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The President's Daily Brief
December 16th, 2025: New Year’s Eve Terror Plot Foiled in the U.S. & Ukraine’s Underwater Drone Strike
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We'll examine the plots, who was involved and how authorities prevented what could have been significant mass casualty event. Later in the show, a new chapter in naval warfare. Ukraine says it used an underwater drone to cripple a Russian Kilo class submarine in the Black Sea. If confirmed well, it could change how this war is fought at sea. Plus, an Israeli strike kills a senior Hamas commander in Gaza, drawing sharp criticism from the Trump administration over an alleged ceasefire violation. Of course, Hamas has refused to disarm, which would also appear to be a ceasefire violation. And in today's back of the brief, police are back on the hunt after releasing the initial person of interest in the Brown University shooting and admitting they made a mistake. We'll have the latest. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. We're starting today with what could have been a devastating terror attack in California. Federal authorities say they disrupted a New Year's Eve terror plot that was allegedly just days away from being carried out. Four suspects are now in custody accused of planning coordinated bombings across Southern California timed for midnight on New Year's Eve. According to prosecutors, this wasn't an aspirational scheme. Investigators say the suspects had moved beyond rhetoric and into operational planning, assembling explosive devices, testing materials and identifying specific targets. If the plot had succeeded, officials believe it could have resulted in mass casualties and widespread disruption at one of the most crowded moments of course, of the year. Let's walk through what we know from investigators at this point. The suspects are accused of planning simultaneous pipe bomb attacks targeting large corporate logistics Facilities in the Los Angeles and Orange county areas. Facilities described by federal officials as Amazon type distribution centers. These selected targets were major commercial hubs staffed around the clock and often located near surrounding neighborhoods and transportation corridors. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the suspects also discussed future attacks aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and their vehicles, suggesting this was not intended to be a single act, but the opening salvo in a broader campaign of violence. The suspects were each charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Now, the group allegedly behind the plot calls itself the, quote, order of the Black Lotus, a splinter group of the anti capitalist, quote, Turtle Island Liberation Front. Hey, look, I. I don't make up these moronic names. I, I just report on them. The group's name offers a bit of a window into their ideology, such as it is. Turtle island is a term commonly used in far left decolonization ideology to describe North America as illegitimately occupied land. Are you still following me? In this worldview, the US Is not a nation state with political legitimacy, but a colonizer occupation that cannot be reformed or voted out of existence. I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that the original gormless wankers who founded the group came up with the name while waiting in their mother's kitchen for the hot pockets to come out of the microwave. Regardless, investigators have identified numerous social media posts tied to the group that explicitly reject peaceful protest and the democratic process, probably because that would require hard work. One post states, quote, peaceful protest will never be enough. Oh. Another declares that there are no morals to appeal to and that voting cannot resolve what they describe as a mass colonizer occupation. Others frame their struggle as one against, quote, fascist colonizers. I can smell the patchouli and the weed from here. Officials also announced that search warrants also turned up signs declaring Death to America. Well, that's original. Death to ice and long live Turtle island and Palestine. I am not making this up. Court filings indicate the group tested explosive materials in remote areas and discussed the use of improvised explosive devices timed to detonate simultaneously at midnight on New Year's Eve. The timing of the attacks was likely chosen, of course, to maximize impact. New Year's Eve, as you may suspect, is one of the most crowded nights of the year, especially in Southern California. Midnight brings workers on shift changes, drivers on the road, and of course, the New Year's Eve celebrations. A coordinated attack at multiple logistics hubs could have caused not only casualties, but panic and cascading disruption across supply chains and emergency response systems. Authorities have not publicly named these specific companies targeted, nor have they confirmed whether additional suspects or affiliated cells exist beyond the four charged individuals. There's also no public evidence, at least so far, of direct coordination with foreign terrorist organizations. Everything disclosed at this stage points to a domestically radicalized anarchist group operating inside the U.S. but admittedly, that doesn't make the threat smaller in many ways, it it could make it more concerning. The case fits a broader pattern that we have seen before. Small, ideologically driven cells radicalized online, operating without a centralized hierarchy, blending political grievance with revolutionary language, and convincing themselves that violence is not only justified but necessary. What stands out here is how clearly that progression appears to have been documented. The group's rhetoric rejected peaceful means outright. The alleged targets aligned directly with their stated ideology, capitalist infrastructure and federal law enforcement. And prosecutors say the suspects took concrete steps to translate beliefs into action. The FBI says it intervened before the devices could be deployed. As the investigation continues, well, we will undoubtedly learn more about how the suspects were radicalized, whether others were involved, and whether additional plots were under consideration. All right, coming up next, Ukraine claims an unprecedented underwater drone strike on a Russian submarine. And an Israeli strike in Gaza draws criticism from the Trump administration. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here with a great holiday opportunity from our friends at Birch Gold Group. Now, you remember that terrific Burl Ives Christmas tune, Silver and Gold? Well, if you saw the old Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer show on tv, you know what I'm talking about. But that's what we're talking about here, Silver and gold. Because for every $5,000 you purchase between now and December 22, Birch Gold will send you an ounce of silver. And if you aren't aware, silver happens to be up by over 60% this year. Here's the thing. 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Welcome back to the PDB. Ukraine says it has carried out a strike that could mark a new chapter in naval warfare. According to Ukraine's Security Service, or the sbu, Ukrainian forces used an underwater drone to strike a Russian Kilo class submarine while it was docked at the Black Sea port of Novorizis. Keev says the attack critically damaged the submarine, potentially disabling it. Now, to be clear up front, the claim has not yet been independently verified by outside analysts or NATO officials. Russia has not confirmed the damage, but Ukraine has released video of the attack. The video shows a large explosion inside the harbor itself, close to where multiple Russian naval vessels were docked. The blast appears to come from below the waterline, consistent with a subsurface detonation rather than an air or surface strike. While the footage does not definitively confirm the condition of the submarine afterward, it does confirm something important. Ukrainian forces successfully triggered a powerful explosion inside a secured Russian naval port. That alone is significant. The submarine Ukraine says it targeted is a project 636.3 Voshovyanka, better known as a Kilo class submarine. These boats are among Russia's most capable assets in the Black Sea and are frequently used to launch Kalibr cruise missiles against Ukrainian targets. Russia only has a handful of these vessels, so even if one of these platforms is disabled, it represents a meaningful blow to Russia's long range strike capability. Not to mention they have approximately a $400 million price tag. But the broader implication goes beyond the fate of a single submarine. For much of the war, Ukraine has steadily expanded its maritime campaign using unmanned systems. As we have tracked closely here on the pdb, Ukrainian sea drones have damaged or sunk Russian surface ships, forced Moscow to pull naval assets out of Crimea, and disrupted Russia's energy and shipping activity in the Black Sea. Novorozhiysk, deeper inside Russian territory was supposed to be safer, a fallback port where high value naval assets could operate with less risk. This attack challenges that assumption. Of course, if Ukraine can reach a submarine while it's docked inside a heavily defended harbor, it suggests Russia's naval sanctuary is shrinking fast. Traditional defenses, nets, patrols, sonar physical distance from the front lines may no longer provide the protection they once did against small, hard to detect underwater drones. And if this is confirmed as the first successful underwater drone strike against a submarine, it would represent a notable milestone. Unmanned systems have already reshaped warfare in the air and on land and on the sea's surface. Extending that threat beneath the waterline complicates naval planning in ways that go well beyond this particular war. Even without independent confirmation of the submarine's final status, the psychological and operational impact is already real. Russian commanders now have to assume that ports once considered relatively secure may be vulnerable. That affects where ships are based, how long they remain docked, and how much effort must be devoted to port defense rather than power projection. Meanwhile, the strike comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war. As has often been the case in this conflict, battlefield developments and negotiations are moving in parallel. Actions like this don't just change military calculations. They influence leverage and perception and risk tolerance on both sides. Regardless of how the final damage assessment to the sub comes out, the message is already clear. Russia's navy is under pressure, not just at sea but at rest. And the Black Sea is becoming an increasingly dangerous place for Russian warships. Okay, let's turn our attention to Gaza. A day after Israel announced that it had killed a senior Hamas commander in the strip, the White House issued a warning to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying the strike amounted to a violation of the ceasefire. Hamas has since confirmed the death of Rayad Saad, the commander who oversaw the group's military manufacturing operations. Of course, if I'm not mistaken, the group was supposed to disarm and stop military manufacturing operations. According to the terror group, Saad was killed in an airstrike west of Gaza City on Sunday. Israel announced the operation this weekend, describing Saad as a key architect of the 7 October 2023 terror attacks and accusing him of quietly rebuilding Hamas military infrastructure, actions that officials in Jerusalem say directly violate the fragile ceasefire brokered by the Trump White House. According to Israeli military officials, the strike was not preemptive but retaliatory. Those officials say it followed the recent detonation of an explosive device in southern Gaza that wounded two IDF soldiers, framing the killing of Saad as a response to what they see as Hamas's continued armed activity despite the truce. As for the strike itself, Sa' Ad wasn't the only casualty. The blast left four others dead and three wounded. According to the Associated Press, Hamas insists the vehicle struck was civilian. Well, if you can't believe an Iranian backed terror group, well, who can you believe? Still, Hamas said it has since appointed a new commander Yay headroom to replace Sa', Ad, but offered no details, adding that the group reserves the right to respond to the occupation's aggression. Now, as our listeners know, accusations of ceasefire violations have become a familiar refrain since the truce took hold two months ago. Israeli officials say its operations have been measured responses to Hamas attacks, renewed weapons smuggling and repeated incidents in which Palestinians approach or cross the so called yellow line separating Israeli controlled areas of Gaza from the rest of the enclave. Beyond those immediate incidents, Israel argues Hamas has violated the ceasefire in more fundamental ways by refusing to disarm and by maintaining its grip on governance inside Gaza, steps that Israeli officials say are central to advancing the ceasefire's second phase. As to what that second phase entails, well, it's meant to wind down the war altogether, dismantling Hamas's military capabilities and transferring control of Gaza to a new governing structure while Israeli forces simultaneously withdraw. But yesterday, Washington was focused squarely on the Israeli strike itself. Two Trump administration officials told Axios that the White House delivered a private message to Netanyahu making clear that the killing of Saad was viewed as a breach of the ceasefire agreement. The warning reflects what Trump officials describe as growing frustration inside the White House with Netanyahu's approach to Gaza and with what they see as delays in moving toward the next phase, which again can't happen until Hamas disarms and gives up governance. Perhaps the White House should remind Hamas about those conditions put in place, by the way, by the White House negotiators, according to administration officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner have all become increasingly irritated with how the process has stalled. Have they not watched other peace processes in the Middle East? The White House says Jerusalem neither notified nor consulted Washington before carrying out the weekend strike. A senior administration official summarized that private message to Netanyahu bluntly, telling reporters it reads similarly as quote, if you want to ruin your reputation and show that you don't abide by agreements, be our guest. But we won't allow you to ruin President Trump's reputation. Sorry, I couldn't do that with a straight face, end quote. Someone should find that senior administration official and ask them if they've always been moronic or if it's a relatively new affliction. In Jerusalem, an official acknowledged that the White House was unhappy, but said the concerns were framed more narrowly, claiming Trump officials suggested the strike posed a problem mainly because, quote, certain Arab countries viewed it as a ceasefire violation. But that's not how the White House wanted its frustration to land, pushing back on that characterization, insisting the message was unequivocal, I.e. israel violated the ceasefire. For the White House, the broader objective upon completion of the ceasefire, if the ceasefire is ever completed, remains restoring momentum toward regional normalization, such as repairing ties between Israel and Arab states and expanding the Abraham Accords. Okay, in today's Back of the Brief, we'll bring you the latest from Providence, Rhode island, after investigators released the person initially and mistakenly detained in the Brown University shooting and said the case has now taken a new turn. I'll have those details when we return. Hey, Mike Baker here, host of PDB and of course a fashion icon. Did you know that? That's a well kept secret, actually. Okay, look, I want to tell you something about a great company out there making terrific clothing. And that would be True Classic. But the guys at True Classic started with a simple mission, right? To bring premium comfortable clothing to the masses. Because looking and feeling great shouldn't come with a designer price tag. And clearly people agree. True Classic has sold over, get this, 25 million shirts to more than 5 million customers. And in the process, they've racked up over 200,000 five star reviews. The brand is all about helping guys show up every day with confidence and purpose. Their shirts fit where they should, they feel incredible, and they don't break the bank. You get that tailored look without sacrificing comfort or blowing up your budget. I've been wearing True Classic shirts now for quite a while, and you can feel the difference the moment you throw one on. Seriously, they fit great, they look great, they feel great. Come on. Forget overpriced designer brands and skip the cheap throwaway stuff. True Classic is built for comfort. It's built to last and built to give back. You can find them on Amazon and at Target, Costco, Sam's Club, or just head on over to truclassic.com PDB to try them out for yourself. I usually ask potential criminals to have a seat, but now I'm asking you to join me, Chris Hansen, for my new series, have a Seat with Chris Hansen. Guests each week are fascinating personalities who are grabbing headlines, making waves, or changing our lives for the better. Have a Seat with Chris Hansen. Available wherever you get your podcasts in today's Back of the brief. The Brown University shooting investigation continues with a high profile detention undone and the actual gunman still at large. For a moment it looked like the case was moving forward after authorities announced Sunday they detained a person of interest in connection with Saturday's attack. But police later reversed course and released the individual, saying the evidence, quote, now points in a different direction. You'll remember our coverage on Monday's PDB that the case centered on a 24 year old male suspect from Wisconsin who had allegedly traveled to the Ivy League campus in Rhode Island. But after the investigation and the evidence ruled out that individual investigators are once again without a suspect in custody. Two students, one a male from Uzbekistan and the other a female from Alabama, were killed and nine other students were wounded when a gunman opened fire inside the Barrison Holly Engineering building during final exam preparations. During a Monday afternoon press conference, police shared new, somewhat clearer video of a new person of interest. The FBI described the individual as a male, approximately 5 foot 8 inches and with a stocky build. The FBI in Boston is offering up to a fifty thousand dollar reward for information leading to the identification of the person. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 1-800- call FBI or the Providence Police Department at 401-272-3121. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Narona said Sunday very bluntly, we have a murderer out there, frankly. Local police say a firearm was not found during a sweep of the campus and witness accounts suggest the attacker may have worn a camouflage mask, details that underline how little identifying information investigators have been able to lock down. For now, investigators are still trying to reconstruct the entry point. Authorities say they aren't immediately sure, but how the suspect entered the first floor classroom as the building's outer doors were unlocked, but the rooms being used for final exams required badge access. Brown University has tried to calm fears, of course, saying there's no immediate threat to campus, while acknowledging the obvious. The student body is grieving, the uncertainty is fearful and exhausting and the suspect is still at large. As a result, the university canceled remaining in person classes for the semester as well as final exams which were supposed to take place this week. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Tuesday, 16th December. Now if you have any questions or comments, and I hope you do, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com the entire PDB team loves to hear from you. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Until then, Stay informed. Stay safe. Stay co. It.