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.
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.
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
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.
