Podcasts about Panama City

Have you ever considered investing in international real estate? Discover how Panama offers lucrative opportunities for investors seeking affordability, lifestyle upgrades, and long-term wealth building.Melissa Darnay is an American entrepreneur who has been living her dream life in Panama since 2012. As the CEO of Choose Panama, a luxury real estate and rental agency based in Panama City, Melissa specializes in helping expatriates navigate the Panamanian real estate market, offering insights into property management, rentals, and purchases. She shares her personal journey of relocating from Dallas to Panama and what initially attracted her to the country: affordability, quality of life, and the chance to create wealth through real estate investments. Melissa and Corwyn compare cost-of-living insights between the U.S. and Panama, revealing how everyday services like housekeeping, transportation, and even medical care are more accessible abroad—opening the door for a lifestyle many Americans may not think is within reach.Key Takeaways:(03:50) Why Melissa made the leap from Texas to Panama(10:22) Cost comparison: Life in Panama vs. life in the U.S.(13:40) How to invest in Panama real estate (and what to avoid(20:01) The cultural shift: slower pace, stronger community(23:17) What to expect: the mañana mindset, infrastructure challenges, and rural diversity(25:51) How Panamanians supported each other during COVID—and what the U.S. can learn(27:30) How to get in touch with Melissa for property management, rentals, or buying in PanamaInterested in exploring real estate opportunities in Panama? Visit www.choosepanama.com to access resources, including Melissa's book Panama Uncorked, and to learn more about living and investing in Panama.Contact Melissa @:  Website: www.choosepanama.comYouTube: Choose Panama - The Panama PodcastLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadarnay/E-book: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.htmlConnect with Corwyn @:Contact Number: 843-619-3005Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/exitstrategiesradioshow/⁠⁠FB Page:⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/exitstrategiessc/⁠⁠Youtube:⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxoSuynJd5c4qQ_eDXLJaZA⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠ https://www.exitstrategiesradioshow.com⁠⁠Linkedin:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmelette/⁠⁠Shoutout to our Sponsor: EXIT Realty Lowcountry GroupDo you want something more? More Meaningful Moments opportunities, deeper relationships and memorable experiences? Do you want to make a difference? If you say YES, a career and real estate could be the opportunity you're looking for guiding people to one of the most important decisions they ever made, the purchase or sale of their home can be both rewarding and lucrative. EXIT Realty has a revolutionary compensation model training and technology that provides you with the tools you need to start and build your successful real estate career. Call EXIT Realty Lowcountry group today at 843-619-3005 that is 843-619-3005 or visit ⁠https://exitlowcountry.com/joinexit⁠ and make your Exit today.

In this special episode of the Northwood Church Matters Podcast, Lead Pastor Bobby Pell and host Pastor Matt Higgins sit down with Zack and Courtney Newsome, former student ministry leaders turned full-time missionaries. The Newsoms share their journey—from leading backyard Bible clubs as teens to answering God's call to train missionaries in Panama City, Panama (not Florida!). They discuss the pivotal moments that confirmed their calling, the challenges of transition, and the spiritual preparation required to serve cross-culturally. Whether you're considering missions yourself or simply want to be encouraged by God's faithfulness, this episode offers insight, honesty, and inspiration for the entire church body.

Panama City is on the verge of taking an important step in becoming a bitcoin pioneer. The mayor of Panama City, Mayer Mizrachi, has awoken speculation from part of the crypto community, with a cryptic post after meeting known bitcoin proponents Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert. Mizrachi assessed that this meeting was “only the beginning of great things to come,” after posting “Bitcoin Reserve” earlier. Keiser also referred to the meeting, stressing that the city might be gearing up to employ its hydroelectric resources to mine bitcoin. “El Salvador's geothermal & Panama's hydro-electric will power the Bitcoin revolution,” Max Keiser highlighted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP STORIES - DeSantis signs ‘Boater Freedom Act' in Panama City; Rep. Frankel: DOGE's Social Security layoffs tied to growing backlog; Republicans overtake Democrats in Miami-Dade voter registration; Duke Energy says Clearwater would have to pay over $1B to drop the utility; Gulfport leaders may ban smoking at beaches; 900 new scooters rolling into St. Petersburg; Hernando High teacher charged with giving student Kratom.

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I'm Chuck Zimmerman. The ZimmComm Team are enjoying some time in paradise right near the Gulf of America. The weather has been great and we've had enough rain so that everything is green and growing. In this episode Cindy and I discuss the changes we're making to ZimmComm. We recently announced that we are going to retire from business travel starting Jan. 1, 2026. That has been a very big part of the work we pioneered along with the use of social media in agricultural marketing. But we've got plenty to do as we continue to distribute news releases with our AgNewsWire service. In fact, we started out with the idea of including audio files in news releases for our clients. We called them Talking News Releases and because of our background in farm radio we knew the frustration of not being able to get an interview or sound bite. When you want to have an audio interview included in your news release we will produce it and publish it with no extra cost. We'll work with you on the interview and can also add your own audio file if you would like, including logos, photos or other images. Here is an example of our latest news release for AgTech PR for their client, PowerPollen, that includes an interview. To have us distribute your release to our contact list all you have to do is use your credit card on the AgNewsWire form here and then just email your release and any multi-media content to include. In addition to news releases we will continue produce podcast like this one, The ZimmCast, as well as The Ethanol Report and the Daugherty Water For Food Podcast. If you would like to start a podcast just give us a call. We've still got several trips planned this year including these in July. Tech Hub Live in Des Moines, IA, Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Panama City, FL and Ag Media Summit in Rogers, AK.  So, keep ZimmComm's in your plans. And that's the ZimmCast for now. I hope you enjoy it and thank for listening.

Henry talks with Taylor Willams with Setco Services and Motivation Speaker with her service, Cool To Be Kind, Tay. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We have a conversation on how to actually get out of your low spots, what to do and places around the Panhandle to take a break. Showing our love to Historic Downtown Panama City, Panama City Beach, Port St Joe and all our neighbors. Hopefully you feel inspired and ready to make this your year, one win at a time. Produced by Beach 95.1 from the Sweet Home PCB Studio inside Beachy Beach Real Estate.

Jake Reisch, a 2024 Hoffman Process graduate, is passionate about building impactful companies from the ground up. He's also an authentic speaker and storyteller, as you'll hear in this conversation with Jake and Sadie. At the heart of Jake's story is authenticity, courage, and a willingness to stay present to himself. At the start, Sadie asks Jake to share his bio - a seemingly quick and easy task. In Jake's case, though, he has realized that his bio and how he shares about himself and his life have radically changed since his time at the Hoffman Process. It was after completing the Process that things started to click for Jake. He found he could witness his patterns in real-time and consciously make different choices in his daily life. At one point, as he shares, he found himself publicly speaking about his experience in childhood. He told his audience about his mistakes when he was young and his successes as an adult, building very successful startups. Both were, and are, true. Jake then told his audience that in his successes, he'd been "leaning into the gifts that he was given that he just didn't know how to use when he was younger." Jake was able to share publicly all of himself and his history. He's found that sharing hard things with others permits them to share their hard things, too. That's how deep relationships become possible. One more thing about today's episode: as mentioned, Sadie Hannah, Hoffman teacher and coach, hosts this conversation with Jake. Sadie is our newest Hoffman Podcast host. She and Drew will share the role of host moving forward. Congratulations, Sadie! Thank you, Jake, for telling us your whole story. We hope you enjoy this authentic and intimate conversation with Jake and Sadie. More about Jake Reisch: Jake is a Forbes 30 Under 30 startup founder with a passion for building impactful companies from the ground up. He is currently the Executive Director at the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction while actively coaching and investing in high-potential, impact-oriented startup CEOs. He completed the Hoffman Process in March 2024. Jake currently lives in Panama City, Panama, with his wife Isabella and small dog Barry. Follow Jake on Instagram and LinkedIn. As mentioned in this episode: ADHD - Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder Cornell University - Office of Entrepreneurship at Cornell Neurodivergent/Neurodiversity AeroFarms - Aeroponics EverSound Post-exit Founders Group on LinkedIn  

#PANAMA: REPORTING ON THE WHOLE OF SOCIETY ASSAULT BY THE PRC AIMING TO DOMINATE THE PANAMA CANAL.  @MICHAEL_YON IN PANAMA CITY 1929 PANAMA CITY

Journey Church: From Flood Myths to Modern Day Heroes In this lively episode of the Divinely Uninspired Podcast recording at Bullitt County Public Library, hosts Penny and Jeremy and Paul get into topics ranging from biblical flood songs to notable current events such as the Pope's passing, bizarre Twitter controversies, and Katy Perry's much-discussed trip to space. The conversation gets spirited with debates over if men could outrun a racehorse or defeat a gorilla in a fight. The hosts share personal updates, including spring activities, thoughts on dentists, and a detailed status of the Journey Church building after a significant flood. They also highlight plans for Mother's Day celebrations and reflect on community support and perseverance amid ongoing challenges.  00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:27 Podcast Hosts and Their Reactions 01:08 Current Events and Updates 02:09 Debate: Can 100 Men Defeat a Gorilla? 10:16 Katy Perry's Space Adventure 15:32 Spring Activities and Personal Stories 16:48 Harry Potter and Theme Park Adventures 19:42 Lord of the Rings Discussion 23:09 Nerdy Talk: Star Wars Shows 24:23 Spring Break Changes in Panama City 25:47 Mission Trips and Spring Break Stories 29:41 Music Festivals and Fyre Fest 2 31:03 Childhood Sports and Equipment 34:39 Dentist Experiences and Issues 40:53 Flood Update and Church Building Repairs 47:38 Mother's Day Plans and Community Support 48:36 Conclusion and Appreciation

What if the key to transforming communities isn't money, resources, or even a buttoned-up theology—but something far more foundational?In this special episode, we're giving you a taste of the kind of teaching you'll experience at the upcoming DNA Forum this August in Panama City, Panama. Join us as we revisit a compelling keynote from our last Forum, delivered by one of DNA's most influential trainers, Arturo Cuba.Drawing from over two decades of grassroots discipleship in rural Latin America, Cuba challenges conventional evangelical thinking with bold clarity: “People do not live out of theologies. People live out of the things that make sense in their lives.” His message unpacks how biblical principles—taught as life-shaping truths rather than abstract theology—have the power to bring deep, lasting change.Want more of this kind of insight? You don't want to miss the 2025 DNA Forum happening August 4–8 in Panama City, Panama. Our theme: The Essential Role of the Local Church in Discipling Nations. DNA Forum 2025—This is an invitation-only event. Learn more or request an invitation at  disciplenations.org/forum2025.

The Bitcoin Brief is a biweekly program hosted by Max and QnA that delivers the latest updates and news on Bitcoin and freedom-oriented technologies, keeping you informed and in the loop.AOBEaster holidaysQ having a few days offPrime/Core shipping updatesOver a year legal purgatory for Samourai devs NEWSTwenty One Capital set to launchUnchained launches Bitcoin Legacy projecteXch to close downVoltage announces 'Voltage payments'Panama city approves BTC for taxesSpar supermarket Switzerland now accepts BTC via LNAshigaru fundUPDATES/RELEASESBitcoin keeper rebrand and v2.2.0Fidelity bond calculatorErk on ArkAwesome CTV + CSFS curationRockstar dev video on BTCPay multisigCoinswap v0.1.1Aegis signer for Nostr iOSIMPORTANT LINKS https://freesamourai.comhttps://p2prights.org/donate.htmlhttps://ungovernablemisfits.comVALUE FOR VALUEThanks for listening you Ungovernable Misfits, we appreciate your continued support and hope you enjoy the shows.You can support this episode using your time, talent or treasure.TIME:- create fountain clips for the show- create a meetup- help boost the signal on social mediaTALENT:- create ungovernable misfit inspired art, animation or music- design or implement some software that can make the podcast better- use whatever talents you have to make a contribution to the show!TREASURE:- BOOST IT OR STREAM SATS on the Podcasting 2.0 apps @ https://podcastapps.com- DONATE via Paynym @ https://paynym.rs/+misfit- DONATE via Monero @ https://xmrchat.com/ugmf- BUY SOME STICKERS @ https://www.ungovernablemisfits.com/shop/FOUNDATIONhttps://foundation.xyz/ungovernableFoundation builds Bitcoin-centric tools that empower you to reclaim your digital sovereignty.As a sovereign computing company, Foundation is the antithesis of today's tech conglomerates. Returning to cypherpunk principles, they build open source technology that “can't be evil”.Thank you Foundation Devices for sponsoring the show!Use code: Ungovernable for $10 off of your purchaseCAKE WALLEThttps://cakewallet.comCake Wallet is an open-source, non-custodial wallet available on Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux.Features:- Built-in Exchange: Swap easily between Bitcoin and Monero.- User-Friendly: Simple interface for all users.Monero Users:- Batch Transactions: Send multiple payments at once.- Faster Syncing: Optimized syncing via specified restore heights- Proxy Support: Enhance privacy with proxy node options.Bitcoin Users:- Coin Control: Manage your transactions effectively.- Silent Payments: Static bitcoin addresses- Batch Transactions: Streamline your payment process.Thank you Cake Wallet for sponsoring the show!(00:00:00) INTRO(00:00:41) THANK YOU FOUNDATION(00:01:38) THANK YOU CAKE WALLET(00:02:44) How've You Been?(00:06:36) Tariff Tumult(00:08:58) 1 Year of Legal Purgatory for Samourai Wallet(00:10:40) NEWS(00:10:45) The Suitconomy Adds Another Business(00:14:18) Unchained Launches Bitcoin Legacy(00:15:07) exch Shuts Down(00:18:25) Voltage Announces Voltage Payments(00:25:52) Bitcoin Approved for Taxes in Panama City(00:27:43) Spar Supermarket Accepts LN(00:31:46) Ashigaru Fund(00:33:55) Is Jonny D Okay!?(00:35:29) BOOSTS(00:49:12) UPDATES & RELEASES(00:49:30) Bitcoin Keeper Rebrand with 2.2(00:51:23) Fidelity Bond Calculator(00:52:12) Erk on Ark(01:01:00) Awesome CTV and CSFS(01:01:29) BTCPay Multisig Video(01:01:52) Coinswap 0.1.1(01:07:02) Aegis Nostr Signer(01:08:15) QUESTIONS

Barry Lowin is not only a local News Anchor with WJHG. Did you know that Barry also has over 20 years experience acting and doing stunts in Television and Film, including The Mandalorian and the Book of Boba Fett…plus The Big Bang Theory, The Bold and The Beautiful and performed as The Trickster in Cirque du Soleil's Kooza. Barry Lowin…the man behind the armor in The Mandalorian is with us for this episode of Sweet Home PCB…May the 4th be with y'all!

Welcome back, Catholic Pilgrims, the final day of our voyage to Panama. As this is the last day, I will offer my reflection after our readings.  One thing to note: Mother Cabrini arrives at the port of Colon, which is in Panama. However, even though she's there, she keeps talking about how she needs to get to Panama to see the house where the Sisters stay. Just to be clear, she is talking about Panama City in Panama, not in Florida where I used to live. So, Colon is on east side of the isthmus and Panama City is on the western side. Actually, though, if you look at a map, because of the shape of Panama, Colon sits in the north and Panama City in the south.  Without further ado, let's turn to page 140.

Report from Panama City on the Plan to Secure the Canal American Access in the Event of War Needs in the Indo-Pacific. Michele Yon in Panama City. 1913 BALBOA CHANNEL

#Panama: Report on the Conditions at the Darién Gap as the Migrant Flow Slows to 100 a Day. Michael Yon in Panama City. 1697 DARIEN PROVINCE

In this episode, real estate expert Melissa Darnay shares why Panama is a smart place to invest. She moved there in 2012 and now helps people find homes through her agency, Choose Panama. Melissa explains how Panama offers strong economic stability, low living costs, and easy property laws—especially for Americans. You'll learn why the country is popular with expats, how the visa process works, and what makes Panama City a top rental market. If you've ever thought about buying real estate abroad, this episode is packed with helpful tips and first-hand advice.

Mark Carney and Jagmeet Singh unveil the Liberal and NDP costed platforms, as Pierre Poilievre talks about tackling the fentanyl crisis. You'll hear about today's election campaign announcements as Canadians continue to head to advance polls to get their votes in early.Also: The crackdown on immigration in the U.S. has sent hundreds of asylum seekers to Panama - in a deal that has been widely criticized by human rights groups. We'll take you to Panama City, where those people - many from Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East - are struggling to figure out what to do next.And: The NHL playoffs start tonight with five Canadian teams in contention for the Stanley Cup. You'll hear why there's some hope one of those teams could bring it home this year.

Quicksand nearly swallows man who was walking on a Michigan beach near dredging project, Panama City appears poised to be the next 'former' spring break hot spot, If you are somewhat disabled, use a walking cane...people will be nicer to you

Host Christine Lee breaks down the latest news in the crypto industry as Trump calls for interest rate cuts and warns of Fed Chair Jerome Powell's termination.Trump again calls for Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates, adding his "termination cannot come soon enough." Meanwhile, Panama City embraces bitcoin, ether and other cryptocurrencies for taxes and municipal payments, and quantum computing group launches a competition to break Bitcoin. CoinDesk's Christine Lee hosts "CoinDesk Daily."-This episode was hosted by Christine Lee. “CoinDesk Daily” is produced by Christine Lee and edited by Victor Chen.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special episode, we kick off our brand-new Leadership Series with someone who's been part of this journey from the very beginning - Matt Landau. Matt's been on the show more than 20 times over the years, but this conversation feels different. It's deeper, more reflective, and marks a shift in how we talk about leadership in the vacation rental industry. From managing boutique vacation rentals in Panama City's historic Casco Viejo to founding The Vacation Rental Marketing Blog and The Inner Circle, Matt has always led by example. But over the last few years, he's taken a big step back - literally and figuratively - to re-evaluate what leadership really means. His latest project, Here Goes Nothin', is all about helping short-term rental professionals find clarity, reconnect with purpose, and lead from a place of authenticity. Revolutionize Your Employee Onboarding with THRIVE Essentials: Faster Training, Stronger Teams, Better Results! Discover how THRIVE Essentials accelerates onboarding for new property management staff, boosting performance and reducing turnover. >> THRIVE Essentials Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS607

Mark your calendars for the next Say Yes Summit on June 17th & 18th! In this heartfelt conversation, Wendy is joined by Melissa Darnay to explore how grief, courage, and curiosity led her to a vibrant new life in Panama. After losing her husband, Melissa knew she needed something big enough to meet the weight of her loss—and that “yes” took her far beyond what she expected. Together, they talk about the healing power of new experiences, the joy of connecting with a like-minded ex-pat community, and what it really means to say yes to yourself, even when others don't understand. If you've ever wondered what's waiting on the other side of a bold decision, this episode will meet you right there.About Melissa:Melissa Darnay is anAmerican entrepreneur who has been living her dream life in Panama since 2012. As the CEO of Choose Panama, a luxury real estate and rental agency based in Panama City, Melissa specializes in helping clients find the perfect investment properties that align with their personal dreams and financial goals. Her unique approach sets her apart from other real estate professionals— she guides clients from their first inquiry through every stage of settling into Panama, offering support long after the transaction is complete.Melissa's dedication has earned her a long list of satisfied clients who have successfully found their “someday” in Panama, whether it's for a vacation, an extended stay, or a permanent move. Known for her expertise and genuine care, she has helped countless individuals and families create their ideal life in this beautiful tropical oasis.Connect with Melissa:ChoosePanama.comOn LinkedInGet her free ebook, Panama Uncorked, here. Choose Panama Podcast on Youtube________________________________________________________________________________________ Say YES to joining Wendy for her: Say YES Sisterhood PWH Farm StaysPWH Curated France TripsInstagram: @phineaswrighthouseFacebook: Phineas Wright HouseWebsite: Phineas Wright HousePodcast Production By Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat!Thank you for listening to the Say YES to yourself! podcast. It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5-star review, and share with a friend.

Melissa Darnay has been living her dream life in Panama since 2012 as the CEO of Choose Panama, a luxury real estate and rental agency based in Panama City. Melissa specializes in helping clients find the perfect investment properties that align with their personal dreams and financial goals. Her unique approach sets her apart from other real estate professionals—she guides clients from their first inquiry through every stage of settling into Panama, offering support long after the transaction is complete.

The Boaters' Rights Advocacy Coalition is a group of dedicated boaters associations representing more than 20,000 members committed to advocating for the rights of all active cruisers and boaters. Our mission is to ensure safe, equitable, and sustainable access to our public waterways. Here's how you can help protect anchoring on Florida's waterways:Contribute to our Advocacy Fund. This fund helps pay our lobbyist in Florida. Without professional representation, we don't have a seat a the table. Contact the members of Florida's Senate Fiscal Policy Committee:We are concerned that Senate Bill 594 will be added to the agenda for the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee the week of 4/14/2025. SB 594 could ban anchoring within 2,500 feet of Florida's Seaports and is purported to be a security measure, but there is no evidence of a security threat needing mitigation. Please email or call the Senators on the committee (see below) as soon as possible and share why you oppose the bill. Below some specific points regarding this bill for your use when calling or emailing. Please choose a few and tailor them to make your own.State Parks near several ports -- including the Ports of Everglades, Panama City, Fernandina, Fort Pierce, Pensacola, Key West, Tampa -- where anchoring is currently enjoyed are within the potential no-anchoring zones created by this bill.Common recreational anchoring areas are negatively affected in this bill. Fernandina, Port Canaveral, Ft Pierce, Lake Worth, Miami and Key West will lose much or all of their anchoring area.The setback is excessive, and is not supported by historical events or the water depths which are 10ft or less in some of the areas the bill would make off limits, making the ideal areas for us to anchor but not useable by cargo or cruise shipsPort security concerns are not highlighted in publicly available minutes from meetings of the Ports Council, Port of Palm Beach, and Port of Miami.Generally, federal law controls the regulation of navigation, seaport security and other aspects of admiralty law in and upon the navigable waters of the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently determined that federal supremacy principles mandate that federal law preempts state and local government efforts to impose conditions on port entry that federal laws already cover. Federal law allows a state to regulate its ports and waterways, as long as the regulation is based on the peculiarities of local waters that call for special precautionary measures. We believe these waters do not call for special precautionary measures, and the state of Florida lacks jurisdiction in this matter. There is substantial case law that supports this assertion.The US Coast Guard (USCG) is the lead federal agency for maritime security and the primary enforcer of security zones around seaport facilities and vessels not the Florida Wildlife and Conservation Commission. The USCG issues security zone orders, conducts patrols and inspections, coordinates with other agencies and stakeholders, and responds to incidents and emergencies within security zones.General Guidelines on Contacting Legislators:Email or phone are the best ways to reach a legislator. Letters are second best, but in our electronic world today everyone uses computers.Timing is very important. Don't delay your email until after the bill has been passed. HB 481 will be heard in committee onWednesday aftermoon.Be polite and professional. Profanity will not help no matter how frustrated you may be.Address the email/letter as ‘Dear Senator xxx' and ‘Dear Representative xxx'.Limit your message to 200 words or so. Long emails don't get the point across. Three paragraphs are a reasonable limit for emails and letters.If not a Florida resident, identify yourself as cruiser/tourist from ________ state. Emails from citizens of other states are also effective because a large segment of Florida's economy is based on tourism.Form letters are routinely ignored except they are simply tallied up. They represent the viewpoint of one individual, no matter how many times they are transmitted. Please take the time to put the “talking points” we've provided into your own words.Work very hard to avoid misspellings, grammatical errors and skipped words in your document. These are easy to spot, and may cause the reader to misunderstand what you are saying or skip reading your email entirely.Here are the committee members to contact:Last NameFirst NameCapitol PhoneEmail AddressGrutersJoe(850) 487-5022gruters.joe.web@flsenate.govOsgoodRosalind(850) 487-5032osgood.rosalind.web@flsenate.govArringtonKristen(850) 487-5025arrington.kristen.web@flsenate.govAvilaBryan(850) 487-5039Avila.Bryan.web@flsenate.govBernardMack(850) 487-5024bernard.mack.web@flsenate.govBoydJim(850) 487-5020boyd.jim.web@flsenate.govBradleyJennifer(850) 487-5006bradley.jennifer.web@flsenate.govBurtonColleen(850) 487-5012Burton.Colleen.web@flsenate.govCalatayudAlexis(850) 487-5038Calatayud.Alexis.web@flsenate.govDavisTracie(850) 487-5005Davis.Tracie.web@flsenate.govGaetzDon(850) 487-5001gaetz.don.web@flsenate.govIngogliaBlaise(850) 487-5011ingoglia.blaise.web@flsenate.govJonesShevrin ''Shev''(850) 487-5034jones.shevrin.web@flsenate.govLeekTom(850) 487-5007leek.tom.web@flsenate.govPassidomoKathleen(850) 487-5028passidomo.kathleen.web@flsenate.govRodriguezAna Maria(850) 487-5040rodriguez.anamaria.web@flsenate.govSimonCorey(850) 487-5003simon.corey.web@flsenate.govTruenowKeith(850) 487-5013truenow.keith.web@flsenate.govYarboroughClay(850) 487-5004Yarborough.Clay.web@flsenate.gov

On this episode, we have a retrospective of the late, great actor Val Kilmer.  We also talk about what we've been watching as well as Cinema Steven's fascination with donuts!If you are in the Panama City, Florida area, check out the Redfish Film Fest.  Follow the link for more information. https://redfishfilmfest.com/Send us a textSupport the showIf you are feeling anxious, depressed or angry and need someone to talk to, visit Better Help to speak to a licensed professional. Use the promo code: screenaddicts and receive 10% off your first month. Just follow this link: https://tr.ee/kWT1K0AfHj Visit our Linktree for show info and our Merch Store: https://linktr.ee/screenaddictspodcastSubmit any thoughts or questions to: screenaddictpodcast@gmail.com

Luis Manuel Tumialán is a Professor of Neurosurgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute specializing in minimally invasive spinal surgery. He graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine, completed his internship at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. Dr. Tumialán completed additional training in undersea medicine in Groton Connecticut and Navy Dive School in Panama City, Florida. Upon completion of his operational training, he served as the Diving Medical Officer assigned to Naval Special Warfare Unit One in Guam during the Global War on Terror in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001. He received a Naval and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Southeast Asia and a Navy Humanitarian Medal for the search and maritime rescue of a foreign national.Once he returned to the mainland, Dr. Tumialán completed his neurosurgery training at Emory University School of Medicine and returned to the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. He joined Barrow Brain and Spine in 2010 where he serves as the director of minimally invasive spine surgery. Dr. Tumialán's main interests are in minimally invasive spinal surgery and motion preservation surgery as well as developing techniques for the next generation of spinal surgery.

John Corabi discussed his new album featuring blues covers, recorded at Muscle Shoals, and his experiences with various bands, including Motley Crue and The Dead Daisies. He shared stories about his motorhome, which serves as a tour bus and family home, and his upcoming trip to a bike rally in Panama City. Corabi also recounted his time with Union, Brides of Destruction, and his brief stint as a truck driver. He mentioned his interactions with celebrities like Dave Grohl and Larry David, and a memorable experience with Pantera involving ecstasy and heroin. John Corabi recounts his bizarre experience being arrested in Texas for public intoxication despite not having consumed any alcohol. He describes being released without charges and the involvement of a cop with a crush on his wife. Corabi also shares past troubles, including a fight that led to a murder investigation and his no-nonsense upbringing. He discusses the polarization in society, the influence of social media, and the importance of staying true to oneself. Corabi promotes his band's new blues record, "Looking for Trouble," and mentions upcoming tour dates in Europe. He emphasizes the unifying power of music and the need for people to focus on their own lives.0:00:00 - Intro0:00:20 - John Corabi Motorhome & Lifestyle 0:05:56 - Recognition & Fan Interactions 0:07:45 - Monsters of Rock Cruise 0:12:02 - New Album & Blues Covers 0:24:01- Forming the Band "Union" 0:27:35 - Brides of Destruction 0:35:00 - Ex Wife Cheating 0:41:25 - Truck Driver Life 0:50:30 - Larry David, Isla Fisher & Sacha Baron Cohen 0:59:00 - South Park & Hooligan's Holiday 1:01:05 - Dave Grohl & Grunge 1:06:30 - Pantera & Excellent Shots 1:18:35 - Getting Arrested in Dallas 1:28:40 - Teenage Troubles 1:34:20 - Family Influence & Different Times 1:37:55 - Choose Your Battles & Stay in Lane 2:02:20 - Peronsal Philosophy & Staying Informed 2:06:20 - Respecting Different Opinions & Property 2:25:10 - Michael Sweet Story 2:27:30 - Music Brings Us Together 2:29:10 Dead Daisies Update 2:35:20 - Outro Dead Daises website:https://thedeaddaisies.com/John Corabi website:https://www.johncorabi.com/Chuck Shute linktree:https://linktr.ee/chuck_shuteSupport the showThanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!

Steve King and Johnnie Putman continue their Florida stay with some very special guests at WKGC in Panama City’s Gulf Coast State College. We get to know more about fan favorite Floridians Eli Ingram and Sandi MarLisa, the Florida duo known as Jack and Gin are back on the show to talk about their new […]

PREVIEW: #PANAMA: PRC Belt and Road advancing without hesitation in Panama City. Michael Yon in Panama. More later. @MICHAEL_YON 1905 PANAMA CANAL

Hello, Catholic Pilgrims. Well, today, Mother and her Daughters have entered the port city of Colon, Panama. Now, this is not their final destination, but this is where they are getting off the boat, moving into a train to go across the land to Panama City, and then get on another boat.  It's a longer reading today, but I really think you will enjoy hearing all Mother Cabrini has to say. She gives great descriptions of the land and the environment. Just try to imagine her in the late 1800s making her way through a foreign country such as Panama. You can tell that she is thrilled with the adventure of it all.  Let's get started by opening to page 70.  Colon, Panama: https://www.tourismpanama.com/places-to-visit/portobelo/places-to-stay/colon/

PREVIEW: Colleague Evan Ellis of the US Army War College comments on his testimony to the US Senate regarding the continued threat of the PRC to the Panama Canal. More later. 1929 PANAMA CITY

Johnnie Putman and Steve King have left Chicago… and are enjoying the Florida weather running the show from Panama City! It may be reduced, but it's still the same great Steve and Johnnie flavor! Patrick Crispen checks in with the latest tech news, hacks, spam and AI updates, with the big headlines covering a major […]

Trump is serious about his intention to seize the Panama Canal. He discussed it in his inauguration address and has dispatched Marco Rubio to Panama to put a plan in motion. But what do Panamanians think about this? My interview guest is Ed Price, a political economist at New York University and a columnist for the Financial Times. We begin by discussing the general mood on the streets of Panama City before turning to a broader conversation about how political and policy elites in Panama are responding to this assault on their sovereignty. We also examine the wider geopolitical implications of Trump's ambitions for territorial expansion, including annexing the Panama Canal, acquiring Greenland, and making Canada the “51st state.”

Preview: Colleague Professor Evan Ellis reports that the CCP continues to send delegations to Panama City to convince the government to break the deal with BlackRock for the Hutchinson Ports. MORE LATER. 1910

“The priesthood is beautiful. Keep thinking about it. Keep praying about it. It's worth it.” Fr. Pieter vanRooyen, pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Ypsilanti and an assistant professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, joins Men of the Hearts hosts Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. Drew Mabee to talk about his journey to the priesthood. Having been raised in a nominally Catholic household, it wasn't until he was in college at Michigan State University that Fr. Pieter first began thinking about the priesthood. He shares how his devout grandmother, a high school friend, and a campus Christian group influenced his growing faith and helped open his eyes to his priestly vocation.(0:27) Hosts Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. Drew Mabee introduce their guest this month, Fr. Pieter vanRooyen, pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Ypsilanti and an assistant professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He shares some recent blessings, like participating in Exodus 90 with the men of his parish. Fr. Drew shares his own experiences with Exodus 90. Our hosts and their guest then talk about Fr. Pieter's interest in motorcycles.(8:53) Fr. Craig, who serves as Director of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit, talks about a recent dinner and evening prayer with Archbishop Vigneron, attended by more than 200 young men discerning the priesthood. Fr. Drew pauses to express gratitude for Archbishop Vigneron's years of ministry and slips in an invitation for Archbishop-designate Weisenburger to be a guest on the podcast after he's installed as Archbishop of Detroit on March 18. (10:22) Fr. Pieter begins sharing his vocation story. He grew up in a nominally Catholic household—he was baptized and received First Communion and Reconciliation, but attended Mass mostly on holidays and was not confirmed as a young teen. When he was in high school, his family moved closer to his devoutly Catholic grandmother, who taught him about the faith and arranged for him to be confirmed. (18:37) Fr. Pieter talks about breaking up with a steady girlfriend and feeling “crushed” by the loss, but ultimately asking himself whether he had “made an idol” of the relationship. He explores the difference between preparing for marriage and casually dating. Even married couples should look to God, not their spouse, as their ultimate source of satisfaction.(22:59) Fr. Pieter enrolled at Michigan State University in the fall of 2001 on a scholarship from the Air Force through ROTC. Within weeks of the semester starting, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks occurred and Fr. Pieter considered dropping out and enlisting. After some thought, he decided to stay in school. He began attending Mass periodically with a suitemate as well as a Bible study. (30:26) Fr. Pieter recalls spending spring break in Panama City, Florida to attend a Campus Crusade for Christ conference, during which students were sent out “two-by-two” to share the Gospel with beach-goers. One fruit of this trip was Fr. Pieter began praying every day: “Jesus, I give this day to you.” He also began to seek answers about his Catholic faith and returned to Reconciliation for the first time since second grade.(42:12) During the summer before his sophomore year, Fr. Pieter lived with his grandmother in Chicago. It was during this time, while at Adoration with his grandmother, that he first asked God what he should do with his life. In response, the thought unexpectedly came into his head to be a priest. Fr. Pieter shares how he initially dismissed the thought but later told his grandmother, who helped connect him with a priest to explore the vocation.(54:07) After a few years of discernment and living in accordance with Church teachings, Fr. Pieter graduated from MSU and entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 2004. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lansing six years later. The group spends some time talking about how a...

Kris and David are back for EPISODE #500!!! of Between the Sheets, where we discuss the partial week that was March 13-16, 1998. Topics of discussion include:The aftermath of Syxx/Sean Waltman being fired by Eric Bischoff solely to mess with Kevin Nash, including how Nash reacted to this during a candid Prodigy chat hours before WCW Uncensored.The Uncensored PPV proper, featuring Mean Gene scolding Dean Malenko after his loss to Chris Jericho, a horrible Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage cage match main event, and tons more.The second annual SPRING BREAKOUT Monday Nitro from Panama City, featuring Kevin Nash doing a cannonball into the pool and Sting rappelling from a helicopter into the ring among other wackiness.-Giant Baba rebooking almost his entire Tokyo Dome debut show for various reasons.Eric Bischoff trying to repair the WCW/NJPW relationship after offending NJPW by negotating with AJPW.Akira Hokuto announcing her pregnancy.The 2nd ever Pride FC show taking place at Yokohama Arena.K-1's plans to invade the United States.-A major UFC PPV in Kenner, Louisiana featuring Frank Shamrock ending Igor Zinoviev's career.Paul Heyman announces at the Elk's Lodge that ECW had finally cleared NY area powerhouse Cablevision for PPV distribution, giving them 100% clearance in the U.S.Kane chokeslamming the Phoenix Suns Gorilla, Vince McMahon cutting an amazing promo, and Undertaker burning Kane in effigy onn a wild episode of Raw.We made it to #500.....what a shock.....so enjoy the show!!!Timestamps:0:00:00 WCW2:18:05 Japan: AJPW, NJPW, FMW, IWA Japan, Akira Hokuto, & AJW2:44:48 Classic Commercial Break2:47:31 Halftime3:47:52 MMA: Pride FC, K-1, & UFC4:30:00 Latin America: AAA, CMLL, Monterrey, Promo Azteca, Tijuana, & WWC4:36:11 Other USA: ECW, PCW, Music City, & Azteca Lucha (Oregon)4:56:58 WWFTo support the show and get access to exclusive rewards like special members-only monthly themed shows, go to our Patreon page at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets and become an ongoing Patron. Becoming a Between the Sheets Patron will also get you exclusive access to not only the monthly themed episode of Between the Sheets, but also access to our new mailbag segment, a Patron-only chat room on Slack, and anything else we do outside of the main shows!If you're looking for the best deal on a VPN service—short for Virtual Private Network, it helps you get around regional restrictions as well as browse the internet more securely—then Private Internet Access is what you've been looking for. Not only will using our link help support Between The Sheets, but you'll get a special discount, with prices as low as $1.98/month if you go with a 40 month subscription. With numerous great features and even a TV-specific Android app to make streaming easier, there is no better choice if you're looking to subscribe to WWE Network, AEW Plus, and other region-locked services.For the best in both current and classic indie wrestling streaming, make sure to check out IndependentWrestling.tv and use coupon code BTSPOD for a free 5 day trial! (You can also go directly to TinyURL.com/IWTVsheets to sign up that way.) If you convert to a paid subscriber, we get a kickback for referring you, allowing you to support both the show and the indie scene.To subscribe, you can find us on iTunes, Google Play, and just about every other podcast app's directory, or you can also paste Feeds.FeedBurner.com/BTSheets into your favorite podcast app using whatever “add feed manually” option it has.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/between-the-sheets/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

#PANAMA: Reporting on the PRC declaration that the CCP is "unhappy" with the sale of the Hutchinson-owned port facilities in Panama to Larry Fink of BlackRock. @MICHAEL_YON in Panama City. More. 1697 ISTHMUS OF PANAMA

The Northwest Florida Fishing report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between. For the anglers looking for a Destin Fishing Report, Ft. Walton Beach fishing report, Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Report, or Miramar Beach fishing report, look no further. Every week we bring you a report for those anglers interested in an Okaloosa Island fishing report and a Santa Rosa Beach fishing report and everywhere in between. For our guys looking for the Pensacola fishing report or the Navarre Fishing Report, we've got you covered. This week we're talking to Capt. Tyler Massey of https://hotspotscharters.com/ and we break down finding and fishing live bottom. There's a ton of great info to get you started. Capt. Evan Wheeler gives us the inshore report and explains how MArch is like fishing 3 seasons in one. Tune in to learn how to target and catch more Redfish, speckled trout, and flounder on the Emerald Coast. Tune in to get powerful insights from the area's best local guides.  It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to text the word “nwffr” to 779-345-2918  to get that AFTCO CAMO LENS CLEANER CLOTH  or click here to be added to our email list and we'll send you the new show each week!  Important Links:   Sponsors Test Calibration Saunders Yachtworks Gulf Coast Shows Hilton's Realtime Navigator Dixie Supply Shoreline Plastics Fishbites Killerdock Admiral Shellfish Bucks Island Marine Salts Gone Coastal Connection EXP Realty Great Days Outdoors    

We thought we'd be staying in one spot for the whole month—turns out, we didn't book fast enough. So now we've split our time between Panama City and Destin, and let's just say… one beach definitely won the competition.

PANAMA: DEPORTING CHINA NATIONALS VIA TURKISH AIRLINES. @MICHAEL_YON IN PANAMA CITY 1918 PANAMA RAILROAD

PANAMA: DEPORTING CHINA NATIONALS VIA TURKISH AIRLINES. @MICHAEL_YON IN PANAMA CITY 1913

President Trump has been threatening to “take back” the Panama Canal since he regained power. In this episode, listen to testimony from officials serving on the Federal Maritime Commission who explain why the Panama Canal has become a focus of the administration and examine whether or not we need to be concerned about an impending war for control of the canal. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes Current Events around the Panama Canal March 5, 2025. the Associated Press. Sabrina Valle, Suzanne McGee, and Michael Martina. March 4, 2025. Reuters. Matt Murphy, Jake Horton and Erwan Rivault. February 14, 2025. BBC. May 1, 2024. World Weather Attribution. World Maritime News Staff. March 15, 2019. World Maritime News. July 29, 2018. Reuters. Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 U.S. Department of State. The Chinese “Belt and Road Initiative” Michele Ruta. March 29, 2018. World Bank Group. The Trump-Gaza Video February 26, 2025. Sky News. Laws Audio Sources Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation January 28, 2025 Witnesses: Louis E. Sola, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Daniel B. Maffei, Commissioner, FMC , Professor, Scalia Law School, George Mason University Joseph Kramek, President & CEO, World Shipping Council Clips 17:30 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Between the American construction of the Panama Canal, the French effort to build an isthmus canal, and America's triumphant completion of that canal, the major infrastructure projects across Panama cost more than 35,000 lives. For the final decade of work on the Panama Canal, the United States spent nearly $400 million, equivalent to more than $15 billion today. The Panama Canal proved a truly invaluable asset, sparing both cargo ships and warships the long journey around South America. When President Carter gave it away to Panama, Americans were puzzled, confused, and many outraged. With the passage of time, many have lost sight of the canal's importance, both to national security and to the US economy. 18:45 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): But the Panama Canal was not just given away. President Carter struck a bargain. He made a treaty. And President Trump is making a serious and substantive argument that that treaty is being violated right now. 19:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): President Trump has highlighted two key issues. Number one, the danger of China exploiting or blocking passage through the canal, and number two, the exorbitant costs for transit. 19:20 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Chinese companies are right now building a bridge across the canal at a slow pace, so as to take nearly a decade. And Chinese companies control container points ports at either end. The partially completed bridge gives China the ability to block the canal without warning, and the ports give China ready observation posts to time that action. This situation, I believe, poses acute risks to US national security. 19:50 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Meanwhile, the high fees for canal transit disproportionately affect Americans, because US cargo accounts for nearly three quarters of Canal transits. US Navy vessels pay additional fees that apply only to warships. Canal profits regularly exceed $3 billion. This money comes from both American taxpayers and consumers in the form of higher costs for goods. American tourists aboard cruises, particularly those in the Caribbean Sea, are essentially captive to any fees Panama chooses to levy for canal transits, and they have paid unfair prices for fuel bunkering at terminals in Panama as a result of government granted monopoly. Panama's government relies on these exploitative fees. Nearly 1/10 of its budget is paid for with canal profit. 21:25 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Panama has for years flagged dozens of vessels in the Iranian ghost fleet, which brought Iran tens of billions of dollars in oil profits to fund terror across the world. 21:40 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): And Chinese companies have won contracts, often without fair competition, as the infamous Belt and Road Initiative has come to Panama. China often engages in debt trap diplomacy to enable economic and political coercion. In Panama, it also seems to have exploited simple corruption. 32:40 Louis Sola: The Panama Canal is managed by the Panama Canal Authority, ACP, an independent agency of the Panamanian government. The ACP is a model of public infrastructure management, and its independence has been key to ensure a safe and reliable transit of vessels critical to the US and global commerce. 33:25 Louis Sola: In contrast, the broader maritime sector in Panama, including the nation's ports, water rights, and the world's largest ship registry, falls under the direct purview of the Panamanian government. 33:35 Louis Sola: Unfortunately, this sector has faced persistent challenges, including corruption scandals and foreign influence, particularly from Brazil and China. These issues create friction with the ACP, especially as it works to address long term challenges such as securing adequate water supplies for the canal. 33:55 Louis Sola: Although the ACP operates independently, under US law both the ACP and the government of Panama's maritime sector are considered one in the same. This means that any challenges in Panama's maritime sector, including corruption, lack of transparency, or foreign influence, can have a direct or indirect impact on the operations and long term stability of the canal. This legal perspective highlights the need for diligence in monitoring both the ACP's management and Panama government's policies affecting maritime operations. 34:30 Louis Sola: Since 2015, Chinese companies have increased their presence and influence throughout Panama. Panama became a member of the Belt and Road Initiative and ended its diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Chinese companies have been able to pursue billions of dollars in development contracts in Panama, many of which were projects directly on or adjacent to the Panama Canal. Many were no bid contracts. Labor laws were waived, and the Panamanian people are still waiting to see how they've been benefited. It is all more concerning that many of these companies are state-owned, and in some cases, even designated as linked to the People's Liberation Army. We must address the significant growing presence and influence of China throughout the Americas and in Panama, specifically. 35:20 Louis Sola: American companies should play a leading role in enhancing the canal's infrastructure. By supporting US firms, we reduce reliance on Chinese contractors and promote fair competition. 36:55 Daniel Maffei: Because the canal is essentially a waterway bridge over mountainous terrain above sea level, it does depend on large supplies of fresh water to maintain the full operations. Panama has among the world's largest annual rainfalls. Nonetheless, insufficient fresh water levels have occurred before in the canal's history, such as in the 1930s when the Madden Dam and Lake Alajuela were built to address water shortages. Since that time, the canal has undertaken several projects to accommodate larger, more modern ships. In the last couple of years, a trend of worsening droughts in the region, once again, has forced limits to the operations of the canal. Starting in June of 2023 the Panama Canal Authority employed draft restrictions and reduced the number of ships allowed to transit the canal per day. Now the Panama Canal limitations, in combination with the de facto closure of the Suez Canal to container traffic, has had serious consequences for ocean commerce, increasing rates, fees and transit times. 39:30 Daniel Maffei: Now, fortunately, Panama's 2024 rainy season has, for now, alleviated the most acute water supply issues at the canal, and normal transit volumes have been restored. That said, while the Panamanian government and Canal Authority have, with the advice of the US Army Corps of Engineers, developed credible plans to mitigate future water shortages, they also warned that it is likely that at least one more period of reduced transits will occur before these plans can be fully implemented. 41:55 Eugene Kontorovich: We shall see that under international law, each party to the treaty is entitled to determine for itself whether a violation has occurred. Now, in exchange for the United States ceding control of the canal which it built and maintained, Panama agreed to a special regime of neutrality. The essential features of this regime of neutrality is that the canal must be open to all nations for transit. That's Article Two. Equitable tolls and fees, Article Three. An exclusive Panamanian operation, Article Five. The prohibition of any foreign military presence, Article Five. Article Five provides that only Panama shall operate the canal. Testifying about the meaning of the treaty at the Senate ratification hearings, the Carter administration emphasized that this prohibits foreign operation of the canal, as well as the garrisoning of foreign troops. Now, Article Five appears to be primarily concerned about control by foreign sovereigns. If Panama signed a treaty with the People's Republic of China, whereby the latter would operate the canal on Panama's behalf, this would be a clear violation. But what if Panama contracted for port operations with a Chinese state firm, or even a private firm influenced or controlled in part by the Chinese government? The Suez Canal Company was itself, before being nationalized, a private firm in which the United Kingdom was only a controlling shareholder. Yet this was understood to represent British control over the canal. In other words, a company need not be owned by the government to be in part controlled by the government. So the real question is the degree of de jure or de facto control over a Foreign Sovereign company, and scenarios range from government companies in an authoritarian regime, completely controlled, to purely private firms in our open society like the United States, but there's many possible situations in the middle. The treaty is silent on the question of how much control is too much, and as we'll see, this is one of the many questions committed to the judgment and discretion of each party. Now turning to foreign security forces, the presence of third country troops would manifestly violate Article Five. But this does not mean that anything short of a People's Liberation Army base flying a red flag is permissible. The presence of foreign security forces could violate the regime of neutrality, even if they're not represented in organized and open military formations. Modern warfare has seen belligerent powers seek to evade international legal limitations by disguising their actions in civilian garb, from Russia's notorious little green men to Hamas terrorists hiding in hospitals or disguised as journalists. Bad actors seek to exploit the fact that international treaties focus on sovereign actors. Many of China's man made islands in the South China Sea began as civilian projects before being suddenly militarized. Indeed, this issue was discussed in the Senate ratification hearings over the treaty. Dean Rusk said informal forces would be prohibited under the treaty. Thus the ostensible civilian character of the Chinese presence around the canal does not, in itself, mean that it could not represent a violation of the treaty if, for example, these companies and their employees involved Chinese covert agents or other agents of the Chinese security forces. So this leads us to the final question, Who determines whether neutrality is being threatened or compromised? Unlike many other treaties that provide for third party dispute resolution, the neutrality treaty has no such provision. Instead, the treaty makes clear that each party determines for itself the existence of a violation. Article Four provides that each party is separately authorized to maintain the regime of neutrality, making a separate obligation of each party. The Senate's understanding accompanying to ratification also made clear that Article Five allows each party to take, quote, "unilateral action." Senator Jacob Javits, at the markup hearing, said that while the word unilateral is abrasive, we can quote, "decide that the regime of neutrality is being threatened and then act with whatever means are necessary to keep the canal neutral unilaterally." 46:35 Joseph Kramek: My name is Joe Kramek. I'm President and CEO of the World Shipping Council. The World Shipping Council is the global voice of liner shipping. Our membership consists of 90% of the world's liner shipping tonnage, which are container vessels and vehicle carriers. They operate on fixed schedules to provide our customers with regular service to ship their goods in ports throughout the world. 47:15 Joseph Kramek: As you have heard, using the Panama Canal to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific saves significant time and money. A typical voyage from Asia to the US or East Coast can be made in under 30 days using the canal, while the same journey can take up to 40 days if carriers must take alternate routes. From a commercial trade perspective, the big picture is this. One of the world's busiest trade lanes is the Trans Pacific. The Trans Pacific is cargo coming from and going to Asia via the United States. Focusing in a bit, cargo coming from Asia and bound for US Gulf and East Coast ports always transits the Panama Canal. Similarly, cargo being exported from US and East Coast ports, a large share of which are US Agricultural exports, like soybeans, corn, cotton, livestock and dairy also almost always transits the Panama Canal. The result is that 75% of Canal traffic originates in or is bound for the United States. 48:55 Joseph Kramek: We've talked about the drought in 2023 and the historic low water levels that it caused in Lake Gatún, which feeds the canal locks, a unique system that is a fresh water feed, as contrasted to an ocean to ocean system, which the French tried and failed, but which is actually active in the Suez Canal. These low water levels reduced transits from 36 transits a day to as low as 22 per day. Additionally, the low water levels required a reduction in maximum allowable draft levels, or the depth of the ship below the water line, which for our members reduced the amount of containers they could carry through the canal. This resulted in a 10% reduction in import volumes for US Gulf and East Coast ports, with the Port of Houston experiencing a 26.7% reduction. 51:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Are you aware of allegations from some vessel operators of disparate treatment such as sweetheart deals or favorable rebates by Panama for canal transits? Louis Sola: Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman, we have become aware through some complaints by cruise lines that said that they were not getting a refund of their canal tolls. When we looked into this, we found a Panamanian Executive Order, Decree 73, that specifically says that if a cruise line would stop at a certain port, that they could be refunded 100% of the fees. And as far as I know, that's the only instant where that exists. 53:05 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): So Panama was the very first Latin American country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative, and right now, China is building a fourth bridge across the Panama Canal for car traffic and light rail. Chairman Sola, why should Chinese construction of a bridge near Panama City concern the United States? Louis Sola: Mr. Chairman, we all saw the tragedy that happened here in the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident and the devastation that had happened to Baltimore. We also saw recently what happened in the Suez Canal, where we had a ship get stuck in there. It's not only the construction of the bridge, but it's a removal of a bridge, as I understand it, called the Bridge of the Americas. It was built in 1961 and that would paralyze cargo traffic in and out of the canals. 53:55 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Panama also recently renewed the concessions for two container ports to a Chinese company, Hutchison Ports PPC. Of course, Chinese companies are controlled by the Communist Party. How does China use control of those ports for economic gain? Louis Sola: Mr. Chairman, I am a regulator, a competition regulator. And the Chinese ports that you're referring to, let me put them into scope. The one on the Pacific, the Port of Balboa, is roughly the same size as the Port of Houston. They do about 4 million containers a year. They have about 28 game tree cranes. The one on the Atlantic is the same as my hometown in Miami, they do about 1 million containers. So where Roger Gunther in the Port of Houston generates about $1 billion a year and Heidi Webb in Miami does about $200 million, the Panama ports company paid 0 for 20 years on that concession. So it's really hard to compete against zero. So I think that's our concern, our economic concern, that we would have. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Commissioner Maffei, anything to add on that? Daniel Maffei: Yeah, I do too also think it is important. I would point out that you don't have to stop at either port. It's not like these two ports control the entrance to the canal. That is the Canal Authority that does control that. However, I think it's of concern. I would also point out that the Panamanian government thinks it's of concern too, because they're conducting their own audit of those particular deals, but we remain very interested as well. 56:25 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Would the facts discussed here be considered violations of the neutrality treaty in force right now between the United States and Panama? Eugene Kontorovich: So I think Senator, I think potentially they could, but it's impossible to say definitively without knowing more, in particular, about the degree of Chinese control and involvement in these companies. I think it's important to note that these port operation companies that operate the ports on both sides, when they received their first contract, it was just a few months before Hong Kong was handed over to China. In other words, they received them as British companies, sort of very oddly, just a few months before the handover. Now, of course, since then, Hong Kong has been incorporated into China, has been placed under a special national security regime, and the independence of those companies has been greatly abridged, to say nothing of state owned companies involved elsewhere in in the canal area, which raised significantly greater questions. Additionally, I should point out that the understandings between President Carter and Panamanian leader Herrera, which were attached to the treaty and form part of the treaty, provide that the United States can, quote, "defend the canal against any threat to the regime of neutrality," and I understand that as providing some degree of preemptive authority to intervene. One need not wait until the canal is actually closed by some act of sabotage or aggression, which, as we heard from the testimony, would be devastating to the United States, but there is some incipient ability to address potential violations. 58:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): If the United States determines that Panama is in violation of the treaty, what is the range of remedies the United States would have for that treaty violation? Eugene Kontorovich: So I think it may be shocking to people to hear today, but when one goes over the ratification history and the debates and discussions in this body over this treaty, it was clear that the treaty was understood as giving both sides, separately, the right to resort to use armed force to enforce the provisions of the treaty. And it's not so surprising when one understands that the United States made an extraordinary concession to Panama by transferring this canal, which the United States built at great expense and maintained and operated to Panama, gratis. And in exchange, it received a kind of limitation, a permanent limitation on Panamanians sovereignty, that Panama agreed that the United States could enforce this regime of neutrality by force. Now, of course, armed force should never be the first recourse for any kind of international dispute and should not be arrived at sort of rationally or before negotiations and other kinds of good offices are exhausted, but it's quite clear that the treaty contemplates that as a remedy for violations. 1:03:20 Louis Sola: I believe that the security of the canal has always been understood to be provided by the United States. Panama does not have a military, and I always believed that there's been a close relationship with Southern Command that we would provide that. And it would be nice to see if we had a formalization of that in one way or another, because I don't believe that it's in the treaty at all. 1:05:05 Daniel Maffei: While we were down there, both of us heard, I think, several times, that the Panamanians would, the ones we talked to anyway, would welcome US companies coming in and doing a lot of this work. Frankly, their bids are not competitive with the Chinese bids. Frankly, they're not that existent because US companies can make more money doing things other places, but even if they were existent, it is difficult to put competitive bids when the Chinese bids are so heavily subsidized by China. 1:06:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): What would China's incentive be to heavily subsidize those bids to undercut American companies and other companies? Daniel Maffei: Yeah, it's not a real short answer, but Senator, China's made no secret of its ambitious policies to gain influence of ports throughout the globe. It's invested in 129 ports in dozens of countries. It runs a majority of 17 ports, that does not include this Hong Kong company, right? So that's just directly Chinese-owned ports. So it has been a part of their Belt and Road strategy, whatever you want to call it, the Maritime Silk Road, for decades. So they believe that this influence, this investment in owning maritime ports is important to their economy. 1:07:05 Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): In 2021, Hutchison was awarded those two ports, Port Balboa and Port Cristobal, in a no-bid award process. Can you tell me, does the United States have any authority or recourse with the Panama Canal Authority under our current agreement with Panama to rebid those terminal concession contracts. And perhaps Mr. Kantorovich, that's more in your purview? Louis Sola: Senator, both of those ports were redone for 25 years, until 2047, I believe. And they have to pay $7 million is what the ongoing rate is for the Port of Houston- and the Port of Miami-sized concessions. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): And it can't be rebid until after that date? Louis Sola: Well, I believe that that's what the comptroller's office is auditing both of those ports and that contract. That was done under the previous Panamanian administration. A new administration came in, and they called for an audit of that contract immediately. 1:20:10 Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Are the companies now controlling both sides of the Panama Canal, the Chinese companies, subject to the PRC national security laws that mandate cooperation with the military, with state intelligence agencies. Does anyone know that? Eugene Kontorovich: They're subject all the time. They're subject to those laws all the time by virtue of being Hong Kong companies. And you know, they face, of course, consequences for not complying with the wishes of the Chinese government. One of the arguments -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Wouldn't that be a violation of the treaty? And isn't that a huge risk to us right now that the Chinese -- Eugene Kontorovich: That is a threat to the neutrality -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): If they invaded Taiwan, invaded the Philippines, they could go to these two companies saying, Hey, shut it down, make it hard, sink a ship in the canal. And wouldn't they be obligated to do that under Chinese law if they were ordered to by the PLA or the CCP? Eugene Kontorovich: I don't know if they'd be obligated, but certainly the People's Republic of China would have many tools of leverage and pressure on these companies. That's why the treaty specifically says that we can act not just to end actual obstructions to the canal. We don't have to wait until the canal is closed by hostile military action. Thatwould be a suicide pact, that would be catastrophic for us, but rather that we can respond at the inchoate, incipient level to threats, and then this is up to the president to determine whether this is significantly robust to constitute -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): So aren't we kind of walking up to the idea of a suicide pact, because we've got two big Chinese companies on both ends of the Panama Canal, who, if there's a war in INDOPACOM, Taiwan that involves us and China, these companies would be obligated to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party and PLA? I mean, are we kind of walking up to a very significant national security threat already? Eugene Kontorovich: Yeah, certainly, there's a threat. And I think what makes the action of the Chinese government so difficult to respond to, but important to respond to, is that they conceal this in sort of levels of gray without direct control. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Let me ask you on that topic, as my last question, Professor, let's assume that we find out. And again, it wouldn't be surprising. I think you can almost assume it that these two companies have Chinese spies or military officials within the ranks of the employees of the companies. Let's assume we found that out, somehow that becomes public. But I don't think it's a big assumption. It's probably true right now. So you have spies and military personnel within the ranks of these two companies that are controlling both ends of the Panama Canal for you, Professor, and Chairman Sola, wouldn't that be a blatant violation of Article Five of the neutrality treaty, if that were true, which probably is true? Eugene Kontorovich: Yeah, I do think it would be a clear violation. As former Secretary of State, Dean Ross said at the ratification hearings, informal forces can violate Article Five as well as formal forces. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Is there any evidence of Chinese spies or other nefarious Chinese actors embedded in these companies? Louis Sola: Senator, we have no information of that. That's not under the purview of -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): But you agree that would be a violation of Article Five of the neutrality treaty? Louis Sola: I do. 1:26:25 Daniel Maffei: Senator Sullivan was talking about Hutchison Ports. That's actually the same company that runs terminals on both ends of the canal. I am concerned about that. However, if we want to be concerned about that, all of us should lose a lot more sleep than we're losing because if there are spies there, then there might be spies at other Hutchinson ports, and there are other Hutchinson ports in almost every part of the world. They own the largest container port in the United Kingdom, Felix Dow, which is responsible for nearly half of Britain's container trade. They control major maritime terminals in Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands, South Korea and Tanzania. If owning and managing adjacent ports means that China somehow has operational control or strategic control over the Panama Canal, they also have it over the Suez, the Singapore Straits, the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel. 1:35:45 Louis Sola: The fees that I think we are looking at, or have been looked at, the reason that we went there was because of the auctioning of the slots. And so what Panama did is they had a smaller percentage, maybe 20% allocation, and then they moved it up to 30% and 40% because it became a money maker for them. So as they were doing -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Okay, let me interject here. The auctioning of the slots gives these the right to skip the queue? Louis Sola: Yes, ma'am. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Okay, so just for the record there. Continue. Louis Sola: So the auctioning of the slots. Under maritime law, it's first come first serve, but Panama has always put a certain percentage aside, and they started to put more and more. So we got a lot of complaints. We got a lot of complaints from LNG carriers that paid $4 million to go through, and we got a lot of complaints from agriculture that didn't have the money to pay to go through, because their goods were gonna go down. So if you look at the financial statements -- I'm a nerd, I look at financial statements of everybody -- the canal increased the amount of revenue that they had from about $500 million to $1.8 billion in the last three years just because of those fees. So this is what is very concerning to us. 1:39:20 Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN): Do you know of any instances where the United States has been singled out or treated unfairly under the neutrality treaty in the operation of the canal? Daniel Maffei: I do not. I would add that one of the reasons why saying the US is disproportionately affected by raises in Canal fees and other kinds of fees at the canal is because the United States disproportionately utilizes the canal. 1:44:55 Louis Sola: We have a US port there, SSA, out of Washington State that I actually worked on the development of that many years ago, and helped develop that. That used to be a United States Navy submarine base, and we converted that. As far as the two ports that we have, they're completely different. One is a major infrastructure footprint, and also a container port that's moving 4 million containers a year. That's really phenomenal amount. That's more than Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and you've probably got to get Tampa and a little bit of Jacksonville in there to get that type of volume. And on the other side, we have a very small port, but it's a very strategic port on the Atlantic. So how are the operations done?I don't know how they don't make money. I mean, if you want to come right down to it, if they've been operating the port for 20 years, and they say that they haven't made any money, so they haven't been able to pay the government. That's what concerns me is I don't believe that we're on a level playing field with the American ports. 1:58:50 Eugene Kontorovich: I think the charges and fees are less of an issue because they don't discriminate across countries. We pay more because we use more, but it's not nationally discriminatory. 1:59:00 Eugene Kontorovich: The presence of Chinese companies, especially Chinese state companies, but not limited to them, do raise serious issues and concerns for the neutrality of the treaty. And I should point out, in relation to some of the earlier questioning, the canal, for purposes of the neutrality treaty, is not limited just to the actual locks of the canal and the transit of ships through the canal. According to Annex One, paragraph one of the treaty, it includes also the entrances of the canal and the territorial sea of Panama adjacent to it. So all of the activities we're talking about are within the neutrality regime, the geographic scope of the neutrality regime in the treaty. 2:00:30 Daniel Maffei: I actually have to admit, I'm a little confused as to why some of the senators asking these questions, Senator Blackburn, aren't more concerned about the biggest port in the United Kingdom being run by the Chinese. Petraeus in the port nearest Athens, one of the biggest ports in the Mediterranean, is not just run by a Chinese-linked company, it's run directly by a Chinese-owned company, and I was there. So you're on to something, but if you're just focusing on Panama, that's only part. 2:01:45 Louis Sola: About a year ago, when we were having this drought issue, there was also a lot of focus on Iran and how they were funding Hamas and the Houthis because they were attacking the Red Sea. What the United States has found is that Iranian vessels are sometimes flagged by Panama in order to avoid sanctions, so that they could sell the fuel that they have, and then they can take that money and then they can use it as they wish. Panama, at the time, had a very complicated process to de-flag the vessels. There was an investigation, there was an appeals process. By the time that OFAC or Treasury would go ahead and identify one of those vessels, by the time that they were doing the appeals and stuff like this, they've already changed flags to somewhere else. So when we went to Panama, we met with the Panamanian president, and I must say that we were very impressed, because he was 30 minutes late, but he was breaking relations with Venezuela at the time because the election was the day before. We explained to him the situation. The very next day, we met with the maritime minister, with US embassy personnel and Panama actually adjusted their appeals process so to make it more expedient, so if the United States or OFAC would come and say that this Iranian vessel is avoiding sanctions, now we have a process in place to go ahead and do that, and 53 vessels were de-flagged because of that. 2:06:05 Sen. John Curtis (R-UT): Is there any reason that China can't watch or do whatever they want from this bridge to get the intel from these containers? And does that concern anybody? Louis Sola: Well, it definitely concerns Southern Command, because they've brought it up on numerous occasions that there could be some sort of surveillance or something like that on the bridges. 2:20:30 Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): We segregate ourselves artificially in a way that they do not. We segregate ourselves. Let's talk about military. Let's talk about intelligence. Let's talk about economics. They don't. China doesn't work that way. It's a whole of government approach. They don't draw a delineation between an economics discussion and a military one. And their attack may not look like Pearl Harbor. It may look like an everyday ship that decides, you know, it pulls into the locks and blows itself up. And now the locks are non-functional for our usage, and we can't support an inter ocean fleet transfer, and our ability to defend it, as you referred to Chairman, is now inhibited by the fact that we no longer have the military infrastructure around the canal that we did just as recently as 1999. 2:21:10 Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): So from a commercial perspective, do the shipping companies have concerns over the security of the narrow waterways? We've the Strait to Malacca, we've got the Suez Canal, we've got Gibraltar, we've got Panama. Is that a concern that's thrown around in the boardrooms of the largest shipping corporations in the world? Joseph Kramek: Senator, I think it's something they think about every day. I mean, really, it's drawn into sharp relief with the Red Sea. It was what I call a pink flamingo. There's black swans that just come up and there's pink flamingos that you can see, but you don't act. But no one really thought a whole lot that one of the most important waterways in the world could be denied, and moreover, that it could be denied for such a sustained period. The good news is that -- Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): And denied, I might add, by a disaffected non-state actor of Bedouins running around with rocket launchers, who also managed to beat us in a 20 year war in Afghanistan. My point to saying all this is we're just debating operational control of the canal, yet it seems very clear to all of us that a very simple act can debilitate the canal and eliminate our ability to use it in a matter of minutes with no warning, and we have no ability to intervene or stop that. To me, that means we do not have operational control of the canal. 2:30:40 Daniel Maffei: I will say that certainly we need to look at other kinds of ways to get US companies in positions where they can truly compete with the Chinese on some of these things. Blaming it all on Panama really misses the point. I've seen the same thing in Greece, where Greece didn't want to give the concession of its largest port to a Chinese company, but because of its financial difficulties, it was getting pressure from international organizations such the IMF, Europe and even maybe some of the United States to do so. So I just ask you to look at that. 2:31:20 Daniel Maffei: Panamanians are making far more on their canal than they ever have before. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it's going to the right place. But where they're really making the money is on these auctions, and that is why it remains a concern of mine and I'm sure the chairman's. That is where we are looking at, potentially, using our authority under Section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act where we could, if we can show that it is a problem with the foreign trade of the US, it's interfering with foreign trade of the US, there are certain things that we can do. Senate Foreign Relations Committee January 15, 2024 Clips 4:01:40 Marco Rubio: The thing with Panama on the canal is not new. I visited there. It was 2016. I think I've consistently seen people express concern about it, and it's encapsulized here in quote after quote. Let me tell you the former US ambassador who served under President Obama said: "the Chinese see in Panama what we saw in Panama throughout the 20th century, a maritime and aviation logistics hub." The immediate past head of Southern Command, General Laura Richardson, said, "I was just in Panama about a month ago and flying along the Panama Canal and looking at the state owned enterprises from the People's Republic of China on each side of the Panama Canal. They look like civilian companies or state owned enterprises that could be used for dual use and could be quickly changed over to a military capability." We see questions that were asked by the ranking member in the house China Select Committee, where he asked a witness and they agreed that in a time of conflict, China could use its presence on both ends of the canal as a choke point against the United States in a conflict situation. So the concerns about Panama have been expressed by people on both sides of the aisle for at least the entire time that I've been in the United States Senate, and they've only accelerated further. And this is a very legitimate issue that we face there. I'm not prepared to answer this question because I haven't looked at the legal research behind it yet, but I'm compelled to suspect that an argument could be made that the terms under which that canal were turned over have been violated. Because while technically, sovereignty over the canal has not been turned over to a foreign power, in reality, a foreign power today possesses, through their companies, which we know are not independent, the ability to turn the canal into a choke point in a moment of conflict. And that is a direct threat to the national interest and security the United States, and is particularly galling given the fact that we paid for it and that 5,000 Americans died making it. That said, Panama is a great partner on a lot of other issues, and I hope we can resolve this issue of the canal and of its security, and also continue to work with them cooperatively on a host of issues we share in common, including what to do with migration. 4:38:35 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT): Now, President Trump has recently talked a little bit about the fact that there are some questions arising about the status of the Panama Canal. When we look to the treaty at issue, the treaty concerning the permanent neutrality and operation of the Panama Canal, we're reminded that some things maybe aren't quite as they should be there right now. Given that the Chinese now control major ports at the entry and the exit to the canal, it seems appropriate to say that there's at least an open question. There's some doubt as to whether the canal remains neutral. Would you agree with that assessment? Marco Rubio: Yes. Here's the challenge. Number one, I want to be clear about something. The Panamanian government, particularly its current office holders, are very friendly to the United States and very cooperative, and we want that to continue, and I want to bifurcate that from the broader issue of the canal. Now I am not, President Trump is not inventing this. This is something that's existed now for at least a decade. In my service here, I took a trip to Panama in 2017. When on that trip to Panama in 2017 it was the central issue we discussed about the canal, and that is that Chinese companies control port facilities at both ends of the canal, the east and the west, and the concerns among military officials and security officials, including in Panama, at that point, that that could one day be used as a choke point to impede commerce in a moment of conflict. Going back to that I -- earlier before you got here, and I don't want to have to dig through this folder to find it again, but -- basically cited how the immediate past head of Southern Command, just retired general Richardson, said she flew over the canal, looked down and saw those Chinese port facilities, and said Those look like dual use facilities that in a moment of conflict, could be weaponized against us. The bipartisan China commission over in the House last year, had testimony and hearings on this issue, and members of both parties expressed concern. The former ambassador to Panama under President Obama has expressed those concerns. This is a legitimate issue that needs to be confronted. The second point is the one you touched upon, and that is, look, could an argument be made, and I'm not prepared to answer it yet, because it's something we're going to have to study very carefully. But I think I have an inkling of I know where this is going to head. Can an argument be made that the Chinese basically have effective control of the canal anytime they want? Because if they order a Chinese company that controls the ports to shut it down or impede our transit, they will have to do so. There are no independent Chinese companies. They all exist because they've been identified as national champions. They're supported by the Chinese government. And if you don't do what they want, they find a new CEO, and you end up being replaced and removed. So they're under the complete control of their government. This is a legitimate question, and one that Senators Risch had some insight as well. He mentioned that in passing that needs to be looked at. This is not a joke. The Panama Canal issue is a very serious one. 4:44:30 Marco Rubio: In 2016 and 2017 that was well understood that part of the investments they made in Panama were conditioned upon Panama's ability to convince the Dominican Republic and other countries to flip their recognition away from Taiwan. That happened. Jen Briney's Recent Guest Appearances Travis Makes Money: Give and Take: Music by Editing Production Assistance

The Northwest Florida Fishing report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between. For the anglers looking for a Destin Fishing Report, Ft. Walton Beach fishing report, Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Report, or Miramar Beach fishing report, look no further. Every week we bring you a report for those anglers interested in an Okaloosa Island fishing report and a Santa Rosa Beach fishing report and everywhere in between. For our guys looking for the Pensacola fishing report or the Navarre Fishing Report, we've got you covered. This week, we check in with Captains Adam Peeples and Justin Leake for the latest fishing conditions along the Northwest Florida coast. Captain Adam Peeples, fishing out of Destin, recently headed offshore to the FADs, where he found calm seas, 71-degree water, and plenty of baitfish. He made a few swordfish drops, releasing three small ones. While daytime swordfishing can be productive in winter, he notes that nighttime bites tend to pick up in the summer when water temps hit the mid-70s. Over in Panama City and Panama City Beach, Captain Justin Leake reports a steady nearshore bite on reefs in 60-90 feet of water, despite some inconsistent weather. He expects more migratory baitfish, Spanish mackerel, and pompano as temperatures rise—Spanish mackerel are already showing up at the pier. Right now, pinfish are the main available bait, but the red grouper bite has been strong. For the best results, he recommends jigging with soft plastics to maximize catches and minimize bait loss. It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to text the word “fishing” to 647-558-9895 or click here to be added to our email list and we'll send you the new show each week! All Northwest Florida Email Subscribers receive an AFTCO FREE SUNGLASS LENS CLEANER promo code for any purchase!   Sponsors Admiral Shellfish Alabama Marine Resources Angelo Depaola EXP Realty "The Coastal Connection" Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo Buck's Island Marine CCA Alabama Dixie Supply Fishbites Foster Contracting - Fortified Roofing Gulf Coast Office - National Land Realty Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism Great Days Outdoors Hayabusa USA Hilton's Offshore Charts KillerDock L&M Marine Mallard Bay Test Calibration Photonis

1/2: #PANAMA CITY: REPORTING FROM THE FRONT LINE OF DEPORTED OR DEFEATED MIGRANTS.   @MICHAEL_YON. 1929 PANAMA CITY.

2/2: #PANAMA CITY: REPORTING FROM THE FRONT LINE OF DEPORTED OR DEFEATED MIGRANTS.   @MICHAEL_YON. 1945 INTERAMERICAN UNIVERSITY PANAMA R.P.

Trump sending Marco Rubio down to Panama, a shocking election annulment in Romania, and a surprising new fast-track citizenship program are only a few of the big news stories that have been piling up since the latest edition of Expat News more than two months ago.  This week, we are changing up the Expat News format a bit as I invite my dear friend and colleague Marc Clair to join me as my resident “news man" and make these episodes a little more of a back-and-forth format.  Enjoy this breakdown of the latest headlines as Marc and I dive deep into all the geopolitical shifts and citizenship program changes on this latest edition of Expat News! TODAY'S EDITION OF EXPAT NEWS: Listen in as Marc and I analyze Trump's strategy behind sending Marco Rubio to Panama and what it means for US-Panama relations. Tune in as we break down the annulled election in Romania—was this Brussels flexing its power over an uncooperative leader? Find out why Panama's new associate membership in Mercosur could change the game for residency and trade opportunities in Latin America. Hear my take on Javier Milei's disastrous endorsement of a crypto coin—what was he thinking?! Learn about New Zealand's struggling investor visa program—why has it failed so badly? Unpack Spain's insane 100% tax on non-EU real estate buyers—are they intentionally pushing expats out? Discover Sierra Leone's intriguing new fast-track citizenship program—could this be a sleeper opportunity? Explore why the UAE's new Golden Visa for content creators might just be a brilliant marketing move. THE WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE IN PANAMA MARCH 14-15! Join us in Panama for the inaugural Wealth, Freedom & Passports Conference, our first-ever large conference event, taking place in Panama City, Panama, March 14-15, 2025! This is your chance to gain invaluable insights, connect with like-minded freedom seekers, and, most importantly, meet with 20+ of the most trusted partners necessary to secure a prosperous life offshore. Head to ExpatMoney.com/Conference to learn more and secure your spot right away! SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER You would have already heard about many of these new items if you had been subscribed to our newsletter. You will receive the EMS Pulse newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times; sign up now and receive my FREE special report, 

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner   Today, I'm talking to a medical missionary by the name of Dr. Alberto Denis.  Born in Panama to an indigenous family, Alberto moved to Panama City and studied medicine.  A friend helped him become a Christian in his fourth year of med school. After serving his country for two years, he moved back to his indigenous homeland and served the poor by going from island to island healing, helping and delivering babies.  With little knowledge of English, he applied for the ReviveEE program and learned conversational English in three months.  He served in Romania and now lives in Moldova where he is learning Romanian.  He has plans to return to medical school in Madrid, Spain and then lead a life as a medical missionary wherever Jesus calls him.      More About Dr. Alberto Denis: Alberto Denis is part of the Guna Yala indigenous community in Panama and raised in a small town in Panama City. He studied medicine for 7 years, and became a disciple when he was in his 4th year in college. After finishing med school, Alberto worked as a doctor for his people for about 1 year, traveling from different islands to deliver medicine, and sometimes babies. After this work, he decided to be part of RevivEE and become a full time missionary in Eastern Europe. He likes to learn new languages and serve in any possible way. Now He is living in Moldova helping the local church in the campus ministry.    How to Contact Dr. Alberto: allberth05@gmail.com

Today on the Wholesale Hotline Podcast (Flipping Mastery Edition), Jerry Norton is joined by Cody Hanson to break down his real estate journey. Show notes -- in this episode we'll cover: Cody shares how he made his first $8,000 real estate deal in just 14 days with one very simple strategy. Why virtual wholesaling is the game-changer that allows Cody to close deals nationwide from his home in Atlanta, leveraging tools like PropWire for lead generation. The importance of consistency in real estate success: Cody breaks down his formula of making five offers a day, five days a week, to hit 100 deals a month. How stacking multiple motivated seller lists (absentee owners, out-of-state, vacant properties, high equity, and tired landlords) helped Cody secure a $21,000 assignment fee in Panama City. The power of agent relationships in real estate investing: Cody explains how partnering with a top local agent helped him double-close and navigate obstacles like unpermitted roofing issues.    Please give us a rating and let us know how we are doing! ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖  ☎️ Welcome to Wholesale Hotline & Flipping Mastery Breakout! ☎️ Jerry Norton went from digging holes for minimum wage in his mid 20's to becoming a millionaire by the age of 30. Today he's the nation's leading expert on flipping houses and has taught thousands of people how to live their dream lifestyle through real estate.   **NOTE: To Download any of Jerry's FREE training, tools, or resources… Click on the link provided and enter your email. The download is automatically emailed to you. If you don't see it, check your junk/spam folder, in case your email provider put it there. If you still don't see it, contact our support at: support@flippingmastery.com or 888) 958-3028.  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖  

PREVIEW: PANAMA: Colleague Michael Yon, reporting from Panama City, details his discoveries of Chinese aid(CHINA AID) operations across Central America, including El Salvador. More later. 1911 San Salvador

"PREVIEW: PANAMA: Professor Evan Ellis reports that Panama City remains stable despite President Mulino's intemperate words. More tonight." undated Panama

#PANAMA: PRC money and influence and projects well established in Mulino government.  Confucius Institute in downtown Panama City. Michael Yon michaelyon.substack.com 1886 Isthmus of Darien (Panama)