The second article is news to me and is definitely disturbing. I need to do more reading on it. I especially want to know if he retains any ties to Russia. That would be a deal-breaker for me, doubly so with this comment in mind. One could argue he didnt know it was a front, but being ignorant isn't a trait I want in my President.

I think the first one is a bit out of context. Emphasis on 'a bit'. The revolution in Cuba started off with solidly positive intentions. They were trying to remove a brutal dictator and the revolutionaries didn't resort to terrorism or harming civilians. They fought an impressive guerilla war and won.

After they won it gets much more questionable with undeniable horrors, and surprisingly progressive government programs. There was a violent consolidation with executions of POWs and former police & army personnel who were part of the Bautista regime, but there was also widespread reform of public housing, medicine, and education. Present day Cuba still has impressive medical and educational systems. They also still have horrifying secret police and an oppressive regime. Their intelligence agencies in particular are worrisome.

So what he's describing with Cuba is factual, and one could argue he's just talking about the good parts that we can model our systems after. Medicine and the many oppressive aspects of Cuba are not inherently connected, and I feel it's worth evaluating ideas on their individual merit, not their source. That said, I totally get it why offense could be taken at the Cuba comment and if he spoke of admiration for the corrupt aspects of the system that'd be a huge red flag. (Pun not intended)

I dont have any readily available sources.