It's the weeds. I'm John Glyn Hill. Have you ever just had one of those days to the monika?

I woke up ready to go to work, researching and writing for this episode actually, and

it felt like everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I woke up late, I was out of

coffee, and by the time I settled onto my computer to check my email, I realized my internet was down.

Like, can your girl catch a break? I had a lot to do, and I knew I had to come up with a solution

fast. So I walked across the street to the bus stop, waited about five minutes, and took the bus

to my working coffee shop of choice. Crisis averted, productivity up.

It wasn't easy fix, and it was all done from start to finish in about 25 minutes.

But a fix like that isn't that easy for most Americans.

According to the Urban Institute, only about 8% of Americans live near accessible public transportation,

and in places where good public transit does exist, it can be expensive to live near.

Public transportation isn't the only issue. In 2016, 20% of those living in poverty had no access

to a car. And according to a 2015 study, the length of their parents' commutes can be one of the

biggest factors in predicting upward mobility for children. More than coming from a two-parent

home, more than their test scores. Transportation is a big deal. And since transportation is a big

deal, we decided to talk to someone who's a big deal in transportation policy.

I'm Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. On top of all of that data, we also know the pandemic

has dramatically changed where we live and where we work in ways that are less equitable.

I asked Secretary Buttigieg what lessons the federal government's taken from all of this.

We know that social mobility depends on literal mobility, the ability to get to school,

to get to good jobs, to be able to affordably move around your community and beyond.

And that's something that is part of what's been at stake in the push to pass and now to implement.

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