The Economic War on Cuba

Ed Augustin on the evolution of US-Cuba policy and the consequences of economic warfare

After Venezuela and Iran, many are asking if Cuba is next. The island is enduring energy blackouts, food and medicine shortages, and halting public services. But while the most vulnerable Cubans are hit hardest, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s apparent dream of toppling the regime does not appear close to fruition.

In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs’ Jonathan Guyer is joined by Ed Augustin, an independent journalist based in Havana, to discuss the situation on the ground. Ed updates us on the unfolding humanitarian crisis, Trump's 180-degree turn on Cuba policy, why the Cuban government is not backing down, and much more. They also touch on how Cuba fits into Trump’s broader Western Hemisphere policy.

Ed Augustin is an independent journalist and documentary filmmaker based in Havana. His reporting spans Cuban politics, the economy, labor, international affairs, and human interest stories. He is a contributor to The New York Times and Drop Site News and has written and produced work for Al Jazeera and The Guardian, among others.

Find Ed on X: https://x.com/ManInHabana

Read Ed’s most recent article in The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/world/americas/cubas-health-system-us-oil-blockade.html

Check out his other recent piece for Drop Site News: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/on-the-streets-of-havana-hope-that

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