July 29th, 2025: Putin’s Navy Humiliated Once Again & Houthis Plan an Invasion of Israel

Summary

The President's Daily Brief – July 29th, 2025

Hosted by Mike Baker on The First TV

---

1. Russia's Naval Day Parade Canceled Amidst Ongoing Vulnerabilities

[00:50]

In a significant blow to Russian maritime prestige, President Vladimir Putin canceled the annual Naval Day parade in St. Petersburg, citing "security concerns" (00:50). This abrupt decision comes as Russia's once formidable navy grapples with a series of setbacks, including drone strikes and the sinking of flagship vessels by Ukrainian forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attributed the cancellation to the "general situation" (01:20), leaving many to question the true reasons behind the decision.

Mike Baker elaborates, stating, "Instead of warships and submarines parading past crowds on the Neva River, Russia's Navy Day was marked by grounded flights, wounded civilians, and a government too spooked to hold its annual parade" (04:15). Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Russia's Black Sea Fleet has faced continuous challenges, notably the sinking of the flagship cruiser Moskva in April 2022 using Ukrainian-modified Neptune missiles (06:10).

British intelligence reports further underscore the dire state of the Russian navy, declaring it "functionally inactive since the spring of last year" (09:30). The inability to project power at sea has not only tarnished Russia's global image but also highlighted its strategic retreat, especially after Ukraine successfully broke Russia's attempted naval blockade to resume grain exports from the Black Sea (11:45).

---

2. Iran-Backed Houthis Ploting Potential Invasion of Israel

[12:05]

Shifting focus to the Middle East, Israeli media has unveiled alarming reports that the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are gearing up for a possible ground invasion of Israel, approximately 1,300 miles away (12:05). Named "Al Aqsa Flood," echoing Hamas's October 7th attacks, the mission signifies a potential escalation in regional conflicts (13:10).

Mike Baker highlights, "The Houthis are like a bad case of indigestion that refuses to go away" (14:00). The Houthi military has recently graduated its third class of elite fighters, emphasizing seaborne incursions into Israel (15:25). Accompanied by a propagandistic YouTube video showcasing training exercises with Israeli, British, and American flags, the Houthis aim to display their readiness and intent (16:40).

Despite the vast distance, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are taking the threat seriously, actively monitoring and assessing vulnerabilities in key port cities and coastal areas (17:50). This development follows nearly 150 attacks on commercial vessels by the Houthis since Hamas's October 2023 offensive, disrupting global maritime trade and increasing shipping costs (19:00).

---

3. Ceasefire Achieved Between Thailand and Cambodia After Deadliest Clashes in a Decade

[20:25]

In Southeast Asia, Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire after five days of the deadliest border fighting in over ten years (20:25). The conflict, centered around a 500-mile contested border, has resulted in at least 38 fatalities and displaced approximately 300,000 people (21:40).

Mediated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, alongside officials from the US and China, the ceasefire was formalized after direct talks between Thai and Cambodian leaders (23:15). Both nations committed to withdrawing their armed forces from the disputed region and establishing an independent monitoring mechanism led by Malaysia to ensure adherence to the truce (24:50).

Mike Baker notes the pivotal role of US pressure, stating, "The White House eventually stepped in, calling the leaders of both Thailand and Cambodia over the weekend, warning that ongoing tariff negotiations would be paused until the fighting stopped" (26:30). This diplomatic intervention was crucial, especially as both countries face substantial tariffs from the US, threatening their competitive standing in regional trade (28:00).

---

4. Major Cyber Attack Grounds Russia's Flagship Airline Aeroflot

[28:45]

Concluding today's brief, a coordinated cyber attack has severely disrupted Russia's largest airline, Aeroflot, leading to the grounding of over 100 flights and widespread chaos at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport (28:45). Initially downplaying the incident as "technical difficulties," Aeroflot soon faced significant fallout as departure boards displayed numerous cancellations and delays (30:10).

Two prominent hacker groups, Ukraine's Silent Crow and Belarus Cyber Partisans, have claimed responsibility for the attack (31:25). Silent Crow declared, "All of these resources are now inaccessible or destroyed and restored. Storing them will possibly require tens of millions of dollars" (32:00), while Belarus Cyber Partisans emphasized their intent to support Ukraine's fight against the "occupier" (33:15).

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the severity of the breach, describing the situation as "quite alarming" (34:40). Unlike previous cyber incidents that were transient, this attack appears to have a lasting impact, potentially jeopardizing the personal data of all Aeroflot passengers (35:30). The attack underscores the escalating cyber warfare between Russia and Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure and state-controlled entities (37:00).

---

Conclusion

Today's episode of The President's Daily Brief provided a comprehensive overview of pivotal global issues, highlighting the ongoing struggles of Russia's naval capabilities, emerging threats from Houthi rebels in the Middle East, regional conflict resolution in Southeast Asia, and the intensifying cyber warfare impacting Russia's aviation sector. Mike Baker effectively underscores the interconnectedness of these events, emphasizing their implications for international stability and security.

For more in-depth analysis and updates, listeners are encouraged to tune in to the PDB Afternoon bulletin later today.

---

Stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.

Transcript

[Mike Baker]

Looking to diversify and protect your hard earned assets. Well, schedule a free consultation call with the Birch Gold Group. They're the precious metals specialists. All you gotta do is text PDB to the number 989898 and you'll receive a free no obligation information kit. And you'll learn how to convert an existing IRA or a 401k into a gold IRA. Again, couldn't be simpler. Just text PDB to the number 989 898. It's Tuesday, the 29th of July. 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. Well, humiliation on the high seas. Russia cancels its Naval Day parade, blaming security concerns as its once proud fleet reels from drone strikes, sinking flagships and a failed blockade broken by Ukraine, a country, by the way, that doesn't have a navy. Later in the show, a new report says Iran backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are training for a ground invasion of Israel. That's about 1,200 miles away. And they're naming the mission after Hamas's October 7th attack. The Houthis, frankly, are like a bad case of indigestion that refuses to go away. Plus, after the deadliest clash in over a decade, Thailand and Cambodia say the shooting will stop, at least for now. And in today's back of the brief chaos in the skies over Russia, a Ukrainian and Belarusian hacker alliance cripples Russia's largest airline, grounding more than 100 flights in a major cyber attack. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. We begin with a telling scene out of Russia, where Navy Day, that's a national celebration that was revived by Vladimir Putin in 2017 to honor the country's sailors and deflect some maritime muscle. And you know how Putin enjoys flexing. It came and went this weekend without a navy in sight. So really not exactly Navy Day. It was. It was more like, where's the Navy Day? Or has anybody seen my Navy Day? Or what up with my Navy Day? You get the point. The Kremlin abruptly canceled its annual naval parade in St. Petersburg, citing only, quote, security reasons. Now, no further explanation was given, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted the decision was based on the, quote, general situation. Well, that's not too vague. Instead, Putin was left offering praise by video message, applauding the bravery and heroism of Russian sailors currently engaged in the war against Ukraine. He added that this year's holiday was being celebrated in A, quote, working atmosphere. Now, that could be a thinly veiled nod to the ongoing Russian naval drills taking place across the Baltic, the Caspian, Arctic and Pacific. According to the Kremlin, more than 150 ships and 15,000 troops are involved in those maneuvers that they've dubbed July Storm. But the real storm, well, may have been closer to home. Russian Officials confirmed that 100 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight, including at least 10 near St. Petersburg. One person was wounded and flights were canceled and delayed at the city's main airport. So instead of warships and submarines parading past crowds on the Neva River, Russia's Navy Day was marked by grounded flights, wounded civilians, and a government too spooked to hold its annual parade. And this abrupt cancellation is just the latest embarrassment for Moscow when it comes to its once prized fleet. A navy that, since the start of the war in Ukraine, has suffered a string of humiliations that have shattered its image of strength around the world as well as its ability to project its dominance at sea. Now, since launching its full scale invasion of Ukraine back in early 2022, Russia's Black Sea fleet, once a symbol of regional dominance, has become a case study in military vulnerability. Of course, the most high profile blow came in April of 2022 when Ukraine sank the Moskva, the fleet's flagship cruiser, using domestically modified Neptune anti ship missiles. That was a major embarrassment to Moscow, but it was, it was more than symbolic. It exposed a glaring weakness in its naval air defenses and command structure, a weakness that it's never been able to completely shore up. See what it did there? Shore up? I'm talking about the navy. But the troubles didn't stop there. Over the past two years, Ukraine, despite having no conventional navy of its own, has managed to cripple Russia's naval operations using a mix of drones and long range missiles and guerrilla style ingenuity. Naval bases in Sevastopol and along the occupied Crimean coast have been repeatedly targeted with satellite imagery and open source intelligence confirming dozens of strikes on ships and docks and logistical infrastructure. In one particularly brazen attack, Ukrainian sea drones struck a landing ship right in the heart of Russia's Novorossiysk port, far from the front lines. The ship had to be towed away, listing badly, caught on video in a viral moment that showcased Kiev's reach and Russia's vulnerability. Russia has since been forced to reposition many of its remaining Black Sea vessels further east, away from Crimea in what amounts to a strategic retreat. British intelligence has gone so far as to say the Russian navy has, quote, lost the initiative in the Black Sea entirely calling its fleet there, quote, functionally inactive since the spring of last year. Perhaps most humiliating of all, Ukraine has managed to break Russia's attempted naval blockade and resume grain exports from its Black Sea ports. In doing so, it's pulled off what may be a first in modern military history, a nation without a fleet defeating a blockade imposed by a one time naval power. Russia's threats to interdict shipping have increasingly rung hollow as commercial vessels continue to sail under the protection of Western surveillance and Ukrainian military actions. For a military that once projected power from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, the Russian navy is now struggling to protect even its own coastline, where now even a parade is apparently too difficult a task. Alright, coming up after the break, Houthis reportedly are preparing for a Hamas style invasion of Israel, which by the way, is some 1300 miles away, while Thailand and Cambodia call a halt to their deadliest clash in years. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a minute of your time to talk about your personal finances. Now let me ask you an intriguing question. What if you could delay your next two mortgage payments? I told you it was intriguing. That's right. Imagine taking those two payments and putting them in your pocket and finally getting a little breathing room. Well, it is possible when you call American Financing Today. Look, if you're feeling stretched by everyday expenses, I'm talking grocery bills, gas bills, auto bills, other bills piling up. Well, you're not alone. Many American are putting these expenses on their credit cards. And for many Americans, there doesn't seem to be a way out. Now, American Financing can show you how to use your home's equity to pay off that debt. You need to call American Financing Today before you get to a point where those payments just seem unmanageable. Their salary based mortgage consultants are helping homeowners just like you restructure their loans and consolidate debt, all without upfront fees. And that is very important. And their customers are saving an average of $800 a month. Now, I'm no mathematician, but think that's something like a $10,000 raise. It's fast, it's simple and it could save your budget. Call now the number 866-885-1881. That's 866-885-1881 or just visit American financing.net PDB.

[Piers Morgan]

I'm Piers Morgan, the host of the Piers Morgan Uncensored podcast. We do big interviews and we do big debates about whatever's getting people talking. We make news, we make noise and we make a little bit of trouble too. Come and see what all the fuss is about. You can listen to Piers Morgan uncensored on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mike Baker]

Welcome back to the pdb. I want to turn your attention to an unusual report out of Israeli media claiming that the Iranian backed Houthis of Yemen are planning for a possible invasion. Invasion of Israel. Now it may sound far fetched. Well yes it does, particularly given the fact that Israel and Yemen are separated by some 12 or 1300 miles. But ongoing regional instability driven by radical Islamists in countries sharing a border with Israel like Syria, it has the Israeli military taking the threat of a Houthi invasion seriously. While details of these plans are scarce, an exclusive report from the Hebrew language newspaper Israel Chayom says the Houthi military has just graduated its third class of so called called quote elite fighters with a focus on launching seaborne incursions into Israel. Now notably, they've named their mission Al Aqsa Flood. You may recall that's the same name used by Hamas for their barbaric 7 October attacks on Israel back in 2023. Now they're using that name either because the Iranian Bakhoutis are enamored with the Iranian back Hamas attack on Israel, or they simply couldn't bother coming up with an original name. The reporting was accompanied by a slickly produced YouTube video. Of course it was made by the Houthis showing their elite fighters training on obstacle courses and at a shooting range which also featured flags of Israel, Britain and the us. The invasion plans appear to be in the nascent stage and the IDF has not officially commented on the report. But Israel Chayom says that the IDF is actively monitoring the situation and assessing any vulnerabilities to key port cities and coastal communities. The revelation comes as the militant group threatens to escalate attacks on commercial shipping vessels that do business with Israel. In an announcement on Sunday night, the Houthis said they're preparing to expand their military operations in the region and implement the fourth phase of what they call their naval blockade against Israel. Now the Iranian backed terror group said they'll target all ships belonging to any company that deals with the ports of the Israeli enemy, regardless of the nationality of that company and in any location within the reach of our armed forces forces. The militants added that vessels using Israeli ports will be targeted for attack regardless of their ultimate destination. Now, the Houthis said if countries want to avoid this escalation and a further disruption of international trade routes. They should put pressure on the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza. The latest threat comes in the wake of the terror group's high profile attacks on two Liberian flagged Greek owned bulk carriers. And that was back in early July this month. The vessels the Magic Seas and the Eternity Sea were both hit by a mix of drones and gunfire and rocket propelled grenades roughly 60 miles southwest of Hodeida. That's a port city that's under Houthi control and it caused both ships to Sink While all 22 members of the Magic Seas were rescued. The attack on the Eternity Sea killed four crew members. Eleven others were taken captive by the Houthis and brought back to Yemen where they remain. On Monday evening, the militants released the first video footage of the captives which showed them being interviewed and receiving medical care after being taken off the vessel. But the video was a clear attempt at spreading propaganda as it featured members of the crew apologizing to Palestinians for the actions of Israel. As a reminder, since Hamas launched its terror attacks on Israel on 7 October in 2023, the Houthis have carried out nearly 150 attacks on commercial vessels, killing eight sailors and sinking at least four ships. The militants describe their attacks as a show of solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel's war with Hamas. Their attacks have rattled global trade, of course, in one of the world's most critical maritime corridors, driving up shipping costs and disrupting critical global supply chains. In early May, following an intense bombing campaign by the US that struck over 1,000 Houthi targets across Yemen, President Trump announced a ceasefire with the militants under which the Iran backed group pledged to stop targeting American maritime assets in the Red Sea. But that deal did not include protections for Israel. And the Houthis have continued targeting the Jewish state with missile and drone attacks. Alright, shifting our attention to the Southeast Asian area. After five days of the deadliest border fighting seen between Thailand and Cambodia in over a decade, the two countries agreed on Monday to a immediate and unconditional ceasefire. The ceasefire officially took effect at midnight local time on Monday, with both sides also agreeing to restore direct diplomatic communications and to create a mechanism to ensure the truce is properly implemented. The breakthrough came after more than two hours of direct talks between Thai and Cambodian leaders, mediated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, along with officials from the US and China. That's according to a report from Reuters. As a brief reminder, the 500 mile Thai Cambodian border has been contested for generations, but the current crisis marks the worst escalation of violence in some 14 years. The situation began deteriorating back in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a cross border skirmish. Since Thursday, both sides have accused the other of striking civilian areas with shelling and rocket attacks. At least 38 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the clashes and an estimated 300,000 people have now been displaced from their homes. But under the ceasefire deal reached Monday, both sides agreed to withdraw their armed forces from the disputed border region and accept some kind of independent monitoring mechanism led by Malaysia to prevent further clashes. At a press conference on Monday, the Malaysian prime minister, flanked by Thai and Cambodian leaders, declared, this is a vital first step to a de escalation and a restoration of peace and security. Now, it's worth noting that Thailand initially rebuffed the Malaysian Prime Minister's effort to negotiate a settlement late last week as Thai military forces pushed back against the heavily outgunned Cambodians, capturing a number of Cambodian held hills. That's according to the BBC. The White House eventually stepped in, calling the leaders of both Thailand and Cambodia over the weekend, warning that ongoing tariff negotiations would be paused until the fighting stopped. Both countries are facing 36% tariffs on their exports unless they reach a trade agreement with the US by the 1st of August. Adding to the pressure, their neighbors in Vietnam and Indonesia have already cut trade deals with the US reducing their tariffs to 20% or less. Given the fact that America is the largest export market for both countries and they're already facing a competitive disadvantage in the region, it appears that the Trump administration's threat helped tip the scales in favor of diplomacy. Indeed, the acting prime minister of Thailand heaped praise on Trump for his intervention and said their conversation would help accelerate trade negotiations with the US Speaking to reporters after returning from Malaysia, the prime minister stated, I thanked him from my heart for what we received from him and helped our country move beyond this crisis. He added, quote, after today, the situation should de escalate Now. The prime minister of Cambodia echoed those sentiments, thanking Trump for initiating and pushing the ceasefire negotiations. Trump, ever humble and never one to shy away from the spotlight, took to truth social after the ceasefire was announced saying, quote, congratulations to all. By ending this war, we have saved thousands of lives. I have instructed my trade team to restart negotiations. I have now ended many wars in just six months. I'm proud to be the president of peace, end quote. Yes, humble is the president's middle name. Regional commanders from the Thai and Cambodian militaries met Tuesday morning for discussions regarding the truce and further talks are slated for August 4th. Okay, coming up next, in the back of the brief, Russia's biggest airline goes offline as a major cyber attack grounds over 100 flights. And the hackers, well, they say they're just getting started. Stay with us. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let's take just a brief moment to talk about ways to protect your hard earned savings. Now, what are the smartest ways to protect those savings is through diversification. And one way to diversify is with gold from the Birch Gold Group. Now look, gold is up some 40% just in this past year. And central banks, well, they're buying up record amounts of gold, in part due to global instability. Birch Gold Group makes it easy to own physical gold, whether in your IRA or like a lot of folks just stored safely at home. Text PDB to the number 989898 and Birch Gold will send you a free information kit. On gold. There's no obligation. It's just useful information with an A rating. With a Better Business Bureau and tens of thousands of happy customers take control of your Savings today. Text PDB to the number 989-898 hey.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It'S Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal, so there goes my big idea. For the commercial, give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of networks busy taxes and fees extra.

[Unknown]

Cementmobile.com Americans love using their credit cards, the most secure and hassle free way to pay. But D.C. politicians want to change that with the Durbin Marshall credit card bill. This bill lets corporate megastores pick how your credit card is processed, allowing them to use untested payment networks that jeopardize your data, security and rewards. Corporate megastores will make more money and you pay the price. Tell Congress to guard your card because Americans lose when politicians choose. Learn [e-mail].

[Mike Baker]

In today's back of the Brief, a coordinated cyber attack paralyzed Russia's flagship airline, grounding more than 100 flights and throwing Moscow's busy, busiest airport into chaos. The attack is labeled as one of the most damaging digital strikes to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Initially, the airline Aeroflot tried to downplay the situation, citing technical difficulties in a vague statement early Monday. But the fallout was immediate and Unmissable departure boards at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport illuminated red as cancellations piled up, stranded passengers flooded terminals and delays rippled across the carrier's subsidiaries stretching internationally. Two well known hacker groups, Ukraine's Silent Crow and Belarus Cyber Partisans, quickly stepped forward, claiming credit. Now both have a track record of striking Kremlin linked targets and made clear this wasn't a nuisance hack. It was a deliberate attempt to kneecap a key node of Russia's infrastructure. In a message posted to Telegram, Silent Crow boasted, quote, all of these resources are now inaccessible or destroyed and restored. Storing them will possibly require tens of millions of dollars. Citing damage to some 7,000 Aeroflot servers. And just in case that didn't land hard enough, they mockingly added, the personal data of all Russians who have ever flown with Aeroflot have now also gone on a trip, albeit without luggage, into the same destination. The group implied the captured data may soon be released publicly. However, the Telegram posts can't be independently verified at this time. The Belarus Cyber Partisans, a digital resistance group opposed to Belarusian president and Kremlin ally Alexander Lukashenko, echoed the offensive, writing on their website, quote, we are helping Ukrainians in their fight with the occupier by carrying out a cyber strike, end quote. Kremlin mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov admitted the situation was, quote, quite alarming, which is, well, putting it mildly. Russia's state run systems have been hacked before, such as railways and ministries and even tv, but typically recovered within hours. But this time, while the attackers weren't there to simply disrupt, it appears the intent was to destroy. The airline's digital recovery timeline remains uncertain. Belarus, which has served as a launchpad for Russian troops in Ukraine and hosts Moscow's tactical nukes, has also condemned the strike. But this is hardly the first time that Belarus cyber partisans have embarrassed their regiment. Earlier this year, the group claimed it had infiltrated the Belarusian KGB's internal systems. The Aeroflot hack is part of a broader war that's heating up in cyberspace. While Russia and Ukraine exchange long range drone and missile strikes, hacker collectives are increasingly targeting infrastructure, banking systems and state controlled entities. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Tuesday 29th July. Now if you have any questions or comments, and I hope you do, just reach out to [e-mail] and to listen to the show ad free, which is very easy to do, just become a premium member of the President's Daily brief by visiting PDB premium.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.