Podcast Summary: Noticias con Calle – December 29, 2025

Host: Jay Fonseca
Episode: PODCAST LAS NOTICIAS CON CALLE DE 29 DE DICIEMBRE 2025
Date: December 29, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Jay Fonseca delivers his daily round-up of Puerto Rico’s most important news stories and engages in sharp commentary on major local and international developments. Key themes include the ongoing energy crisis and the Fiscal Oversight Board, a high-profile criminal sentencing, a notable murder in the motorsports community, political friction over public policy, and significant international tensions related to China, Venezuela, and Ukraine.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Unusually Cold Temperatures in Puerto Rico

• Jay points out a curious weather situation: temperatures in Hayuya, Puerto Rico, matched or were colder than in the Washington, D.C. area (00:30).
  • Quote:

    "Puerto Rico se siente hasta más frío… literalmente hay áreas en Puerto Rico que tienen la sensación es más fría."
    — Jay Fonseca [00:35]

  • He jokes that "la estadidad llegó" (statehood has arrived), referencing an old saying that statehood would only come if it snowed in Puerto Rico.

2. Criminal Sentencing: The Mayra Nevarez Case

• Updates on the resentencing of Mayra Nevarez, involved in the death of Arcángel’s brother while driving against traffic under the influence.
  • Quote:

    "Tenía sangre en el alcohol… el nivel de alcohol en la sangre es tan y tan alto que honestamente no tiene otra explicación que no fuera que esta persona estaba fuera de control."
    — Jay Fonseca [02:00]

• Nevarez is expected to receive a 15-year sentence as confirmed by appeals and the Supreme Court (18:10).

3. Murder of "Mezclita" – The Motorsports Organizer

• Jay reports on the murder of “Mezclita,” a young influencer who organized motorcycle gatherings (corridas de motora), killed after a violent altercation.
  • Quote:

    “Era uno de esos que convoca carreras de motoras y demás y pues lo mataron allí en una de esas actividades.”
    — Jay Fonseca [16:00]

• Two women were also injured in the associated incident.

4. Public Facilities and Fiscal Board Updates

• The Natatorium (natatorio) will be closed from February until 2027 for repairs.
• The Fiscal Oversight Board’s (la Junta de Supervisión Fiscal) exit from Puerto Rico is delayed due to unresolved debt, with direct reference to the ever-unfinished bankruptcy of Puerto Rico's Electric Power Authority (AEE).
• Federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain will soon decide (by January 12) whether to intervene in the LUMA Energy case.
  • Quote:

    “Ahora mismo, en este instante, está todo detenido la reparación de energía eléctrica en Puerto Rico, porque usted sabe que dependemos de que LUMA… está haciendo los trabajos, pero ¿Quién le va a hacer trabajo a LUMA?”
    — Jay Fonseca [06:20]

• The legal limbo is causing paralysis in electrical infrastructure repairs.

5. International Affairs

• China/Taiwán:
  • China conducts historically extensive military exercises near Taiwan after the latter's $1.1 billion U.S. arms purchase, citing reports of possible unification plans by 2027 (09:50).
• Venezuela:
  • Despite historically low oil prices, Venezuela struggles more as their sanctioned oil must be sold at deep discounts (12:05).
  • Jay covers a Reuters report: Trump reportedly opts, for now, against military action in Venezuela, instead pushing heightened oil sanctions (13:30).
  • Meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy did not yield agreement, and Ukraine’s 20-point plan is discarded.

6. Local Politics and Policy Debates

• Project Esencia and Cabo Rojo:
  • Political wrangling over a $2 billion private project with $500 million in public funds and significant outlays from the electrical and water authorities.
  • Rivera Schatz criticizes Governor Jennifer González for being uninformed about pending climate change legislation (14:40).
• Earthquake Reconstruction:
  • Government celebrates a 33% increase in reconstruction projects, but Jay underscores it only amounts to $10 million—a trivial amount compared to the need (15:30).
• Public Pension Reform and Fiscal Board:
  • Debated proposals to redirect rum tax revenues to pension obligations are stalled by the Fiscal Board.
  • Jay criticizes the cycle of politicians seeking to channel funds to ex-government employees occupying higher-paid, politically appointed positions (16:15).
  • Quote:

    "Todo el mundo sabe que en Puerto Rico, como tú entras el gobierno es por razones políticas. ¿Como aumentabas tu sueldo? Era con posiciones políticas."
    — Jay Fonseca [16:24]

  • Jay questions lack of action on tax reform and emphasizes that the government’s actual priority appears to be maintaining bureaucracy rather than solving citizens' problems.

7. Cannabis Legalization and Influenza

• The banking sector is cautious regarding the president’s new executive order on cannabis (16:56).
• The government delays declaring an influenza epidemic, possibly due to economic considerations—reluctant to hurt major events and the economy despite widespread illness.

8. Karate and Investigative Content

• Yanesa Fonseca is highlighted as one of the world’s top five karate athletes.
• Jay describes expanded investigative and polling content on his premium YouTube channel, including political polling of local figures (Jennifer González, Rivera Schatz, etc.) and the island's ideological leanings (Conservative vs. Maga) (17:50–18:10).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Jay Fonseca | "Puerto Rico se siente hasta más frío… literalmente hay áreas en Puerto Rico que tienen la sensación es más fría." | 00:35 | | Jay Fonseca | "Tenía sangre en el alcohol… el nivel de alcohol en la sangre es tan y tan alto que honestamente no tiene otra explicación..." | 02:00 | | Jay Fonseca | "Ahora mismo, en este instante, está todo detenido la reparación de energía eléctrica en Puerto Rico..." | 06:20 | | Jay Fonseca | "Todo el mundo sabe que en Puerto Rico, como tú entras el gobierno es por razones políticas. ¿Como aumentabas tu sueldo? Era con posiciones políticas." | 16:24 |

Important Timestamps

• 00:30–01:00: Weather: Puerto Rico’s cold snap vs. Washington, D.C.
• 02:00–03:00: Mayra Nevarez resentencing details and context.
• 05:00–07:00: Update on Fiscal Board, Natatorium closure, and LUMA Energy gridlock.
• 08:00–10:00: China-Taiwán military escalation and arms deal.
• 12:05–13:45: Venezuelan oil, sanctions, and Trump administration’s stance.
• 14:40: Rivera Schatz vs. Governor on climate legislation and Project Esencia.
• 15:30: Earthquake reconstruction “progress” commentary.
• 16:15–16:30: Detailed analysis of public pension reform and political appointments.
• 16:56: Cannabis legislation and government hesitation on influenza epidemic.
• 17:50–18:10: Preview of premium content and upcoming polling.

Closing Thoughts

Jay Fonseca delivers incisive, sometimes sardonic commentary on Puerto Rico’s politics and society, emphasizing the disconnect between political priorities and everyday citizen concerns. He points out continuing bureaucratic inertia, political self-interest, and international developments with local impact. The episode stands out for its blend of humor, pointed critique, and data-driven discussion.

For more detailed investigative pieces and polling data, listeners are directed to Jay’s premium YouTube channel, where several exclusive surveys and reports are available to subscribers.