Frontline Season 14 Episode 12 Smoke in the Eye

Smoke in the Eye is the twelfth episode of the fourteenth season of Frontline, a documentary series that explores various social, political, and economic issues in America and around the world. This particular episode delves into the tobacco industry and its influence on public health policies in the United States.

The episode explores how Big Tobacco has used its deep pockets and political connections to shape public perception and policy surrounding smoking. It examines the ways in which the industry has tried to discredit scientific evidence linking smoking to health problems and addiction, and how it has fought against efforts to regulate tobacco products and advertising.

Through interviews with former industry insiders, tobacco control advocates, and government officials, the episode sheds light on the tactics that tobacco companies have employed over the years to protect their profits. It also looks at the impact of smoking on public health, particularly among vulnerable populations like low-income communities and African Americans.

One of the major themes in Smoke in the Eye is the idea that the tobacco industry has prioritized profits over public health. The episode highlights how industry executives have known for decades that smoking is deadly, but have continued to market and sell their products in ways that appeal to young people and other vulnerable groups. It also shows how the industry has lobbied Congress and other policymakers to avoid regulation of their products, even as smoking has become the leading cause of preventable death in the US.

The episode also examines the role of litigation in holding Big Tobacco accountable for the harms caused by smoking. It looks at some of the landmark cases against the industry, including the historic settlement reached in 1998 between the major tobacco companies and the states, and the ongoing lawsuits against the industry brought by individual states and cities seeking to recoup the costs of smoking-related healthcare.

Through compelling storytelling and insightful commentary, Smoke in the Eye provides a deep dive into the complex and controversial world of tobacco in modern America. It exposes the tactics that Big Tobacco has used to protect its profits and dominate public policy, while also highlighting the devastating toll that smoking has taken on health and wellbeing. For anyone interested in public health, corporate influence, or the intersections of politics and business, this episode of Frontline is a must-see.