Puerto Rico Still in Peril as FEMA Scales Back Recovery Efforts
Four months after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, problems still persist across the island. In his State of the Union address, President Trump said the U.S. stands with the island territory, but do his actions match his words?
Kelly Macias, writer at Daily Kos, joins Cheddar live from Puerto Rico to discuss the state of the island. Macias says police officers are on strike because of back pay issues and more than a third of the island is still without power.
Despite the problems that continue in Puerto Rico, President Trump is asking for $1.5 trillion to fund infrastructure projects across the country. However, that funding doesn't include Puerto Rico revitalization. Macias says there is anger and disappointment throughout the island over the president's focus on mainland infrastructure and lack of attention to the island.
Almost four dozen Venezuelan workers who had temporary protected status have been put on leave by Disney after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to strip them of legal protections.
American businesses that rely on Chinese goods are reacting with muted relief after the U.S. and China agreed to pause their exorbitant tariffs on each other’s products for 90 days. Many companies delayed or canceled orders after President Donald Trump last month put a 145% tariff on items made in China. Importers still face relatively high tariffs, however, as well as uncertainty over what will happen in the coming weeks and months. The temporary truce was announced as retailers and their suppliers are looking to finalize their plans and orders for the holiday shopping season. They’re concerned a mad scramble to get goods onto ships will lead to bottlenecks and increased shipping costs.
The Trump administration announced a trade deal with the United Kingdom Thursday in grandiose terms, but with only limited details about what it achieves.
