All language subtitles for Last.Week.Tonight.with.John.Oliver.S10E20.December.10.2023.Freight.Trains.1080p.HMAX.WEB-DL.DD2.0.H.264-playWEB_track4_[eng]
Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,315
Welcome to "Last Week Tonight"!
I'm John Oliver.
2
00:00:35,399 --> 00:00:38,275
Thank you so much for joining us.
It has been a busy week.
3
00:00:38,359 --> 00:00:40,955
Taylor Swift was named
Time's Person of the Year,
4
00:00:41,039 --> 00:00:43,836
Donald Trump won another debate
that he didn't even attend,
5
00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,315
and the BBC gave us
the single greatest opening
6
00:00:46,399 --> 00:00:48,600
to a news broadcast of all time.
7
00:00:56,079 --> 00:00:58,399
Live from London,
this is BBC News.
8
00:00:59,079 --> 00:01:03,116
Excellent. Just first-rate
middle finger work there.
9
00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,155
I love how quickly her expression
went from "playful goof"
10
00:01:06,239 --> 00:01:08,000
to "constipated robot."
11
00:01:08,719 --> 00:01:11,155
But we're gonna start in Congress
tonight, where this week,
12
00:01:11,239 --> 00:01:13,756
former House speaker Kevin McCarthy
announced his plans to leave
13
00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,355
before his term was even up.
14
00:01:15,439 --> 00:01:17,556
You may remember,
he was drummed out of his job
15
00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,075
because he was seen as too much
of a moderate, and replaced
16
00:01:20,159 --> 00:01:23,116
by Mike Johnson, who looks like
he's the model for Just for Hobbits,
17
00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:24,560
Touch of Grey.
18
00:01:25,079 --> 00:01:27,715
Johnson is now at the center of some
of the most important fights
19
00:01:27,799 --> 00:01:30,275
in Washington, from the need to avert
a government shutdown,
20
00:01:30,359 --> 00:01:32,556
to securing critical funding
for Ukraine.
21
00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:34,956
And this week, he continued
to remind everyone
22
00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,879
that beneath his mild-mannered exterior
lurks a far-right conservative.
23
00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,596
On Tuesday, following up on
his promise to make 44,000 hours
24
00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,075
of January 6th footage available
to the public,
25
00:01:45,159 --> 00:01:48,075
he told reporters
he'd made a crucial edit.
26
00:01:48,159 --> 00:01:52,316
{\an8}We have to blur some of the faces
of persons who participated
27
00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,196
{\an8}in the events of that day
28
00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,830
{\an8}because we don't want them
to be retaliated against,
29
00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,359
{\an8}and to be charged by the DOJ.
30
00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,596
It's true! Johnson announced
that he wanted to protect
31
00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,396
insurrectionists' anonymity
by blurring their faces.
32
00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,980
Which is ridiculous. These people
were a part of an armed insurrection.
33
00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:13,240
Also, there was merch.
It wasn't exactly a secret.
34
00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,716
And Johnson is heavily implicated
in what happened on January 6th,
35
00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:18,400
take it from Steve Bannon.
36
00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:23,115
{\an8}Here's the important thing on Johnson,
he is part of the Trump era.
37
00:02:23,199 --> 00:02:25,635
{\an8}He was one
of the intellectual architects
38
00:02:25,719 --> 00:02:28,400
{\an8}of pushing back
on the stolen election.
39
00:02:28,759 --> 00:02:31,555
Set aside the fact he called it
"the stolen election,"
40
00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,635
and that he used the term "intellectual
architect" for an argument
41
00:02:34,719 --> 00:02:37,599
that basically amounted
to "Nuh-uh, I'm the president".
42
00:02:38,199 --> 00:02:39,876
Even set aside his hair there,
43
00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,355
which makes him look like
the oldest T-Bird in "Grease"
44
00:02:42,439 --> 00:02:46,156
applying to business school,
Steve Bannon is right.
45
00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,436
Johnson led the amicus brief
in support of the Texas lawsuit
46
00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:51,876
to invalidate the election in 2020.
47
00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,395
Now, was that a good thing?
Unreasonable people can disagree.
48
00:02:55,479 --> 00:02:59,596
But his involvement is not something
Republicans want you to ask about.
49
00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,355
Just after he was nominated
as speaker,
50
00:03:01,439 --> 00:03:03,319
there was this memorable moment.
51
00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,520
You helped lead the efforts
to overturn the 2020 election results.
52
00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:19,395
I hate to be that guy,
but "Boo! Shut up!" is not "No".
53
00:03:19,479 --> 00:03:23,955
And quick shout-out to Virginia Foxx
there, repeatedly yelling "shut up"
54
00:03:24,039 --> 00:03:27,089
in the same tone as a drunk grandma
at Thanksgiving being told
55
00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,596
that she can't sneak the dog
any more turkey skin.
56
00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:34,759
"Shut up! Bosco loves it!
He's just hungry! Shut up! Boo!"
57
00:03:35,759 --> 00:03:38,235
And if there was any hope Johnson
might moderate his views
58
00:03:38,319 --> 00:03:40,520
now that he's speaker,
that is gone.
59
00:03:40,879 --> 00:03:43,316
Last week, he sent a fundraising
email expressing alarm
60
00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,916
that high schoolers increasingly
identify as LGBTQ,
61
00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:48,650
and on Tuesday, received an award
62
00:03:48,719 --> 00:03:50,876
from the National Association
of Christian Lawmakers
63
00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,596
"for Christian Honor and Courage,"
at a gala featuring a TV evangelist
64
00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,520
who claimed "homosexuality is three
times worse than smoking."
65
00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,196
Which is absurd. The only thing
a smoking habit
66
00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:04,316
and someone's sexuality
have in common
67
00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:08,240
is that they could both be strongly
influenced by this picture of Joe Camel.
68
00:04:08,639 --> 00:04:11,756
Look at him, broad as fuck
and tailored tight.
69
00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,919
He's not just serving humps,
he's causing them.
70
00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,755
And because there was so little vetting
before Johnson became speaker,
71
00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,596
we keep discovering
new unsettling facts about him,
72
00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:23,836
like that he apparently uses
an app that alerts him
73
00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,879
if his son looks at porn online,
and vice versa.
74
00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,596
It scans all the activity on your phone,
or your devices,
75
00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,516
your laptop, tablet,
what have you, we do all of it.
76
00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,755
It sends a report
to your accountability partner.
77
00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:41,836
So, my accountability partner
right now is Jack, my son. Right?
78
00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,716
And so, he's 17. So, he and I get
a report about all the things
79
00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,956
that are on our phones, or all
of our devices, once a week.
80
00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,156
If anything objectionable comes up,
81
00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:53,716
your accountability partner gets
an immediate notice.
82
00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,276
I'm proud to tell you,
my son has a clean slate.
83
00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,596
Okay. First, obviously, if Mike
Johnson's son is watching this,
84
00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:05,195
I'm really sorry. Your dad seems
like a lot.
85
00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:06,836
And if he is watching this online,
86
00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,195
then I guess Mike probably is, too.
Hi, Mike!
87
00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,636
You must've got the alert after
we showed that picture of the camel.
88
00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:18,195
And while everyone is focusing on his
son's activity being sent to him,
89
00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:22,476
that son is also getting a report
of his dad's internet activity.
90
00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,195
Which might be worse.
91
00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,675
Not just because it's traumatizing
to learn that your dad searched
92
00:05:26,759 --> 00:05:29,839
for "the sex stuff, lights off,
shirts on."
93
00:05:30,439 --> 00:05:33,489
But also because having access
to your dad's non-porn searches
94
00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,396
is basically a crystal ball
into your own future.
95
00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,276
"Shampoo for thinning hair,"
"knee clicking cancer question mark,"
96
00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:41,836
"is Viagra Christian,"
97
00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:47,235
that is a dark glimpse into tomorrow
no 17-year-old wants.
98
00:05:47,319 --> 00:05:50,355
The app he's talking about
is called Covenant Eyes.
99
00:05:50,439 --> 00:05:52,956
And if you're a company trying to
stop people from constantly thinking
100
00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:57,199
about sex, maybe don't make
your logo look like a tantalizing hole.
101
00:05:58,759 --> 00:06:02,319
There are even ads for the app,
and they are spectacular.
102
00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,220
So, what's better
than just a porn blocker?
103
00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,076
Using a porn blocker
with accountability.
104
00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:12,355
Accountability enables a trusted friend
to see how you're using your device.
105
00:06:12,439 --> 00:06:14,396
Even if porn slips
through the cracks,
106
00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,516
someone else knows
and can help you get back on track.
107
00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,195
That's something porn blockers
can never do.
108
00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:21,795
Wait, hold on a second.
109
00:06:21,879 --> 00:06:24,879
Are we absolutely sure
this is an anti-porn app?
110
00:06:25,879 --> 00:06:28,675
Because these two have
definitely fucked.
111
00:06:28,759 --> 00:06:31,555
"Hey! How's it going?
Want to get together?"
112
00:06:31,639 --> 00:06:35,036
When you know someone is
masturbating could just as easily be
113
00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,555
a text that says, "U up? Smiley face
tongue-out emoji."
114
00:06:38,639 --> 00:06:41,916
And that's not the only ad. I know
the animated characters were weird,
115
00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,439
but wait until you see humans
get involved.
116
00:06:44,959 --> 00:06:48,195
Introducing Covenant Eyes,
the app that helps you fight porn
117
00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,755
by keeping you accountable.
Just download the app,
118
00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:54,555
choose a friend or family member
to be your ally, and quit porn for good.
119
00:06:54,639 --> 00:06:57,476
Here's how it works. Periodically,
your ally will receive a report
120
00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,716
of any online activity, and any risky
activity is called out in the report.
121
00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,755
Before Covenant Eyes,
I often found myself feeling weak
122
00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:06,596
in tempting situations.
123
00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,180
But now, knowing that Jeff
will know if I struggle?
124
00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,716
That's enough to give me the extra
strength I need to win the fight.
125
00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:17,560
No! Do not bring Jeff into this!
He's at work!
126
00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,636
He doesn't need to get
up-to-the-minute notifications
127
00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:25,160
about you scraping your ape
to "step-sibling porn, long legs."
128
00:07:25,759 --> 00:07:29,555
I feel like this app may be having
the opposite of its intended effect.
129
00:07:29,639 --> 00:07:31,995
I'm just saying,
if I were this guy's wife,
130
00:07:32,079 --> 00:07:35,399
I'd worry less about the porn thing,
and more about the Jeff thing.
131
00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,235
Not only are they sharing their porn
searches with each other,
132
00:07:38,319 --> 00:07:40,675
they're also going
on cute muffin dates,
133
00:07:40,759 --> 00:07:43,009
a level of intimacy his wife
can only imagine!
134
00:07:43,079 --> 00:07:47,516
And just look how happy Jeff seems
to make him! He's glowing there!
135
00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,195
His wife better open her eyes
and realize
136
00:07:49,279 --> 00:07:52,839
that there are three people in this
marriage, and she is the third.
137
00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,276
And look, while this is very fun,
a few things.
138
00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,555
First, it's probably not ideal
for national security
139
00:07:58,639 --> 00:08:02,435
if a guy second in line to the
presidency has that app on his phone.
140
00:08:02,519 --> 00:08:05,669
But also, the stuff people are now
unearthing about Mike Johnson
141
00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,396
extends beyond the personal.
142
00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,795
Just last week, it emerged that he'd
both promoted and written
143
00:08:09,879 --> 00:08:12,555
the forward
for "The Revivalist Manifesto,"
144
00:08:12,639 --> 00:08:14,956
a book by a right-wing blogger
that, among other things,
145
00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,516
"gives credence to unfounded
conspiracy theories including
146
00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,555
the Pizzagate hoax"
and disparages poor voters
147
00:08:20,639 --> 00:08:23,956
as "unsophisticated and susceptible
to government dependency"
148
00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,916
who are "easy to manipulate
with Black Lives Matter,"
149
00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,716
"defund the police pandering."
A pretty clear dog whistle.
150
00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,116
Now, a Johnson spokesperson insists
he never read those passages,
151
00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:35,955
which he strongly disagrees with,
152
00:08:36,039 --> 00:08:38,276
and that "he wrote the foreword
as a favor,
153
00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,360
not as an endorsement
of all the opinions expressed."
154
00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,195
But Johnson himself would disagree
with that,
155
00:08:44,279 --> 00:08:46,960
given what he said last year
on his own podcast.
156
00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,195
I obviously believe in the product, or
I wouldn't have written the foreword.
157
00:08:50,279 --> 00:08:53,396
So, I endorse the work.
Look, I love it. I love the book.
158
00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,116
Everybody can go and get the book.
I highly recommend it.
159
00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,516
Yeah, it turns out his endorsement
was pretty full-throated.
160
00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,675
Which, incidentally, is a Google image
search strictly off-limits
161
00:09:02,759 --> 00:09:04,279
to Mike and his son.
162
00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,396
I'm sure that's not the last upsetting
revelation that we're gonna get
163
00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,080
about him. But it's too late.
He's already speaker.
164
00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,276
For all the fear of a second Trump
term, it is worth remembering
165
00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:17,000
our current speaker of the House
is an anti-LGBT bigot
166
00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:20,195
who believes in more accountability
for his son's search history
167
00:09:20,279 --> 00:09:22,955
than he does for the people who tried
to overthrow the government.
168
00:09:23,039 --> 00:09:25,555
But thankfully,
this isn't insurrection footage,
169
00:09:25,639 --> 00:09:28,315
he can't blur his views
and hope no one notices.
170
00:09:28,399 --> 00:09:31,195
Because, much like his son,
we're all, unfortunately,
171
00:09:31,279 --> 00:09:34,320
now watching him.
And now, this.
172
00:09:34,879 --> 00:09:36,356
And now:
173
00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:41,799
Everyone on CBS Mornings Wants
to Fuck Meteorologist Jim Cantore.
174
00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,116
{\an8}We turn to a guy that we love
to talk to at times like this.
175
00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,500
{\an8}Meteorologist Jim Cantore from our
partners at the Weather Channel.
176
00:09:48,519 --> 00:09:51,475
{\an8}Jim, good morning.
What is the winter outlook?
177
00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:53,636
{\an8}We'll follow the storms
from start to finish.
178
00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,916
{\an8}I know you're on top of it. You
look electric in that electric blue.
179
00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:58,236
{\an8}Thank you, Jim Cantore.
180
00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,156
{\an8}Meteorologist Jim Cantore,
looking dapper as usual.
181
00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,675
{\an8}Who picked out your outfit
this morning? You look really good.
182
00:10:03,759 --> 00:10:04,916
{\an8}Thank you, Jim Cantore.
183
00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,636
{\an8}May I just say, you look very dapper
this morning. Thank you.
184
00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:10,720
{\an8}Thank you, darling. I appreciate that.
185
00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,250
{\an8}I see you got the blue memo today,
by the way.
186
00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,195
{\an8}We're looking good, Jim.
Thank you very much.
187
00:10:17,279 --> 00:10:20,036
{\an8}Don't adjust your TV. That's not
Mr. Clean doing the weather report.
188
00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,916
{\an8}That's the great Jim Cantore.
189
00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,156
{\an8}Thank you so much.
Hope to talk with you soon.
190
00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,075
{\an8}Have a happy and safe one. Nate,
back to you.
191
00:10:27,159 --> 00:10:28,396
{\an8}Thank you. I know one thing.
192
00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:30,315
{\an8}I'm going to stay away from eating
my kids' candy
193
00:10:30,399 --> 00:10:31,876
{\an8}so I can fill out my jacket like you do.
194
00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:33,675
{\an8}The weather might be dry,
but you are not.
195
00:10:33,759 --> 00:10:35,075
{\an8}Jim Cantore, thank you so much.
196
00:10:35,159 --> 00:10:36,955
{\an8}Jim, thank you so much.
I appreciate it.
197
00:10:37,039 --> 00:10:38,939
{\an8}And you look good in that blazer, man.
198
00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,636
{\an8}You make me want to get
in the weight room.
199
00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,876
{\an8}Let's just hope this week's weather
doesn't give us as many surprises
200
00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,236
{\an8}as we got with the Packers
and the Chiefs last night.
201
00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,555
{\an8}Holy smoke. What happened?
202
00:10:49,639 --> 00:10:50,996
{\an8}No doubt about it. I don't know.
203
00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,475
{\an8}But the way that you are built,
the Chiefs could have used you.
204
00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:55,109
{\an8}Jim Cantore, we appreciate you.
205
00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:01,156
Moving on. Our main story tonight
concerns trains. In the 1800s,
206
00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,156
the preferred method
of murdering damsels.
207
00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,320
And nowadays, antidepressants
for middle-aged dads.
208
00:11:07,039 --> 00:11:09,036
Trains aren't just a mode
of transportation
209
00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,870
they're beloved children's characters in
shows like "Thomas the Tank Engine"
210
00:11:12,919 --> 00:11:13,969
except, not that one.
211
00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,795
I'm talking about the British original
narrated by Ringo Starr,
212
00:11:16,879 --> 00:11:18,916
which is much darker.
213
00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,795
Take this episode, in which Henry
the Green Engine gets frightened
214
00:11:21,879 --> 00:11:23,835
of the rain,
and won't come out of a tunnel.
215
00:11:23,919 --> 00:11:25,869
Everyone begs him
and then yells at him.
216
00:11:25,919 --> 00:11:28,315
Thomas even tries to physically
push him out.
217
00:11:28,399 --> 00:11:31,899
Then finally, the head of the railway
steps in with a drastic solution.
218
00:11:32,519 --> 00:11:34,996
"We shall take away your rails,"
he said,
219
00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:38,639
"and leave you here for always
and always and always."
220
00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,835
They took up the old rails
and built a wall in front of him
221
00:11:42,919 --> 00:11:45,519
so that Henry couldn't get out
of the tunnel anymore.
222
00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,759
Yeah, the British version
of "Thomas" didn't fuck around.
223
00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:06,835
An episode whose premise is
"stop complaining about work
224
00:12:06,919 --> 00:12:09,475
or we'll throw you
in your forever hole,"
225
00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:12,356
has gotta be one of the most disturbing
episodes of children's TV ever,
226
00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,555
right up there with the episode
of "Blue's Clues"
227
00:12:14,639 --> 00:12:17,516
where Blue reveals herself
to be the Zodiac killer.
228
00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:19,595
C'mon, Steve:
the clues were a handgun
229
00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:23,916
a Zodiac symbol, and an issue of the
San Francisco Chronicle from 1969,
230
00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,276
she basically wanted to get caught!
231
00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,276
And if you're thinking, "well, surely
that was the midpoint of the episode,
232
00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,356
and Henry was eventually allowed
out so there'd be a happy ending
233
00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:36,200
with all his friends," it wasn't.
This is how it ends.
234
00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,919
He wondered if he would ever
be allowed to pull trains again.
235
00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:45,120
But I think he deserved
his punishment, don't you?
236
00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,595
Look, there are children's shows,
237
00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:05,996
and then there are
British children's shows,
238
00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,159
and that is why I am,
and this is true, like this.
239
00:13:10,159 --> 00:13:12,996
But we're going to be talking about
one kind of train in particular tonight,
240
00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:14,075
freight trains.
241
00:13:14,159 --> 00:13:16,475
And let me just say for the record,
this show is pro-train.
242
00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:19,356
They are objectively good.
They're fast, they're loud,
243
00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,595
and they make noises like
"chugga-chugga, choo-choo,"
244
00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:23,756
and "ding-ding-ding-ding-ding."
I love trains.
245
00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:25,490
And freight trains are essential.
246
00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:29,356
We rely on them to transport around
"28% of the country's freight."
247
00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,835
And while trucks also carry freight
great distances
248
00:13:32,919 --> 00:13:35,799
and have some pretty hit sounds
of their own, to wit,
249
00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,396
trains are much better
for the environment,
250
00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:43,276
as they only account for two% of U.S.
Transportation emissions.
251
00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,475
But unfortunately, as we saw earlier
this year, in East Palestine, Ohio,
252
00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,156
when freight trains go off the rails,
they can cause immense damage.
253
00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:54,236
That crash incurred an estimated cost
of at least $803 million
254
00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:55,916
in total damages,
255
00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,715
and 80% of residents surveyed say
they've experienced headaches, rash
256
00:13:59,799 --> 00:14:02,315
coughs, eye irritation, and diarrhea
257
00:14:02,399 --> 00:14:05,555
and about 40% say they suffer
from PTSD.
258
00:14:05,639 --> 00:14:08,236
But while that was
a particularly nasty derailment,
259
00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,756
the truth is, it shouldn't have been
that surprising.
260
00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,555
Last year, there were more than
1,000 train derailments in the U.S.
261
00:14:14,639 --> 00:14:17,236
That means an average
of three per day.
262
00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,276
And while most occur in rail yards
and aren't major incidents,
263
00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:24,039
the ones that occur outside of them
can cause a huge mess.
264
00:14:24,519 --> 00:14:27,675
{\an8}The flaming freight train inferno
outside Phoenix, Arizona,
265
00:14:27,759 --> 00:14:29,356
derailing on a bridge in Tempe.
266
00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:33,116
{\an8}A runaway train derailing in the Mojave
Desert causing a mangled mess.
267
00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,795
{\an8}Tonight, new dash cam video shows
the moment a Norfolk Southern train
268
00:14:36,879 --> 00:14:38,195
derailed in Springfield, Ohio.
269
00:14:38,279 --> 00:14:42,636
{\an8}From Live Copter 3, an exclusive view
at the Union Pacific train derailment.
270
00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,955
33 cars total, 22 derailed.
271
00:14:46,039 --> 00:14:50,435
A red substance was spilled, but
officials have not confirmed what it is.
272
00:14:50,519 --> 00:14:52,555
Look, none of that is good,
273
00:14:52,639 --> 00:14:54,435
but the phrase "a red substance
was spilled"
274
00:14:54,519 --> 00:14:57,879
"but officials have not confirmed
what it is" is truly chilling.
275
00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,116
It sounds less
like a legitimate news report
276
00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,850
and more like the first draft
of a Stephen King novel.
277
00:15:02,919 --> 00:15:04,876
So, train derailments happen a lot.
278
00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,756
And experts say the reason
we haven't had massive loss of life
279
00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,559
in this country as a result
is more luck than anything else.
280
00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,075
{\an8}The railroads are going
to keep flirting with danger,
281
00:15:14,159 --> 00:15:17,356
{\an8}keep flirting with disaster,
as long as people are getting rich.
282
00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,490
{\an8}I don't want to say that we dodged
a bullet in East Palestine.
283
00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,636
{\an8}But the next one may be
in a major urban area.
284
00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,356
{\an8}It may be in a downtown Chicago.
285
00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,675
{\an8}It may be in a downtown
New York City.
286
00:15:27,759 --> 00:15:31,315
It is terrifying to think a train
disaster like East Palestine
287
00:15:31,399 --> 00:15:32,649
could happen in New York.
288
00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:34,475
Partly because I live here,
289
00:15:34,559 --> 00:15:37,195
and partly because New Yorkers
are dealing with enough dread
290
00:15:37,279 --> 00:15:38,356
and panic as it is.
291
00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,236
We are a perpetual terror target,
292
00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,396
we got the country's first big wave
of Covid,
293
00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,116
we had a biblical plague
of lanternflies last summer,
294
00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:48,675
and there's an army of creepy Elmos
running rampant in Times Square.
295
00:15:48,759 --> 00:15:51,756
We don't have the anxiety bandwidth
to also worry
296
00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:55,340
about a giant train full of poison
exploding in the middle of the city.
297
00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,516
So, if freight trains have the power
to cause that much damage,
298
00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,435
tonight, let's talk about them.
299
00:16:00,519 --> 00:16:03,396
And let's start with the fact that
the freight rail industry used to be
300
00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:04,516
heavily regulated.
301
00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,715
But in the 1970s, after the interstate
highway system came along,
302
00:16:07,799 --> 00:16:10,516
and rail shipping lost a lot
of business to trucking,
303
00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:14,236
there was pressure to deregulate the
industry so that it could compete.
304
00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,435
And in 1980, a lot of the controls that
we'd had in place were removed
305
00:16:17,519 --> 00:16:20,675
allowing for huge consolidation
of railroad companies,
306
00:16:20,759 --> 00:16:23,916
to the point where, while there used
to be over 100 Class one railroads
307
00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:29,195
in North America, there are now just
six extremely powerful companies.
308
00:16:29,279 --> 00:16:31,236
And much of the oversight
of safety is left
309
00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:35,075
to the Federal Railroad Administration,
which is a fairly weak regulator.
310
00:16:35,159 --> 00:16:36,835
And it's not just me saying that.
311
00:16:36,919 --> 00:16:39,595
A government report found that
the agency itself estimates
312
00:16:39,679 --> 00:16:44,555
its inspectors can inspect
less than one% of the railroad activities
313
00:16:44,639 --> 00:16:45,876
covered in regulation.
314
00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:50,435
And as a result, railroads themselves
have the primary responsibility
315
00:16:50,519 --> 00:16:52,715
for the safety of the railroad system.
316
00:16:52,799 --> 00:16:55,996
And if history has taught us anything,
that's not a good formula
317
00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:57,996
for positive outcomes.
318
00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,195
If anything, the formula
is "industry plus deregulation"
319
00:17:01,279 --> 00:17:05,195
"minus government oversight equals
episode of Last Week Tonight".
320
00:17:05,279 --> 00:17:07,480
And guess what, guys?
Here we are!
321
00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:09,995
Although I will give the FRA
some credit
322
00:17:10,079 --> 00:17:13,235
it does produce some spectacular
railway-safety videos
323
00:17:13,319 --> 00:17:16,240
to show you what not to do
around train tracks.
324
00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,519
Shoot. I think the car just died.
325
00:17:22,079 --> 00:17:24,720
Seriously, this is not happening.
326
00:17:25,319 --> 00:17:27,995
Why did we stop?
What happened?
327
00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:29,916
- Are we stuck?
- It's fine.
328
00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:35,319
We'll sit here for a minute,
and I will call someone.
329
00:17:37,319 --> 00:17:39,069
But what if there's a train coming?
330
00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,839
Don't worry.
There's never a train here.
331
00:17:42,279 --> 00:17:44,955
And I'm sure we would hear one
coming from pretty far away.
332
00:17:45,039 --> 00:17:48,636
What are you doing?
It is hard to pick a favorite reaction
333
00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,396
from the world's calmest or dumbest
mom there.
334
00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,195
"I think the car just died,"
when your car clearly died
335
00:17:54,279 --> 00:17:55,675
is an obvious hall of famer
336
00:17:55,759 --> 00:17:58,475
but for my money, I'm gonna go
with the absolute blind confidence
337
00:17:58,559 --> 00:18:00,275
of "there's never a train here,"
338
00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,755
a fact she cannot know and doesn't
seem to totally believe herself.
339
00:18:03,839 --> 00:18:07,636
Also, and this isn't hugely important,
but "I will call 'someone"?
340
00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:09,836
Who exactly do you think you'd call?
341
00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:11,870
And how do you think
that call would go?
342
00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:13,715
"Hi, my car broke down
on some train tracks,"
343
00:18:13,799 --> 00:18:15,515
"I'm in the car with my children."
344
00:18:15,599 --> 00:18:18,116
"Get out of the car and off the tracks."
345
00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,035
"I'm pretty sure there's never
a train here."
346
00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:22,596
"Really? 'Cause trains generally
go where the tracks are."
347
00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:24,675
"Put one of your children
on the phone."
348
00:18:24,759 --> 00:18:26,675
"Are you going to send someone
to help me, officer?"
349
00:18:26,759 --> 00:18:28,596
"Lady, I'm not even the police,"
350
00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,160
"this is just a number that you called,
get off the fucking tracks."
351
00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,195
But back to the FRA.
As I was saying,
352
00:18:35,279 --> 00:18:38,316
the problem is that they have limited
insight into what's actually happening
353
00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:39,435
on the rails.
354
00:18:39,519 --> 00:18:42,755
And not every problem is as easy
to solve as taking away
355
00:18:42,839 --> 00:18:45,119
this woman's driver's license forever.
356
00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,715
As we learned in East Palestine,
some trains haul hazardous materials,
357
00:18:48,799 --> 00:18:50,675
and the truth is, neither the FRA,
358
00:18:50,759 --> 00:18:54,475
nor anyone else knows
they're there. Which is wild.
359
00:18:54,559 --> 00:18:57,836
It is crazy that the FAA knows about
the exact location
360
00:18:57,920 --> 00:18:59,755
of 5,000 planes in the sky,
361
00:18:59,839 --> 00:19:04,160
but the FRA can't tell you where most
trains are or what they contain.
362
00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,596
In the New York
area a while back,
363
00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,836
people got pretty alarmed when
they learned that volatile crude oil
364
00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:13,035
was being transported
right along the Hudson River.
365
00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:18,275
{\an8}This is the greatest threat
to the Hudson I've experienced.
366
00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:24,755
These trains that run for almost
50 miles right next to the river
367
00:19:24,839 --> 00:19:27,400
carrying highly explosive crude oil
368
00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:33,275
in rail cars that were not designed
for this, that shear on impact.
369
00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,116
120 cars on some of these trains,
370
00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:41,156
30,000 gallons of fuel per car,
very volatile fuel.
371
00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:42,675
When it comes down to it,
372
00:19:42,759 --> 00:19:46,519
each of these train cars
is like a rolling bomb.
373
00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,636
It's true! And that is not unique
to the Hudson rail line.
374
00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:54,076
Trains that carry combustible cargo are
regularly referred to by rail workers
375
00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:56,596
as "bomb trains."
Which is terrifying!
376
00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,636
"Bomb train" doesn't sound like
something that should ever be allowed
377
00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,675
on a railway, it sounds like the title
of a Jason Statham movie
378
00:20:02,759 --> 00:20:05,916
that's got 27% on Rotten Tomatoes.
379
00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,435
But "rolling bomb" is a pretty
accurate description.
380
00:20:08,519 --> 00:20:11,515
Just 22 train cars carrying liquefied
natural gas hold
381
00:20:11,599 --> 00:20:15,955
the equivalent blast energy of the
nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
382
00:20:16,039 --> 00:20:19,089
And there've been incidents where
train cars full of crude oil
383
00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,515
have exploded in populated areas.
384
00:20:21,599 --> 00:20:25,435
In Canada in 2013, there was an
explosion in the area of Lac-Megantic
385
00:20:25,519 --> 00:20:29,195
that killed 47 people
and left the town looking like this,
386
00:20:29,279 --> 00:20:31,116
which may not seem so alarming,
387
00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:35,195
until you see what that exact spot
looked like before the blast.
388
00:20:35,279 --> 00:20:37,396
It's hard to tell, but if you look
very closely, you'll notice
389
00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,319
that the town part of that town
is gone.
390
00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:43,636
And the notion that profits might be
getting prioritized over safety
391
00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,955
is in keeping with the larger trend
shaping the freight rail industry.
392
00:20:47,039 --> 00:20:48,755
Because, like many big companies,
393
00:20:48,839 --> 00:20:52,316
these giant railway firms have felt
increasing pressure to squeeze
394
00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,035
margins to please investors.
395
00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:58,636
And that brings us to the key trend in
freight rail over the past few decades,
396
00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:00,559
precision scheduled railroading,
397
00:21:01,039 --> 00:21:04,435
or PSR. It's the brainchild
of this man, Hunter Harrison.
398
00:21:04,519 --> 00:21:06,720
Seen here mid-colonoscopy.
399
00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,035
Until his death six years ago,
400
00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:12,396
Harrison worked as a CEO
at four major railroads,
401
00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,356
and his philosophy of PSR has now
taken over the entire industry.
402
00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,435
And it's about aggressively
pursuing efficiency.
403
00:21:18,519 --> 00:21:21,035
To that end, "Railroads
have closed facilities,"
404
00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:25,316
"retired locomotives and railcars,
and cut workers to lower costs."
405
00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,195
And all of that is the kind of stuff
that makes Wall Street idiots
406
00:21:28,279 --> 00:21:31,519
extremely happy.
In fact, here's one of them now!
407
00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:36,475
{\an8}Hunter Harrison!
The new darling of Wall Street.
408
00:21:36,559 --> 00:21:38,156
{\an8}Harrison will implement a strategy
409
00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,596
{\an8}that's known as precision
scheduled railroading.
410
00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:43,396
{\an8}He's already changed routes
and schedules
411
00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:45,556
{\an8}and the way the company
sorts long trains.
412
00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:48,316
{\an8}He actually maps them out in his own
living room. I'm not kidding.
413
00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,200
{\an8}This guy's the real deal.
The guy is the train whisperer.
414
00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,636
Cool! You know a person is pretty
awesome if they get a ringing,
415
00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,235
sound-effect-laden endorsement
on an esteemed show
416
00:21:59,319 --> 00:22:02,435
like "Big Bucks Word Puke
with Captain Money Clown".
417
00:22:02,519 --> 00:22:05,156
But it's true. Hunter Harrison was
the type of guy who mapped
418
00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:06,715
train routes out at home.
419
00:22:06,799 --> 00:22:08,149
He was also the type of guy
420
00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,916
who "looked for even the smallest
ways to cut costs,"
421
00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:12,235
from tearing up unused tracks
422
00:22:12,319 --> 00:22:14,755
to eliminating overnight stays
for train crews.
423
00:22:14,839 --> 00:22:19,435
He even flew around in a corporate jet
with a tail number that read OR59,
424
00:22:19,519 --> 00:22:22,076
his aspirational operating ratio.
425
00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,839
Presumably, something that made him
so happy, he smiled like this.
426
00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:30,076
But that efficiency for the companies
has come at tremendous cost
427
00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:34,076
to everyone else. And let's start with
one of things that may be less obvious.
428
00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,035
Because a key component of precision
scheduled railroading
429
00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,435
is running fewer,
but much longer trains.
430
00:22:39,519 --> 00:22:41,796
And I mean much longer.
431
00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:45,000
Some trains now stretch
nearly three miles long.
432
00:22:45,519 --> 00:22:48,435
And those longer trains aren't just
dangerous when they're moving,
433
00:22:48,519 --> 00:22:50,669
they can also be dangerous
when they're not.
434
00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,755
Trains frequently need to stop
to allow other trains to pass,
435
00:22:53,839 --> 00:22:55,796
or to work on mechanical issues.
436
00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:57,995
And tracks were built
to accommodate this,
437
00:22:58,079 --> 00:23:01,755
with sidings alongside the main line,
where trains can pull over.
438
00:23:01,839 --> 00:23:05,475
The problem is, those sidings were
built when trains were much shorter,
439
00:23:05,559 --> 00:23:08,035
and nowadays,
when they are multiple miles long,
440
00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:10,396
they can wind up stretching back
onto the main track,
441
00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,515
and possibly across roads,
blocking traffic.
442
00:23:13,599 --> 00:23:15,759
And that is one reason
why this can happen.
443
00:23:16,319 --> 00:23:18,675
For some East End neighborhoods,
this has become
444
00:23:18,759 --> 00:23:20,836
a way too unwelcome soundtrack.
445
00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,755
The bells start, traffic stops,
this driver sleeps,
446
00:23:23,839 --> 00:23:27,035
this guy climbs over, this one,
too, another right under.
447
00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:30,556
All of it without a thought to the
potentially deadly consequences.
448
00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:32,876
The wait just becomes too long.
449
00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:35,010
Well, how often does this happen,
Lorenzo?
450
00:23:35,599 --> 00:23:36,796
Just about every day.
451
00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,995
That's true, in certain towns, trains
can block traffic, and for hours.
452
00:23:41,079 --> 00:23:44,275
And it's not like they can quickly
get out of the way by turning around.
453
00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:48,359
Trains are like Liam Payne, they
really only work in one direction.
454
00:23:49,319 --> 00:23:52,995
Last year alone, there were more
than 30,000 reports
455
00:23:53,079 --> 00:23:55,556
of blocked train crossings
across the nation
456
00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:57,890
with nearly 1,000 blocked
for more than a day.
457
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,675
And that can mean people wind up
making risky decisions to get to work,
458
00:24:01,759 --> 00:24:03,475
or even to school.
459
00:24:03,559 --> 00:24:06,396
It's the kind of moment
that takes your breath away.
460
00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,876
Little girl in a bright red coat,
tiny arms and legs
461
00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:13,636
wiggling underneath a train car
that could move at any moment.
462
00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,515
It's quiet as she dusts herself off,
casually picks up her bookbag
463
00:24:17,599 --> 00:24:20,119
and a dropped water bottle,
and carries on.
464
00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:22,195
That is tough to watch,
465
00:24:22,279 --> 00:24:24,796
but I guess it is kind of nice for
the younger generation to have
466
00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,195
an immediate counter whenever
their older relatives complain
467
00:24:27,279 --> 00:24:29,729
about how they used to walk
to school in the snow.
468
00:24:29,759 --> 00:24:32,195
"Oh, was it cold, Grandpa?
Did ya get chilly?"
469
00:24:32,279 --> 00:24:35,076
"I guess I wasn't really thinking about
the weather when I was crawling"
470
00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,356
"under a train that could crush
my tiny arms and legs"
471
00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,920
"to get to fucking homeroom on time!"
472
00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,235
And while that girl, thankfully,
was okay, others haven't been.
473
00:24:44,319 --> 00:24:46,715
Pedestrians trying to cut through
trains have been disfigured,
474
00:24:46,799 --> 00:24:50,916
dismembered, and killed, after
the trains suddenly started moving.
475
00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,836
On top of which, blocked train crossings
can also seriously delay
476
00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:57,435
emergency services, like fire engines
or ambulances,
477
00:24:57,519 --> 00:25:00,396
as this Oklahoma man
knows all too well.
478
00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:06,235
I think it's gonna take a major tragedy
for the railroad company to wake up
479
00:25:06,319 --> 00:25:08,596
and decide that they're going to do
something.
480
00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:10,636
That was about
six and a half years ago.
481
00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:14,515
Chad Byrd complaining about
these tracks near their home.
482
00:25:14,599 --> 00:25:16,955
And at the time, sitting on the only
crossing to get to their home.
483
00:25:17,039 --> 00:25:19,836
I think the major concern is,
if somebody's injured,
484
00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:21,596
trying to get an ambulance
to that side.
485
00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,195
Fast-forward to early September
of 2020.
486
00:25:24,279 --> 00:25:26,836
Chad's premonitions
becoming reality.
487
00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,755
His father, Larry Gene Byrd,
dying from a heart attack,
488
00:25:29,839 --> 00:25:33,515
and emergency vehicles were stuck
behind a train on those same tracks.
489
00:25:33,599 --> 00:25:35,076
When emergency crews arrived,
490
00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,715
police asked the conductor
if it could be moved.
491
00:25:37,799 --> 00:25:40,356
{\an8}He said no.
The lawsuit adding that he quote,
492
00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,040
"closed the locomotive's window"
493
00:25:42,079 --> 00:25:44,515
"and would not respond
to any further questions."
494
00:25:44,599 --> 00:25:48,035
That is awful. And while it is not
the most important thing,
495
00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:52,039
are we all just allowed to just close
our windows and not talk to cops?
496
00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:54,356
Or is that only for train conductors?
497
00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:58,235
Because if so, I will buy one of those
stupid little hats tomorrow.
498
00:25:58,319 --> 00:26:01,916
But also, I wouldn't call his prediction
a "premonition" there.
499
00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,435
It was an easily foreseeable
consequence of poor policy.
500
00:26:05,519 --> 00:26:08,275
And that is not a one-off.
There have been multiple similar stories
501
00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:10,796
of people dying
and houses burning down
502
00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:13,876
after emergency vehicles
were delayed at crossings.
503
00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:18,116
But longer stopped trains are just the
beginning of the issues with PSR.
504
00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,675
There is also the issue of what
the relentless drive for savings
505
00:26:20,759 --> 00:26:21,755
does to workers.
506
00:26:21,839 --> 00:26:26,359
Even as trains got longer, staffing has
been cut to ridiculously low levels.
507
00:26:26,759 --> 00:26:30,195
Just watch as a union leader explains
to a flabbergasted news anchor,
508
00:26:30,279 --> 00:26:32,275
right after East Palestine,
509
00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:34,636
just how low these levels
had become.
510
00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,755
{\an8}Look, if you add more
and more cars to these trains,
511
00:26:37,839 --> 00:26:41,076
{\an8}you're introducing more
and more points of potential failure.
512
00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,596
{\an8}And that's why it's really alarming that
the railroad industry actually wants
513
00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:48,076
{\an8}to cut back the number of people
operating on a train from two,
514
00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:49,860
{\an8}as is the current standard,
to one.
515
00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:52,035
{\an8}I'm sorry. Hold on.
Are you saying that as of now,
516
00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:56,275
{\an8}a train with 150 cars and that
is carrying hazardous material,
517
00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:58,156
{\an8}vinyl chloride, whatever,
518
00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:02,920
{\an8}as a standard,
only has two people operating it?
519
00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,195
{\an8}Yeah, that's correct.
One conductor, one engineer.
520
00:27:06,279 --> 00:27:09,076
{\an8}- And they want to cut it down to one.
- Yes.
521
00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:12,636
Right, one person.
Which is absurd.
522
00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:15,316
Trains need an engineer
to drive the train
523
00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:16,995
and a conductor for the rest of it.
524
00:27:17,079 --> 00:27:19,235
It's not one of those jobs where
we have two people do it,
525
00:27:19,319 --> 00:27:21,475
even though it clearly
only requires one,
526
00:27:21,559 --> 00:27:24,235
like anchoring the news or renovating
a home,
527
00:27:24,319 --> 00:27:26,000
or hosting the 2011 Oscars.
528
00:27:27,039 --> 00:27:29,489
And people who work on these trains
will tell you,
529
00:27:29,519 --> 00:27:32,515
every part of their job
is exhausting now.
530
00:27:32,599 --> 00:27:35,349
For example, when there
are mechanical or other problems
531
00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:36,796
that cause a train to stop,
532
00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,356
the conductor may have to walk from
the lead locomotive to the problem area
533
00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:41,636
and back again.
534
00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,796
Which could mean walking four miles
to the end and back
535
00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:46,796
on a two-mile long train.
536
00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:50,316
Workers are being stretched so thin that
they're now working ridiculous hours
537
00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:53,950
and required to be on call, forcing them
to pick and choose between work
538
00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:56,836
and their families,
and even medical appointments.
539
00:27:56,920 --> 00:28:00,515
Until recently, when workers wanted
to take a sick day at BNSF,
540
00:28:00,599 --> 00:28:02,755
the largest freight railroad
in the U.S.,
541
00:28:02,839 --> 00:28:05,076
they had to schedule them a month
in advance,
542
00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,195
and only for Tuesday,
Wednesday, or Thursday.
543
00:28:08,279 --> 00:28:10,836
And I don't know
how BNSF thinks illnesses work,
544
00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,675
but the flu doesn't have
a Microsoft Outlook calendar
545
00:28:13,759 --> 00:28:16,475
where you can look at its schedule
and book your infection
546
00:28:16,559 --> 00:28:18,916
at a time that works for both of you.
547
00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,275
And while BNSF changed
that policy this fall,
548
00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:24,235
it's still in effect
at other major railroads.
549
00:28:24,319 --> 00:28:27,440
A former union head sums up
the situation like this.
550
00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:31,839
{\an8}As we say, you either go to work
sick and tired or you get fired.
551
00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:34,400
{\an8}That's really what this
has come down to.
552
00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,715
Look, it is never a good sign when
conditions are so bleak,
553
00:28:37,799 --> 00:28:40,636
you've come up with
a catchy little rhyme for it.
554
00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:43,475
Also, no one should get fired
for being sick.
555
00:28:43,559 --> 00:28:46,356
As far as punishments go
for not being able to work one day,
556
00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:50,916
it's right up there with being entombed
in the tunnel of constant punishment.
557
00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,156
And having sick, tired workers
is bad across the board,
558
00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:57,396
but it gets much worse when
you realize some of those workers
559
00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:00,556
are the ones who inspect
the trains to keep them safe.
560
00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:03,316
And the time allotted for that
keeps shrinking.
561
00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:06,195
One former railroader says Norfolk
Southern's inspectors
562
00:29:06,279 --> 00:29:09,715
"used to have five to eight minutes
to check a train car's wheels"
563
00:29:09,799 --> 00:29:12,995
"for problems like leaky bearings
or damaged components."
564
00:29:13,079 --> 00:29:16,235
Now, it's often between
30 seconds and a minute.
565
00:29:16,319 --> 00:29:19,195
And worse still, employees feel
that they can't speak out
566
00:29:19,279 --> 00:29:22,235
as a result of a pattern of retaliation
against workers who report
567
00:29:22,319 --> 00:29:24,755
safety violations or injuries.
568
00:29:24,839 --> 00:29:27,156
One whistleblower even sued
his company,
569
00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,275
and had some pretty compelling
evidence on his side.
570
00:29:30,359 --> 00:29:34,275
Don Sanders, a former BNSF track
inspector in Minnesota,
571
00:29:34,359 --> 00:29:38,195
secretly recorded calls
with his supervisor back in 2015.
572
00:29:38,279 --> 00:29:41,156
In this recording,
obtained by five Investigates,
573
00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,515
you'll hear what happened
when the boss found out
574
00:29:43,599 --> 00:29:46,316
Sanders called the Federal Railroad
Administration.
575
00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:50,876
Why in the world would
we ever call FRA about anything?
576
00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:54,596
Unless I'm absolutely blatantly
telling you to break rules,
577
00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:56,475
or don't do something.
578
00:29:56,559 --> 00:29:58,636
Is that against the company rules?
579
00:29:58,720 --> 00:29:59,755
It's not good.
580
00:29:59,839 --> 00:30:03,195
I called him and asked him a question,
Keith. I don't understand.
581
00:30:03,279 --> 00:30:04,876
I don't want you doing that.
582
00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:07,475
That is automatically suspicious.
583
00:30:07,559 --> 00:30:09,596
If you work at a restaurant
and your boss tells you
584
00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:13,876
that under no circumstances should
you ever call the health inspector,
585
00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:16,876
best case scenario,
he is being Ratatouilled,
586
00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,039
but that's the best case.
587
00:30:19,839 --> 00:30:23,876
That inspector was later fired, in what
a jury later agreed was retaliation
588
00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:26,195
for reporting too many track defects.
589
00:30:26,279 --> 00:30:29,235
And another rail worker
sums it all up like this.
590
00:30:29,319 --> 00:30:34,275
{\an8}The railroad, probably 100 years ago,
came up with safety first.
591
00:30:34,359 --> 00:30:37,396
{\an8}When precision scheduled
railroading came out,
592
00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:41,475
{\an8}they gave us a list of priorities
that we were to work by.
593
00:30:41,559 --> 00:30:43,195
Safety's fourth.
594
00:30:43,279 --> 00:30:48,675
Here's the thing, that is true. Safety
is fourth! He's not embellishing there.
595
00:30:48,759 --> 00:30:51,675
Hunter Harrison would frequently run
down a numbered list
596
00:30:51,759 --> 00:30:54,275
of his guiding principles,
which started with "service,"
597
00:30:54,359 --> 00:30:56,995
then "cost control,"
then "asset utilization,"
598
00:30:57,079 --> 00:31:01,715
and then, and only then, "safety."
It was literally fourth on the list.
599
00:31:01,799 --> 00:31:04,715
And once you get past three items
on a priority list,
600
00:31:04,799 --> 00:31:07,839
anything after that
isn't a priority by definition.
601
00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:10,116
It's like ranking your favorite Beatles.
602
00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,316
There are three that you care about,
and one afterthought
603
00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:16,440
who narrates sadistic children's
shows about abused trains.
604
00:31:16,799 --> 00:31:20,116
And at one hearing, when Harrison
was running through his list
605
00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:22,039
and eventually got to safety,
606
00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:24,830
he wound up making
a pretty striking confession.
607
00:31:25,359 --> 00:31:28,079
The fourth portion of this, is,
608
00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:33,035
which we sometimes don't pay
the appropriate attention to,
609
00:31:33,119 --> 00:31:36,195
is just simply don't get anybody
hurt while you're doing this.
610
00:31:36,279 --> 00:31:38,955
Now, we can be very sophisticated.
611
00:31:39,039 --> 00:31:43,195
And we can talk about risk
management and loss of control
612
00:31:43,279 --> 00:31:46,000
and programs and processes
and so forth.
613
00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:52,519
I got blood all over my hands
from injuries in this industry
614
00:31:54,359 --> 00:31:55,859
that should've been avoidable.
615
00:31:57,279 --> 00:32:00,579
I've got to say, after ten seasons
of showing you executives denying
616
00:32:00,599 --> 00:32:03,515
their neglect,
that is almost refreshing.
617
00:32:03,599 --> 00:32:06,275
It's the kind of honesty you only
usually get from a guy like that
618
00:32:06,359 --> 00:32:09,556
after he's been visited
by the ghosts of Christmas.
619
00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,435
And look, railway companies will tell
you that safety has always been
620
00:32:13,519 --> 00:32:14,675
important to them.
621
00:32:14,759 --> 00:32:18,755
And they'll point out that derailments
have fallen by 44% since 2000.
622
00:32:18,839 --> 00:32:22,876
Which is true, although I'll point out
that some of that is because
623
00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:25,316
we're running far fewer trains
since then.
624
00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:28,156
Also, the rate of derailments
for large railroads
625
00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,156
has been creeping up again
in recent years.
626
00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:35,356
One railway veteran describes a major
crash as just a matter of time, fearing
627
00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:37,995
"there's going to be a freight train
that hasn't been inspected"
628
00:32:38,079 --> 00:32:41,035
"in 90,000 miles that comes off
the track, and either explodes"
629
00:32:41,119 --> 00:32:42,755
"or leaks poisonous gas out."
630
00:32:42,839 --> 00:32:45,435
"It's going to take something like that,
and a lot of deaths,"
631
00:32:45,519 --> 00:32:48,475
"and then all of a sudden
everybody's going to care."
632
00:32:48,559 --> 00:32:51,675
You've now heard that exact sentiment
multiple times in this piece,
633
00:32:51,759 --> 00:32:53,435
and he's probably right.
634
00:32:53,519 --> 00:32:57,076
And look, the solution here isn't
to turn away from rail.
635
00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:00,275
Again, trains are good, because for
one, they're still safer than trucking
636
00:33:00,359 --> 00:33:02,076
and two,
as we've already established,
637
00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,960
chugga chugga, choo choo,
ding ding ding, trains are fun.
638
00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,636
But that doesn't mean
they shouldn't be safer.
639
00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:10,596
And all that requires is some
very common sense measures,
640
00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:12,356
regulating the length of train cars,
641
00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:14,515
allowing more time
for train inspections,
642
00:33:14,599 --> 00:33:17,556
not letting this woman near trains,
cars, or children,
643
00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:20,156
properly staffing trains
with appropriate-sized crews,
644
00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:23,475
and carefully limiting the amounts
and routes of hazardous materials
645
00:33:23,559 --> 00:33:24,955
being transported.
646
00:33:25,039 --> 00:33:27,955
Now, to ensure that happens,
we need to empower the FRA
647
00:33:28,039 --> 00:33:31,396
to actually monitor trains
and cargo in real time.
648
00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:34,475
And while we're at it, give them the
ability to limit the amount of time
649
00:33:34,559 --> 00:33:36,596
that trains can block intersections.
650
00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:40,636
And finally, and crucially, workers need
a way to confidentially report
651
00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:44,720
safety issues to regulators
without being afraid of retaliation.
652
00:33:45,279 --> 00:33:49,235
Until we fix all of this, we might
really need to fundamentally change
653
00:33:49,319 --> 00:33:51,969
our children's programming to show
the world of trains
654
00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:53,680
as they currently are.
655
00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,796
Once upon a time,
on the Island of Sodor,
656
00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:02,519
there was a train named Henry.
657
00:34:03,279 --> 00:34:08,000
Henry was a freight train, and he pulled
all kinds of important materials around.
658
00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:13,880
But then, one day,
Sir Topham Hatt had an idea.
659
00:34:14,679 --> 00:34:17,639
And suddenly, Henry got longer.
660
00:34:18,519 --> 00:34:21,199
And longer. And longer.
661
00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:29,360
Henry got so long, when he rested,
he started getting in people's way.
662
00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:32,119
And drivers got very angry with him.
663
00:34:32,559 --> 00:34:36,115
"I'm late for work.
What's the fucking hold up, train?"
664
00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:37,440
said the driver.
665
00:34:38,119 --> 00:34:41,320
A little old lady shouted to Henry,
"Get fucked!"
666
00:34:43,119 --> 00:34:46,719
A little girl crawled underneath Henry
on her way to school.
667
00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:50,196
"Oh, that tickles," said Henry.
668
00:34:50,280 --> 00:34:53,360
"I fucking hate you, train,"
said the little girl.
669
00:34:56,519 --> 00:34:59,316
A fire engine pleaded
with him to move.
670
00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:02,400
"I can't move," said Henry,
"I don't have any room."
671
00:35:03,199 --> 00:35:07,639
So, they both just sat there and
watched the children's hospital burn.
672
00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:13,595
But Henry was told
he was much more efficient now.
673
00:35:13,679 --> 00:35:17,760
Which is another way of saying
"profitable," and nine miles long.
674
00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:21,236
He carried all sorts of things
people needed,
675
00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:25,555
like medical bandages,
corn, vinyl chloride,
676
00:35:25,639 --> 00:35:29,199
fireworks,
a mysterious red substance,
677
00:35:29,599 --> 00:35:32,236
question mark, question mark,
678
00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:35,155
hand grenades, question mark,
679
00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:39,599
plugged-in space heaters,
and all sorts of zoo animals.
680
00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:46,075
"What's liquified natural gas? And
why am I pulling 22 cars full of it?"
681
00:35:46,159 --> 00:35:50,276
Henry asked. "Never you mind,"
said Sir Topham Hatt.
682
00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:52,916
"I mapped this whole route out
at home."
683
00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:57,115
"That's a weird thing to do, and I don't
really know how to respond to it,"
684
00:35:57,199 --> 00:35:58,276
said Henry.
685
00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:02,716
"Just mind your business like
a good little rolling death machine,"
686
00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:04,555
Sir Topham Hatt said.
687
00:36:04,639 --> 00:36:07,360
"Sorry, I'm a what?" asked Henry.
688
00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:14,676
Then, one day, a wheel on one of
Henry's tank cars started overheating.
689
00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:18,159
His engineer hadn't had a chance
to inspect it in months.
690
00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:20,480
Henry was getting worried.
691
00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:26,356
"It seems my caboose is loose.
I can't drive with a loose caboose,"
692
00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:29,916
Henry told the driver.
But it was too late.
693
00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:32,239
"Oh, shit," said Henry.
694
00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:36,360
Henry the Freight Engine
became Henry the Bomb Train.
695
00:36:53,199 --> 00:36:54,920
"Ah, well," thought Henry,
696
00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:59,440
"It could be worse.
At least my tankers didn't ex..."
697
00:37:04,119 --> 00:37:06,639
Meanwhile, on the other side
of the island.
698
00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:11,239
"Oh, dear," said Thomas.
699
00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:17,679
The explosion obliterated a significant
part of the Island of Sodor.
700
00:37:21,559 --> 00:37:23,320
Henry was so sad.
701
00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:28,079
Sir Topham Hatt had blood
on his hands, but he didn't care.
702
00:37:28,599 --> 00:37:29,800
It wasn't his blood.
703
00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:33,920
And he could just wipe it off
with all his new money.
704
00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:39,236
As for Henry, he was taken out
of commission and put in a tunnel.
705
00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:45,519
But as trains can't die, he just had
to suffer forever and ever.
706
00:37:46,079 --> 00:37:50,000
But I think he deserved
his punishment, don't you?
707
00:37:51,519 --> 00:37:53,196
That's our show,
thanks so much for watching,
708
00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:55,030
we'll see you next week,
good night!
64928
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.