Independent journalist Nick Shirley traveled to Cuba earlier this month, where he documented the ongoing food and energy crisis on the island and interviewed residents about daily life under the communist regime.

In a video published May 12, Shirley asked a Cuban man to share his opinion on communism. The man responded: "The worst thing to exist in life!" He argued that Cuba's leaders enrich themselves while exploiting ordinary citizens.

"They are the ones with everything," the man said. "They have electricity, they have the nicest cars, they have oil, they have gas, they have everything. And the people have nothing."

Cuba is currently experiencing severe energy shortages following the January capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. Previously, Venezuela served as Cuba's primary oil supplier. The United States has since taken control of Venezuelan oil sales and imposed a blockade around Cuba.

The oil shortage has forced Cuba into island-wide blackouts, disrupting essential services including hospitals and public transportation. Many residents are also forced to wait in long lines for government-distributed food rations that include items like sugar, salt, and occasional chicken and eggs.

"How can you live off a ration book that gets you three pounds of sugar and one pound of salt?" the man told Shirley. "Each year, they give you a chicken and eggs. Eggs haven't arrived in a year."

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative policymakers have praised the Trump administration's pressure campaign, arguing that Cuba's communist government has long exploited its people while receiving support from adversarial regimes.

President Donald Trump has sought to force Cuba's communist regime to the negotiating table. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said this week that the Cuban regime poses a national security threat to the United States, citing its alleged ties to China and Venezuela.

"The only ones who defend communism are with the Castro family, or someone who's afraid of them, or someone who lives off the government," the interviewed Cuban man said in the video. He urged Americans to reject socialism and communism. "The worst thing that can happen in life is socialism and communism because it's the great lie."

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive critics of the Trump administration's Cuba policy argue that tightening the blockade risks worsening humanitarian conditions for ordinary Cubans rather than pressuring the government.

Human rights organizations have noted that sanctions can disproportionately affect civilian populations while having limited impact on ruling regimes. Some Democrats have called for a return to engagement policies, arguing that cultural and diplomatic exchanges better promote democratic change in Cuba.

"The Cuban people deserve freedom and self-determination," said one progressive advocacy group statement. "But we must ensure our policies target the regime rather than its citizens."

What the Numbers Show

Cuba has faced chronic food and energy shortages for decades under communist rule.

According to available data, Venezuela previously supplied approximately 50,000 to 60,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba through favorable trade agreements. Following Maduro's capture in January 2026 and subsequent U.S. control of Venezuelan oil sales, that supply has effectively ended.

Cuba's economy has contracted significantly over the past five years, with inflation reaching triple digits at various points. The country's healthcare system, once a source of national pride, has struggled with shortages of basic medicines and supplies.

The Bottom Line

The interview captures growing frustration among ordinary Cubans as energy and food crises intensify following shifts in regional oil supply chains controlled by the United States.

Shirley reported that he was tracked by undercover government agents while in Havana and said he had to plan his own escape from the country. The incident highlights the risks facing journalists reporting on conditions inside Cuba.

The Trump administration has signaled it will continue applying pressure until Cuban leaders engage in negotiations. What happens next may depend on whether the energy crisis forces the regime to the table or hardens its grip on power.