Díaz-Canel's Podcast "From the Presidency" Returns: "The Circus is Back"

This Friday, the Cuban government relaunched the official podcast "From the Presidency," hosted by Miguel Díaz-Canel. The inaugural episode of its second season focused on the 176 Economic and Social Transformations approved in June 2026.

After a hiatus of over 15 months—its last episode addressed the ETECSA tariff hike on June 5, 2025—the podcast's return was met with skepticism and mockery from a significant portion of online users.

Joining Díaz-Canel in this episode were Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz and Justice Minister Rosabel Gamón Verde. They revisited analyses from the latest Council of Ministers regarding the progress of the reforms.

Marrero Cruz provided the most comprehensive official update to date: From July to September 2026, 160 implementation proposals were designed, and 197 legal norms were approved. During this period, more than 3,600 new micro, small, and medium enterprises were authorized, bringing the total to 16,100, along with 448 non-state cooperatives and over 385,000 self-employed workers.

Nonetheless, the Prime Minister acknowledged a key contradiction in the process: "We have opened the path to move forward; indeed, progress is being made and some results are visible, although the improvement in the population's quality of life is not yet noticeable. But we are moving forward slowly."

Minister Gamón Verde reported that out of the 138 legal provisions initially identified, 105 were drafted and approved that quarter. She stressed that "the most crucial aspect here is the process of follow-up and monitoring."

Díaz-Canel repeated the regime's usual argument: "We are in a moment of urgency, under conditions of war against Cuba," referring to what he described as a multidimensional war due to U.S. sanctions. Marrero promised tangible results in the next year: "Next year, we will start with a level of progress and results that our people will truly appreciate."

The official optimism contrasts with reality. The ECLAC forecasts a 10.3% drop in Cuba's GDP in 2026, the worst in Latin America, while year-on-year inflation reached 25.19% in August, with food prices soaring by 36.01%. The minimum wage is equivalent to less than five dollars at the informal exchange rate, and the island has experienced eight nationwide blackouts so far this year.

A day before the podcast's release, economist Elías Amor called the reform package "a big deception," noting, "There have been previous experiences, such as when Raúl Castro took power with the guidelines. What happened? They reversed them after a while because, for one reason or another, there was no political will."

The podcast's return—its first season, launched on March 20, 2024, reached 32 episodes—coincides with the debut of the radio program "Shared Criteria" on Radio Rebelde on September 23, also hosted by Díaz-Canel, where citizens voiced complaints about insufficient wages and high prices.

The reaction on social media was largely critical. "The circus is back," commented one user. Another pointed to the root of the issue: "A lot of radio and TV programs, but the reality is that every day we are worse off in every aspect." A third highlighted the historical delay of the measures: "In 1990, many of these measures were recommended by our own economists [...] they are being implemented 36 years later." Another summed up the paradox of the official discourse: "They are a joke; they themselves create obstacles and then claim to have removed bureaucratic barriers."