Andrés Pertierra
@andrespertierra.bsky.social
Historian of Cuba and Communist systems. LatAm & Caribbean History PhD candidate at UW-Madison. U of Havana BA, UW-Madison MA. Bylines in The Nation Mag & Dissent Mag, among others.
According to Philippe Sands’ book on the attempt to try Pinochet in the late 90s-early 2000s, the Chilean dictator once asked a West German diplomat whether the 6 million figure for Jews who died in the Holocaust was wrong, and wasn’t it ‘just 4 million’
Update on LMOA: He remains disappeared despite the end of his sentence and habeas corpus deadline was ignored. Seems like US has to give him a visa to be allowed to enter but has yet to do so and since Cuban government doesn’t want LMOA free they’ve disappeared him www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/w...
Cuban Dissident Is Missing A Week After Prison Release
A Cuban artist awaiting permission from the Trump administration to enter the United States is being held in an unknown location in Cuba.
nytimes.com
Friend of mine just published this! “This protracted struggle between Ukrainian and Soviet sports federations highlights how football became the unlikely first battleground for Ukrainian independence post–Second World War, a fight that continues to this day.” www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
If you've been wondering what is happening in Cuba but haven't found a good source, or have been avoiding the topic because the news is already too grim, I highly recommend you give this a listen. Andrés Pertierra is informative, entertaining, and just knows his shit. The other guys are good too
Joe Ragazzo@jragazzo.bsky.social · last mo.Please give this one a listen.
The most important Cuban dissident still in Cuba, the others having been forced into exile by now, was supposed to complete his 5 year prison term last week. He has been incommunicado at an unknown location (AKA disappeared) by Cuban security forces since right before going free
Cuba’s Human Tragedy featuring Andrés Pertierra
Cuba’s Human Tragedy featuring Andrés Pertierra
Josh and Joe are joined by Andrés to discuss the current state...
talkingpointsmemo.com
Wrote an extended lookback on 10 years of writing on Cuba, what I got right and what I missed, over on my Substack pertierra.substack.com/p/over-ten-y...
Over Ten Years of Writing on Cuba
A lookback on what I got right, what I missed, and why
pertierra.substack.com
Also, the podcast in question is Orígenes: A Cuban History Podcast by @andrespertierra.bsky.social, for those interested. I'm only a few episodes in, but yeah, so far, it seems pretty good.
Evan Fritz@efritz.bsky.social · 5mo agoI started listening to a podcast about Cuban history today. Oddly enough, it wasn't entirely because of current events. I just wanted to learn more about the history of another nation and Cuba was the first one that came to mind. But yeah, long story short, it was a good choice :)
NEW POD 🎧: Cuba is spiraling into a humanitarian crisis. Trump has kept the Caribbean in his crosshairs, kidnapped the Venezuelan president & executed >140 people in boat strikes — what does he want with Cuba? W/ @mjbusta.bsky.social & @andrespertierra.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
What Does the Trump Administration Want With Cuba?
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · February 20 · 59m
podcasts.apple.com
Over 28 years, 140 people died at the Berlin Wall from all causes (intentional shooting, drowning, accidents, etc.). #comparativeborderregimes
Charles Я. Davis@charliearchy.bsky.social · 6mo agoThis is the 38th time that the U.S. military has unlawfully killed civilians on the orders of Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump. At least 130 people — never charged with crimes, their identities unknown to their executioners — are now dead.
Cuban government has informed airlines that they only have about 24 hours worth of fuel left for planes. Beyond the obvious damage that suddenly shutting down any country's air travel would have, a not at all small % of food and medicine in Cuba comes by luggage on airlines efe.com/economia/202...
Cuba comunica a las aerolíneas que en 24 horas se queda sin combustible para aviones - EFE
El Gobierno de Cuba advirtió a las aerolíneas internacionales que operan en la isla que a partir de este lunes el país se queda sin combustible para aviación.
efe.com
Possible big scoop by ABC, if true, is that Mexico is mediating talks between Cuba, represented by Raul's son Alejandro Castro, and representatives of the CIA. Talks are in Mexico with Cuba offering access and opening up of economy for survival www.abc.es/internaciona...
El castrismo negocia con EE.UU. no ser derrocado a cambio de abrir la economía de Cuba
Con la mediación de México, el coronel Alejandro Castro Espín, hijo de Raúl y sobrino de Fidel, dirige las negociaciones con agentes de la CIA
abc.es
Venezuela isn't sending oil to Cuba, Mexico may but is not currently sending oil, last shipment of oil was earlier this month and in a small quantity, island may have 15-20 days of reserves left, and now US imposes an oil blockade on the island. If China is going to step in, it would have to be now
Al Jazeera English@aljazeera.com · 6mo agoTrump threatens tariffs on countries supplying Cuba with much-needed oil https://aje.news/w0tp17
First heard about Cuban Studies Journal as an undergrad and honestly never even thought to imagine publishing in it, so it's a surreal feeling to see my name in its table of contents
In late 2025, Cuba's main two sources of oil were Venezuela and Mexico, who combined still supplied far less than the island needed, leading to 20+ hour a day blackouts on most of the island In less than a month Cuba has lost both. Unclear what reserves remain www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
US is considering replicating the naval blockade part of its Venezuela strategy but against Cuba; the island country produces almost no oil of its own and solar panel transition is still tiny fraction of consumption. Also, truck transportation of food and water 🗝️ www.reuters.com/business/ene...
Trump administration considers naval blockade to halt Cuban oil imports, Politico reports
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is considering imposing a total blockade on oil imports to Cuba as part of possible new tactics to drive leadership change in the Caribbean country, Politi...
reuters.com
WSJ scoop confirms what many surmised: Cuba is next after Venezuela, with regime change strategies already under way www.wsj.com/world/americ...
Exclusive | The U.S. Is Actively Seeking Regime Change in Cuba by the End of the Year
After ousting Venezuela’s leader, the Trump administration is hunting for Havana insiders who could cut a deal to end Communist rule.
wsj.com
One of my favorite historians is Fernand Braudel, made deservedly famous for his massive two-volume history of the Mediterranean world in the 16th century. Had always known he wrote initial draft while a POW during WWII. Just found out he was held prisoner here in Mainz.
Wrote a quick response to the hypothesis being promoted by Timothy Snyder re: Cuban government complicity in Maduro's capture; basically, seems unlikely unless new significant evidence comes to light pertierra.substack.com/p/think-hors...
Think 'Horse' instead of 'Zebra'
Why I don't think Cubans were 'in on' Maduro's abduction
pertierra.substack.com
Most absurd *possible* result of recent events: -Chavismo sans Maduro survives indefinitely in power -Maduro gets acquitted on a legal technicality or wins outright because US case against him was made poorly -Trump makes oil companies invest but they lose tons of $$$
Another potentially interesting bit of news re: Maduro extraction by US special forces. Cuba is officially confirming 32 dead, between military and intelligence officials, as a result of the strike. This may be linked to claim that he had personal Cuban bodyguards www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Important words of wisdom from the incomparable Thomas Mann for these troubled times
Something that this has me thinking about is Cuba in the 1950s. Fidel Castro thought the Directorio's plan to assassinate Batista was a major strategic mistake precisely because it might succeed. He thought anti-Batista sentiment was unifying, a replacement would dull consensus
No matter how dumb things seem, they can apparently always be dumber: "Mr. Maduro's regular public dancing and other displays of nonchalance in recent weeks helped persuade some on the Trump team that the Venezuelan president was mocking them and trying to call what he believed to be a bluff"
Since I posted this Trump has -announced that he plans to directly administer (and seemingly occupy?) Venezuela and use Venezuelan oil to cancel out the costs -put down MCM despite her being the clearest opposition candidate with a democratic mandate, saying she isn't respected enough A buffoon
Andrés Pertierra@andrespertierra.bsky.social · 7mo agoMaduro is gone but the rest of the Venezuelan government is right there, so it's unclear whether this will trigger actual regime change. Also not sure how this will play out re: internal Chavista power struggles (the VP is alive and well but out of the country atm). No idea what comes next.
The evening of Feb 24, 2022 featured Russian special forces units randomly shooting civilian vehicles and getting in firefights with TDF inside Kyiv as they were attempting to find and kill Zelensky
Maduro is gone but the rest of the Venezuelan government is right there, so it's unclear whether this will trigger actual regime change. Also not sure how this will play out re: internal Chavista power struggles (the VP is alive and well but out of the country atm). No idea what comes next.
