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.
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
