Raúl Castro’s indictment marks important new chapter for the U.S. and Cuba: From the Politics Desk

From the Politics DeskRaúl Castro’s indictment marks important new chapter for the U.S. and Cuba: From the Politics DeskPlus, why Pennsylvania will be key in the battle for the House.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleHow the Raúl Castro indictment compares to the case against Nicolás Maduro05:10Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 20, 2026, 6:08 PM EDTBy The Politics DeskWelcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.In today’s edition, Andrea Mitchell examines the next chapter in U.S.-Cuba relations after Raúl Castro’s indictment. Plus, Allan Smith zeroes in on a handful of critical House contests that were set in yesterday’s primaries in battleground Pennsylvania. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Adam WollnerRaúl Castro’s indictment: A first step toward change in Cuba?Analysis by Andrea MitchellPresident Donald Trump has been saying for months that the regime in Havana had to go, one way or another. Today, his Justice Department took a big step toward making that happen by indicting Raúl Castro — the 94-year-old former Cuban president and brother of Fidel Castro — in connection with the killing of four unarmed anti-Castro activists from Miami 30 years ago. The Cuban exiles were piloting two small Cessna planes when they were shot down by Cuban Air force pilots flying Soviet-made MIG jets. Raúl Castro was defense minister at the time and allegedly ordered the attack. Five pilots were also indicted today.Announcing the indictment at Miami’s Freedom Tower, an iconic landmark for Cuban Americans, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said there is a warrant issued for Castro’s arrest.“This isn’t a show indictment,” Blanche said. “This is an indi...