Cuba is facing the greatest existential threat it has seen in decades. Trash is filling streets, because garbage trucks can’t make the rounds. Rolling blackouts, rising food prices and cuts to transportation, university classes, and hospitals amid a gas shortage, the likes of which the country hasn’t seen in years.

US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other officials have made it clear that they aren’t interested in anything less than regime change. And they’re going after that goal full throttle. The United States is now imposing an oil blockade on the island nation that is pushing it to the brink – and hitting its most vulnerable residents the hardest.

In this episode, we look at Cuba, the history of the more than 65-year-old US embargo on Cuba and Trump’s actions, which are pushing the country to the brink.

This is Episode 7 of Under the Shadow, Season 2.

Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. Season 2 responds in real time to the Trump administration’s onslaught on Latin America.

Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.

This episode was made in collaboration with Belly of the Beast. Many thanks to them for the interview with Liz Oliva Fernandez and the use of the sound from several of their videos.

This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. 

Theme music by Michael Fox’s band, Monte Perdido. Monte Perdido's 2024 album Ofrenda is available on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music.
Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Guests: 

• Liz Oliva Fernandez with Belly of the Beast
• Camila Pineiro
• Medea Benjamin with Code Pink
• Peter Kornbluh with National Security Archives
• Greg Wilpert, founder of Venezuelanalysis

Script editing by Heather Gies. Hosted, written, produced, mixed and edited by Michael Fox.
Resources Please visit Belly of the Beast for their excellent coverage of the situation in Cuba. 

You can see a copy of the Mallory Memo on the National Security Archive’s website: https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2022-02-02/cuba-embargoed-us-trade-sanctions-turn-sixty This is the 1960 document that created the justification for the Eisenhower’s first sanctions on Cuba. 

Here is the link to Peter Kornbluh’s co-authored book, Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations between Washington and Havana https://www.amazon.com/Back-Channel-Cuba-Negotiations-Washington-ebook/dp/B00W1VH9LE

To get involved in the flotilla to carry aid to Cuba this month, you can find out more on the Code Pink website, here: https://www.codepink.org/convergecuba

Under the Shadow, Season 1: You can check out the first season of Under the Shadow by clicking here

• The Beginning: Monroe and migration | Under the Shadow, Episode 1
• Panama. US Invasion. | Under the Shadow, Episode 13
• The legacy of Monroe | Under the Shadow, Bonus Episode 4 

Michael Fox’s recent reporting on the boat strikes and the ramp-up for war in Venezuela: 

• With the strike on a ‘drug-carrying boat,’ Trump returns to a dangerous US policy for Latin America
• Caribbean leaders call for unified Latin American resistance to US attacks
• Trump’s Monroe Doctrine 2.0 outlines imperial intentions for Latin America
• You can check out Michael’s recent episode of Stories of Resistance about the protests against US intervention in Venezuela.
• NACLA’s Curated Guide to the US Attack on Venezuela 
• Truthout’s ongoing reporting on War and Peace and the US invasion of Venezuela
• Visit TRNN for all of TRNN’s coverage on this and so much more

Please consider supporting this podcast and Michael Fox’s reporting on his Patreon account: patreon.com/mfox. There you can also see exclusive pictures, video, and interviews.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/under-the-shadow--5958129/support.

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