Original subtitles

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

>> 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.

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]