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The President's Daily Brief
July 7th, 2025: Rebellion in Palestine: Tribal Leaders Declare Peace With Israel & Deadly Floods in Texas
00:27:24
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- [00:01]
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- [00:28]
Mike Baker
Looking to diversify your hard earned assets? Well schedule a free consultation with the Birch Gold Group. They're the precious metals specialists. Now you can 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 401k to a gold IRA. Again, it's simple. Just text PDB to 989 898. It's Monday 7th July. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. And look, I'm off the road and back in the studio compound. Lets get briefed. We'll start things off with a fascinating rebellion in the West Bank. Powerful tribal leaders in Hebron, the largest city in the west bank are turning their backs on the Palestinian Authority and offering peace to Israel. We'll have those details later in the show. An update on the tragic floods in Texas where the death toll continues to rise. Plus China reportedly tells the European Union what many of us have assumed all along. The Chinese Communist Party doesn't want and can't accept a Russian defeat in Ukraine. And in today's Back of the Brief, two Americans are injured after an attack on a U. S backed aid site in Gaza. And the Washington Post walks back explosive claims about Israel killing civilians. But not to worry, it won't stop the newspaper from being spoon fed Hamas propaganda in the future. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. Today we're beginning with a development that could mark a major shift not just in the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians, but in the entire political architecture of the Middle East. Although it's worth pointing out new ideas and creative thinking when it comes to peace and stability in the Middle east rarely are rewarded with success. Now this is a story that was first reported by the Wall Street Journal and it's centered on Hebron, the largest city in the west bank and one of the most symbolically important places in the Israeli Palestinian conflict. A powerful coalition of tribal leaders in the city has declared their intent to break away from the Palestinian Authority. Now they'll recognize Israel as a Jewish state and establish what they're calling the Emirate of Hebron. They want to formally join the Abraham Accords and forge a new cooperative relationship with Israel economically, politically, and even in matters of security. The man leading the charge is Sheikh Wadi Al Jabari. He's the head of Hebron's most influential clan. Now, if you're a listener to the pdb, you'll know something we've discussed before is the power of the clans or hamalas, in Palestinian society. They're more than just extended families. They're long standing power structures that govern everything from local disputes to political alliances. In many instances, clan loyalty actually supersedes allegiance to political movements like Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. Now, that's why this breakaway initiative out of Hebron is potentially significant. It's rooted in a deep and enduring foundation of social authority that predates the modern Palestinian leadership altogether. Together with at least four other major sheikhs and reportedly dozens more behind the scenes, Sheikh Jabari has signed a letter addressed to Israeli Economy Minister near Barkat. In it, they denounce the Palestinian Authority as corrupt and illegitimate. And they propose an alternative future, one rooted in local clan leadership, tribal loyalty, and peaceful coexistence with Israel. And here's the part that really breaks with decades of Palestinian politics. They would openly recognize Israel as the Jewish state. Now, this is basically heresy. With Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, it's a red line that even the supposedly moderate Palestinian Authority has historically refused to cross. Their letter asks for negotiations to join the Abraham Accords, a timeline for re establishing work permits for Hebron residents inside Israel, and a joint economic zone to bring jobs and development to an area long neglected under PA rule. In exchange, they promise zero tolerance for terrorism. Calling out, in contrast, the EPA's ongoing payments to convicted terrorists, the sheikhs say they've already rallied support from over 20 tribal leaders representing more than half of Hebron's 700,000 residents. Many of these clans control armed men and already refuse to let Palestinian Authority police enter their neighborhoods without Israeli coordination. So this makes the plan not just theoretical. It's actionable, coordinated, and backed by muscle, as it were. What makes the move compelling is that these sheikhs aren't politicians making empty speeches. They're local power brokers with real authority on the ground. Now, some of the sheikhs have even said they hope to win the support of President Trump, believing his support could help sell the plan to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and give it the international backing that it needs. One prominent sheikh told the Wall Street Journal, if we get the blessing of honorable President Trump and the US for this project, Hebron could be like Dubai. So you ask yourself, is this the end of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank? Well, a little or perhaps a lot of healthy skepticism is warranted. Well, Israel's economy minister has been meeting regularly with the sheikhs and Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly aware and supportive, in theory. Israel's security services, especially the Shin Bet, remain deeply cautious. They fear a breakdown of order and question whether tribal militias can deliver real stability or effectively combat terrorism. Others argue that dismantling the Palestinian Authority could unleash chaos in cities where clan leadership is weaker, leading to fragmentation, infighting or even civil war. Think Libya after Gaddafi when the collapse of central authority gave way to tribal militias, city based warlords and more than a decade of instability. And as you can imagine, the concept will get immediate pushback and aggressive resistance from both the PA and Hamas. Neither organization has any interest in relinquishing power, control or revenue. Still, the fact that the plan is even being discussed publicly by tribal leaders on the ground does signal a massive shift in sentiment. In their view, the Oslo Accords have failed, the PA has lost legitimacy, and it's time to try something radically different. And perhaps most symbolically, they're not calling for the destruction of Israel. They're asking for partnership. Now, whether this plan gains traction or gets quietly shelved, it does appear that the center of gravity in the west bank is possibly shifting and the old assumptions about what peace might look like are being challenged. Alright. Coming up after the break, the death toll from the devastating Texas floods continues to rise. And China privately warns Europe that it can't allow Russia to lose the war. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Well, let's talk weight loss. I mean, after all, it is swimsuit season, right? So have you heard of something called Caraluma? No. It's an edible cactus from India and it's a natural appetite suppressant. Now, Kara Luma is one of the powerful natural ingredients in a remarkable weight loss supplement called Lean. That's L E A N. If you're aiming for bold summer weight loss but want to avoid injections, of course you do. The doctors behind Lean say that this supplement is the closest they've come to the benefits of those popular injections. 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- [09:08]
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- [09:38]
Mike Baker
Welcome back to the PDB A constant flow of heartbreaking scenes out of Central Texas, where catastrophic flash floods left at least 79 people dead after the Guadalupe river surged to a height of a two story building in under an hour. The epicenter of this weekend's devastation is Kerr county, which lies west of Austin and San Antonio, where 59 bodies have been recovered so far, including adults and children, according to the local sheriff's office. But the most harrowing scenes unfolded at Camp Mystic. That's a children's summer camp outside of Hunt, Texas, where at least 10 campers and one counselor remain missing. The county sheriff confirmed that more than 750 children were on site when the floods tore through the camp. Photos on social media reveal overturned vehicles, flooded cabins and a slew of children's clothes and toys spread across flooded grounds. Some camp survivors were found clinging to trees as others were swept away in the early morning darkness. One local official described the sudden floodwaters as something that, quote, nobody saw coming. So far, more than 160 air rescues have been conducted across the region, with over 850 people pulled to safety, many of them injured. The Coast Guard alone accounted for 223 of those rescues, according to Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem, who cited the use of aerial operations near the city of Kerrville as floodwaters swallowed entire sections of land. President Trump declared a major disaster in Kerr county, activating FEMA and unlocking aid for impacted areas. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he called the flooding a, quote, terrible thing, adding that his administration was coordinating closely with state officials. Texas Governor Greg Abbott toured Camp mystic yesterday that would be Sunday, surveying the damage and described the scene as, quote, horrendously ravaged. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick revealed the Guadalupe river rose 26ft in just 45 minutes Friday morning. Patrick told reporters, quote, there hadn't been a drop of rain until the tragedy struck, adding that emergency alerts didn't go out until 4 or 5am in looking at the timeline for warnings, the National Weather Service issued initial flood watch warnings on Thursday at approximately 1:18pm Central Time. Those warnings predicted 5 to 7 inches of rain. Further warnings later warnings, including automated alerts to mobile phones, became more ominous during the very early morning hours of Friday, including warnings to evacuate flood prone areas. And at 4:03am on Friday morning, the National Weather Service issued an urgent warning calling for catastrophic damage and a severe threat to human life. Jonathan Porter, the Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather, that's a private weather forecasting company that uses the National Weather Service data, said it appeared evacuations and other proactive measures could have been undertaken to reduce the risk of fatalities. Sections of the flooding have occurred in an area known as Flash Flood Alley for its past history of flooding. As an example, in 1987 the Guadalupe river rose 29ft suddenly one morning. During that flood, 10 teenagers were killed after the bus they were in was swept away some 20 miles from Kerrville. Thirteen people were killed in 2015 when the Blanco river, that's east of Kerrville, rose nearly 30ft within a couple hours. Local officials have said they had not expected such an intense downpour, which was the equivalent of months worth of rain for that area. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's top elected official, said, quote, we know we get rains. We know the river rises, but nobody saw this coming. Now the state has mobilized one of the largest rescue operations in recent memory, utilizing drones, helicopters, boats, high water vehicles, rescue divers and more scrambling to reach stranded residents still cut off by debris and flooding. One official stated, quote, we've been rescuing people by the hundreds, adding that many residents remain sheltered in place as crews airdrop food and water to those still waiting to be rescued. And the destruction isn't confined to just Kerr County. In Travis county, home to the state Capitol, Austin officials confirmed at least four deaths. Burnett county reported three deaths and six still missing, and Kendall county added two more fatalities. Officials warn that as rescue operations remain ongoing, more rain is expected far into the week, underscoring that the situation remains urgent and dangerous as the death toll is expected to climb. All right, Moving back to the international stage, in a private admission from China's top diplomat to the European Union, Beijing is warning that the Chinese Communist Party, the ccp, cannot accept a Russian defeat in Ukraine. The remark slices through the CCP's well worn narrative of neutrality amid fears that the US could then turn its full attention to the Indo Pacific. The message came during a tense four hour closed door meeting in Brussels between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and EU Foreign affairs chief Kaya Kallas. Now, a source briefed on the talks described them as, quote, tough but respectful, spanning a geological minefield of cybersecurity, rare earth exports, Taiwan, the Middle east and of course Ukraine. But it was Wang's private admission, first reported by the South China Morning Post, that raised eyebrows. According to the source, the Foreign Minister indicated that Beijing may prefer a prolonged war in Ukraine, one that bleeds US stockpiles and resources, delaying Washington's pivot to the Indo Pacific. If accurate, the comment is among the clearest signs yet that China's public posture on the war is at best performative. Which begs the question, did anybody with any experience dealing with the Chinese regime think that their posture was anything but performative? Beijing's official response to the reports followed a familiar playbook. At a routine Foreign Ministry briefing, a spokeswoman reiterated that China is not a party to the Ukraine issue, adding that a, quote, prolonged Ukraine crisis serves no one's interest, end quote. She then chuckled, winked and left the podium. Okay, actually, she stayed at the podium and emphasized that China supports negotiations, ceasefire and peace, and vowed that Beijing would continue, quote, playing a constructive role in a seeking a political settlement. Then she left the podium, exhausted from touting the party line. Now, Western officials have long doubted the sincerity of China's neutrality claims. It was just weeks before Russia's 2022 full scale invasion of Ukraine that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Putin proclaimed a so called no limits partnership, an alliance that apparently has only grown tighter over the past three years. Since then, Chinese companies have boosted trade with Russia, skirted sanctions and been repeatedly accused of exporting dual use technology with military applications. Beijing denies supplying arms, but, well, evidence says otherwise. Exhibit A, of course, landed Friday in Kyiv. Fragments from a Russian Garan suicide drone, which is Moscow's rebranded version of Iran's Shahed and their fragments were labeled made in China and dated 20 June. The fragments were recovered in the aftermath of a record breaking Russian drone barrage. Ukraine's deputy foreign minister posted photos of the wreckage, warning that the drone strike also caused minor damage to the Chinese consulate in Odessa. In a scathing caption, he wrote, quote, there is no better metaphor for how Putin continues to escalate his war and terror while involving others including North Korean troops, Iranian weapons and some Chinese manufacturers. He didn't stop there. The Foreign Minister called out China's entanglement in the war and warned that the fates of Europe, the Middle east and the Indo Pacific are now interwoven. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports have emerged suggesting that Chinese nationals have joined Russian forces on the battlefield. Of course, Beijing denies these claims, and its Foreign ministry insists that Chinese citizens are prohibited for participating in foreign wars. But they have yet to explain how exactly they enforce that policy or whether they even want to. All this has left European diplomats increasingly skeptical of Beijing's long game. Behind the closed doors in Brussels, Wang Yi's comments may have pulled back the curtain. Whatever the public messaging may be, China's strategic aim appears clear prolong the war in Ukraine, splinter Western unity, and shift global pressure away from Beijing. Okay, coming up next, in the back of the brief, Hamas continues to sabotage aid efforts in Gaza with a grenade attack on American relief workers. I'll have those details next hey, Mike Baker here. Let's talk personal finances and improving your credit standing. I know, I know. Not everybody's favorite subject, but critically important to your financial health. So let me tell you about a company that is all about helping you improve and build your credit standing. It's called Kickoff. That's Kickoff without the C. Now, Kickoff offers an affordable way to build real credit without the stress of expensive credit card debt. With plans Starting at just $5 a month, kickoff gives you a credit line designed specifically for building credit, not for spending. 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- [20:12]
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Bill O'Reilly
Hey, Bill O'Reilly here, host of the no Spin News corporate media programs. They're often lazy and dishonest. You know that the podcast world filled with misleading bomb throwers masking important issues that directly impact you. The no Spin News is here to counteract that we are a fact based, honest and unaffiliated broadcast. Our purpose is to inform you and give the best assessment of the situation of whether it's political or cultural. Please listen to the no Spin News with me, Bill O'Reilly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever podcasts are found. Remember, trust is earned.
- [21:18]
Mike Baker
In today's Back of the Brief A grenade attack on a Gaza humanitarian fund, or ghfa, distribution site Saturday wounded two Americans in what the organization described as a deliberate terror assault to sabotage operations. According to the organization, the attackers, quote, explicitly targeted American personnel, Palestinian staffers and civilians relying on the site in Khan Yunis for food, an attack the aid group warned was imminent. The GHF stated in a press release, quote, Saturday's attack tragically affirms these warnings now. Both Americans were hospitalized and are reportedly in stable condition. No Palestinian civilians or aid workers were harmed. The IDF confirmed that terrorists launched grenades into the distribution center when civilians were present. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu responded to the attack by thanking the wounded workers for their efforts in aid distribution and praised President Trump for his continued backing of the ghf, which has rapidly become a cornerstone and a lightning rod for humanitarian logistics in the war torn enclave. Now, the GHF is no stranger to attacks or headlines. Founded in May and backed by both the US And Israel, the group has positioned itself as Gaza's primary aid distributor. But unlike other aid groups, GHF bypasses Hamas run distribution networks entirely, delivering assistance straight to civilians. That has cut off a major pipeline Hamas is long exploited to divert aid, fund its war chest and maintain influence and leverage over the population. According to the ghf, Hamas has placed bounties on both its American security contractors and Palestinian field teams, offering cash to anyone who kills or wounds personnel. In its most recent report, the foundation confirmed that a dozen of its workers have already been killed in the line of duty, with others wounded and tortured. But Saturday's attack wasn't just an attack on an aid convoy. It was another page turn in Hamas's twin campaigns of violence and propaganda that we've closely tracked here on the pdb. Our listeners will recall last month's incident involving a widely circulated but ultimately discredited report by the Washington Post which alleged that the IDF opened fire on civilians collecting aid from a GHF site. That story, based entirely on claims from Hamas run health officials, was never independently verified, but that didn't stop it from going global. At the time, we flagged the report as questionable. Eventually, the Washington Post deleted its report, acknowledging it had failed to make it clear if attributing the deaths to Israel was a position of the Gaza Health Ministry or a fact verified by the Washington Post. The outlet also conceded it hadn't given proper weight of Israel's denial and concluded that the article fell short of post standards, whatever that might mean, adding that it should not have been published. That episode revealed the reality of Hamas's two front war one on the ground and one in the press. The terror group's efforts to undermine the ghf, both with attacks and with propaganda, speak to the broader campaign to delegitimize American and Israeli supported humanitarian efforts to in Gaza. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Monday 7th July. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the firsttv.com and finally, I I hope you had the opportunity to check out the latest episode of our extended weekend show, the PDB Situation Report. You can catch it and past episodes on our YouTube channel. Check that out. You can find our YouTube channel at President's Daily Brief and of course, all podcast platforms everywhere. This weekend we had fascinating discussions with China expert Gordon Chang, talking about just how much time Xi Jinping may have left as leader of China, and also with Jerusalem based Seth Fransman. He's the author of a very, very insightful book, The October 7th War. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.