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The World Next Week: The Senate Debates Immigration, Cubans Get the Internet, and the Shangri-la Security Summit Begins

<p>The U.S. Senate&#8217;s &#8220;gang of eight&#8221; briefs the press on immigration reform on Capitol Hill in Washington (Jason Reed/Courtesy Reuters).</p>
The U.S. Senate’s “gang of eight” briefs the press on immigration reform on Capitol Hill in Washington (Jason Reed/Courtesy Reuters).

By experts and staff

Published
  • James M. LindsayCFR Expert
    Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy

The World Next Week podcast is up. Bob McMahon and I discussed the Senate immigration bill, Cuba’s new Internet policies, and the Asia Security Summit.

[audio: https://www.cfr.org/content/publications/media/editorial/2013/20130530_T…]

The highlights:

Today marks the last TWNW podcast arranged by our long-time producer, Millie Tran. Millie has been a gem to work with. Both Bob and I wish her the best with her new gig.

For more on the topics we discussed in the podcast check out:

Senate immigration reform: Reuters writes that House Republicans are unlikely to pass the Senate’s bill and that Marco Rubio’s concerns about the bill are worrisome for supporters. The Washington Post argues “why immigration reform has a shot.” The Wall Street Journal notes that the opposition to immigration reform is not as strong as it was during the last attempt to change immigration law.

Cuba’s new Internet policies: The BBC reports that Cuba will offer public Internet access for $4.50 an hour starting next week. The International Republican Institute gives Cuba low marks for freedom of speech.  Freedom House analyzes Cuba’s policies on press freedom. CFR.org has a backgrounder on U.S.-Cuba relations.

Asia Security Summit:  The International Institute for Strategic Studies has official information on the Shangri-la Dialogue and argues that the dialogue signals a “European pivot of interest to Asia.” AFP reports that U.S. secretary of defense Chuck Hagel will “follow through” on the U.S. commitment to a rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific. VietNamNet Bridge predicts that the Vietnamese prime minister will focus on Vietnam’s peaceful foreign policy during his keynote speech at the dialogue.