There are two developments on the Cuba deal.  It smells bad – really bad!

Two weeks have passed, and no one has seen those 53 political prisoners.

Remember the 53?  They were the ones the Castro regime was going to release to show "good faith" for our swapping Mr. Gross for three convicted spies sitting in jail.

Here is the problem: no one has seen the 53.  And the State Department looks befuddled and silly:

State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki repeatedly refused to answer questions this afternoon about the 53 political detainees Cuba promised to release as part of a deal with President Obama to normalize relations with the United States. 

When asked about a lack of transparency in the prisoner exchange process, Psaki said, “Well, we know who’s on there. And the Cuban government knows who’s on there.”

Really?  Cuba knows?  Why didn't we get a list so that we could inform their families in Cuba or the U.S.?  Wouldn't you love to get a phone call confirming that your husband, son, or brother was part of the Obama-Castro negotiations?

This is starting to sound like the Obamacare website.  Someone told the president that a website would be ready, but he never bothered to check about it!

The second development is that President Obama will call on President Peña Nieto of Mexico to help us reform Raúl.

What's wrong with that picture?

First, how helpful was Pres. Peña-Nieto when thousands of kids traveled from Central America to the Mexican border?  The answer is not at all.

Second, President Obama will learn that Mexico's opposition to U.S. policy toward Cuba has nothing to do with the U.S. or Cuba.  It's all about domestic Mexican politics.  

Add to this that President Peña Nieto is in serious political trouble at the moment, including serious calls for his resignation. 

The left is literally in the streets because of those energy and education reforms passed in 2013.  The rest of Mexico is furious with him for his lackadaisical reaction to the killing of 43 students.   

Therefore, it's hard to see how picking a fight with Castro on behalf of the U.S. is in his political interests at the moment. 

All in all, the deal smells bad.  And dissidents in Cuba continue to be arrested.

P.S. You can hear CANTO TALK here & follow me on Twitter @ scantojr.