Podcast Summary: Las Noticias con Calle – 19 febrero 2026

Host: Jay Fonseca
Date: February 19, 2026

Main Theme

This episode of "Las Noticias con Calle" provides a comprehensive daily news summary with an emphasis on Puerto Rico’s current events. Jay focuses on the ongoing saga of the Jovín medical licensing exam ("reválida"), highlights cases of corruption, economic debates, international developments, and notable news in technology, tourism, and society.

Key Discussion Points

1. Jovín Medical Licensing Exam Scandal

• Background and New Irregularities
  Jay revisits the “reválida” saga concerning Dr. José Jovín Vargas Yabona, revealing yet another round of irregularities:

  • The medical licensing exam has, again, come under scrutiny due to improper handling of exam results ([00:01]).
  • Jay emphasizes this is not a personal issue, but purely factual reporting prompted by information he received and which was also published by El Nuevo Día ([00:10–01:50]).

• Role of the Health Secretary

  • The Secretary of Health, who by law should not interfere in the exam process, reportedly took the results and stored them in a vault, a task reserved for the Medical Licensing Board ([02:10]).
  • The Board itself is seen as politically entangled, its president being a close ally of the Secretary.

• Historical Context

  • Jay references past scandals (e.g., mass arrests of doctors in 2008) to explain why the law keeps the Secretary out ([03:15]).
  • The process is typically split into two exam days, but "es bien raro que alguien coja las dos reválidas el mismo día" ([04:00]).

• Nature of the Exam

  • The exam is for local Puerto Rican general practitioners who cannot practice in the US; it’s known for low pass rates and a lack of resources ([04:45]).

• Ongoing Confusion and Accusations

  • Jay acknowledges accusations that his coverage is biased or personal but insists on factual reporting:

    “Estos son los datos, otra vez el mal manejo de la reválida…” ([01:35], Jay Fonseca)

• Further Details

  • Administrative confusion: Results, which should be handled solely by the Board’s director Dana Miró, were instead accessed by the Secretary ([14:10]).
  • Board members and health executives refuse to comment; the scandal persists in headlines ([15:10]).

Notable Quotes

• “Esto no es mi opinión, no es mi gusto, esto no es una agenda personal, Gobernadora. Estos son los datos.”
  — Jay Fonseca ([01:35])
• “Otra vez la reválida de Jovín vuelve a ser parte del escándalo…”
  — Jay Fonseca ([03:15])

2. Other Headlines and Political Updates

• Department of Corrections Corruption
  A new case of bribery and contraband among prison officials ([17:10]).

• Minimum Wage Decision Process
  Debate on whether the Puerto Rico Legislature or an expert commission should set the minimum wage, following previous changes in oversight ([18:00]).

• US Democrats’ Momentum
  Special and local elections show Democrats outperforming Republicans, with notable increases over Kamala Harris’ previous results; possible signs for upcoming Senate contests ([18:45]).

3. International and Defense Affairs

• US Troop Build-up Around Iran

  • Reports of increased US military presence reminiscent of the Iraq war ([19:45]).
  • Jay hints at discussions with specialists on YouTube about potential escalations.

• Artificial Intelligence and National Security

  • Strong competition between AI platforms: Grok, Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT ([21:00]).
  • The US Department of Defense is pressuring Anthropic (Claude) to loosen restrictions and share operational code for potential use in autonomous military decision-making. Anthropic refuses ([22:05]).
  • Jay raises questions about trust in AI for national security decisions, emphasizing the involvement of Palantir and its contentious reputation ([22:55]).

Notable Quotes

• “¿Crees tú que deberíamos soltarle a la inteligencia artificial toda esa información del Pentágono?”
  — Jay Fonseca ([22:35])

4. Puerto Rican Society & Tourism

• Bad Bunny as Film Lead
  Bad Bunny to star in a major film about Puerto Rican history directed by Residente ([24:15]).

• Religious Tourism Legislation

  • New bills promote Puerto Rico as a religious tourism destination, highlighting local pilgrimage sites and the international Drawing Power of events like those tied to the Virgin and Pentecostal movements ([24:50]).
  • Jay critiques government spending justified by tourism, referencing $5M to bring Messi for a friendly match as dubious economic stimulus.

Notable Quotes

• “Aquí están justificando todos estos gastos turísticos al garete, como los 5 millones que están dando para traer a Messi…”
  — Jay Fonseca ([25:30])

• Tourism Transparency & Miss Universe
  New agreements aim to increase transparency in the Miss Universe Puerto Rico pageant, a move Jay suggests could benefit both image and marketing ([26:45]).

• Gastronomy and Investment News

  • A popular food park reopens after relocation struggles ([27:20]).
  • Carlon Puerto Rico expands operations with $1.5M investment ([27:45]).

5. Social and Health Updates

• Influenza
  Decrease in new cases, but an increase in fatalities ([28:10]).

• Smoking Regulation Policy
  Jay notes long-term benefits of banning smoking in enclosed public spaces—“fue un palo para fines de que el mundo entero empezó a reducir sustancialmente la utilización del cigarrillo en lugares cerrados” ([28:45]).

6. Legal News

• Yauco Biologist Case
  The family of a biologist killed in Yauco requests the Governor to appeal a controversial legal decision after the Department of Justice declined ([30:00]).
  • Jay discusses the legal standards for appealing an acquittal, acknowledging divided opinions.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “No me haga caso a mí, soy un gordito de Jaguar… ahí están los datos, ahí está la historia completa.”
  — Jay Fonseca, highlighting his focus on facts over personal bias ([16:00])
• “El presidente de la Junta de Licenciamiento Médico… era la mano derecha y tesorero del Colegio de Médicos cuando el Secretario de Salud era el presidente del Colegio de Médicos.”
  — Jay Fonseca, on political entanglement in the medical board ([02:30])
• “La controversia ayuda… el año pasado usted tiene que hacer un buen mercadeo para decir este año mire todos los guardrails…”
  — Jay Fonseca, discussing the PR benefits of Miss Universe controversy ([27:00])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 – Introduction and updates on the Jovín "reválida" saga
• 04:00 – Details about the PR medical exam system and its irregularities
• 14:10 – Administrative mishandlings and board involvement
• 17:10 – Corrections department corruption scandal
• 18:00 – Minimum wage legislative debate
• 19:45 – US troop deployment in the Middle East
• 21:00 – AI competition and market trends
• 22:05 – Pentagon’s request to Anthropic for military AI purposes
• 24:15 – Bad Bunny film announcement
• 24:50 – Religious tourism and government spending critique
• 26:45 – Miss Universe transparency measures
• 27:20 – Gastronomic park and investments
• 28:10 – Influenza cases and mortality
• 28:45 – Smoking ban policy reflections
• 30:00 – Yauco biologist’s family seeks appeal

Final Tone

Jay’s style remains colloquial, sometimes sarcastic, but always critical of political mishandling and lack of transparency. He mixes factual reporting with rhetorical questions and humor, ensuring listeners are informed and engaged:
“Echenme la bendición. Que tengan un día productivo.” ([31:00])

For more details, Jay encourages checking the full coverage on his YouTube channel and in local newspapers like El Nuevo Día.