How We Got Here

Series produced by Sam Harnett

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A series of three hour-long radio documentaries that looks at why American workers are so isolated, precarious, and susceptible to a crisis like the Covid-19 outbreak. Story spans from the 1930s to the present day.

Tens of millions of Americans are out of work. Tens of millions more are being asked to do essential jobs right now without a significant increase to pay, benefits, or protections. Even before the pandemic, workers were struggling. They were working long hours, multiple jobs, and taking on debt just to survive. Covid-19 has just exposed how precarious people are in this country. This is the story of how we got here.

This project began as an attempt by KQED reporter Sam Harnett to answer very simple questions for workers: why their benefits are so bad, why their pay is so low, why their unions are so weak, and how come there are so few options for meaningful, empowering work. The series turned into an investigation of the attack on American workers that began as soon as they won some power in the 1930s after the Great Depression.

The series is three-hours long, sound-rich, and filled with history, theory, and reporting from the present day. Hide full description

Tens of millions of Americans are out of work. Tens of millions more are being asked to do essential jobs right now without a significant increase to pay, benefits, or protections. Even before the pandemic, workers were struggling. They were working long hours, multiple jobs, and taking on debt just to survive. Covid-19 has just exposed how precarious people are in this country. This is the story of how we got here. This project began as an attempt by KQED reporter Sam Harnett to answer very simple questions for workers: why their benefits are so bad, why their pay is so low, why their unions are so weak, and how come there are so few options for meaningful, empowering work. The series turned into an investigation of the attack on American workers that began as soon as they won some... Show full description


3 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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The first section of a 3-hour radio documentary about why Americans are so precarious and susceptible to a crisis like the current pandemic. Part 1...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and KFAI Minneapolis


  • Added: Sep 02, 2020
  • Length: 54:01
  • Purchases: 4
Piece image
The second section of a 3-hour radio documentary about why Americans are so precarious and susceptible to crisis like the current pandemic. Part 2 ...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Sep 02, 2020
  • Length: 53:59
  • Purchases: 3
Piece image
The final section of a 3-hour radio documentary about why Americans are so precarious and acceptable to crisis like the current pandemic. Part 3 lo...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio


  • Added: Sep 02, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 3