Van Jones: What coal country expects from Trump

Van Jones travels to coal country to take the temperature in the first days of the Donald J. Trump presidency.

[jaffat]

Take it from someone who lives in a country that used to have so many coal mines that nearly every man in the town worked down the mines... We lost our coal mines thanks to Maggie Thatcher and towns, villages and ppl suffered but we bounced back, men were retrained, new technology used to give us power. Grow up America, learn a new trade! Coal is not the answer

[iketinknocker]

Not a Van Jones fan but much respect for him going through this. No one else is meeting with the real people of America. Especially MSM..

[Whatsupbuddiebud]

I have never liked Van Jones but this was a great interview of the coal miners and he seemed to care what was happening. I am one of them that is about to loose our medical and Congress extended it for 4 months. Yes we are being thrown under the bus...Great interview Van Jones...thanks

[DogsRLunch]

When Van said the issues that they wouldn't speak about on camera because of their pride that really struck a cord in me. We bailout millionaires and billionaires these people deserve to be helped!!!!

[BethGrantDeRoos]

When the railroad came along the stage coach folks were mad, when the automobile came along the railroad folks were upset all because they said it would put them out of business.

When electricity came along the folks who made candles and kerosene were upset, because it would put them out of business. Progress means folks will lose their jobs.

And when this happens you have to be better educated, better trained for the new jobs.

It's called progress!

[kellharris]

I'm from a former coal mining town we just need to get out of coal. its not safe? there saying they need help? they need to look else were for jobs. I don't see what any President can really do for you.

[dharter]

They have Obama care if they apply but it is a pre-existing condition.. Trump isn't gonna help no one but himself

[wolf]

people calling this fake news in 3....2....1....go! enough and grow up SMH.

[lemonwedge]

How do you dig jobs from what's obviously dying?

[williamwilson]

The only thing they'll get is disappointment.

[anniesue]

Coal miners need to blame their local governor and chamber of commerce for not seeing the trends triggered by globalization. .. their local government should have funded retraining and job diversity and sought diversity of employers

[timburns]

I agree with these people. We bailed out banks and auto companies but people? Apparently not. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong!  America as a country needs to take better care of it's people and it STARTS with healthcare!

[Mystrohan]

I admit.... nearly three years on, this makes me so cynical. Both Bo Copley and Allen Lardieri wound up running for office in 2018, and they ran on platforms that were far more conventionally Republican than anything either of them evinced here.

[jjjccc]

Van Jones need to do an update on this, I'm really curious what these people think now.

[njosborne]

If coal comes back it will all be mechanized. These people obviously need help and they will never get it. The oligarchy are ripping them off and need proper healthcare! Will somebody please help take out the TRAASH? Stop Trumps Republican Almost Affordable Sanctions on Healthcare. Support a single payer universal healthcare system. Medicare for All!

[Jeanne]

That 'fear factor' has become a joke; if you're here legally and obey the law, there's nothing to be afraid of.

[paperfloweru]

I live in Cabell, but my grandparents were from McDowell.  This is one of the best interviews I've seen concerning Coal Country and the 2017 election.  You see so many news channels here and abroad come to WV to film and promote "poverty porn, " or who just do not have a clue that many of us are just like many in the rest of the country.  While I was a Bernie supporter, and there have not been coal miners in my family since my great grandparents, I can understand the abandonment felt, especially when coal has given so much to the rest of the country.  And it's not just the country, but the state, and the coal mines themselves.  Van Jones created an excellent, compassionate bit of journalism and analysis.

[SplotPublishing]

That lady was made a fool of, but she helped. I wonder how she feels now that he's signed his hateful executive order? Why did people think he didn't mean what he said about some things, but did mean others? If you believed he'd bring your jobs back, how did you not realize he would ban Muslims? Your family has good reason for their feelings about your support. I hope this family can get back together, but she really needs to think better next time.

[nahtenielk]

This is crazy to me. CNN goes out and talks to the people that got trump elected. Openly admits how surprised he was by things and still screaming racist the very next day

[ralphp.]

I never heard Mr. Van Jones speak to White Middle America until Trump was elected. These people gave a 1-2 punch to the entitled Kakistocracy and all of the sudden he developed a dialogue to reach them. Is it because they became relevant and should be convinced that they are on the wrong path? Can it be that the "message" made Trump President despite his shortcomings? We need people of good will to guide us. United we stand, divided we fall.