IN YOUR BACKYARD: The People’s Fight for Clean Water

The fight for clean water has never been more daunting.

Many Americans live in places where polluters have wreaked havoc on the water systems surrounding them. Some don’t even know they are living in harm’s way.

And in the current political environment, our water is even more vulnerable. The Trump administration has weakened pollution rules for power plants and made it easier for bad actors to dump coal ash. They’ve removed protections for wetland areas and made it tougher for local communities to block pipelines.

On top of all that, the acceleration of data center construction around the country poses even greater risks for local communities.

Luke talked to two people who live in places feeling those harms. He also talked to a lawmaker who has made fighting for clean water, the environment, and his authorship of the Green New Deal, his calling card: U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).