A WordPress Blog-THE CHURCH MILITANT Ephesians 5:11-"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them". This Christian News Blog maintains a one stop resource of current news and reports of its own related to church, moral, spiritual, and related political issues, plus articles, and postings from other online discernment ministries, and media which share the aims to obey the biblical commands to shed light on and refute error, heresy, apostasy, cults, and spiritual abuse. ALL CONTENT FROM HTTPS://RATHEREXPOSETHEM.BLOGSPOT.COM MOVED TO THIS NEW BLOG, MAY 2020
A cargo ship and tugboat sail through the Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, in Panama, on August 12, 2024. (Photo by ARNULFO FRANCO/AFP via Getty Images)
OAN Staff Blake Wolf 8:44 AM – Sunday, April 27, 2025
President Donald Trump asserted on Saturday that American military and cargo ships should travel through the Panama Canal and Suez Canal for free.
The Panama Canal was built by the United States starting in 1904, and was ceded to Panama by former President Jimmy Carter in 1977.
“American Ships, both Military and Commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals! Those canals would not exist without the United States of America. I’ve asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of, and memorialize, this situation!” Trump wrote.
Last December, President Trump accused China of having major influence over the management of the Panama Canal, while accusing Panama officials of charging the United States “exorbitant prices.”
“When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else. It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its Navy, and corporations doing business within our country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage…The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S.,” Trump wrote at the time.
The Panama Canal plays a critical role in connecting the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean, while the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
“The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security. A secure Panama Canal is crucial for U.S. commerce, and the rapid deployment of the Navy from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and drastically cuts shipping times to U.S. ports. The United States is the number one user of the Canal, with over 70 percent of all transits heading to, or from, U.S. ports,” Trump added.
The president has repeatedly expressed his interest in “taking back” the canal while previously refusing to rule out economic or military force to do so, although President Trump’s new proposal of allowing U.S. ships to pass through for free may alter his previous stance.
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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said foreign nations will need to address a host of regulatory and other policies limiting imports of American products in order to secure relief from President Donald Trump’s new reciprocal levies. “These non-tariff trade barriers, they are the monster that needs to be slayed,” Lutnick said in an interview on Bloomberg Television and Radio. “Our teams are talking to all our great trading partners today,” he said. “It is time for them to do some deep soul searching on how they treat us poorly and how to make it right.” Offering specific examples of non-tariff barriers, the Commerce chief said that in the European Union some countries use the region’s 20% value-added tax to subsidize their own manufacturers’ production. Economists at the Council of Economic Advisers and staff at the U.S. Trade Representative’s office have pored over foreign nations’ trade barriers for decades, and that analysis formed the basis for the levies Trump announced Wednesday, Lutnick said. He also offered the example of a 2012 trade deal with South Korea, which involved the US letting Korean cars into its market, with Seoul agreeing to import American agricultural products. Nevertheless, McDonald’s Corp. was unable to bring in french fries because it was deemed to have shown the origin of the potatoes, he said. “You don’t understand the scale and depth of how they keep our products out,” Lutnick said. Asked about the sell-off in equities since Trump unveiled the reciprocal tariffs Wednesday afternoon, Lutnick said the president’s focus is on addressing “the economic pain that the United States of America suffered over decades.” S&P 500 futures were down 3.6% as of 8:52 a.m. in New York, while the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 1.8% — to the lowest level since October. The Commerce chief also confirmed that the new 34% surtax on China stacks on top of previous levies, including the 20% Trump imposed earlier this year over alleged Chinese production of precursors for illegal fentanyl. “All they have to have is a phone call from President Xi to Trump saying we’re going to stop fentanyl production,” Lutnick said, putting the onus on President Xi Jinping. “And it would drop to 20%,” he said of the tariff rate.
President Trump reportedly plans to fire the board of the U.S. Postal Service and place the independent agency under the control of the Commerce Department, a move that could be the first step in privatizing the service. The White House denied that an executive order to make the change is in the works. Jacob Bogage of The Washington Post reported on the issue and discussed more with Geoff Bennett.
Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and Co-Chair of the Trump 2024 Transition Team speaks at a rally for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 27, 2024. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
OAN Staff James Meyers
10:28 AM – Tuesday, November 19, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump will reportedly name Howard Lutnick, the co-chair of his transition team, to the role of commerce secretary, according to multiple sources.
Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, was previously rumored to be a contender for the position of treasury secretary under the incoming Trump administration. Nevertheless, the position ended up going to hedge fund manager Scott Bessent.
NEW: Donald Trump is expected to pick Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary, according to Punchbowl.
Here's Lutnick blowing the minds of CNBC hosts as he explained how Trump will use tariffs as a negotiating tactic.
As the new commerce secretary, Lutnick will play an important role in enacting Trump’s planned tariffs on imported goods. The rivalry for the treasury secretary position saw different groups of Trump allies pushing for their preferred candidate.
SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk came out in support of Lutnick over the past weekend, stating that he “will enact change,” while Bessent would be a “business-as-usual” choice.
“Lutnick, when he was out on the campaign trail with the 45th president, often touted his resilience in business and spoke about the tragedy of losing more than 650 employees — including his younger brother, Gary — in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks,” Musk stated.
Lutnick has been at Cantor Fitzgerald since the 1980s, after he graduated from Haverford College with an economics degree. Lutnick was also working at Cantor Fitzgerald in New York’s World Trade Center towers during the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks. Hundreds of Cantor Fitzgerald employees, including Lutnick’s brother, were killed on that day.
After the historic attacks, Lutnick became an outspoken supporter of the business community as New York was rebuilding from the tragedy.
Lutnick’s pick was first reported by Punchbowl News.
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Kamala Harris's new policy of fixing food prices has drawn criticism for resembling tactics straight out of the communist playbook. Critics argue that government-controlled pricing undermines free market principles and could lead to shortages and economic inefficiencies. The move has sparked concerns about increased government intervention in areas traditionally driven by supply and demand.
Greg Kelly: The truth about 'Queen' Kamala and 'White Guilt' Walz
Greg Kelly exposes the biggest lies, and the smallest, but strangest fibs told by Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim "White Guilt" Walz. Remembering Corey Comperatore, their family & others
Lidia Curanaj: Kamala's 'finally showing her hand'
'KAMUNISM': Sky News host weighs in on Kamala Harris’ latest 'terrible idea'
Sky News host James Morrow has slammed Vice President Kamala Harris’s economic agenda rollout. Ms Harris, during an event in North Carolina, outlined her plans to push for a federal ban on price gouging, expanded child tax credits and increased housing supply. “This means price controls and giving the federal government the power to interfere in the market for food … which has had such amazing success everywhere it has been trying from Venezuela to the Soviet Union to Mao's China,” Mr Morrow said. “So yeah, again, it's a terrible idea, but also a desperate one as the Harris campaign tries to put some policy meat on a campaign that is so intellectually shallow.”
Economist warns Kamala Harris' price control proposal is 'incredibly chilling'
Former Council of Economic Advisers chair Kevin Hassett reacts to Vice President Kamala Harris' economic plan and price control proposal
In this explosive episode of Next News Network's RAW FEED, host Gary Franchi rips the mask off Kamala Harris's shocking economic plan that threatens to plunge America into Soviet-style communism. Brace yourselves as we expose the Vice President's $1.7 trillion handout scheme and her push for price controls that experts warn could lead to shortages, black markets, and economic anarchy. But that's just the beginning! We've got exclusive footage of Kamala's North Carolina rally that the mainstream media doesn't want you to see. Empty seats, paid actors, and camera tricks - we reveal it all! Plus, you won't believe your eyes when you see how CNN, yes CNN, is calling out Harris's plan for what it is - a step towards communism. Donald Trump Jr. and the former president himself weighed in with blistering takedowns of Kamala's scheme. We've got the memes, the tweets, and the hard-hitting analysis that will make your blood boil and your patriotic spirit soar. From Kamala's inability to pronounce her own policies to her admission of the Biden-Harris administration's economic failures, this episode is packed with jaw-dropping moments you can't afford to miss. We'll break down the numbers, expose the lies, and show you why this plan could be the final nail in America's economic coffin. Watch as we dissect Kamala's "new way forward" and reveal how it's nothing more than a rehash of failed socialist policies. We'll expose the hypocrisy of her promises and show you why her vision for America is a direct threat to your freedom and prosperity. Don't be left in the dark! Tune in now to Next News Network's RAW FEED and arm yourself with the knowledge you need to protect your wallet, your freedom, and the American way of life. The fight for our economic future starts here! Catch the whole show here: https://youtube.com/live/-h-KNQD2rQw
Who truly owns our land? Watch Dr. Phil delve into China's Economic Takeover of America on Dr. Phil Primetime. Join the debate and gain insights into this pressing issue.
Government-led boycotts of Jewish businesses. Hmmm. Where have we heard of such a thing before?
“US plans to label goods from Jewish settlements in occupied West Bank,” by Felicia Schwartz, Financial Times, April 5, 2024:
The Biden administration is drawing up plans to require goods produced in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank to be clearly labelled as coming from there, according to US officials, another sign of White House unhappiness with the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The final go-ahead for the move, and its timing, has not been decided but it is intended to increase pressure on Israel over rising settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, and comes amid US frustration with the Jewish state’s conduct of the war in Gaza.
The move would reverse a policy introduced by the Donald Trump administration in 2020 that required goods produced in the West Bank to be labelled as “Made in Israel”….
In this video, I will discuss the controversial actions of Tyson Foods, including the mass layoff of over a thousand American workers and the subsequent hiring of migrants. Is this a strategic move or a betrayal of American labor? We'll delve into the boycott movement, the implications for the workforce, and the broader questions about corporate responsibility and the 'Great Reset'. Join the conversation and share your thoughts
Shoplifting is up 64% in NYC over the last 4 years. Stores are closing and nobody seems to have any answers... but the governor has plans to throw $45 million at this tragic problem. Will it work?
James Biden (C), brother of US President Joe Biden, with his attorney Paul Fishman (L), arrives for a deposition before the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees on President Biden’s impeachment inquiry in Washington, DC, February 21, 2024. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
James Biden, brother of President Joe Biden, confirmed that his older brother gave him a couple of loans that purportedly went to the CCP-linked energy firm CEFC China Energy.
During his impeachment inquiry testimony released by the House Oversight Committee on Friday, the younger Biden admitted that his brother gave him a $200,000 and $40,000 loan in 2017 and in 2018.
James claimed that he needed the money to pay “outstanding bills.” However, he also claims that he used the money to invest in the Chinese energy business. The reason remains unknown.
Subpoenaed bank records revealed that James Biden had a balance of $46.88 in his bank account prior to receiving the first check from his brother. James asserted that he paid back the interest loans without filling out additional documentation, emphasizing that they came from a family member.
“I repaid two loans that I secured from my brother,” James Biden said.
He received the $40,000 wire on July 28th, 2017 and paid back Joe less than two months later on September 3rd. He received the second wire of $200,000 on January 12th 2018, which was repaid to his big brother on March 1st.
When asked where he got the $200,000 to pay back his brother in such a short time span, James said that he received it though his work with Americore, but he refused to state the specific source of the funds.
“It came from money that I earned at Americore,” he said.
While the Biden family’s relationship with CEFC ended in 2018, James, Hunter Biden, and Hunter’s associates made millions-of-dollars through the lucrative deal.
Joe Biden has adamantly denied that he had any involvement in the business deals, however, a May 2017 email sent by James Gilliar, the Biden family’s associate, stated that the president was penciled in as “the big guy.”
The email also revealed that Joe Biden wanted a 10% cut in a proposed joint venture with CEFC.
Within 10 days after the email was sent, Hunter and James Biden received $5.1 million in their accounts. This testimony is a part of House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into the 46th president.
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The two biggest pharmacy chains in the United States, CVS and Walgreens, announced on Friday that they would begin selling abortion pills as early as this month.
Mifepristone, a popular abortion pill, is labeled “a prescription medication.” In 2000, the FDA authorized mifepristone for abortion use, claiming that it is a “safe and reliable” method of ending an unwanted pregnancy.
Following regulatory changes established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year that permit retail pharmacies to offer the pills, CVS and Walgreens both notified CBS News, stating that they have obtained certification to distribute the pill.
President Joe Biden praised the pharmacies’ actions, which coincide with restrictions on access to abortion in a number of U.S. states.
“The stakes could not be higher for women across America,” Biden said in a statement on Friday. “I encourage all pharmacies that want to pursue this option to seek certification,” Biden said.
A rising number of women are choosing to terminate unwanted pregnancies using an abortion pill rather than surgery. Over half of all abortions performed in the United States in 2020 were medication-assisted.
Due to this, opponents of abortion have filed a lawsuit against the FDA regarding the drug’s clearance and organized protests outside of pharmacies after CVS and Walgreens announced last year that they intended to provide patients with access to the prescription.
Many states saw restrictions on access to abortion after the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2022.
In order to purchase the abortion pills, one will need to go to a store location since it is prohibited to send the medication by mail.
“Walgreens has completed the FDA certification process to dispense mifepristone and expects to begin dispensing within a week, consistent with federal and state laws,” the company said in a Friday statement to CBS News. “We are beginning a phased rollout in select locations to allow us to ensure quality, safety, and privacy for our patients, providers, and team members.”
In a statement provided to CBS News, CVS stated that it will start sending the medications out to pharmacies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island first in the upcoming weeks.
“We’ve received certification to dispense mifepristone at CVS Pharmacy and plan to fill prescriptions for this medication in states where [it is] legally permissible,” CVS said. The pharmacy chain added that it “will expand to additional states, where allowed by law, on a rolling basis.”
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Macy’s plans to close almost 150 locations nationwide in order to move towards leaning more heavily on its luxury Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury chains.
The retail store made the announcement Tuesday morning, stating it was entering a “bold new chapter” with a new CEO, Tony Spring.
The announcement also stated that Macy’s will shut down approximately 50 stores by the end of the company’s current fiscal year.
Once the planned closures occur, Macy’s will be down to 350 stores altogether. In response to the closures, the retail giant will add almost 45 Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury locations.
“A Bold New Chapter serves as a strong call to action. It challenges the status quo to create a more modern Macy’s, Inc. We are making the necessary moves to reinvigorate relationships with our customers through improved shopping experiences, relevant assortments and compelling value,” Spring said in a statement. “Our teams are energized by the work ahead as we accelerate our path to market share gains, sustainable, profitable growth and value creation for our shareholders.”
Additionally, Macy’s has been under pressure due to its underperformance over the past few years. According to The New York Times, the under-performing locations accounted for 25% of the company’s square footage but just 10% of its sales.
The latest announcement comes less than a month after the retail store announced another series of closures in January. That resulted in the closure of five locations and removing 2,350 positions, or 3.5% of the company’s workforce.
Furthermore, in October, the retailer announced that it’s increasing its small-format store expansion by opening up 30 smaller stores across the U.S.
Department stores have seen an increase in revenue in recent years, with the COVID-19 Pandemic causing stores such as J.C. Penney and Neiman Marcus, both of which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020.
Macy’s announcement caused shares to trade at more than 2% lower in premarket action.
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New York has charged former president Donald Trump $355 million for allegedly inflating the value of his properties in order to defraud banks (despite ZERO banks losing any money). But truckers across the country have decided to protest the ruling by boycotting New York City and even New York state. Glenn spoke with some of the truckers and their message was clear: “Under no circumstances will I cross that bridge again.”
