The President's Daily Brief

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Iran is revealing its long-term plans for the Strait of Hormuz. New reporting suggests Tehran wants a permanent role in managing one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints—and potentially billions of dollars a year in new revenue. We'll explain what Iran is proposing and why Washington is already pushing back. Disaster strikes Venezuela af...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: China is quietly surrounding Taiwan. New reporting reveals Beijing now maintains a near-constant naval presence around the island, transforming what were once temporary military demonstrations into the new normal and raising fresh questions about China's long-term intentions toward Taipei. The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog says inspectors are expected to v...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: While the world's attention remains fixed on Iran's negotiations with the United States, Tehran is facing a different challenge at home. We examine a sharp increase in political executions, why the regime is accelerating its crackdown on dissent, and what it reveals about the leadership's concerns over internal stability. Later in the show—the Pentago...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Vladimir Putin says Russia is ready to restart peace negotiations with Ukraine based on the framework discussed during the 2022 Istanbul talks. We examine whether Moscow is still negotiating from the same position of strength it held four years ago, or if Ukraine's growing ability to strike Russia's economy has altered the balance of leverage. China...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: The good news: the Strait of Hormuz is no longer at a standstill. The bad news: the global shipping industry still isn't convinced the crisis is over. We examine why traffic through one of the world's most important waterways remains well below pre-war levels despite signs of recovery and what it could mean for global energy markets. Later in the show...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: • First up—is Belarus preparing to invade Ukraine? As Kyiv issues new warnings and tensions rise along the border, we'll separate the facts from the speculation and explain what's really happening inside Russia's closest ally. • Later in the show—Iran is already receiving economic benefits from its agreement with Washington. We'll examine what's bein...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—the United States and Iran have agreed to create a new "deconfliction cell" for Lebanon, aimed at preventing the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah from derailing their fragile agreement. We'll examine how the mechanism is supposed to work, why Israel isn't part of it, and whether it actually solves what may be the deal's biggest weakness....

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: • First up—Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is closed again, just days after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States. We'll look at why the fighting in Lebanon is threatening to derail the deal before negotiations have even begun. • Later in the show—after more than 50 days of disruptive roadblocks, Bolivia's president is escalatin...

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: Just days after the United States and Iran signed a framework agreement, the first round of follow-on negotiations has been called off following a deadly exchange of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah. We speak with Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies about what the latest violence means for the future of the deal and whethe...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—The fragile peace process between the U.S. and Iran has already encountered its first major test. New fighting between Israel and Hezbollah forced the postponement of high-level negotiations in Switzerland before a last-minute ceasefire brought the region back from the brink—at least for now. I’ll have the details. Later in the show—Cuba approv...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: • First up—Ukraine brings the war to Moscow in dramatic fashion. A massive drone attack struck multiple targets across the Russian capital, including a key oil refinery, as new reports suggest Russia's air defenses may be burning through interceptor missiles at an unsustainable rate. • Later in the show—Xi Jinping launches a sweeping new purge inside...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—the U.S.-Iran agreement is now officially signed. We’ll break down what happens next, how energy markets are reacting, and why the toughest negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and regional security may still lie ahead. Later in the show—Hamas appears to have rejected the latest U.S.-backed proposal to disarm and relin...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: G7 leaders were in for a surprise this week, as President Trump arrived in France with a more measured and cooperative tone than many allies had expected. We'll examine what may be driving the shift and why European leaders believe they made progress in bringing Trump closer to their position on Ukraine. The war with Iran may have permanently changed...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: The secret U.S.-Iran agreement is no longer secret. Leaked details reveal sanctions relief, a proposed $300 billion development fund, and major unanswered questions about Tehran's nuclear program as negotiators prepare to sign the framework agreement in Switzerland. After expending thousands of missiles and interceptors during the war with Iran, the...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Ships are expected to begin moving through the Strait of Hormuz once again, but the world's most important energy corridor remains far from normal. We'll examine why the recovery of global oil markets and energy supply chains could take months—or even longer. European officials are accusing China of training Russian troops for combat in Ukraine, a cl...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—during Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the United States reportedly relied on a secretive maritime network to keep Gulf oil flowing. We'll examine the remarkable Reuters investigation that claims Washington borrowed tactics from Tehran's own sanctions-evasion playbook—and how the operation may have helped avert a global energy crisis...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: • First up—the Iran deal is done, but the hard part may just be beginning. We examine the five biggest unanswered questions surrounding the U.S.-Iran agreement, including the future of the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, Israel's role, Iran's nuclear program, and what happens if negotiations break down. • Later in the show—President Trump arrives...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: • First up—the U.S.-Iran agreement has now been signed, but many of the deal's most important details remain under wraps. We'll explain what the Trump administration is saying about the agreement, which leaked provisions officials are disputing, and the key questions that still remain about sanctions relief, Iran's nuclear program, and the future of...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: -First up—reports of a U.S.-Iran agreement continue to swirl, but competing versions of the deal are raising major questions about sanctions relief, Iran's nuclear program, the future of the Strait of Hormuz, and whether a broader regional peace is actually within reach. -Later in the show—European efforts to crack down on Russia's shadow fleet conti...

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: We turn our attention inside Iran as economic hardship, political unrest, and growing public dissatisfaction continue to mount beneath the headlines of the U.S.-Iran confrontation. We're joined by Alireza Jafarzadeh for an insider's perspective on the regime's challenges and what may come next. Later, five months after the fall of Nicolás Maduro, Washin...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  Yesterday, President Trump suggested a deal with Iran could be just days away. Today, leaked details of that agreement are raising new questions about what both sides are actually prepared to accept. Later in the show—The Trump administration ramps up pressure on Cuba, targeting the island's energy sector as fuel shortages, rolling blackouts, and eco...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Three Indian sailors are dead after U.S. forces struck a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman, marking the first reported fatalities tied to Washington's blockade of Iran. We'll explain what happened, why India is demanding answers, and how the incident could complicate one of America's most important strategic relationships. Ukraine may have found...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: • Just hours after threatening another round of strikes against Iran, President Trump abruptly called them off, claiming negotiators may be closing in on a deal. We break down what the White House is saying, why Tehran has yet to confirm it, and what it could mean for the future of the crisis. • A newly revealed uranium-enrichment facility inside Nor...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: • The United States launches a second consecutive night of strikes against Iran. We break down the latest operation and the growing evidence that this crisis began well before the downing of an American Apache helicopter. • Another senior Russian military official is killed in a car bombing outside Moscow, raising fresh questions about Ukraine's reac...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  • The tit-for-tat between Washington and Tehran continues. After U.S. forces struck Iranian military targets, Iran responded with missiles and drones aimed at American bases across the Middle East. We break down the latest exchange and what it could mean for the future of the conflict.  • Taiwan fires U.S.-made HIMARS rocket systems from a beach faci...