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Our Body Politic

Exposing Environmental Racism and Election Security Woes

Our Body Politic

Diaspora Farms, LLC

News Commentary, Documentary, Society & Culture, Government, News

4.8658 Ratings

🗓️ 30 September 2022

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, Farai speaks with reporter and WAPT-TV news anchor Troy Johnson on Jackson, Mississippi’s recurring water crisis, and why catastrophes like this so often happen in communities of color. Then, we share again Farai’s conversation from April with Carmen Yulín Cruz, former mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, about how she guided her people through the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. And on our weekly segment, Sippin’ the Political Tea, Farai is joined by Kim Wehle, law professor and advisor at Protect Democracy and Tammy Patrick, Senior Advisor to the Elections program at Democracy Fund to discuss election security ahead of the 2022 midterms.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, folks, we are so glad that you're listening to Our Body Politic.

0:18.5

If you have time, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts.

0:22.6

It helps other listeners find us and we read them for your feedback.

0:26.6

We'd also love you to join in financially supporting the show if you're able.

0:30.6

You can find out more at ourbodypolitic.com slash donate.

0:34.8

We are here for you, with you, and because of you. Thank you.

0:38.3

This is our body politic. I'm Fari Chidea. Jackson, Mississippi is recovering from a water crisis of epic proportions.

0:50.3

Just over one month ago, historic rainfall flooded the Pearl River, causing several pumps to fail at a water treatment plant.

0:57.8

That resulted in more than 100,000 residents not being able to use the water in their city.

1:03.2

This event highlights the increasing instability of the water supply in many cities across the U.S.

1:08.5

And many of the areas experiencing water difficulties are communities

1:11.9

made up predominantly of black and brown residents.

1:15.3

Some people say this is a racial justice issue, and communities of color have long gotten less from the state than white communities.

1:22.9

The city of Jackson had already been under a month-long state-imposed boil water notice, one of 300

1:29.3

within the past two years. The EPA launched an investigation into the Jackson water situation,

1:35.2

and after a series of improvements had been made to the affected plant, the city lifted its boil water notice.

1:41.8

Still, the Department of Justice has threatened to file legal action against the

1:45.2

city under the Safe Drinking Water Act, as Jackson's water system had been deemed inadequate

1:50.2

and in need of a temporary third-party management. Troy Johnson is an anchor and reporter at WAPT TV in

1:58.3

Jackson. He covered the crisis since the beginning and continues to report on the

2:02.9

state of Jackson's water supply. Troy spoke with us on Our Body Politics on Monday, September 13th,

2:09.2

three days before the city lifted its boil water notice. Here's our conversation. Welcome, Troy.

...

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