The Daily The Daily

Cuba Under Siege

Jul 10, 2026 · 47m

Summary

This episode examines the humanitarian crisis in Cuba, exacerbated by the Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign. Reporter Lindsey Garrison interviews Gustavo Torres Armas, a young Havana resident, who details his daily struggles with severe water shortages, power blackouts, and food scarcity. Gustavo describes a society normalized to extreme hardship, where citizens hitchhike due to collapsed transit and burn trash due to lack of collection services. The segment highlights the profound impact of these conditions on ordinary Cubans’ lives and their sense of hopelessness.

Topics discussed

Capital One advertisement US policy on Cuba and the fuel crisis Gustavo's daily struggle with water scarcity Transportation issues and trash accumulation Health risks from burning trash and disease Life at the art gallery during the crisis Ad breaks: Capital One and Bank of America Hitchhiking and the collapse of public transit Severe electricity blackouts in other regions Food shortages and skyrocketing prices Homelessness and cooking with firewood Political views and desire for regime change Normalization of suffering and mental health Conclusion of interview and ad breaks News headlines and episode credits
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