Podcast Summary: The New Yorker Radio Hour

“Is Cuba Trump’s Next Target?”

Date: March 20, 2026
Host: David Remnick
Featured Guests: John Lee Anderson (The New Yorker staff writer), Ada Ferrer (Pulitzer Prize-winning historian)

Episode Overview

This episode examines the latest, increasingly bellicose rhetoric and policy actions by President Trump toward Cuba amid several ongoing U.S. foreign interventions. Through in-depth conversations with journalist John Lee Anderson and historian Ada Ferrer, host David Remnick explores Cuba's desperate domestic crisis, the character and fate of its current regime, the nature of U.S.-Cuba relations past and present, as well as the perspective of both islanders and Cuban-Americans on the prospect of American-led intervention.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shift in Trump’s Foreign Policy (01:08–02:24)

President Trump, initially focused on “America First,” has dramatically shifted toward aggressive foreign policies, including military interventions in Venezuela, threats to Greenland, and war with Iran.
After launching military action in Iran, Trump and his allies began “teasing a new move” on Cuba.

Notable Quote:

“Taking Cuba, that’d be good. That’s a big honor... I mean, whether I free it, take it, I think I could do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth? They’re a very weakened nation right now.” — Donald Trump (01:57–02:17)

2. The State of Cuba & Its Leadership (02:33–05:59)

Miguel Diaz-Canel is characterized as a “handpicked successor to Raul Castro,” a “party apparatchik” with limited charisma, little popular respect but not widely hated, and little real power.
Raul Castro and his family remain the true power behind the scenes.
The regime's “continuity” rhetoric fails to inspire the younger generation amid worsening economic conditions.

Notable Quote:

“Diaz Canel is a kind of… yeah, he’s a working stiff, really, and doesn’t have a huge amount of respect from the population, but nor is he seen as particularly evil.” — John Lee Anderson (02:56–03:43)

3. Cuba's Economic and Social Collapse (04:19–10:54)

Mass emigration has left Cuba “empty,” with up to 20% of the population departing since 2021.
Severe blackouts, fuel shortages, and infrastructure breakdowns have become routine.
Many professionals, including doctors, have left for menial work abroad, while the elderly remain, often reliant on remittances.

Notable Quote:

“When I first went back...I was struck by the emptiness of Cuba. And everything was just empty. There was no people. I really felt the exodus.” — John Lee Anderson (08:54–09:30)

4. Geopolitics & Negotiations (06:34–08:26, 12:26–14:24)

The U.S. oil blockade on Cuba and chaos in the Middle East may give the Cubans some leverage—they hope to delay and negotiate rather than capitulate.
The U.S., mainly via Marco Rubio’s influence, wants economic opening (“sweeteners” for private enterprise) as a first step; political change would likely be required later, but the Cuban regime is resistant.
There is a risk that any collapse in Cuba would spill chaos into the U.S., potentially triggering a new migration crisis.

Notable Quote:

“The package, as I understand it, that the Americans want, start with a sweetener... What they’re trying to do is basically make Cuba a dependency of the United States in the same way that Venezuela is now a neo dependency.” — John Lee Anderson (12:41–13:14)

5. The Limits and Dangers of U.S. Policy (14:24–16:53)

Cuba’s communist system is widely viewed as unsustainable, but U.S. efforts to manufacture a dependency pose dangers.
Resentment and nationalism would persist, regardless of regime change.
The U.S. may underestimate the complexity and resilience of Cuban society—and the risk of chaos is nontrivial.

Notable Quote:

“Even Rubio...has adopted, interestingly, a more sophisticated policy approach with both Venezuela and now Cuba than I would have expected—but it’s got this, you know, imperialist kind of veneer… This arrogance, a hubris, a kind of denialism about history and human nature and a lack of knowledge about other countries and their pasts.” — John Lee Anderson (14:24–15:05)

Segment II: Conversation with Historian Ada Ferrer (18:52–34:54)

6. Historical Echoes & U.S.-Cuba Relations (19:02–20:23)

Ada Ferrer explains that the notion of a “friendly takeover” is an oxymoron; U.S. interventions in Cuba have a long, painful history.

Notable Quote:

“In my opinion, there’s no such thing as a friendly takeover of Cuba. And if you know any Cuban history and any history of the relationship between the two countries, you can’t listen to those words and not cringe.” — Ada Ferrer (20:01–20:23)

7. Humanitarian Crisis & Assigning Blame (20:37–23:45)

Hospitals are crumbling, basic services are collapsing—families must obtain even surgical prostheses and blood for operations.
The population is less concerned with blame than with a desperate need for change; both U.S. sanctions and government mismanagement are responsible.

Notable Quotes:

“There's a sense of hopelessness, of... a complete lack of confidence that the current government in Cuba can find a solution to anything.” — Ada Ferrer (20:37–21:00)
“The Cuban people are so desperate right now that they are much less interested in the question of who's to blame. In some ways, they don't quite care who's to blame. They just want something to change.” — Ada Ferrer (22:22–22:38)

8. Politics of Cuban Americans & Changes in Attitude (23:45–25:32)

Though generally conservative, recent Cuban arrivals are driving a more nuanced, less old-guard perspective in Miami—many support U.S. “action” but come from different backgrounds than the typical exile stereotype.
The line between Cubans on the island and those in the U.S. has blurred with increased recent migration.

9. U.S. Immigration Policy & Cuban Support (25:32–27:00)

The Cuban Adjustment Act remains law, but Trump’s actions have made it functionally irrelevant; many Cubans face deportation, even humanitarian arrivals.
Some Cuban-Americans questioned Trump’s deportations, but concerns lessened after the Venezuela invasion.

10. Memory of Hope: The Obama Thaw (27:00–28:24)

Obama’s 2016 visit was a high point of optimism: crowds welcomed him and dreamed of a different future; the feeling now is “the polar opposite.”

Notable Quote:

“In all my visits there, I have never seen the sense of excitement and hope that I saw when Obama was there... she referred to him as my president.” — Ada Ferrer (27:33–28:09)

11. Current Desperation and Attitudes Toward Change (28:24–30:39)

Most Cubans are now willing to accept any change, even intervention, out of despair—not because of ideological alignment.
Ferrer cautions against U.S. action: history shows that U.S. interventions have rarely brought true Cuban freedom or stability.

Notable Quote:

"I don't think a solution will ever be US intervention. I don't believe that... the US has not acted in the interest of a free Cuba." — Ada Ferrer (30:39–31:27)

12. Historical Context: U.S. Interventions in Cuba (31:27–32:59)

Ferrer recounts U.S. efforts to block Cuban independence in the 19th century, the “Platt Amendment,” the Bay of Pigs, and repeated betrayals of Cuban sovereignty.

Notable Quote:

“…that’s part of the background. That’s why any historical knowledge makes you skeptical of a statement like Trump’s.” — Ada Ferrer (32:59)

13. Personal Stories: Exodus and Loss (33:01–34:54)

Ferrer describes the emotional toll of continual departures—losing friends, family needing medical help, and the business of emigration to Spain.
Even those who vowed never to leave have now departed.

Notable Moments & Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |-------------|-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:57–02:17 | Donald Trump | “Taking Cuba, that’d be good...I think I could do anything I want with it...” | | 08:54–09:30 | J.L. Anderson | “I was struck by the emptiness of Cuba...everything was just empty...I really felt the exodus.” | | 12:41–13:14 | J.L. Anderson | “...make Cuba a dependency of the United States in the same way that Venezuela is now a neo dependency.”| | 20:01–20:23 | Ada Ferrer | “There’s no such thing as a friendly takeover of Cuba… you can’t listen to those words and not cringe.” | | 27:33–28:09 | Ada Ferrer | “[Obama’s visit:] …she referred to him as my president.” | | 30:39–31:27 | Ada Ferrer | “I don’t think a solution will ever be US intervention...the US has not acted in the interest of a free Cuba.” |

Important Timestamps

01:08–02:24 | Introduction to Trump’s recent foreign adventures
02:56–05:59 | John Lee Anderson on Cuba’s leadership and regime structure
08:54–10:26 | The human and economic exodus from Cuba
12:26–14:24 | U.S. demands, negotiations, and risk of chaos
20:01–20:23 | Ada Ferrer on the impossibility of a "friendly takeover"
27:33–28:09 | Memories of hope after Obama’s visit
30:39–31:27 | Ferrer’s warning on U.S. intervention and historical patterns

Episode Tone

Candid, at times bleak in its depiction of current realities in Cuba and the risks of U.S. policy
Historically grounded, drawing on both expertise and personal stories
Cautiously skeptical about the prospects for constructive U.S. involvement

This episode provides an unvarnished look at the human cost and political stakes of potential U.S. intervention in Cuba, highlighting the frail state of the island, the complexities of regime change, and the long historical shadow of American-Cuban relations. Both guests emphasize the resourcefulness of Cuban people and their longing for change—while underlining the dangers of repeating past mistakes.

Podcast Summary: The New Yorker Radio Hour

“Is Cuba Trump’s Next Target?”

Date: March 20, 2026
Host: David Remnick
Featured Guests: John Lee Anderson (The New Yorker staff writer), Ada Ferrer (Pulitzer Prize-winning historian)

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shift in Trump’s Foreign Policy (01:08–02:24)

President Trump, initially focused on “America First,” has dramatically shifted toward aggressive foreign policies, including military interventions in Venezuela, threats to Greenland, and war with Iran.
After launching military action in Iran, Trump and his allies began “teasing a new move” on Cuba.

Notable Quote:

“Taking Cuba, that’d be good. That’s a big honor... I mean, whether I free it, take it, I think I could do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth? They’re a very weakened nation right now.” — Donald Trump (01:57–02:17)

2. The State of Cuba & Its Leadership (02:33–05:59)

Miguel Diaz-Canel is characterized as a “handpicked successor to Raul Castro,” a “party apparatchik” with limited charisma, little popular respect but not widely hated, and little real power.
Raul Castro and his family remain the true power behind the scenes.
The regime's “continuity” rhetoric fails to inspire the younger generation amid worsening economic conditions.

Notable Quote:

“Diaz Canel is a kind of… yeah, he’s a working stiff, really, and doesn’t have a huge amount of respect from the population, but nor is he seen as particularly evil.” — John Lee Anderson (02:56–03:43)

3. Cuba's Economic and Social Collapse (04:19–10:54)

Mass emigration has left Cuba “empty,” with up to 20% of the population departing since 2021.
Severe blackouts, fuel shortages, and infrastructure breakdowns have become routine.
Many professionals, including doctors, have left for menial work abroad, while the elderly remain, often reliant on remittances.

Notable Quote:

“When I first went back...I was struck by the emptiness of Cuba. And everything was just empty. There was no people. I really felt the exodus.” — John Lee Anderson (08:54–09:30)

4. Geopolitics & Negotiations (06:34–08:26, 12:26–14:24)

The U.S. oil blockade on Cuba and chaos in the Middle East may give the Cubans some leverage—they hope to delay and negotiate rather than capitulate.
The U.S., mainly via Marco Rubio’s influence, wants economic opening (“sweeteners” for private enterprise) as a first step; political change would likely be required later, but the Cuban regime is resistant.
There is a risk that any collapse in Cuba would spill chaos into the U.S., potentially triggering a new migration crisis.

Notable Quote:

“The package, as I understand it, that the Americans want, start with a sweetener... What they’re trying to do is basically make Cuba a dependency of the United States in the same way that Venezuela is now a neo dependency.” — John Lee Anderson (12:41–13:14)

5. The Limits and Dangers of U.S. Policy (14:24–16:53)

Cuba’s communist system is widely viewed as unsustainable, but U.S. efforts to manufacture a dependency pose dangers.
Resentment and nationalism would persist, regardless of regime change.
The U.S. may underestimate the complexity and resilience of Cuban society—and the risk of chaos is nontrivial.

Notable Quote:

“Even Rubio...has adopted, interestingly, a more sophisticated policy approach with both Venezuela and now Cuba than I would have expected—but it’s got this, you know, imperialist kind of veneer… This arrogance, a hubris, a kind of denialism about history and human nature and a lack of knowledge about other countries and their pasts.” — John Lee Anderson (14:24–15:05)

Segment II: Conversation with Historian Ada Ferrer (18:52–34:54)

6. Historical Echoes & U.S.-Cuba Relations (19:02–20:23)

Ada Ferrer explains that the notion of a “friendly takeover” is an oxymoron; U.S. interventions in Cuba have a long, painful history.

Notable Quote:

“In my opinion, there’s no such thing as a friendly takeover of Cuba. And if you know any Cuban history and any history of the relationship between the two countries, you can’t listen to those words and not cringe.” — Ada Ferrer (20:01–20:23)

7. Humanitarian Crisis & Assigning Blame (20:37–23:45)

Hospitals are crumbling, basic services are collapsing—families must obtain even surgical prostheses and blood for operations.
The population is less concerned with blame than with a desperate need for change; both U.S. sanctions and government mismanagement are responsible.

Notable Quotes:

“There's a sense of hopelessness, of... a complete lack of confidence that the current government in Cuba can find a solution to anything.” — Ada Ferrer (20:37–21:00)
“The Cuban people are so desperate right now that they are much less interested in the question of who's to blame. In some ways, they don't quite care who's to blame. They just want something to change.” — Ada Ferrer (22:22–22:38)

8. Politics of Cuban Americans & Changes in Attitude (23:45–25:32)

Though generally conservative, recent Cuban arrivals are driving a more nuanced, less old-guard perspective in Miami—many support U.S. “action” but come from different backgrounds than the typical exile stereotype.
The line between Cubans on the island and those in the U.S. has blurred with increased recent migration.

9. U.S. Immigration Policy & Cuban Support (25:32–27:00)

The Cuban Adjustment Act remains law, but Trump’s actions have made it functionally irrelevant; many Cubans face deportation, even humanitarian arrivals.
Some Cuban-Americans questioned Trump’s deportations, but concerns lessened after the Venezuela invasion.

10. Memory of Hope: The Obama Thaw (27:00–28:24)

Obama’s 2016 visit was a high point of optimism: crowds welcomed him and dreamed of a different future; the feeling now is “the polar opposite.”

Notable Quote:

“In all my visits there, I have never seen the sense of excitement and hope that I saw when Obama was there... she referred to him as my president.” — Ada Ferrer (27:33–28:09)

11. Current Desperation and Attitudes Toward Change (28:24–30:39)

Most Cubans are now willing to accept any change, even intervention, out of despair—not because of ideological alignment.
Ferrer cautions against U.S. action: history shows that U.S. interventions have rarely brought true Cuban freedom or stability.

Notable Quote:

"I don't think a solution will ever be US intervention. I don't believe that... the US has not acted in the interest of a free Cuba." — Ada Ferrer (30:39–31:27)

12. Historical Context: U.S. Interventions in Cuba (31:27–32:59)

Ferrer recounts U.S. efforts to block Cuban independence in the 19th century, the “Platt Amendment,” the Bay of Pigs, and repeated betrayals of Cuban sovereignty.

Notable Quote:

“…that’s part of the background. That’s why any historical knowledge makes you skeptical of a statement like Trump’s.” — Ada Ferrer (32:59)

13. Personal Stories: Exodus and Loss (33:01–34:54)

Ferrer describes the emotional toll of continual departures—losing friends, family needing medical help, and the business of emigration to Spain.
Even those who vowed never to leave have now departed.

Notable Moments & Quotes

Important Timestamps

01:08–02:24 | Introduction to Trump’s recent foreign adventures
02:56–05:59 | John Lee Anderson on Cuba’s leadership and regime structure
08:54–10:26 | The human and economic exodus from Cuba
12:26–14:24 | U.S. demands, negotiations, and risk of chaos
20:01–20:23 | Ada Ferrer on the impossibility of a "friendly takeover"
27:33–28:09 | Memories of hope after Obama’s visit
30:39–31:27 | Ferrer’s warning on U.S. intervention and historical patterns

Episode Tone

Candid, at times bleak in its depiction of current realities in Cuba and the risks of U.S. policy
Historically grounded, drawing on both expertise and personal stories
Cautiously skeptical about the prospects for constructive U.S. involvement