‘Missing His Daughter Grow Up’: The Pain of a Cuban and Christian Political Prisoner

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A young mathematics graduate who raised pigs to feed his wife and daughter taught himself — using a gifted camera — how to edit videos during the rare hours his city wasn’t suffering blackouts. Within weeks, he became one of the most influential independent political voices on an island that hasn’t held free elections in nearly 70 years.

The story might seem hard to follow, but it is real — and grim. The young man is Ernesto Ricardo Medina (“Tico”), co-founder (alongside Kamil Zayas) of the viral audiovisual project El4tico, where he blended his faith with criticism of the Cuban socialist tyranny. In August, he marks six months of imprisonment on charges of “propaganda against the constitutional order” and “incitement to commit a crime.”

The life he left behind on the morning of his arrest — February 6 — includes the significant presence he built on social media platforms like Facebook, where he had 137,000 followers. But even more importantly, he left behind his family: his 4-year-old daughter, Emma, and his wife, Doris Santiesteban.

Doris stood by him when he was a free man, and she stands by him now as one of the Castro regime’s more than 1,200 political prisoners. I am speaking today with Doris — who, despite her naturally private nature, posts videos and messages on social media every day calling for her husband’s freedom.

How did you and Ernesto meet?

I’ve known Tico for many years, but the truth is, we had never actually spoken to one another.

We only grew closer after I started working at a café in the city of Holguín — where we both live. From that moment on, we were together; that’s how we got to where we are now.

We’ve seen several family videos you’ve shared on Facebook alongside calls for Tico’s freedom. In one, he’s playing with Emma, who is laughing uproariously in her crib. What is Tico like as a father?

As a father, Tico was always there for Emma. He was her prince and protector — the strong one. Honestly, the saddest part of this whole bitter situation for him has been being kept away from watching his daughter grow up all this time.

What do you think drove him to start El4tico?

El4tico, as a media phenomenon, was something that just happened spontaneously.

A friend gave us the camera, and Tico started using it to record random things. Then one day, he invited some friends over to talk, and in the midst of venting, the topic of politics in this country came up.

He and Kamil just wanted to express what they’ve experienced as young Cubans today. I can also tell you that they wanted to raise awareness about the situation in Cuba and encourage critical thinking.

When that happened — and Tico started addressing issues more directly against the regime — were you or the family afraid? How did you react?

Yes, of course we were afraid; we knew this could happen.

I’m with him all the way; I support him in everything, and I still do. We continue to trust in God; He is the only one who has the final word and is in control.

On the other hand, the family reacted with fear. Some friends even stopped visiting the house out of fear of repression.

Was there a specific event or El4tico video that made you particularly worried?

I was always worried. But the pressure on Tico started to get worse and became more visible when the sector chief from the Revolutionary National Police (PNR) came to the house. I’d say that was the moment — September 17, 2025 — when this whole ordeal began for our family.

How has Emma reacted? She was 3 years old when the police took Tico away. How does she interact with you?

Emma’s reaction is something I sometimes don’t even know how to explain.

She witnessed everything that happened on the day of the arrest. Then she saw the lonely days that followed at home. She saw me sad, crying. Despite everything, she has been — well, she’s really surprised me. So loving and affectionate. She tells me that she’s always looking after Mom now because Dad isn’t here. To hear her say things like that, at such a young age…

It’s remarkable how social media has been flooded with shows of support — and how, back in early February, a pastor traveled all the way from Las Tunas to pray for you and bring an offering from the church in Cuba. Beyond instances like that, have you felt that sense of solidarity close at hand over these past few months?

Yes, of course.

So many people have reached out to offer everything from prayers to emotional support and companionship.

What is the latest news you’ve had about Ernesto?

I know he’s just surviving right now. The question is, for how long?

AUTHOR

Yoe Suarez

Yoe Suárez is The Washington Stand’s international affairs correspondent. He is an exiled journalist, writer, and producer who investigated in Havana about torture, political police, gangs, government black lists, and cybersurveillance. A graduate of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, he was a CBN correspondent, and has written for outlets like The Hill and Newsweek. He has appeared on Vox, Univision, and Deutsche Welle as an analyst on Cuba, security, and U.S. foreign policy.

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2026 Family Research Council.

The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.

Signing Your Own Death Warrant?

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Put yourself in the buckled shoes of the founding fathers centuries ago, picking up a quill pen, and then signing your name on a document, the Declaration of Independence. This could have been signing your own death warrant.

Last month we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the acceptance of the Declaration (by voice vote) on July 4, 1776. This month, we celebrate the signing of same by the delegates who were able to return to Philadelphia in early August 1776.

Only two names were attached to the July 4, 1776-first copy of the document—that of John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress, which produced and approved the Declaration. Also named was Charles Thomson, the Secretary for the Congress. (He later went on to become a distinguished Bible scholar.)

The whole proceeding was very dangerous. It would make them special targets of the British. Nonetheless, the founding fathers were determined to complete the task by affixing their names to the Declaration.

On August 1, the day before the signing, Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, gave a speech. Adams was a prime mover in the whole process. Thomas Jefferson called him “the patriarch of liberty.” Adams biographer Benjamin H. Irvin points out that the Declaration of Independence was essentially the culmination of Samuel Adams’ life work. Adams had recruited many to the patriot cause, including John Hancock and John Adams, a second cousin of Samuel.

I have written before about Samuel Adams, the largely forgotten founding father, whom biographer Stacy Schiff calls, “the most essential founding father.” Samuel Adams was the lightning rod of the American Revolution.

In his speech the day before the courageous signing of the document, Samuel Adams declared, “We have this day restored the Sovereign, to whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven…and from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come.”

Samuel Adams was known as “the last of the Puritans,” and I think we can add that he was “the first of the founding fathers.” Like so many Americans at the time, he was very concerned that all the sacrifices of his Puritan (and Pilgrim) forebears would all be wasted if England were to completely take over America and force the Church of England on the colonies. Thus, the right of conscience was at stake.

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Paul Jehle, President of the Plymouth Rock Foundation, and Dr. Mark Beliles, co-founder of Providence Foundation (Charlottesville, VA), organized a special webcast to highlight the Declaration and the signing. (Beliles and I have written a new book on Jefferson and how God is the source of our rights.)

As executive director of Providence Forum (of Coral Ridge Ministries), I was privileged to be a part of this event, even speaking briefly. I sat next to Jehle in his church at Plymouth, along with the sheriff of “America’s Home Town” (which Plymouth is known as).

The website for the event, 250declaration.com, states: “Special online Event, Nationwide…On August 2nd two hundred and fifty years ago, America’s Founders signed the famous Declaration of Independence.”

250declaration adds: “Today America needs a new commitment from its citizens and those from other nations who desire the same quality of liberty. Affirm our Nation’s Birth Certificate. Some of America’s top Christian historians and speakers will participate from various locations to give remarks and lead people to digitally ‘sign’ the document. Just as the original Declaration ended with a pledge, we ask you to consider affixing your name and the region from where you live online…You would be affirming the Declaration’s core ideas of God-given rights, the rule of law, consent of the governed, equality, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as well as the right to lawfully resist tyranny.”

And so in Paul Jehle’s New Testament Church in Plymouth, Massachusetts, visitors were encouraged to sign copies of the Declaration of Independence in order to reaffirm our commitment to the founding principles contained therein. Plus, people in other locations, including online, were also signing copies.

What gave those founding fathers 250 years ago the courage to take such a bold act, as potentially signing their own death warrants?

The last sentence of the Declaration gives us the answer, “And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

We have been given a great gift of liberty in this nation. Only through faith in the God of our fathers can it be maintained. As Thomas Jefferson, chief author of the Declaration, once asseverated, “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?”

©2026 All rights reserved.

Black people have ninety-nine problems, but Donald Trump ain’t one

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ThyBlackMan.com — The sky is blue, God is real, Trump is president, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, Kamala was a disaster, Obama was horrible for Blacks, radical Black liberals are obsessed with race, and radical Black liberals will congregate in Martha’s Vineyard to complain about white folks in August, etc., etc., etc.

This annual pilgrimage to Martha’s Vineyard and more specifically, The Inkwell is as predictable as Democrats ignoring the Black vote.

Martha’s Vineyard is a 112 square mile island in Massachusetts, known for its mix of coastal beauty, historic towns, and cultural heritage. The Inkwell (officially Town Beach) is a specific, historically significant beach in Oak Bluffs, MA, on the island, celebrated for its role in Black history.

Martha’s Vineyard is a summer resort destination with a rich history dating back to the 18th century when Methodist and Baptist revivals drew visitors. It has evolved from whaling, brickmaking, and farming into a scenic, cultural hub with towns like Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, and Falmouth. The island offers beaches, historic sites, art galleries, and seasonal events, and it has a diverse cultural fabric.

The Inkwell is a small, sandy stretch of beach in Oak Bluffs, MA near the ferry terminal, popular for its gentle waves and central location. Its name comes from a derogatory nickname used in the late 1800s for the Black community that frequented it.

Blacks began visiting the Inkwell during the Great Migration, attracted by Oak Bluffs’ openness during this time of segregation.

The Great Migration, sometimes known as the Great Northward Migration or the Black Migration, was the movement of six million Black Americans out of the rural Southern United States to the urban Northeast, Midwest, and West between 1910 and 1970.

In 1912, Charles and Henrietta Shearer opened the first Black owned inn on the island, catering to Black vacationers.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

I had the fortune of knowing many of the legendary families who were foundational to the Inkwell.  The ones I knew are all dead, but sitting at their feet and learning history from their lived experiences was phenomenal.

When these very wealthy, successful, influential Blacks made their annual August trek to the Inkwell it was not only for vacation, but also to discuss solutions to what ailed the Black community.  Let me reiterate—SOLUTIONS, not complaints about white folks.

They did not spend their precious time talking about how racist presidents like Roosevelt, Truman Eisenhower, Nixon, Kennedy, or LBJ were.  They believed in the Colin Powell doctrine of “constructive engagement.”

These Oldtimers from the Inkwell believed in talking through their disagreements with people in power, both Democrats and Republicans.

They were focused on solutions that would make life better for the whole of the Black community; not simply flexing and self-congratulating each other about their latest material purchases—their new vacation home, their new Rolls Royce, or their latest million-dollar contribution to the boule!!!

I have had many opportunities to go to the Vineyard, but up now have refused all offers because I have to be in a certain mental frame of mind to be around these types of arrogant, uppity Black folks.

I am not there yet.

I know many who are about to make this annual pilgrimage.

These are the who’s who of corporate, political, and Black high society in America.  These are some of the highest-level executives in Fortune 500 companies.  These are some of the most successful entrepreneurs in America.

They are the talented tenth, the bourgeoisie, and the boule.

The talented tenth was made famous by W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent Black historian and civil rights legend from the early nineteen hundreds.

In his 1903 essay The Talented Tenth, Du Bois argued,  “That for the Black community to rise from the vestiges of slavery and systemic oppression, a small group of the most talented and educated individuals must be trained as leaders, intellectuals, and professionals…They are supposed to serve as role models, uplift the masses and advocate for civil rights, education and political participation.”

Du Bois would be very disappointed that the opposite is occurring today.

The bourgeoisie and the boule will use the occasion of this annual tradition to pair off their young adult children with what they deem to be suitable potential spouses for marriage.  They want to keep their bloodlines pure, socially, financially, and politically.

There will be multiple millions of dollars spent during the month of August on hotels, housing, and exotic catered parties to talk about how bad America is!

There will be no mention of the steady Black on Black killings in Chicago, Baltimore, New York City, or St. Louis; there will be no mention of the out of control out of wedlock birthrates in our community. Despite their protestations to the contrary, these pathologies have nothing to do with Donald Trump, racism or poverty.

It has everything to do with the destruction of the Black family and more specifically the Black male.  The supposed talented tenth do not want to have the discussion about how these radical liberal Democrat policies have and are continuing to destroy the very group they claim to speak for and represent.

There will be no mention of how illegal immigrants are devastating the Black community with murder, increased housing cost, and rising unemployment.

But there will be sunup to sundown conversation about how racist Donald Trump is; how America is racist towards Blacks, and how the legacy of slavery is at the root of all that ails the Black community.

The founders of the Inkwell would be totally ashamed of the state of the Black community today.  They had less opportunity in their time but lived a better quality of life than we are living today.

Make it make sense!!!

Today’s Blacks are doing very well financially, but I would argue that we have a lower quality of life than our forefathers.

We have more material possessions, but our families are in an alarming state of dysfunctionality.

©2026 . All rights reserved.

Establishing The President’s Military Spouse Commission

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Executive Order 14415

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  Military spouses are intrinsically linked to the good order, readiness, and retention of our military.  Their support and contributions to our Armed Forces are crucial to mission success.  Yet the spouses of our Nation’s service members face significant challenges due to the nature of military service.  Frequent relocations and the long absences of service members — especially when deployed to combat zones — can negatively impact military spouses’ quality of life and, in turn, that of their family.  The repeated relocations and other aspects of military life may limit quality housing options, employment opportunities, and other resources available to families that are not obligated to move every 2 to 3 years, as military families do in service to our Nation.  Prolonged service member absences also place enormous burdens on military spouses running households alone.

During my first term, we made significant strides to improve employment policies for military spouses.  I took action to enhance job opportunities within the Federal Government for military spouses, expand occupational licensure portability so military spouses have more opportunities to work in different States, and increase remote and flexible job options that provide continuity and financial stability for military families.  Now is the time to build on these successes.

Thriving military families mean a more resilient fighting force and thus a stronger and more secure America.  It is the policy of the Federal Government to prioritize the quality of life of our military spouses and families while maintaining the highest standards of military readiness.

Sec. 2.  Establishment and Composition of the President’s Military Spouse Commission.  (a)  There is hereby established the President’s Military Spouse Commission (Commission).

(b)  The spouse of the Secretary of War shall serve as Chair.  The Executive Director of the Commission shall be designated by the President.  If the spouse of the Secretary of War is unable to serve as Chair for any reason, the Executive Director shall perform the duties of the Chair until the President designates a new Chair.

(c)  In addition to the Chair, the Commission membership shall include the spouses of the following senior military leaders, if applicable:

(i)      the Secretary of the Army;

(ii)     the Secretary of the Navy;

(iii)    the Secretary of the Air Force;

(iv)     the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff;

(v)      the Chief of Staff of the Army;

(vi)     the Commandant of the Marine Corps;

(vii)    the Chief of Naval Operations;

(viii)   the Chief of Staff of the Air Force;

(ix)     the Chief of Space Operations;

(x)      the Chief of the National Guard Bureau;

(xi)     the Commandant of the Coast Guard;

(xii)    the Sergeant Major of the Army;

(xiii)   the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps;

(xiv)    the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force;

(xv)     the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau;

(xvi)    the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff;

(xvii)   the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard;

(xviii)  the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy;

(xix)    the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force;

(xx)     the Secretary of Homeland Security; and

(xxi)    other individuals that the Chair or Executive Director may, from time to time, invite to participate.

(d)  Members of the Commission shall serve contingent on the duration of their spouse serving in or performing the duties of the role described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

Sec. 3.  Duties of the Commission.  The Commission shall advise and assist the President on policies that affect military spouses and families, including by:

(a)  monitoring the implementation of this order;

(b)  liaising with military spouses to determine common areas of concern;

(c)  developing policies that address challenges faced by military spouses in key areas such as housing, employment, healthcare, education, and deployment-related support;

(d)  recommending to the President practicable actions to help ensure the overall well-being of military spouses and to improve the quality of life of military spouses; and

(e)  providing the President with a report on the matters described in this section at the end of each fiscal year for so long as the Commission exists, and submitting a final report to the President prior to the termination of the Commission.

Sec. 4.  Administration.  (a)  Each executive department and agency shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of funds, furnish such information and assistance to the Commission as it may request.

(b)  Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but may receive travel reimbursement, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as allowed under applicable law (5 U.S.C. 5701–5707), consistent with the availability of funds.

(c)  The Department of War shall provide such funding and administrative and technical support as the Commission may require, to the extent permitted by law and as authorized by existing appropriations.

(d)  The Commission may establish subcommittees as appropriate to aid in its work.

(e)  Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) (the “Act”), may apply to the administration of any portion of this order, any functions of the President under the Act, except that of reporting to the Congress, shall be performed by the Secretary of War in accordance with the guidelines and procedures issued by the Administrator of General Services.

(f)  In accordance with the Act, the Commission shall terminate 2 years from the date of this order, unless extended by the President.

Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of War.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

August 3, 2026.

©2026 . All rights reserved.

MUSIC VIDEO: Bring Them Home!

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Periodically a song comes along that simply touches you at multiple levels. Such was/is the song and music I sent along just now. 1000 Israeli musicians sing and orchestrate a beautiful song titled BRING THEM HOME! This song was to remember those kidnapped when Hamas invaded Israel through Gaza.

The music is simply stunning and most moving as you read the words. How very sad music as such is even inspired. But may you enjoy this anyway, and may you give thanks that you do not need to concern yourself with bringing home a loved one.

WATCH: 1000 Israeli musicians sing with one voice, BRING THEM HOME! — Homeland concert

©2026 All rights reserved.

GOP Candidate Seeking To Become First Rep Born In 2000s Vies To Notch Another MAHA Win In Heartland

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Republican Wisconsin House candidate Michael Alfonso discussed the importance of supporting the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement as a new father in an interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Alfonso, 26, is endorsed by President Donald Trump as he vies in a five-candidate Aug. 11 GOP primary for a sprawling northwestern Wisconsin district the president won by more than 22 percentage points in the 2024 election. If elected, he would likely be the youngest member of Congress and the first member born in the 2000s.

“As a young guy, I just had a daughter. The rising costs of health care is one of those scary things that scares not just my generation, but even the older generation. Prescription drugs, you name it,” he told the DCNF. “But if we’re going to have a serious discussion about the rise of health care costs, we can talk about how us as a nation, we have an obese crisis.”

Alfonso added that he “believes” in the MAHA movement led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

“This idea of getting food from the farmers to the … local sellers to the local consumers. I stand behind that 100%.,” he stressed. “We have a chronic disease crisis. If we want to lower the cost of health care, one of the easy things we can do is just be healthier.”

WATCH:

The young candidate is running to represent Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District to replace incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is instead running for governor. Alfonso’s father-in-law, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, represented the district from 2011 to 2019. Alfonso previously worked as the producer of The Dan Bongino Show, a popular conservative podcast, and as an accountant at a Catholic Church.

In addition to his support from Trump, Alfonso also received an endorsement from MAHA Action — a group aligned with the broader MAHA movement. The organization supported seven candidates at the time of the DCNF’s interview with Alfonso, a number that had grown to ten by Friday. All candidates it backs are Republicans.

A few MAHA-Action backed candidates including Republican Louisiana Senate nominee Julia Letlow and Republican Iowa gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn already won contested primaries this cycle. Lahn’s win over a Trump-backed opponent was considered a major upset and came after he spent much of his primary campaign focusing on his support for the MAHA movement.

Alfonso told the DCNF of a solution he thinks can both make the American food supply healthier and benefit farmers in his district.

“There’s a lot of discussion about food dyes in our foods, particularly Red 40,” he said. “One of the alternatives to red dye 40 is actually using cranberries as a natural dye.”

He alluded to the fact that Wisconsin produces about 60% of the nation’s cranberry supply.

“So, we’re very excited about that. I was just with a couple cranberry growers, and they’re already getting some plans ready for if those decisions come down,” Alfonso told the DCNF.

However, the fact that Alfonso is only one year older than the minimum age to run for Congress has caused some to call him unprepared for the job, with one three-time Trump voter telling The Associated Press in early July, “it’s insulting to people in the 7th that someone who lacks qualifications and any life experiences and any kind of demonstrable leadership skills or experience is even being touted as a candidate”

The 26 year old told the DCNF that he has been working since he was 14.

“Whether it’s Ace Hardware or putting myself through through college, doing construction or producing one of the largest conservative podcasts in the entire country, I’ve been on the frontlines of the working class and this battle against radical leftism my whole life,” he said. “And I do ask the question, what has experience ever gotten us in politics?”

Alfonso’s two main primary opponents are former Iran hostage and county GOP leader Kevin Hermening, and Jessi Ebben — who works in public relations and is backed by the Club For Growth and Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. Business owner and self-identified moderate Republican Niina Baum and contractor Don Raihala are also vying to win the GOP primary race.

While polling on the race has been sparse, a TIPP Insights survey sponsored by the League of American Workers released in early May showed Alfonso as the frontrunner with 35% support, with Hermening at 21%, and Ebben and Baum tied at 5%. Thirty-four percent of respondents were undecided.

Ebben accused Alfonso of nepotism during an April debate.

Alfonso responded to these attacks in April, telling journalist Emily Jashinsky “It’s rich. When people start losing in a race they’ll throw anything at you.”

“If Republicans are going to be serious and actually win races, we need to raise money,” he added, attributing a recent landslide loss for a conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate to poor fundraising.

During his interview with the DCNF, Alfonso also observed how unionized workers — a longtime reliable Democratic voting bloc — have trended right in recent years, especially under Trump’s leadership of the GOP.

“When I talk about, the Teamsters, the unions, the guys that are actually building America, they look at the Democrats and they say, ‘My grandfather was a Democrat. My father was a Democrat. I must be a Democrat,’” he said. “But then they see the Democrats with these green New Deal, Green new scam policies where they’re not building anything.”

“They’re telling them, ‘Hey, go take a hike,’” Alfonso emphasized. “We don’t need your job anymore.”

AUTHOR

Anthony Iafrate

Associate Editor.

RELATED ARTICLE: Can MAHA Propel Unlikely Republican Nominee To Key Midterm Win?

EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.