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Cuba's Collapse, Iran's Endgame & Redefining Conservatism | With Scott McKay 3-18-26
CL BryantMarch 19, 202600:22:44

Cuba's Collapse, Iran's Endgame & Redefining Conservatism | With Scott McKay 3-18-26

CL Bryant reconnects with longtime friend and American Spectator senior editor Scott McKay to break down the unfolding crisis in Cuba — a 67-year socialist experiment running out of other people's money. They discuss how Trump's pressure on Venezuela and Mexico cut off Cuba's oil lifeline, why Cuban exiles in Miami will likely rebuild the island, and the parallels to Iran. The conversation shifts to the death of civil discourse in American politics, why Democrat-controlled cities and states are failing, and the ongoing struggle to redefine conservatism in the MAGA era beyond the Bush-McCain-Romney model. Scott also weighs in on the national debt and why younger Republican senators give him hope for the future.

Call to Action: "Visit TheHayride.com for Louisiana and Southern politics coverage, and check out Scott's work at Spectator.org for top-tier conservative commentary. Follow him on X @TheHayride. Download the Loving Liberty app at LovingLiberty.net and join the CL Bryant Show family."

Key Timestamps:

0:00 — Welcome & intro to Loving Liberty
1:04 — Recap of Jeanne Ives segment & intro to Scott McKay
1:58 — Cuba's power grid collapse & blackout
4:15 — 67 years of socialism: running out of other people's money
5:01 — How Trump cut off Cuba's oil supply
6:53 — Cuba as an American protectorate?
8:13 — Cuban exiles will rebuild Cuba
9:03 — Iran, gas prices & Democrat dissent
11:50 — How to connect with Scott McKay
12:50 — The death of civil discourse & Tip O'Neill era
14:08 — Democrat-run cities can't govern
15:42 — Defining conservatism: from Reagan to MAGA
17:44 — "Compassionate conservative" conceded compassion to Democrats
20:10 — National debt & the road ahead
CL Bryant Show, Scott McKay, American Spectator, The Hayride, Cuba collapse,