The Journal. · The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios
Is Cuba on the Brink of Collapse?
March 19, 2026·19 min·1 clip
Across Cuba, angry citizens bang pots and pans in the dark during a massive blackout, signaling deep discontent with the government.
As heard by us
A sharp look at Cuba's blackout crisis as energy scarcity turns into economic paralysis and rare public protest.
The episode turns Cuba's blackout into a tight study of economic failure under stress. With oil imports cut off for three months, already brittle infrastructure has buckled: buses have stopped, work weeks have been reduced, universities have closed, hospitals have canceled…
Why you'd press play
You hear Cuba's blackout turn into protest, then watch the pressure reach a Communist Party headquarters.
Listen to the show on