Seton Hall University
Writer-in-Residence at Seton Hall University and author of three books, including, The Man Who Invented Fidel: Castro, Cuba, and Herbert L. Matthews of The New York Times; former Latin America correspondent for the New York Times
Obama "Buries the Cold War" in Cuba President Obama made a historic speech direct to the Cuban people today, peppered with Spanish phrases. He told them that the Castro regime has nothing to fear from the United States any more. But there were also strong words from the President, decades after Fidel Castro's communist revolution and the stationing of Russian nuclear missiles in Cuba – and America's economic embargo on the island nation is still in effect. We hear about high hopes and political realities.
The US and Cuba: What's Changed and What Hasn't? It's been a year since the US and Cuba re-opened diplomatic relations after 54 years of estrangement. Embassies have re-opened and there's been modest economic improvement, but the US trade embargo remains in place, and the Castro regime still tramples on political dissidents. Hardliners insist the Obama Administration lost the chance to demand concessions. White House aides say nobody expected sudden improvement. We hear what's different and what's the same in a conversation with a disappointed exile — and to a child of exiles with different ideas about Cuba's future.
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
