As the federal government faces another potential shutdown, what does this mean for Puerto Rico's 14,000 federal employees and essential services? In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, hosts George Laws Garcia and Martin Rivera analyze the ongoing federal government funding fight, escalating military tensions with Venezuela, updates on the island’s Financial Oversight & Management Board (FOMB), and the unprecedented economic impact of Bad Bunny's record-breaking residency.

They discuss President Trump's controversial dismissal of Puerto Rico's FOMB members and the resulting legal challenges, the strategic military buildup on the island in response to Venezuelan narco-trafficking operations, and how Bad Bunny's 30-show residency generated over $713 million for Puerto Rico's economy while sparking fresh debate about the island's political status.

In this episode:

• Government shutdown deadline: What's at stake for Puerto Rico's federal workers?
• U.S. military strikes off Venezuela's coast and Puerto Rico's strategic role
• Military buildup in Puerto Rico: Roosevelt Roads and Ramey Air Force Base reactivation
• Island public opinion polls showing 70-88% support for U.S. military presence
• President Trump fires six of seven FOMB members
• Legal challenges to FOMB member dismissals and constitutional questions
• Bad Bunny's residency: 600,000 attendees and $713 million economic impact
• Political status debate: Artist advocacy vs. voter preferences

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction & Episode Overview

00:38 Government Funding Crisis: Seven Days to Shutdown

02:30 House and Senate Proposals: What's the Difference?

03:30 U.S. Military Action Against Venezuelan Drug Boats

05:00 Puerto Rico's Strategic Value in Caribbean Security

06:15 Military Buildup: Pre-Positioning Assets on the Island

07:05 Island Leadership Response to Military Presence

08:20 Public Polling: Strong Support for Military Facilities

09:35 National Security Importance of Puerto Rico

10:20 Financial Oversight & Management Board Crisis Explained

12:02 Presidential Appointment Process Under PROMESA

12:35 Legal Challenges by Fired Board Members

14:10 Impact on Energy Grid Restructuring and PREPA Debt

15:00 First Balanced Budget Achievement

15:45 Bad Bunny Residency: Record-Breaking Economic Impact

16:40 Tourism Statistics and Global Reach

18:16 Bad Bunny's Political Stance on Statehood

19:30 Democracy Through the Ballot Box vs. Celebrity Opinion

20:10 Conclusion & Call to Action

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#PuertoRico #GovernmentShutdown #Venezuela #MilitarySecurity #FOMB # LaJunta #BadBunny #PuertoRicoEconomy #ManoAManoPodcast #PuertoRicoStatehood #Tourism #NationalSecurity #CaribbeanSecurity

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