MSNBC's Chris Matthews wants to know what Bernie Sanders thinks of Fidel Castro

Chris Matthews.
(Image credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for RFK Human Rights)

MSNBC's Chris Matthews isn't sure what agenda Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) really wants to promote.

In a post-Democratic debate discussion Friday evening, Matthews expressed concern about Sanders' politics, fearing he may usher in a socialist revolution akin to the one led by Fidel Castro. Matthews said that while Sanders generally talks about incorporating elements from countries like Denmark — which Matthews acknowledged is a capitalist country with strong social welfare programs — he isn't if that was where the senator really falls on the political spectrum.

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Matthews made his worries personal and a bit extravagant, arguing that part of the reason he's averse to politicians with socialist leanings is that if the Soviets and their allies like Castro won the Cold War, he likely would've been a victim of those regimes.

For what it's worth, Sanders was called out in 2015 for praising Castro in the past, though he attempted to clarify by explaining that he considered Cuba's regime authoritarian. Instead, he said his past comments were about disapproval of U.S. interference in Cuba and other countries in the region, though he does appreciate aspects of Cuba's health-care system. It remains to be seen if that will come up again this primary cycle, but don't be shocked if it does.

Tim O'Donnell

Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.