The Jimmy Dore Show
Episode Title: Here's What TV News Isn't Telling You About Cuba's Collapse!
Date: February 16, 2026
Host: Jimmy Dore
Guests/Contributors: Kurt, correspondents, and satirical impersonations of public figures
Overview
This episode of The Jimmy Dore Show confronts the U.S. media narrative around Cuba's current crisis, arguing that mainstream coverage omits the real source of Cuba's economic collapse: U.S. sanctions and blockade. Jimmy Dore and co-host Kurt dissect how the U.S. government intentionally inflicts hardship on Cuban civilians as a method of regime change, drawing parallels to the situation in Gaza and discussing the consequences of U.S. imperial policy globally. The episode also delves into recent wildfires in Chile and Argentina, alleged Israeli connections, orchestrated regime change in Latin America, and closes with a critical segment on conformity and dissent in Hollywood.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Media Coverage and the Concealed Cause of Cuba's Crisis
Timestamps: 01:52 – 14:35
- Corporate Media Omissions: Jimmy highlights a CBS report describing Cuba as on the brink of collapse with severe shortages of fuel, food, and medicine, but notes that “the ridiculous corporate media propaganda doesn’t mention why Cuba is suffering... It’s because the US Regime has imposed an illegal, barbaric, medieval blockade on Cuba to starve it...” (04:17).
- U.S. Sanctions as Economic Warfare: Dore likens U.S. actions to siege warfare, stating, “This is called terrorism. This is terrorizing people for a political end. ... That’s the definition of terrorism. Using violence for political ends. That’s what the United States is the best at.” (06:45)
- Government Testimony vs. Reality: Clips and summaries from news correspondents repeating official lines juxtaposed against Dore’s interpretation of U.S. policy as collective punishment.
Notable Quote
“The United States has that kind of power because we’re the reserve currency...so we can create a living hell in their country where you can’t get medicine, you can’t get power, you can’t get food...”
— Jimmy Dore, 05:28
2. Parallels Between Cuba and Gaza
Timestamps: 10:10 – 13:50
- Collective Punishment: The discussion draws direct parallels in language and policy between U.S. sanctions on Cuba and Israeli tactics in Gaza: “Look, in both cases it’s collective punishment, a siege that cuts off essential supplies for an entire people.” (11:57)
- International Complicity: Jimmy notes that U.S. actions against Cuba are supported by few countries internationally, paralleling Israel’s diplomatic isolation regarding Gaza.
Notable Quote
“The playbook is the same, the language is the same, the intent is the same. The only thing that can be different this time is the world’s response.”
— Jimmy Dore, quoting Arnaud, 12:45
3. CIA Propaganda and Economic Sabotage
Timestamps: 14:35 – 17:04
- Historic and Current CIA Activities: A former CIA officer describes manipulating the global media and fabricating stories of “Cuban atrocities” during the Angola war, confessing, “It was pure, raw, false propaganda to create an illusion...” (16:50)
- Economic Motives: Dore explains the historic U.S. economic hold over Cuba pre-revolution and current machinations: “The illegal blockade...is punishment for Cubans daring to reclaim their sovereignty.” (17:20)
Notable Quote
“We didn’t know of one single atrocity committed by the Cubans. It was pure, raw false propaganda...to create an illusion of communists, you know, eating babies for breakfast.”
— Former CIA Officer, 16:57
4. Geopolitics & The Latin American “Playbook”
Timestamps: 17:30 – 21:00
- US Pressure and Global Responses: Introduction of China’s efforts to help Cuba pivot to solar energy in response to the oil blockade.
- US hypocrisy: “If their economic system is so subpar, why not let them fail on their own? Oh, because it’s not—and they wouldn’t fail on their own, which is why we have to do all this sanctions...” (18:40).
5. Allegations of Israeli Influence in South America
Timestamps: 21:06 – 36:15
- Chile Wildfires & “Plan Andinia”: Dore and Kurt discuss alleged Israeli involvement in wildfires in Chile and Argentina and a supposed plan by Zionist organizations to settle Patagonia. They connect recent pro-Israel political developments in Latin America to broader geopolitical designs.
- Media Complicity: The show references ongoing media manipulation and legislation to facilitate land grabs post-fire.
Notable Quotes
“[The] plan Andinia first circulated publicly in 1971...In 2009, Senator Eugenio Tuma Zeddin of Chile said...Israeli tourists annually were actually IDF soldiers in disguise, mapping southern Chile for a secret Jewish state in Patagonia.”
— Jimmy Dore, 24:33
“They are burning Patagonia to give it to entirely to Israel.”
— Reading from source, 33:00
6. The “Woke” Groupthink and Ostracism in Hollywood
Timestamps: 36:48 – 47:54
- Bill Maher & Conformity Culture: Conversation with Bill Maher on Hollywood’s intolerance for dissenting viewpoints, especially around political orthodoxy:
- “[Artists] are supposed to be the most open...But all the artists I knew became the most Nazi like authoritarians...” (39:23)
- Corporate Art & CIA: Kurt alleges that much of modern art and pop culture is shaped by the CIA and plutocrats.
Notable Quotes
“You would think liberals would be the most open to dissent. ... It’s the exact opposite. Which means they’re not actually liberal, that they’re actually illiberal and they're authoritarians and they're scared spineless and they're afraid to think for themselves.”
— Jimmy Dore, 45:16
7. Mock Interviews and Satirical Interludes
J.D. Vance Call-In: 55:01 – 61:46
A recurring comedic segment with an impersonation of J.D. Vance (voiced by Mike McRae) satirizes US foreign policy, cultural myopia, and personal awkwardness among politicians—offering comic relief after heavy discussions.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “The terrorists are us. This is called terrorism. This is terrorizing people for a political end.” — Jimmy Dore, 06:45
- “Both situations are terrifyingly similar. And there’s little doubt that the United States actions on Cuba were enabled by the world’s lack of concrete response on Gaza.” — Quoting Arnaud, 12:23
- “Israel is a cancer. On the world. On the world.” — Jimmy Dore, 35:51
- “All the artists I knew became the most Nazi like authoritarians, enforcing the narrative.” — Jimmy Dore, 39:23
- “[Liberals] are not actually liberal, that they’re actually illiberal and they're authoritarians and they're scared spineless and they're afraid to think for themselves.” — Jimmy Dore, 45:16
Segment Timestamps
- 01:52 – 06:45: Jimmy Dore’s opening monologue, critiques US media coverage on Cuba
- 10:10 – 13:50: Parallels between Cuba and Gaza crises
- 14:35 – 17:04: Ex-CIA officer describes Cold War propaganda and economic sabotage
- 21:06 – 36:15: Israel, Chile, Patagonia fires, and speculative global plots
- 36:48 – 47:54: Hollywood groupthink, Bill Maher interview, culture of ostracism
- 55:01 – 61:46: Satirical J.D. Vance call-in
Tone & Style
The tone is brash, skeptical, irreverent, and highly critical of U.S. foreign policy, mainstream media, and establishment politics—punctuated with bitter humor. There are frequent sarcastic asides, speculative connections, and a DIY outrage that’s typical of Jimmy Dore’s style.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
Jimmy Dore’s episode offers a fierce counter-narrative to mainstream reporting on Cuba’s hardship, tying it explicitly to U.S. policy and broader imperial strategies. He uses historic evidence and recent news to draw global parallels, while his co-hosts and impersonated guests serve to skewer hypocrisy and corruption in global and Hollywood politics. If you want a take that calls out both left, right, and the media, in bombastic and unfiltered language, this is a must-listen.