The Rest Is Classified 90. JFK vs the CIA: The Battle for Cuba (Ep 1)
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Oct 12, 2025 Explore the high-stakes showdown between JFK and the CIA over Cuba. Discover how Fidel Castro transformed the island into a nationalist state that infuriated U.S. leaders. Laugh at the initial absurd CIA plans to thwart him, from bizarre assassination ideas to enlisting the Mafia. Delve into the largest implications of the Bay of Pigs invasion as a cautionary tale in covert operations. Uncover the tangled webs of mob influence and U.S. involvement that would redefine an era.
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US-Mob Overlap Around Cuba
- The CIA and the Mafia shared overlapping interests in removing Castro, leading to dangerous collaboration possibilities.
- This alignment foreshadowed covert plots including assassination plans and subcontracting deadly actions.
Cuba's Strategic Proximity
- Cuba's proximity to the US (90 miles) made it a geopolitical flashpoint in the Cold War.
- Long-standing US economic and military influence framed American responses to Cuban change.
Havana As A US Playground
- Havana in the 1950s was effectively a US playground dominated by mob-run casinos and American corporate interests.
- That environment fuelled Cuban resentment and created fertile ground for revolution.
