Mexico Blocks US Drone Strikes, Jasmine Crockett "We Done Picking Cotton", Panama Canal, Bongino's Posse

 • Rep. Jasmine Crockett made controversial comments suggesting America needs immigrants because "we done picking cotton" 
  Trump administration reportedly considering drone strikes against drug cartels operating in Mexico
• Representative Jasmine Crockett made controversial comments suggesting America needs immigrants because "we done picking cotton"
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to "take back the Panama Canal" from Chinese influence
• Former podcaster turned FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino now has unprecedented 24/7 security detail requiring up to 20 agents
• Panama Canal remains crucial global trade route with approximately 6% of global maritime commerce passing through annually 

 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's firm rejection of potential US drone strikes against drug cartels marks a significant moment in US-Mexico relations. Following reports that the Trump administration is considering military action south of the border, Sheinbaum didn't mince words: "The people of Mexico will not, under any circumstances, accept intervention." This diplomatic standoff emerges as the administration doubles down on its border security strategy, having previously designated certain Mexican cartels as global terrorist organizations—a move some analysts view as setting the stage for military operations.

Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett has unleashed another political firestorm with controversial remarks at a historically Black church in Connecticut. Her comments linking immigration to agricultural labor—"we done picking cotton. We are. You can't pay us enough to find a plantation"—have intensified partisan debates about immigration policy and appropriate political discourse. These remarks add to Crockett's growing list of controversial statements, including references to Texas Governor Greg Abbott as "Governor Hot Wheels," which has prompted censure considerations in the House. 

Source Credits:

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-would-reject-unilateral-us-military-action-after-drone-strike-report-2025-04-08/ https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rep-jasmine-crockett-suggests-united-states-needs-illegal-immigrants-because-we-done-picking-cotton https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-panama-taking-back-canal-from-chinas-influence-says-hegseth https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/fbi-creates-multiagent-bodyguard-team-protect-dan-bongino-rcna199861 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello America, joc, here with your Ranting Politics
headline updates where we arediving into today's most
explosive political stories thatyou need to know about Coming
up.
We've got a seriousinternational showdown brewing
as Mexican President ClaudiaSheinbaum puts her foot down
against potential US dronestrikes on cartels.

(00:21):
The Trump administration isreportedly considering military
action and Mexico is sayingabsolutely not.
We'll break down what thismeans for border security and
US-Mexico relations.
Then Democratic RepresentativeJasmine Crockett has set off yet
another firestorm with someeyebrow-raising comments linking
immigration to cotton-picking.

(00:42):
Yes, you heard that right.
And it's just the latest inwhat seems like a weekly
controversy.
From the squad member Next up,defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
is flexing American muscle downin Panama, declaring the US will
take back the canal fromChinese influence.
Is this the beginning of a newCold War battleground?
We'll get into the details.
And finally, former podcasterturned FBI Deputy Director, dan

(01:04):
Bongino, is now rolling with amulti-agent security detail,
something previous deputydirectors never had.
We'll look at why thisunprecedented protection is
raising eyebrows inside theBureau and beyond.
If you're just tuning in forthe first time, welcome to
America's fastest-growing dailynews rundown, designed
specifically for your commuterun or coffee time.

(01:25):
Stick around for all this andmore in your daily dose of
unfiltered news and common sensecommentary.
This is Ranting PoliticsHeadline Updates.

(01:51):
The gloves are off in US-Mexicorelations, as President Claudia
Scheinbaum took a firm stanceyesterday, declaring that Mexico
would categorically reject anyunilateral US military action on
Mexican soil.
Reject any unilateral USmilitary action on Mexican soil.
Her comments come hot on theheels of an NBC News report that
the Trump administration isconsidering drone strikes
against drug cartels operatingsouth of the border.

(02:13):
The people of Mexico will not,under any circumstances, accept
intervention, interference orany other act from abroad,
scheinbaum stated during herregular morning press conference
.
She didn't mince words, addingthat such military action would
not resolve anything.
This isn't just diplomaticposturing.
The tension has been buildingfor months, as Trump

(02:36):
administration officials haverepeatedly refused to rule out
strikes in Mexico.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethhas previously said that all
options will be on the tablewhen asked about potential
military operations inside oursouthern neighbor.
The NBC News report citing sixcurrent and former US military
law enforcement and intelligenceofficials indicates that no

(02:58):
final decision has been made.
But let's be real.
This isn't coming out ofnowhere.
Trump floated this idearepeatedly during his
presidential campaign and backin February the US designated
the Sinaloa cartel and otherMexican drug cartels as global
terrorist organizations, a movesome analysts view as
potentially setting the stagefor military action.

(03:19):
This wouldn't be the first timeTrump considered hitting
cartels.
According to former DefenseSecretary Mark Esper's memoir,
trump asked at least twice in2020 about using missiles to
destroy drug labs in Mexico.
Esper claims he shut down theidea, calling it illegal and an
act of war.
Meanwhile, scheinbaum isworking on a constitutional

(03:40):
reform aimed at addingprotections to Mexico's national
sovereignty, a clear responseto these growing concerns.
At the same time, us militarysurveillance of Mexican drug
cartels has been ramping up togather intelligence on their
operations.
During yesterday'scongressional hearing, a senior
Pentagon official confirmed themilitary doesn't currently have

(04:01):
authority to strike cartels inMexico, but with tensions rising
and the rhetoric heating up,this story is definitely one to
watch.
Democratic RepresentativeJasmine Crockett has set off
another firestorm of controversywith her recent remarks at a
historically black church inConnecticut During Grace Baptist
Church's 125th anniversarycelebration.

(04:23):
The Texas congresswoman andmember of the squad made
eyebrow-raising comments aboutimmigration that are still
reverberating across politicalcircles.
Crockett told congregants I hadto go around the country and
educate people about whatimmigrants do for this country
or the fact that we are acountry of immigrants.
The fact is, ain't none ofy'all trying to go and farm

(04:44):
right now?
After receiving what wasdescribed as a sheepish laugh
from a few audience members, shedoubled down Okay, so I'm lying
.
You're not.
You're not we done pickingcotton.
We are.
You can't pay us enough to finda plantation.
These comments suggestingAmerica needs immigrants because
Americans won't do certain jobshave added fuel to an already

(05:06):
raging debate about immigrationpolicy.
But this isn't Crockett's firstrodeo when it comes to
controversial statements.
The Texas representative iscurrently facing a potential
censure resolution in the Houseafter referring to Texas
Governor Greg Abbott, who uses awheelchair as Governor Hot
Wheels.
This appears to be part of apattern, with Crockett

(05:27):
previously making references toAbbott rolling places and
sharing social media posts withsimilar comments.
Her list of controversialremarks keeps growing.
She suggested Senator Ted Cruzshould be knocked over the head,
said she wanted to see ElonMusk taken down amid Tesla
attacks and stated Democratsneed to be okay with punching.
She also made headlines withcomments criticizing Congressman

(05:50):
Byron Donalds' interracialmarriage, saying you married a
white woman and so you thinkthat whitewashed you.
Attorney General Pam Bondiwarned that Crockett needs to
tread very carefully, notingthat words have consequences and
calling her rhetoric dangerous.
Meanwhile, crockett's officedid not respond to requests for
comment on her latestcontroversy, which continues to

(06:10):
divide public opinion alongpartisan lines.
The battle for control of one ofthe world's most critical
waterways is heating up as USSecretary of Defense Pete
Hegseth threw down the gauntletthis week, declaring America
will reclaim the Panama Canalfrom what he described as
China's growing influence.
Speaking during a press eventin Panama on Tuesday, hegseth

(06:32):
didn't mince words.
The United States of Americawill not allow communist China
or any other country to threatenthe canal's operation or
integrity.
Together, we will take back thePanama Canal from China's
influence.
This marks a dramaticescalation in rhetoric from the
Trump administration, which hasincreasingly framed the
strategic waterway as aflashpoint in US-China

(06:54):
competition.
According to Fox News reporting, hegseth outlined an extensive
list of joint military exercisesoperations and increased
American military presencearound the canal, signaling a
muscular approach to counteringBeijing's economic footprint in
the region.
Panama has consistently rejectedclaims that China controls the

(07:14):
canal, though the CentralAmerican nation did withdraw
from its 2017 Belt and RoadInitiative agreements with
Beijing earlier this year.
This move suggests Panama maybe aligning with Washington in
this high-stakes geopoliticalchess match.
Hegseth specifically accusedChinese companies of installing
critical infrastructure in thecanal that could potentially

(07:35):
enable surveillance operations.
This makes Panama and theUnited States less secure, less
prosperous, less sovereign, hewarned.
The defense secretary's bluntmessage to Beijing couldn't have
been clearer.
I want to be very clear.
China did not build this canal.
China does not operate thiscanal, no-transcript.

(07:56):
This rhetoric represents asignificant shift in America's
Panama policy, doubling down onTrump's previous statements
about reasserting control overthe strategic waterway that the
US transferred to Panama in 1999.
While the Chinese embassydidn't immediately respond to
requests for comment, beijinghas previously characterized
such accusations asmanifestations of a Cold War

(08:18):
mentality.
As manifestations of a Cold Warmentality.
The Panama Canal remains one ofthe world's most crucial trade
arteries, with approximately 6%of global maritime commerce
passing through it annually.
As tensions between Washingtonand Beijing continue to simmer,
this narrow waterway couldbecome yet another flashpoint in
the increasingly complexUS-China relationship.

(08:38):
Now here's a story that'sraising eyebrows at the FBI.
The bureau has issued a callfor agents to voluntarily serve
as bodyguards for new deputydirector Dan Bongino, marking a
significant departure fromlongstanding protocol.
According to NBC News reporting, this is the first time in FBI
history the number two officialhas received round-the-clock
protection detail.

(08:59):
Bongino, who comes to the roleafter careers as a Secret
Service agent, new York policeofficer and perhaps most notably
as a wealthy pro-Trumppodcaster and media personality,
has a unique resume.
He's making history as thefirst deputy director who didn't
climb the ranks as a career FBIagent Before joining the Bureau

(09:20):
.
Bongino was known for his sharpcriticism of the very
organization he now helps lead.
The security arrangement israising questions about resource
allocation within the FBI.
According to current and formerofficials, the Bureau has
requested agents volunteer for30-day rotations to provide 24-7
protection.
Security experts estimate thiscould require as many as 20

(09:42):
agents pulled from their regularduties.
This setup contrasts starklywith previous practice.
Paula Bate, the prior deputydirector, typically had just a
single part-time agentaccompanying him to certain
events and carried his ownservice weapon.
Full security details werereserved only for foreign travel
.
What's particularly noteworthyis that Bongino's security

(10:04):
detail reportedly follows himeven inside secure FBI
facilities, includingheadquarters, a practice
previous directors didn't employ.
And while Bongino could gothrough the process to qualify
to carry an FBI-issued handgun,sources indicate he's opted for
the full protective detailinstead.
Issued handgun sources indicatehe's opted for the full
protective detail instead.

(10:24):
Former senior FBI official FrankFigliuzzi didn't hold back in
his criticism.
Of course he could carry.
This is ridiculous.
The question is, what is theactual risk and threat here?
Or does he just want a detail?
This is taxpayer money we'retalking about.
The timing of the securityarrangement has raised
additional questions,particularly as it appears to
conflict with FBI Director KashPatel's stated priority of

(10:46):
transferring more agents fromheadquarters to field offices.
Instead, this detail pullsqualified agents away from their
investigative duties to servein protective roles.
For his part, bongino recentlytook to social media to address
questions about his new position, writing that there are aspects
of FBI decisions he cannotpublicly explain due to legal

(11:07):
and ethical constraints.
He added Watch what happens,continue to demand results, be
cautious of narrative traps.
Let time put the puzzle piecestogether and what we're doing
will make sense.
And that wraps up today'sRanting Politics headline
updates.
What a news cycle we've had,from Mexico standing firm
against potential US militaryaction against cartels on their

(11:30):
soil to RepresentativeCrockett's eyebrow-raising
comments about immigration andcotton-picking that have landed
her in more hot water.
We've seen Defense SecretaryHegseth boldly declaring
America's intentions to takeback the Panama Canal from
Chinese influence, signaling amajor geopolitical shift in
Central America.
And finally, the curious caseof new FBI Deputy Director, dan

(11:54):
Bongino, receiving unprecedentedsecurity protection at taxpayer
expense, despite hispredecessors managing just fine.
Without full details, each ofthese stories speaks volumes
about the current politicalclimate and the dramatic policy
shifts unfolding in the Trumpadministration's early days.
Plenty to chew on untiltomorrow's headlines break.

(12:15):
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(12:37):
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