In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, the leader of the rebel opposition that overthrew Syria’s Assad regime has announced plans to disband their militant militias and form a new national army, as they work to consolidate their power and distance themselves from their radical past. Then, the U.S. Justice Department has charged two Iranian nationals in connection with a fatal drone strike in Jordan earlier this year that killed three U.S. service members and injured dozens. To lis...
Dec 18, 2024•11 min•Season 2Ep. 677
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Turkey's military buildup along the Syrian border is raising alarms. Ankara's moves signal a potential large-scale incursion into northern Syria—one that could lead to conflict with U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces. Promising developments in ceasefire talks for Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Cairo for what’s being described as the final stage of negotiations. The U.S. Treasury imposes new sanctions on North Korea and R...
Dec 18, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 676
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: We begin in Syria, where the Russian military appears to be conducting a large-scale withdrawal, ending over a week of speculation about whether they would stay or leave. Then, we’ll turn to Russia, where Ukraine's security service is claiming responsibility for the high-profile assassination of a Russian general in the heart of Moscow. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. ...
Dec 17, 2024•12 min•Season 2Ep. 675
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: We begin with a strange story out of Syria, where CNN is facing scrutiny for showing the rescue of a man now alleged to be a member of Assad’s military—and possibly a torturer. A troubling report from China reveals that the People’s Liberation Army has released an electronic warfare “kill list” targeting U.S. naval assets. On the Ukraine-Russia war front, Ukraine and the Pentagon report the first combat deaths of North Korean soldiers fighting alon...
Dec 17, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 674
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has broken his silence from exile in Moscow, issuing his first public statement on the Islamist rebel uprising that toppled his family’s dictatorship after 50 years ruling over Syria. Then, an update on the unidentified drones that have baffled officials across the tri-state region, as federal authorities announce plans to deploy a state-of-the-art radar detection system in New York to solve the myster...
Dec 16, 2024•14 min•Season 2Ep. 673
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Why the Iranian regime may be the next to collapse as its key ally Hezbollah faces devastating leadership losses and Assad’s fall leaves Tehran’s influence in jeopardy. New satellite images reveal Iran’s so-called "drone motherships"—and thankfully, they’re far from the East Coast. Political chaos in South Korea as the parliament votes to impeach the defiant president after his failed martial law stunt. And in today’s Back of the Brief, the latest ...
Dec 16, 2024•25 min•Season 2Ep. 672
In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: We're starting in Syria, where the fall of Bashar al-Assad has dramatically shifted power dynamics in the Middle East. We'll discuss what this means for the region with Brian Carter from the American Enterprise Institute. Plus, China's latest military exercises around Taiwan are among the largest in decades, with nearly 100 vessels mobilized. Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Steve Yates, joins us to break down the implications. To li...
Dec 14, 2024•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering preemptive airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear program when he returns to office in January, as part of a "maximum pressure 2.0" campaign designed to bring the Islamic regime to its knees. Then, we’ll take you inside Bashar al-Assad’s final days in Syria, as reports emerge that the former strongman abandoned his loyalists and deceived those closest to him in order to flee to Russia under the cov...
Dec 13, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 671
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: We'll begin with an update on the war in Gaza, as Hamas reportedly yields to two of Israel’s key demands for a ceasefire, reigniting hopes that a deal can be struck to pause the fighting and rescue the remaining hostages before the year ends. Later in the show, president-elect Donald Trump has begun to outline his plans for bringing the war in Ukraine to an end, advocating a strategy that would see Europe shoulder most of the financial and military...
Dec 13, 2024•23 min•Season 2Ep. 670
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the Biden administration has issued a final national security memorandum warning of the stark dangers posed by China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, who they dubbed as the new, quote, "axis of upheaval." Then, an update on the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as we learn the accused shooter, Luigi Mangione, intends to plead not guilty despite a mounting pile of e...
Dec 12, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 639
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: We'll begin with a look at the fate of Russia's military bases in Syria. With Bashar al-Assad's regime toppled, questions are swirling around the future of the Kremlin's foothold in the Middle East, including critical naval and air bases. A new report from The New York Times reveals that under President Biden, the United States has experienced the largest net migration in its history—averaging 2.4 million people per year during his administration. ...
Dec 12, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 638
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, we begin with a mystery in the skies of New Jersey, where frustration is mounting among local officials regarding a deluge of drone sightings across the Garden State that have spooked residents and flummoxed federal agencies. One Congressman claims the mystery drones are of Iranian origin. Then, for the first time in 50 years, Israel has deployed ground troops into Syria beyond a demilitarized buffer zone in an attempt to protect their border...
Dec 11, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 637
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Syria forms a new interim government under the relatively unknown Mohammed al-Bashir as Israel dismantles Assad's remaining war machine. UNRWA faces new scrutiny as documents reveal Hamas fighters among its top school administrators. Russia reportedly provides fighter jets to North Korea in exchange for thousands of troops, strengthening their alliance. And in today's Back of the Brief: The suspect in the murder of United Healthcare's CEO is extrad...
Dec 11, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 636
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, with the fall of the Assad regime, there is one major question on the minds of America’s top national security officials: do Syria’s rebels still deserve their international terrorist designation? Then, in the latest escalation from the South China Sea, the Chinese military has staged their largest show of force in decades in the waters around Taiwan. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by vis...
Dec 10, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 635
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: New evidence from Syria exposes the horrifying depths of former President Bashar al-Assad's brutality as prisoners emerge from dungeons described as "human slaughterhouses." Millions of Syrian refugees celebrate the collapse of Assad's regime, but European nations are freezing asylum applications, suggesting it may be time for many to return home. An update from South Korea, where the nation's president has been barred from traveling abroad after a...
Dec 10, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 634
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, Israel and the U.S. have unleashed airstrikes across Syria in the wake of the fall of the Assad regime on Sunday, targeting terrorist organizations and critical weapons infrastructure at risk of falling into rebel hands. Then, an update on the violence in Haiti, where 184 people were killed in a brutal massacre over the weekend by a gang leader acting on the advice of a voodoo priest. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of ...
Dec 09, 2024•12 min•Season 2Ep. 633
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: A historic day in the Middle East as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime falls to rebel forces, ending over 50 years of Assad-family rule. Governments worldwide react with a mix of hope and apprehension to this seismic shift. Ukrainian President Zelensky reveals the military death toll for Ukraine’s forces in the Russian invasion, as the U.S. prepares another billion-dollar aid package for the embattled nation. And in today’s Back of the Brie...
Dec 09, 2024•24 min•Season 2Ep. 632
In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: The Assad regime in Syria faces a growing challenge as rebel forces push southward. Brian Carter from the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute joins us to analyze the latest developments. Iranian hackers escalate their cyberattacks, reportedly breaching high-profile targets, including the president-elect's FBI nominee, Kash Patel. Former FBI counterintelligence operative Eric O’Neill shares insights into what this means for na...
Dec 07, 2024•49 min
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: We’ll begin in Syria, where the leader of the Islamic rebel insurgents has spoken publicly for the first time, vowing to overthrow the regime of Bashar al-Assad and push out Iranian and Russian interests as his fighters inch closer to Damascus. Then, we’ll look at the renewed threat Islamic terrorism poses to Europe, as intelligence authorities in Germany thwart an Islamic State inspired “lone wolf” terrorist attack targeting a popular Christmas mar...
Dec 07, 2024•14 min•Season 2Ep. 631
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First, senior members of the incoming Trump administration have begun holding high level talks with leaders from Kyiv, seeking to narrow large differences in their visions for how to bring the war in Ukraine to a close ahead of Trump’s return to the White House in January. Later in the show, Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants have declared their intention to fight against rebel insurgents in Syria on behalf of the Assad regime, as Israel warns that...
Dec 06, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 630
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, rebel insurgents in Syria are on the move, capturing another key city from the Syrian army in their quest to overthrow the regime of Bashar al-Assad. We’ll discuss the latest developments, and spotlight the shadowy former al-Qaida operative leading the bloody revolt. Then, an update on the war in Gaza, as Israel submits a new ceasefire proposal to Hamas that could bring about a 60 day truce and see the return of the remaining living hostages ...
Dec 06, 2024•12 min•Season 2Ep. 629
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: We begin with reports that Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, was targeted in a cyberattack allegedly linked to Iran. This marks another Trump official in the crosshairs of the Islamic Republic. Later, France’s government collapses following a no-confidence vote against its Prime Minister—just weeks after the German government fell. What this means for the powerhouses of the European Union. Plus, in South Korea, opposition parties are...
Dec 05, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 628
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, U.S. intelligence officials are urging Americans to protect their private communications behind encrypted apps as they continue to grapple with the fallout from an unprecedented cyber-attack by Chinese operatives. Then, we’ll turn to Cuba, where the country’s national power grid has once again collapsed after their largest power plant failed, leaving millions in the dark. It comes as the country faces fuel shortages and an ongoing economic cr...
Dec 05, 2024•11 min•Season 2Ep. 627
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: An update on the fragile ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, which is already showing signs of strain just one week after being brokered. A report from Syria, where insurgents have captured four new towns as they advance toward the central city of Hama, with intense fighting continuing between rebels and government forces. Details on the U.S.'s latest $725 million military aid package to Ukraine, aimed at bolstering the nation’s defense as its ...
Dec 04, 2024•20 min•Season 2Ep. 626
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Breaking news from the Far East: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is lifting his declared of martial law, averting what could have been a major constitutional crisis—but leaving his political future uncertain. Later in the show, President-elect Donald Trump issues a stark warning to Hamas, vowing there will be "hell to pay" if American hostages are not released before his inauguration. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of Th...
Dec 03, 2024•11 min•Season 2Ep. 625
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Updates from Syria, where government forces, bolstered by Russian airpower, are ramping up efforts to push back advancing rebel forces in the south. A looming trade war as President-elect Trump threatens BRICS nations with a 100% tariff for attempting to abandon the U.S. dollar. Disparate accounts from Trump and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum about a phone call discussing efforts to halt migration through Mexico. And in today's Back of the Br...
Dec 03, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 624
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, after a long legal odyssey, President Joe Biden has granted his son Hunter Biden a full and unconditional presidential pardon, insulating him from facing justice for crimes dating back a decade. Then, an update on the intensifying fight in Syria, where Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have crossed into Syria to aid forces of the Assad regime, as they attempt to mount a counteroffensive against rebel groups who seized control of Aleppo last week....
Dec 02, 2024•14 min•Season 2Ep. 623
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Major developments out of Syria as rebel forces seize control of Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city, and continue their advance. We’ll explore what this means for Bashar al-Assad's regime, Russia's role, and the future of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announces for the first time his willingness to cede territory to Russia to end the ongoing war. We’ll unpack his remarks and the potential implications. In Georgia’s capital,...
Dec 02, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 622
In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: Former President Donald Trump’s potential cabinet picks—how they could reshape U.S. policy on China. Author and expert Gordon Chang joins us for his analysis. A troubling development for America’s military abroad—three U.S. Air Force bases in the UK are experiencing drone intrusions. Retired U.S. Army Colonel John Mills weighs in on what it means for national security. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Bri...
Nov 30, 2024•1 hr 4 min
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Reports have surfaced that several of Donald Trump’s cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats in recent weeks. We’ll break down what we know and what it could mean for national security and political stability. Later, Donald Trump has named retired US Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as a special peace envoy to Ukraine. We’ll explore General Kellogg’s background, his plan for the Ukraine conflict, and what this appointment si...
Nov 29, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 622
