May 1, 2026 — Belly of the Beast
Polls show most people in the United States oppose economic war on Cuba, yet one administration after the next — Republicans and Democrats alike — has advanced a Cold War-era approach dictated by Cuban-American hardliners from South Florida.
Increasingly, as Trump has ramped up U.S. sanctions, people in the U.S. are raising their voices to denounce a policy that amounts to collective punishment.
Renée is one of them. As a surgeon from Philadelphia, Renée recently visited Cuba, where she witnessed firsthand a healthcare system under severe strain: shortages of medicine and basic supplies, limited resources and constant blackouts that disrupt patient care.
According to Renée these restrictions are making medical treatment increasingly difficult.
“If it’s true that it is the Cuban government that is causing the problems, then lift the blockade, let the oil in, and let’s see what happens,” says Renée.
Check out our interview with Renee in Episode 1 of our series U.S. Voices Against the Blockade.
