#1432 Wishing Cuba well in one breath, enforcing the embargo in the next
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Jay Tomlinson
4.5 • 3.4K Ratings
🗓️ 1 August 2021
⏱️ 67 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Air Date 8/1/2021
Today we take a look at the anti-government protests in Cuba in the context of decades of anti-communist propaganda in the US and our punishing embargo intended to destabilize Cuba to the point of governmental collapse.
Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content)
BestOfTheLeft.com/Refer Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy!
OUR AFFILIATE LINKS:
BestOfTheLeft.com/Descript CHECK OUT OUR FANCY PRODUCTION SOFTWARE!
BestOfTheLeft.com/Blinkist GET KEY INSIGHTS FROM THOUSANDS OF BOOKS!
BestOfTheLeft.com/Bookshop BotL BOOKSTORE
BestOfTheLeft.com/Store BotL MERCHANDISE!
BestOfTheLeft.com/Advertise Sponsor the show!
SHOW NOTES
We go to Havana, Cuba, to look at what is behind protests that brought thousands of people into the streets of Havana and other cities in rare anti-government protests denouncing the island’s economic crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The restrictions put in place by Trump Admin rollback of Obama admin's policies toward Cuba have created significant restrictions that are in the way of providing aid. Emma's suggestion is simple: Circumvent those restrictions immediately.
Ch. 3: The Protests in Cuba Part 1 - Past Present - Air Date 7-20-21
In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the mass protests in Cuba.
Ch. 4: What is McCarthyism And how did it happen - TED-ED - Air Date 3-14-17
In the 1950s, part of a campaign to expose suspected Communists, thousands of individuals were aggressively investigated and questioned by government panels. Named after its most notorious practitioner, the phenomenon known as McCarthyism destroyed lives.
Ch. 5: A New Red Scare Is Coming - Second Thought - Air Date 7-9-21
If you thought McCarthyism was gone...well, no such luck. In this episode, we'll discuss the US' newest wave of reactionary, anti-communist rhetoric and legislation.
Ch. 6: The Protests in Cuba Part 2 - Past Present - Air Date 7-20-21
In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the mass protests in Cuba.
MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)
Ch. 8: Investigating Democracy - Now & Then - Air Date 6-8-21
On the second episode of Now & Then, “Investigating Democracy,” Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman discuss the history of congressional commissions. We discuss the 1954 back-and-forth between Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Army.
We go to Havana, Cuba, to look at what is behind protests that brought thousands of people into the streets of Havana and other cities in rare anti-government protests denouncing the island’s economic crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
VOICEMAILS
Ch. 10: Abortion terminology - William in Charlottesville, Virginia
FINAL COMMENTS
Ch. 11: Final comments on the terms we use to explain our support of abortion rights
MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
- Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr
- Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
- Activism Music: This Fickle World by Theo Bard (https://theobard.bandcamp.com/track/this-fickle-world)
- Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com
Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere!
Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft
Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft
Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Welcome to this episode of the award-winning Best of Left podcast in which we shall take |
| 0:07.0 | a look at the anti-government protests in Cuba in the context of decades of anti-communist |
| 0:12.5 | propaganda in the US and our punishing embargo intended to destabilize Cuba to the point |
| 0:19.4 | of governmental collapse. |
| 0:21.3 | Clips today are from a democracy now, the majority report, past present, Ted Ed, second |
| 0:27.6 | thought and now and then. |
| 0:36.4 | And I want to ask you about the impact, this mention of the over 200 new sanctions that |
| 0:44.2 | were imposed during the Trump era that the Biden administration has so far not yet rolled |
| 0:50.4 | back. |
| 0:51.4 | Also the COVID situation, there has been a resurgence of COVID or a actual new surge of |
| 0:58.4 | COVID in Cuba, but it's still relatively small from what I can tell. |
| 1:03.4 | For instance, there have been about 1600 total deaths since the pandemic began in Cuba, |
| 1:10.0 | a nation of 11 million. |
| 1:12.0 | New York City alone has had 33,000 deaths since the pandemic and New York City actually |
| 1:18.7 | has less people than the Cuban population. |
| 1:22.2 | I'm wondering how big an impact has been this surge of COVID and also could you detail |
| 1:27.6 | a little bit more about these sanctions? |
| 1:29.7 | What were the kinds of sanctions that Trump imposed that did not exist previously? |
| 1:34.7 | First of all, the Trump administration, what they did in terms of sanctions on Cuba, first |
| 1:41.0 | of all, it came as a shock because we had just came out of Cuba out of here and those |
| 1:47.4 | last couple of years of his presidency and we were all very hopeful that this re-engagement |
| 1:51.6 | policy because it was having very good consequences on our economy, especially when it comes |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jay Tomlinson, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Jay Tomlinson and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.