North American Solidarity: Trump floats "Gulf of America," seizing Panama Canal in wide-reaching presser. When asked by a reporter whether Trump would assure the world that he would not use military or economic coercion to gain control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, he said: "No, I can't assure you on either of those two." "I can say this, we need them for economic security," the president-elect said. Trump demands Panama Canal's return if fees aren't cut. China has invested heavily in operations in the Canal Zone in recent years, raising concerns about the zone's neutrality. In 2021 the Center for Strategic and International Studies warned a "key decision point" was coming for U.S. interests in the region, given China's expansion. The U.S. ambassador reportedly cautioned last year about the situation not escalating to where Panama has to choose between the U.S. and China. Donald Trump Jr. in Greenland visit: Dad says U.S. should own territory. Donald Trump Jr. will spend a day in Greenland filming video for a podcast, according to multiple reports. His visit comes days after Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede announced plans to push for independence from Denmark. Trump, who has mused about making Canada the 51st U.S. state, said that he would not use the military to make that happen but did not rule out using "economic force." Canadian politician urges THREE U.S. states to join their country in response to Trump... with an enticing offer. Greenland: Danish officials fear Trump is much more serious about acquiring territory than in first term. Mexico, Canada send firefighters to Los Angeles in 'solidarity'. There’s No Business Like... News of note from Tinsel Town and beyond. O - O -O Ozempic: Lilly and Novo Nordisk are hoping to win over employers on the idea that obesity and its complications are already a huge cost in terms of healthcare, workers’ compensation and disability. By offering employees coverage for the weight-loss drugs Zepbound and Wegovy, companies can save money in the long run, the messaging goes. The Rest of the Stories: Stories that make you say “Hmmmm?” that didn’t fit neatly into any other spot on the show. Lies Lies Lies: There is nothing political about the wildfires that have annihilated thousands of buildings around Los Angeles this week, with two exceptions. Insurance: State Farm, the largest home insurance company in California, announced in March 2024 that it would discontinue coverage of 72,000 home and apartment policies in the summer. The company cited inflation, regulatory costs and increasing risk of catastrophes for its decision and had previously stopped accepting new applications in the state. Wildfire Depression: Researchers have linked wildfires to long-lasting anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors, in addition to the well-documented physical toll.
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