Change of heart?

Yesterday, the US abstained from a United Nations vote to end U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba. It was the first time in 25 years that the U.S. didn’t vote against the measure. Reminder: for decades, the U.S. has told Cuba it can’t shop for U.S. goods. This has to do with a guy named Fidel Castro and this thing called Communism. Cuba says the embargo has cost its economy billions of dollars. Meanwhile the UN votes every year to pressure the U.S. to end the embargo…even though it’s more of a strong nudge than a requirement. The U.S. has always said ‘we disagree.’ Then in 2014, Obama decided that the U.S. and Cuba should have relations again. Fast-forward to yesterday, and the U.S. chose not to vote against lifting the embargo. This is a symbolic high-five to Cuba. Now it’s up to the GOP-led Congress to decide whether to throw out the embargo altogether. Spoiler, they don’t want to. They say Cuba doesn’t deserve to be able to spend cash money on U.S. goods again, especially because of its very questionable track record on human rights. So keep those Cuban cigars on ice and keep your eyes peeled for what’s about to happen with congress this election year.