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The President's Daily Brief
January 8th, 2026: Trump’s Endgame in Venezuela: Forcing Out China, Russia, and Iran & Iranian Protesters Make A Dramatic Plea
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It's Thursday, the 8th of January. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. And yes, I am indeed back on the road. All right, let's get briefed. First up, the Trump administration's end game in Venezuela is coming into focus as Washington moves push rival powers out of the country and reassert US Influence over Caracas security services and oil sector. Later in the show, dramatic scenes out of Iran where protesters have reportedly renamed a street after President Trump and no, I'm not making this up. And they've also issued a stark plea as security forces move to suppress nationwide demonstrations. Plus, new developments in Ukraine peace talks as Kyiv points to what it calls concrete progress on security guarantees during high level meetings in Paris. And in today's Back of the Brief. Well, look at that. Greenland is back on the White House's agenda with Secretary of State Marco Rubio telling lawmakers that President Trump wants to purchase the Arctic territory. But first, today's PDB spotlight. The Trump administration's ultimate goal in Venezuela is coming into sharper focus today. And of course, it goes well beyond the removal of Nicolas Maduro. In the days since Caracas began transitioning away from Maduro's rule, Washington has moved quickly to try and define what comes next. And according to new reporting, the message from the White House is Venezuela's future hinges on pushing rival powers out of the country and realigning its political and security and energy relationships squarely in the US Camp. US Officials are now pressing Venezuela's interim government to remove suspected intelligence officers, security advisors and other non diplomatic operatives tied to China and Russia, Iran and Cuba. This does not include standard diplomatic personnel or embassy staff. The focus is narrowly on intelligence and security personnel who became deeply embedded inside Venezuela during the Maduro years. It's a targeted effort to dismantle foreign influence inside Venezuela's security services and military structures and internal intelligence apparatus networks that Washington believes gave rival powers long term leverage in the Western Hemisphere. Of course. And here comes a statement of the obvious. This all is easier said than done. As we've reported here on the pdb, Venezuela's government and security institutions were deeply intertwined with foreign personnel, particularly Cuban officers and intelligence specialists, long before Maduro's ouster. During the US operation to remove Maduro, the Cuban government confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police personnel were killed in the operation to seize him. These officers were serving at Venezuela's request. And highlight the extent to which Cuban security and intelligence elements were integrated into Venezuela's domestic security apparatus. And the pressure campaign from the White House doesn't stop its security. The administration is also tying Venezuela's economic recovery, specifically its oil industry, to those same conditions. According to U.S. officials familiar with the discussions, expanded oil production and access to US Markets will depend on Caracas severing energy ties with China and Russia and partnering exclusively with the US And US Firms. For years, Venezuela's oil exports helped anchor relationships with Beijing and Moscow. China became a major buyer of Venezuelan crude, while Russia deepened its role through financing and security cooperation and energy infrastructure support. Those ties gave both countries influence inside Venezuela long after Western sanctions took effect. The Trump administration now appears intent on unraveling that structure. By conditioning oil production on alignment with Washington, the US Is signaling that Venezuela's reintegration into global energy markets will come with geopolitical strings attached to those conditions. Well, they're designed to reduce rival access, limit intelligence penetration, and lock in a US Centered framework for Venezuela's recovery. This approach reflects a broader strategic calculation. From Washington's perspective, Venezuela is not just a post Maduro transition problem. It's a test case in great power competition inside the Western Hemisphere. Removing entrenched security influences from China, Russia, Iran and Cuba sends a message well beyond Caracas, one that reinforces US Expectations about foreign military and intelligence activity in the region. It also marks a shift in how pressure is applied. Rather than relying solely on sanctions or diplomatic isolation, the administration is combining security demands with economic incentives, access to markets, investment and energy cooperation to shape outcomes. So what should we be watching for next? Well, first, whether Venezuela's interim authorities begin taking concrete steps to remove foreign intelligence and security personnel tied to those rival nations. That will be the clearest signal of how much influence Washington currently holds. Second, watch the oil flows. Any noticeable shift in export destinations, new contracts, or US Company involvement will offer early indicators of whether Caracas is moving forward with this framework that's being outlined. And finally, when it comes to Beijing and Moscow, Tehran and Havana pay attention to actions, not statements. Public responses may be predictable, but practical adjustments, economic or diplomatic, will be far more telling. The takeaway here is relatively straightforward. From the Trump administration's perspective, this is all about shaping the future of Venezuela by reducing rival power presences, reasserting US Influence, and using security and energy leverage to lock in a strategic realignment, one that Washington hopes will endure long after the immediate crisis fades. All right, coming up next, Iranian protesters make a direct appeal to President Trump as the regime tightens its grip, while Ukraine points to concrete movement on security guarantees in high level talks with US And EU allies in Paris. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Well, it is a new year. Yes, I suppose you already knew that. And maybe, maybe it's time for a fresh start, right? That's kind of what a new year is all about. And for many folks, that can mean striving to become debt free. That's got a nice sound to it, doesn't it? The problem is, if you're in debt, it can seem like the financial system is built for banks to win and for you to lose. 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Welcome back to the PDB. As Iran's nationwide protests intensify, the demonstrators aren't just chanting against the regime. They're now openly appealing to President Trump in footage posted online. As an example, one protester in Tehran can be seen renaming a street after Trump, placing signs and stickers over existing street posts. Other videos posted on social media show handwritten messages to Trump and the world that are even more direct. Reading don't let them kill us. Clearly, this isn't subtle messaging. It's a protest movement deliberately reaching beyond their country's borders and addressing a foreign leader that the protesters believe could influence the actions of the mullahs and the Revolutionary Guard Corps. That matters, especially when placed alongside what Trump said. Days earlier, the president sent a warning to the mullahs on Truth Social that the US Would intervene if authorities, quote, shoot and violently kill peaceful protesters. Since then, analysts tracking the demonstrations say his comments have circulated rapidly inside Iran and more footage has emerged of protesters invoking President Trump's name directly. That appeal is unfolding as Iranian authorities become increasingly aggressive in dealing with the protests. Armed units have been deployed near sensitive civilian locations in Tehra, and tear gas has been used in and around hospitals, shopping centers and major transit hubs, according to the anti regime news outlet Iran International. The unrest has continued across the capital, with Tehran's Grand Bazaar emerging as a focal point. Exiled Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi has framed the unrest as something far more consequential than just another protest cycle. Speaking on Fox News, he described the moment as a rare opening to dismantle the Islamic Republic, arguing that the scale and persistence of demonstrations point to a regime facing a deeper legitimacy crisis. Pahlavi emphasized that the protests show the growing involvement of Iran's traditional merchant class, calling developments inside the bazaars a cultural turning point. He also claims defections are increasing, insisting that regardless of how events ultimately unfold, the regime is, quote, very close to collapsing now. Whether or not that assessment proves accurate, the span of participation marks a departure from the isolated protests in the past, and that growing challenge has increasingly spilled into open confrontation with the regime as protests expand to more than 300 locations across now 28 of Iran's 31 provinces. New footage shows protesters lighting fires in the streets of heavily populated cities like Shiraz while chanting, quote, death Khamenee, a direct challenge to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In other cities, demonstrators urge police to defect, chanting, quote, law enforcement return to the side of the nation. The cost of that escalation is now becoming clearer. Tallies from the Human Rights Activists News agency report at least 36 people killed as protests enter their 12th day, with more than 2100 arrested. And Iran's military leadership has responded to increased pressure with warnings rather than concessions. Army chief Major general Amir Khatami is threatening preemptive action against any government over what he described as hostile rhetoric toward the Islamic republican, a reference understood to include President Trump's remarks. Okay, shifting to the war in Ukraine, the message from Kyiv after two days of coalition of the willing talks in Paris is guarded but optimistic, with officials pointing to progress on post war security guarantees even as the hardest questions of territory remain unresolved. And of course, there's the fact that the Russians are not engaged in any meaningful peace discussions. Ukraine's newly appointed Chief of staff, Kirillo Budanov, emerged from the latest round of discussions, pointing to what he called, quote, concrete results, while also drawing a firm line around the country's core interests. In a message posted to Telegram, Budinov acknowledged that not everything could be shared publicly at this stage, but stressed that Ukraine's national interests, quote, will be defended as negotiations continue. That framing lines up closely with how Ukrainian President Zelensky has been describing the talks. Zelensky confirmed Ukrainian and US Officials have been exploring what he calls some ideas to address territorial questions, and he was clear about why that matters. As we've long discussed here on the pdb, territory remains the most sensitive and unresolved issue in the entire peace process. And for Kyiv, it's also the clearest red line. When Zelensky talks about territory, he's of course, referring to the Donbass. Kyiv has long rejected the Kremlin's demand that Ukraine withdraw from the industrial heartland in exchange for peace. And that position hasn't shifted during these recent talks in Paris, Ukrainian officials acknowledged that one concept floated by Washington involves creating a free economic zone in parts of the Donbas tied to military withdrawals. But Kyiv has been careful to say that proposal has not been accepted and that any arrangement must preserve Ukraine's sovereignty. But where the Paris talks begin to look somewhat different from past diplomatic efforts is in the Western discussions of security guarantees. For Kyiv, for the first time, the US Formally backed a broad coalition of Ukraine's allies, pledging binding security guarantees in the event of another Russian attack. As we've been tracking, those commitments were outlined during these coalition of the willing talks. What stood out this time, though, was the level of American engagement. The meetings have been attended by White House Special envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as President Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner. Their presence signals Washington isn't just endorsing the framework from a distance, but helping to shape it. Speaking at the end of day two of the summit, Witkoff said President Trump, quote, strongly stands behind the emerging security protocols, describing them as a deterrent and a defensive backstop. Witkoff said allies are, quote, largely finished agreeing on the core security architecture. That's a notable claim given how long the discussions have dragged on, while also acknowledging that territorial questions remain the most difficult. European leaders at the talks are also moving closer to military commitments. Britain and France both said they're prepared to deploy forces to Ukraine following a ceasefire, if there is a ceasefire, a step that Moscow has repeatedly warned it would reject. French President Emmanuel Macron, for his part, said that, quote, several thousand French troops would be sent as part of a post war stabilization mission. At the same time, coalition leaders agreed to participate in a proposed US led cease fire monitoring and verification mechanism. As we discussed yesterday, sources knowledgeable with the talks say the effort would rely on drones and sensors and satellite surveillance rather than American ground troops. But still, none of this means that Moscow is on board. Of course, Russia has given no indication that it would accept a settlement built around these kinds of guarantees. And it has long opposed the presence of NATO led forces inside Ukraine. But from Kyiv's point of view, the Paris talks are not about securing Russian approval. They're about locking in Western resolve first. For now, diplomats at the talk say the outlines of a post war security framework are coming into view, even if a ceasefire or peace deal is nowhere in sight. Okay, coming up in today's Back of the Brief. Buying Greenland is once again under consideration inside the White House. I wonder what the price tag will be. We'll have those details. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, I have been known in my time to enjoy the occasional ice cold gin martini or two, maybe even on a somewhat regular basis. But here's the thing. And it's a. It's a hard truth, I admit. The older I get. Yeah. The more I might regret my martinis the the next morning. And that's why I'm a big fan of ZBiotics. Pre alcohol probiotic drink. Zbiotics Pre alcohol probiotic drink is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It's invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. And of course, as you know, if anybody is prone to drinking and rough mornings, it would be PhD scientists, because those guys are crazy. Here's the deal. When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in stomach and it's a buildup of that byproduct. It's not dehydration that's to blame for sketchy mornings after drinking. Pre alcohol produces an enzyme to break this byproduct down. Just remember to make pre alcohol your first drink of the night. Of course, Always drink responsibly and you'll wake up feeling, well, terrific. It's backed by a 100% money back guarantee, so there's no risk and subscriptions are also available. Go to ZBiotics.com PDB now. You'll get 15% off your first order when you use PDB at checkout. Once again, that's ZBiotics.com PDB and just use the code PDB at checkout for 15% off. In today's Back of the brief, Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells US Lawmakers that President Trump wants to buy Greenland, not invade it. There's no word on whether President Trump is looking for a 15 or 30 year fixed rate or if he intends to be a cash buyer, according to U.S. officials. Rubio made the remarks during a closed door briefing with members of Congress from the Armed Services and Foreign Policy Committees, where lawmakers pressed him on recent comments from the president and senior aides suggesting renewed interest in acquiring the Arctic territory. Rubio told lawmakers that President Trump favors purchasing Greenland and has asked aides to provide an updated plan for how such an acquisition might work. That request, officials say, was made earlier this week. The briefing itself was focused on Venezuela, but Greenland came up after a series of public remarks reignited questions about US Intentions towards the Danish protectorate. Greenland is a sparsely populated, largely self governing territory that technically falls under Denmark, of course. A NATO ally, Denmark has controlled the island since the 18th century and later granted it autonomy, though Copenhagen still handles defense and foreign policy. In recent years, Greenland has taken on new strategic importance because of its Arctic location, increased shipping routes and its potential wealth of critical minerals. Following the renewed attention from Washington, leaders from six NATO countries Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland joined the Danish prime minister in issuing a joint statement reaffirming support for Denmark and Greenland's sovereignty. The statement emphasized that Arctic security should be handled collectively through NATO and in line with international law. Reportedly, the White House has not ruled out any options. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said President Trump views acquiring Greenland as a national security priority, citing the need to deter adversaries in the Arctic. She added that a range of options is being discussed and noted that the use of military force is always within the president's authority as commander in chief. The administration has pointed to growing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic as part of its rationale, though the US Already maintains a military presence on Greenland, including a long standing base used for missile warning and Arctic operations. Vice President J.D. vance, by the way, paid a brief visit to that base just last year. Trump's renewed focus on Greenland also aligns with broader themes in his second term national security strategy, which prioritizes U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere and surrounding regions. That approach has already been on display in recent U.S. actions in Venezuela and elsewhere. For now, U.S. officials say discussions remain preliminary. But the fact that Greenland is once again being discussed at the highest levels underscores just how central the region has become to US Strategic planning. And that, my friends, is the president's Daily brief for Thursday, 8 January. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdbhefirsttv.com 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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