Robert and Cam are joined by Isaac Saney to discuss the life and example of Assata Shakur; the 65th anniversary of the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution; recent US manoeuvres against Venezuela; and a new digital campaign by the Canadian Network on Cuba. 

Support the Campaign! Email your representative today and demand that they oppose the illegal US blockade: http://canadiannetworkoncuba.ca/campaigns

Further Reading:

A Letter to the Pope from Assata Shakur (March 1998): http://www.assatashakur.org/pope.htm

65 Years of Power: The Explosive Legacy of the CDR anniversary in Cuba’s Revolutionary Defense (teleSUR, September 28 2025): https://www.telesurenglish.net/cdr-anniversary/

Speech of Fidel Castro at the United Nations General Assembly (September 1960): http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/castro/db/1960/19600926.html

Condemn U.S. Imperialism in the Caribbean by Isaac Saney: https://canadiannetworkoncuba.ca/2025/09/03/condemn-u-s-imperialist-aggression-in-the-caribbean/

Robert and Samantha talk about the selection of Miss Universe Cuba 2025 and the uses of pageantry for empire; exaggerated rumours of Cuban fighters in Russia; Cuba’s role in confronting colonialism in Africa; rising pension rates; and more on the Code of Childhood, Adolescence, and Youth. 

Samantha and Cam discuss recent attacks on Cuba’s youth athletes by the United States; the significance of the new draft Code of Children, Adolescents, and Youth; and a demonstration in the National Assembly of Cuba's responsibility for its most vulnerable people. 

Further reading:

‘Cuban Girls Softball Team Benched by Travel Ban’ (Belly of the Beast): https://www.bellyofthebeastcuba.com/news/cuban-girls-softball-team-benched-by-travel-ban

‘The Council of State analyzed draft laws, prior to their submission to the National Assembly,’ by Enrique Moreno Gimeranez (Granma): https://en.granma.cu/cuba/2025-07-11/the-council-of-state-analyzed-draft-laws-prior-to-their-submission-to-the-national-assembly

‘Código de la Niñez, Adolescencias y Juventudes’ by Isabel Díaz González (Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular): https://www.parlamentocubano.gob.cu/noticias/aprueba-asamblea-nacional-codigo-de-la-ninez-adolescencias-y-juventudes

Samantha and Cam discuss recent threats to Cubans from Mike Hammer, Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Havana; the denial of U.S. visas to Cuban athletes; more spurious rumours of Chinese spy bases in Cuba; and new evidence of a Spanish cyberattack on Cuban government institutions. 

Additional reading:

‘Mysterious hacking group Careto was run by the Spanish government, sources say,’ by Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai (Techcrunch): https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/23/mysterious-hacking-group-careto-was-run-by-the-spanish-government-sources-say/

‘Collateral Damage: The Environmental Cost of Cuba’s Terrorism Designation,’ by Vinicius Pereira (Who What Why): https://whowhatwhy.org/international/collateral-damage-the-environmental-cost-of-cubas-terrorism-designation/

Robert and Cam are joined by Camila Escalante, co-founder and editor of Kawsachun News, to discuss the restoration of funds to the National Endowment for Democracy, its role in Cuba and Latin America, and the destructive career of Marco Rubio. 

Recommended reading:

1. ‘Under Trump, NED to continue weaponizing “democracy” in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba’ by Roger D. Harris and John Perry for Kawsachun News: https://kawsachun.com/under-trump-ned-to-continue-weaponizing-democracy-in-venezuela-nicaragua-and-cuba/

2. ‘NED targets Cuba with $6.6 million in 2025’ by Camila Escalante: https://kawsachun.com/ned-targets-cuba-with-6-6-million-in-2025/

Robert and Cam discuss the significance of Victory Day as Cuban leaders attend the annual ceremonies in Moscow; as well as the reactionary subtext of new CBC reports on tourism to Cuba. 

Recorded May 7th, 2025. 

Samantha and Cam discuss the passing of Pope Francis; the criminal record of right-wing “activist” José Daniel Ferrer; and the abuse of a family tragedy by anti-Cuban commentators.

https://cubaminrex.cu/es/decreta-el-presidente-de-la-republica-duelo-oficial-por-fallecimiento-del-papa-francisco

Robert, Samantha, and Cam discuss the situation of Cuban athletes in the United States; new US restrictions on ships that dock in Cuba; Marco Rubio in Jamaica; and an encouraging stance against the blockade from members of the UK parliament.

Robert and Cam discuss the multi-pronged attack of Operation Mongoose—a CIA-led plot to destabilize the Cuban government, authorized in 1961 and newly illuminated by Trump's declassification of thousands of JFK-related files.

Also featured: how the blockade creates Cuba's blackouts; new moves against Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans living in the United States; and the hopeful defunding of Radio Martí.

Robert, Samantha, and Cam continue their discussion of the US attack on Cuba's medical missions, highlighting the strong response from the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM.