Top Podcasts on Cuba's Blackouts and Protests
Updated: Mar 19, 2026 – 10 episodes
Cuba is experiencing significant power outages, prompting widespread protests across the country. The situation has drawn commentary from the United States, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two nations. This development is crucial as it underscores the challenges in Cuba's energy infrastructure and the geopolitical implications of US-Cuba relations.
Three very different takes here — start with The President's Daily Brief for a comprehensive look at Cuba's protests and their implications on the communist regime. They discuss how the energy crisis is forcing economic concessions and potential shifts in U.S.-Cuba relations. The Ben Shapiro Show offers a bearish perspective, arguing that the regime is in deep trouble due to economic isolation and lack of oil revenues. Meanwhile, The Glenn Beck Program highlights the role of internet access in empowering protests, suggesting that Starlink could be a game-changer if introduced. Each podcast provides unique insights into the unfolding situation in Cuba.
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Ridealong has curated the best podcasts and clips about Cuba faces widespread blackouts leading to protests and US response. Listen now.
Podcast Episodes Covering This Story
“In videos posted online, protesters broke into the building, smashing windows and dragging furniture into the streets. Some threw furniture from the upper floor of the party's building, piling it outside before setting it all on fire. And if you watch those videos circulating on social media, you can hear people chanting, quote, liberty and down with communism. Now, that's something you almost never hear openly in Cuba, as you might imagine.”
Ridealong summary
The protests in Cuba are not just about blackouts but reflect deeper frustrations with the communist system itself.
“The blackouts and shortages have sparked protests across the island, and officials in Havana are clearly aware that the country's economic crisis is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. And now, the growing crisis inside the country appears to be softening the regime somewhat and forcing them to make some major concessions, or at least talk about making major concessions. Cuba's top economic official says the government is preparing a significant policy shift that would allow Cuban-Americans living abroad to invest directly in the island's private sector and even own businesses in their home country.”
Ridealong summary
Cuba's energy crisis is forcing the regime to consider major economic concessions, including allowing Cuban-Americans to invest directly in the island's private sector.
“There's island-wide blackouts every single day that you may get power maybe one or two hours a day, if you're lucky. No food, no medicine, no basic necessities. And it's all due to the incompetence, the corruption of this communist regime that has basically driven this beautiful island that used to be known as the jewel of the Caribbean right into the ground.”
Ridealong summary
Cuba's communist regime is collapsing under its own incompetence and corruption, with island-wide blackouts and severe shortages of basic necessities.
“Protests are breaking out there regularly. Here's some of the video of the protests breaking out in Cuba. And this regime is in serious trouble. They are. They have no money. They're cut off from everyone. They have no oil revenues. And the people are tired of this, truly tired of this.”
Ridealong summary
Cuba's regime is in serious trouble due to economic isolation and lack of oil revenues, with protests signaling the people's exhaustion.
“Ongoing power outages have left millions in the dark, triggering protests in cities, including the capital, where videos posted to social media show residents taking to the streets, banging pots and pans in frustration over worsening living conditions. Those demonstrations reflect growing anger over the island's economic collapse, which has strained Cuba's health care system, increased poverty, and fueled rising crime.”
Ridealong summary
The Cuban government is on the brink of collapse due to ongoing power outages and economic instability, with the US poised to influence a regime change similar to Venezuela.
“Cuba has been pushed repeatedly into the arms of Russia in Cuba, despite what we're always constantly told is that the Cuban people are freedom loving. Many of them are whatever that means. Many of them don't like the regime. There are people in jail. And, you know, it's the repeated insistence on this pattern over and over and over again. When you see that it drives a place like Cuba that could potentially be a partner further and further towards Russia and China.”
Ridealong summary
Cuba's reliance on Russia and China is a direct result of US policies that isolate the island, pushing it further into the arms of America's adversaries.
“The timing of these talks appears closely tied to Cuba's worsening energy crisis. According to Diaz-Canel, the island has not received any petroleum shipments in roughly three months, a shortage that he blamed on the U.S. oil blockade against Cuba. Without those imports, Cuba's already fragile electrical grid has come under intense strain. A major blackout last week plunged much of the island into darkness, and power outages have since stretched for hours at a time across large parts of the country.”
Ridealong summary
Cuba's worsening energy crisis is driving rare diplomatic talks with the U.S., highlighting both the island's dire situation and potential shifts in U.S.-Cuba relations.
“Washington is still aggressively enforcing its sanctions, aimed at cutting off fuel to the communist regime by pressuring suppliers and choking off shipments before they ever reach the island. So for these vessels carrying Russian oil, this remains a high-risk run. This move comes after roughly three months without meaningful fuel deliveries to Havana, a gap that has already pushed the island into repeated power outages, including the full nationwide grid collapse that we discussed earlier in the week.”
Ridealong summary
The U.S. energy blockade on Cuba is facing a new challenge as Russian oil tankers approach, potentially escalating tensions reminiscent of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
“With the island now facing protests amid exacerbated energy and economic struggles, many wondering if the Trump administration is preparing to push regime change. President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in recent weeks openly discussing the possibility. President Trump on March 16th speaking to reporters... 'I do believe I'll be the honor of having the honor of taking Cuba. That's a big honor. Taking Cuba. Taking Cuba in some form, yeah.'”
Ridealong summary
The U.S. is considering a regime change in Cuba, exploiting the country's weakened state due to energy and economic struggles.
“"It's very, very hard to get basically footage out from the protest. The footage that you've seen coming from Cuba recently, it's very limited. So if they have internet, it's crap, and I'm sure they don't have the kind of internet that would help you broadcast a revolution... I just dm'd Elon Musk and I said do you have any plans to position star links over Cuba because you know that that's what they need is information."”
Ridealong summary
The lack of internet access in Cuba is a major barrier to empowering protests and connecting with the world, but Starlink could change that dynamic if terminals are smuggled in.