Trumpland with Alex Wagner: Episode Summary – "Death, Equity, and Inclusion"

Release Date: March 13, 2025

In the poignant episode titled "Death, Equity, and Inclusion", host Alex Wagner delves deep into the devastating impacts of environmental policies under the Trump administration, focusing on the beleaguered communities residing in Cancer Alley, Louisiana. This area, notorious for its high concentration of fossil fuel and petrochemical operations, has been grappling with severe health crises exacerbated by inadequate regulatory oversight.

1. Cancer Alley: A Community Under Siege

The episode opens with Robert Taylor, an 84-year-old lifelong resident of Reserve, Louisiana, describing the deteriorating environmental conditions:

Robert Taylor [01:11]: "We're getting out into open space... but things don't exactly look right as if something happened here."

Reserve is situated along an 85-mile stretch dubbed Cancer Alley, home to approximately 200 petrochemical plants. A critical study by Human Rights Watch identifies it as the largest concentration of such facilities in the Western Hemisphere.

Sharon Levine, a local activist, shares the heart-wrenching toll on the community:

Sharon Levine [02:17]: "The rate of cancer, the rate of illnesses. My mother, my sisters, my next door neighbors, my friends from around, they are dying."

Taylor recounts the recent loss of his wife, a cancer survivor, whom he believes succumbed to prolonged chemical exposure from nearby plants.

2. The Denka Lawsuit and Administration Changes

For decades, residents like Taylor have sought governmental intervention to address the rampant pollution. Progress was minimal until the Biden administration initiated significant actions in 2023, including a civil rights investigation into Louisiana's environmental agencies.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new measures aimed at reducing pollution in communities of color, specifically targeting areas like Cancer Alley. This led to a federal lawsuit against Denka Performance Elastomer, a Japanese-owned plant formerly operated by DuPont, for excessive emissions of chloroprene—a likely carcinogen.

However, a dramatic policy shift occurred under the Trump administration. As reported by the New York Times [06:39], the administration decided to drop the lawsuit against Denka, dismissing it as lacking scientific and legal merit. Denka responded by asserting:

Denka Representative [06:58]: "No emergency can exist when the facility's emissions are at a historical low."

The Trump administration justified this rollback by labeling environmental justice efforts as "woke liberalism," aligning with broader deregulatory trends.

3. Voices from Cancer Alley

The episode powerfully features Shamyra Levine Davy, Sharon Levine’s daughter, who personalizes the community's struggle:

Shamyra Levine Davy [13:03]: "It's environmental. I've lost everyone in my family because of it."

Residents express frustration over misguided suggestions to relocate, emphasizing their deep-rooted connections to the land:

Shamyra Levine Davy [18:23]: "We have a beautiful... home... If you want to buy it and move in, we'll leave. Move your family there or shut up."

Others highlight the historical exploitation of their land, with Denka's plant situated on former plantation grounds—a symbolic continuation of oppression:

Community Activist [19:12]: "They said, we're going to bring jobs in, so they thought it was okay. But here we are now, cancer-ridden, overburdened. Now they want us to leave."

The community's resilience shines through as they vow to continue their fight despite mounting challenges:

Shamyra Levine Davy [17:56]: "I'm not anti-industry. I want clean industry that's not killing us. Is that too much to ask?"

4. Expert Insight with Heather McTeer Toney

The episode features an in-depth discussion with Heather McTeer Toney, former EPA regional administrator and Executive Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Beyond Petrochemicals Campaign. Toney provides a critical analysis of the Trump administration's environmental policies:

Toney [25:01]: "We are really debating whether or not we should have clean water, clean air, and clean land in this country... It should cause us all extreme concern."

Drawing parallels to overhauling critical safety measures like breathalyzers:

Toney [27:16]: "It's like getting rid of breathalyzers for drunk drivers. It sounds ridiculous, right?"

She underscores the universal implications of deregulating emissions, emphasizing that the impacts extend beyond marginalized communities to all Americans:

Toney [31:08]: "This is not just a problem that is impacting poor black and brown people in the South. It impacts all of us."

Toney highlights the historical exploitation of African American communities, connecting past injustices to present environmental neglect:

Toney [26:02]: "The lands that the plants overlap... is the exact footprint of plantations that enslave family members of people who are living there today."

5. The Future of Environmental Justice

The episode contemplates the broader implications of dismantling environmental protections. Alex Wagner articulates the gravity of the situation:

Alex Wagner [25:41]: "We have to recognize what are going to be the societal impacts in the future if we allow this to go unchecked and unabated."

The conversation stresses the moral imperative to address environmental racism and prevent further degradation of vulnerable communities.

6. Conclusion: The Fight Continues

As the episode concludes, the unwavering spirit of Cancer Alley's residents serves as a testament to their enduring fight for justice:

Community Activist [36:56]: "If our ancestors can make it through 400 years, then we can make it through the next four."

Alex Wagner reflects on the deep connections between the people and their land, emphasizing the hope that drives their persistent resistance against environmental exploitation.

Alex Wagner [33:08]: "Recognizing that gives hope for why this work is so important... if we don't stand up for what's happening, then my God, what happens to the rest of the world."

Key Takeaways:

• Cancer Alley remains a symbol of environmental racism, where predominantly Black communities face disproportionate health risks due to petrochemical pollution.
• The Trump administration's rollback of environmental protections, particularly the cessation of the Denka lawsuit, poses significant threats to public health and environmental justice.
• Local activists like Sharon and Shamyra Levine Davy exemplify the resilience and determination of communities fighting against systemic neglect and corporate malfeasance.
• Heather McTeer Toney emphasizes the nationwide implications of deregulating environmental policies, drawing analogies to compromised public safety measures.
• The episode underscores the urgent need for comprehensive environmental reforms to protect vulnerable communities and ensure equitable access to clean air, water, and land.

Notable Quotes:

• Sharon Levine [02:17]: "The rate of cancer, the rate of illnesses... they are dying."
• Shamyra Levine Davy [13:03]: "I've lost everyone in my family because of it."
• Heather McTeer Toney [25:01]: "We are really debating whether or not we should have clean water, clean air, and clean land in this country... It should cause us all extreme concern."
• Community Activist [17:56]: "The irony of the situation is there are technologies that could make the plant safer... I want clean industry that's not killing us."
• Alex Wagner [27:16]: "It's like getting rid of breathalyzers for drunk drivers."

This episode of Trumpland offers a comprehensive and emotionally charged examination of the intersection between environmental policy, racial justice, and community resilience, providing listeners with a profound understanding of the ongoing struggles in Cancer Alley and the broader implications for environmental equity in the United States.