Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show leads Outstanding Variety Special (Live) at the Emmys

I'm revisiting Drink to Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show's Emmy nominations on National Piña Colada Day for this week's Sunday entertainment feature.

I begin with Gold Derby reporting Bad Bunny bouncing towards the Emmys as his Super Bowl halftime show scores unprecedented 9 nominations...

As Gold Derby predicted in January, the Puerto Rican superstar — whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — scored a nomination Wednesday for Best Variety Special (Live) for his sizzling, much-scrutinized halftime show at Sunday's Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. The special was one of the most-nominated programs, receiving nine total bids, including Production Design for a Variety Special, Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming, Directing for a Variety Special, Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program, Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Special, Music Direction, Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special, and Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Special. That marks a record for a halftime show.

People listed Bad Bunny's competitors for Best Variety Special (Live).

The milestone comes after the performance drew a staggering 128.2 million viewers, making it the fourth-most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history. The show is also nominated for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), where it will compete against four major awards ceremonies: the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, the Oscars and the 78th Annual Tony Awards.

I'm not going to handicap this category today; Gold Derby has its prediction page for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards up, but no one seems to have made a prediction in this category. When enough predictions have been tallied, I'll return to this category. On the other hand, the Super Bowl Halftime Show is leading the odds for Variety Special Directing and Music Direction; Gold Derby is not making predictions in the craft categories. I'll look at those when I examine Gold Derby's prediction for Variety Special (Live).

Every expert and editor along with 94.7% of users have chosen The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny, to use its official name, to win. The Oscars follow with 2.6% of users, then the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards and 78th Annual Tony Awards tie at 1.3%; no one is picking the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.

Now for the rest of the show's nominations from 78th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special

• The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny – Hamish Hamilton (NBC)
• Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable... – Rikki Hughes (Netflix)
• Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The Final Show – Glenn Weiss (Disney+)
• 78th Annual Tony Awards – Glenn Weiss (CBS)
• Wanda Sykes: Legacy – Julie Dash (Netflix)

Once again, every expert and editor plus 94.3% of users have Hamish Hamilton taking home the statuette. Glenn Weiss for both Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The Final Show and 78th Annual Tony Awards ties himself at 2.9% each, so he has a combined 6.8% chance, while no one thinks Rikki Hughes for Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable... and Julie Dash for Wanda Sykes: Legacy have a chance.

Outstanding Music Direction

• The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny – Miguel Gandelman (NBC)
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Series Finale" – Louis Cato (CBS)
• The Oscars – Michael Bearden (ABC)
• Saturday Night Live: "Host: Jack Black" – Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis, Eli Brueggemann, and Maddie Rice (NBC)
• Wicked: One Wonderful Night – Stephen Oremus (NBC)

For the third and final time, every expert and editor along with 90.1% of users think The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny will win, giving Miguel Gandelman an Emmy. Wicked: One Wonderful Night notched 9.1% of users, The Oscars 0.8%, and the rest of the field earned no votes at all.

Follow over the jump for the craft categories.

Drink to Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show's Emmy nominations on National Piña Colada Day

Happy National Piña Colada Day! Like last year, the day is doing double duty by toasting nominees of an awards show, the creative people behind Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show. I begin with Gold Derby reporting Bad Bunny bouncing towards the Emmys as his Super Bowl halftime show scores unprecedented 9 nominations.

Puerto Rican superstar, who tallied three Grammys earlier this year, looks to add another statuette to his burgeoning collection.
...
Bad Bunny conquered the Grammys. Now he's coming for the Emmy Awards.

As Gold Derby predicted in January, the Puerto Rican superstar — whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — scored a nomination Wednesday for Best Variety Special (Live) for his sizzling, much-scrutinized halftime show at Sunday's Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. The special was one of the most-nominated programs, receiving nine total bids, including Production Design for a Variety Special, Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming, Directing for a Variety Special, Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program, Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Special, Music Direction, Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special, and Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Special. That marks a record for a halftime show.

People listed Bad Bunny's competitors for Best Variety Special (Live).

The milestone comes after the performance drew a staggering 128.2 million viewers, making it the fourth-most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history. The show is also nominated for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), where it will compete against four major awards ceremonies: the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, the Oscars and the 78th Annual Tony Awards.

I'm not going to handicap this category today; Gold Derby has its prediction page for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards up, but no one seems to have made a prediction in this category. When enough predictions have been tallied, I'll return to this category. On the other hand, the Super Bowl Halftime Show is leading the odds for Variety Special Directing and Music Direction; Gold Derby is not making predictions in the craft categories. I'll look at those when I examine Gold Derby's prediction for Variety Special (Live).

As I noted in February, Bad Bunny's performance elicited some controversy. Back to Gold Derby.

Going into the Super Bowl, there was much right-wing consternation over the NFL's selection of Bad Bunny for the coveted slot, given that he performs in Spanish — often wearing dresses — and is a vocal critic of Trump administration policies. The MAGA crowd went so far as to counterprogram in the form of a widely lampooned Kid Rock-led show for Turning Point USA.

I'll let Emmy winner and returning Emmy nominee Desi Lydic mock this reaction in Desi Lydic Foxsplains Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show | The Daily Show.

Desi Lydic Foxsplains the outrage over the un-American, un-manly, and un-known superstar slated for the Super Bowl halftime show: Bad Bunny.

HAHAHAHA! No wonder she earned another two nominations!

Now to drink to Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl Halftime Show's Emmy nominations with PINIA COLADA FOR #badbunny SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW (sic).


That was misspelled and really should have used a Bad Bunny song, like piña colada y bad bunny.


There, better.

That's a wrap for today's holiday celebrating Puerto Rico. Stay tuned for World Population Day on National Mojito Day.

Previous posts about the 2026 Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards

• 'The Tale of Silyan' vs 'The Librarians' for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking at the Emmy Awards

BBC News asks 'Why is Bad Bunny's Super Bowl show so controversial?'

I promised "a special Sunday entertainment feature about the Super Bowl" today, so I'm returning to 'The Daily Show' on Trump talking about canceling elections plus Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl and GRAMMYs to take a serious look after a comedic one by sharing BBC News asking Why is Bad Bunny's Super Bowl show so controversial? | The Global Story.

On Sunday 8 February, Bad Bunny will perform at the Super Bowl half-time show to an audience of more than 100 million people across the world.

But the NFL’s choice of the Puerto Rican star has proven controversial, because he has long been outspoken in his criticism of Donald Trump's government, including most recently at the 2026 Grammy Awards, when he called for ICE agents to be removed from the streets.

Puerto Rican cultural critic Carina del Valle Schorske, who profiled Bad Bunny for The New York Times Magazine, speaks to Asma Khalid and Tristan Redman.

She explains how the artist’s pride in his homeland is infused throughout his music, and considers how he might use the United States' biggest stage this weekend to challenge the president’s policies.

I expected Bad Bunny's story to be intimately tied to the recent history of Puerto Rico. I was surprised, but shouldn't have been, that Hurricane Maria and its aftermath played such a big part in it. It didn't help that Donald "Hoover Harding Cleveland" Trump wanted to trade Puerto Rico for Greenland so that he wouldn't have to deal with the cleanup. His obsession with Greenland has not aged well.

On the other hand, I expect Bad Bunny's halftime show will join Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and others by being nominated and winning Emmy Awards. As I wrote two years ago:

Did you know that when you watch (or watched, depending on when you read this entry) today's Super Bowl, you'll probably see several Emmy nominees and probably an Emmy winner or two? You will, because you did last year and several of the years before that. That's thanks to the commercials and halftime show, which has been a repeat nominee going back as far as Beyoncé's Super Bowl XLVII halftime show, which won Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special in 2013.

We'll find out about the nominations in July and the Emmy Awards in September. In the meantime, stay tuned for coverage of Best Cinematic Adaptation Film, the successor to Best Superhero Film at the Saturn Awards, tomorrow.

'The Daily Show' on Trump talking about canceling elections plus Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl and GRAMMYs

I promised "something topical" today, so I'm returning to The Daily Show for Trump Floats Canceling Midterms & MAGA Pushes Alt Super Bowl Halftime Show, two topics in one!

Conservatives amp up their mission to MAGA-fy America by overshadowing Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance with Turning Point USA’s own D-list halftime show, and Michael Kosta connects the dots between Trump’s call for Republicans to "nationalize" voting and the president's never-ending claim that the 2020 election was stolen. Plus, Troy Iwata explains why Trump’s pitch to cancel the midterms is peak comedy.

I've called "the president's never-ending claim that the 2020 election was stolen" the Big Lie.

I'm recycling my reaction from Jane Mayer describes 'The Big Money Behind the Big Lie' on MSNBC.

All of this reminds me why I think calling the idea that the election was stolen the Big Lie doesn't go far enough.

Personally, I'd rather call it Trump's dangerous delusion, his fixed belief that the election was stolen from him despite all evidence, which I see as related to his vulnerability to conspiracy theories, but "the Big Lie" is the established phrase used by CNBC and others, so I'm calling it that instead. It's a lie, too.

Mayer's reporting shows that Trump's delusion is not just dangerous but contagious. It's bad enough that there is one pandemic running around; we don't need another.

The delusion has continued to spread, infecting a lot of candidates in today's elections. Ugh.

And now he has an Administration dedicated to it.

I'm glad Michael Kosta and Troy Iwata can find the humor in it. I can't; I'm too scared to laugh.

Kosta opened with Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl and so did Stephen Colbert, asking Not Into Bad Bunny? MAGA Halftime Has Kid Rock | Gen Z Olympic Mascots | Help Coldbert Plow Chicago.

Kid Rock is set to headline an unofficial Super Bowl halftime show for conservatives who don't like Bad Bunny, the mascots for the 2026 Winter Olympics have been revealed, and Chicago residents can visit http://Chicagoshovels.org to vote to name their new snow plow after Stephen Colbert.

My geology students do an exercise where they shade in the United States. I always instruct them to include Puerto Rico just to drive home the point that it's part of the U.S. If the NFL didn't disable embedding, I'd share Bad Bunny's halftime show on Flag Day. Instead, I'm looking forward to seeing how many Emmy nominations it earns this July. Bad Bunny has already earned two GRAMMYs this week. Follow over the jump for his acceptance speeches. Yes, this is now an awards show post.

Drink to the action movie nominees at the Critics Choice Super Awards on National Piña Colada Day

Happy Piña Colada Day! I closed PBS Terra explains 'The REAL STORY of Climate Skeptics New Favorite Graph' by wondering about today's post: "Tomorrow is Piña Colada Day. Stay tuned to see if I celebrate it or cover the action movie nominees at the Critics Choice Super Awards. Maybe I will do both." I've decided to do both.

While Civil War and The Fall Guy tie for the lead in Best Action Movie with three Critics Choice Super Awards nominations apiece, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning with two nominations is my choice to win this category. Tying Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning at two nominations each are Monkey Man and Rebel Ridge, while Warfare has only this one nomination.

I see one snub, Twisters. That would have been my vote for Best Action Film at the Saturn Awards had Deadpool & Wolverine not been added to that category in the absence of Best Superhero Film. Yeah, but which nominee would it have replaced? I don't know.


Just like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is my pick to win Best Action Movie, its star Tom Cruise is my choice to win Best Actor in an Action Movie. I don't think it's even close. Sorry, Taron Egerton, Ryan Gosling, Dev Patel, Aaron Pierre, and Jack Quaid are all great actors, but they don't have Cruise's star power.


Without a nominated actress from Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning to create the likelihood of a full sweep, Best Actress in an Action Movie is much more open. Emily Blunt, Ana de Armas, Kirsten Dunst, and June Squibb all have Oscar nominations, Anya Taylor-Joy has an Emmy nomination, and Cailee Spaeny has a second nomination at these awards for Alien: Romulus. Since electorates matter, I'm giving the edge to Blunt because she has the most Critics Choice Award nominations and wins, including winning Best Actress in an Action Movie for Edge of Tomorrow when this award was part of the main ceremony before the Critics Choice Association split off the Super Awards. Besides, like Cruise, I think she has the most star power.

Now for a category I last revisited in 'Sinners' leads Best Horror Movie nominees at the Critics Choice Super Awards.

Emma Corrin really chewed the scenery in Deadpool & Wolverine, making for a good villain one loves to hate, but I'm not going to pick a winner yet. I have until August 7th to do that, so I'll hold off until I look at the rest of the categories.

As I wrote above, Austin Butler has a better chance to win Best Villain in a Movie and might do so as part of a Dune: Part Two sweep. Still, I think there are better villains, or at least villains played by more well-known actors, like Hugh Grant and Denzel Washington, so I'm not getting out the broom just yet.

I'm going along with Hunter and picking Grant over Washington. Why not?

This is the only nomination for Gladiator II, which qualifies it for consideration in the next paragraph.

Like Best Horror Film, there are plenty of nominees for action/adventure and thriller film at the upcoming Saturn Awards among the movies nominated here, although I have to include all the acting nominees to say so. Joining Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Warfare from the movie category would be Carry-On, Novocaine, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, and Gladiator II from the acting categories.* That's a full slate for one category right there.

Box Office Mojo's top grossing films of 2024 adds in one other possible nominee, September 5 — Red One is also an action movie, but I think it's more likely to be nominated as fantasy — while Box Office Mojo's top movies of 2025 adds F1: The Movie, The Accountant 2, Karate Kid: Legends, The Amateur, A Working Man, Den of Thieves: Pantera, Flight Risk, Black Bag, Last Breath, Babygirl, and The Phoenician Scheme in the top 50. There are 150 movies with lower box office totals that I didn't even look at! Furthermore, Box Office Mojo's Calendar lists Sovereign, She Rides Shotgun, and The Naked Gun upcoming between now and August 10th. While they are likely to be split among three categories, action/adventure, thriller, and independent film, there are still enough to fill all three and then some. There is no need to sacrifice the superhero film category to add Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World to Best Action Film!

I close with National Day Calendar's NATIONAL PINA COLADA DAY | July 10 to celebrate today's holiday.

July 10 recognizes a sweet, rum-based cocktail on National Pina Colada Day. Today, we are anxiously waiting for the end of the work day to enjoy the cream of coconut and pineapple juice with a dash of run cocktail.

Sorry, no update on the prospects for Puerto Rican statehood today. Like Flag Day, I wasn't feeling it. Maybe next year.

This concludes my examination of the movie nominees at the Critics Choice Super Awards. I think I'll begin blogging about the television nominees on Saturday, for an early Sunday entertainment feature because Sunday is Souther. In the meantime, stay tuned for a joint celebration of World Population Day and National Mojito Day.

*I predicted "I expect Gladiator II will be nominated for Best Action/Adventure Film at next year's Saturn Awards" last December. As I wrote then, "You read it here first."

Previous entries about the 5th Critics Choice Super Awards

• 'Deadpool & Wolverine' and 'Thunderbolts*' lead movie nominees at the Critics Choice Super Awards
• 'Dune: Part Two' at the Critics Choice Super Awards
• 'Sinners' leads Best Horror Movie nominees at the Critics Choice Super Awards

'Could Puerto Rico Become the 51st State of the U.S.?' and chupacabras for Piña Colada Day

Happy Piña Colada Day when I update the prospects for Puerto Rican statehood! I begin with EWTN, the Global Catholic Network, asking Could Puerto Rico Become the 51st State of the U.S.?

There is a renewed effort by Puerto Rican officials and citizens to make the change from territory to US state, and they're turning to Congress to make it happen. It took 6 decades and many attempts before Congress passed a statehood bill and admitted New Mexico to the union in 1912 as the 47th state. New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich, says that is cause for optimism. Now, he's introduced a bill designed to settle Puerto Rico's status once and for all. Senator Heinrich says, "This process would allow voters in Puerto Rico to make an informed choice between statehood, and independence, and sovereignty and free association with the United States." Puerto Rico became a US territory after the 1898 Spanish-American war, and in 1917 the island's residents were granted US citizenship. Most Senate Republicans say it's simply a ploy by Democrats to increase their voting power. Governor Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico says, "To think that a congressional delegation from Puerto Rico would be totally Democratic is not what I expect to happen. I'm a Democrat, I'm a proud Democrat, yet I tell you that in all likelihood it would be a split delegation." He added that the majority of people are Catholic and pro-life. Capitol Hill Correspondent, Erik Rosales reports.

The Puerto Rico Status Act passed in the House two years ago, but never got a vote in the Senate. It was reintroduced in the House last year, but went nowhere. At least it has been reintroduced in the Senate. Because of the filibuster and Republican opposition, it probably won't go anywhere in the Senate, either. Sigh, it's enough to drive one to change the subject and drink. Fortunately, I have exactly the subject to change to, which I foreshadowed in La Llorona and Malinche, two connected tales for Day of the Dead.

Monstrum also has a video about chupacabras, but those are originally Puerto Rican monsters, even though reports of them come from Mexico as well and the Mexican version is different. I'll save that for a future Piña Colada Day.

Without any further ado, I'm sharing El Chupacabras, a Modern Mystery from Monstrum on PBS Storied.

Did you know there are two different types of chupacabras? Or that these bloodsucking monsters only starting popping up 25 years ago? Sightings of el chupacabras, the “goatsucker,” began in Puerto Rico in 1994 for a very real reason—the unexplained deaths of many farm animals.

Dr. Zarka looks at why humans are afraid of a creature that doesn’t real[ly] prey on humans, and traces the journey of the chupacabras from island monster to popular folk legend.

It turns out that the story of the chupacabra isn't such a change of subject after all, as it ties into Puerto Rico's territorial status and its effects on the island's people.

Dr. Zarka mentioned a chupacabra cocktail and today celebrates Puerto Rico's national drink, so follow over the jump for videos showing both.

Marching music for the Puerto Rico primaries

I have a change of plans for today's Sunday entertainment feature. Instead of the the next installment of marching music for primaries and caucuses being on April 23, 2024 for the Pennsylvania Presidential Primary, as I announced in Troopers, drum corps for the Wyoming Democratic Primary, I'm making today this year's version of Marching music for the Puerto Rico Primary. According to Ballotpedia, the Republican primary is today while the Democratic primary is next Sunday, April 28. That's also National Superhero Day. I already have something planned for next Sunday, so Puerto Rico's marching bands it is today.

I begin with Music Amenities video of Centenaria Banda Colegial, University of Puerto Rico - 2020 Pasadena Rose Parade.

The University of Puerto Rico - Centenaria Banda Colegial performs in the 131st Annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade held on Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

I'm repeating what I wrote four years ago about Music213's video — great performance, but camera handling issues. Luis was not alone in having those.

Now for the band I featured first four years ago, Banda Escolar de Guayanilla (BEG) - 2019 Pasadena Rose Parade, again from Music Amenities, who had a different perspective on the performance than Luis of Music213.

From Guayanilla, Puerto Rico

The Banda Escolar de Guayanilla performing at the 130th Annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Neither band has returned to the Rose Parade since 2020, but Banda SUM de Guayanilla performed in Italy last year. El Tropi Duo TV recorded those performances, the most popular of which was Banda SUM de Guayanilla, se roban el show en competencia de bandas en ITALIA. Translation: "SUM band from Guayanilla steal the show in band competition in ITALY."

Muy orgullosos de estos jóvenes representando nuestra Isla en Italia.
Banda SUM De Guayanilla. Segunda Unidad Macaná, Gloria M. Borrero Olivera, excelente participación.

Para aquellos que no pudieron disfrutarlo, aquí este manjar musical.
PUERTO RICO dice presente en ITALIA.

Translation: "Very proud of these young people representing our Island in Italy.
Guayanilla SUM Band. Second Macaná Unit, Gloria M. Borrero Olivera, excellent participation.

For those who couldn't enjoy it, here is this musical delicacy.
PUERTO RICO says present in ITALY."

El Tropi Duo TV has three other videos of this trip, but I'm being a good environmentalist and conserving them for the future. May the U.S. still have meaningful elections in 2028 and may I still be around to participate in them.

I conclude with the band in the preview image, Banda Escolar Yauco - Encendido Navidad 12-8-2023 by JEFR. Translation: "Yauco School Band - Christmas Lighting 12-8-2023."


That was fun to watch, even if I understood only half the narration. It's still an entertaining Christmas show, no matter the language.

That's a wrap for today's installment. I still plan on returning with marching music for the Pennsylvania primary after Earth Day and Talk Like Shakespeare Day. Tuesday will be busy!

Previous marching music for 2024 primaries and caucuses posts.

• Colts, Hawkeyes, Cyclones, and Rose Parade bands, marching music for the 2024 Iowa Caucuses
• The Spartans for a drum corps New Hampshire Primary
• Marching music for the 2024 South Carolina Primary — Carolina Crown, South Carolina, Clemson, and South Carolina State
• Marching music for the 2024 Nevada Primary from University of Nevada, Reno, and UNLV
• Marching music for the Michigan Primary — Legends, U of M, MSU, Rockford, and DeWitt
• Part one of marching music for Super Tuesday on Marching Music Day
• Marching music for Super Tuesday, part two
• Marching music for primaries in Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington plus Democrats Abroad
• Marching music for the Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Ohio Presidential Primaries on the Vernal Equinox
• Marching music for the Louisiana and Missouri primaries
• Marching music for Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin primaries
• Marching music for the Alaska, Hawaii, and North Dakota Democratic primaries
• Troopers, drum corps for the Wyoming Democratic Primary

The Puerto Rico Status Act returns on National Piña Colada Day 2023

Happy Piña Colada Day when I update the prospects for Puerto Rican statehood! I previewed today's topic at the conclusion of An update on D.C. Statehood for Flag Day 2023.

I conclude with a clip of Raskin being interviewed by Ali Velshi on MSNBC last December, Raskin Urges Puerto Rico, D.C. Statehood To ‘Grow Democracy’ In Wake Of Jan. 6.

“We’ve got to keep democracy growing, otherwise we’re constantly going to be lapsing back into these authoritarianism impulses that Donald Trump and his Party have unleashed upon us,” says Rep. Jamie Raskin on giving statehood to Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. as an "offensive" response to Jan. 6.

Well said, Congressman. That's both a reason I agree with and a good foreshadowing for a related topic, Puerto Rican statehood, on Piña Colada Day next month. Stay tuned.

Follow over the jump for the update since last year.

Decolonization bill introduced for Puerto Rico on Piña Colada Day 2022

Happy Piña Colada Day when I update the prospects for Puerto Rican statehood! NBC News has the latest news on the possibility of Puerto Rico becoming the 51st or 52nd state, beginning with House Democrats Introduce Draft Proposal To Start Decolonizing Puerto Rico.

House Democrats introduced a draft proposal called the Puerto Rico Status Act which would allow Puerto Ricans to vote on the island's political status. If passed, the bill would hold Congress to any binding result that Puerto Ricans move forward, including U.S. statehood.

NBC News then went to the island for De-Colonization Debate Heats Up In Puerto Rico.

If passed, a historic new bill drafted by House Democrats would allow Puerto Ricans to choose in a vote between statehood, independence, or sovereignty with free association. NBC News’ Isa Gutiérrez speaks with Puerto Ricans about what political status is best for the island.

I have a standard rant about Republican opposition to Puerto Rican statehood.

Jenniffer González-Colón made what should be convincing arguments for Republicans to support statehood for Puerto Rico. First, Republican Presidents from Eisenhower to the younger Bush supported it. Second, it's been in the Republican platform since the 1960s. It's still in the Republican platform, since The Republican National Committee's Executive Committee voted on June 10, 2020, to adopt the same platform the party used in 2016, which had Puerto Rico statehood as one of its planks. Third, the island isn't a lock for Democrats, as González-Colón considers herself a Republican and caucuses with them in Congress.

On paper, admitting Puerto Rico as a counterweight to Washington, D.C. looks like it might work. The problem is that the Republican Party has become Trump's party and the former guy dislikes Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans enough that he reportedly wanted to swap the island commonwealth for Greenland.* As long as he's the party leader, his prejudices and those of his followers will stand in the way of statehood.
...
I have a bad feeling that if the Republicans in Washington D.C. continue to block statehood, sentiment might switch over to free association or outright independence. That would be not be my preferred outcome, but if it's what Puerto Ricans want, then I'll support it, while still being upset at Republicans for making it happen.

It's enough to drive one to drink.

Speaking of which, follow over the jump to watch today's recipe video for the national drink of Puerto Rico.

More on Puerto Rico and statehood vs. independence for National Mojito Day

I told my readers "I might have more tomorrow for Mojito Day, as I ran into several more videos on the subject I want to share," in the middle of An update on Puerto Rican statehood for Piña Colada Day 2021. I begin with France 24 English asking Will Puerto Rico soon become the 51st US state?*

Pedro Pierluisi, who has been governor of #PuertoRico since January 2021, is pushing for the Caribbean archipelago to become the 51st US state. This would put an end to its current status of unincorporated territory and give more rights to its inhabitants. But while the election of Joe #Biden seems to give hope to those who want US statehood, others would prefer Puerto Rico to become completely independent. Our regional correspondents Laurence Cuvillier and Matthieu Comin report.

My longtime readers won't be surprised that the parts about energy and food caught my attention. Hurricane Maria really put energy in the forefront for the island and Samantha Bee looked at the issue in Power to the People | The Great American* Puerto Rico Part 3, one of the videos in the playlist I linked to in Samantha Bee helps update 'Vox on Puerto Rico statehood and John Oliver on territories,' the fourth most read entry of the seventh year of Crazy Eddie's Motie News. I think going solar is the energy path Puerto Rico should take regardless of its choice of status.

As for Puerto Rico producing only 15% of its own food, that's definitely a colonial relationship with the mainland. However, statehood by itself may not improve the situation, as Hawaii also produced only 15% of its own food in 2016 despite being a major agricultural state. That's because most of its farms produced food for export to the mainland and elsewhere. Hawaii's Governor pledged to double local food production by 2020. As correspondent Laurence Cuvillier pointed out, a similar initiative for Puerto Rico shows potential for economic growth. Still, it could be worse; Alaska only produces 4% of its own food, a stat I should tell my students.

CBS News covered much of the same territory, pun intended, in Fighting for Paradise: Puerto Rico's Future, a CBSN Original, late last month.

In the midst of economic, political and climate crises, Puerto Rico has lost nearly 12% of its population over the last decade, mostly to join the 6 million Puerto Rican diaspora now living in the 50 states. Tax incentives meant to lure investments have led some Puerto Ricans to fear that the island is turning into a fiscal paradise for wealthy outsiders, driving even more locals out. Many administrations have pushed for a more prosperous Puerto Rico, but they often blame the territorial status for falling short. Is statehood, independence, or something else the solution? And who gets to decide?

In addition to food, CBS News examined the Puerto Rican government-debt crisis and its effect on the economy. This looks a lot like Michigan's Emergency Financial Manager law and has the same effect on local government. I didn't like it here so I don't like it there.

CBS News has several videos expanding and promoting the documentary, but I'm wrapping up this section instead by repeating what I wrote yesterday: "I have a bad feeling that if the Republicans in Washington D.C. continue to block statehood, sentiment might switch over to free association or outright independence. That would be no be my preferred outcome, but if it's what Puerto Ricans want, then I'll support it, while still being upset at Republicans for making it happen."

Follow over the jump for today's celebration of National Mojito Day.

An update on Puerto Rican statehood for Piña Colada Day 2021

Happy National Piña Colada Day! This is the holiday when I write about the prospects for Puerto Rico statehood. Last year, I celebrated by telling my readers to Drink to the Puerto Rico statehood referendum for Piña Colada Day 2020 and stating my hopes for the outcome.

As for the question of statehood, that's on the ballot this November. Ballotpedia has a page on the referendum, which will be held concurrently with the general election in November. While I'm rooting for statehood, I'm not Puerto Rican. I suspect that, should the opposition to state fully participate, which I hope for the sake of a legitimate result they do, the outcome will be just as likely for continuing the Commonwealth or negotiating for Free Association. On the other hand, if statehood wins, it will be the third time in a row that the voters chose the option I favor. That written, whatever the people of Puerto Rico choose, I'll support it.

Ballotpedia shows that the referendum passed with 623,053 (52.34%) yes votes to 567,346 (47.66%) no votes. PBS NewsHour reported on that victory and then asked Puerto Ricans voted for statehood. Will it happen?

Puerto Ricans voted ‘yes’ on a referendum asking whether or not the territory should become a U.S. state. But with control of Congress still yet to be determined and some in Washington making the issue of Puerto Rican statehood a partisan issue, what's the prospect of it actually happening? Hari Sreenivasan speaks with Jenniffer González-Colón, Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner and non-voting representative in the US House of Representatives.

Jenniffer González-Colón made what should be convincing arguments for Republicans to support statehood for Puerto Rico. First, Republican Presidents from Eisenhower to the younger Bush supported it. Second, it's been in the Republican platform since the 1960s. It's still in the Republican platform, since The Republican National Committee's Executive Committee voted on June 10, 2020, to adopt the same platform the party used in 2016, which had Puerto Rico statehood as one of its planks. Third, the island isn't a lock for Democrats, as González-Colón considers herself a Republican and caucuses with them in Congress.

On paper, admitting Puerto Rico as a counterweight to Washington, D.C. looks like it might work. The problem is that the Republican Party has become Trump's party and the former guy dislikes Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans enough that he reportedly wanted to swap the island commonwealth for Greenland.* As long as he's the party leader, his prejudices and those of his followers will stand in the way of statehood.

Even so, statehood is still moving ahead in Washington D.C., as CBS New York reported in Competing Bills Could Lead To Puerto Rico's Statehood Or Independence last May.

For the first time Wednesday, a House committee held hearings on two competing bills which could lead to statehood or independence for Puerto Rico; CBS2's Tony Aiello reports.

I think it's good news that the statehood bill is earning Republican support. Still, I have a bad feeling that if the Republicans in Washington D.C. continue to block statehood, sentiment might switch over to free association or outright independence. That would be no be my preferred outcome, but if it's what Puerto Ricans want, then I'll support it, while still being upset at Republicans for making it happen.

I might have more tomorrow for Mojito Day, as I ran into several more videos on the subject I want to share, but it's time for me to move on to today's drink, the red, white, and blue piña colada.


No Tipsy Bartender today!

*This reminds me of a stunt I pulled in a games of Pax Britannica 30-35 years ago when I played the United Kingdom/Great Britain. I called it "Aristotle is not a Belgian." When Belgium, a minor power that runs by automatic rules, made a move that resulted in a Casus Belli, I would call for a Congress of Europe and propose a deal that would give Belgium the U.K's possessions in Newfoundland and Guiana (if I could convince the French player, France's possession in Guiana as well) along with a codominion in whichever territory Belgium had established a protectorate or possession, usually the Congo. That would get get rid of two low-value colonies for the U.K. and one for France, freeing those counters to be deployed in more high-value territories, and use up all of Belgium's counters for protectorates and possessions, eliminating it as a obstacle to the players who had plans for Africa.

What TFG is alleged to have proposed would not have been possible in Pax Brittanica and would have been a stupid deal even if it were. First, Denmark was not one of the minor powers in the game (Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal were) and Greenland was not one of the available territories, so there would be nothing to swap for. Even if it had, I expect Greenland would have had an economic value of 1 or 2, while Puerto Rico, which is in the game, has a value of 5. This would have been a bad economic deal. Then again, if he actually did want to do this, it would have been for irrational reasons. That doesn't surprise me.

A 51-star flag for D.C. statehood on Flag Day 2021

Flag Day Susan Rice calls for D.C. statehood on MSNBC and N.Y. Times, a late Flag Day post! As I have the past two years, I'm observing the holiday by blogging about D.C. statehood.

Corky Siemaszko of NBC News reminded me about this cause, which has become a recurring theme for my celebrations of the day, by publishing Flag makers in the spotlight as Congress gets ready to discuss Washington, D.C., statehood.

Statehood, which has long been the dream of many residents in Washington, is once again being debated for the nation’s capital, and another Flag Day is upon us.

If it turns out statehood is in the cards, the new U.S. flag could look like the banner Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled two years ago, when she planted 140 of them on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the U.S. Capitol ahead of a congressional hearing on statehood.

It has three horizontal rows with nine stars, three horizontal rows with eight stars and the blessing of Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., who has — as she has done every year since she took office in 1991 — introduced a D.C. statehood measure.

“I defy you to find a flag that looks all that different from the flag we had when there were 48 states,” Norton said. “Simply adding a star will not have a cosmic change on the flag.”

What did she think of Bowser’s flag?

“I loved it,” Norton said, laughing. “But it was not because the flag stood out in any way.”

NBC News showed Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton posing with a 51-star flag yesterday, but it wasn't new. It's the preview image from ‘I look forward to having that extra star’ — D.C. delegate shows off American flag with 51 stars, which Roll Call uploaded in advance of last year's vote for D.C. statehood.

“People are going to have to buy new flags,” said D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, describing an alternate version of the American flag that has 51 stars.

The extra star, symbolizing her decades-long quest to make the District of Columbia a U.S. state, is hard to notice.

“If you look at it you won’t see much difference,” the Democrat told CQ Roll Call during an interview back in February. “I think I like that, even as I extol, and look forward to, having that extra star.”

In other words, we'd hardly even notice the new flags.

Follow over the jump for two videos describing the cases for and against D.C. statehood.

Seth Meyers and Vox take closer looks at D.C. statehood for Flashback Friday

I changed my mind about the topic of today's post. Instead of a retrospective featuring a popular post about animals that is an Oscar nominee, as I promised yesterday, I'm writing a Flashback Friday post about D.C. statehood.* That's because the House passed a D.C. statehood bill yesterday, just like they did last year. Since all my entries so far on the subject have used serious news sources, I'm switching to comedy today with Republicans Freak Out About DC Statehood and the Green New Deal: A Closer Look from Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Seth takes a closer look at House Democrats voting to admit Washington D.C. as the 51st state while Republicans freak out about everything from voting rights to the Green New Deal.

Not only does this clip feature D.C. statehood, which has been a popular topic of mine for four years running, but it begins with AOC facing off against Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG), who has her own top entry that I'll examine over the jump.

Before I do, I'm sharing a more serious examination of today's topic from Vox, The fight for America's 51st state, explained.

Washington, DC is closer than ever to becoming a state. Could it actually happen?
...
On June 26, 2020, the US House of Representatives voted to make America’s capital city, Washington, DC, the country’s 51st state. It was a historic vote, and the closest the country has come to adding a new state in over 60 years. But it was also, for the time being, completely symbolic. Because at least in 2020, DC has no chance of actually becoming a state.

That June 26 vote was almost entirely along party lines; Democrats mostly voted in favor of DC statehood, and Republicans against it. That’s because making DC a state would give the Democrats additional seats in Congress, potentially affecting the balance of power between the parties. It’s why President Trump and the Republican-controlled Senate have both promised to strike down any bid for DC statehood. And in fact, statehood in the US has always been a political issue. In the past, the US has often added states in pairs to preserve the political balance. Admitting a new state on its own has happened, but it’s unusual.

But the case for DC statehood is strong: The city has a similar population to several states, its hundreds of thousands of residents lack any say in national lawmaking, and its local government is uniquely vulnerable to being strong-armed by Congress and the federal government. Simply put, the laws that created the district did not anticipate that it would one day be a major city. And while in 1993, the last time Congress voted on DC statehood, the Democratic-controlled House failed to pass it, today’s Democratic Party is increasingly on board with it. If 2020’s election puts the Democrats in full control of the federal government, America might actually get its 51st state.

The situation has changed since last year, as Democrats have control, however slim, over both houses of Congress and the Presidency, but that still may not be enough for Washington D.C. to become Douglass Commonwealth. Mitch McConnell and the other Republicans in the U.S. Senate are still opposed. Without filibuster reform, it still won't pass. Sigh.

Follow over the jump for two top posts from last year about D.C. statehood and MTG.

Marching music for the Puerto Rico Primary

As I promised in both Drink to the Puerto Rico statehood referendum for Piña Colada Day 2020 and Marching music and a drink for the Louisiana Primary on Mojito Day 2020, the marching music for a primary series returns for the Puerto Rico Democratic Primary, which is serving as the Sunday entertainment feature.* Before I entertain any of my readers who are waiting for the results, I'm sharing the description of today's election from Wikipedia.

The 2020 Puerto Rico Democratic presidential primary is currently taking place in July 12, 2020.[1] The primary was scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 29, 2020, but Puerto Rican governor Wanda Vazquez postponed the date to April 26, 2020,[2] amid concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico.[3] The approved delay was signed by the Puerto Rican governor on March 21.[2] It had then been postponed indefinitely until a date was chosen.[4] The Puerto Rico primary is an open primary, with the territory awarding 59 delegates, of which 51 are pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the results of the primary.

It doesn't seem like there are any other offices on the ballot, as the Wikipedia articles for both the 2020 New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico primaries and the 2020 Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico primaries still describe those elections as "postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic." Also, what passed for Puerto Rico's Republican Primary has already been held with Wikipedia reporting "The Republican Party of Puerto Rico held an online poll of party leaders on June 5, 2020, in lieu of an actual primary, awarding all 23 of its pledged delegates to the 2020 Republican National Convention to Incumbent President Donald Trump." That was a virtual convention, not a primary. Still, I doubt it would have changed the outcome if it were a primary.

With the information out of the way, it's time for today's entertainment, consisting of two marching bands visiting southern California for the Rose Parade recorded by Music213. Sorry, no drum corps in Puerto Rico. Follow over the jump for the marching music.

Drink to the Puerto Rico statehood referendum for Piña Colada Day 2020

Happy National Piña Colada Day! This is the holiday when I write about the prospects for Puerto Rico statehood. For some background on the subject, watch NBCLXs The History of Puerto Rico's Second-Class Status.

The status of Puerto Rico has been a subject of debate since the U.S. took control of the island in 1898. In 1901, the Supreme Court wrote that Puerto Rico and other new U.S. territories were “inhabited by alien races” and so may be impossible to govern “according to Anglo-Saxon principles.” The island has remained a U.S. territory ever since.

Following the recent disasters on the island – including a devastating hurricane and a series of earthquakes – Puerto Rico’s second-class status is once again in the spotlight. Should Puerto Rico become America’s 51st state?

NBCLX storyteller Bianca Graulau examines the history of the island’s unusual relationship with the U.S., and the statehood debate that has divided even Puerto Ricans.

NBCLX Bianca Graulau returned to the topic of Puerto Rico's exploitation in In Puerto Rico, U.S. Companies Profit While People Still Don't Have Reliable Power.*

Critics say Puerto Rico's power grid isn’t much more resilient than it was before Hurricane Maria, despite billions of dollars awarded in contracts. After Maria, some Puerto Ricans went nine months without power, and they fear it could happen again this hurricane season. NBCLX storyteller Bianca Graulau spoke to a family who lost a loved one when he had an asthma attack after the hurricane and no electricity to use his breathing machine.

It's been a long time since I've mentioned Chris Christie on this blog, but I was neither that surprised that he got involved in consulting about Puerto Rico's power problems nor surprised that Puerto Rico may not be getting all that it paid for.

As for the question of statehood, that's on the ballot this November. Ballotpedia has a page on the referendum, which will be held concurrently with the general election in November. While I'm rooting for statehood, I'm not Puerto Rican. I suspect that, should the opposition to state fully participate, which I hope for the sake of a legitimate result they do, the outcome will be just as likely for continuing the Commonwealth or negotiating for Free Association. On the other hand, if statehood wins, it will be the third time in a row that the voters chose the option I favor. That written, whatever the people of Puerto Rico choose, I'll support it.

Enough about the history and politics of Puerto Rico's relationship with the rest of the United States. Follow over the jump for the piña colada recipes to celebrate today.

U.S. House votes to approve D.C. statehood

Last year, I wrote about D.C. statehood for a 51st or 52nd star on Flag Day. Earlier this year, I updated the story in Roll Call and Teen Kids News update statehood for Puerto Rico and D.C., popular topics for the past three years of Crazy Eddie's Motie News. Last week, I followed up on both with Susan Rice calls for D.C. statehood on MSNBC and N.Y. Times, a late Flag Day post. Today, the U.S. House passed a bill to make the Douglass Commonwealth the 51st state. CGTN America has the story in U.S. House approves D.C. statehood bill.

The House of Representatives has approved a bill which makes the U.S. capital District of Columbia the fifty-first state on Friday

On the one hand, as I wrote in I finally celebrate World Population Day on time for its 30th anniversary by looking at China's two-child policy, "Sigh, Chinese state TV." May CGTN not end up suffering the same fate RT America and Ruptly earned, which is for me to stop sharing their videos because they engage in more propaganda than news. On the other hand, it was well done and had the best preview image available, so I used it.

CGTN America presented a good narrated summary. The Associated Press went with a different approaching, letting the participants in the debate speak for themselves in House approves DC statehood, Senate opposed.

The Democratic-controlled House approved a bill Friday to make the District of Columbia the 51st state, but the bill faces insurmountable opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate.

This is encouraging, as this is the first time the House of Representatives voted in favor of D.C. statehood. However, Mitch McConnell calls statehood for both Puerto Rico and D.C. "socialism" and vows not to even bring it up for a vote. Even if he did, it would almost certainly lose in the Senate. Sigh. Still, progress. Until then, I'm repeating what I wrote last week.

Since I've made National Pina Colada Day the holiday to call for Puerto Rican statehood, I'm going to use Flag Day for D.C. statehood from now on until it is granted. May that be sooner rather than later.

Stay tuned for a driving update tomorrow.

Broken Peach sings to update holidays from the back catalog for the ninth year of Crazy Eddie's Motie News

Three times now I've told my readers to "stay tuned for a retrospective about holidays for Flashback Friday."  It's time to follow through with that promise, so happy Flashback Friday, especially since three of the most popular posts are from the back catalog.

The most read entry from the back catalog about holidays is Broken Peach: Singing Spanish goths and witches for Halloween posted on October 28, 2017.  Between March 21, 2019 and March 20, 2020, it earned 1,371 raw page views to rank eighth overall during the ninth year of my writing this blog.  The post ended the eighth year of blogging here with 3009 page views.  It ended the ninth year with 4380 page views all time.  It's getting its page views through web search, something I mentioned last year.

I begin with a widely read holiday entry from the back catalog, Broken Peach: Singing Spanish goths and witches for Halloween from 2017.  I noted that in Broken Peach: Singing Spanish goths on parade for Halloween last October.

Speaking of liking things, Infidel 753 wrote "I did a Google search on 'Broken Peach' and your October post about them was in ninth place in the results. You may have a few of their fans reading" in a comment to Merry Christmas 2017 from Broken Peach and Crazy Eddie's Motie News.  My response was "I'm flattered by that. I hope they are!"  It looks we were both right, as this entry had earned 2117 raw page views on the first anniversary of my posting it.  It currently has 2322.  The first would have placed it 32nd among entries posted last year and the second 31st.  Wow!

The post ended the eighth year of blogging here with 3009 page views.  It currently has 3116.  It may not have been the most read holiday entry of the past blogging year, but it certainly came close.  For what it's worth, it is still the highest ranking Google result for "Broken Peach" other than the band's own website and social media accounts.

Speaking of Broken Peach's social media accounts, I mentioned in CNN reports on Trump consulting Twitter for policy advice, that "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from Broken Peach and Crazy Eddie's Motie News earned an honorable mention for most responded to on Twitter during December 2018 with one reply in one thread from Broken Peach itself."  I quoted that response in my comment on Holiday odds and ends at Infidel 753's blog.

Thanks for linking to my Christmas entry about Broken Peach.  I tweeted a link to Broken Peach and they responded "Oh! Thank U! kisses!"  I couldn't (and shouldn't) ask for more.

It's continued to be popular through web search as the 12th and 13th most searched terms leading to my blog last year were "broken peach cd" with 12 and "broken peach" with 11.  Unlike U.S.-China EcoPartnerships: The CoDominion plans for sustainability from the first year of this blog, the popularity of this entry is no mystery to me.

To celebrate the continued popularity of this entry, I'm sharing two videos by Broken Peach.  The first is Broken Peach - This is Halloween (TV Peachformance), a live reprise of the video in Broken Peach: Singing Spanish goths and witches for Halloween.


Since I'm an environmentalist, I plan on recycling this video for Halloween.

Like every one and everything else, Broken Peach as been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as Spain is now the second worst hit country by the novel coronavirus and the country is still under lockdown.  That hasn't kept the band from creating videos while practicing social distancing, the most popular of which right now is Friends - I´ll Be There For You (by Broken Peach).

"I'll Be There for You" is a song recorded by American duo The Rembrandts. It is best known as the theme song to the American sitcom Friends, which premiered in September 1994 and ended in May 2004. The song was also released as the first single from the group's third studio album LP, reaching the top 10 in Australia, New Zealand and Norway, as well as in Ireland and the United Kingdom in both 1995 and 1997. In Canada, the song reached number one for five weeks and was the highest-selling single of 1995, while in the United States, the song reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart for eight weeks.

"I'll Be There for You" was co-written by Friends producers David Crane and Marta Kauffman, Kauffman's husband, composer Michael Skloff, and songwriter Allee Willis, along with Phil Solem and Danny Wilde, both of the Rembrandts.

The original theme, which is under one minute long, was later re-recorded as a three-minute pop song. After Nashville program director Charlie Quinn, along with radio announcer and music director Tom Peace, looped the original short version into a full-length track and broadcast it on radio station WYHY, it became so popular that they had to re-record it. "Our record label said we had to finish the song and record it. There was no way to get out of it," lead singer Phil Solem said.

We stay at home but... we always find a way to be together :)

We hope you enjoy it and... Share!

I did enjoy it and I am sharing.  I'll also say that these videos are some of the band's most creative work ever in terms of music and video editing.

Follow over the jump for the rest of the top holidays posts from the blogging year that ended on March 20, 2020.

Roll Call and Teen Kids News update statehood for Puerto Rico and D.C., popular topics for the past three years of Crazy Eddie's Motie News

I concluded Tax Day postponed to July 15 because of pandemic with a preview of coming attractions.

Stay tuned for retrospectives for Throwback Thursday and Flashback Friday.  The subjects will be adding states to the Union and stars to the flag, followed by holidays.  I've managed to tie the two together on this blog, thanks to Flag Day and Pina Colada Day.

The blast for the past for Throwback Thursday this week is Mitch McConnell calling Puerto Rico statehood 'socialism' drives one to drink on National Pina Colada Day 2019, the most popular post about both Puerto Rico and holidays during the ninth year of this blog.  I'll explain its history after I update the topic of adding Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., as states.

I begin with Roll Call's How statehood is granted to U.S. territories, explained.

Historically, territorial status has been granted as a precursor to statehood, yet 1959 was the last time any stars were added to Old Glory.

The United States controls five inhabited territories. While their citizens are American, their homes are not considered states — but someday they could be. Watch as CQ Roll Call explains the statehood process.

Moving from the general to the specific, Roll Call updated the status of D.C. Statehood in Coronavirus funding slight emboldens DC statehood fight.

In what seems like a lifetime ago — February — D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton attended trivia night at a crowded local brewery, celebrating the House Oversight Committee’s approval of a bill to make the District of Columbia the 51st state.

Just a few long weeks later, that brewery is selling beer only online for delivery or pickup. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, non-essential D.C. businesses have shut down, the Metro is running reduced service, and nine district residents have died as of Sunday night.

Late last week Congress passed a coronavirus relief package that provides millions less in funding to D.C. than states, because the district was grouped with federal territories rather than states.

“This is why you’ve seen me pressing so hard for statehood for the District of Columbia,” Holmes Norton told CQ Roll Call in a video interview Thursday.

“Hear me, I’m going to get it fixed in the next bill, and mind you, there is going to be a next coronavirus bill,” Holmes Norton said.

With D.C.’s non-statehood status affecting its access to emergency funding, CQ Roll Call took a look at where Holmes Norton’s decades-long push for statehood lies, including Republicans’ myriad Constitutional objections to making the nation’s capital a state.

Yes, every issue has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Also, Mitch McConnell calling statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico "socialism" made a cameo in this video, tying the two together and connecting the video to the reason I'm writing this post today.

Since the original post was about Puerto Rico, it's time for an update on its struggle for statehood.  Watch Teen Kids News ask Should Puerto Rico pursue Statehood or Independence?

Nicole tells us about Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory that could become America's 51 state. She travels to Washington D.C. where she meets Pedro Pierluisi, the Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico. Mr. Pierluisi serves in the U.S. House of Representatives. It's his job to make sure Puerto Rico's interests are represented in our government.

I wish both Eleanor Holmes Norton and Pedro Pierluisi luck in obtaining statehood for their home jurisdictions.  It looks like they'll need it.

Follow over the jump for how Mitch McConnell calling Puerto Rico statehood 'socialism' drives one to drink on National Pina Colada Day 2019 earned its page views.