Polluter Accountability, The Power Of Self-Deception

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time
A Seattle firefighter sprays foam during a specialized training session
A Seattle firefighter sprays foam during a specialized training session on how to respond to incidents involving oil trains Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, in Seattle. Blaine Thompson/AP Photos

The city of La Crosse is suing a group of chemical manufacturers after PFAS pollution was found in dozens of private wells. We talk with the city’s mayor and discuss where legal responsibility for pollution lies. We also talk with the host of Hidden Brain about his book exploring our every day delusions.

Featured in this Show

  • La Crosse Sues Chemical Manufacturers For PFAS Contamination

    The city of La Crosse is suing 23 chemical manufacturers after PFAS contamination was found in dozens of private wells on French Island. We check in with the city’s mayor about the case and talk with an enviromental law expert about the prospects of holding companies responsible for pollutants.

  • 'Hidden Brain' host explores the power of self-deception in new book

    Our brains are engaged in more self-deception than we might think, from simple daydreams to deeply held beliefs. The host of public radio’s Hidden Brain talks with us about his book that looks into the positive and negative side of our common dellusions.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Dean Knetter Producer
  • Tim Kabat Guest
  • Deborah Sivas Guest
  • Shankar Vedantam Guest