Five Years on the Ground: Reporting the Truth About Cuba and U.S. Policy

Today marks the 5th anniversary of Belly of the Beast. For five years, we’ve been on the ground in Cuba, telling stories that corporate media ignore. From revealing the devastating impact of U.S. sanctions to amplifying the voices of everyday Cubans, we’re committed to journalism that exposes fake news, challenges mainstream narratives and brings you the truth.

We’ve reported from Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Cuba, and beyond to uncover how U.S. policies affect people in Cuba and in the United States. We’ve interviewed key figures like Elián González, author Alice Walker, and Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez.

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TRANSCRIPT

“Hi, I’m Liz. And this is Belly of the Beast”, says Liz.

“Belly of the Beast is amazing. I think you guys are badass. I love it…”, says one person. 

“Have you heard about Cuba?”, Liz asked. 

“Absolutely yes”, another person responded. 

“A big part of what we do at Belly of the Beast is report on U.S. policy. That’s because U.S. sanctions affect so many people both in Cuba and in the United States. This is a big story, but most corporate media ignore it. Not us. Our groundbreaking series The War on Cuba revealed how Donald Trump intensified the U.S. government’s war on my country. We didn’t stop there”, says Liz.

“Right now I’m in the United States”, says Liz.

“We went to Washington, D.C., to expose why Joe Biden embraced Trump’s hard-line policy. And we were in New Jersey to expose corrupt Senator Bob Menendez’s connections to terrorism”, says Liz.

“Major media outlets portray Cubans as helpless victims”, says Liz. 

“At Belly of the Beast, we humanize people in Cuba who are working to make their communities, their country and the world a better place. We have told the inspiring stories of  musicians, activists, firefighters, doctors, students, scientists, taxi drivers, entrepreneurs, boxers, little league baseball players, and even a biker dog”, says Liz.

“We’re not parachute journalists. We’re on the ground in Cuba 365 days a year. We don’t miss breaking news, from hurricanes to protests. We do interviews with fascinating people, including Elián Gonzalez, author Alice Walker, and Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez. We have exposed fake news about China spy bases, Russian naval ships, and so-called sonic attacks. And we provide context to the policies and politics that affect people in both countries. We operate with no strings attached. We don’t take money from any government or corporation”, says Liz. 

“It’s not an easy path. That’s why we need your support. Follow us, subscribe to the newsletter, share our work, and if you can – donate! Your support helps us keep telling the stories that you won’t find anywhere else”, says Liz.