Welcome to Off Message. I'm Isaac Dover.

Today's guest? Well, first let me tell you where I recorded today's episode.

In Havana, Cuba.

I was in Cuba for a few days as part of a small group of American reporters,

arranged in part by an organization called Cuba Educational Travel.

And I met a number of journalists, including Christina Escobar,

who's one of the main anchors of state-run television in Cuba.

And after having an interesting conversation with her at a rooftop bar over a mojito,

yeah, I was in Cuba, I ordered a mojito.

I asked her if she'd be willing to talk about what we discussed in front of these microphones.

She said yes.

And I can tell you the conversation we had was as frank as the one we had over drinks. And in the background, you'll hear a little of the noise of Havana, including a dog that just

wouldn't stop barking.

Insanely, this was my second trip to Cuba.

Covering Obama as president, I was actually one of the pool reporters on Air Force One when

it landed in Havana last March.

That was an insane trip, and it included the most insane press conference

I ever went to, with two different people walking up on stage to whisper in Castro's ear

while Obama was talking, Rao Castro, arguing with the American reporters. But Christina surprised

me. She wasn't there. You'll hear her explain why, and you'll hear us argue a little over

how censorship works for a state-run television.

So take a listen, and if you'd like to get a better sense of how this all fits since the

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