This week on Matter of Fact, Soledad O’Brien sits down with Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) to discuss America’s crumbling infrastructure. In the State of the Union address, President Trump said his infrastructure plan will raise $1.5 trillion dollars, but that’s still far short of the $4.6 trillion the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates it will really take. While politicians may not like talking about raising taxes, both of our guests believe Americans understand how important this issue is and will support the move. And everyone knows Jack. Jack Daniel’s whiskey that is. But outside Lynchburg, Tennessee no one really knew the origins of the best selling American whiskey in the world. It turns out Jack Daniel learned everything he knew about distilling whiskey from a former slave named Nathan “Nearest” Green. Now, the company is fully embracing its history. Then joining us from Austin, Texas, Olympic historian John Hoberman explains why some of the most competitive gameplaying at the upcoming winter Olympics may be taking place behind the scenes. Although expressly prohibited in the Olympic charter, politics and sports have always been intertwined. Soledad examines the impact of political engagement and activism on the games themselves.
