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.
Throughout two public floors of the White House, the décor features numerous nods to the 200th anniversary of the publication of the poem and book commonly known as “'Twas the Night Before Christmas."
Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days past Monday, the Qatari government said, bringing the prospect of a longer halt to their deadliest and most destructive war and further exchanges of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.