The President's Daily Brief

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: New details emerge on how President Donald Trump’s last-minute ceasefire with Iran came together—and why attacks continued across the region even after the deal was announced. An American journalist is freed after being kidnapped by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, as we learn more about the deal that secured her release and the risks facing U.S. citiz...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: President Donald Trump steps back from the brink, delaying strikes on Iran just hours before a major escalation, as a last-minute diplomatic push attempts to hold. Ukraine claims Russia is helping Iran sharpen its attacks with satellite intelligence and cyber support. Russia and China block a United Nations effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. And...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: U.S. forces launch strikes on Kharg Island, targeting Iran’s most critical economic hub just hours before President Trump’s deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—raising the stakes as diplomacy begins to slip away. An update on the Artemis II mission, as astronauts return from a historic journey to the far side of the moon, capturing images and data...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Israel delivers another major blow to Iran’s leadership, killing the head of IRGC intelligence along with a top Quds Force commander in a targeted strike inside Tehran. What this means for the regime—and what could come next. Even as Iran maintains its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, shipping traffic is rising, suggesting quiet deals may be keeping oil...

In this episode of PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran appear to have collapsed, as Tehran rejects a proposal that could have reopened the Strait of Hormuz, raising the risk of further escalation and prolonged disruption to global energy markets. Later in the show—the FBI sounds the alarm on a suspected China-linked cyber intrusion, now being labeled...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: After a tense, multi-day search behind enemy lines, U.S. forces successfully rescue the second crew member of a downed F-15E Strike Eagle, denying Tehran what could have been a major propaganda victory and showcasing a complex, high-risk recovery operation. Fears are growing that Russia is testing a familiar destabilization strategy in Estonia, as pr...

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: First up—after a month of fighting, the war with Iran may be entering its most decisive stretch, with the endgame still very much in question. Behnam Ben Taleblu from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies joins us to break it all down. Later in the show—Japan takes a major step away from its postwar defense posture, deploying long-range missiles tha...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—A U.S. fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, triggering a dangerous search-and-rescue mission deep inside hostile territory. While details are still coming in, officials say one crew member has been rescued, but another remains missing. Later in the show—A major shakeup inside the Pentagon, as the Army’s top general is removed in the middle...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—the war with Iran is exposing a growing rift inside NATO, as President Trump pressures allies to step up—or risk a major break in the alliance itself.  Later in the show—U.S. commandos join Ecuadorian forces in a mission targeting alleged narco-terrorists along the country’s coast. Plus—the Trump administration lifts sanctions on Venezuela’s...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—a new Pentagon plan presented to President Trump could put American troops on the ground inside Iran to seize its uranium stockpile, in what could become one of the most complex and risky military operations ever attempted. Later in the show—NASA launches Artemis II, sending astronauts on a historic deep space mission that will travel farther...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: After 11,000 strikes in just 30 days, the war with Iran may be entering its “completion phase”—but the hardest part could still be ahead as the fight shifts toward economic pressure and long-term endurance. China and Pakistan roll out a new plan to end the war in Iran, tying a ceasefire directly to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and stabilizing globa...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—the war with Iran could be expanding, as new reporting suggests the United Arab Emirates is preparing to join the fight and help force open the Strait of Hormuz. Later in the show—North Korean hackers slip malicious code into software used by thousands of U.S. companies, in what could become a major crypto heist. To listen to the show ad-free...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: New reporting reveals who the White House has been secretly engaging with in Iran, as President Trump confirms contact with a powerful regime insider—raising serious questions about whether he’s a credible partner… or just another problem. Russia’s expected oil windfall from the Iran conflict takes a major hit, as Ukrainian drone strikes cripple key...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—new reporting reveals President Donald Trump is willing to end the war with Iran without reopening the Strait of Hormuz—raising serious questions about what “victory” actually looks like and who’s left to deal with the fallout. Later in the show—Israel suspends a battalion after its troops detained a CNN crew in the West Bank, as the Israel D...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: First—The war in Ukraine and the war with Iran may be starting to overlap in a new way. New claims suggest Russia is helping Iran target U.S. assets in the Middle East, while Ukraine works to help defend U.S. allies against that same threat. The question is: just how far does Moscow’s support for the mullahs go? Later in the show—Beijing is making an...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—President Trump says a deal with Iran is "probably" close, while also threatening to obliterate the regime’s oil and power infrastructure if an agreement is not reached quickly. Iran, meanwhile, is pushing back—dismissing U.S. proposals as "illogical" and warning it won’t negotiate under pressure. Later in the show—Israel's fight in southern Le...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: First up—new reporting reveals the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of possible ground operations inside Iran, as U.S. troops continue to surge into the region. We’ll break down what these plans could involve—and what it means for the next phase of the war. Later in the show—U.S. forces take a significant blow, as an Iranian strike wounds a dozen Amer...

In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: The war with Iran reaches the one-month mark, as U.S. and Israeli airstrikes continue and tensions center on the increasingly volatile Strait of Hormuz. We’re joined by Steve Yates of the Heritage Foundation to break down where things stand and what could come next. After months of grinding stalemate, Ukraine seizes the momentum in the south, reclaiming...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  First—Iran’s leadership is reportedly openly debating whether to formally pursue a nuclear weapon, something the regime has long denied even considering. The shift comes after weeks of U.S. and Israeli strikes, and as hardliners tighten their grip on power. The question now is whether this is just empty saber-rattling, a negotiating tactic, or the be...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—new reporting reveals the Pentagon is preparing options for what officials describe as a potential “final blow” against Iran, including a massive bombing campaign and even the possibility of U.S. ground forces. Later in the show—Iran may be monetizing the chaos in the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran moves to charge ships for safe passage through...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—earlier this week, President Trump announced a mysterious “present” from Iran… and now we’re learning what it actually was, and what it signals about the current state of the conflict. Later in the show—Britain authorizes the seizure of Russian-linked tankers, marking a major escalation in the effort to crack down on Moscow’s shadow fleet and...

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—Tehran moves quickly to replace a top official killed in recent strikes, installing a hardline security figure and revealing a deeper shift in who’s really calling the shots inside Iran. Later in the show—Russia’s latest drone barrage spills into NATO territory, as Estonia and Latvia report airspace violations during a major attack on Ukrain...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—thousands of elite U.S. troops are now moving into the Middle East, as the White House expands its military options against Iran, even as it signals a possible diplomatic off-ramp. Later in the show—Israel strikes a key smuggling route in the Caspian Sea, targeting a growing weapons pipeline between Russia and Iran. To listen to the show ad-f...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: First up—the Strait of Hormuz is effectively shut down, with hundreds of oil tankers sitting idle as tensions with Iran disrupt one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. Reopening the strait may prove far more difficult than Washington suggests, with military, logistical, and strategic challenges complicating any effort to restore flow. Later...

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: First up—the White House moves to release Iranian oil onto global markets, a decision that could send billions to Tehran at a moment of maximum pressure, raising serious questions about the strategy behind it. Later in the show—as the fight with Iran intensifies, the U.S. is now battling on another front, launching strikes against Iran-backed militia...