President Obama In Cuba

With guest host Ray Suarez.

President Obama’s historic trip to Cuba. We’ll unpack what’s at stake. What the US and Cuba each really want.

The President of the United States started his work week in Havana, Cuba. The first chief executive to visit since the roaring 20s, Barack Obama is following through on his goal -to solidify the re-opening of relations with the Communist island in the Caribbean so no future government, or Congress, can undo it. We’ll look at his itinerary, and Cuba’s insistence it will stay a one-party state in firm control. This hour On Point, Uncle Sam’s Man in Havana.
-- Ray Suarez

Alan Gomez, reporter for USA Today focusing on immigration and Latin America. (@alangomez)

Pedro Freyre, professor of law at Columbia University. Lawyer at Miami-based law firm, Akerman, which specializes in helping U.S. companies do business in Cuba. Attended President Obama's speech in Havana.

Michael Gonzalez, senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation. Speechwriter for former President George W. Bush. Advisor to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)'s campaign for president. (@Gundisalvus)

USA Today: Cuba arrests dozens of human rights protesters before Obama's arrival — "Just hours before President Obamalanded Sunday in Cuba for his historic visit to the communist island, Cuban authorities arrested more than 50 dissidents who were marching to demand improved human rights. Members of the group, known as the Ladies in White, are used to the routine. They march each Sunday after Mass at a church in a suburb of Havana called Miramar and usually get arrested and detained for hours or days."

Miami Herald: Obama’s trip to Cuba provokes strong emotions — "Symbolic, an effort to burnish his legacy and prevent his Cuba policies from being reversed once he leaves office, a chance to nudge Cuba toward more openness, or simply ill-conceived and a reward for the Castro regime. Whatever you think about President Barack Obama’s Sunday through Tuesday trip to Cuba, it clearly provokes strong emotions."

The Daily Signal: Obama’s Radical Decision to Cozy Up to a Brutal Dictatorship — "Between calls for comity and lamentations over bitter partisanship, Barack Obama does the darnedest, most divisive things. Take his upcoming visit to Cuba, home of a communist, military dictatorship that remains unrepentantly anti-American. Cozying up to a brutal regime is a radical, in-your-face action. It’s being done unilaterally, without regard to the will of Congress."