Early this month, a devastating explosion rocked the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, ending the lives of twenty-nine miners. In the days following the tragedy, it has become increasingly apparent that the explosion was not just a horrific accident, but the deadly consequence of a mountain of safety violations and negligence on the part of the mine’s ownership, Massey Energy, helmed by Don Blakenship. Could the Massey disaster have been prevented with stronger government enforcement? Will this grave incident be the catalyst for mine safety reform and regulator empowerment? DC Editor Christopher Hayes asks Ken Ward Jr, the renowned reporter for the Charleston Gazette, these questions and more this week on The Breakdown.