The President's Daily Brief

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: A major investigation out of Minnesota. New reporting from City Journal alleges that large-scale welfare-fraud networks may have funneled U.S. taxpayer dollars through Somali money-transfer systems — with some of those funds potentially reaching the terrorist group al-Shabaab. And later in the show — an update on Kyiv’s growing pressure campaign again...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Ukraine strikes at the financial core of Russia’s war machine, using naval drones to hit two shadow-fleet tankers that move Moscow’s illicit oil across global markets. A potential scandal emerges in the administration’s counter-narcotics campaign as reports indicate U.S. forces carried out a second strike on a suspected drug boat after survivors fled...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: A dramatic phone call between President Trump and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The President told Maduro to step down and leave the country — immediately. We’ll break down what we know and the mounting pressure now facing Caracas. NATO’s highest-ranking military officer is warning that the alliance may need to get “more aggressive” in confronting...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: New admissions out of Moscow reveal a major problem inside Russia’s war machine. Arms exports have collapsed, raising fresh questions about whether Putin’s defense industry is starting to break down. Reports indicate President Trump is considering a pardon for the former Honduran president, a man accused of taking cartel money and helping move cocain...

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: Washington’s Ukraine peace proposal takes a sharp turn. The 28-point framework has been trimmed to 19 points—and U.S. officials followed the Geneva talks with rare shuttle diplomacy in Abu Dhabi. Ryan McBeth joins us to explain what this means for the battlefield and the negotiating table. President Trump prepares to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  We’re bringing you the latest on the tragic attack in Washington, D.C. A National Guardsman has now died, and investigators are uncovering new details about the suspected gunman. We’ll tell you what we know about the shooter, the charges he faces, and where the investigation stands. North Korea’s nuclear machine is picking up speed. New satellite ima...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Moscow declares it won’t make major concessions in any Ukraine peace agreement, setting a firm tone ahead of renewed diplomatic efforts. Taiwan unveils a $40 billion defense package and a new island-wide air-defense system as the United States urges the island to harden its posture against China. Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau say they have seized power,...

In this Thanksgiving message, Mike Baker pauses the usual news rundown to share a few thoughts on giving thanks. Thank you for listening, supporting, and being part of The President’s Daily Brief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: New reporting reveals President Trump’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was far more heated behind closed doors than either side admitted publicly. We’ll break down what happened and why it matters. Plus, the U.S. Navy has scrapped its Constellation-class frigate program, a major setback in America’s effort to keep up with China’s...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: President Trump signals he’s ready for direct talks with Nicolás Maduro—even as Washington labels the Venezuelan leader a terrorist. Xi Jinping makes a rare personal call to President Trump to discuss Taiwan and Ukraine. Russia appears set to reject the latest U.S.–Ukraine cease-fire proposal, suggesting the war will grind on through Christmas. And i...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: New satellite imagery reveals China practicing the exact beach-landing maneuvers required for a Taiwan invasion, using civilian ferries in a coordinated amphibious drill. We’ll walk through what the images show and why analysts say this marks a major escalation in Beijing’s preparations. The United States revives shuttle diplomacy, dispatching officia...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Washington and Kyiv appear to have hammered out a new 19-point peace plan in Geneva. We’ll explain what’s in the draft—and why several major issues remain unresolved. Another confrontation in U.K. waters, as the Royal Navy shadows and intercepts a Russian corvette and tanker moving through the Channel. Plus—President Trump announces plans to designat...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Japan announces plans to deploy missile systems on an island just miles from Taiwan, triggering an immediate and angry response from Beijing. We’ll break down what Tokyo is doing, why China is escalating its rhetoric, and what this means for regional security. Later, a team of scuba divers off the Welsh coast makes a startling discovery: what appears...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: Washington prepares a new phase of its Venezuela campaign, and Nicolás Maduro responds with heightened paranoia and tightened security. We’ll explain what U.S. officials are planning and why Caracas is bracing for what comes next. U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials meet in Geneva to assess Washington’s new peace proposal for Ukraine—but Kyiv say...

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: Russia’s war economy is starting to crack. Deep Ukrainian strikes and tough new U.S. sanctions have pushed Moscow’s oil revenues to their lowest point in two years. We’ll explain what’s driving the pressure and why it matters. Eddie Fishman of the Center for a New American Security joins us for more. In Japan, a single off-the-cuff remark from new Prime...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—Washington’s pressure campaign on Venezuela comes with a warning label. A newly resurfaced detail from a New York Times report reveals that U.S. officials once ran a secret war-game on what would happen if Nicolás Maduro fell—and the outcome wasn’t pretty. Later in the show—President Trump is ratcheting up the pressure on Ukraine to accept his...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: Europe narrowly avoids a wave of Hamas terror attacks, as Mossad reveals the network behind the plots was larger, more organized, and far closer to activation than previously known. While the ceasefire in Gaza holds, new airstrikes in the enclave are testing its durability.  Plus—growing pressure on Iran’s nuclear program as the IAEA demands answers...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: NATO fighter jets scramble after a Russian drone penetrates deep into alliance airspace. We’ll break down what happened, why the incident triggered an immediate response, and what it signals about the growing risks along NATO’s eastern flank. Later in the show—Washington has submitted a new proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, but key European...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: President Trump has reportedly authorized new CIA plans for covert action inside Venezuela, and new reporting reveals back-channel discussions—including an offer from President Nicolás Maduro himself to step down. Poland is openly accusing Russia of sabotaging a key rail line used to send aid into Ukraine. The U.K.’s MI5 is warning that Chinese opera...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin A second Russian intelligence ship has appeared near NATO territory, this time off the coast of the United Kingdom. We’ll break down what the vessel was doing, why it behaved aggressively, and how this fits into a broader pattern of Moscow probing Western defenses. Mexico’s president flatly rejects U.S. military strikes against drug cartels on her soil...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: Russia launches a surprising crackdown on its own pro-war bloggers, silencing once-loyal voices who helped sell the invasion. We’ll break down why the Kremlin is suddenly treating its cheerleaders as a threat. President Trump welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, with fighter jets, security assurances, and major business...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Russia’s oil sector is taking heavy hits on two fronts. Ukrainian drones are striking deep inside the country, while new U.S. sanctions are cutting off key buyers in India and China. We’ll explain why this dual pressure is becoming a serious problem for Moscow’s war economy. Germany is preparing to lift its freeze on arms exports to Israel, saying the...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: A Russian intelligence ship is spotted just 15 miles off the coast of Hawaii. We’ll look at what it was doing there and what it may have been gathering. The State Department is preparing to designate Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization — a major step that increases pressure on Nicolás Maduro and his inner circle. Please remembe...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—Ukraine is once again hitting Moscow where it hurts most—its oil revenue. A precision drone and missile strike on Friday crippled the second-largest oil export hub in Russia, forcing closures at a facility that moves millions of barrels of crude a day.  Later in the show—The Pentagon unveils Operation Southern Spear, a task force aimed at disma...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: The latest on the corruption scandal rocking Kyiv. Ukraine’s wartime government is under growing strain as senior ministers resign, international critics step in, and questions mount over how close the crisis is getting to President Zelensky. Senator Marco Rubio fires back at European allies who are raising concerns about America’s expanding military...