Frank Uekotter, author of "The Age of Smoke," discusses the infamous Thanksgiving smog of 1966 that enveloped New York City during the Macy’s Day Parade. He reveals how this environmental crisis killed nearly 200 people and sparked significant changes in U.S. environmental policy, culminating in the Clean Air Act. Uekotter critiques the oversimplification of reacting to dramatic disasters, urging deeper consideration of chronic pollution issues. He dives into the historical roots of air pollution, linking industrial practices to modern environmental challenges.