The Paul Douglas Institute, a University of Chicago student-run think tank, tasked two of its researchers with analyzing what went wrong with Cook County's sweetened beverage tax. The county board passed the tax in 2016, only to let it expire on December 1, 2017.

Researchers David Whyman and Teddy Knox speak with soda tax expert, Larry Tramutola, about why the tax failed, how it could have succeeded, and what the future looks like for soda taxes across the country. Mr. Tramutola led multiple successful soda tax campaigns in Berkeley and Oakland California.

You can find David and Teddy's original research here: https://www.pauldouglasinstitute.org/cook-county-ssb-tax

You can find Mr. Tramutola's website here:
http://tramutola.com/

Credits:
David Whyman and Teddy Knox for interviewing
Kjersten Adams for engineering
David Raban for editing

Special thanks to Mr. Tramutola for coming out to Chicago from California. Also, special thanks to the University of Chicago graduate students who performed our introductory music.