#1782 Cuba's Crisis: Trump's Deadly Embargo, Blackouts, and Dream of Regime Change

#1782 Cuba's Crisis: Trump's Deadly Embargo, Blackouts, and Dream of Regime Change

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics April 3, 2026 Duration: 3:07:26

Air Date: 4/3/2026

Today we examine how decades of U.S. policy toward Cuba set the stage for the current crisis, we explore the human cost of the U.S. oil blockade on Cuba's 11 million people, and how the U.S. justifies an illegal siege while claiming to act in Cuba's interest using time-tested propaganda tactics.

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Full Show Notes

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TOP TAKES

KP 1: Explainer 509 Is Cuba Next on Trumps Hit List - The Foreign Desk - Air Date 3-18-26

KP 2: Medea Benjamin Its a Very Dire Situation in Cuba Right Now Part 1 - The Marc Steiner Show - Air Date 3-17-26

KP 3: Will President Trump Act on His Threat to Take Cuba Part 1 - Fresh Air - Air Date 3-24-26

KP 4: Current Affairs Is Going to Cuba Part 1 - Current Affairs - Air Date 3-21-26

KP 5: Aid Convoy Goes to Cuba & Iran War Has Right Wing Media Bugging Out Ft. Brandon Sutton, Nathan Robinson, & Alex Skopic Part 1 - Left Reckoning - Air Date 3-17-26

KP 6: The Future of Democrats and the Desperation of Centrist; The Cuba Blockade with Hasan Piker Part 1 - The Majority Report - Air Date 3-27-26


(00:49:58) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

The Word "Sanctions" Is Hiding a Blockade — US Propaganda Hides Human Rights Abuses in Cuba


DEEPER DIVES

(01:00:46) SECTION A: HISTORY

(01:35:03) SECTION B: CURRENT CRISIS

(02:20:27) SECTION C: SOLIDARITY


SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Composite image of the Cuban flag with the shadow of the United State of America over it.

Credit: Internal design. Component images from Pixabay

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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For over fifteen years, Best of the Left-Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy has served as a vital, human-curated digest of voices from across the progressive spectrum. Instead of presenting a single opinion, each episode is built around a specific theme-from economic inequality to climate policy to cultural shifts-and weaves together insightful commentary from a diverse array of journalists, activists, and thinkers. This approach allows you to efficiently grasp the nuances of complex issues by hearing multiple expert angles in one sitting, all while discovering new commentators and sources you might not have encountered otherwise. The result is a richly layered analysis that algorithms simply cannot replicate, offering depth and context often missing from the daily news cycle. Since 2006, this award-winning podcast has cut through the noise, drawing from hundreds of independent and established sources to provide a coherent, thoughtful examination of the forces shaping our society and governments. Tuning in means joining a long-running conversation dedicated to understanding and advancing democratic principles, social justice, and a more equitable economy, all through the focused lens of leftist thought.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
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