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.
President Joe Biden has met with new House Speaker Mike Johnson at the White House. Johnson was joined by Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries as they discussed Biden's request for nearly $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and other national security needs.
The new leader of one of the chambers of Congress that will certify the winner of next year's presidential election helped spearhead the attempt to overturn the last one, raising alarms that Republicans could try to subvert the will of the voters if they remain in power despite safeguards enacted after the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
