← The President's Daily Brief
The President's Daily Brief
April 21st, 2025: Signs Emerging That Trump’s Tariff Strategy May Be Working & The ‘Easter Truce’ That Wasn’t
00:22:19
Loading summary
Transcript5 lines
- [00:00]
Mike Baker
Your next unforgettable experience can happen anytime. Take an AMEX card with you for rewards wherever you go. Morning coffee run with an old friend.
- [00:07]
Mike Slater
Earn cash back.
- [00:08]
Mike Baker
Weekend getaway Earn miles AMEX rewards your inner explorer. Learn more@americanexpress.com Terms apply. It's Monday, 21 April. Welcome the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. And for those of you celebrating, I hope they had a very happy and peaceful Easter. All right, let's get briefed. We'll start things off today with signs that the Trump White House's tariff strategy may be paying off. Japan, Indonesia and others are offering deals and opening their markets of hundreds of millions of people to American goods. I'll have those details later in the show. It was the Easter ceasefire that never was. Despite Vladimir Putin's announcement of a holiday truce, Russian forces pressed ahead with attacks in Ukraine. And perhaps at some point folks will realize that Putin has no interest in stopping his war at this time. Unless, of course, he feels the pain he's not coming to the negotiating table. Plus, an accused terrorist wanted by India has been captured on US Soil, marking a major win for New Delhi and a notable moment in US India cooperation. And in today's Back of the Brief, a follow up on a story we brought you last week as the Pentagon officially announces that the US Will be withdrawing a significant number of troops from Syria. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. I wanted to start today with a story you're not seeing on the front pages, but one that suggests President Trump's tariff policy might be working. Now, I'm no economist. I know that surprises you, but I'm not half bad at recognizing patterns. And over the past several days, a fairly clear one has begun. Emerging countries are either announcing or considering plans to boost imports of US Goods, moves that are clearly aimed at appeasing President Trump into lifting tariffs. According to reports, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Bangladesh are amongst a number of nations planning to offer up concessions. We're talking everything from soybeans and cotton to liquefied natural gas and high end industrial equipment. And together, those four countries alone represent a combined population of more than 640 million people. That's nearly twice the size of the US and that's a very large potential market for American exporters. So let's walk through what we're seeing here. We'll start with Japan, which is reportedly weighing major concessions on U. S. Agricultural goods. Soybeans, rice, meat, fish and potatoes. It's also considering revising its car safety regulations. Now, on the surface, that might not sound like much, but those regulations have historically been been used to prevent foreign car makers from penetrating the Japanese market. Thailand has agreed to buy $500 million worth of US liquefied natural gas next year, with a 15 year plan to import 15 million tons in total. That's potentially billions of new dollars flowing into the American energy sector. Indonesia is pledging to boost U.S. imports by up to $19 billion, including 10 billion in energy deals, along with major purchases of wheat, soy products and American made industrial machinery. And Bangladesh is now signaling that it will ramp up purchases of US Farm goods like cotton, while also slashing tariffs on gas turbines, semiconductors and medical equipment. They're even pledging to cut back non tariff barriers like redundant testing and packaging rules that have long limited US access. So you ask yourself, what's actually happening here? Well, for all the noise about trade wars, what we're seeing is more like economic hardball. Trump isn't using tariffs necessarily to isolate the U.S. he's using them as leverage to strong arm America's way into foreign markets and to boost key industries, agriculture, energy and advanced manufacturing. It's somewhat like gunboat diplomacy, only with tariffs instead of guns. And it's forcing countries to contemplate real concessions, concessions that could deliver access to over half a billion new customers when it comes to those four countries alone. And we know that there are other big players considering concessions as well, including India. That's another billion and a half potential customers. For those of you at home keeping score now, many have framed this as Trump needing 90 trade deals in 90 days in order to justify the 90 day tariff pause. But in reality, Trump doesn't need 90 deals. He just needs enough of the right ones. Deals that shift the balance in America's favor, open high value markets and prove that the tariff strategy can actually extract real concessions. So will it work? Well, that does remain to be seen. The White House hasn't sealed any deals yet and the clock is ticking. Add in the chaos that often surrounds Trump's team and the outcome is, well, frankly, anything but predictable. But the early signs are hard to ignore. And if the reporting we're seeing is accurate, foreign nations are now hearing a consistent message coming from the White House. The tariff pause is temporary and the US Wants access to your markets. All right, coming up next, Russia breaks its own Easter ceasefire with more strikes on Ukraine. And the US arrests a wanted terrorist, marking a major win for India and a boost in law enforcement ties between the two countries. I'll Be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now look, I know you know this, but owning a handgun or any weapon for self defense comes with serious responsibility. You need it to be both secure and accessible when it matters most. That's what Stopbox USA set out to solve with the Stopbox Pro. It's a lockbox that gives you instant access to your firearm. No electronics, keys or codes required. The five button locking system responds to your unique input. It's built for muscle memory so you're not thinking, you're reacting. Look, I have a Stopbox Pro at home and it's an excellent piece of kit. It's extremely well made, very solid, secure and easy to use. And that's important. With the Stopbox Pro, you don't have to trade safety for speed. Your firearm stays secure and always within reach for a limited time only. Not only do you get 10% off your entire order when you use code PDB@stopboxusa.com but they're also giving you buy one, get one free for their Stopbox Pro. This is a very Good deal. That's 10% off and a free Stopbox Pro. When you use code PDB@stopboxusa.com Discover a better way to balance security and readiness with Stopbox. Did you know that Fast Growing Trees is the biggest online nursery in the US with thousands of different plants and over 2 million happy customers? Well, now you know, here's the thing. They have all the plants that your yard needs like fruit trees, privacy trees, flowering trees, shrubs and a whole lot more. Whatever plants you're interested in, Fast Growing Trees as you covered to get your dream yard the delivered directly to your door. I love this company. Look, no more wandering around a nursery trying to figure out how you're going to schlep home a bunch of plants. And this spring, well, they have the best deals, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 15% off their first purchase when using code PDB at checkout. That's an additional 15% off at fastgrowingtrees.com using the code PDB at checkout. Fast growingtrees.com code PDB now is the perfect time to plant and use code PDB to save. Today. Offers valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply. Welcome back to the pdb. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire over the weekend. But as Monday morning dawned hell, it was clear the guns actually never went silent. In a video released by Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Putin, flanked by Chief of the General Staff Valerie Yasimov said that guided by humanitarian conditions, Russian forces would halt military operations between 6pm Sunday and midnight going into Monday. He declared, quote, I order that all military actions be stopped for this period, end quote. And then he winked. How magnanimous. Ukrainian President Zelensky responded hours later with cautious optimism. In a message posted to X late Saturday, he said, quote, if Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly, mirroring Russia's actions, end quote. He reiterated that the US's proposal for a 30 day ceasefire remained on the table and that, quote, the answer to it must come from Moscow. But the skepticism in Kiev was clearly on display and ultimately justified. Within the first six hours of what Moscow claimed would be a peaceful pause, Ukrainian officials reported 387 artillery shellings, 19 ground assaults and nearly 300 drone incidents launched by Russian forces. Despite this, the Russian Defense Ministry insisted its forces had adhered to the ceasefire and instead blamed Ukraine for breaking it. Moscow accused Ukrainian units of carrying out 444 attacks on Russian positions during the truce window, including 900 drone related strikes and multiple munitions drops. On Sunday, Zelensky fired back accusing Moscow of, quote, trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire while continuing business as usual on the battlefield. Now, this isn't the first time a Russian announced truce has unraveled in real time. Back In January of 2023, Moscow proposed a ceasefire during Orthodox Christmas. But the effort quickly collapsed when both sides accused the other of violating the terms almost immediately. Meanwhile in Washington, the political will to continue brokering a negotiated end to the war well, appears to be wearing thin. On Friday, President Trump said the US would take a pass on further diplomatic efforts unless tangible progress was made quickly. As we reported here on the PDB last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that sentiment, saying the U. S was quote, not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end as it had other priorities to focus on. Rubio added, quote, we need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable. If it's not going to happen, then we're just going to move on, end quote. And after another failed truce and another round of finger pointing, it's unclear whether diplomacy has any path forward here. Alright. Turning to the us, the FBI has announced the arrest of a man on US soil wanted by India for terrorism, marking a rare and significant win for New Delhi and another sign of tightening law enforcement ties between the US and India. Under the Trump administration. The FBI says Harpreet Singh, an Indian national, was taken into custody Thursday in Sacramento, California. Now, Singh is said to have entered the US Illegally and managed to evade capture for years, relying on disposable phones and encrypted messaging apps to stay off the radar. Indian authorities say Singh is a key figure in what's called Babar Khalsa International, a banned Sikh separatist group with ties to Pakistan's intelligence services. The group seeks to establish an independent Sikh homeland known as Khalistan by violently seceding from India's Punjab region. He's accused of providing funds, weapons and logistical support to operatives inside India and has been linked to a grenade attack last year on a retired police officer in a northern city of India. While no injuries were reported, the attack was seen as part of a broader campaign of intimidation and violence. Authorities in the Indian state of Punjab say Singh wasn't just involved in that one attack. He allegedly orchestrated a string of targeted killings, grenade assaults on police compounds, and extortion campaigns across the region. In January, India's national investigation agency offered a cash reward for information leading to Singh's capture. Now that he's in US Custody, the focus will shift to what comes next, whether Singh will be extradited to face trial in India. That's no small question. India has submitted more than 60 extradition requests to the US over the past two decades, most of them unsuccessful due to concerns over the strength of evidence, differences in legal standards, or fears that the accused could face political persecution or human rights abuses if returned. Singh's arrest is being viewed in India as a breakthrough moment in a system that has long frustrated Indian authorities. And there are signs of a broader shift. Just this month, the US Extradited a Pakistani Canadian man named Taharana. He was accused of helping plan the deadly 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. That move was widely praised in India and seen as a gesture of goodwill from the Trump White House. Also, Vice President J.D. vance and his wife are planning a visit to India next week. While the agenda remains largely under wraps, the timing is noteworthy, suggesting a broader effort to reaffirm and strengthen ties between the two nations. Okay, coming up next, in the back of the brief, the US Military announces a major drawdown of troops from Syria. I'll have those details next. Hey, Mike Baker here. Well, you've probably heard about the tariffs, right? The trade wars? It's thrown the global economy into chaos and potential widespread inflation tied to massive supply chain disruptions. Well, frankly, it's weighing on all of us, but I'm here to tell you that there's a silver lining that some people might have missed. It's not just a silver lining. Actually, it's a gold and silver lining. President Trump specifically exempted gold and silver bullion from the sweeping tariffs. And while these new policies are triggering significant financial chaos, the administration preserved your ability to diversify into precious metals. So if you're concerned about your savings, I encourage you to have a free consultation with a Birch Gold precious metals specialist. Look, the first step is simple. Just text PDB to the number 989898 and receive your free no obligation information kit on gold. Learn how to hold gold and silver in a tax sheltered account. Birch Gold will help you convert an existing IRA or 401k into a gold IRA for no money out of pocket. Find out why so many Americans trust Birch Gold to protect their savings with gold with an A plus rating. With the Better Business Bureau and thousands of thankful customers, just text PDB to the number 989898. Again, text PDB to 989898 to claim your free information kit right now. Hey, Mike Baker here. Well, I am very happy to report the weather's turning. Springtime is here and that means it's grilling season. And I am about to tell you where to get the finest beef that throw on that grill. I'm talking about a classic American business. It's generations of family raising high quality beef in the great state of Texas. And of course you know I'm talking about Tri Tails beef. Look, Tri Tails is not some corporate meat factory. It's not a mass produced operation by a faceless corporation. Tritails is a fifth generation Texas ranch where cattle are pasture raised, grain finished and raised the right way. They handle the beef on site and ship it straight to your door. There's no middlemen, there's no mystery. All their beef is sourced to match the genetics and care that they've built their herd on. Ensuring consistent marbling, tenderness and rich flavor in every cut. As we say, small batch, big flavor. You can taste the difference the moment it hits the grill. Whether it's a ribeye, a filet or a New York strip, this is the kind of beef that brings people together. USDA prime and choice, hand packed and ready for your table. And right now, they've got a special offer just for listeners. Go to try beef.com PDB and get two free flat iron steaks with your first first box. Over $250. That's tribe.compdb support real ranchers and eat like you mean it. Hey, Mike Baker here. Did you know that 60% of the clothes that we buy end up in a landfill within a year of being made? I know right now, historically, our clothes, well, they were always something that we held on to for a long time. But not anymore. Big apparel companies constantly find ways to make clothes faster and cheaper. They're turning clothes into disposables. Choosing American Giant, though, means taking a stand for hard working people, local communities, and quality clothes. Mega corporations obsessed with growth are churning out cheap stuff that lacks quality and durability. American Giant, however, is all about durable, not disposable products. They make clothes built to last. So buying from American Giant is an investment not just in the clothes, but a community trying to do things the right way. Look, they believe in a new kind of smart conscious buying. And, and that just makes sense to me because small changes, well, they can add up to something big. So check out American giant today. Get 20 off your first order when you use promo code Baker. That's B A K e r. @american-giant.com that's 20 off when you use code BAKER.
- [18:04]
Mike Slater
And@american-giant.Com my name is Mike Slater. I have a podcast called Politics by Faith. I was just talking to a friend of mine who said he hasn't been able to follow the news lately. It's been too much, it's too crazy. It's driving him crazy, and he's just checked out. If you feel that way sometimes too, I think you'll really like our podcast, Politics by Faith. We take the main story of the day and we run it through the Bible. What does the Bible say about this? It's amazing, but it's all there. And then God tells us what to do. We don't even have to figure it out. The answers are right there. He gives us the answers. Politics by Faith. Please join us over there. You can listen to it wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. Politics by Faith.
- [18:46]
Mike Baker
In today's Back of the Brief, we told you last week that it was coming, and now the Pentagon has made it official. The US Will be shrinking its military footprint in Syria, pulling out roughly 600 troops over the coming months and bringing total troop levels below 1000. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the move on Friday, saying the reduction reflects, quote, significant steps that we've made toward degrading ISIS's appeal and operational capability regionally and globally, end quote. He added that US Central Command will remain positioned to strike any remnants of ISIS in Syria, noting the drawdown is in line with President Trump's philosophy of, quote, peace through strength. While Parnell didn't offer many specifics, an unnamed U.S. official told the Associated Press that about 600 personnel will be leaving. The New York Times also reported the military will shutter three of its eight outposts in northeastern Syria. As of now, roughly 2,000 U.S. troops are stationed across several sites in Syria, mostly in the northeast, where they've been working alongside local Kurdish led forces to prevent a resurgence of isis. That mission began after the terror group seized huge chunks of territory across Iraq and Syria all the way back in 2014, before being beaten back in the years that followed. But let's be clear, this drawdown doesn't mean that the US Is stepping away from the region. In fact, the broader picture tells a very different story. While forces are being pulled from Syria, the US Military presence across Central Command covering the greater Middle east is actually growing. As we reported here on the PDB2 aircraft carriers, the Carl Vinson and the Harry Truman are now launching strike missions against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Pentagon has also repositioned Patriot air defense systems to the region, diverting them from the Indo Pacific theater. And B2 stealth bombers have been deployed to Diego Garcia, the joint US UK military outpost in the Indian Ocean. So while boots may be leaving Syria, American firepower across the region appears to be increasing. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Monday 21st April. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and of course to listen to the show ad free. Well, you can do that. You just become a premium member of the President's Daily brief by visiting pdbpremium.com it's really very simple. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.