Better dead than Red

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It’s a bit embarassing when the US wages a decades-long, all-out effort to demolish the economy of a small island nation, and then sees that country’s scientists trounce ours in the race to defeat cancer. That’s apparently what Cuban researchers are doing, reports the MANCHESTER GUARDIAN. As part of Fidel’s biotech program, doctors have come up with an innovative new way to keep tumors from growing and make them more vulnerable to radiation therapy.

Unfortunately for the rest of the world, American sanctions are posing a major obstacle between the new treatments and cancer patients. Congress’ recently passed Helm-Burton Act punishes even non-US companies for trading with Cuba. But international investors have been growing less wary in the past few weeks, and Canadian venture capital firm York Medical has finally raised enough money to test the new cancer-fighting technique in Britain.

Cuba’s biotech breakthrough could help end the embargo that has become an American institution. The only drawback is that it would have been fun to watch Jesse Helms try to explain to his constituents why Communism is more dangerous than cancer.

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PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

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