Episode 80: Can Puerto Rico's Economy Survive Independence?
Joshua Smyser-DeLeon Joshua Smyser-DeLeon

Episode 80: Can Puerto Rico's Economy Survive Independence?

If Puerto Rico became independent, what would happen to its economy? Some fear Puerto Rico would self-destruct, but author Javier A. Hernández has a different take. In this episode, we sit down with Javier to discuss how a sovereign Puerto Rico could potentially be economically sustainable.

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Episode 62: 8 Actions the Executive Branch Should Take to Aid Puerto Rico
Joshua Smyser-DeLeon Joshua Smyser-DeLeon

Episode 62: 8 Actions the Executive Branch Should Take to Aid Puerto Rico

We’re going to discuss a recent essay from the Center for American Progress, titled An Urgent Rescue Plan for Puerto Rico. In the piece, one section was dedicated to the 8 actions the executive branch should take to aid Puerto Rico. We’re focusing on that part of the article in this episode. Make sure you stay tuned till the end when we discuss obsessions and favorite PR food spots. We don’t know how we managed to do it, but we got a Bennifer mention in there.

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Episode 53: The Jones Act, Workers' Rights, & Unionizing Your Workplace
Joshua Smyser-DeLeon Joshua Smyser-DeLeon

Episode 53: The Jones Act, Workers' Rights, & Unionizing Your Workplace

For this week’s episode, we welcome César Rosado Marzán. He’s a labor and employment law scholar and professor in the University of Iowa’s College of Law. We invited him on the show today because there’s been some big unionization news in the media recently. In case you haven’t seen it, there is a vital election going on to unionize an Amazon Warehouse in Alabama and a lot of eyes are paying attention to what will happen at this warehouse, including 1,000s of Amazon workers nationwide. 

This story got us thinking about labor and employment law, but in addition to talking about the Amazon Warehouse story, we’ll also discuss the Jones Act and its impact on Puerto Rico, workers’ rights, and Joe Biden’s statement showing support for unionization efforts, which - btw - is not something you see often from a sitting president.

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