Politics: Bernie Sanders upset Hillary Clinton, winning the Michigan primary and extending Clinton’s quest to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Sanders said, “The political revolution that we’re talking about is strong in every part of the country.”

Donald Trump won Michigan and Mississippi, as well as the Hawaii caucuses.

The News: An explosion last night in the Greenwood section of Seattle leveled two buildings. A natural gas leak had been reported before the explosion.

The Migration: Macedonia announced that it will no longer allow migrants through its border with Greece, effectively blocking the Balkan migration route to the north.

Hope and Splendor: Havana is a city of crumbling architectural splendor with laundry hanging to dry on the balconies. They don’t have the money to paint, clean or maintain their colonial era buildings. They have no billboards because they have little to sell, and barely any garbage in the street. Cubans are too poor to have much to casually throw away. They are not rich enough to cast off fast food wrappers and disposable coffee cups. They don’t have them.

Our group met with Manuel Yepe, a lawyer, economist, and Cuba’s former ambassador to Romania. He was a member of the underground in Havana during the Revolution. He said that despite all of Cuba’s deprivations, “The last thing you lose is hope.”

Cuba has been under a forced economic embargo and blockade since 1959. While the American government does business and has normal relations with China, Russia, and a long list of countries ruled by dictators, the land of rum and street dancing is treated like a dangerous enemy. Yepe said it’s not just that America is blocking Cuba, but that the US bullies any country or company that tries to do business with Cuba. He said the US tells them, “Close your businesses in Cuba or you will lose your American partners.”

Now, President Obama and even the Rolling Stones are coming to Cuba. Cubans are excited and it’s hard to say which visit they look forward to the most. Yepe and everyday Cubans are looking forward to normal relations with the US, and a chance to improve their lives. “I’m sure things would be better better, much, much better, Yepe said.

Everyday Cubans appear to love Americans despite what the American government has done to isolate and degrade their country. They say “We love America,” and give you a thumbs up. Even those who privately complain about being poor and having no freedom, say they love America.

Yepe said Cubans separate Americans from their government. Cubans blame the US government for their troubles, but not Americans. He said Cubans look upon the Americans who come to visit as people who are standing up to their own government.

Yepe told us that Cuba looks forward to normal relations while continuing to live under its own system. When the assault of American investment comes, he said, Cuba will pick and choose what it wants for its own interest. “We will not be making millionaires, but making the people better.” They’ll have their hands full. McDonald’s and Starbucks will want to be on every corner.

At night we met with Roberto Chile, who spent 25 years as Fidel Castro’s personal photographer. He travelled all over the world with Fidel. And he says Fidel is an easy guy to work with.

But the interesting thing here is that you don’t see Fidel’s image many places. It’s not like China under Mao or Iraq and Saddam Hussein. The most common face on graffiti art, t-shirts, and photographs is Fidel’s lieutenant Ernesto “Che” Guevara, who was killed spreading revolution in Bolivia. Asked why Che is so popular, Chile said, “It’s like the Beatles. John Lennon is the most popular Beatle because he died young.”

Chile told the translator there was something he wanted to say. He said “The feelings of Cuban people toward America is friendship … the government is another thing.” Then he gave each of his five visitors a hug.

For pictures of Cuba today go to https://www.facebook.com/TheRooneyReport