Trump's damning inaction on Puerto Rico, by the numbers
The Trump administration has been widely criticized for bungling the response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, where tens of thousands are still without power six months after the storm. In order to fully understand President Trump's response, though, Politico compared the government's reaction to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico to Hurricane Harvey in Texas several weeks earlier. Here are some of the most damning statistics — and you can read even more in the full investigation at Politico here. Jeva Lange
Six days: How long it took for there to be 73 essential life-saving helicopters operating over Houston
At least three weeks: How long it took for there to be at least 70 such helicopters in Puerto Rico
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
$141.8 million: FEMA assistance to Harvey victims just over a week after the storm
$6.2 million: FEMA assistance to Maria victims just over a week after the storm
30,000: Number of personnel responding in the Houston area within nine days
10,000: Number of personnel responding in Puerto Rico within nine days
103: Official death toll as a result of Hurricane Harvey
62: Official death toll as a result of Hurricane Maria
1,052: How high the real death toll in Puerto Rico might be
2: How many times President Trump visited Texas in the first eight days after the storm
1: How many times President Trump visited Puerto Rico 13 days after the storm
24: How many times Trump brought up Hurricane Harvey on Twitter in the first week after the storm
8: How many times Trump brought up Hurricane Maria on Twitter in the first week after the storm
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
The teenage 'maths prodigy' who turned out to be a cheat
Under The Radar Jiang Ping defied expectations in a global competition but something wasn't right
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Puppet shows, pagodas and pho: a guide to Hanoi
The Week Recommends Vietnam's capital city blends the ancient with the new
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'There are benefits, but not acknowledging them would tell only half of the story'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells next Senate GOP leader to skip confirmations
Speed Read The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader must allow him to make recess appointments
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asks
Speed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspects
Speed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's return
Speed Read Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Abortion rights measures go 7 for 10
Speed Read Constitutional amendments to protect abortion passed in seven states but failed in three others: Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking protests
Speed Read Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu have clashed for years. The Israeli prime minister first tried to fire the defense minister in 2023, but backed off following a public outcry.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump wins, GOP flips Senate, House a tossup
Speed Read The Republican candidate flipped back the swing states he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published