#TBT: May 7, 2026
On May 7, 1998, NBC aired a Seinfeld episode with the Puerto Rico flag being burned and stomped on. After protests, NBC apologized and pulled it from syndication. Manuel Mirabal of the National Puerto Rican Coalition called the situation unacceptable. The episode...
Politician profile: Amata Coleman Radewagen
Amata Coleman Radewagen, commonly called Aumua Amata (The title "Aumua" is a matai (chief) title) by her constituents, has represented American Samoa in the United States House of Representatives since 2015. This profile is an overview of Aumua Amata’s background,...
Prosecutors Had a Drugs-for-Votes Scheme “Locked Up.” Under Trump, They Were Told Not to Pursue Charges.
By Raquel Rutledge. This story was originally published by ProPublica. To the narcotics agents investigating drug smuggling in Puerto Rico prisons, it seemed at first like a typical scheme: associates of an inmate gang sneaking drugs into the prison, gang members...
#TBT: April 30, 2026
On April 30, German Consul Max Biermann reported from American Samoa to Leo von Caprivi (the Chancellor of the German Empire) in 1894 that wars among Samoan factions had halted the copra trade, disrupted food production, and forced islanders to rely on German...
The Dismantling of the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund
The DOE Alumni Network published an explainer on what happened with the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund, and what it could mean for the territory amidst its ongoing struggles with its energy grid. Puerto Ricans continue to face some of the highest electricity rates...
Governor Bryan submits agreement to rebuild St. Croix racetrack without taxpayer funding
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (D) has transmitted legislation to the 36th Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands that would authorize a private agreement to rebuild the Randall "Doc" James Racetrack on St. Croix, return horse racing to the island, and establish a...
Democrats struggle with recruitment in the Northern Mariana Islands
For the upcoming 2026 general election, the Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands (DPNMI) has faced a challenge when trying to recruit candidates. Party chair Annie Terlaje Picklesimer shared her concerns with The Marianas Press in December 2025. ...
Weekly Action Checklist: April 24, 2026
Take Action with the Americans of Conscience Checklist: Action 1: Get ready for all 2026 elections. Action 2: Urge lawmakers to affirm a child’s right to an education, regardless of immigration status. Action 3: Demand that Congress immediately end the detention of...
Solar was poised to help Puerto Ricans survive blackouts — until Trump axed nearly $1B in funding
By Naveena Sadasivam María Pérez lost power for about three months after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017. Her home in Salinas, on the island’s southern coast, sits near a river. As the hurricane knocked out the island’s grid and sent rainwaters...
#TBT: April 23, 2026
Ahyi seamount, a shallow submarine volcano in the Northern Mariana Islands, began erupting on April 23, 2014. Throughout the 2-week-long eruption, Ahyi produced several thousand underwater explosions.
