Politics
Secretary Rubio Criticizes China’s Bullying for Detaining DOZENS of Panama-Flagged Cargo Ships

Rubio decries China’s bullying
Panama’s ships caught between the rock and a hard place.
While the Russia-Ukraine war brings danger to the Black Sea, the military conflicts in the Middle East brought about Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
But we’d do well not to forget about the vital Panama Canal and the geopolitical consequences of Donald J. Trump’s administration shutting China out of its infrastructure.
Last Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called out China’s ‘bullying’ for ‘detaining or holding up dozens of Panama-flagged ships’.
Even though the ships were held for a short period of time, it comes as a retaliation after Panama seized control of two ports on the Panama Canal from a Hong Kong-based company.
China denies the bullying allegations.
The US accused China of harassing and detaining Panama-flagged ships after the Central American nation struck down contracts with a Hong Kong conglomerate operating ports on both sides of the Panama Canal. https://t.co/p2NNvtPmRC
— Bloomberg (@business) April 2, 2026
Associated Press reported:
“Panama has been caught in a broader rivalry between the United States and China after U.S. President Donald Trump accused Beijing last year of running the Panama Canal. The Trump administration sees the critical maritime trade route as strategically important, both commercially and militarily, and Trump has talked about retaking the Panama Canal since his campaign.
‘China’s decision to detain or otherwise impede Panama-flagged vessels engaged in lawful trade destabilizes supply chains, raises costs, and erodes confidence in the global trading system’, Rubio said on social media. ‘The United States stands with Panama against any retaliatory actions against its sovereignty and will always support our partners in the face of bullying’.”
China’s decision to detain or otherwise impede Panama-flagged vessels engaged in lawful trade destabilizes supply chains, raises costs, and erodes confidence in the global trading system. The United States stands with Panama against any retaliatory actions against its sovereignty…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 2, 2026
No less than 75% of the ships detained for inspection in Chinese ports in March – 92 vessels – were Panama-flagged.
“The Panama-flagged ships were typically detained for a few days — as short as one day or as long as 10 days — before being released.
That is up drastically from the previous two months, when 19 out of 45 ships — or more than 40% — held in February were Panama-flagged, and 23 out of 71 — or over 30% — in January hung the Panama flag.”
Read more:
FBI Warns Congress of ‘Major’ Cyber Hack Involving China That Could Threaten National Security
The post Secretary Rubio Criticizes China’s Bullying for Detaining DOZENS of Panama-Flagged Cargo Ships appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Business
HORROR: 21-Year-Old Marine Stabbed to Death on Easter Morning by Unknown Assailant in North Carolina – Person of Interest Sought in Incident

Authorities are seeking this person of interest in connection with the stabbing death of a Marine in Wilmington, North Carolina. Credit: Wilmington Police Department
A brave American hero was brutally murdered on Easter morning in a senseless act of violence in North Carolina, and authorities are seeking public help in hopes of identifying the person responsible.
As WECT reported, Wilmington police responded to reports of fighting in the downtown area at roughly 2 am Sunday. There, they found that two people had been stabbed.
One of the victims was 21-year-old Daniel Montano, a United States Marine. He had been stabbed in the neck and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Unfortunately, Montano later died from his injuries.
WECT obtained a statement from the 2nd Marine Division, based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, confirming that Montano had passed away.
2nd Marine Division can confirm that at approximately 2:00 a.m. on April 5th, a Marine was injured during an altercation in Wilmington, NC, and as of April 6th, has unfortunately passed away due to the injuries sustained.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Marine’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.
Below is a local report on the incident:
Police are looking for an adult Black male with a medium build for questioning. WECT reports he was last seen wearing a light-colored fleece-lined denim jacket, light-colored denim pants, a pink shirt, and white sneakers with blue and red streaks.
WHQR notes that one video that has gone viral on social media shows a man bleeding badly after being stabbed in the neck, while another man removes his t-shirt and tries to save the victim’s life.
WECT confirmed the video was taken on Sunday morning, suggesting that the victim in the footage is Montero.
Officers, though, do not appear to provide first aid to the stabbing victim. A woman can be heard screaming “Oh, my God” several times.
The outlet notes that, according to the Wilmington Police Department’s policy manual, the first officer on the scene of a significant crime must locate and assist injured individuals. Other officers should also be able to provide appropriate assistance when necessary.
District Attorney Jason Smith told WECT on Tuesday that he had reviewed the video and did not believe the officers committed a criminal act.
For that reason, Smith said he hadn’t contacted the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) about a probe into the officers.
The post HORROR: 21-Year-Old Marine Stabbed to Death on Easter Morning by Unknown Assailant in North Carolina – Person of Interest Sought in Incident appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
Patronizing Democrat MA Governor Maura Healey Uses Donuts to Explain Soaring Energy Costs to Suffering Constituents (Video)

MA Gov. Maura Healey uses donuts to lecture residents on energy costs. Image: Video screenshot/@MassGovernor/X
Fresh off being booed on Red Sox opening day alongside radical Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, leftist Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey thinks the suffering her constituents are facing with rising energy costs is a joke.
She appears to think voters are too dumb to understand economics and, instead of talking to residents like adults, she pulled out donuts to dumb down her patronizing explanation.
“Energy bills are high. Everyone can see that. So lowering your energy bills is my top priority. Now, how does that happen? That’s a little more complicated,” Healey began.
“So let’s talk about energy in a way that everyone understands— with munchkins.”
“Picture this: you’re at work or school, wherever. It’s 9 AM, and no one’s eaten breakfast. Someone shows up with one of these. Demand is high.”
“Everyone wants a munchkin or two or three, but we’ve only got 25. That’s where we’re headed with energy. So how do we fix that? See this glazed munchkin? That’s wind.”
“Massachusetts already has an offshore wind project lowering our energy bills as we speak. And we need more. It’s affordable, homegrown energy, and it’ll create thousands of jobs.”
“This sprinkled munchkin? That’s solar.”
“Solar is the cheapest, fastest way we can bring more energy into Massachusetts.”
“This chocolate munchkin? That’s storage. Storage is when we take energy off the grid when it’s cheaper and we store it, like you do in a battery, and then we use it later, when we need it most.”
“States across the country are going after more storage, and so is Massachusetts. And that’s not all. We’re going after geothermal and nuclear, gas, hydro, energy efficiency too. And I just signed an executive order to supercharge our all-of-the-above energy strategy to bring more energy in and to lower our bills.”
“Now Donald Trump wants to take energy options off the table.”
“You and I both know messing with Dunkin’ in Massachusetts is never a good idea because we know that when everyone gets a munchkin or 2 or 3, everyone’s happy.”
“And when there’s enough energy to go around, prices go down. So that’s why we’re saying yes to all kinds of energy and the lower bills and good jobs that come with it.”
“Now, what are you guys going to do with all these munchkins?”
Watch:
I just signed an Executive Order to bring enough energy into Massachusetts to power 2 million homes — and save families and businesses $10 million.
So how does our all-of-the-above energy strategy actually lower your bills?
Let’s break it down in terms everyone understands:… pic.twitter.com/BijgHM5XTB
— Governor Maura Healey (@MassGovernor) April 6, 2026
The post Patronizing Democrat MA Governor Maura Healey Uses Donuts to Explain Soaring Energy Costs to Suffering Constituents (Video) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
Acting AG Todd Blanche Says Reporter Could Be Subpoenaed in Iran Leak Investigation

Screenshot
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed on Tuesday during a press conference that the Trump administration is coming after the traitor who leaked classified details of the heroic Iran rescue mission.
As The Gateway Pundit has relentlessly reported, an American F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran last week in a brazen act of aggression by the terrorist regime. Both crew members ejected. One was rescued immediately.
But the second airman, the Weapons Systems Officer, was stranded deep behind enemy lines, evading capture by scaling a 7,000-foot mountain ridge and hiding in a crevice while Iranian forces hunted him with a massive bounty on his head.
What followed was nothing short of an Easter miracle. Both airmen were saved thanks to the unmatched bravery of our military.
President Trump himself revealed yesterday that somebody inside the government leaked critical details about the missing airman to the press, information that immediately tipped off the entire Iranian regime and put hundreds of American service members in mortal danger.
Trump said he’s prepared to send the reporter to jail unless they cough up the leaker’s identity.
Now Acting AG Todd Blanche is backing that up with steel.
When pressed by a reporter about whether there’s an ongoing leak investigation tied to the F-15E incident, Acting AG Blanche delivered a clear message:
Blanche: “I will never comment on ongoing investigations. I think that, to the extent that we have seen a series of leaks that necessarily involve classified information and put the lives of our soldiers or agents at risk, that is something we will always investigate.
And we will investigate, even if it means sending a subpoena to the reporter. That’s exactly what we should do, and that’s exactly what we will be doing.
If it means conducting standard investigations to identify who within the government feels it is acceptable to leak classified information and put lives at risk, then we will try to root him or her out as well.
So, I’m not going to discuss ongoing investigations, except to say that, yes, we will always investigate those types of leaks.”
WATCH:
The Gateway Pundit reported earlier that an Israeli journalist has come out and admitted to being the first to drop the bombshell details on the second missing U.S. airman in Iran.
Amit Segal, the high-profile political commentator and anchor for Israel’s Channel 12 news, stepped forward on his Telegram channel Monday and acknowledged his role in publishing the initial scoop about the downed U.S. fighter jet crew.
When confronted by the New York Post, Segal walked back his earlier claim, admitting he was “not sure” he had broken the story first, before adding that he would still protect his “sources.”
Read more:
Journalist Who First Broke Missing Airman Scoop Steps Forward After Trump’s Jail Threat — Vows to ‘Protect Sources’
The post Acting AG Todd Blanche Says Reporter Could Be Subpoenaed in Iran Leak Investigation appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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