Asking Appalachia: Coal, Trump and the politics of eastern Kentucky

The latest Arlie Hochschild book "Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right" explores how eastern Kentucky — a once-and-still proud place — has endured a sense of damaged pride. It's due to the decline of coal jobs, the decline of rural economies and the horrific addiction epidemic across Appalachian Kentucky.

This damaged pride manifested as shame, which provided fertile ground for the Make America Great Again movement to turn eastern Kentucky from a Democratic stronghold to a region that overwhelmingly supports President Donald Trump.

Here & Now’s Scott Tong traveled around Pike County, Kentucky, where he spoke with the residents about the economic and addiction struggles, and how those apply in the world of politics.

Part 1. How the fall of the coal industry changed politics in eastern Kentucky: The decline of coal jobs caused economic collapse in eastern Kentucky. In the 1970s, Pike County was one of the wealthiest in the state when coal was king, and prices were high during America’s oil and energy crisis.

Residents share how President Trump captured the hearts and minds of residents in this once-blue part of the state.

Part 2. How a ‘collective shame’ fuels addiction and politics in Appalachian Kentucky: Appalachian Kentucky has long been at the center of America’s addiction crisis. In its peak, Purdue Pharma targeted eastern Kentucky as a “market” for Oxycontin because there were few regulations in dispensing it, and miners needed it for pain relief.

Pike County resident James Browning tells his story of addiction and recovery.

Part 3. How Trump became eastern Kentucky’s ‘bully’: Eastern Kentucky went from solid blue to MAGA red in a generation.

Head of the East Kentucky Patriots, Roger Ford, brought Here & Now through the hills and hollers. Ford explains how residents in this region are mourning a wealthy pride from past generations.

Part 4. Eastern Kentucky residents say a 'caste system' keeps them in poverty: In Martin County, David Maynard is struggling to dig himself out of poverty.

The county can no longer afford a police department. While driving around the places where Maynard and his wife grew up, they realize that it's too dangerous to get out of the car.

Part 5. Pride, shame and understanding why the white working-class vote supports Trump: Writer and sociologist Arlie Hochschild visits the heart of Appalachia in eastern Kentucky to share stories of people facing poverty, the loss of jobs and the rise of the opioid epidemic.

Hochschild shares more about her book "Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame and the Rise of the Right."