Links

Trump defaulted on payments for his Puerto Rico golf course, leaving the territory with a $33 million tax debt
https://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/346335/trump-golf-course-puerto-rico-default-33-million-tax-debt/


What every American needs to know about Puerto Rico’s hurricane disaster
Certain US policies have contributed to Puerto Rico’s economic deterioration. One of them is the Jones Act (different from the Jones-Shafroth Act mentioned above), an antiquated law that forces Puerto Ricans to pay nearly double for US goods through various tariffs, fees, and taxes. The act stipulates that any goods shipped from one American port to another must be on American-made-and-operated ships. As Matthew Yglesias explains, it means shipping to Puerto Rico is more costly because there’s little competition among freighters.
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/9/26/16365994/hurricane-maria-2017-puerto-rico-san-juan-humanitarian-disaster-electricty-fuel-flights-facts


US military sends ships, aircraft to Puerto Rico
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/26/politics/us-military-response-puerto-rico-hurricane-maria/index.html


Sonic breach exposes millions of customers’ data
http://www.nrn.com/news/sonic-breach-exposes-millions-customers-data


Trump Administration ‘Can’t Guarantee’ Middle Class Won’t Pay Higher Taxes
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/09/white-house-cant-guarantee-middle-class-wont-pay-more.html


Shipping risks rise as Antarctic ice hits record low
http://dailytimes.com.pk/world/27-Sep-17/shipping-risks-rise-as-antarctic-ice-hits-record-low


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_funerals_in_the_United_States
An honor guard composed of one or more branches of the United States Armed Forces, presents the flag to the next of kin. The presenter, if possible a member of the same service as the deceased, will generally kneel while presenting the folded flag, with the straight edge of the flag facing the recipient.


Does Trump benefit from proposed tax cuts? 'Let me count the ways'
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/28/ron-insana-does-trump-benefit-from-proposed-tax-cuts-let-me-count-the-ways.html


One in six new HIV patients in Europe are seniors
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/new-hiv-patients-europe-seniors-article-1.3527868


Health App Developer Who Faked And ‘Cured’ Cancer Fined $320K For Her Lies
http://dailycaller.com/2017/09/28/health-app-developer-who-faked-and-cured-cancer-fined-320k-for-her-lies/


The 'doubled standard deduction' in the GOP tax plan is a lie
http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-plan-doubled-standard-deduction-2017-9


Puerto Rico's supply deliveries break down in the wake of Maria's devastation
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/28/puerto-ricos-fuel-supply-breaks-down-in-the-wake-of-marias-devastation.html


A House Republican explains why deficits don’t matter anymore
"It's a great talking point when you have an administration that's Democrat-led," said Representative Mark Walker, Republican of North Carolina and the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of about 150 conservative House members. "It's a little different now that Republicans have both houses and the administration."
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/28/a-house-republican-explains-why-deficits-dont-matter-anymore.html


Wealth of millionaires surges more than 8 percent to $63.5 trillion, new research says
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/28/millionaires-were-even-richer-in-2016-report-shows.html


It increasingly looks like Russian hackers may have affected actual vote totals.
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a55603/russia-hack-voting-totals/


[It's hard-working manual labor that is cleaning it up.]
Houston after Harvey: city faces huge hurdle to recovery
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/25/hurricane-harvey-houston-recovery-effort


State Dept. NOT requiring Puerto Rico evacuees to pay transportation costs
[I'm including this because inaccurate info is being passed around Facebook.]
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/352824-trump-administration-forcing-puerto-rico-evacuees-to-pay-for


The Trump Administration Just Confirmed That It Is Sabotaging Obamacare
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/09/white-house-confirms-that-it-is-sabotaging-obamacare.html?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=s3&utm_campaign=sharebutton-t


From a comment on a Facebook post re. Puerto Rico
Mark Wilder : We have zero plane shortage. We have a runway shortage. People flying private planes for private missions are a problem (not a solution).


Correcting something I have seen on Facebook. The Trump administration is not blocking lawmakers from visiting Puerto Rico. He is is restricting lawmakers in both parties from visiting storm-ravaged Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands aboard military aircraft this weekend in order to keep focused on recovery missions there, according to multiple congressional aides.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/09/27/white-house-restricting-lawmakers-from-visiting-puerto-rico-u-s-virgin-islands-aides-say/?utm_term=.d5314958ff31
Already at least two lawmakers have visited Puerto Rico — Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), who was born on the island but represents parts of Brooklyn, visited on Friday as part of an official delegation from New York state led by Democratic Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. And Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) flew aboard U.S. Coast Guard aircraft on Monday to meet with officials in San Juan and get an aerial view of some of the destruction.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who is Puerto Rican, represents Puerto Rican constituents in Chicago and owns a home on the island, is planning to visit the island this weekend, but he will travel there aboard private commercial aircraft, not on government jets, according to a spokesman.


Trump Keeps Talking About a ‘Hospitalized’ Senator That Doesn’t Exist
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/09/trump-cites-hospitalized-senator-that-doesnt-exist.html?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=s3&utm_campaign=sharebutton-t


The Trump Administration is Disrupting the 2020 Census
http://ndn.org/blog/2017/09/trump-administration-disrupting-2020-census


“Taking a knee”: Simple phrase, powerful—and changing—meaning
We sorta came to a middle ground where he would take a knee alongside his teammates. Soldiers take a knee in front of a fallen brother’s grave, you know, to show respect.
https://mashedradish.com/2017/09/25/taking-a-knee-simple-phrase-powerful-and-changing-meaning/


New evidence emerges that Russia infiltrated Facebook to sow political chaos in the US
http://www.businessinsider.com/russians-facebook-black-lives-matter-muslim-group-disinformation-2017-9