As socialism collapses around Latin America, we took a look back at where it started. All roads lead back to Castro and Che. Today, we look at how the young men seduced the Cuban nation and socialists around the world, and how those false promises led to destruction. We also cover the Castros’ Cold War rivalry with the Kennedys, the Cuban propaganda apparatus, and where the economy sits today.

Joining me this episode is Gaby Blanco, an outspoken critic of the Cuban regime, who shares her experiences in the country.

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Special thanks to a Cuban viewer of our channel who helped inform where to take the research.

Footage of modern Cuba found here. Thank you, @AdventureElliot , for your work:

Sources below:

The Cuban Socialist Paradox

Cuba Implements Food Rationing as Its Economy Enters Crisis Mode

Uncovering the ‘golden age’ of Cuban propaganda

https://www.anywhere.com/cuba/travel-guide/remnants-of-the-revolution
http://time.com/archive/6811336/cuba-voice-of-castro/
https://rsf.org/en/fidel-castro-s-heritage-flagrant-media-freedom-violations
https://rsf.org/en/node/47393
https://rsf.org/en/index
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/26/world/americas/fidel-castro-cuban-posters.html
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1953/07/27/96497134.html?rpm=true&pageNumber=11
https://havanatimes.org/features/the-cuban-regime-celebrates-batistas-generosity/
https://www.themilitant.com/1996/601/601_16.html

Fidel Castro Attacks Moncada Barracks

https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/11/26/cuba-fidel-castros-record-repression
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP84S00897R000200050008-4.pdf
https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/the-bay-of-pigs
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/cuban-missile-crisis
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/rfk-operation-mongoose/
https://www2.gwu.edu/~erpapers/mep/displaydoc.cfm?docid=erpn-fidcas
http://www.fidelcastro.cu/en/biografia/fidel-castro-revolutionary-soldier

https://archive.legion.org/node/1942
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/02/24/90774756.html?pageNumber=34
https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/counting-victims-of-the-castro-regime-nearly-11000-to-date/
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article290249799.html
https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/22/americas/cuba-crisis-energy-economy-intl-latam
https://horizontecubano.law.columbia.edu/news/economic-crisis-cuba-its-causes-and-migration

Cuba’s Unyielding Struggle: A Journey Through History, Ideology, and Economic Collapse

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/world/americas/cuba-economy-venezuela-oil.html