The Loophole You Can Drive A Truck Through
The Climate Denier's Playbook
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Intro
This chapter delves into an analysis of contemporary car commercials, highlighting their thematic similarities and the regulatory context affecting manufacturers. The speakers reflect on historical perceptions linked to car manufacturing, with a particular focus on the portrayal of the Ford Kentucky truck plant in advertisements.
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Episode notes
But I need my truck to drive to my job at JPMorgan.
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DISCLAIMER: Some media clips have been edited for length and clarity.
CREDITS
- Created by: Rollie Williams, Nicole Conlan & Ben Boult
- Hosts: Rollie Williams & Nicole Conlan
- Executive Producer: Ben Boult
- Editor: Paul Ramsdell & Laura Conte
- Producers: Daniella Philipson, Irene Plagianos
- Archival Producer: Margaux Sax
- Additional Research and Fact Checking: Carly Rizzuto & Canute Haroldson
- Music: Tony Domenick
- Art: Jordan Doll
- Special Thanks: The Civil Liberties Defense Center
SOURCES
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- Automotive ad investment remains stuck in reverse gear | WARC. Brownsell, A. (2023, September 3).
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- America Made Us | Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram. Dodge. (2025, May 22).
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- Auto Industry Fears New Rules Would Raise Costs and Lower Mileage. M. Callahan, J. (1975, February 2). The New York Times.
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- Nader, R. (1965). Unsafe at any speed: the designed-in dangers of the American automobile. Knightsbridge Pub. Co.
- Drivers remember 1973-74 oil embargo. NBC 26 - Northeast Wisconsin. (2022, June 21).
- The Chicken Tax Explained. Norman, K. (2020, August 3).
- 1976 Jeep J10 Pickup Commercial - First Date. OsbornTramain. (2016, July 15).
- 1998 New Beetle “What Color do you Dream In” Commercial. pcressma. (2010, July 28).
- The Consumer’s Truth: Myths and Facts about American Consumers and Fuel Economy. Public Citizen. (2003).
- Ram | Never Stop Being American | Nothing Stops Ram. Ram Trucks. (2025, June 14).
- 50 Years of Progress. South Coast AQMD. (2016).
- CAFE Standards Could Mean Bigger Cars, Not Smaller Ones – Mechanical Engineering. Stewart, B. (2011, December 9).
- Subaru “I Survived” Stories. Subaru. (2015, April 17).
- Oil Crisis | Stock market Crash | OPEC | This Week| 1973. ThamesTv. (2017).
- The Chicken War of ’63 Was a Tale Of Anger, Laughter and Portent. (1964, January 10). The New York Times.
- Volkswagen Beetle commercial - VW “Dome.”. Tricoastal71. (2009, August 24).
- A Brief History of US Fuel Efficiency Standards. Union of Concerned Scientists. (2017, December 6).
- Personal Transportation Factsheet. University of Michigan. (2023).
- Volkswagen Type 2. (2025). Classic Cars Wiki; Fandom, Inc.
- The reckless policies that helped fill our streets with ridiculously large cars. Zipper, D. (2024, April 28). Vox.
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