What Does Russia Want with Puerto Rico?

<p dir="ltr">Russia's transnational crime syndicate uses our own weaknesses against us, to entrench their weaponized corruption. Take, for instance, the Act 22 tax loophole that lets rich Americans buy up land in Puerto Rico to avoid paying any money in federal taxes. It's called "trickle down theory," but the locals call it gentrification and tax dodging. So why is RT (Russia Today) latching on to a grassroots campaign to close the Act 22 tax loophole threatening to turn Puerto Rico into a dangerous money-laundering vipers den, with no affordable housing? Could it be that Russia is trying to stop this movement by discrediting it?</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Ringing the alarm on how the Act 22 tax loophole jeopardizes Puerto Rico's sovereignty and U.S. national security are Nomiki Konst, an activist and filmmaker, and Federico de Jesús, a public affairs consultant. They joined forces in Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria to launch "Losing Puerto Rico," a documentary-in-progress and movement by the same name against the Act 22 tax loophole. Konst, a longtime ally of Senator Bernie Sanders, chosen by Sanders to work on the unity commission for the DNC following the 2016 election, cut her teeth as an investigative journalist under Wayne Barrett, the first reporter to warn us about Trump. De Jesús, who helped lead Hispanic outreach in campaigns for President Barack Obama and Senator Harry Reid, focuses on human rights issues in Puerto Rico. They explain what's at stake with the Act 22 tax loophole, why Russia may have taken an interest, and their urgent advice for Biden on how to defeat Trump in the 2024 election, including how to win back Hispanic voters who have been trending Republican. </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">This week's bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon, features the recording of the Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, alongside the transcript. To access the workshop, all bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive event invitations, and more, subscribe to the show and join our listener community at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Listen to "Pur Sun" by Whose Hat Is This? <a href="https://bassmagazine.com/tim-lefebvres-whose-hat-is-this-releases-new-single-pur-sun-listen/"> https://bassmagazine.com/tim-lefebvres-whose-hat-is-this-releases-new-single-pur-sun-listen/</a> You can find more music by Whose Hat is This? on Bandcamp at <a href="http://whosehatisthis.bandcamp.com/">whosehatisthis.bandcamp.com</a> or <a href="http://whosehatisthis.com/">whosehatisthis.com</a> Thank you to Tim Lefebvre and Whose Hat is This? for your music! Got music to share with the world? Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&amp;gxids=7628</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Thank you to OneSkine, the sponsor of this week's episode – be sure to give them a try! Our listeners can receive an exclusive discount code. Tell 'em Gaslit Nation sent you! </p> <p dir="ltr">Get 15% off OneSkin with the code GASLIT at <a href="https://www.oneskin.co/">https://www.oneskin.co/</a> </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Show Notes:</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Losing Puerto Rico – learn more about the movement to protect Puerto Rico, U.S. security interests, and repeal the Act 22 tax loophole and the film-in-progress: <a href="https://www.losingpuertorico.com/">https://www.losingpuertorico.com/</a></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Losing Homeland - How a Speculators and Tax Cheats are Stealing Puerto Rico <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6K2SxZNxGQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6K2SxZNxGQ</a></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Inside the Oslo accords: a new podcast series marks 30 years since Israel-Palestine secret peace negotiations https://theconversation.com/inside-the-oslo-accords-a-new-podcast-series-marks-30-years-since-israel-palestine-secret-peace-negotiations-212985</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">What is the International Criminal Court and why it has Israeli officials worried <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-international-criminal-court-hague-palestinians-1f683a6e2e150d91c415eb1d0a19a44d">https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-international-criminal-court-hague-palestinians-1f683a6e2e150d91c415eb1d0a19a44d</a></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Israeli, U.S. Officials Say New Sanctions Due to Conduct of Ben-Gvir, Smotrich A U.S. source said the far-right ministers were considered for sanctions themselves, but the White House feared impacts on bilateral relations. Some U.S. figures object to the use of the term 'sanctions,' and say that the U.S. is simply holding Israel to the standard it holds all aid recipients https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-21/ty-article/.premium/israeli-u-s-officials-say-new-sanctions-due-to-conduct-of-ben-gvir-smotrich/0000018f-018b-d6a0-a9ef-c19f11020000</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">How today's college protests echo history <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/04/29/1198911364/student-protests-palestine-israel-vietnam-compared-history-1968-columbia-campus">https://www.npr.org/2024/04/29/1198911364/student-protests-palestine-israel-vietnam-compared-history-1968-columbia-campus</a></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">German ex-soldier admits spying for Russia as trial opens <a href="https://sg.news.yahoo.com/german-ex-soldier-admits-spying-161900658.html">https://sg.news.yahoo.com/german-ex-soldier-admits-spying-161900658.html</a></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">2 Ukrainians were stabbed in Germany. Prosecutors are examining a possible political motive https://apnews.com/article/germany-ukrainians-stabbed-russian-suspect-4a432eb55a05885c541b2515be1b20d5</p>