Cuba's Economic Transition: Emergence of Capitalism and Socialist Changes

In Havana, Cuba, a transition to a market economy is happening, allowing small private businesses after decades of state control.

### Cuba's Transition to a Market Economy and the Biden Administration's Pause on LNG Exports
* 🇨🇺 In Cuba, a major shift towards a market economy is underway after decades of a state-controlled system, with the private sector gaining **legal status** and **growing significantly**.
* 🇺🇸 The Biden administration's decision to pause new LNG export projects has drawn criticism, with many seeing it as a move to **cater to certain voter blocks** ahead of the elections.
* 💼 Despite the pause, the U.S. remains the world's largest LNG producer, and the administration claims that **approved projects will continue to drive export growth**.
* 🛢 The timing of the decision has raised questions, especially considering the role of American LNG exports in **helping Europe reduce its reliance on Russian gas**.
* 💰 In the U.S., the debate over guaranteed income programs, which provide **cash payments without work requirements**, continues to be **divisive**.
* 📉 Critics argue that such programs can discourage work and personal responsibility, while proponents see them as a way to **alleviate poverty and improve societal outcomes**.
* 🦠 Next week on Full Measure: the latest research on **long COVID and long vaccine side effects**, and the **lack of attention** to these issues from **top public health officials**.

WHERE MUCH LOOKS. IN OLD HAVANA, WHERE MUCH LOOKS LIKE IT WAS FROZEN IN THE 1950s, SOMETHING NEW AND A LITTLE SHOCKING IS HAPPENING. MAKES SENSE TO YOU TO OPEN A BUSINESS. YOU'RE SORT OF A PIONEER. IN THIS COUNTRY, AT LEAST FOR 60 YEARS, THESE TYPES OF THINGS WERE NOT ALLOWED. IN COMMUNIST-RULED CUBA, A LITTLE BIT OF CAPITALISM IS STARTING TO EMERGE. HISTORY WAS YOU THAT 1968 WAS THE LAST TIME THAT CUBAN NATIONAL PURDUE WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. BIG CHANGE. JUST ONE ADMINISTRATION AGO, AMERICA'S EXPORT OF LIQUID NATURAL GAS HELPED MAKE US ENERGY INDEPENDENT AND SHORED UP OUR

NATIONAL SECURITY. THIS YEAR, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PUT A PAUSE ON EXPORTS. >> THIS IS CATERING TO A CERTAIN BLOCK OF VOTERS THAT THE PRESIDENT NEEDS FOR RE-ELECTION, AM I RIGHT? >> YOU'RE RIGHT. >> WE TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH THE OUTRAGE AND THE REASONS. >>> AFTER THE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS GIVEN AWAY DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, SOME CITIES ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH SOCIALISM ON A SMALL SCALE. >> GUARANTEED INCOME HAS BEEN TRIED IN THE U.S. BEFORE. HOW DID IT WORK OUT? >> IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER. >> THIS WEEK, WE EXAMINE MONEY FOR NOTHING. >> WELCOME >>> WELCOME TO FULL MEASURE. I'M SHARYL ATKISSON. CUBA, ONE

OF AMERICA'S CLOSEST FOREIGN NEIGHBORS, IS MIRED DEEP IN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS, CAUSED IN PART BY THE CLIMBING TOURISM REVENUE, U.S. SANCTIONS, AND HIGHER FOOD AND ENERGY PRICES STEMMING FROM THE WAR IN UKRAINE. MEANTIME, YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD SOME BIG NEWS. THE COMMUNIST ISLAND NATION HAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED ITS SOVIET MODEL ECONOMY DEAD, AND HAS BEGUN A TRANSITION TO SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT. TODAY, WE'RE OFF TO HAVANA TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. >> MY NAME IS SHARYL ATKISSON. >> OH, NICE TO MEET YOU. MY NAME IS GABRIEL. >> NEIGHBORHOOD OUTSIDE HAVANA, NESTLED AMONG A SHADY GROUPING

OF YUCCA, BANANA, AND CAROB  TREES, IS A SMALL FLOWER   PRODUCTION BUSINESS OWNED BY   GABRIELLE PEREZ GONZALEZ.   >> IN THIS CASE, THEY'RE   PREPARING THE, THE BANANA   FLOWER. WELL, WE'RE STILL,   LIKE, SUPER SMALL BUSINESS.   >> PEREZ GONZALEZ HAD TRIED  INVESTING IN THE RESTAURANT   BUSINESS, BUT WENT BANKRUPT   DURING COVID. POST-COVID, A NEW OPPORTUNITY SURFACED, AND HE   GRABBED THE CHANCE.   >> MAKES SENSE TO, TO OPEN A   BUSINESS, SO NOW WE JUST   STARTED.   >> YOU'RE SORT OF A PIONEER.   IN THIS COUNTRY, AT LEAST FOR   60 YEARS, THESE TYPES OF THINGS WERE NOT ALLOWED.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> THERE'S REALLY NO BLUEPRINT FOR HOW TO DO THAT HERE. >> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH. >> WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE SIGNALS THE BIGGEST LEAN TOWARD A MARKET ECONOMY SINCE A REVOLUTION INSTALLED FIDEL CASTRO AS CUBA'S LEADER. CASTRO LED CUBA ON A FAST TRACK TO COMMUNISM, SEIZING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PRIVATE SHOPS AND OUTLAWING NEARLY ALL SMALL PRIVATE BUSINESSES. >> IS IT ACCURATE TO SAY THIS IS A COMMUNIST ISLAND UNDER A SOCIALIST ECONOMY? HOW, HOW WOULD YOU TERMINATE? >> CUBA DEFINES ITSELF AS A SOCIALIST REPUBLIC. >> PROFESSOR RAUL RODRIGUEZ

HEADS UP. THE CENTER FOR UNITED STATES AND HEMISPHERIC STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA. AND WHAT IS TRUE IS, YES, THE CUBAN SYSTEM IS NOT A MARKET ECONOMY. OR IS NOT A DOMINATED BY THE MARKET ECONOMY. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BUILDING A MIXED ECONOMY, WHERE THERE'S ROOM FOR PRIVATE, AND THERE IS STRONG STATE. WHATEVER YOU CALL IT, THERE'S NOW A MAJOR SHIFT AFTER DECADES OF THE STATE OWNING NEARLY ALL OF THE STORES AND PROVIDING NEARLY ALL OF THE JOBS. THE REALITY IS, OVER THE DECADES, CUBA'S ECONOMY BECAME SO DISTRESSED, ITS LEADERS WERE FORCED TO HOLD THEIR NOSE.

AND EMBRACE A HINT OF CAPITALISM. IN 2019, PRESIDENT MIGUEL DIAZ CANAL RECOGNIZED THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS LEGITIMATE, AND A NEW CONSTITUTION EXPRESSED THE RIGHT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY. COVID WORSENED CUBA'S ECONOMIC CRISIS, AND AN UPRISING IN SUMMER OF 2021 ACCELERATED PLANS TO GIVE SMALL AND MEDIUM PRIVATE BUSINESSES LEGAL STATUS. >> AND IT'S NOW INVOLVED IN A REFORM, REFORM OF THE SYSTEM USING MORE PRIVATE PROPERTY. AND MORE PRIVATE ELEMENTS IN ITS ECONOMY. BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE, THE CENTRALIZED COMMAND ECONOMY, SOVIET STYLED, WAS A FAILURE. WE SAW IT IN THE '70S AND THE

'80S WITH THE OTHER SOVIET UNION IN EASTERN EUROPE. >> THIS WAREHOUSE IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T USE TO EXIST. IT'S PART OF A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT SELLS SUPPLIES TO HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRIVATELY OWNED STORES AND RESTAURANTS IN CUBA. ONLY POSSIBLE UNDER RELAXED RESTRICTIONS IN THE COMMUNIST RUN SOCIALIST STATE. >> THERE'S CHOCOLATE SNACKS, LIQUOR, AND MORE, ALL OWNED BY ALDO ALVAREZ, A LAWYER WHO ALSO OWNS THE DISSENTER RESTAURANT, WHERE THEY'RE COOKING UP VICTUALS FOR CUSTOMERS 24 HOURS A DAY. >> IS THIS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE REVOLUTION THAT CUBANS HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT

YOU'RE DOING? >> HISTORY WAS SO YOU THAT 1968 WAS THE LAST TIME THAT CUBAN NATIONAL COULD DO WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW. >> BIG CHANGE. >> YEAH, IT'S A, IT'S A BIG CHANGE, SO WHAT WE DID WAS, OKAY, LET'S FIND A PLACE THAT WE CAN RESTORE BUSINESS. AND NOW WE HAVE THREE OF THEM. WE HAVE AN ELABORATION PRODUCTION CENTER THAT OFFER CUBAN PRODUCE, LIKE HAMBURGERS, LIKE CHEESE BALLS, TO THESE PLACES AND OTHER CLIENTS. >> SO YOU HAVE A RESTAURANT. >> YES. >> YOU ALSO SUPPLY OTHER RESTAURANTS? >> YES. >> CUBA NOW ALLOWS PRIVATE BUSINESSES WITH UP TO 100 EMPLOYEES. ONE TRIANO CORDOVA

IS WITH THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE CUBAN ECONOMY. TODAY, THE CUBANS, THE CUBANS, IN GENERAL, HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE PRIVATE BUSINESS. IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TODAY FOR THE CUBAN PEOPLE. AND IT IS NEW. REALLY NEW. HOW MANY BUSINESSES HAVE BECOME -- MORE THAN 8700 IN ONLY TWO YEARS. IT MEANS THAT TODAY, WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN THE NONSTATE SECTOR THAN IN THE STATE SECTOR. BUT HE SAYS THE BIGGEST OUTSTANDING OBSTACLE TO A BETTER ECONOMY FOR CUBA REMAINS THE LONG-STANDING U.S. EMBARGO. WHATEVER CUBA DECIDES TO DO WITH THE ECONOMY TO IMPROVE MATTERS, IS IT TRUE THAT

WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES  CHANGING ITS POLICIES, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH CUBA CAN DO.   >> YES. IT IS REAL. BUT, OF   COURSE, THE, THE, THE UNITED  STATES POLICY TOWARD CUBA IS   REALLY A STRONG -- IN ORDER  TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY.   EVERYTHING COSTS MANY MORE.   EVERYTHING.   >> THE U.S. ISN'T ENTIRELY ON  THE SIDELINES, AS CUBA TALES   FARTHER AWAY FROM A COMMUNIST   AND SOCIALIST ECONOMY.   PRESIDENT BIDEN PLEDGED TO   INCREASE SUPPORT FOR   INDEPENDENT CUBAN   ENTREPRENEURS.   >> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE PEOPLE   TO KNOW WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND   REALLY MUCH ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON?   >> WELL, I THINK IT'S SIMPLE.

AND TO BE PATIENT AS WELL. FOCUS ON ONE THING. THAT'S IT. CHANGE THE PARADIGM OF -- AND EXCEPT THAT OUR SITUATION IS RECENTLY REPORTED MILK. CUBA RECENTLY REPORTED MILK POWDER, WHEAT FLOUR, AND FUEL SHORTAGES, THAT THE GOVERNMENT PRODUCING MORE OIL THAN ANY COUNTRY IN HISTORY. IT'S A TREND THAT'S BEEN BUILDING IN RECENT YEARS. A REMARKABLE TURNAROUND SINCE 2008 WHEN EXPORTS WERE 0. YOU THINK IT WOULD B. THE U.S. IS NOW PRODUCING MORE OIL THAN ANY COUNTRY IN HISTORY. IT'S A TREND THAT'S BEEN BUILDING IN RECENT YEARS. A REMARKABLE TURNAROUND SINCE

2008, WHEN EXPORTS WERE ZERO. YOU THINK IT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT, SO WHY IS IT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HOSTING? SCOTT THUMAN REPORTS. >> Reporter: WHEN THE GOVERNMENT MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE END OF THE WORKWEEK, IT'S FREQUENTLY DONE TO BURY THE NEWS. LAST JANUARY 26, A FRIDAY, THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE MADE PUBLIC WHAT IT CALLED A PAUSE ON NEW LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS, OR LNG EXPORT PROJECTS. BUT INSTEAD OF GETTING BURIED, THE NEWS TRIGGERED AN IMMEDIATE NEGATIVE REACTION, AND NOT JUST FROM CONSERVATIVES. THE WASHINGTON POST CALLED IT POLITICAL SYMBOLISM, AND THE WRONG MOVE. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JOE MANCHIN

OF WEST VIRGINIA FURIOUS, CALLING IT PURE POLITICS. >> THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS SO CONCERNED WITH INDULGING RADICAL CLIMATE ACTIVISTS THAT IT'S WILLING TO PLAY POLITICS WITH OUR ENERGY SECURITY AND THAT OF OUR ALLIES. >> Reporter: AND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAID IT WAS A GIFT TO RUSSIAN LEADER VLADIMIR PUTIN, BECAUSE HIS COUNTRY COULD BENEFIT FROM REDUCED AMERICAN GAS EXPORTS. AS WE'VE REPORTED ON FULL MEASURE, U.S. LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORTS HAVE RISEN DRAMATICALLY, ESPECIALLY SINCE PUTIN'S INVASION OF UKRAINE. IN FACT, AMERICAN NATURAL GAS HAS HELPED EUROPE RELY LESS ON RUSSIAN

PRODUCT. WHOSE PROFITS WERE HELPING PAY FOR THE WAR AGAINST UKRAINE. BACK IN 2022, PRESIDENT BIDEN PROBABLY STRUCK A DEAL WITH EUROPE TO SUPPLY MORE GAS. >> THE UNITED STATES, TOGETHER WITH OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS, WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO ENSURE AN ADDITIONAL 15, 15, 50 BILLION CUBIC METERS OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS, LNG, FOR THIS YEAR. >> Reporter: SO WHY THE DECISION NOW TO STOP APPROVALS FOR NEW EXPORT FACILITIES? FOR MANY, INCLUDING ENERGY STATE DEMOCRATS LIKE HENRY CUELLAR OF TEXAS, IT'S A BIG MISTAKE BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DONE TO PLEASE CLIMATE CHANGE VOTERS. >> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOUR STATE, YOU ARE GOING

TO COMPLAIN THAT THIS HURTS JOBS. DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS PURELY A POLITICAL DECISION? >> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AT ALL, BUT IN MY OPINION, JUST NOT SPEAKING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, YES. >> Reporter: IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT IT AND NOT SAY IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR, THIS IS CATERING TO A CERTAIN BLOCK OF VOTERS THAT THE PRESIDENT NEEDS FOR RE-ELECTION. AM I RIGHT? >> YOU'RE RIGHT. AND LISTEN, IF THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE ENERGY CLEAN GOALS THAT WE HAVE, WHICH WE ALL ARE, SO LET'S SAY YOU PUT A PAUSE ON LNG. AMERICAN LNG. DO YOU THINK THE MIDDLE EAST IS GOING TO PRODUCE ENERGY CLEANER THAN WE ARE? NO. SO I'D RATHER HAVE

AMERICAN JOBS CREATED HERE. THEN, AND CLEANER ENERGY. THEN SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THEY'LL GET THE JOBS, THEY'LL GET THE MONIES. >> Reporter: THAT'S A THEME PICKED UP BY A SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION'S FREEZE ON LNG EXPORT FACILITIES. >> IN TIMES OF WARS, IT'S WISE TO GIVE OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS AND MUTUAL PARTIES ACROSS THE WORLD AN EXCUSE TO DO BUSINESS WITH OUR ENEMIES? >> TO NO ONE'S SURPRISE, WE'RE HERE AGAIN TALKING ABOUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION JUST CAUSING A TRAIN WRECK FOR DOMESTIC ENERGY POLICY. >> Reporter: DAVID TURK, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF ENERGY, WAS LEFT TRYING TO DEFEND THE MOVE.

TO STOP NEW LNG PRODUCTS. SO I FEEL INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE PART OF AN ADMINISTRATION THAT'S TAKING HEAD-ON THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE THAT'S FACING OUR COUNTRY, AND WE'RE MAKING REMARKABLE STRIDES ALONG THOSE LINES. I ALSO THINK, IN ADDITION TO THE CLIMATE IMPACTS OF MORE AND MORE EXPORTS OF NATURAL GAS, WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES FOR AMERICAN CONSUMERS. >> Reporter: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION INSISTS, DESPITE THE PAUSE, U.S. LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORTS WILL STILL BE UP YEAR TO YEAR FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS DUE TO PROJECTS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. FOR MANY, THOUGH, INCLUDING MEMBERS

OF THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY, IT'S THE TIMING OF THE DECISION THAT DRAWS THE MOST CRITICISM. >> Reporter: IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY OUR PRODUCTION IS THROUGH THE ROOF, BETTER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN, OR EXPORTS THROUGH THE ROOF, PULLING AN ALL SOURCE OF INCOME, YOU WOULD THINK A WHITE HOUSE WOULD BE SHOUTING THAT FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS. >> THEY SHOULD. AND I THINK THIS ADMINISTRATION IS MISSING A KEY POINT THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, AND THAT IS, WE'RE PRODUCING JOBS, WE'RE PRODUCING ALSO CLEAN ENERGY, THE OIL AND GAS, BUT GOALS THAT WE'VE SET. >> Reporter: FOR FULL MEASURE, I'M SCOTT THUMAN, IN WASHINGTON. >> SO HOW LONG IS THE PAUSE ON

THE NEW EXPORT FACILITIES GOING TO LAST? WELL, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HASN'T GIVEN A PRECISE DATE, BUT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THEY'VE INDICATED THEY THINK IT WILL TAKE SEVEN MONTHS. SO TELL ME IF THIS IS TRUE. WE WERE HELPING EUROPE WITH OUR EXPORTS NOT RELY SO MUCH ON RUSSIAN ENERGY. HOW DID THEY FEEL ABOUT US FREEZING THESE EXPORTS? IT'S BEEN A BIT OF A MIXED BAG AS FAR AS REACTION GOES. PUBLICLY, YOU'VE GOT EUROPEAN LEADERS WHO SAY THE EXISTING AND THE ALREADY APPROVED EXPORTS, THAT'S ENOUGH TO COVER THEIR NEEDS. BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE PRETTY CRITICAL, AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS EXPECTED THAT

THE UNITED STATES WILL BE THE, QUOTE, GLOBAL GUARANTOR OF ENERGY SECURITY. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR THE REPORT, SCOTT. >>> COMING UP ON FULL MEASURE, FREE MONEY. NO WORK REQUIRED. >>> SHOULD TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY TO GIVE SOME AMERICANS A SO-CALLED GUARANTEED INCOME WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO WORK FOR IT? THE QUESTION DRAWS SHARPLY DIVIDED RESPONSES. LISA FLETCHER EXAMINES BOTH SIDES OF AN EXPANDING DEBATE. >> Reporter: FOR LEWIS, GROWING UP IN THE SOUTHSIDE AREA OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA WASN'T EASY. >> I GOT MYSELF STARTED GETTING IN TROUBLE, INVOLVED WITH THE TEEN COURT SYSTEM, THEN JAIL, THEN PRISON. I WENT TO PRISON

FOR OBTAINING PROPERTY BY FALSE PRETENSE, BUT MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS --  >> FALSE TRACKS?   >> WRITING FALSE CHECKS.   >> Reporter:  A SINGLE MOM,  LEWIS WAS 15 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE GAVE BIRTH TO HER FIRST CHILD.  SHE HAD HER SECOND CHILD WHILE  IN PRISON, AND HER THIRD CAME  AFTER SHE FINISHED SERVING HER  MORE THAN SIX YEAR SENTENCE.   SOON AFTER COMING HOME, LEWIS   HEARD ABOUT A PROGRAM RUN BY A  NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED   STEP UP DURHAM. OFFERING   RESIDENTS RELEASE FROM JAIL   $600 A MONTH IN CASH PAYMENTS   FOR A YEAR, WITH NO WORK   REQUIREMENT AND NO STRINGS  ATTACHED.    >> I WAS ABLE TO FREE MYSELF  FROM MY PART-TIME JOB.  >> Reporter: SIMILAR TO DURHAM

MORE THAN 150 PROGRAMS ACROSS THE U.S. IN PLACES LIKE TACOMA, WASHINGTON, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND BALTIMORE, MARYLAND HAVE EXPERIMENTED, OR ARE EXPERIMENTING, WITH REGULAR UNCONDITIONAL CASH PAYMENTS. MANY RECEIVED SOME FUNDING FROM TWITTER COFOUNDER JACK DORSEY, WHO DONATED $15 MILLION TOWARD THE EFFORT, AND MANY USED PUBLIC FUNDING, INCLUDING LEFTOVER COVID MONEY FROM THE TRUMP AND BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS. DURANCE PROGRAM RECEIVED $500,000 FROM DORSEY IN ADDITION TO LOCAL TAX DOLLARS AND OTHER PRIVATE FUNDING. BUT NOT EVERYONE IN DURHAM IS A FAN OF FREE CASH. REPORTER: UNDER DURHAM STEP UP PROGRAM, JOE MODELING

WOULD'VE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR $7,200 A YEAR WHEN HE GOT OUT OF PRISON IN 2004. HE SERVED TWO YEARS FOR SHOOTING AND INJURING A MAN. WHEN HE GOT OUT, HE WAS SWEEPING FLOORS FOR $7.25 AN HOUR. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD GIVE UP, THOUGH, AND LOOK FOR WELFARE. >> WELL, BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING TO BLAME SOMEBODY OTHER THAN HIMSELF. I HAD NOBODY TO BLAME BUT MYSELF. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT CREATES A LOT OF POVERTY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY? IT'S OUT OF WEDLOCK BIRTH. SO FOR THAT WOMAN WHO SAYS, I NEED THIS MONEY TO HELP, WHAT IS THE FATHER OF THOSE CHILDREN DOING? FOR HIS KIDS? >> Reporter: LANE SAYS

GUARANTEED INCOME ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DUCK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR LIFE CHOICES. THE THING IS, PEOPLE WILLING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A HANDOUT, WILLING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES, WILLING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO CHASE SOMETHING THEY BELIEVE IS OWED, BUT THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO LOOK INTO THEMSELVES AND SAY, I NEED TO DO THIS MYSELF. Reporter: A TOP ELECTED CITY OFFICIAL IN DURHAM, MARK ANTHONY MIDDLETON, IS CHAMPIONING THE PROJECT. TO THE PROGRAM THAT YOU INSTITUTED HERE MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS? IT EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS. Reporter: HE SAYS GUARANTEED INCOME ISN'T ABOUT THE VIRTUE OR VICE OF THOSE RECEIVING AID.

BUT ABOUT LEAVING TAXPAYER MONEY. SO THE QUESTION IS, ARE THERE SAVINGS TO BE REALIZED, NOT ONLY FINANCIAL SAVINGS, BUT SAVINGS IN TERMS OF HEARTACHE, IN TERMS OF IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY? IF WE DID SOMETHING LIKE GUARANTEED INCOME ON THE FRONT END AS OPPOSED TO INCARCERATION, MASSIVE ENTITLEMENTS, BAILOUTS ARE ON THE BACKEND. WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS GUARANTEED INCOME IS THAT WE FOCUS ON A PARTICULAR POPULATION BECAUSE OF LIMITED RESOURCES. THERE WAS NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Reporter: THE MODERN PUSH FOR UNCONDITIONAL CASH AID ISN'T ANYTHING NEW. THE WELFARE OF THE NATION DEPENDS UPON THE WELFARE OF ITS

CHILDREN. Reporter: STARTING IN 1935, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT PROVIDED CASH WELFARE TO FAMILIES. THAT PROGRAM, AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN, EVENTUALLY ASSISTED ABOUT 1 IN 7 AMERICAN KIDS UNTIL THE 1990S, WHEN NEARLY ALL CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS AND ABOUT HALF OF DEMOCRATS VOTED TO TERMINATE THE AFDC THROUGH WELFARE REFORM. LEGISLATION THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT CLINTON. SO GUARANTEED INCOME HAS BEEN TRIED IN THE U.S. BEFORE. HOW DID IT WORK OUT? IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER. Reporter: HERITAGE FOUNDATION WELFARE EXPERT ROBERT RECTOR AUTHORED MUCH OF

THE LEGISLATION FOR WELFARE REFORM UNDER CLINTON. IF YOU TAKE THE OLD PROGRAM AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN, THEY BASICALLY PAID SINGLE MOTHERS TO NOT WORK. WASTE TOPPED, NOT THE EIGHT, BUT WE STOPPED THIS IDEA OF GIVING YOU CASH WITHOUT WORKING. Reporter: IN 2021, PRESIDENT BIDEN AUTHORIZED A CHILD TAX CREDIT, WHERE FAMILIES COULD RECEIVE MONTHLY PAYMENTS EVEN IF NO ONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD HAD A JOB. CONGRESS IS DEBATING A NEW VERSION OF THAT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE RECIPIENTS TO WORK. FOR FULL MEASURE, I'M LISA FLETCHER. MORE THAN 3 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE SCANDAL WHERE

CONGRESSMAN TOM MASSEY CAUGHT. THE CDC INTENTIONALLY PUTTING. FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE SCANDAL WHERE CONGRESSMAN TOM MASSEY CALLED THE CDC INTENTIONALLY PUTTING OUT FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT COVID VACCINES AND NATURAL IMMUNITY. THE CDC AND ITS TOP VACCINE ADVISERS WRONGLY CLAIMED THAT THE ORIGINAL VACCINE STUDY SHOWED THERE WAS A BENEFIT TO PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED EVEN IF THEY'D ALREADY HAD COVID. MASSEY RECORDED HIS CONVERSATIONS AS CDC OFFICIALS ADMITTED THAT WASN'T TRUE, THEN BALKED AT CORRECTING IT. THEN THEY SAID, THANK YOU FOR FINDING A MISTAKE. WE'RE GOING TO FIX THIS. AND I THOUGHT, WELL, OKAY, PROBLEM

SOLVED. THIS IS HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS. BUT IT DIDN'T QUITE TURN OUT THAT WAY. TWO DAYS LATER, THE SAME DR. COHEN WHO'D PROMISED TO FIX JOIN OTHER CDC DOCTORS IN REPEATING THE FALSE INFORMATION. THIS TIME IN AN ONLINE SESSION FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. THEY WRONGLY CLAIMED STUDIES SHOW PEOPLE WHO HAD CORONAVIRUS DO BENEFIT FROM THE VACCINE. SO WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD COVID-19 BE VACCINATED, AND SHOULD THEY BE VACCINATED NOW? DATA FROM BOTH CLINICAL TRIALS SUGGESTS THAT PEOPLE WITH PRIOR INFECTION ARE STILL LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM VACCINATION. SO I CALLED THEM UP ON TUESDAY, AS SOON AS I COULD, TO

ASK THEM WHY IT HADN'T BEEN FIXED. AND IT WAS LIKE I WAS STARTING ALL OVER WITH THE SAME PEOPLE. AND INSTEAD OF FIXING IT, THEY PROPOSED REPEATING IT AND JUST FREEZING THEIR MISTAKE DIFFERENTLY. EVENTUALLY, THE CDC AGREED TO CORRECT THE MISINFORMATION, BUT MASSEY SAID THE REVISED LANGUAGE WAS STILL WRONG AND LEFT THE SAME MISIMPRESSION. LAST OCTOBER, MASSEY ASKED THE CDC TO ANSWER TO THE CONTINUING ISSUES. MORE THAN THREE MONTHS AFTER A DEADLINE, THE CDC RESPONDED, BUT AVOIDED THE QUESTION AND SIMPLY STATED THAT, QUOTE, CDC ISSUED NUMEROUS PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS SPECIFIC TO THE DIFFERING NEEDS OF AMERICANS. CDC CONTINUES TO MONITOR

COVID-19 TO ENSURE THAT CDC GUIDANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS REFLECT THE MOST UP-TO-DATE SCIENCE,. MASSEY RESPONDED BY TELLING FULL MEASURE THE CDC LETTER IS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE TO MY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS. WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE? WE WILL FIND OUT. >>> COMING UP NEXT WEEK ON FULL VACCINES THAT ARE PLAGUING BILLIONS OF AMERICANS. >> SOMETIMES IF I ADDRESS ONE MECHANISM, SOMETIMES ONE MEDICINE GETHER. >> IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO SIST AND BALANCE WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO FOCUS. USUALLY THEY ARE ALL RELATED, BUT YOU ATTACKED THE THING THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MOST DOMINANT FIRST. >> THE LATEST EMERGING RESEARCH

ON LONG COVERT AND LONG VACCINES, AND THE LACK OF ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM FROM TOP PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.

Cuba Economy

Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson

Cuba is making a significant shift towards a market economy after decades of a socialist model, allowing small businesses to emerge for the first time in 60 years.

The transition is a pioneering move for the country, which was previously dominated by communism and had outlawed the majority of small private businesses.

The shift is a response to an ongoing economic crisis, partly caused by declining tourism revenue, U.

sanctions, and increased food and energy prices.

Cuba's Shift to a Mixed Economy and the Rise of Private Businesses

Cuba is transitioning from a centralized command economy to a mixed economy, embracing a hint of capitalism and recognizing the legitimacy of the private sector.

President Miguel Diaz Canal's 2019 acknowledgement of private property rights marked a significant change, accelerated further by the economic crisis and 2021 uprising.

This transition has led to the emergence of small and medium-sized private businesses, now allowed to operate and supply goods in Cuba.

The Changing Cuban Economy and the Impact of US Policies

Cuba has experienced a significant increase in private businesses, with over 8700 emerging in just two years, now employing more people than the state sector.

The long-standing US embargo remains a major obstacle to Cuba's economic improvement, leading to significantly higher costs for the country.

Despite Cuba's shift away from a communist economy, US policies continue to impact the nation's economic situation, creating challenges for its development.

Biden's Decision to Halt Natural Gas Exports

The Biden administration's decision to stop approvals for new natural gas export facilities has sparked criticism, with accusations of it being a political move to appease climate change voters.

The decision is being questioned for potentially benefitting Russian leader Vladimir Putin and hurting American job creation and energy security.

The administration is facing skepticism and backlash for its impact on domestic energy policy and the ability to provide cleaner energy and create jobs.

The Biden Administration's Pause on LNG Exports

The Biden administration has paused new LNG export facilities, despite projections of increased exports for the next six years.

This decision has drawn criticism for its potential economic impact on American consumers and its timing.

The pause's duration is uncertain, but it is expected to last around seven months, with mixed reactions from European leaders.

Controversy Over Unconditional Cash Payments

Single mother, Lewis, benefited from a program offering $600 a month with no work requirements after serving a six-year prison sentence.

Various programs across the US, funded by Jack Dorsey and public money, have experimented with unconditional cash payments.

The initiative has sparked debate, with supporters championing it as a way to help people in need, while critics argue that it allows individuals to avoid taking responsibility for their choices.

Guaranteed income is being reconsidered as a way to save taxpayer money and reduce societal impact, focusing on a specific population due to limited resources.

The concept has a long history in the US, from cash welfare in the 1930s to the recent child tax credit, but previous attempts have been controversial.

Welfare reform has shifted the focus towards requiring recipients to work, sparking a new debate in Congress.

CDC's Misinformation on COVID-19 Vaccination for Those Previously Infected

The CDC initially provided false information about the effectiveness of the vaccine for people who had COVID-19.

They were slow to correct their mistake and the revised information still left a misimpression.

Despite being called out for their misinformation, the CDC's response avoided addressing the issues raised, leaving questions about the transparency of their actions.