35 episodes

Conspiracyland's "The Strange Story of Havana Syndrome," hosted by Yahoo News chief investigative correspondent Michael Isikoff, is an investigation into the baffling medical ailments-- headaches, dizziness, extreme fatigue and even brain injuries-- that have been reported by over 1,100 American diplomats and spies in recent years, confounding the U.S. intelligence and diplomatic communities. These symptoms are commonly known as Havana Syndrome because they were first surfaced in Cuba more than five years ago though they have long since been reported all over the world. But what and who was causing them remains a mystery. As Conspiracyland documents, the reports about Havana Syndrome were used as a political trigger to upend U.S. relations with Cuba: They set off a chain of events that led the Trump administration to reverse President Obama's efforts to normalize relations with the island nation, a rollback that has continued under President Biden. It also has led to an endless spate of news stories suggesting these health ailments were the result of targeted microwave attacks by a foreign power, with the Russian intelligence services under the control of Vladimir Putin considered the leading candidate. But as Conspiracyland reveals, the real story of Havana Syndrome is starting to look very different than it did at the time. 

Conspiracyland Yahoo News

    • News
    • 4.1 • 1.8K Ratings

Conspiracyland's "The Strange Story of Havana Syndrome," hosted by Yahoo News chief investigative correspondent Michael Isikoff, is an investigation into the baffling medical ailments-- headaches, dizziness, extreme fatigue and even brain injuries-- that have been reported by over 1,100 American diplomats and spies in recent years, confounding the U.S. intelligence and diplomatic communities. These symptoms are commonly known as Havana Syndrome because they were first surfaced in Cuba more than five years ago though they have long since been reported all over the world. But what and who was causing them remains a mystery. As Conspiracyland documents, the reports about Havana Syndrome were used as a political trigger to upend U.S. relations with Cuba: They set off a chain of events that led the Trump administration to reverse President Obama's efforts to normalize relations with the island nation, a rollback that has continued under President Biden. It also has led to an endless spate of news stories suggesting these health ailments were the result of targeted microwave attacks by a foreign power, with the Russian intelligence services under the control of Vladimir Putin considered the leading candidate. But as Conspiracyland reveals, the real story of Havana Syndrome is starting to look very different than it did at the time. 

    JFK: The Mother of all Conspiracy Theories (w/ Phil Shenon & Jeff Morley)

    JFK: The Mother of all Conspiracy Theories (w/ Phil Shenon & Jeff Morley)

    We talk to two leading experts on the subject of the JFK assassination about the newly released material on the matter, former New York Times reporter Phil Shenon and former Washington Post Reporter Jeff Morley.

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Bonus Episode 3: "A Havana Travelogue"

    Bonus Episode 3: "A Havana Travelogue"

    Host Micheal Isikoff and Producer Mark Seman discuss their wild, surreal experiences in Cuba.

    • 23 min
    Episode 3: "It’s Not What We Thought It Was"

    Episode 3: "It’s Not What We Thought It Was"

    This episode recounts how senior U.S. officials became increasingly dubious about sensational claims about Havana Syndrome pointing to the lack of any hard evidence that a secret microwave weapon even exists.

    • 38 min
    Bonus Episode 2: "Henry Kissinger's Radiation Treatment"

    Bonus Episode 2: "Henry Kissinger's Radiation Treatment"

    Peter Kornbluh, of the National Security Archive describes the years of Cold War conflict with the Soviet Union over reports that the Russians were bombarding the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.

    • 11 min
    Episode 2: "The Mystery of the Moscow Signal"

    Episode 2: "The Mystery of the Moscow Signal"

    An examination of the Cold War mystery over suspected microwave attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and how Pentagon fears about such bombardments heavily influenced the initial response to Havana Syndrome.

    • 30 min
    Bonus Episode 1: "A Cuban Doctor's Diagnosis"

    Bonus Episode 1: "A Cuban Doctor's Diagnosis"

    Mitchell Valdes Sosa, the director of the Cuban Center for Neuroscience, offers his own diagnosis of what is behind the Havana Syndrome symptoms.

    • 9 min

Customer Reviews

4.1 out of 5
1.8K Ratings

1.8K Ratings

Cuca Girl ,

Great show

I loved this podcast. I have shared it with all my friends.

dririvinius ,

Lies

Liars who spread misinformation and pretend they are edgy.

Sarita ,

.30 of the story

The lead story caught my attention in the Havana syndrome season, and I was curious to hear “both sides.” But they ran some very specious arguments. A) one of the main questions they let hang in ep 2 was “Why would the Cubans do this?” but ep 3 points out the Russians are the chief suspects. Russia has a LOT to gain by disrupting US/Cuba relations. B) no mention is made of the well documented history of the US government resisting having to pay for its workers exposure to all sorts of workplace dangers, from Agent Orange to PTSD and much more. I feel like I heard from a bunch of propagandists who dismissed seasoned professionals as crazy because a much-after-rhe-fact investigation came up clear. Came for hard facts, left with the option that professionals don’t believe workers; I could’ve gone to my doctor for that.

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