Podcasts about Havana

It's been about four months since President Donald Trump threatened sanctions against countries supplying much-needed oil to Cuba. The country's economy is already struggling with shortages, inflation, rolling blackouts, and the longstanding U.S. embargo. This morning, we'll hear from a sociologist and retired professor at the University of Havana who's lived through nearly every major chapter of Cuba's modern economy — from the rise of Fidel Castro to the current economic crisis. But first, there's a modern gold rush (but this time for uranium).

It's been about four months since President Donald Trump threatened sanctions against countries supplying much-needed oil to Cuba. The country's economy is already struggling with shortages, inflation, rolling blackouts, and the longstanding U.S. embargo. This morning, we'll hear from a sociologist and retired professor at the University of Havana who's lived through nearly every major chapter of Cuba's modern economy — from the rise of Fidel Castro to the current economic crisis. But first, there's a modern gold rush (but this time for uranium).

Could Cuba be next as tensions rise across Latin America? Buck breaks down the latest developments involving Cuba, Venezuela, and the ongoing Iran negotiations. From renewed U.S. sanctions and pressure on Havana to major shifts in Venezuela’s oil industry after Maduro’s removal, the geopolitical landscape is changing fast. Never miss a moment from Buck by subscribing to the Buck Sexton Show Podcast on IHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Buck Sexton:Facebook – / bucksexton X – @bucksexton Instagram – @bucksexton TikTok - @BuckSexton YouTube - @BuckSexton Website – https://www.bucksexton.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Despite Iran's threats, some commercial ships are quietly slipping through the Strait of Hormuz with U.S. assistance, raising new questions about whether Tehran's control over the strategic waterway is as absolute as the regime claims. President Trump is reportedly seeking tougher terms in a proposed agreement with Iran, sending a draft framework negotiated by his own envoys back for revisions as negotiations continue. British intelligence now estimates that nearly 500,000 Russian troops have been killed since the start of the war in Ukraine, offering a sobering assessment of the conflict's human cost to Moscow. In today's Back of the Brief, a rare meeting between senior U.S. and Cuban military officials at Guantanamo Bay is drawing attention as one of the few remaining channels of communication between Washington and Havana. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Tax Relief Advocates: End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at https://TRA.comor call 800-583-6515 DeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/PDBand use promo code PDB at checkout. Chapter: Compare every medicare plan call 915-671-5252 today! Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan's contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact https://Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: The United States and Iran have reportedly reached a draft agreement to extend their ceasefire for another 60 days, though the deal still requires President Trump's approval. Mike is joined by David Daoud of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to discuss what the proposed agreement could mean for Iran's nuclear program and the broader security situation in the Middle East. Cuba's power grid is under growing strain as fuel shortages continue to fuel blackouts across the island, while the Trump administration opens a new front by bringing criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. Mike speaks with retired Marine Corps intelligence officer Hal Kempfer about the implications for the Cuban regime and U.S. policy toward Havana. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Blocktrust: Move your retirement into the next generation of assets, go to https://mikebakercrypto.com now to claim your $2,500 Bitcoin bonus. Fox One: Sign up at https://fox.com to watch The PDB show and more on-demand with FOX One. ZBiotics: Go to https://zbiotics.com/PDB and use PDB at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Adie introduces stories on Cuba's economic crisis as it feels the strain of the US fuel blockade, Lebanon's shattered ceasefire, the fevered debate over Australia's social media ban, plus dispatches from Greece and Iceland.Cuba is struggling to cope with the the US government's near-total fuel blockade and the Trump administration increased the pressure on the ruling Communist Party when it issued an indictment against Raul Castro this week. Will Grant has been gauging the mood in Havana.In southern Lebanon, Israel has stepped up its offensive on Hezbollah with daily strikes, which have killed dozens of civilians. This follows drone attacks launched by the Iran-backed group on communities in northern Israel. John Sudworth reports on the ongoing conflict.Six months on from Australia's introduction of a social media ban for under 16s, governments around the world are eagerly looking on as they consider rolling out similar policies… but is it working? Katy Watson has been following the debate in Sydney.In Greece, indignation over new labour laws introduced last October continue to simmer as the summer heat takes hold. The new law, which permits 13-hour working days was met with fierce opposition and nationwide strikes. Heidi Fuller Love heard some full-throated views on the subject in a local tavernaAnd finally, when a correspondent is on deployment, they often have to navigate sudden changes of plan. Sandra Kanthal found herself diverted by bad weather from an assignment reporting on Iceland's arctic defences… and founded herself in an unusual museum.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

On May 20th, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a federal indictment charging former Cuban head of state Raul Castro with the murder of American civilians. That same day, the USS Nimitz carrier strike group entered the Caribbean. We break down the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, the GAESA military conglomerate controlling Cuba's economy, and what the Venezuela playbook tells us about where this is headed. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Josh opens the show by taking apart the proposed Iran deal and explaining why he believes it is a deal America should reject outright. He breaks down what's actually in the agreement, exposes the glaring questions it leaves unanswered, and argues that a bad deal is far more dangerous than no deal at all. Josh explains why giving concessions to the Iranian regime without meaningful guarantees could have serious consequences for U.S. national security and stability in the Middle East. Next, Josh turns his attention to Cuba and the latest signals coming from the administration about the future of U.S.-Cuba relations. He examines what policy changes may be on the horizon, what they could mean for American interests, and why the communist regime in Havana remains a critical issue that Washington cannot afford to ignore. Finally, Josh dives into the results of this week's Texas primary elections and what they reveal about the political landscape in the Lone Star State. As Democrats continue to insist that Texas is on the verge of turning blue, Josh looks at the numbers, the trends, and whether that long-promised Democratic breakthrough is reality—or just another political fantasy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, a former newspaper reporter and bestselling novelist who has spent recent years investigating Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch in New Mexico, says she has left her home and is preparing to leave the United States after what she claims were “directed energy weapon” attacks connected to her Epstein reporting. She has alleged that her work on Zorro Ranch, local cover-up claims, and possible intelligence-linked trafficking networks made her a target, and she described suffering symptoms she compared to “Havana syndrome,” including neurological pressure-type effects. She claimed the attacks came in multiple episodes, possibly from equipment on or near her roof or from a semi-truck parked near her home. There is no public evidence confirming that she was attacked with directed energy weapons or that her claims about buried victims, military contractors, or intelligence-linked retaliation have been substantiated.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Reporter who investigated Jeffrey Epstein is 'fleeing' the US after alleged attack

Darrell Castle talks about the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard from her position as Director of National Intelligence, and why she made the decision to resign. Was it because of her husband’s illness or something else. Transcription / Notes TULSI'S GONE Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. This is Friday the 29th day of May in the year of our Lord 2026. I will be talking about the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard from her position as Director of National Intelligence, and about why Tulsi made the decision to resign. Was her decision because of her husband's illness or was it something else. Tulsi never seemed to fit into Washington like a typical Washington politician. She never seemed willing to lie and cheat her way to the top as is typical of Washington. From the beginning of her prominence, she seemed a little too honest and too forthright for Washington politics. Nevertheless, she was a politician having served as a Democrat in congress from the state of Hawaii. She left congress and ran for president as a Democrat but lost in the primary to Joe Biden. She became disenchanted with the Democrat Party and decided to back President Trump in his run for that office. President Trump appointed her Director of National Intelligence, in theory the most important national security position in the country. The U.S. now has 18 intelligence agencies or departments if you count their various components and they all report to the Director of National Intelligence, but once in the office I imagine that the DNI found out who holds the real power in the intelligence world. When I learned a few weeks ago that the CIA had apparently broken into, raided, or whatever you want to call the CIA's visit to their boss's office, I knew Tulsi would soon be gone. Whistleblower James Erdman blew his whistle in congress and testified that the CIA had “seized” documents from their secure area in the office of the DNI. Some of the files they seized related to the assassination, or perhaps their assassination, of JFK. They apparently also took the files related to MKULTRA which was and probably is the CIA's experimental program designed to alter and control human behavior through the use of mind-altering drugs and torture. They sought to and apparently did learn the art of mind control including control of whole populations through these experiments. There are people who exist now who are suing the CIA in an effort to get some answers to the questions of what happened to their minds and the minds of their parents because of MKULTRA. That's not all they got because apparently they got the files on “Havana Syndrome” in which U.S. diplomats and others stationed in Havana and other places were apparently subjected to some kind of mind-altering rays. In response to the CIA raid, Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and James Comer (R-KY) chairman of the house Oversight Committee, sent a preservation letter to the CIA demanding that all evidence related to the taken or stolen material be preserved. I imagine the CIA got a good laugh over that letter as they endeavored to show naive members of Congress who actually runs this country. Apparently someone spoke to someone and explained the facts of life as it exists in Washington because when that letter of preservation became public people started to backtrack their statements. Even Erdman, the whistleblower said no I didn't say it was a raid instead I just said CIA refused to comply with “lawful oversight and documented everts to circumvent oversight.” He testified to Congress that not only did CIA refuse to comply with the directives of the ODNI Director's Initiatives Group (DIG) investigations into the origins of COVID-19 and other “phenomena” but retaliated against those who did not support their own conclusions. Quoting long-term CIA agent Erdman, “The CIA illegally monitored the computer and phone usage of DIG personnel, their investigations, and contact with whistleblowers, which significantly impacted Director Gabbard's implementation of several Eo's issued during this administration and tasked to the DIG.” In addition, “when the DIG ceased operations, the CIA also took back 40 boxes of JFK files and MKULTRA files being processed for declassification by DNI Gabbard.” The CIA's spying was referenced as tracking every keystroke of DIG personnel as they processed files directed by presidential EO to be released or unclassified. These files included files concerning JFK, RFK, and MLK assassinations, the origins of COVID-19, Crossfire Hurricane, The Biden Administration's domestic surveillance, Anomalous Health Incidents (AHI) and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. So, just speculating here folks, but trying to do it with logic I think it went something like this. The President appoints this intelligent and experienced, but most importantly honest woman to head the nation's intelligence organizations. He then says that as he campaigned on a pledge to be transparent and release long classified files he issues an Executive Order (EO) to that effect. Tulsi, his DNI, who most likely took the job based on a promise to be forthcoming, sets out to obey the President's EO. She appoints a working group from among those in the office of the DNI which she calls DIG to sort through the files to determine if there was anything that should not be released. The CIA completely ignored that  report to DNI which was Tulsi and in fact they ignore or refuse to abide by the direct written orders of the President of the United States. They break into, or raid, if that is better, her office, take the files and even congress can't get them back. My conclusion, then, is that this case reveals as clearly as anything has who or what runs this country. I knew when I heard the story of what happened and looked into it that Tulsi would not be able to remain in the administration. Who would want to be director of the office that controls American intelligence agencies, all 18 of them, if one of those agencies was completely exempt from you, their boss's orders, and apparently didn't even follow the orders of the President. So, is that why she resigned because she didn't say that it was. In fact, she didn't complain about the President's inability or unwillingness to control the CIA but instead she thanked him and the American people for the opportunity to serve. In her letter she cited her husband Abraham and his diagnosis of a “extremely rare form of bone cancer” as the reason. She said he had stood by her every step of the way including when her Army guard unit was deployed to East Africa and through her political campaigns so she wanted to be with him full-time during such a difficult time. In 18 months as DNI she restructured the office, cutting its size and saving the American people more than $700 million per year. She launched many investigations and sought the release of previously classified material related to the programs previously listed. She has declassified more than 500,000 pages thus far. Her National Counterterrorism Center stopped thousands of narco-terrorists from entering the country until finally its head, Joe Kent, publicly resigned citing the Iran war as the reason. I saw her interviewed on the Shawn Ryan Podcast the other day and she was very forthright as she normally is. She said that the people who opposed her in her efforts were very intolerant of anyone who believes in God because in their minds they are God. They are the ultimate deciders of right and wrong and their choices are never wrong because they determine what right is. If a person opposes them, even if their boss opposes them, that person is on the way out. She said that before she goes at the end of June she will release many files related to the programs in question. Likely, these files will be released in weekly installments over the weeks of June. Her deputy director, Aaron Lukas, will serve as acting director until a permanent director is appointed. I predict without knowing one way or the other that the new director will have a CIA or perhaps military, meaning ex-General background. Politicians seem to be sweating over the prospect of files related to Crossfire Hurricane or the Russia gate hoax and other weaponization of law programs. I'm just speculating because I admit I don't know but I will wager that Tulsi grew very weary of constantly trying to follow presidential directives and being stymied at every turn while doing so. That type of constant stress is very difficult to bear long term.  Why would the CIA take her JFK files along with the other assassination files. That's a good question isn't it but the answer is very obvious but unsayable in public. Yes I know the assassinations were all done by lone nuts who were killed or prosecuted without any real investigation but nothing to see here folks just move along. Finally, folks, Tulsi seems to be an intelligent, honest woman who loves her country and its people and who puts them before any political party. There aren't many left like her and I for one will miss her. I wish her well. At least that's the way I see it, Until next time folks, This is Darrell Castle, Thanks for listening.

Robbie the Fire is joined by Kyle Anzalone of the Kyle Anzalone Show and Antiwar.com for a wide-ranging conversation on conspiracies, war reporting, and the state of the Iran conflict.We open with recent fringe stories — a journalist claiming to be targeted by directed energy weapons after reporting on Epstein's Zorro Ranch, the reality behind Havana syndrome and sonic weapons, the cluster of "missing scientists," and why the government keeps quietly feeding the alien/UAP disclosure narrative. Robbie lays out his FBI entrapment theory ahead of his live show, and we dig into the recent Iran-linked assassination plot cases (Asif Merchant, Farhad Shakeri, Saad Dawood Al-Saedi).From there it's a full war briefing: where Russia-Ukraine actually stands, Biden's NATO weapons-transfer scheme, Russia's shift toward hitting decision-making centers in Kiev, depleted Western interceptor stocks, and how the Iran war is draining US munitions. Plus the real sticking points in the Iran negotiations — the Strait of Hormuz "maintenance fee," Lebanon and Hezbollah, the nuclear enrichment fight — and a frank conversation about Trump's cognitive decline and what comes next.Catch Kyle on the Kyle Anzalone Show. Come see Robbie on the road — jokes and the full FBI entrapment documentation in the live show.

Jeffrey Epstein's reach extended far beyond New York, Palm Beach, and the familiar circles of American finance and politics. Newly surfaced records show him probing for influence and opportunity across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela and Cuba, where he appeared to position himself as a connector for businessmen, political insiders, and power brokers operating in difficult, sensitive, or sanctions-adjacent environments. One major thread involves Epstein advising DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem after Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuelan ports, with Epstein suggesting Cuba as a possible backchannel route into Caracas. Another involves Venezuelan businessman Francisco D'Agostino and discussions about potential oil opportunities connected to PDVSA and the Orinoco River oil fields. D'Agostino says the proposed Venezuela trip never happened and no deal came together, but the records still show Epstein attempting to place himself near the intersection of energy, politics, and elite access.The Cuba material follows the same pattern. Epstein traveled there in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell and former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana, and Maxwell later claimed they met Fidel Castro, though there is no clear evidence that Epstein conducted business or political negotiations with Castro. Years later, Epstein funded a Cuban state-backed neuroscience conference in Havana through his connection to researcher Gino Yu, fitting his larger pattern of using science, academia, and intellectual circles as a legitimacy machine. The larger takeaway is not that every one of Epstein's approaches produced a successful deal; many appear to have stalled or gone nowhere. The real significance is that a convicted sex offender with a history of elite protection was still moving through circles connected to foreign governments, oil wealth, port infrastructure, sanctioned economies, and high-level intermediaries, raising the same old question: who kept allowing this man access to rooms where he clearly did not belong?to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:How Epstein explored Venezuelan deals, funded Cuban research | Miami Herald

Jeffrey Epstein's reach extended far beyond New York, Palm Beach, and the familiar circles of American finance and politics. Newly surfaced records show him probing for influence and opportunity across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela and Cuba, where he appeared to position himself as a connector for businessmen, political insiders, and power brokers operating in difficult, sensitive, or sanctions-adjacent environments. One major thread involves Epstein advising DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem after Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuelan ports, with Epstein suggesting Cuba as a possible backchannel route into Caracas. Another involves Venezuelan businessman Francisco D'Agostino and discussions about potential oil opportunities connected to PDVSA and the Orinoco River oil fields. D'Agostino says the proposed Venezuela trip never happened and no deal came together, but the records still show Epstein attempting to place himself near the intersection of energy, politics, and elite access.The Cuba material follows the same pattern. Epstein traveled there in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell and former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana, and Maxwell later claimed they met Fidel Castro, though there is no clear evidence that Epstein conducted business or political negotiations with Castro. Years later, Epstein funded a Cuban state-backed neuroscience conference in Havana through his connection to researcher Gino Yu, fitting his larger pattern of using science, academia, and intellectual circles as a legitimacy machine. The larger takeaway is not that every one of Epstein's approaches produced a successful deal; many appear to have stalled or gone nowhere. The real significance is that a convicted sex offender with a history of elite protection was still moving through circles connected to foreign governments, oil wealth, port infrastructure, sanctioned economies, and high-level intermediaries, raising the same old question: who kept allowing this man access to rooms where he clearly did not belong?to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:How Epstein explored Venezuelan deals, funded Cuban research | Miami Herald

Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, a former newspaper reporter and bestselling novelist who has spent recent years investigating Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch in New Mexico, says she has left her home and is preparing to leave the United States after what she claims were “directed energy weapon” attacks connected to her Epstein reporting. She has alleged that her work on Zorro Ranch, local cover-up claims, and possible intelligence-linked trafficking networks made her a target, and she described suffering symptoms she compared to “Havana syndrome,” including neurological pressure-type effects. She claimed the attacks came in multiple episodes, possibly from equipment on or near her roof or from a semi-truck parked near her home. There is no public evidence confirming that she was attacked with directed energy weapons or that her claims about buried victims, military contractors, or intelligence-linked retaliation have been substantiated.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Reporter who investigated Jeffrey Epstein is 'fleeing' the US after alleged attackBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Wednesday Listener Q&A episode of The Wright Report, Bryan answers listener questions on Cuba, Iran, Gaza, China, artificial intelligence, and the increasingly dangerous rhetoric coming from the American Left. He begins with Cuba, explaining why CIA Director John Ratcliffe's recent visit to Havana may have been designed to pressure younger Castro-linked leaders into stepping aside or turning on hardliners before President Trump considers military action. Bryan then turns to Iran, breaking down how long the U.S. naval blockade may need to continue before the IRGC feels serious financial pressure, and why Arab governments may have missed their best chance to join the U.S. and Israel in crushing Tehran's radicals. Plus, Bryan gives updates on Gaza, where Israel now controls roughly 60% of the territory, and responds to listener questions about whether China is truly as dangerous as he says. He also warns about AI "truth machines" that may be shaped by ideological bias, before closing with a sobering look at comments from Hakeem Jeffries' brother invoking John Brown and the use of violence against Trump supporters, arguing that Democrats' "break their spirits" rhetoric should be taken seriously.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Cuba regime change CIA Director John Ratcliffe Havana Raulito Castro, Trump Cuba military option 2026 USS Nimitz Caribbean, Iran naval blockade IRGC oil revenue timeline, Strait of Hormuz blockade oil storage Iran economy, Arab governments Iran war Abraham Accords Trump, Gaza update Israel controls 60 percent Hamas disarmament, China threat GDP demographics military AI bio warfare, AI truth machine ChatGPT Claude bias conspiracy debunking, Hakeem Jeffries break MAGA spirits Hasan Kwame Jeffries John Brown, political violence Democrats Trump supporters, Bryan Dean Wright podcast, The Wright Report

Cuba received a tranche of humanitarian aid from China this week as people there experience severe hunger due to food shortages and economic crisis. It comes as the Trump administration maintains that the island poses a threat to the U.S. Amna Nawaz spoke with Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Cuba's deputy foreign minister, to discuss what she says is Cuba's right to defend itself. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Jeffrey Epstein's reach extended far beyond New York, Palm Beach, and the familiar circles of American finance and politics. Newly surfaced records show him probing for influence and opportunity across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela and Cuba, where he appeared to position himself as a connector for businessmen, political insiders, and power brokers operating in difficult, sensitive, or sanctions-adjacent environments. One major thread involves Epstein advising DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem after Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuelan ports, with Epstein suggesting Cuba as a possible backchannel route into Caracas. Another involves Venezuelan businessman Francisco D'Agostino and discussions about potential oil opportunities connected to PDVSA and the Orinoco River oil fields. D'Agostino says the proposed Venezuela trip never happened and no deal came together, but the records still show Epstein attempting to place himself near the intersection of energy, politics, and elite access.The Cuba material follows the same pattern. Epstein traveled there in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell and former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana, and Maxwell later claimed they met Fidel Castro, though there is no clear evidence that Epstein conducted business or political negotiations with Castro. Years later, Epstein funded a Cuban state-backed neuroscience conference in Havana through his connection to researcher Gino Yu, fitting his larger pattern of using science, academia, and intellectual circles as a legitimacy machine. The larger takeaway is not that every one of Epstein's approaches produced a successful deal; many appear to have stalled or gone nowhere. The real significance is that a convicted sex offender with a history of elite protection was still moving through circles connected to foreign governments, oil wealth, port infrastructure, sanctioned economies, and high-level intermediaries, raising the same old question: who kept allowing this man access to rooms where he clearly did not belong?to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:How Epstein explored Venezuelan deals, funded Cuban research | Miami HeraldBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's reach extended far beyond New York, Palm Beach, and the familiar circles of American finance and politics. Newly surfaced records show him probing for influence and opportunity across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela and Cuba, where he appeared to position himself as a connector for businessmen, political insiders, and power brokers operating in difficult, sensitive, or sanctions-adjacent environments. One major thread involves Epstein advising DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem after Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuelan ports, with Epstein suggesting Cuba as a possible backchannel route into Caracas. Another involves Venezuelan businessman Francisco D'Agostino and discussions about potential oil opportunities connected to PDVSA and the Orinoco River oil fields. D'Agostino says the proposed Venezuela trip never happened and no deal came together, but the records still show Epstein attempting to place himself near the intersection of energy, politics, and elite access.The Cuba material follows the same pattern. Epstein traveled there in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell and former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana, and Maxwell later claimed they met Fidel Castro, though there is no clear evidence that Epstein conducted business or political negotiations with Castro. Years later, Epstein funded a Cuban state-backed neuroscience conference in Havana through his connection to researcher Gino Yu, fitting his larger pattern of using science, academia, and intellectual circles as a legitimacy machine. The larger takeaway is not that every one of Epstein's approaches produced a successful deal; many appear to have stalled or gone nowhere. The real significance is that a convicted sex offender with a history of elite protection was still moving through circles connected to foreign governments, oil wealth, port infrastructure, sanctioned economies, and high-level intermediaries, raising the same old question: who kept allowing this man access to rooms where he clearly did not belong?to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:How Epstein explored Venezuelan deals, funded Cuban research | Miami HeraldBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Cuba received a tranche of humanitarian aid from China this week as people there experience severe hunger due to food shortages and economic crisis. It comes as the Trump administration maintains that the island poses a threat to the U.S. Amna Nawaz spoke with Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Cuba's deputy foreign minister, to discuss what she says is Cuba's right to defend itself. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Cuba seems willing to concede more than ever if the Trump administration is willing to take the win. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen and Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. A rally in support of former Cuban president Raul Castro outside the US Embassy in Havana. Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE / AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

(00:00-8:01). Muted trumpets just make everything better. Redbirds shut down by The MIz yesterday. The Athletic's Power Rankings are out. Sounds like they think the Cardinals are going to stumble. Ralph Garr. Teri Garr. Favorite Looney Tunes character. Porky Pig was not in Deliverance. Mr. Mom.(8:09-21:49) Jackson's not in a place to be playing for money right now. You don't bring the family into it. It's on Tubi, hell yeah. Shirtless in Havana. Lee Strasberg. Why would you cover your nipples while you fish?(22:00-32:33) ESPN's MLB award projections from our pal Bradford Doolittle. Lots of Cardinals on the lists. And the winner of the Design Aire Heating & Cooling EMOTD is...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everybody is talking Battlehawks playoffs, Doggies on a heater, and Knicks turning back the clock. Party in the Get Up studios. Misiorowski throwing heat yesterday. 57 pitchers over 100 MPH. Foot Fetish Friday on the weekend best ofs? We need a lake recap from thick neck Matt. Trash Day. Blues and Doggies executives took some money off of Tim on the golf course. Polos Plus and new TMA merch.Would have liked to have that one Saturday night. What's it like to catch 103 MPH? Will guys throw 110 soon? Still trying to get a LOTO report from Thick Neck Matt. Torres with a fun debut. Cardinal lineup talk. Need more out of Gorman. Oli Marmol talking about LIberatore's 10 strikeout performance in the loss. Papers is heating up. We still haven't gotten to "News From The South" yet on the dossier. Doug's Favorite Quarter Zip is on the phone lines and wants to talk the Tarps Off section and getting a comparable ticket because of it. He's got a chant he wants to share. Jackson has an aura around him. It's just trouble you don't want. Whatever works, man.Some songs are timeless. Will people make the trip down from Chicago for the Cards/Cubs series? Hello, Bitch. Navy cappin' on the beach. Hoosier Yada Yada. Lots of thong bikinis down in 30A. BBB got banned from commenting on Reddit. Why isn't Doug talking about Joey Chestnut? A new set of Rodericks. Why is Destin such a lightning rod? Unlikable Shrew.Happy Birthday, Stevie Nicks. Holes in the septum. Tottenham Hotspur, un-be-liev-able. Audio of an emotional West Ham fan after the club's relegation. Doug doesn't like the emotion in his voice. Justin Safford and Jackson at Tonic. Thick Neck Matt is on the lines with a lake report. Lower JeffCo. Matt's report was kinda quick. How was Steve Aoki? Not only is Glory Hole acceptable, it's encouraged. Larry Nickel's not happy. What are you up to, Larry? Raw recap and Top 5 countries with honorable mentions. Can't believe you guys get paid for this.Is it Lauryn Hill's birthday today? Martin's on fire today. The Bonet/Kravitz family tree. Helping people move. College lacrosse talk. Cubs have dropped 9 straight. No weekend day games for Cards/Cubs. Pujols in the booth on Sunday night. Walking thru the bowels of the Dome again.People are texting in telling us about their golf game. Audio of Michael McGreevy's chat with Frank. Sounds like we're friends with him. Doug vs. Gimmes and the rules of golf.The Jawline King out there celebrating in Cleveland. People are sending in pictures of the halibut they caught for Doug to see. Best childhood acting performances. What kind of feedback has the two-part Movie Boi gotten? Don't say stylings. Chairman wants the women's cardigan from the new TMA Merch. Crappie. Let us know your fish of choice.Look, Doug, it's Brody. Brody is giddy about the Knicks. Hockey talk. And we're back on the Knicks. Orange and blue skies.Cheapest ticket for the NBA Finals in NYC. The Design Aire Heating & Cooling EMOTDMuted trumpets just make everything better. Redbirds shut down by The MIz yesterday. The Athletic's Power Rankings are out. Sounds like they think the Cardinals are going to stumble. Ralph Garr. Teri Garr. Favorite Looney Tunes character. Porky Pig was not in Deliverance. Mr. Mom.Jackson's not in a place to be playing for money right now. You don't bring the family into it. It's on Tubi, hell yeah. Shirtless in Havana. Lee Strasberg. Why would you cover your nipples while you fish?ESPN's MLB award projections from our pal Bradford Doolittle. Lots of Cardinals on the lists. And the winner of the Design Aire Heating & Cooling EMOTD is...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jon Herold comes in on Memorial Day a little lighter than usual, kids are in the backyard on the slip and slide, and the news is slow enough to get real about some things that need saying. The biggest one: everybody is getting very excited about the reports Tulsi Gabbard is expected to release before she leaves, covering Havana syndrome, COVID origins, and 2020 election fraud. Jon is asking the questions nobody wants to sit with: why are these reports being rushed out because she is leaving, were they always going to come on this timeline, and is a report released under these circumstances going to be complete or a limited hangout? Trump posted a lengthy Memorial Day Truth Social mandating that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan all sign the Abraham Accords simultaneously with any Iran deal, calling it the most historic document ever signed. Jon reads every word. Orange County had a cracked chemical tank threatening 40,000 residents before stabilizing. Jon is skeptical Spencer Pratt can overcome LA County's election system regardless of how well he campaigns. A former federal prosecutor was just indicted for allegedly trying to steal sealed Jack Smith documents, and Jon gives it measured credit while pointing out it is not quite the accountability he is actually waiting for.

Jon Herold and Chris Paul open on yet another Saturday shooting outside the White House, this time involving Nazir Best of Maryland, and spend the first segment dissecting why the total evidence for the event is a sound on a video and a reporter ducking. Chris Paul pivots into the history of the Secret Service, tracing its origins to Lincoln's 1865 national currency centralization project, its function as a financial enforcement body, and why its post-9/11 move under DHS fits a pattern of embedding the global security state inside the American government beyond presidential reach. Then comes the week's biggest news: Tulsi Gabbard resigning as DNI effective June 30, with plans to release reports on Havana syndrome, COVID, and the 2020 election. Chris Paul frames these releases as limited hangouts designed to let the air out of each disclosure balloon and explains why the solution is withholding belief rather than waiting for permission from the government to know what you already know. The Iran peace cycle gets its full treatment: Trump's True Social post announcing a memorandum of understanding, Netanyahu's hair on fire, and the Thursday-peace-Monday-bombs pattern that has repeated without interruption for months. The show closes on the post-Civil War constitutional inversion thesis and George P. Fletcher's argument that the reconstruction amendments were passed at bayonet point.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: The United States and Iran reportedly agree in principle to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, potentially easing pressure on global oil markets and reducing fears of a wider Middle East war. But while the White House is signaling progress, many of the toughest questions surrounding Iran's nuclear program remain unresolved.  New details emerge from CIA Director John Ratcliffe's trip to Havana, including reports he brought along a paramilitary operator involved in the capture of Nicolás Maduro as the administration ramps up pressure on Cuba and warns about growing Russian and Chinese intelligence activity on the island. Russia launches one of its largest aerial assaults on Kyiv since the start of the war, reportedly deploying its nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile during the massive overnight barrage against the Ukrainian capital. And in today's Back of the Brief—a tense maritime standoff erupts between Chinese and Taiwanese coast guard ships near the strategically sensitive Pratas Islands in the South China Sea. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Chapter: Compare every medicare plan call 915-671-5252 today! Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan's contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact https://Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. ZBiotics: Go to https://zbiotics.com/PDB and use PDB at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. AmmoSquared: Secure your supply and take control of your preparedness at https://AmmoSquared.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

María José Espinosa on the unprecedented crisis in Cuba.For more than sixty years, the United States has waged an economic war against Cuba. The sanctions first imposed in 1960 were designed, in the words of a secret State Department memorandum, to bring about "hunger, desperation and overthrow of government." Six decades later, the sanctions pressure has reached unprecedented levels. In January 2026, the Trump administration signed an executive order blocking oil shipments to the island, which the United Nations has since described as "energy starvation." President Trump has threatened military intervention. Federal prosecutors have indicted Raúl Castro, including for the charge of murder. But at the same time, Washington is sending envoys to Havana and offering aid, suggesting that Cuban leaders could choose a "new path."What is driving this escalation? What does it mean for Cubans already living through a humanitarian crisis? And is there any path out that does not demand further suffering from a population that has already paid an enormous price? María José Espinosa is the Executive Director of the Center for Engagement and Advocacy In The Americas and a non-resident Fellow at the Center for International Policy. She is a Cuban economist and foreign policy expert with more than twelve years of experience in policy research, advocacy, and international relations. María is also a member of the Bologna Initiative for Sanctions Relief. The Sanctions Age is hosted by Esfandyar Batmanghelidj and Josefine Petrick.To receive an email when new episodes are released, access episode transcripts, and read the hosts reflections on each episode, sign-up for the The Sanctions Age newsletter on Substack: https://www.thesanctionsage.com/

Washington ratcheted up the pressure on Havana this week. A federal judge in Tennessee dismissed criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Electricity costs are rising as the U.S. enters warmer weather, likely meaning higher utility bills for consumers.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Cubans are facing a nightmarish humanitarian crisis – and Washington is piling on the pressure. US secretary of state Marco Rubio has long dreamed of regime change on the island. But will it happen? We head to Havana for the picture on the ground.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

P.M. Edition for May 22. The Journal is exclusively reporting that Russia and China have been building out their operations to spy on the U.S. from Cuba. National security reporter Alex Ward discusses what this means for the U.S. as it escalates its pressure campaign on Havana. Plus, Kevin Warsh was sworn in as Federal Reserve chair at the White House today. We tell you what President Trump had to say about the central bank's independence, and what the Fed should prioritize under Warsh's leadership. And Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard becomes the latest Trump administration official to leave her post. Alex Ossola hosts.  Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Friday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan opens with the latest on "deal or no deal" with Iran, as the U.S. and Tehran remain far apart on a peace agreement over Iran's enriched nuclear material and its demand to control the Strait of Hormuz, while the Pentagon prepares for renewed military action if talks fail. He also covers growing signs of U.S. pressure on Cuba, including the arrival of the USS Nimitz strike group in the Caribbean, CIA Director John Ratcliffe's recent trip to Havana, and the DOJ indictment of former Cuban leader Raul Castro. Bryan then turns to a deepening investigation into Neville Roy Singham, the Communist activist living in Shanghai under China's protection, whose money allegedly supports socialist and leftist groups across the United States, including networks tied to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Plus, Bryan breaks down socialist backlash in Seattle and New York as wealthy residents and major companies threaten to leave over tax hikes, the 42-year prison sentence for Feeding Our Future fraud figure Aimee Bock, and a major clash between President Trump and GOP senators over the SAVE Act, the filibuster, and Trump's legislative agenda. He closes with updates on China's looming critical mineral export controls, Trump's new $2 billion quantum computing push, Ebola in Congo, Hantavirus research in the Pacific Northwest, and promising cancer research on pancreatic tumors and vitamin D for breast cancer surgery recovery.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Iran peace deal Strait of Hormuz nuclear material 2026, Trump Iran war Pentagon targeting list Hormuz mines, USS Nimitz Cuba Caribbean Raul Castro DOJ indictment, CIA Director John Ratcliffe Havana Cuba negotiations, Neville Roy Singham China Communist funding investigation, Seattle wealth tax Katie Wilson Starbucks Tennessee move, Zohran Mamdani NYC wealth tax free groceries, Feeding Our Future fraud Aimee Bock 42 years prison, Trump GOP Senate fight SAVE Act filibuster John Thune, China critical minerals export controls June 2026, Trump quantum computing IBM investment, Ebola Congo outbreak Hantavirus Washington Idaho, pancreatic cancer inflammation treatment vitamin D breast cancer surgery, Bryan Dean Wright podcast, The Wright Report

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to reassure allies after US rowed back on plans last week to cancel long held plans to deploy 4,000 US troops to Poland and instead send an extra 5,000 troops there. The move has caused confusion amongst NATO allies.Also in the programme: Thousands of Cubans have taken part in a state-organized protest in the capital, Havana, in support of the country's former leader, Raul Castro, who was charged with murder and other crimes in the United States this week; and Carlo Petrini who began the Slow Food movement as a protest against a McDonalds opening in Rome has died at the age of seventy six.Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets press after NATO foreign ministers meet in Helsingborg, Sweden. Credit: JOHAN NILSSON/TT/EPA/Shutterstock

The WHO has upgraded the risk from the current Ebola outbreak to "very high" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and says regionally the risk is high -- though it remains low in the rest of the world. Newshour hears from Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group which helped develop the Astra Zeneca Covid vaccine. Also in the programme: Will Grant reports from Havana on Cuba under pressure; and how barnacles affect stationary ships in the Strait of Hormuz.(Picture: Red Cross workers walk in a formation as they disinfect Rwampara general hospital before handling the body of a person who died of Ebola, as aid agencies intensify efforts to contain a new Ebola outbreak. Credit: Reuters)

America's spy chief visits Havana, the U.S. Justice Department announces the indictment for murder of former Cuban dictator, Raul Castro, Cuba's current rulers are reported to have received more than 300 military attack drones from Moscow and Tehran while ordinary Cubans suffer power outages, medicine shortages, and soaring food prices. Guests Carrie Filipetti of the Vandenberg Coalition and Connor Pfeiffer of FDD Action join host Cliff May to discuss how these developments add up and whether the liberation of the Cuban people from the zombie Castroite regime is finally possible.

CannCon and Chris Paul close out the week with a Friday show that covers fearmongering, geopolitics, and a reconciliation bill meltdown. The Hantavirus narrative did not catch on, so Ebola is back: a passenger from the DRC accidentally boards a flight to Detroit, gets diverted to Montreal, and Marco Rubio confirms the US is funding 50 clinics in the DRC while keeping the disease out of the country. Chris Paul frames the whole sequence as a political pressure campaign designed to give impeachment-minded media another angle on Trump. CannCon continues watching the Venezuela playbook unfold in Cuba: Raul Castro indicted, Ratcliffe secretly in Havana, the Nimitz carrier group in the Caribbean, and Trump telling reporters the place is just falling apart and there is no need for military action. The DOJ's $1.76 billion anti-weaponization fund from Trump's personal IRS settlement sends Tom Tillis into a full meltdown on television, and CannCon and Chris Paul dismantle his framing piece by piece. Senate Republicans go home for Memorial Day instead of voting on the reconciliation bill, and the parliamentarian blocks the ballroom funding. CannCon also presents a canary trap theory: the J6 pardoned who do not apply for the fund may be exposing themselves as provocateurs.

America's spy chief visits Havana, the U.S. Justice Department announces the indictment for murder of former Cuban dictator, Raul Castro, Cuba's current rulers are reported to have received more than 300 military attack drones from Moscow and Tehran while ordinary Cubans suffer power outages, medicine shortages, and soaring food prices. Guests Carrie Filipetti of the Vandenberg Coalition and Connor Pfeiffer of FDD Action join host Cliff May to discuss how these developments add up and whether the liberation of the Cuban people from the zombie Castroite regime is finally possible.

PREVIEW for Later Today: Mary Anastasia O'Grady details GAESA, a non-transparent Cuban military conglomerate that controls the island's hard currency. By hoarding foreign investment and leaving citizens with worthless pesos, the organization has become a primary target for sanctions.1915 HAVANA

-The show celebrates the possibility of Cuba finally becoming free while Rob dreams aloud about smoking a celebratory Cuban cigar in Havana — because nothing says “collapse of communism” quite like premium tobacco. -Guest Michael Charbon joins Rob live from Canada for a wide-ranging and comedic conversation covering everything from Rush albums to global politics. Charbonne praises Rob's take on Trump and the media, argues that Americans are finally tuning out endless anti-Trump hysteria, and discusses the growing possibility of freedom in Cuba following the indictment of Raul Castro. Today's podcast is sponsored by : CHAPTER - If you're turning 65 or already on Medicare, call Chapter at 27-MEDICARE for the plan that suits you best. RELIEF FACTOR - You don't need to live with aches & pains! Reduce muscle & joint inflammation and live a pain-free life by visiting http://ReliefFactor.com  GHOSTBED - I used to think a mattress was just furniture, until I got my GhostBed! GhostBed is offering my audience their lowest prices of the season, plus an extra 10% off. Go to http://GhostBed.com/CARSON and use promo code CARSON BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday… Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) You can now WATCH and chat with The Rob Carson Show LIVE on Newsmax's social media channels (Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, Rumble) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A day after the US's indictment of former Cuban president Raul Castro, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Havana has accepted an offer of $100m in aid but that the chances of a negotiated settlement was "not high". Could the US be considering an imminent invasion of Cuba? Also on the programme: Amid a growing number of cases, a hospital treating Ebola patients in Congo is set on fire; and the new research suggesting that Beluga whales recognise their own reflections. (Photo: Rubio speaks to the press before boarding his plane at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, May 21, 2026 Credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool via REUTERS)

Vote-a-rama could get underway in the Senate today on the Republicans' second reconciliation bill. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns dig into Republican anxiety over Trump's ballroom, the $1.7B "weaponization" fund, the Iran war's rising costs, and what the CIA director's Havana trip really means. And how the Democrats could use all this for their midterm messaging. 

Former Cuban President Raúl Castro has been indicted in connection to his alleged role in the 1996 downing of two planes operated by the Miami-based exile group 'Brothers to the Rescue'. Four Americans were killed while flying in civilian aircrafts when a Cuban military aircraft shot their planes down in international waters. It's the latest flashpoint in the U.S.-Cuba relationship after CIA Director Ratcliffe traveled to the island warning Havana to reform. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Christine Balling, former U.S. Defense Advisor and the Senior Vice President at the Institute of World Politics, who says it is a move that could inspire the Cuban people to take back their country from the decades long dictatorship. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US Justice Department has indicted Cuba's former leader, Raul Castro, on criminal charges. The allegations centre on a Cuban military offensive against US civilian aircraft in 1996. The planes were operated by an organisation called Brothers to the Rescue and were searching for people who wanted to leave the island, when they were shot down by the Cuban military, which was led by Castro at the time. We get the latest from the BBC's Cuba correspondent.Also on the programme: Israel's far-right security minister has been condemned for taunting handcuffed Gaza flotilla activists; and we hear from the winner of this year's International Booker Prize. (Photo: Cuba's former President Raul Castro watches a May Day rally in Havana, Cuba 1st May, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Norlys Perez)

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Cuba's president warns of a possible “bloodbath” if the United States attacks the island, just one day after intelligence reports revealed Havana's growing military drone arsenal and rising concerns about threats near the U.S. mainland. New details emerge after five people are killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, including evidence investigators say may point to anti-Muslim motives behind the deadly attack. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Nobl Travel: NOBL gives you real travel peace of mind — security, design, and convenience all in one. Head to https://NOBLTravel.com for 46% off your entire order! #NOBL #ad Fabletics: Get 70–80% off your first Fabletics order and $15 scrub sets at https://Fabletics.com/pdb when you sign up as a new VIP! Tax Relief Advocates: End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at https://TRA.comor call 800-583-6515 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stew breaks down the news of the day, including how the occupied US government just sent CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Havana. Days later, corporate media admits the Trump regime is prepping indictments against Raul Castro and top Cuban officials – same playbook used to kidnap Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who are still rotting in the same New York jail that “housed” Jeffrey Epstein.

We mark the 250th anniversary by reading the parts of the Declaration nobody puts on the merch -- Jefferson's criminal charges against a king who blocked western settlement, strangled immigration, and held land promises over men who had bled for them. Then we turn to Cuba, where classified intel says the island has acquired 300+ military drones from Russia and Iran. We go back to the Bay of Pigs to establish the one rule that covers everything that comes next: half measures are always wrong. And we close with the hardest question in the room -- if the Castro regime falls, can the Cubans still on the island actually govern themselves, or does the best argument for a free Cuba walk around Miami? Plus the prediction market corruption story for what it actually is -- not a technology problem, but the oldest compensation trap in the republic.

The U.S. moves to indict 94‑year‑old Raúl Castro over a 1996 humanitarian plane shoot‑down as CIA chief Ratcliffe quietly lands in Havana. With Cuba in blackout, protests in the streets, and regime‑change whispers growing, is this the beginning of Castro's reckoning?

Cuba experienced blackouts and protests this week, and the CIA director made a visit to Havana. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., faces primary voters today. Trump administration travel restrictions are complicating travel plans for World Cup soccer fans.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The head of the CIA has visited Cuba as the island struggles with a severe energy crisis - made worse by a US fuel blockade. John Ratcliffe reportedly said Washington was prepared to engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba made fundamental changes. Also: tens of thousands of Israelis have taken part in an annual religious nationalist march through Jerusalem's Old City. Before it began, a far-right Israeli minister broke long-standing rules by unfurling an Israeli flag at a site holy to both Jews and Muslims; a BBC investigation reveals a new nationalist vigilante group is spreading across Russia; a new dinosaur has been discovered in Thailand that was twice the size of a T-Rex and weighed as much as nine adult Asian elephants; and how a horde of peacocks is ruffling feathers in an Italian seaside resort. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

A.M. Edition for May 15. With President Trump wheels up after a two-day summit in China, WSJ White House reporter Annie Linskey discusses the significance of a visit light on concrete new announcements. Plus, the Supreme Court preserves widespread access to abortion pills. And the head of the CIA visits Havana, as Cuba's Communist regime grapples with a U.S. energy blockade. Luke Vargas hosts.  Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—Just hours after protests erupted across Havana over catastrophic blackouts and fuel shortages, CIA Director John Ratcliffe quietly arrived in Cuba for rare high-level talks with senior regime officials. Later in the show—A former U.S. intelligence operative accused of defecting to Iran is suddenly back in the spotlight, as the FBI launches a renewed push to finally bring her to justice for exposing classified American secrets. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief ZBiotics: Go to https://zbiotics.com/PDB and use PDB at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Goldbelly: Make Father's Day unforgettable with iconic foods delivered—get free shipping and 20% off your first order at https://GOLDBELLY.com with code PDB. Brunt Workwear: Get $10 Off at BRUNT with code PDB at https://www.bruntworkwear.com/PDB#Bruntpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CIA chief makes rare trip to Cuba as oil terminals run dry, meanwhile US media reports say Washington is preparing criminal charges against its former leader Raul Castro. Also in the programme: why nationalist vigilante groups are spreading across Russia; and a French museum holds a display of famous art works from the Second World War in order to reunite them with their rightful owners.(Image: A vintage car passes by images of late Cuban President Fidel Castro, Cuba's former President Raul Castro and Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel displayed on a billboard in Havana. Credit: REUTERS/Norlys Perez)