Lawless Planet – "Disaster Capitalism Makes Landfall in Puerto Rico"
Podcast Summary by Audible | Host: Zach Goldbaum | Date: March 30, 2026

Episode Overview

This gripping episode of Lawless Planet investigates the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, revealing how disaster capitalism—where private interests exploit crises for profit—struck the island at its most vulnerable. Host Zach Goldbaum, journalist Carla Minette, and other experts trace the devastation of the storm, the corruption that followed, and the subsequent influx of crypto entrepreneurs, all against the backdrop of Puerto Rico’s ongoing economic and environmental crises. The episode explores how policies intended to aid recovery instead enabled opportunists to profit at the expense of everyday Puerto Ricans, raising fundamental questions about who truly benefits when disaster strikes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Catastrophe of Hurricane Maria (00:12–03:10)

• First-Hand Accounts of Destruction

  • Carla Minette, a Puerto Rican investigative journalist, recalls the terror and devastation as Hurricane Maria made landfall, with unprecedented winds destroying her new home and her grandparents’ house in rural Sidra.
    • “We were all night taking water out of the house.” – Carla Minette [02:01]
  • The episode emphasizes the total blackout and isolation of the island after the storm.

• Maria’s Unprecedented Impact

  • Hurricane Maria, one of the most destructive in Atlantic history, left virtually the entire island without power, clean water, or communication.
  • Carla’s journey from personal disaster to professional investigation foregrounds the story.

The Pre-Existing Economic Crisis & PROMESA (05:29–09:34)

• Background: Puerto Rico’s Debt Crisis

  • Years of debt accumulation ($73 billion) and mismanagement culminated in the US-imposed PROMESA law, placing a federally appointed Control Board (the "Fiscal Oversight Board") in charge of restructuring Puerto Rico’s debt.
  • The board consisted mostly of outsiders from the banking sector, igniting criticisms of colonial-style governance.
    • “It was a way to exert the colonial power over Puerto Rico.” – Carla Minette [08:43]

• Privatization & Vulture Funds

  • Discovery that “vulture” hedge funds were maneuvering to profit from Puerto Rico’s weakened position.
  • Transparency battles: CPI (Centro de Periodismo Investigativo) had to take the government to court to reveal the names and interests of those involved.

Disaster Capitalism Follows the Storm (10:50–26:27)

• Cover-ups and the Underreported Death Toll

  • Initial government reports of the death toll (16, then 34) were vastly underestimated. Carla’s team revealed at least 985 excess deaths in the first 40 days, confirmed later by studies putting the figure as high as 4,645.
    • “Our sources were saying otherwise.” – Carla Minette on official death toll [13:32]

• Political Distraction & PR Stunts

  • The episode critiques both Governor Rossello and President Trump’s misleading optimism, referencing Trump’s paper towel-throwing visit and praise for the “successful” disaster response.
    • “16 people versus in the thousands. You can be very proud.” – Donald Trump [15:47]

• Enter the ‘Crypto Bros’: New Tax Havens

  • The Rossello administration courted cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and tech investors with promises of ultra-low taxes, zero capital gains, and regulatory loopholes.
    • Entrepreneurs like Brock Pierce arrived, aiming to build “Cryptoland”—a city for crypto elites.
    • “They were coming like hawks with an idea that they were saviors.” – Carla Minette [20:14]
  • Many saw through this as opportunism, especially since their energy-intensive crypto mining strained the already fragile grid.

• Environmental Double Whammy

  • Bitcoin mining’s demand on electricity worsened the power crisis, contributing to greenhouse emissions while locals languished in the dark.
  • Naomi Klein’s “shock doctrine” is invoked to describe how disaster disorients and enables predatory policies:
    • “The shock Doctrine is a democracy avoidance tactic… a theory of power that uses states of shock and crisis.” – Naomi Klein [24:37]

Corruption & the Unraveling of the Rossello Administration (26:27–34:43)

• Misappropriation of Recovery Funds

  • Billions earmarked for recovery largely flowed to US disaster-chasing firms connected to the governor’s associates, not to local efforts.
    • “People who were related to the governor were being the connectors of these companies to the recovery process and the recovery money.” – Carla Minette [27:11]

• The Telegram Chat Scandal

  • CPI uncovered an 889-page group chat between the governor and aides, containing evidence of corruption, sexist and homophobic comments, and discussions of manipulating the press.
    • “Initially, they wanted to give us pieces of it, and we said no… unless they gave us the whole chat.” – Carla Minette [29:21]
    • Discussions included dehumanizing jokes about disaster victims, death threats, and sharing confidential government info for private gain.

• Public Outrage & Political Consequences

  • The chat’s publication sparked massive protests and ultimately forced Governor Rossello’s resignation.
    • “Puerto Ricans were pissed.” – Zach Goldbaum [32:22]
  • Carla reflects on feeling both responsible for exposing the truth and fearful for her fellow citizens during the unrest.

Aftermath: Privatization, Resilience, and Unfinished Business (34:43–39:31)

• Governor’s Exit and Lingering Corruption

  • Rossello faced no criminal charges, and many implicated officials escaped accountability.
    • “The governor… was never questioned by the Department of Justice or the FBI or anyone that we know of.” – Carla Minette [34:43]

• Persistent Infrastructure Failure

  • Privatization of the electric grid (LUMA) has led to increased costs, worse outages, and ongoing pollution from generators. The government now seeks to break this contract.

• Rejecting "Resilience" Narratives

  • Carla argues that the “resilience” label trivializes Puerto Ricans' suffering and ongoing struggle.
    • “I try not to use the word resilience. That word brings a lot of anger… everyone was expecting us to be positive about the future and to recover from this disaster. I frankly rejected that concept.” – Carla Minette [36:40]

• Grassroots Empowerment

  • Real recovery efforts and reforms came from grassroots organizations and civil society—not government or foreign investors.
    • “Not from the government and not because of the recovery money, but because of the will of the people and because of how Puerto Ricans are.” – Carla Minette [37:32]

• A Warning for Others

  • Puerto Rico’s experience is a cautionary tale about the intersection of disaster capitalism, climate crisis, and colonial exploitation.
    • “Puerto Rico is a cautionary tale about all the things that can go wrong after climate disasters… The reality of climate these days is criminal. Frankly.” – Carla Minette [39:31]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the reality of disaster capitalism:
  “Man made climate change is making storms like Maria more common and more powerful. And whenever they happen, corporations and financial sharks swoop in to take advantage…” – Zach Goldbaum [05:29]

• On the official versus actual death count:
  “Technically, they said that 16 people died in the storm, but Carla’s health reporters were hearing otherwise. Morgues and hospitals reported that they were filling up with bodies.” – Zach Goldbaum [12:41]

• On predatory opportunism:
  “These guys wanted to remake Puerto Rico the way they wanted it to be, regardless of what the island’s people might think.” – Zach Goldbaum, on the crypto entrepreneurs [21:49]

• On the fruits of real activism:
  “Environmental, women's rights, and civic and human rights organizations all worked to make the recovery process as fair and just as possible for the people of Puerto Rico.” – Zach Goldbaum [37:12]

• On why Puerto Rico’s crisis should matter to all:
  “We are at a point that we cannot go back to the way things were… the reality of climate these days is criminal.” – Carla Minette [39:31]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:12–03:10: Hurricane Maria’s devastation; Carla’s account
• 05:29–09:34: Economic roots: PROMESA, debt crisis, vulture funds
• 10:50–13:32: Initial aftermath, suppression of true death toll
• 15:47: Trump’s infamous “16 deaths” statement [audio]
• 18:25: Hollywood stars and post-storm economic shticks
• 20:14–21:49: Introduction of Crypto Bros/Disaster Capitalists
• 23:36: Effects of crypto mining on the power grid
• 24:37: Naomi Klein explains the "shock doctrine"
• 27:11–31:37: Discovery and impact of the Telegram chat; CPI’s leak strategy
• 32:22–33:59: Protests erupt, eventual resignation of the governor
• 34:43–36:40: Unfulfilled justice, privatization woes, pollution
• 37:32–39:31: Grassroots efforts, ongoing struggles, cautionary tale

Concluding Thoughts

Disaster Capitalism Makes Landfall in Puerto Rico is a revealing exposé detailing how, in the wake of catastrophic climate events, systems of corruption and opportunism can prolong suffering, undermine democracy, and exploit the most vulnerable. It’s a powerful narrative of investigative journalism’s role in holding power to account and the enduring strength of community activism in the face of environmental, economic, and political adversity. The episode ends by reframing the crisis, less as a tale of forced “resilience,” and more as an urgent lesson for a climate-challenged future: Who profits from disaster, and how can justice be restored?