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The President's Daily Brief
August 4th, 2025: Ukrainian Hack Uncovers Horrific Russian War Crime & Hamas’ New Red Line
00:25:06
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Mike Baker
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Unknown
Foreign.
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Mike Baker
It's Monday the 4th of August. Look at that, we're already into the first week of August. Time is flying by, as they say. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First up, thousands of hacked files from Russian servers are revealing evidence of a, well, there's no other way to put it, a heinous war crime, the organized abduction and deport of Ukrainian children. We'll break down what was uncovered later in the show. Hamas is drawing a red line, refusing to give up its weapons unless a Palestinian state is formally established. Well, who couldn't see that coming? As a result of some self serving politicians calling for recognition of a Palestinian state, we'll examine the implications for ongoing negotiations. Plus, Iran says it's running out of water and fast. With Tehran facing a major shortage, will break down what it could mean for the regime. And in today's back of the brief, the FBI arrests a California man accused of sending money to isis. We'll tell you what we know about the case and how authorities tracked him down. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. We're starting today with a major discovery by Ukraine's military intelligence. According to Ukraine's hur, that's the main Intelligence Directorate, essentially their version of the US Defense Intelligence Agency. A recent cyber attack on Russian servers has uncovered what they're calling undeniable proof of one of Russia's most disturbing war crimes. The mass abduction of Ukrainian children. The hack targeted the servers of the Russian installed administration in occupied Crimea. Ukrainian hackers spent several days inside the system and managed to get their hands on over 100 terabytes of sensitive data. And now? Well, that data is revealing thousands of files documenting the organized and systematic deportation of children from the occupied regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk. We're talking about detailed lists of the names of abducted children, personal profiles, illegal transfers of custody to Russian citizens, and relocation records showing exactly where many of these kids were ultimately resettled. Now, some of those documents have already been published. By Hur. But the rest have been handed over to Ukrainian law enforcement for use in criminal prosecutions and more importantly, in ongoing efforts to locate and return these children to their families. According to Ukraine's official Children of war database, nearly 20,000 children have been confirmed abducted since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine back in early 2022. But Ukrainian officials say the true number could be dramatically higher, possibly as many as 150,000 to 300,000. The Kremlin claims these transfers are rescue missions. Oh, meant to protect children from the war. But the files tell a different story. This isn't about safety. It's about forced assimilation, propaganda and demographic engineering. Now, this issue of Ukraine's missing children isn't new. In fact, it's been at the center of war crimes accusations leveled against Kremlin since early in the war. For over two years now, international investigators and human rights groups have tracked what appears to be a deliberate state organized effort to remove Ukrainian children from occupied territories and relocate them inside Russia, often stripping them of their identities and placing them with Russian families. And as shocking as it sounds, well, it's not a new tactic for Moscow. There's a rather dark historical precedent here. During the Soviet era, particularly under Stalin, the regime routinely used child displacement as a weapon of control. In the Baltic states, Poland and parts of Eastern Europe, Soviet authorities deported entire families, often separating children from their parents and placing them into institutions or with Russian families. The goal of these abductions was to erase national identity. These children were renamed, banned from speaking their native languages, and re educated under communist ideology. What we're seeing now in Ukraine is a revival of that old Soviet playbook, only this time, in the age of digital records, the Kremlin may not be able to hide behind the fog of history. Back in March of last year, the International Criminal Court, the icc, issued arrest warrants for Russian President Putin and other members of his government. The charges accused him of unlawfully deporting and transferring children from occupied areas of Ukraine into the Russian Federation. That is a violation, of course, of the Geneva Conventions and a recognized war crime under international law. According to the icc, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Putin himself bears individual criminal responsibility, directly participating in the scheme and failing to exercise proper control over civilian and military subordinates. The move marked the first time that the court has issued a warrant for the leader of a permanent member of the UN Security Council. While Russia does not recognize the ICC's authority, the warrants have dramatically limited Putin's ability to travel internationally and has added fuel to ongoing investigations. Into Russia's broader conduct during the war. And this latest intelligence hall appears to provide even more damning evidence to support the charges against him. Ukraine has made the return of these abducted children a non negotiable demand in any future peace talks. But according to President Zelensky, Russian officials have dismissed these calls and as nothing more than a quote, show for childless European old ladies, even while privately admitting that they have in fact relocated hundreds. This is what modern warfare essentially looks like under the Russian Federation. It's not just military operations, but the weaponization of children and families to inflict generational damage. And it's worth repeating that these are not unsubstantiated claims. These are files. Names, locations, appointments of illegal guardians. Evidence. It's a war crime. The question now is, will anybody be held accountable? Alright, coming up next, Hamas draws a hard line on disarmament. And Iran is on the brink of a water crisis that could shake the regime. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here with a very solid fashion tip because as you know, I'm, I'm known for my drip, as the kids say. Look, I want to tell you about a great company. It's called True Classic. 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Unknown
Or.
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Mike Baker
Welcome back to the PDB Hamas has shut down hopes for a breakthrough in ceasefire negotiations, declaring it will not disarm unless a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established. That announcement amounts to a flat out rejection of one of Israel's core negotiation demands. The statement issued over the weekend served as a sharp rebuke to President Trump's Middle east envoy Steve Witkoff, who suggested the Iran backed terror group might be open to laying down its arms. Hamas dismissed that notion as a misrepresentation, reiterating what it called its right to, quote resistance and its weapons unless statehood is achieved. As we've discussed on the PDB in recent days, pressure on Hamas has been mounting not just from Israel, but from its Arab neighbors. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and the rest of the Arab League have ramped up calls for the terror group to relinquish its weapons and governance of Gaza. And yet at the same time, France, the UK and Canada have bent to internal political pressures and called for the recognition of a Palestinian state, which, as could be expected, simply served to embolden Hamas. Now, for Israel, disarmament remains a non starter in negotiations. An IDF lieutenant warned that military operations will continue unabated unless Hamas agrees to the release of the remaining 50 hostages, of which only 20 are believed to be still alive. That warning landed just hours before Hamas published a video of an emaciated male hostage inside of a Gaza tunnel. The disturbing footage sparked outrage across the Jewish state, with a hostage's family accusing Hamas of starvation and pleading with Israeli and US leadership to intervene. Witkoff arrived in Israel last week for a series of meetings aimed at reviving the collapsed negotiations. His visit was marked by growing international scrutiny over the humanitarian crisis in the enclave where UN agencies accused Jerusalem of engineering a man made famine by obstructing aid, though that's a charge Israel flatly denies, saying there are no limits on food supplies, placing blame squarely on Hamas polluting distribution points and diverting resources for sale to fund its war machine. On Saturday, Witkoff joined dozens of hostage families at a gathering in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square. It's a plaza that's become a flashpoint for demonstrations demanding faster government action. In a two hour meeting, he told families that Trump has lost confidence in Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's piecemeal approach to negotiations According to Witkoff, President Trump now believes that everybody ought to come home at once. No piecemeal deals. That doesn't work, end quote. The US Is now pushing for a, quote, all or nothing framework of total disarmament, full demilitarization of Gaza, and the return of all surviving hostages. Now that's a significant pivot in direct reflection of growing frustration in Washington. While Trump initially supported Netanyahu's phased approach, Secretary of State Marco Rubio previewed the shift nearly two weeks ago, telling hostages families it was time to explore a more comprehensive strategy. Witkoff also met with Netanyahu to discuss the collapse of the negotiation process. According to an Israeli official familiar with the talks, both sides agreed that Hamas's hardline stance of statehood has rendered incremental diplomacy a dead end. Still, mediators have yet to change course, calling for a deal that would encompass Hamas's disarmament, full demilitarization of Gaza, and simultaneous release of all hostages. One version under discussion includes a 60 day ceasefire, the release of 10 living hostages, and the handover of 18 deceased hostages. Witkoff reaffirmed that any lasting peace would require Hamas to disarm, pointing to growing calls across Arab capitals demanding precisely that. But that optimism was short lived as Hamas doubled down that disarmament will only come after full statehood. Okay. Turning to Hamas puppet master Iran, the regime is staring down an environmental catastrophe that could leave its capital without running water in a matter of weeks, risking an already brittle hold on public support. Speaking last week, Iranian President Masoud Bezechkian sounded the alarm. Pointing to a dangerous mix of crumbling infrastructure and unsustainable demand. He said, if we cannot manage and people do not cooperate in controlling consumption, there won't be any water by September or October. The situation has grown so dire that CNN now describes the crisis as weeks away from a potential day zero, framing it as a litmus test for whether the Islamic Republic's leadership can govern a capital of more than 10 million people through an environmental collapse. This all comes after a 40% plunge in rainfall over the last four months, compounding the effects of a five year drought that's crippled reservoirs across the country. But experts say the problem runs far deeper than any subpar rainy season. Iran's environmental protection organization points to decades of poor planning and chronic overuse, telling state media that numerous environmental problems like water stress are the result of neglecting sustainable development. Well, yeah, that and also diverting massive amounts of money over the years to fund their proxies and build their nuclear and missile programs. The numbers are staggering. In Tehran, 70% of residents exceed the daily recommended water limit of 130 liters. That's about 34 gallons per person now. Although that's half the amount of the US Daily average, it's still too much for a country whose water infrastructure is falling apart. Agriculture, however, remains the elephant in the room, guzzling up nearly 80% of the country's total water usage. Brzeshkian has dismissed popular short term fixes such as an extended mid week shutdown, calling it a cover up and not a solution. And water isn't the only system under strain. According to the semi official Tasnim news agency, which is aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the irgc, Iran is also buckling under pressure on its power grid and gas supplies. Blackouts and shortages are now routine during peak demand in the country's southern and western provinces, with entire communities left without basic utilities for hours, sometimes for days on end. Emergency conservation efforts are being rolled out. But rather than instilling confidence, they've only deepened the sense of concern. One regional outlet framed the measures as signs of panic, not planning, while Al Monitor warned of a perfect storm of water shortages and collapsing public trust. If this all sounds familiar, well, that's because it is. Back in 2021, similar conditions triggered mass protests across Iran. Today. A new wave of unrest does appear to be building, led this time by residents, farmers and business owners who say they've been pushed to the brink by dry taps and flickering lights. According to the Jerusalem Post, demonstrations are flaring up in multiple cities now. Whether this translates into political upheaval remains to be seen. The absence of a unified opposition makes regime change unlikely. But the water crisis is clearly widening the cracks in the Islamic Republic's foundations. If left unchecked, well, it could trigger a broader wave of dissent in Washington. Analysts argue that the US should seize the moment. A researcher at the foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington based think tank, called it a rare opportunity to, quote, demonstrate alignment with the Iranian people via aid against a government that has made large swaths of the country increasingly uninhabitable. Alright. Coming up next, in the back of the brief, a Long Beach, California man is behind bars now accused of wiring cash to isis. We'll break down the charges when we come back. Stay with us. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now let me take just a moment of your time to talk about protecting your hard earned assets. You've probably noticed, I suspect, a little turmoil out there in the economy, right? Trade wars, a Federal Reserve that seems to be at odds with the White House, uncertainty over employment numbers, a volatile stock market. You get the picture. Now, at times like these, it's important to think about your assets and how to protect them. And one way to do that is through diversification. And I'm here to suggest that you consider diversifying with gold through the Birch Gold Group. For decades, gold's been viewed as a safe haven in times of economic stagnation, global uncertainty and high inflation. And Birch Gold makes it incredibly easy for you to diversify some of your savings into gold. If you have an IRA or old 401k, you can convert that into a tax sheltered IRA in physical gold. Or like a lot of folks, you just buy gold to store safely at home. First, get yourself educated. Birch Gold will send you a free information kit on gold. No obligation. Just text PDB to the number 989898. Again, text PDB to 989898. Consider diversifying a portion of your savings into gold with the Birch Gold group. Again, text BDB to 989 898. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me ask you an intriguing question. Now, what if you could delay your next two mortgage payments? Right. I told you it was intriguing. It's right. 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Piers Morgan
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Mike Baker
In today's Back of the Brief Federal agents on Friday arrested a Long Beach, California man accused of wiring funds to ISIS and pledging allegiance to the terror group in an act the FBI described as a clear threat to national security. According to The Justice Department, 28 year old Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, a permanent U S resident originally from the Philippines, now faces up to 20 years in federal prison for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or better known as isis. Prosecutors say Villanueva had been chatting with self identified ISIS fighters on social media earlier. In those exchanges, he didn't just express ideological sympathy, he offered to bankroll their efforts and said he hoped to join them in combat. Yeah, those are all pretty good clues. One of the messages Villanueva wrote read, it's an honor to fight and die for our faith. It's the best way to go to heaven. Someday soon I'll be joining, end quote. Over the course of five months, he allegedly sent 12 payments totaling more than $1,600 to two intermediaries overseas. The transfers were flagged in Western Union, cited in the DOJ's complaint, and when FBI agents raided his Long beach home, well, they say they discovered what appeared to be a homemade bomb in his bedroom. The Bureau later posted photos of the device on Facebook and X, suggesting there may have been more than just talk in the works. The acting assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office said, quote, Mr. Villanueva is alleged to have financially supported and pledged his allegiance to a terror group that targets the US and our interests around the world, end quote. Now, his arrest is the latest in a string of domestic terrorism cases tied to ISIS sympathizers, and the details echo a disturbingly similar case from just earlier this year. Back in March, federal agents arrested a 19 year old former member of the Michigan Army National Guard for plotting a mass shooting at a US Military base. He was reportedly acting on behalf of isis. It was apprehended on the day of the planned attack, shortly after launching a drone near the Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command in suburban Detroit. That's a facility that oversees the Army's tank supply chain. Federal officials say both cases reflect a persistent threat posed by individuals radicalized by ISIS ideology online, quietly moving from extremist rhetoric to operational intent inside US Borders. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Monday 4th August. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the firsttv.com and to listen to the show ad free. Well, you can do that, and you can do it very simply. Just become a premium member of the President's Daily brief by visiting PDB premium.com and I hope you had a chance to catch our latest episode of the PDB Situation Report. That, of course, is our extended weekend show. If not, you can find it on our YouTube channel, @President's Daily Brief and on podcast platforms wherever you get your podcast stuff. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.
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Unknown
It.