March 14, 2025
Schumer Caves-Blowback, Last American Hostage Deal, Panama Military Plans, Those Eggs Just Dropped $$
Schumer Caves-Blowback, Last American Hostage Deal, Panama Military Plans, Those Eggs Just Dropped $$
Chuck Schumer creates a rift in the Democratic Party by announcing support for a government funding bill he previously criticized as "very bad" to avoid a shutdown. Breaking diplomatic news emerges as Hamas announces readiness to release Eden Alexander, the last American hostage in Gaza, following direct US-Hamas talks.
• Schumer faces fierce backlash from Democrats including AOC and Susan Rice who demand he "grow a spine"
• The White House confirms unprecedented direct negotiations with Hamas to secure hostage releases
• Trump administration directs military to create plans for "reclaiming" the Panama Canal, with options ranging from cooperation to force
• Southern Command developing scenarios to counter China's growing influence in Panama
• Egg prices dramatically drop from $8.17 to $4.90 per dozen in a single week
• Justice Department reportedly investigating possible price manipulation by major egg producers
Source Credits:
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dems-cry-foul-schumers-announcement-impending-vote-avert-government-shutdown https://nypost.com/2025/03/14/world-news/hamas-agrees-to-release-edan-alexander-last-living-american-hostage/ https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-white-house-asked-us-military-develop-options-panama-canal-offic-rcna195994 https://www.newsweek.com/2025-eggs-prices-per-dozen-economy-donald-trump-2044401
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Chapters
00:00 - Ranting Politics Intro & Teasers
01:06 - Schumer's Shutdown Surprise
02:41 - American Hostage Release from Gaza
04:30 - Trump's Panama Canal Reclamation Plans
06:46 - The Great Egg Price Rollercoaster
08:36 - Episode Wrap-Up & Call to Action
Transcript
WEBVTT
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Hello America, joc here with your Ranting Politics headline updates, where we are diving into today's most explosive political stories that you need to know about Coming up.
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We'll dive into Chuck Schumer's latest plot twist in the government shutdown saga that has his own party members losing their minds.
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Then we've got breaking news about the last American hostage in Gaza that might finally be coming home.
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News about the last American hostage in Gaza that might finally be coming home.
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Hold on to your hats, because we're also going to talk about Trump's absolutely bonkers plan to reclaim the Panama Canal.
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Yes, you heard that right.
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And finally, the great egg crisis of 2025 takes another turn that'll make your grocery bills a little less painful.
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Stick around for all this and more in your daily dose of unfiltered news and common sense commentary.
00:00:46.621 --> 00:00:49.442
This is Ranting Politics Headline Updates.
00:01:06.590 --> 00:01:11.451
Well, folks, the government shutdown drama just got spicier than a ghost pepper eating contest.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer dropped a bombshell today, announcing he'll vote to keep the government's lights on, despite calling the House-passed funding measure very bad.
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Talk about a plot twist that has his fellow Democrats reaching for the antacids.
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According to Fox News, schumer argued that, while the bill isn't great, a shutdown would be way worse for America, but his Democratic colleagues aren't exactly throwing him a parade for this decision.
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Aoc fired back saying Schumer's logic is completely off base, claiming this vote basically hands Elon Musk a blank check while robbing the federal government to finance billionaire tax cuts.
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The drama didn't stop there.
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New Jersey Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman jumped into the fray telling Schumer to pull the plug on this Republican bill, calling it bad for workers, veterans and seniors.
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Even former Obama official Susan Rice couldn't hold back taking to X to demand Schumer grow a spine, and quickly.
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Here's the kicker Republicans might have the majority in the Senate, but they still need some Democrats to play ball to clear the procedural hurdles.
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And with only one lonely Democrat voting for this in the House, schumer's announcement is raising eyebrows higher than a cat watching a ceiling fan.
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Representative Jasmine Crockett from Texas really summed up the Democratic divide, saying some understand the present danger while others don't, and she's standing firm against what she calls Trump's tyranny.
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Looks like Schumer might need some aloe vera for all these burns from his own party members.
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Breaking news from Gaza today, as Hamas has announced they're ready to release Eden Alexander, the last living American hostage in their custody, the 21-year-old New Jersey native who was serving in the Israeli military when he was captured during the October 7th attack, may finally be coming home after an intensive diplomatic push.
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This potential breakthrough comes on the heels of a significant shift in US policy.
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The White House recently revealed they've been engaging in direct talks with Hamas officials, a dramatic departure from longstanding American policy of not negotiating with terrorist organizations.
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Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had previously identified Alexander's release as a top priority, noting the young American's injured status.
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Alexander's release as a top priority, noting the young American's injured status.
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The negotiations which have been playing out in Qatar involve a complex web of intermediaries, including US hostage negotiator Adam Bowler, who's been meeting with Hamas leadership in recent days.
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The announced release would include Alexander, along with the remains of four dual nationals who tragically, didn't survive their captivity.
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This development is part of a broader ongoing ceasefire arrangement that's been in place since January 19th.
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So far, the deal has resulted in the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
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While the timing of Alexander's transfer remains uncertain, this announcement marks a potentially crucial step toward bringing the last American hostage home from Gaza.
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The story brings to light the intricate dance of international diplomacy, where traditional policy lines sometimes need to blur in the pursuit of bringing our citizens home.
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As reported by the New York Post, it's still unclear exactly which parties participated in negotiating this specific deal, but the outcome could represent a significant diplomatic achievement in this ongoing crisis.
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Hold onto your hats, folks, because this next story is a real doozy.
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The Trump administration has just directed the US military to draw up plans for what they're calling reclaiming the Panama Canal.
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Yes, you heard that right.
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We're talking about potentially increasing American military presence in a sovereign nation that's been independently operating this crucial waterway for over 25 years.
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According to NBC News, southern Command is cooking up various scenarios, ranging from friendly cooperation to and I kid you not the unlikely option of seizing the canal by force.
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The whole thing stems from concerns about China's growing influence in the region, with Trump specifically mentioning this goal during his recent joint address to Congress.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to visit Panama next month armed with draft strategies from Admiral Alvin Holsey.
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Currently, we've got about 200 troops rotating through Panama, but the administration's looking to beef that up significantly.
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They're floating ideas like establishing new army jungle schools, securing existing ports and even having the Army Corps of Engineers operate the canal's locks.
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Now it's worth noting that Panama and China are both pushing back hard against these claims of foreign interference.
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The canal's neutrality is actually written into Panama's constitution, and Chinese officials are accusing the US of using coercion to block their aid projects.
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Remember, this isn't exactly ancient history.
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The US invaded Panama back in 89 to oust Manuel Noriega, and that's still fresh in many minds.
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But here's where it gets really interesting.
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While military force is being considered as a last resort, the administration seems more focused on economic moves.
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Just look at BlackRock's recent $22.8 billion deal to buy a 90% stake in the Panama Ports Company from a Hong Kong-based firm.
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Seems like the chess pieces are already moving on this particular board.
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For those keeping score at home, we're watching a delicate diplomatic dance unfold around one of the world's most crucial waterways, with global superpowers jockeying for position and influence.
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And all this while Panama's president insists his government alone administers the canal.
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Talk about your international tension headaches.
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Well, folks, let me crack open this story about the incredible egg price roller coaster we've been riding.
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Fresh data from the USDA shows egg prices just took a spectacular nosedive, dropping from a wallet crushing $7.22 per dozen to $4.90 in just one week.
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And get this.
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We were looking at an all-time high of $8.17 just a few days before that plunge.
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Now, if you've been following this egg saga, you know it's become quite the political hot potato.
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These sky-high prices have been hitting American families where it hurts right in the breakfast budget.
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We're talking about prices that shot up from a reasonable $2 per dozen in previous years to more than $8 at their peak.
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That's enough to make anyone's grocery bill scramble.
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The culprit behind this egg-spensive mess?
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A perfect storm of problems, including that nasty bird flu outbreak that's forced farmers to cull over 111 million birds since 2022.
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Throw in some inflation, supply chain headaches and new animal welfare regulations and you've got yourself a recipe for price chaos.
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Here's where it gets interesting.
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This has become such a hot-button issue that it actually played a role in the recent presidential election.
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A Gallup poll showed voters pointing to economic pressures like these as a major reason for their choices at the ballot box.
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The Justice Department is even reportedly launching an investigation into whether top egg producers might be playing chicken with the supply to keep prices high.
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And if you think the drama ends there, think again.
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The USDA is predicting egg prices could jump another 41% this year.
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So while we're getting some relief right now, don't count your chickens before they hatch.
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This story might have a few more surprises in store for our grocery bills.
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And that wraps up today's Ranting Politics Headline Updates.
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You've been listening to your daily dose of unfiltered political commentary and breaking news.
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Remember, we're bringing you the stories that matter most, cutting through the noise and getting straight to the point.
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If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to follow us across all platforms.
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You can find us on X at RantingRP, catch our video content on YouTube, stream us on Spotify and iHeartRadio, or download our episodes on Apple Podcasts.
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For more in-depth coverage and exclusive content, head over to RantingPoliticscom, where we're always serving up fresh, unfiltered perspectives on the day's biggest stories.
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This is JOC signing off, and thank you, our loyal listeners, for choosing Ranting Politics Headline Updates.
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We'll be back soon with the updates you need to navigate these interesting times.
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Until then, stay tuned, stay informed and, as always, stay free.
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