The President's Daily Brief

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: First up — American destroyers come under missile and drone attack in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering U.S. retaliatory strikes on Iranian targets even as President Trump insists the ceasefire remains fully intact. Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies joins us to break down the latest escalation and what it could mean for the f...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—American destroyers come under missile and drone attack in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering U.S. retaliatory strikes on Iranian targets—even as the White House insists the ceasefire remains fully intact. Later in the show—There’s growing concern over a deadly hantavirus outbreak tied to a luxury expedition cruise ship, as health officials acros...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up — officially, Project Freedom was paused to give negotiations with Iran a chance. Unofficially? New reporting suggests key Gulf allies may have pushed back hard against the operation behind closed doors, raising questions about fractures inside the coalition confronting Tehran. Later in the show — the IDF says it killed a top Hezbollah Radwa...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up — new intelligence suggests the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner may have been motivated by the war with Iran, raising fresh concerns about how overseas conflicts are fueling political extremism here at home. Later in the show — China openly challenges Washington’s sanctions re...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: New reporting suggests Russia may be facing a growing manpower problem inside its military ranks, as desertions rise and the Kremlin increasingly relies on pressure, incentives, and unconventional recruiting methods to sustain the war in Ukraine. American forces open fire on an Iranian-linked vessel accused of attempting to bypass the U.S. naval bloc...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—new details are emerging about President Trump’s decision to pause “Project Freedom,” as reports suggest the United States and Iran may be closing in on a framework agreement to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and begin broader negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program. Later in the show—new satellite imagery assessments indicate...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—President Trump pauses “Project Freedom,” the U.S. effort to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as talks with Iran show signs of progress—while the blockade remains firmly in place. I’ll have the details. Later in the show—new U.S. intelligence suggests recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear program may not have done as much damage as adve...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—the United States begins to make headway in the Strait of Hormuz, successfully opening a narrow, protected corridor for commercial ships despite Iranian attacks. But with Tehran continuing to test the limits, the question is how long that fragile pathway can remain open. Later in the show—Russia and Ukraine both signal a temporary ceasefire a...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: First up—ceasefire or not, the shooting has already started. U.S. forces engaged Iranian boats and came under missile and drone fire just hours into Project Freedom—the U.S. effort to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Later in the show—new intelligence suggests Vladimir Putin isn’t just worried about external threats, but the possibility of b...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—United States launches “Project Freedom” to break the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, escorting commercial ships through one of the world’s most critical chokepoints. Iran is warning U.S. forces could be targeted—putting the fragile ceasefire on a knife’s edge. Later in the show—Russia appears to be losing ground for the first time since 2...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—Vladimir Putin is surrounding his personal residence with nearly 30 air defense systems—protection typically reserved for major military targets. Is this the reality of wartime leadership, or a sign that paranoia is starting to creep in? Later in the show—Donald Trump reviews a sweeping 14-point Iranian proposal to end the war, as the White...

In this PDB Special Bulletin: Mike Baker sits down with Mike Slater to break down the shocking shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner—and the serious questions it’s raising about security at one of the most high-profile gatherings in Washington. What really happened inside the ballroom that night? How did an attacker get that close in a room packed with journalists, politicians, and hig...

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: A stunning security breach at one of Washington's most high-profile events is now under intense scrutiny, raising serious questions about how a gunman got so close to key political figures. We get firsthand insight from Steve Yates, who attended the dinner last weekend. Russia’s economy is showing signs of strain, and now even voices close to the Kremli...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—Iran is reportedly exploring unconventional ways to strike U.S. forces, including using mine-carrying dolphins to target U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz. But as tensions rise, Tehran is also signaling a possible return to negotiations, while Washington weighs its next steps. Later in the show—After nearly eleven weeks, the longest shutdow...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—new signs Iran’s economy is entering what some analysts are calling a “death spiral,” as soaring inflation, mass unemployment, and a collapsing currency pile pressure on the regime amid war and blockade. Later in the show—Trump and Putin float a temporary cease-fire in Ukraine, even as Kyiv launches a long-range strike deep inside Russian te...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—new signs the U.S. could escalate in Iran, as President Trump reviews fresh military strike options and considers deploying a hypersonic weapon for the first time. Later in the show—authorities across Europe are investigating a wave of attacks targeting Jewish communities, with growing suspicion the activity may be linked back to Iran. To lis...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: The White House says the blockade of Iran’s ports is here to stay, even as it quietly explores a potential cash-for-uranium deal tied to Tehran’s nuclear stockpile. A diplomatic clash between Ukraine and Israel, as Kyiv accuses Jerusalem of helping move grain it claims was stolen by Russia. Kim Jong Un praises North Korean soldiers who reportedly ble...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—a striking warning out of Moscow, as a senior political figure suggests Russia’s worsening economic situation could spark the kind of instability that once led to the 1917 revolution. Later in the show—Washington ramps up pressure on Iran, targeting its shadow banking networks and the Chinese refineries helping sustain its oil exports. To lis...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—new reporting from Reuters and The New York Times is shedding light on Iran’s wartime power structure, where generals—not clerics—are now driving the country’s most critical decisions, reshaping how Tehran approaches both the conflict and negotiations. Later in the show—Iran’s foreign minister meets with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, as...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—Iran is facing a major new pressure point, as a U.S. blockade leaves its oil piling up with nowhere to go. That mounting pressure could force shutdowns that risk long-term damage to the backbone of the country’s economy. Later in the show—Mexican forces capture a key Jalisco New Generation Cartel figure, a man once seen as a potential succes...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: First up—we’re learning more about the security gaps that allowed a gunman to get dangerously close to President Trump, as new details raise serious concerns about how the breach happened. Later in the show—the ripple effects of the Iran conflict are reaching China, where rising energy costs are beginning to put pressure on an already fragile economy...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Behind-the-scenes diplomacy with Iran continues as Tehran floats a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—but the deal could come at the cost of critical U.S. leverage on the nuclear issue. Israel quietly deployed its Iron Dome and troops to the United Arab Emirates during the Iran war, marking a major and previously undisclosed shift in regional...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: Gunfire erupts inside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where President Trump was in attendance—forcing Secret Service agents to form a human shield as an armed suspect runs toward the ballroom. We’ll break down what we know about the suspect and his manifesto. President Trump calls off talks with Iran at the last minute, signaling just how far...

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: First up—a rocky week in the Iran conflict, with failed negotiations, rising aggression in the Strait of Hormuz, and a fragile ceasefire still holding—for now. Former White House National Security Council official Richard Goldberg joins us to break down what’s happening behind the scenes. Later in the show—a new warning that the U.S. is burning through...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—after days of uncertainty, the United States and Iran are heading back to the negotiating table. New talks are set for this weekend in Pakistan—but with deep divisions still in place, the path to a deal remains far from clear.  Later in the show—a U.S. soldier allegedly used inside knowledge of the operation to remove Nicolás Maduro to place be...