American University
Professor of Government and former Dean of the School of Public Affairs at American University and author of numerous books on US-Cuban relations and US policy toward Latin America; co-author of Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations between Washington and Havana
90 Years of History 90 Miles Away After yesterday's landing in Cuba , just 90 miles from American shores, President Obama spoke at the newly reopened US embassy. "It's been nearly 90 years since a US President stepped foot in Cuba. It is wonderful to be here." But his trip hasn't left controversy behind. The President's criticized for encouraging business deals without demanding important concessions. Meantime, the Castro regime is cracking down on the wives and daughters of political prisoners and telling dissidents Obama wants to meet to stay home. Cuba wants the end of America's economic embargo. We hear how the historic visit is going.
Fidel Castro Says He’s Stepping Down After 49 years as the leader of Communist Cuba, Fidel Castro has stepped down . Less than a week before the National Assembly will meet to select a new head of state, Castro says he is no longer “in the physical condition" to run the government, but expressed confidence in “elements of the old guard" and “others who were very young when the first stage of the revolution began." Speaking from Africa today, George W. Bush called for the release of political prisoners . The resignation of the 81-year old leader, who served during the terms of ten US presidents, is big news in the streets of Miami, where Cuban refugees and their descendents dominate local politics. Will Castro's brother, Raul, continue Cuba's current regime or will a younger generation embrace democracy as the US demands?
Fidel Castro Says He's Stepping Down After 49 years as the leader of Communist Cuba, Fidel Castro has stepped down . Less than a week before the National Assembly will meet to select a new head of state, Castro says he is no longer “in the physical condition" to run the government, but expressed confidence in “elements of the old guard" and “others who were very young when the first stage of the revolution began." Speaking from Africa today, George W. Bush called for the release of political prisoners . The resignation of the 81-year old leader, who served during the terms of ten US presidents, is big news in the streets of Miami, where Cuban refugees and their descendents dominate local politics. Will Castro's brother, Raul, continue Cuba's current regime or will a younger generation embrace democracy as the US demands?
The Left, Right & Center Midterms Special The results are in. Who’s happy? Who’s not?
The Voting is Over, but the Campaign Continues Women had a major impact on the midterm elections. So did $5 billion in campaign spending. Meantime, Democrats now lead the House while Republicans dominate the Senate, and the politics of division continues on Capitol Hill. We’ll hear how former House Speaker Newt Gingrich helped start an era of gridlock and perpetual campaigning.
Regulars at Borderline Bar & Grill reflect on the shooting This year there has been a mass shooting in America on average almost once per day. As you know, the most recent was the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks where 12 people were killed when a gunman opened fire inside a local bar. It was called Borderline Bar & Grill. KCRW’s David Weinberg talked to some of the bar’s regulars about what made the place special.