Cuba's hidden business empire faces US sanctions
The World
PRX
4.6 • 943 Ratings
🗓️ 20 May 2026
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As the Trump administration expands sanctions on Cuba to pressure regime change, one of its targets is GAESA, the military-run business empire behind hotels, dollar stores, banks and other key sources of hard currency in the country. Also, rights groups are concerned over European Commission plans to hold talks with the Taliban in Brussels about deporting some Afghans back home. And, New Zealand wants to change its landmark climate law by prohibiting liability for damages caused by climate change, such as from floods, fires or sea level rise. Plus, looking back at the life of Colombian singer Totó la Momposina, who was also a global champion of Andean culture.
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| 0:00.0 | Comprehensive. |
| 0:02.0 | Witty. |
| 0:02.6 | Speculative. |
| 0:03.3 | Critical. |
| 0:04.0 | Insightful. |
| 0:04.8 | Profound. |
| 0:05.6 | Wide-ranging. |
| 0:06.5 | Hopefully doesn't take itself too, too seriously. |
| 0:09.2 | I'm David Remnick, and each week on the New Yorker Radio Hour, my colleagues and I try to make sense of what's happening in this chaotic world. |
| 0:17.2 | I hope you'll join us for the New Yorker Radio Hour wherever you listen to podcasts. |
| 0:22.1 | The thoughtful, exquisite, just, you know, real. |
| 0:31.2 | Washington is escalating pressure on Cuba, indicting former Cuban leader Raul Castro. |
| 0:40.3 | We could have peaceful relations with Cuba if the United States was not hell-bent on, once again, forcing Cuba into the dominion of the United States. |
| 0:49.5 | I'm Marco Werman. |
| 0:50.6 | And I'm Carolyn Beeler. Also, today, the EU says it will hold talks with the Taliban |
| 0:55.2 | and is terrifying Afghans looking for asylum in Europe. Former government officials who had |
| 1:01.2 | been returned to Afghanistan, they faced arbitrarily arrest of torture. |
| 1:05.0 | Plaws for the family of the late Patrice Lumumba, a final path to justice fades away. |
| 1:10.0 | And the surprise dangers of trying to appreciate your parents' home country. |
| 1:14.9 | Now we're going 50 miles an hour into oncoming traffic. |
| 1:19.6 | I'm like, I guess I didn't need those six vaccinations from Costco. |
| 1:23.0 | All that and more today on the world. |
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