Podcast Summary: The President's Daily Brief – December 11, 2025: Trump’s Post-Maduro Strategy Revealed & Ukraine’s New Peace Proposal
Host: Mike Baker, Former CIA Operations Officer
Podcast: The President’s Daily Brief (The First TV)
Date: December 11, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mike Baker delivers a multilayered analysis of several urgent international stories shaping US foreign and domestic policy. The main theme is the Trump Administration’s strategic planning in anticipation of the possible collapse of Venezuela’s Maduro regime, alongside updates on Ukraine’s stalled peace process and the US’s role in a simmering Southeast Asian conflict. The episode also concludes with a “Back of the Brief” feature focusing on the ongoing Chinese influence and pandemic-era fraud trial of former New York gubernatorial aide Linda Sun.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Escalation in Venezuela: Seizure and “Post-Maduro” Planning

(Spotlight segment begins at 00:35)

• US Seizure of Oil Tanker:
  US forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, part of a larger crackdown on vessels moving illicit crude (00:35–02:30).

  • Dramatic Coast Guard operation executed with military precision.
  • The tanker, linked to both Venezuelan and Iranian oil, was part of a shadow fleet used by Maduro to evade sanctions.

• Behind the Scenes: Strategic Contingency Plans:
  The Trump White House is quietly developing detailed policies for “the day after” a Maduro regime collapse (02:30–04:48).

  • Scenarios include Maduro’s negotiated exit, forced removal via US action, or internal collapse.
  • Planning centers on stabilizing institutions, restoring economic functions, and managing the power vacuum.
  • Military deployments in the Caribbean multiply, officially labeled “counter-drug missions,” but widely regarded as dual-use for regime change contingencies.

• Concerns About Past Mistakes:
  Internal debates reference the aftermath of the 2003 Iraq War as a cautionary tale: “The administration wants to avoid the mistakes of 2003 in Iraq, removing a dictator without a detailed plan for what comes next.” (04:10)

• Venezuelan Opposition’s Blueprint vs. US Planning:
  Opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez have prepared “100 hour and 100 day plans” for governance but alignment with US plans remains unclear.

• Quote (Mike Baker):

  “The question apparently is not if the Maduro regime falls, but it’s what the US does in the hours and days after it happens.” (07:46)

2. Ukraine’s Peace Proposal and Stalled Negotiations

(Segment resumes at 08:54)

• Zelensky’s New Peace Plan:
  President Zelensky claims a revised 20-point peace plan for Washington is almost ready, yet skepticism remains high over its prospects (08:54–11:49).

  • Moscow rejected the previous US-drafted 28-point plan and has since dismissed Ukraine’s new framework.
  • The Trump Administration is pressuring for a deal, but Kyiv refuses to cede territory.
  • The US appears more willing to allow “peace” that could include territorial concessions, drawing criticism in Ukraine’s capital.

• Quote (Mike Baker):

  “From Kyiv’s perspective, it’s looking like the White House is willing to trade away a large chunk of Ukraine and meet Putin’s demands in order to say a peace deal has been accomplished.” (10:45)

• Mutual Deadlock:
  Baker underscores the repetitive, frustrating nature of the talks:

  “From the White House’s perspective ... it’s starting to feel like Zelensky’s circle keeps rearranging the same pieces on the table and hoping Moscow somehow reacts differently the next time.” (09:52)

  • Russia’s aims remain unchanged; the status quo of conflict persists.

3. Other Global Flashpoints: Thailand-Cambodia Border

• Brief Mention:
  Artillery and rocket fire are intensifying along the Thailand-Cambodia border. President Trump is said to be directly intervening to uphold a fragile ceasefire his administration brokered earlier in the year.
  • Details are limited, signaling an emerging crisis point to watch (00:55–01:08).

4. Back of the Brief: Chinese Influence and PPE Fraud Trial

(“Back of the Brief” segment begins at 15:43)

• Linda Sun Trial:
  Former senior aide to New York governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul stands accused of acting as a Chinese influence agent, and of pandemic-era fraud and self-dealing (15:43–end).

  • Prosecutors allege Sun used her position to benefit Chinese government interests, including manipulating official state statements and steering contracts.
  • One especially damning piece of evidence:

    Sun allegedly bragged to Chinese officials that Governor Hochul was, “much more obedient than Andrew Cuomo, adding that she could get Hochul to record cultural messages and appearances with little pushback.” (16:35)

  • Accused of securing kickbacks via pandemic procurement contracts, using shell companies and laundering funds for personal gain.
  • The government argues this “posed a national security risk,” meaning foreign influence penetrated high-level state government functions.

• Defense’s Position:
  Sun’s legal team countered that her work fell under normal diplomatic responsibilities and that incriminating communications were out of context.

• Expert Commentary (Mike Baker):
  “Linda Sun would have to be incredibly moronic not to have known that she was advancing the Chinese regime’s interests and objectives while accepting remuneration from them.” (17:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Post-Maduro Planning:

  “Only a small group of senior officials has visibility into the details and they’re gaming out what the US should do in the first hours and days after the regime is gone.” (03:15, Mike Baker)

• On Venezuela’s Strategic Stakes:

  “Washington isn’t just pressuring the regime diplomatically or militarily. It’s now targeting the financial lifelines that keep Maduro afloat.” (07:03, Mike Baker)

• On Ukraine Peace Prospects:

  “The war grinds on.” (11:48, Mike Baker)

• On the Risk of Espionage and Influence Operations:

  “The Chinese intel apparatus uses a wide range of espionage tools ... to gather information, influence policymaking, monitor targets, and suppress individuals or organizations that the Chinese regime considers hostile.” (17:30, Mike Baker)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:35 – Venezuela Escalation / US Seizure and “Post-Maduro” Planning
• 08:54 – Ukraine Peace Proposal Update
• 15:43 – Back of the Brief: Chinese Influence & Fraud Trial

Tone and Style

Mike Baker’s delivery is sober, analytical, and pragmatic with a hint of wry skepticism, especially when dissecting diplomatic rhetoric and bureaucratic excuses. He references historical parallels (notably Iraq and its aftermath), and he unflinchingly calls out what he sees as predictable government pitfalls and intelligence risks.

Summary

This episode equips listeners with a concise, expertly informed overview of today’s evolving geopolitical flashpoints—from the White House’s secretive regime-change planning for Venezuela, tenuous peace prospects in Ukraine, to the national security implications of domestic corruption and foreign influence. Mike Baker’s insider perspective and emphasis on the practical challenges of each story make this a deeply insightful and relevant briefing for anyone following US policy or global security.