Inside Trump’s Pressure Campaign on Cuba, and Why Food Banks Are Getting Squeezed

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Headlines – The New York Times
Episode: Inside Trump’s Pressure Campaign on Cuba, and Why Food Banks Are Getting Squeezed
Date: May 21, 2026
Host: Will Jarvis
Key Contributors: Michael Crowley (U.S. foreign policy reporter), James Panowasic (Chief TV critic)

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Episode Overview

This episode covers several high-impact news stories:

• The U.S. Justice Department’s indictment of former Cuban President Raul Castro
• The Trump administration’s intensifying pressure on the Cuban regime
• The financial squeeze hitting U.S. food banks amid high fuel costs
• The spread of a new Ebola outbreak in Central Africa
• The cultural significance of Stephen Colbert’s final episode of The Late Show

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Main Segments & Key Insights

1. U.S. Indicts Raul Castro: A New Era in Cuba Policy

[00:44 – 03:50]

• Announcement: The Department of Justice indicted Raul Castro, the 94-year-old former president of Cuba, for conspiring to kill U.S. nationals during a 1996 event when the Cuban military shot down civilian planes, killing four Americans.
• Significance:
  • Dramatic escalation in U.S.-Cuba relations—described as a “major development” (Michael Crowley, 01:56).
  • Follows the Trump administration’s approach to Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro—raising speculation about a potential military operation.
• Politics Behind the Move:
  • Trump’s second-term foreign policy is heavily influenced by Marco Rubio, a noted Cuba hardliner.

    "Rubio grew up and started his political career in South Florida, where the influence of anti-Castro regime Cuban exiles is enormous." (Michael Crowley, 02:36)

  • Trump is motivated by achievements unmatched by his predecessors, eager for a historic victory over the Castro regime.

Memorable Quote

"If you kill Americans, we will pursue you no matter who you are, no matter what title you hold, and in this case, no matter how much time has passed."
— Michael Crowley (quoting DOJ press release), [01:08]

Ground Impact

• Blackouts and hunger worsen in Cuba due to a U.S. fuel embargo.
• Some Cubans reportedly favor outside intervention to end decades of hardship.
• Cuba’s UN ambassador remains open to negotiations but warns:

  “Building different pretexts for military aggression does not help.” (Paraphrased, 04:15)

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2. U.S. Politics and Tobacco Industry Influence

[04:21 – 05:35]

• Revelations:
  • $5 million donation from a major tobacco company to a Trump-backed SuperPAC, coinciding with White House policies favorable to tobacco.
  • Private meetings between industry executives and Trump ahead of regulatory rollbacks.
  • Days after private complaints to Trump, the government relaxed rules on flavored vapes.
• White House Defense:

  “The only guiding factor behind the Trump administration's health policymaking is gold standard science.” (White House spokesman, 05:28)

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3. Food Banks Squeezed by Fuel Crisis

[05:35 – 06:44]

• Context:
  • Surging fuel prices (over $4/gallon) exacerbate logistical costs for food delivery.
  • Food banks must choose: use funds for fuel or for food itself.
• Real-World Impacts:
  • Oregon's main food bank pays $20,000 extra monthly for fuel.
  • A Montana network is ordering less food; others turn to cheaper, less nutritious options.
• Direct Testimony:

  “Its funding could be going to food for people, but instead it's going into the price of gas.”
  — Food bank organization leader (06:30)

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4. Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa

[06:44 – 07:54]

• Situation Update:
  • Over 600 suspected infections, nearly 140 deaths.
  • The outbreak circulated months before detection; more cases expected.
  • Risk of a global pandemic is low, but regional dangers are substantial.
• Complicating Factors:
  • Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts hamper response. Fewer supplies and personal protective equipment.
  • U.S. now sending $20 million in aid, but response lags.

Memorable Quote

“We're playing catch up. And so this is going to be a tough one.”
— Former USAID official, [07:56]

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5. The End of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Era

[09:09 – 10:59]

• Closure Announced:
  • The last episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs tonight after CBS cancels it, sparking rumors of political motivations due to Colbert’s critiques of Trump.
  • Ends a two-decade TV career: from satirical alter ego to influential late-night commentator.

Critic’s Perspective (James Panowasic):

“He found his voice and his show found its voice … at a time when politics was pop culture.” (09:41)

“You really see Stephen Colbert presiding over what I would call the peak period of late night political comedy. ... With him going, it feels like something is ending; it's putting a period on something, even if we don't necessarily know what's coming next.” (09:45–10:10)

• What’s Next for Colbert?
  • He’s writing a new Lord of the Rings movie script for Peter Jackson:

    “That is about as far as you can get from the petty politics of the real life United States.” (James Panowasic, 10:30)

  • Panowasic comments that Colbert “deserves a vacation.”

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Indictment of Raul Castro & Cuba Policy: 00:44 – 03:50
• Tobacco Industry Influence: 04:21 – 05:35
• Food Banks & Fuel Costs: 05:35 – 06:44
• Ebola Outbreak: 06:44 – 07:54
• Colbert’s Farewell: 09:09 – 10:59

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Tone and Language

The tone is analytical but accessible—balancing serious global developments with insightful commentary. Direct quotes and paraphrased explanations preserve the clarity and urgency of the original news segments.

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Notable Quotes

• On U.S. justice and Cuba:

  "If you kill Americans, we will pursue you no matter who you are, no matter what title you hold, and in this case, no matter how much time has passed." (Michael Crowley, 01:08)

• On Colbert’s influence:

  “He found his voice and his show found its voice at a time when politics was pop culture. … With him going, it feels like something is ending.” (James Panowasic, 09:41 & 10:10)

• On food bank challenges:

  “Its funding could be going to food for people, but instead it's going into the price of gas.” (Food bank leader, 06:30)

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Conclusion

This episode weaves together the sharp escalation in U.S. policy toward Cuba, the intersection of politics and public health, and the real-world costs Americans are facing—from hungry families to communities combating epidemics. It closes by reflecting on a cultural transition with Stephen Colbert’s farewell, a moment that marks shifts both in media and the broader political landscape.

Transcript

[Deborah Kamen]

Deborah I'm Deborah Kamen. I'm an investigative reporter at the New York Times. What I do is I look at the people running the real estate industry who for so many years have been relatively invisible. And the more that I look into it, the more that I find there are people in the real estate industry operating unethically and their unethical behavior affects every single American. At the New York Times, we're always looking a little bit deeper. To help readers better understand the world, you can subscribe to the New york [e-mail]

[Will Jarvis]

from the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Will Jarvis in for Tracy Mumford. Today's Thursday, May 21st. Here's what we're covering.

[Michael Crowley]

Today. We are announcing an indictment charging Raul Castro and several others with conspiracy to kill US Nationals.

[Will Jarvis]

The Department of Justice has announced charges against the former President of Cuba, 94 year old Raul Castro, in a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration's pressure campaign against the country.

[Michael Crowley]

If you kill Americans, we will pursue you no matter who you are, no matter what title you hold, and in this case, no matter how much time has passed.

[Will Jarvis]

Castro, who's the brother of Fidel, was charged yesterday in connection with a deadly incident back in 1996. That year, the Cuban military shot down a pair of planes operated by an exile group that often scoured the Caribbean looking for Cubans who were trying to flee the Communist regime. Four US Citizens were killed, and for decades, family members of the victims and others called for Castro to be held responsible. Now the indictment comes as President Trump has openly said he wants to topple the Cuban government. In a press conference announcing the charges, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said a warrant has been issued for Castro's arrest.

[Michael Crowley]

So we expect that he will show up here by his own will or by another way. This is a major development, frankly, because it has clear echoes of the indictment by the U.S. justice Department of the Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. And that indictment was the basis for President Trump's military operation to go in and snatch Maduro from Venezuela and bring him back to the United States for trial.

[Will Jarvis]

My colleague Michael Crowley covers U.S. foreign policy over the years.

[Michael Crowley]

President Trump hasn't actually seemed that interested in Cuba in his first term. He didn't make it one of his big foreign policy priorities. We've seen a real shift in this second term, and I think that has a lot to do with the fact that he now has Marco Rubio by his side helping to design his foreign policy. Rubio grew up and started his political career in South Florida, where the influence of anti Castro regime Cuban exiles is enormous. And as a United States Senator, there may have been no one as outspoken and determined as Rubio in calling for dramatic change in Cuba, including the fall of the Cuban regime, which he has often described as a dictatorship. And even if President Trump doesn't feel nearly as emotionally invested in Cuba as Marco Rubio does, Trump loves to be able to say that he has done things or solved problems that his predecessors weren't able to do. And if President Trump is able to achieve dramatic change in Cuba, possibly getting rid of the Castro revolution communist regime that has been there since 1959, I think he would be very, very happy to brag about that achievement that other presidents were not able to accomplish.

[Will Jarvis]

Meanwhile, on the ground in Cuba, news of Raul Castro's indictment trickled out slowly, in part because of widespread blackouts made worse by President Trump's effective fuel embargo on the country. Facing those power outages, along with growing hunger and a healthcare crisis, some Cubans told the Times they would welcome an intervention, even a military one, if it would break the status quo. At the same time, Cuba's ambassador to the UN Said in an interview that the country is eager to continue negotiations with the US Changing its economy and government. But that, quote, building different pretexts for military aggression does not help. Now. Two quick updates from the U.S. first, newly released campaign finance documents show that a major tobacco company donated $5 million to a Trump backed SuperPAC just before the White House rolled out a policy that could be lucrative for that industry. During that same period, lobbyists and top tobacco executives had lunch with President Trump at one of his golf clubs. According to people briefed on the meeting, they said that during the lunch, the guests complained about how the FDA was regulating the tobacco industry. In the middle of their conversation, Trump picked up the phone and called top health officials to criticize regulations around E cigarettes. Days later, the federal government issued new guidance that could pave the way for major tobacco companies to sell flavored vapes, which had been banned over fears they could get young people hooked. In response to questions about the timing of the payment and lunch, a spokesman for the White House said, quote, the only guiding factor behind the Trump administration's health policymaking is gold standard science. And with no end in sight to the war in Iran and the cost of fuel still well over $4 a gallon in the U.S. the the country's food banks are starting to get squeezed. As many as 50 million Americans turn to food pantries or soup kitchens every year. And the organizations had already been struggling to keep up with demand amid rising inflation. Now the groups say they're being forced to make a painful trade off, pay for the fuel to deliver food or pay for the food itself. One food bank in Oregon that supplies pantries across the state says it's had to budget an extra $20,000 in monthly fuel costs for its fleet of trucks. A food bank network in Montana said it's reducing how much food it orders. And other food banks say they've had to shift what they offer to cheaper options like substituting meat and other protein with low cost produce. The head of one organization told the Times its funding, quote, could be going to food for people, but instead it's going into the price of gas.

[Michael Crowley]

There are several factors that warrant serious concern about the potential for further spread and further deaths.

[Will Jarvis]

The head of the World Health Organization is warning that the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa is still not under control. So far, there have been nearly 600 suspected infections, including almost 140 deaths.

[Michael Crowley]

We expect those numbers to keep increasing given the amount of time the virus was circulating before the outbreak was detected.

[Will Jarvis]

The outbreak was officially declared about a week ago, but health authorities say that the deadly virus probably started spreading months ago and that many infections may have gone unreported. They say that the risk of a global pandemic is low, but the danger is still high at the regional level, where cases have been confirmed in major cities in Congo and Uganda. While local health officials have deep expertise on Ebola, experts say the response to this outbreak has been hindered by the Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid. They say that during previous outbreaks, the US had been a big part of tracing early cases of Ebola and rushing medical supplies to the front lines. Now many healthcare workers are likely having to treat patients wearing only gloves and surgical masks instead of respirators and face shields. With the world's attention on the crisis, there are signs the US Is starting to step up its involvement. The State Department announced it's sending more than $20 million of equipment to the region. One former USAID official told the Times that when it comes to this outbreak, quote, we're playing catch up. And so this is going to be a tough one. And finally, the very last episode of the Late show with Stephen Colbert will air tonight. The show's cancellation, which was abruptly announced by CBS last year, was described by network executives as a financial decision amid declining viewership for Late Night. But it immediately set off speculation that politics were involved and that Colbert, who'd been a vocal critic of President Trump, was being pushed out. It marks for now, the end of a more than two decade TV career for Colbert, who rose to fame playing an alter ego of himself who is an over the top conservative commentator.

[James Panowasic]

This man was able to create one of the most impressive works of performance art in any medium that we've seen at any time and then move on from that to one of of TV's biggest platforms to perform the maybe even more difficult job of learning how to be himself in public night after night.

[Will Jarvis]

James Panowasic is the Times chief TV critic. He says Colbert really hit his stride about a decade ago when he took over the Late show and Donald Trump became president.

[James Panowasic]

He found his voice and his show found his voice. At a time when politics was pop culture. And through Trump and then through Biden and then through Trump again, the Late show manages to find a way to be sort of pointed and topically engaged while also entertaining and for years stays the number one rated late night talk show in its time slot. You really see Stephen Colbert presiding over what I would call the peak period of late night political comedy. There are still other people doing it, but it feels with him going like something is ending, it's putting a period on something, even if we don't necessarily know what's coming next. You know, Stephen Colbert is relatively young in terms of career. We know that his next project is writing a new Lord of the Rings movie script for Peter Jackson. That is about as far as you can get from the petty politics of the real life United States. And you know, I do not blame him for wanting a vacation.

[Will Jarvis]

Those are the headlines. I'm Will Jarvis. We'll be back tomorrow with the latest updates and the Friday news quiz.

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