Season 2 Ep. 2 The Legalized Child: Who Wins When States Loosen Child Labor Laws?

Ocean examines the growing movement to relax child labor protections, reading lawmakers’ and industry statements and tracing state and federal proposals like the Teens Act. The episode contrasts supporters’ claims about work experience and staffing needs with critics’ concerns about education, safety, and exploitation, and explains how these changes could reshape young people’s lives and rights.