUT
TO ROBOT-FUCK A SOUP?
YES, PLEASE!
AT THIS POINT, YOU MIGHT BE
WONDERING, HOW DO COMPANIES GET
AWAY WITH TREATING THEIR WORKERS
LIKE THIS?
WELL, MANY STRATEGICALLY LOCATE
THEIR PLANTS IN AREAS WITH
FEW OTHER JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND
TARGET VULNERABLE GROUPS, LIKE
FORMER PRISONERS, REFUGEES, AND,
ESPECIALLY, IMMIGRANTS, FOR
HIRING.
ROUGHLY 175,000 IMMIGRANTS WORK
IN MEATPACKING JOBS IN AMERICA,
AND THEY UNDERSTANDABLY
MAY BE WARIER ABOUT COMPLAINING
TO AUTHORITIES ABOUT
MISTREATMENT.
SO MANY WORKERS ARE ALREADY
OPERATING AT A DEEP
DISADVANTAGE.
ON TOP OF WHICH, COMPANIES
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MINIMIZE
ACCOUNTABILITY BY
GAMING THE SYSTEM.
FOR INSTANCE, THEY'RE REQUIRED
TO REPORT SERIOUS INJURIES TO
THE GOVERNMENT'S
WORKER-PROTECTION AGENCY, OSHA.
BUT THERE'S A SIMPLE WAY AROUND
THAT.
BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE
TO REPORT THOSE INJURIES
IF TREATMENT STAYS AT A
FIRST-AID LEVEL.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS?
WELL, AS A G.A.O. REPORT FOUND,
PLANTS SIMPLY OFFER FIRST AID
TREATMENTS ON SITE RATHER THAN
REFER WORKERS TO A DOCTOR.
THE SAME REPORT FOUND EVEN
WORKERS WITH SEVERE INJURIES
LIKE FRACTURES WEREN'T SENT TO
DOCTORS, WITH ONE WORKER WHO'D
DEVELOPED A MUSCULOSKELETAL
DISORDER MAKING OVER 90 VISITS
TO THE COMPANY'S NURSE BEFORE
BEING REFERRED TO A PHYSICIAN.
AND THE WORKERS KNOW THE GAME
THAT'S BEING PLAYED HERE.
>> THERE'S A NURSE, BUT SHE
DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR YOU.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN OUR ARMS HURT,
ALL SHE DID WAS APPLY BENGAY
OINTMENT AND SEND US ON OUR WAY.
IT'S NOT EVEN WORTH GOING.
>> I NEEDED TO SEE A DOCTOR,
BUT THEY REFUSED ME.
AND I ASKED, I TOLD THEM, WELL,
"CAN I GO DOWN TO SEE MY OWN
ORTHOPEDICS, MY OWN SPECIALIST,
MY OWN DOCTOR?"
AND THEY SAID, "IF YOU DO THAT,
WE'RE GONNA FIRE YOU."
>> John: LOOK, THERE ARE LOTS OF
GOOD REASONS TO FIRE SOMEONE --
FREQUENT ABSENCES, POOR QUALITY
OF WORK, BECAUSE THEY GET
A LITTLE RACISTY ON AMBIEN --
BUT WANTING TO SEE A DOCTOR
SHOULD NOT BE ONE OF THEM.
AND IT'S WORTH NOTING, IF YOU
DO HAVE A SEVERE INJURY, IT CAN
BE VERY HARD TO GET RELIEF.
IN THEORY, YOU COULD APPLY FOR
WORKERS' COMPENSATION --
PROGRAMS UNDER WHICH INJURED
WORKERS LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO
SUE, BUT IN EXCHANGE, CAN GET
MONEY TO COVER MEDICAL TREATMENT
AND LOST WAGES.
THE THING IS, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE
RUN AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND PAID
INTO BY COMPANIES WHO'VE LOBBIED
HARD, BOTH TO HOLLOW THOSE
BENEFITS OUT AND MAKE THEM
HARDER TO GET.
JUST BEFORE TEXAS OVERHAULED ITS
WORKERS' COMP SYSTEM BACK IN
1989, ONE POULTRY CEO,
BO PILGRIM, TRIED TO PERSONALLY
INFLUENCE PROCEEDINGS,
IN A PRETTY BLATANT WAY.
>> SENATOR BOB GLASGOW OF
STEPHENVILLE SAYS HE'S NEVER
BEEN OFFERED A BLANK $10,000
CHECK.
NOT UNTIL EAST TEXAS CHICKEN
KING BO PILGRIM STRUTTED ONTO
THE SENATE FLOOR WEDNESDAY.
>> SENATOR HUGH PARMER OF
FORT WORTH SAYS PILGRIM THEN
SLIPPED HIM EITHER A BRIBE OR AN
ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION.
>> WELL, I DIDN'T THINK HE WAS
TRYING TO GIVE ME A CHRISTMAS
PRESENT, I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
>> John: YEAH, OF COURSE HE
WASN'T, BECAUSE CHRISTMAS
PRESENTS AREN'T TYPICALLY USED
AS BRIBES.
THAT IS UNLESS YOU'RE A CHILD OF
DIVORCE.
"HERE IT IS, BILLY!
A FULL-SIZED MOTORCYLE,
JUST LIKE YOU ASKED FOR!
I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE IT, AND
IF YOUR MOTHER DOESN'T -- WELL,
THAT IS ON HER!
SHE'S A DIFFICULT WOMAN, BILLY."
AND JUST A QUICK WORD ABOUT
BO PILGRIM.
HE COFOUNDED A COMPANY CALLED
PILGRIM'S PRIDE.
AND BLANK CHECKS TO LEGISLATORS
AREN'T EVEN THE MOST SHAMELESS
THING HE SPENT MONEY ON DURING
HIS LIFE.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE HAD THIS
37-FOOT BUST OF HIS HEAD
INSTALLED NEXT TO ONE OF HIS
DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, AND ADDED
THIS SECOND STATUE UNDERNEATH IT
DEPICTING HIM READING A BIBLE TO
HIS PET CHICKEN, HENRIETTA.
HE ALSO BUILT THIS HELLACIOUS
MANSION, WHICH LOCALS REFERRED
TO AS "CLUCKINGHAM PALACE," AND
WHICH INCLUDED, AMONG OTHER
ATROCITIES, THIS ABSOLUTE
NIGHTMARE OF A BATHROOM THAT,
FITTINGLY, HAS THE EXACT COLOR
SCHEME OF A RAW CHICKEN BREAST,
AND THIS NAUSEATING FOYER
FEATURING A PAINTING OF WHAT
APPEARS TO BE TWO PEACOCKS
FUCKING ABOVE SOME CHICKENS
WHILE A PERVERTED OWL JUST
WATCHES.
AND IT WASN'T JUST BO PILGRIM
FIGHTING WORKERS' COMP LAWS.
TYSON HAS TAKEN A LEAD IN
PUSHING FOR CHANGES IN
WORKERS' COMP IN STATE AFTER
STATE, WHICH HAVE MADE IT HARDER
FOR WORKERS HURT ON THE JOB TO
RECEIVE PAYMENTS.
IN FACT, IN TEXAS, IT'S NOW
POSSIBLE FOR COMPANIES TO OPT
OUT OF PAYING INTO WORKERS' COMP
ENTIRELY, AND ESSENTIALLY WRITE
THEIR OWN RULES FOR HOW MUCH
WORKERS GET FOR THEIR INJURIES.
TYSON DOES EXACTLY THAT -- AND
WHEN WORKERS GET INJURED IN
THEIR PLANTS,
IN ORDER TO GET MEDICAL CARE
FROM THE COMPANY, THEY FIRST
HAVE TO SIGN A DOCUMENT
SAYING THEY VOLUNTARILY RELEASE,
WAIVE AND FOREVER GIVE UP CLAIMS
ARISING FROM THEIR INJURIES,
CAN YOU NOT SIGN THAT?
SURE.
THEN YOUR BEST BET TO PAY FOR
THE COVERAGES TO SUE THE CURRENT
DOMINANT COMPANY AND THAT CAN
TAKE FUCKING YEARS.
AND WHILE A LAW PASSED A FEW
YEARS AGO NOW GIVES WORKERS
TEN DAYS TO CONSIDER SIGNING IT,
BEFORE THEN, THEY COULD BE
PRESSURED ON THE SPOT.
AT ANOTHER COMPANY, AN EMPLOYEE
WHO'D HAD BOTH OF HIS HANDS
CRUSHED WAS PERSUADED TO SIGN
A WAIVER WITH A PEN HELD IN HIS
TEETH.
AND LOOK, I KNOW THIS ALL SOUNDS
VERY BAD.
AND IT DOES IMPLY COMPANIES LIKE
TYSON DON'T CARE ABOUT THE
PHYSICAL WELL-BEING OF THEIR
WORKERS.
BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT TRUE.
BECAUSE THEY DO SEEM TO CARE
VERY MUCH ABOUT THE PHYSICAL
WELL-BEING OF SOME OF THEIR
WORKERS.
>> EMPLOYEES AT TYSON FRESH
MEATS' CORPORATE OFFICES IN
DAKOTA DUNES ARE GETTING OUT
FROM BEHIND THEIR DESKS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LOOKS GOOD, GUYS.
>> AND INTO A HEALTHY ROUTINE.
>> EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY,
WE OFFER AN ON-SITE FITNESS
CLASS FOR ANY EMPLOYEE WHO WANTS
TO COME.
>> WE FOCUSED ON STRETCHING AT
YOUR DESK.
A LOT OF US SIT AT A DESK A LOT
OF TIMES, SO EVEN JUST GETTING
UP AND STRETCHING, JUST THAT
LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT
THROUGHOUT THE DAY HELPS, TOO.
>> WE HAD A WORKSHOP ON
MEDITATION LAST WEEK AND IT WAS
PRETTY GOOD, CLEARING YOUR MIND
AND RELAXING, STUFF YOU CAN DO
AT WORK.
>> John: YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S TRUE!
MEDITATION IS GREAT FOR CLEARING
YOUR MIND.
YOU JUST HAVE TO SIT STILL,
FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH, AND TRY
NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE LOCAL
CAMERA CREW THAT'S FILMING
A PIECE ABOUT YOUR CORPORATE
OFFICE CULTURE THAT WILL ONE DAY
BE UNCOMFORTABLY JUXTAPOSED WITH
HOW APPALLINGLY YOUR COMPANY
TREATS WORKERS IN ITS FACTORIES.
NOW ARE THOSE THOUGHTS GOING TO
CREEP INTO YOUR MIND?
SURE.
BUT JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THEM, AND
RETURN TO YOUR BREATH.
NAMASTE.
CLEARLY, THE CONTRAST BETWEEN
TYSON'S CORPORATE OFFICES AND
THEIR PLANTS IS STARK.
ALMOST AS STARK AS THE DISPARITY
BETWEEN THEIR SALARIED WORKERS,
OVER 73% OF WHOM ARE WHITE,
AND THEIR HOURLY WORKERS, OVER
68% OF WHOM ARE BLACK, ASIAN, OR
LATINO.
JUST A FUN FACT I'M THROWING IN
THERE FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON.
NOW, IDEALLY, YOU'D WANT THE
GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND REMEDY
SOME OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN.
UNFORTUNATELY, OSHA IS WOEFULLY
UNDERSTAFFED.
AS OF LAST APRIL, ITS NUMBER OF
INSPECTORS HAD DROPPED TO A
45-YEAR LOW.
IN FACT, AT CURRENT STAFFING
LEVELS, IT WOULD TAKE OSHA
165 YEARS TO INSPECT EVERY
WORKPLACE UNDER ITS
JURISDICTION.
AND EVEN ON THE RARE OCCASIONS
THAT INSPECTORS DO VISIT PLANTS,
THE LIMITS TO WHAT THEY'RE
ALLOWED TO DO THERE CAN BE
GENUINELY RIDICULOUS.
>> IN THE SOUTHEAST, WHERE A
HUGE PROPORTION OF THE POULTRY
INDUSTRY RESIDES, THERE IS
ACTUALLY A LAWSUIT THAT HAS
SUCCESSFULLY PREVENTED OSHA
INSPECTORS FROM DOING BROADER
SEARCHES IN POULTRY FACTORIES,
EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW WORKERS ARE
GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED.
IN ONE CASE, AN INSPECTOR WAS
TOLD TO PUT A BOX OVER HER HEAD
SO SHE WOULDN'T SEE ANY SAFETY
HAZARDS IN THE PLANT IF SHE
WANTED TO WALK THROUGH THE PLANT
TO INVESTIGATE A FIRE.
>> John: OKAY, NOT TO STATE THE
OBVIOUS, BUT "PUT A BOX ON YOUR
HEAD" IS NOT AN INSTRUCTION YOU
GIVE WHEN EVERYTHING'S UP TO
CODE.
IT'S JUST INHERENTLY SUSPICIOUS.
"RIGHT THIS WAY, INSPECTOR, NOW
IF YOU'LL ALSO PLEASE PLUG YOUR
NOSE, AND SPIN AROUND THREE
TIMES, WE CAN BEGIN THE TOUR."
AND EVEN WHEN OSHA FINDS
VIOLATIONS, THEIR POWER TO DO
ANYTHING IS INCREDIBLY WEAK.
IN 2019, THE AVERAGE FINE FOR A
SERIOUS SAFETY VIOLATION -- A
HAZARD WHERE THERE IS A
SUBSTANTIAL PROBABILITY OF DEATH
OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM -- WAS
JUST OVER $3700, MEANING IT CAN
BE GENUINELY CHEAPER FOR
COMPANIES TO RUN AN UNSAFE PLANT
AND OCCASIONALLY PAY THOSE FINES
THAN FOR THEM TO PROVIDE A SAFE
WORK ENVIRONMENT.
AND ALL OF THIS CAME TO A HEAD
LAST YEAR WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.
COMPANIES' CORPORATE WORKERS
IMMEDIATELY WORKED FROM HOME,
BECAUSE IT WASN'T SAFE FOR THEM
TO BE IN THE OFFICE, BUT THE
PLANTS WERE KEPT OPEN, DESPITE
THE FACT -- AS YOU'VE SEEN --
IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO
SOCIALLY DISTANCE ON A LINE.
AND WHEN WORKERS, ENTIRELY
PREDICTABLY, THEN STARTED DYING,
THE FEDERAL RESPONSE WAS
CHARACTERISTICALLY WEAK.
AFTER SIX WORKERS FROM A
JBS PLANT IN COLORADO DIED FROM
COVID, THE COMPANY'S TOTAL FINE
WAS JUST $15,000.
AND FOR THE FAMILY OF
SAUL SANCHEZ, ONE OF THOSE
WORKERS, IT UNDERSTANDABLY
DIDN'T SIT WELL.
>> SAUL SANCHEZ WORKED FOR THE
COMPANY FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES
AND NEVER CALLED IN SICK A
SINGLE TIME.
HE WAS THE FIRST JBS WORKER TO
DIE OF COVID-19 AND HIS FAMILY
SAYS HIS FUNERAL COSTS MORE THAN
THE FINE THIS COMPANY'S NOW
FACING.
>> IT'S A HUGE SLAP ON THE FACE
AND THEY BRING IN OVER
$50 BILLION A YEAR AND THEY GET
SLAPPED WITH $15,000.
THAT'S WHAT ENABLES THOSE
COMPANIES TO NOT CARE FOR THEIR
EMPLOYEES.
>> John: YEAH, EXACTLY.
THAT FINE AMOUNTS TO .00003% OF
JBS'S PROFITS LAST YEAR.
AND IF YOU FINE A COMPANY A
FRACTION OF A PERCENT OF THEIR
PROFITS, DON'T BE SURPRISED WHEN
THEY CONTINUE GIVING ONLY A
FRACTION OF A FUCK ABOUT THE
WELFARE OF THEIR WORKERS.
NOW, LEGALLY, I HAVE TO TELL
YOU: JBS CLAIMS THAT THAT FINE,
AND THE GOVERNMENT'S FINDING
THAT THEY FAILED TO PROTECT
THEIR EMPLOYEES FROM EXPOSURE TO
COVID, IS ENTIRELY WITHOUT
MERIT.
NOT ONLY THAT, THEY ARE EVEN
FIGHTING THE CLAIMS FOR WORKERS'
COMP SURVIVOR BENEFITS FROM
SAUL SANCHEZ'S WIDOW, AND OTHERS
WHO'VE LOST LOVED ONES, THEIR
ARGUMENT BEING THAT THE COVID
INFECTIONS WERE NOT WORK
RELATED.
ALTHOUGH, TO BE HONEST,
THAT'S A HARD ARGUMENT FOR THEM
TO LAND, GIVEN THAT THE OUTBREAK
GOT SO BAD THERE, AT ONE POINT,
THEY HAD TO SHUT THE FUCKING
PLANT DOWN.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO HERE?
WELL, AT LEAST FOR THE DURATION
OF THE PANDEMIC, OSHA SHOULD
IMPLEMENT A FEDERAL EMERGENCY
WORKPLACE STANDARD, GIVING
MEATPACKING WORKERS THE RIGHT TO
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND OTHER
PROTECTIONS.
LONGER-TERM, THAT AGENCY NEEDS
TO BE REBUILT AND STRENGTHENED.
AND IT CAN'T STOP THERE.
THE USDA SHOULD DO MORE TO
ENSURE LINES MOVE AT SAFE SPEEDS
AND WHEN IT COMES TO
WORKERS' COMP, WE SHOULD BE
SETTING A BASELINE FOR WHAT
STATES HAVE TO OFFER, BECAUSE
OTHERWISE, THE RACE TO THE
BOTTOM WILL JUST CONTINUE.
AND ALL OF THIS HAS TO BE DONE
QUICKLY.
BECAUSE THINGS ARE CRITICAL
RIGHT NOW.
REMEMBER THAT TYSON PLANT WITH
THE "WINNER-TAKE-ALL" BETTING
POOL?
AS OF MID-DECEMBER, MORE THAN
1500 EMPLOYEES THERE CONTRACTED
THE VIRUS, AND EIGHT DIED, SO IF
TYSON TRULY IS A "FAMILY" LIKE
THEY LOVE TO CLAIM, IT SEEMS TO
BE A PRETTY FUCKING
DYSFUNCTIONAL ONE.
AND WHEN YOU TAKE THIS ALL OF
THIS TOGETHER -- THE DIAPERS,
THE ENDLESS TRIPS TO THE NURSING
STATION, THE INJURIES AND DEATHS
-- YOU FRANKLY ONLY NEED TO TAKE
A PEEK INSIDE THE WAY THIS
INDUSTRY CURRENTLY OPERATES TO
DRAW A PRETTY SIMPLE CONCLUSION.
>> THAT IS DISGUSTING.
>> John: YEAH, IT IS.
IT REALLY IS.
AND NOW THIS.
♪ ♪
>> Announcer: AND NOW, WORKING
REMOTELY FOR "THE
PEOPLE'S COURT" SUCKS TOO.
>> WE AT THE "THE
PEOPLE'S COURT" WILL BE
ADJUDICATING CASES RIGHT HERE
FROM OUR VERY OWN VIRTUAL
COURTROOM.
>> GENTLEMEN, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> THERE IS NO SMOKING IN COURT.
>> I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU COULD
SEE.
>> I'M SORRY, CAN I JUST ASK
YOU, THE STUFFED ANIMAL THAT IS
IN YOUR HAND?
>> I WILL PUT IT DOWN.
IT BELONGS TO MY NEPHEW.
>> THE END TABLE IS THE ONE THAT
HAD -- YOU KNOW I CAN SEE YOU
WHEN YOU ROLL YOUR EYES AT YOU?
>> PLEASE BRING IT VERY CLOSE TO
ME SO THAT I CAN READ IT.
BECAUSE THE PICTURE YOU
SUBMITTED TO EVIDENCE -- OKAY.
>> MY BATTERY IS GOING LOW.
>> TAKE A SECOND AND PUT A
CHARGER.
I DON'T WANT TO END UP LOSING
YOUR TESTIMONY.
>> I CAN'T DO IT BUT I'M HAPPY
TO GO INTO THE KITCHEN.
>> DO YOU WANT TO SEE MY DOGS?
>> NO, I JUST WANT TO SEE THE
TABLE.
>> IS THERE SOME PROBLEM,
GENTLEMEN?
CAN YOU LIFT YOUR HEAD?
>> WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE YOUR HAND
AT YOUR EARPHONE?
YOU CAN'T LIFT BOTH HANDS
BECAUSE YOU NEED ONE HAND TO
BRING THAT UP TO THE CAMERA SO
THAT I CAN READ IT.
OKAY.
♪ ♪
>> John: THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
GOOD NIGHT.
♪ ♪
[SCREAMING]