Hurricane Maria hit the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico one week ago. And six days later, more than three million Americans are still in dire straits with no power, food shortages, and a lack of drinking water. In recent days, President Donald Trump and his administration have faced a storm of criticism for not responding to the needs of the island fast enough. Trump told reporters Tuesday that the island’s location in the Atlantic Ocean hindered the government’s ability to deliver disaster relief quickly, but added that resources and supplies are on the way. The president announced that he plans to visit the Puerto Rico Tuesday. Puerto Rican officials have criticized the relief efforts and are calling on the federal government to do more. Julio Ricardo Varela, co-host of the ‘In The Thick’ political podcast and a contributor to NPR’s ‘Latino USA’, chair of the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez of Boston, who has family in Puerto Rico; and Gregory Gottlieb, director of the Feinstein International Center at Tufts University and former Acting Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance at USAID, joined Jim Braude to discuss whether the federal government is doing enough for Puerto Rico.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has made a lot of headlines lately, like when former Patriots Aaron Hernandez was diagnosed with the neurogenerative disease after he committed suicide in prison, when a study came out last week showing youth tackle football can affect players’ brains well into adulthood, and when the president declared rules meant to limit head-to-head contact are ruining football. Each time, one question always comes up: when we will be able to diagnose CTE in living people? Boston University researchers took a big step closer this week. They’ve identified a substance in spinal fluid that they think could be used as a test. It’s called the CCL11 protein.Researchers say they’re seeing much higher levels of it in people diagnosed with CTE after they’ve died, which could be a game-changer. It’s important to note that these findings are only preliminary, but if proven out, they could have a profound impact on the health and safety of athletes young and old.
Jim Braude catches up with Boston Symphony Orchestra music director Andris Nelsons on the start of the season, and a free concert this weekend in Franklin Park that you won’t want to miss.
Jim shares his thoughts on a few Trump actions you may have missed that are small in scope but huge in consequence.
