A year ago, Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico. The past 12 months have brought disorganized recovery efforts, an estimated thousands of deaths and an island that refuses to let go of its resiliency. In The Thick is dedicating a two-part special series to honor this tragic anniversary. In Part 1, Maria and Julio talk to two Puerto Rican journalists: Arelis Hernández, from The Washington Post, and Bianca Padró Ocasio, from The Orlando Sentinel, who've both been covering the impact of Hurricane Maria. They discuss the aftermath of both climate change and the federal and local politics. 

ITT Staff Picks:

• The recent poll from The Washington Post and the Kaiser Foundation about the impact of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

• Julio’s latest think piece about Trump's lies around Hurricane Maria's death toll, in NBC News. 

• Bianca's personal essay of her experience watching the hurricane destroy her home from afar, in The Orlando Sentinel.

• Arelis' latest report on the seaside town of Naguabo, Puerto Rico, via The Washington Post.