Psychedelic Roundtable: "Cuba Enjoys More Freedom of Expression Than the U.S."

In its latest broadcast, the Cuban television program "Mesa Redonda" featured a guest who made the astonishing claim that "Cuba offers more freedom of expression than the United States." This statement was made by Dr. Jacinto Valdés Depena Vivanco, a legal scholar specializing in U.S.-Cuba relations, whose remarks have sparked disbelief among Cuban civil society. His assertions sharply contrast with international assessments and data concerning press freedom in both nations.

Dr. Valdés Depena, a university professor and researcher, boldly declared, "Freedom of expression... Well, we know even they said: ‘No, if in Cuba there’s more freedom of expression than in the United States itself!’ I once compared our studies, and, for instance, in the U.S., the average citizen has much less information than the average Cuban citizen," he claimed.

Echoing his sentiment, Johana Tablada de la Torre, another guest and the Deputy Director General for U.S. Affairs at Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exclaimed, “Without a doubt, I lived there!” Tablada, who was stationed in Washington, supported Valdés Depena’s investigative conclusions: "Even the information the U.S. provides abroad is more abundant than what the average citizen receives." "I experienced this daily, and it persists," she affirmed.

The program, which felt like a "toxic mushroom" exchange, delved into the influence of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its funds for Cuban media. Valdés Depena suggested that the U.S. aims to destabilize Cuba's political order by financing independent press critical of the government.

However, his statement regarding freedom of expression in Cuba compared to the U.S. is strikingly controversial, especially when viewed alongside various reports on press freedom in both countries. International organizations monitoring freedom of expression have provided insights that challenge Valdés Depena’s assertions. According to the 2024 Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the U.S. ranks 42nd with a "fairly good" status, while Cuba is positioned at 173rd among 180 nations, marked as having a "very serious" situation concerning press freedom.

Freedom House's annual report also underscores these disparities, labeling the U.S. as "free" while categorizing Cuba as "not free" due to constraints on independent journalism and government censorship.

Media structures in both countries highlight significant contrasts as well. The United States boasts a diverse media ecosystem, featuring numerous national and international newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. Major TV networks such as CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC, and CBS, along with independent digital media, reflect a broad spectrum of views.

Conversely, in Cuba, all national media outlets are state-owned and adhere to government-controlled editorial lines. Publications like Granma and Juventud Rebelde, as well as television and radio, are government-directed. Independent journalism is criminalized, and journalists have been persecuted or imprisoned for issuing critical information.

The political systems of both nations also underscore sharp differences. The U.S. operates as a representative democracy, characterized by the separation of powers, free elections, and political pluralism. Citizens have the right to elect their leaders in presidential, legislative, and local elections, with multiple political parties offering diverse viewpoints and protections for dissent.

In stark contrast, Cuba functions as a single-party totalitarian regime, with the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) as the sole governing entity. Competitive democratic elections are non-existent, and political opponents face persecution, imprisonment, or exile. Public protests against the government are suppressed, and political dissent is punished.

Human rights conditions also vary significantly. While the U.S. grapples with social issues such as racism, unequal access to justice, and instances of police brutality, legal avenues exist to address these abuses, supplemented by a free press that reports on these matters without censorship.

In Cuba, individual freedoms are severely restricted. Reports document arbitrary detentions, repression of activists, and limited internet access. International organizations have condemned the Cuban State's repressive practices against dissidents and independent journalists.

Valdés Depena's comments on "Mesa Redonda" stand in stark contrast to the documented reality by international bodies and human rights experts. While the U.S. contends with media concentration and political polarization, it continues to provide legal protections for journalism and free expression.

In Cuba, state control over information, censorship, and repression of journalists and critics severely restrict fundamental freedoms. Additionally, the comparison between the political systems highlights the contrast between a functioning democracy with protected elections and rights in the U.S. and a totalitarian regime in Cuba that limits political participation and dissent.