On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti Why Trump wants to ‘take’ Cuba
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Mar 19, 2026 
Ricardo Zuniga, former U.S. diplomat who helped negotiate with Cuba, offers diplomatic perspective. Michael Bustamante, historian and chair of Cuban studies, traces the long arc of U.S.-Cuba ties. Patrick Oppmann, CNN Havana bureau chief, reports on blackouts, fuel shortages, and daily life. They discuss Trump’s rhetoric about “taking” Cuba, the humanitarian fallout of blockades, and what Washington might seek in talks.
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Energy Cutoff Is A Humanitarian Pressure Cooker
- Lack of fuel cascades into shortages of water, food spoilage, medical care delays and psychological exhaustion across Cuba.
- Oppmann calls the blockade a "wartime maneuver" that leverages time against ordinary Cubans to increase pressure on the government.
Protests Emerge But Government Uses Utilities To Calm Streets
- Short, frequent protests are erupting as food and power shortages push people into the streets, but the Cuban state uses repression and selective power restoration to deter demonstrations.
- Oppmann explains protestors beat pots and call for power, while the government sometimes restores electricity to quell unrest.
Washington Balances Coercion With Backchannel Talks
- U.S. aims toward Cuba are unclear and may mix coercion with secret talks; officials could prefer a negotiated exit rather than outright regime removal.
- Michael Bustamante notes reporting of talks and a possible search for a "Cuban Delcy Rodríguez" as a negotiated outcome.