Cuba Latest, Louisiana Primary, World Cup Travel

Summary

Up First (NPR) – Episode Summary

Date: May 16, 2026
Theme: The episode covers three major stories: the ongoing crisis and U.S. negotiations in Cuba, the high-stakes Louisiana Republican Senate primary as a test of Trump’s influence, and looming challenges for international fans and teams traveling to the U.S. for the World Cup due to travel bans.

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1. Crisis & Negotiations in Cuba

Segment start: 01:19

Key Points

• Energy Crisis: Cuba experienced a complete depletion of oil reserves, leading to over 24-hour blackouts across the country and prompting widespread protests in Havana.
  • "So on Wednesday, very unhappy people took to the streets of Havana. They banged on pots and pans, demanding that the government turn the lights back on." — Eder Peralta (01:51)
• Origins of Shortage: The U.S. has enforced a de facto oil blockade on Cuba, and aging infrastructure undermines attempts at switching to solar power.
• Diplomatic Developments: CIA Director John Ratcliffe led a U.S. delegation to Havana, sending a message: The U.S. is open to engaging on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes “fundamental changes”.
  • "Radcliffe came with a message... that the US wants to, quote, seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes." — Eder Peralta (02:50)
• Sticking Points: Cuban officials express openness to economic reforms and U.S. investment, but draw a line at regime change or abandoning socialism.
  • "They say they will not, especially not under pressure from the United States, give up their president or change their one-party system or... their socialist ideology." — Eder Peralta (03:12)
• Hints of Softening: Historian Lilian Guerra notes some concessions— the Vatican is mediating, U.S. offered $100 million in aid, Cuba released a political prisoner.
• Wider Risks: Both governments fear further unrest could spark a migrant crisis impacting the U.S.
  • "Guerra's read is that the situation is so dire... both sides are afraid of an explosion, one that could leave Cuba grappling with a popular uprising, and... the US facing a humanitarian and migrant crisis." — Eder Peralta (04:23)
• Memorable analogy on the crisis: "Cuba is experiencing a cardiac arrest and everybody keeps trying to treat that with a band aid." — Alyssa Nadworny (04:48)

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2. Louisiana Primary: A Test of Trump’s GOP Influence

Segment start: 05:15

Key Points

• Context: Louisiana holds a pivotal Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, featuring Senator Bill Cassidy—one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump after January 6th—versus Trump-backed Congresswoman Julia Letlow and hardliner John Fleming.
• Primary Turmoil: There’s voter confusion as the state shifted to a closed primary and congressional races have been postponed pending redistricting.
  • "Some voters are not sure what elections are on and which ones are off." — Sam Greenglass (06:22)
• Cassidy’s Pitch: Stresses his legislative effectiveness and bipartisanship, downplaying his impeachment vote.
  • "Cassidy's telling voters if they care about the future, not the past, they should vote for him." — Sam Greenglass (06:37)
  • Quote: "It takes courage. You're going to get criticized. You got to have some spine and some backbone. But I've proven I've had that." — Bill Cassidy (07:01)
• Letlow’s Trump Endorsement: Letlow entered the race at Trump’s direct request.
  • "I get a call from the big man. And by that I don't mean the Lord, I mean President Trump himself." — Julia Letlow (07:25)
• Voters’ Divisions: Sharp splits—some view Cassidy’s impeachment vote as treason; others value his independence.
  • “If you cross me, I probably won’t trust you anymore. So I think his political career in Louisiana is finished.” — Kevin Dupre, voter (08:01)
  • "Conservatism is about ideas and principles, and they always make it about Trump. What you gonna do when he's no longer in the picture?" — Kelby Daigle, Parish GOP chair (08:25)
• Wider Stakes: The race is viewed as a barometer for the post-Trump identity of the GOP, signaling whether independent Republicans have a future.
  • "He's got a push from both sides. Those who want unqualified fealty to Trump and those who want somebody who will stand up to Trump..." — Jay Darden, ex-Lt. Gov. (09:01)
• Light Moment: Crawfish races at the festival symbolize local flavor and the playful tone alongside serious coverage.
  • "I'm not sure any of the Crawfish would describe it as winning, but for whatever kid won that race, they were very excited." — Sam Greenglass (09:30)

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3. World Cup Travel & U.S. Visa Bans

Segment start: 10:15

Key Points

• Event Overview: With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching (hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico), travel bans from the Trump administration have raised new concerns for fans and some teams.
• Ban Details: 39 countries face travel restrictions (19 full, 20 partial), ostensibly for U.S. national security.
  • "The Trump administration has said they are doing this to, quote, ensure that individuals approved for a visa do not endanger national security or public safety." — Sergio Martinez Beltran (10:36)
• Direct Impact on Teams: Iran and Haiti (full ban), Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal (partial), all set to play in the U.S.
  • Restriction mostly affects fans, though in Iran’s case, players with Revolutionary Guard service (including star Mehdi Taremi) may be denied visas.
• Diaspora Frustration: Iranian Americans face compounded obstacles to participating in or even gathering for the event.
  • "It would be really great if Iranians and Iranian Americans could see one another... But we're not even able to have Iranians have basic immigration processing move forward because of that suspension, not to mention the total ban." — Jamal Abdi (11:52)
• Tourism Hit: U.S. hotel bookings fall short of projections, not just from banned countries but also from European nations due to uncertainty and high visa fees.
  • "I think you're going to see a lot of fans from European countries... say, look, I love the World cup, but, you know, maybe I'll sit this one out and save my money for 2030 when the event comes to Spain and Portugal." — Victor Matheson, economist (12:56)
• Visa Bond Change: U.S. waives the new $15,000 “visa bond” for World Cup ticket holders, but late change and high airfare may limit impact.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Cuba crisis: "Cuba experiencing a cardiac arrest and everybody keeps trying to treat that with a band aid." — Alyssa Nadworny (04:46)
• On Cassidy's dilemma: "He's got a push from both sides. Those who want unqualified fealty to Trump and those who want somebody who will stand up to Trump on the other side." — Jay Darden (09:01)
• On World Cup visa frustration: "It would be really great if Iranians and Iranian Americans could see one another... But we're not even able to have Iranians have basic immigration processing move forward because of that suspension." — Jamal Abdi (11:52)
• On tourism: "Maybe I'll sit this one out and save my money for 2030 when the event comes to Spain and Portugal." — Victor Matheson (12:56)

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Timestamps to Important Segments

• Cuba—Energy crisis, protests, U.S. negotiations: 01:19–05:03
• Louisiana Primary—GOP dynamics, candidate profiles, voter perspectives: 05:15–09:42
• World Cup Travel Bans—Policy impact on teams & fans: 10:15–13:47

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Tone & Style

• The episode balances hard-hitting political analysis with accessible, local color (like crawfish races), using direct reporting and conversational exchanges among reporters and hosts.
• Quotes from field interviews and sources bring in authentic voices and ground-level perspectives.

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Summary Usefulness:
Listeners gain a clear, concise understanding of critical developments in both international affairs (Cuba and travel bans) and U.S. domestic politics, equipped with direct quotes and a sense of the episode’s engaging tone. This summary collects the essential facts, debate, and color, so anyone skipping the episode is well-informed.

Transcript

[Sam Greenglass]

2026 crawfish races.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Here we go.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

It is down to the wire today

[Ayesha Rascoe]

in Louisiana, but not for the crawfish. It's primary day for an embattled U.S. senator. I'm Ayesha Rascoe.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

And I'm Alyssa Nadworny. And this is up first from NPR News.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

The voting today is yet another test of President Trump's hold on the Republican Party. We take a look at who's on the ballot.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

Also, protests in Havana and empty oil reserves. We have the latest on Cuba.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

And World cup fans confront US travel bans. We've got FIFA and visas today on

[Alyssa Nadworny]

the podcast, so stay with us. We have the news you need to start your weekend.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

At Planet Money. We've been bringing golden audio to your ears for years, but there are key golden moments we haven't tapped into yet, like graduations.

[Eder Peralta]

Listen, son, this is a big day. In honor of it, we got you the Planet Money podcast.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Uh, thanks. Which is why we invented the Planet Money book, available in bookstores now for all the moments a podcast doesn't cover.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

First up today, Cuba.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

This week, the island ran out of oil, causing massive blackouts across the country and a night of protests. Havana also got a visit from the CIA director.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

He was there for negotiations starting with a tough choice for Cuba's leaders. Change or the U.S. will act. NPR international correspondent Eder Peralta is following it all and joins us now. Good morning, Ader.

[Eder Peralta]

Hey, good morning, Alyssa.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

So let's start with more details from what looks like a week with a lot going on in Cuba.

[Eder Peralta]

Yeah, I mean, we're reaching summer there, so it's really hot. And it so happens that the lights went off for more than 24 hours this week. So on Wednesday, very unhappy people took to the streets of Havana. They banged on pots and pans, demanding that the government turn the lights back on. And the government didn't offer much hope. The country's energy minister, Vicente de la Ol? Levi, came on TV and said that the 100,000 ton of Russian crude that arrived in April has been used up and that the grid is now operating essentially without reserves. And remember that Cuba has received precious little oil because the US Is running a de facto oil blockade. Cuba has been investing in solar power, but the grid is so old, so frail, so lacking in maintenance, that it can't handle the voltage fluctuations that happen with solar energy. So that means that the long blackouts that are making life miserable on the island are here to stay.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

And while all this is happening, the director of the CIA lands in the country?

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Yeah.

[Eder Peralta]

Cuba says that the US Asked for a high level meeting and a delegation headed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe landed in Havana on Thursday. The Cubans say they made it clear that they don't pose a security threat to the U.S. they say they don't host any foreign military or intelligence bases on the island. The US Readout of the visit came out from a CIA official speaking to NPR on condition of anonymity. And that official said Radcliffe came with a message for Cuba and that's that the US Wants to, quote, seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes. I've spoken to Cuban officials and they have been fairly consistent in saying that they are open to economic reforms on the island. They're even open to US Investment, they say, but that they will not, especially not under pressure from the United States, give up their president or change their one party system or for that matter, their socialist ideology. I think the question is whether it's, whether those things are the changes that the US Considers fundamental.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

So what, I mean, does this point to a stalemate? Neither side is going to budge?

[Eder Peralta]

I think you could read it that way. And that's consequential because President Trump has threatened military action. But I had a conversation with Lilian Guerra, a Cuban historian at the University of Florida, and she sees both sides softening. The Vatican, for example, has been instrumental in bridging gaps between the US And Cuba. And it's notable that Secretary of State Marco Rubio met recently with Pope Leo. The US has also offered Cuba $100 million in aid, and Cuba has said they would take it. And importantly, Cuba also released a high profile prisoner on Thursday. Guerra's read is that the situation is so dire in Cuba that both sides are afraid of an explosion, one that could leave Cuba grappling with a popular uprising, and it could leave the US Facing a humanitarian and migrant crisis. I think there's a bit of a

[Alyssa Nadworny]

desperation, I would say, on all sides because we've got basically Cuba experiencing a

[Ayesha Rascoe]

cardiac arrest and everybody keeps trying to

[Alyssa Nadworny]

treat that with a band aid.

[Eder Peralta]

And basically what Guerra is saying is that Cuba is at a tipping point and something has to give. And maybe, just maybe, that means a deal between the U.S. and Cuba.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

That's NPR's Ader Peralta. Ader, thank you so much.

[Eder Peralta]

Thank you, Alyssa.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Now to Louisiana voters there go to

[Alyssa Nadworny]

the polls today in a primary election testing President Trump's control of his party. Bill Cassidy was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump after the January 6th insurrection.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Now Cassidy is trying to beat two primary challengers, including one with Trump's endorsement. NPR congressional reporter Sam Greenglass has just returned from the campaign trail and joins us now. Hi, Sam.

[Sam Greenglass]

Hey there.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

So tell us about being on the ground in Louisiana in the lead up to this election.

[Sam Greenglass]

Well, there's a lot of confusion right now because of changes to the primary election process. You know, historically, Louisiana's primaries have been open, and that means voters can select either party ballot no matter how they're registered. But that was until state lawmakers moved Louisiana to a closed primary this year, preventing registered Democrats from voting in the Republican primary to help Cassidy. And then separately, the US Supreme Court struck down Louisiana's congressional districts and the state halted the primaries for the House, but not the Senate, so lawmakers could redraw the map. And so some voters are not sure what elections are on and which ones are off.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

So you followed Cassidy and his Trump backed opponent while all of this chaos over the election was happening? What did you hear?

[Sam Greenglass]

Yeah, Cassidy's telling voters if they care about the future, not the past, they should vote for him. He says he doesn't know if Trump likes him, but they still work together. And on the trail, Cassidy's been emphasizing the billions of dollars in federal funds he brings home to Louisiana and does not talk much about his vote to convict Trump. Trump, though he does nod at his occasional willingness to break with his party.

[Eder Peralta]

It takes courage. You're going to get criticized. You got to have some spine and some backbone. But I've proven I've had that.

[Sam Greenglass]

Cassidy's Trump endorsed opponent is Congresswoman Julia Letlow. She is a former college administrator who won a special election for the House seat her husband was set to assume before he died of COVID in 2020. Letlow said she had not been planning to run for the Senate.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

And then I get a call from the big man. And by that I don't mean the Lord, I mean President Trump himself.

[Sam Greenglass]

And he encouraged her to get in the Senate race. I should note though, there is a third candidate running, that is the hard right state Treasurer John Fleming.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

What did you hear from voters while you were in Louisiana?

[Sam Greenglass]

I talked to voters across the state, not just at campaign rallies, also at places like an LSU baseball game. I even went to a crawfish festival. And that is where I met Kevin Dupre, who told me Cassidy's vote to convict Trump felt felt like a betrayal. And he will support any Republican but Cassidy.

[Eder Peralta]

I'm the type of person, if you cross me, I probably won't trust you anymore. So I think his political career in Louisiana is finished.

[Sam Greenglass]

But there are also folks like Kelby Daigle, who chairs the St. Martin Parish GOP. At the crawfish Festival, he told me he has two really unpopular positions. He does not like Crawfish, and he is voting Cassidy. He worries, though, about what Trump has done to the Republican Party.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Conservatism is about ideas and principles, and

[Eder Peralta]

they always make it about Trump. What you gonna do when he's no longer in the picture?

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Well, let's dig into that a little bit. I mean, explain more about why this election matters beyond Louisiana.

[Sam Greenglass]

So, yes, Cassidy voted to convict Trump, but he also cast the crucial vote to advance Robert F. Kennedy's nomination to lead hhs, despite Cassidy's background as a physician and his concerns about Kennedy's vaccine skepticism. At that LSU baseball game, former Republic Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Darden told me Cassidy is squeezed in a vice.

[Eder Peralta]

He's got a push from both sides. Those who want unqualified fealty to Trump and those who want somebody who will stand up to Trump on the other side.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Bill has tried to be both things,

[Eder Peralta]

and it may wind up costing.

[Sam Greenglass]

And it may also mean one less Republican senator open to breaking with Trump at a time when Congress has been more than willing to defer to the president.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Sam, I hear there was a Crawfish race at that festival you went to. Which one won?

[Sam Greenglass]

There were three rounds, and there were a bunch of different names. They had all crazy names. They were named by kids. So I'm not sure any of the Crawfish would describe it as winning, but for whatever kid won that race, they were very excited.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Okay, good, good, good. NPR congressional reporter Sam Greenglass. Sam, thank you so much.

[Eder Peralta]

You're welcome.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Moving on to heat two, we have Princess pitcher Adrienne Landon and Blanco Jr. Finally today, getting or not getting to the World Cup. The start of FIFA's big tournament is less than a month away. 48 national teams will face off in matches in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

the Trump administration's immigration policies, including travel bans, have created concerns, but Washington now seems to be relaxing some restrictions. NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran joins us to explain. Good morning.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Hey, Elisa.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

So remind us about this travel ban imposed by President Trump earlier this year.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Well, there are 39 countries who are under either a full or partial travel ban. For 19 of those countries, the State Department has suspended issuing all visas. For the rest, it has partially suspended it. The Trump administration has said they are doing this to, quote, ensure that individuals approved for A visa do not endanger national security or public safety. Now, Elisa, the issue is that four countries in those lists are expected to play in the FIFA World cup and play matches here in the US I'm talking about Iran and Haiti, who are under the full travel ban, and Cote d' Ivoire and Senegal, who are under the partial ban.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

Okay, so how does the ban apply to the players and coaches, then?

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Well, this applies mostly to the people in those countries, the visitors who are looking to come to the US to see family or attend the games, not the teams. However, in the case of Iran, things are complicated because of the war against that country. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iranian players are welcome as long as they have not served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This means that Iran's team captain, Mehdi Taremi, might not be granted a visa since he completed his mandatory military service in the Guard. I talked to Jamal Abdi. He's the president of the National Iranian American Council. He says the ban has created an untenable situation for many Iranians.

[Eder Peralta]

It would be really great if Iranians and Iranian Americans could see one another and the people of our two countries could actually have a venue to celebrate. But we're not even able to have Iranians have basic immigration processing move forward because of that suspension, not to mention the total ban.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Abdi also worries about the threat of violence against Iranian Americans outside of the stadiums.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

So what are the implications of these bans on tourism?

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Well, we're starting to see how Trump's immigration policies are having an impact on tourism for the World Cup. Elisa. The American Hotel and Lodging association released a survey earlier this month that found hotel bookings in many host cities are running far below projections, in part because of a perception that international travelers may face lengthy visa wait times, increased visa fees, and lingering uncertainty around entry processing. So the impact could go beyond just people who would be traveling from countries included in the ban. That's what Victor Matheson told me. He is a big soccer fan and a professor of economics at the College of the Holy Cross.

[Eder Peralta]

I think you're going to see a lot of fans from European countries who have been at the butt of President Trump's antagonistic words, say, look, I love the World cup, but, you know, maybe I'll sit this one out and save my money for 2030 when the event

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

comes to Spain and Portugal.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

Okay. So another barrier from the Trump administration is a visa bond program. So nationals of 50 countries will have to pay up to $15,000 that will be refunded when the person departs the US has that changed this week?

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Yes. The visa bond posed a huge barrier for people wanting to visit the US this week, though, the Trump administration said the bond will be waived for those who have already purchased a FIFA World cup ticket. But that might be too late. I mean, buying a plane ticket now can be crazy expensive, especially because of the soaring jet fuel prices.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran, thanks.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

You're welcome.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

And that's up first for Saturday, May 16, 2026. I'm Ayesha Rascoe.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

And I'm Melissa Nadworny. Michael Radcliffe produced today's podcast with help from Fernando Naro and Ryan Bank. Our editor was Ed McNulty, assistant assisted by Hadil Al Shalchi, Dee Dee Skanke, Kelsey Snell and Jennifer Portman.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

In the studio today is our director, Andy Craig, and our technical director, David

[Alyssa Nadworny]

Greenberg, who has engineering support from Simon Laszlo Jansen, Zoe Van Genhoven and Jay Siz.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Shannon Rhodes is our senior supervising editor. Our executive producer is Evie Stone. Jim Cain is our deputy managing editor.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

Tomorrow on the Sunday story, standing in the way of luxury condos in Lagos, Nigeria.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Thanks for listening and for supporting your local NPR station. And if you need to find yours, go to stations.NPR.org.