Mano a Mano: U.S. & Puerto Rico, Journey Toward A More Perfect Union

As 2025 draws to a close, we're taking a look back at one of the most consequential years in Puerto Rico's modern history. This special season recap episode of the Mano a Mano podcast brings together the most powerful moments from conversations with leading experts who've helped illuminate the interconnected challenges facing Puerto Rico and why these issues matter for all Americans. Host George L...

Why do 35,000 Puerto Rican service members fight for a democracy they can't fully participate in? In this powerful episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, host George Laws Garcia sits down with Brigadier General Victor Perez —a 36-year military veteran who rose from enlisted soldier to general in the Puerto Rico National Guard—to discuss the contradiction of military service without voting rights. Gen...

Why does Puerto Rico's healthcare system face constant funding shortfalls despite serving U.S. citizens? In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, host George Laws Garcia sits down with healthcare policy expert Luis E. Pizarro Otero, Esq., to unpack the structural inequalities that have created a healthcare crisis in Puerto Rico. Luis, who has spent over 15 years advocating for Puerto Rico healt...

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 (FOM...

Has Puerto Rico been trapped in a colonial status under the guise of  local "autonomy"? Why is Puerto Rico still called a "Commonwealth" when it's actually a U.S. territory under colonial rule? In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, host George Laws Garcia sits down with Columbia Law Professor Christina Ponsa-Kraus to explore both the constitutional reality of Puerto Rico's status and the fas...

Why is Puerto Rico's energy system still struggling 7 years after Hurricane Maria, and how does territorial status make everything worse? In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, host George Laws Garcia sits down with Tom King, founder of the Borincana Foundation and Puerto Rico Energy Forum, to break down the island's complex energy crisis. They explore the ongoing PREPA debt bankruptcy that's...

How does Puerto Rico's territorial status affect hurricane preparedness, military service, and Congressional representation during critical national moments? In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, hosts George Laws Garcia and Martin Rivera examine the 2025 hurricane season preparations, recent U.S. airstrikes in Iran, and what these events reveal about Puerto Rico's unequal status. They discu...

Why does Congress’s budget reconciliation bill matter for Puerto Rico’s health, economy and push for statehood? In this episode of the Mano a Mano Podcast, hosts George Laws Garcia and Martín Rivera of the Puerto Rico Statehood Council  unpack how the 2025 reconciliation package could reshape Medicaid and nutritional assistance and other federal funding amid the expected nationwide federal funding...

Why are Puerto Rico’s tax laws so misunderstood? In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, host George is joined by Simón Carlo Valentín - tax attorney and CPA - to break down the complexities of Puerto Rico’s tax system. They explore the truth about federal taxes in Puerto Rico, the impact of recent U.S. and local tax reforms, and how these policies shape the island’s economy and its push for s...

In this episode,  George and Martín discuss the celebration of Florida’s Puerto Rico Day at the Capitol, emphasizing bipartisan support for Puerto Rican issues within the Florida House of Representatives. They also talk about their advocacy efforts in Washington D.C. to advance Puerto Rico's statehood status at the recent Puerto Rico Equality and Statehood Summit. The conversation highlights the c...

In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, George Laws Garcia and Martin Rivera discuss a recent visit to Puerto Rico for the Right to Democracy Summit on U.S. Colonialism, where a cross-territorial coalition worked towards ending the unjust treatment of U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals in all of America's territories. Their discussion also highlights the upcoming Puerto Rico Equality and Stateho...

In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, George and Martín dive into the latest updates on the certified results of Puerto Rico’s plebiscite and share insights on the inaugurations of Governor González Colón and President Trump. They also examine Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s controversial remarks on Puerto Rican independence and explore how Bad Bunny’s latest album sparks a deeper conv...

In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, we sit down with Gabriella Boffelli, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. Gabriella shares insights into her transition from serving as Chief of Staff for Governor Jennifer González-Colón to leading PRFAA. The conversation explores her deep expertise in Puerto Rico’s most pressing issues, including dis...

In this episode of the Mana a Mano podcast, George Laws García and Martín Rivera of the Puerto Rico Statehood Council break down the outcomes of the 2024 U.S. General Election and their implications for both Puerto Rico and the United States. They examine former President Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, discussing its broader significance, unexpected voter turnout trends...

In this episode of the Mano a Mano Podcast, hosts George Laws Garcia and Martin Rivera from the Puerto Rico Statehood Council break down the critical issues at play in the 2024 elections and their profound implications for Puerto Rico's political future. We’re talking federal and local races, the latest polling on statehood, independence, and free association, and what each choice could mean for P...

In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, George Laws Garcia and Martin Rivera discuss crucial updates for the 2024 presidential election and Puerto Rico’s political status plebiscite. They are joined by Luis Dávila Pernas, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Puerto Rico and Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA). The conversation covers the Democratic P...

In this episode of the Mano a Mano podcast, George Las Garcia and Martin Rivera discuss the 2024 presidential election and its affect on efforts to decolonize Puerto Rico. They delve into the upcoming locally sponsored plebiscite aimed at addressing Puerto Rico’s territorial status and its implications under the Puerto Rico Status Act. Special guest Jose Carrion III, the former chairman of Puerto...

In this month's episode of Mano a Mano, co-hosts George and Martin discuss the latest developments in Congress regarding Puerto Rico's political status, including a significant update on the Puerto Rico Status Act. They also delve into how these legislative efforts tie into the upcoming 2024 general election and the ongoing quest to decolonize Puerto Rico.  Later in the show, Professor Charles Ven...

On this episode of Mano a Mano, U.S., co-hosts George and Martin delve into the democratic deficit faced by U.S. territories. They discuss the discriminatory impact of the insular cases and the efforts of a cross-territorial coalition to advocate for democratic equality. The conversation also covers the Puerto Rico Status Act and the importance of federal elected officials addressing the dispariti...

" Let's call it el comeback !" 🎶 ✊ Join hosts George and Martin on this month's episode of Mano a Mano as they delve into Puerto Rico's revitalization movement, "El Comeback." Explore how Puerto Ricans are reclaiming their island's potential amidst the ongoing challenges.  🎙️On the pod, we'll discuss the impacts of the debt crisis, natural disasters, political instability, and the mass migration...

On this month's episode of Mano a Mano, co-hosts George Law-García and Martin Rivera are joined by Prof. Andrés L. Cordova, Esq., Chairman of the Puerto Rico Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (PRAC to the USCCR), as they embark on a crucial exploration of Puerto Rico's civil rights landscape. On the pod, they dissect the groundbreaking memorandum by the PRAC, shedding light...

In our second episode of Mano a Mano, co-hosts George Laws García and Martin Rivera provide a detailed examination of Puerto Rico's statehood movement. Uncover the strides made in 2022 and 2023, explore current priorities in the 118th Congress, and learn how we can work together to anticipate challenges in 2024. This episode is a vital exploration of Puerto Rico's ongoing quest for full democracy...

In our inaugural episode of "Mano a Mano: U.S. & Puerto Rico," Governor Pedro Pierluisi joins hosts George Laws-García and Martin Rivera for an exclusive interview. Discover the Governor's personal story and gain insights into the progress and hurdles in Puerto Rico’s fight for full equality and self-determination. Also on the show, George and Martin delve into the history and geopolitics that hav...

Welcome to Mano a Mano - a podcast amplifying the voices of leaders, thinkers, activists, and allies from across the political spectrum who support Puerto Rico’s fight for full democracy and self-determination.  Join co-hosts George Laws-García and Martin Rivera as they dive into current events through the lens of U.S.-Puerto Rico relations and reveal how the Caribbean island’s political status ca...