Since 1959, the Cuban Revolution has been a main target of the CIA and the entire U.S. government.

Before the revolution, Cuba was a de facto colony or semi-colonies of the United States.

Today, efforts to carry out counter-revolution are intensifying.

Cuba is in the crosshairs. We'll talk about what's at stake. We need a new system. We need a new society. We need to demand that which may

have sounded impossible even a few weeks ago, but is not only realizable, but an imperative necessity. Welcome to The Real Story on the Socialist program. Today is our inaugural episode as part of Breakthrough News. We are extremely excited about this new video format and collaboration with Breakthrough.

I'm your host, Brian Becker. We're joined today by Manolo de Los Santos, founder and co-director

of the People's Forum and a researcher with the Tri-Continental Institute for Social Research.

Manolo, welcome to the Socialist Program.

It's a pleasure to join you, Brian.

Thank you so much.

Manolo, of course, this is a video on YouTube.

It's a podcast, but we're not just journalists.

We're also organizers.

We're activists.

We're people who are engaged in trying to make social change.

And in that sense, especially

because we're here in the United States and the United States government is trying today,

as it has been since January 1st, 1959, conducting an operation to overthrow the Cuban revolution,

a revolution which has been a beacon of hope and inspiration,

not only for people in Cuba, not only for the poor, the dispossessed in Cuba, but for people

throughout Latin America, a continent that suffered all of the ravages of colonialism. And even more

importantly, Cuba has been an inspiration for people all over the

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