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The President's Daily Brief
July 8th, 2025: Trump Targeted By Iran Again—Inside The Regime’s Latest Threat & Putin Tests Trump
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Mike Baker
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Unknown
Foreign.
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Mike Baker
It's Tuesday, the 8th 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, the mullahs of the Islamic regime doubled down on their threats against President Trump, now offering a multi million dollar bounty on the president's life. Well, that doesn't sound like the religion of peace. And we're learning just how close the Iranian regime came to killing one of Trump's top former officials. Later in the show, Trump's patience with Putin well, may finally be running out. The president says he's very unhappy after a tense phone call with the Russian leader and hints that new sanctions could be on the way. Plus, the latest on those deadly floods. In Texas, a rookie Coast Guard rescue swimmer is being hailed as a hero after saving 165 people on his very first rescue mission. And in today's Back of the Brief, the Houthis, well, they're back to their old ways, attacking commercial shipping for the first time in months. Now Israel is hitting back with airstrikes deep inside Yemen. But first, today's PDP spotlight. While the Iranian regime is still assessing damage and Recovering from Israel's 12 Day War and the American bombing campaign campaign on their nuclear facilities, religious leaders and media groups inside the Islamic regime are upping their threats against President Trump and encouraging followers of Islam to wage a holy war against America and Israel. The latest escalation comes courtesy of Iranian regime linked media outlets and telegram groups which are now directly calling for the assassination of President Trump. According to several Israeli news outlets, these Iranian platforms are circulating assassination bounties exceeding $18 million as part of a psychological warfare initiative, seeking to galvanize their supporters into taking action while apparently giving the Iranian government some degree. Well, okay, minimal degree of plausible deniability. The assassination calls are reportedly accompanied by photos of Trump overlaid with a red bullseye target, along with Quranic verses and religious edicts that frame the matter as a patriotic act of revenge and spiritual obligation. The exact figure being distributed across regime connected channels is $18,341,623 and is described as a donation that will be given to any individual or group that can execute the president. While the Iranian government has not endorsed or even commented on the bounty, Western intelligence officials that spoke with the Israeli publications JFEED and Israel Chayom say the campaign marks a disturbing escalation from symbolic threats to direct incitement. They say regime adjacent actors are likely pushing the campaign through third parties, so there's no provable link to the government. One unnamed analyst told jfeed, quote, this is how the Iranian regime exports terrorism without leaving fingerprints. Well, there's fingerprints really for anybody with common sense. They let the proxies and civilian media do the dirty work, he said. While Tehran pretends its hands are clean, counterterrorism experts say this is exactly the kind of material that seeks to inspire lone wolf actors or extremist militias to take matters into their own hands. While the Secret Service has not commented on the development, President Trump's security detail has reportedly been bolstered since the threats surfaced. As our regular listeners likely know, the assassination bounty comes in the wake of a fatwa issued on 29 June by Iran's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makaram Shirazi. Now, that religious decree stated that President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and anyone who threatens Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are, quote, waging war against God and should be punished by death. The Grand Ayatollah branded Trump and Netanyahu as enemies of God for their roles in the recent 12 Day War, which has left Khamenei's hold on power in a questionable state. The decree calls on Muslims around the world to unite and bring down American and Israeli leaders, which Islamic experts said was a not so thinly veiled incitement to terrorism. The Grand Ayatollah even promises that any Muslims that suffer hardship or loss in their fight against the enemy will be divinely rewarded by Allah. He's since been joined by Ayatollah Ahmed Khatami, another senior Iranian clerical who called for the murder of Trump and Netanyahu during a sermon on Friday. Khatami is deeply connected to the country's political establishment, serving as a member of the Iranian regime's Guardian Council and Assembly of Experts. Well, so much for their plausible deniability for context. The Guardian Council oversees all elections and has veto power over legislation, while the assembly of Experts is charged with appointing the Supreme Leader of Iran. Khatami told a crowd of attendees on Friday that Trump and Netanyahu must be executed in accordance with Sharia law over the war in Gaza and the 2020 assassination of former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. The crowd reacted with cheers and chants of death to America, death to England, and death to Israel, according to a report from Fox News. That's quite the church service. I want to stress that while this may all sound like the usual Iranian bluster, these threats are not to be taken lightly. According to an excerpt from a new book called 2024 How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, recently published in the Washington Post, Iran nearly succeeded in assassinating former U.S. secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who's long been on the regime's hit list over the operation that killed Soleimani. While the excerpt does not go into detail, it claims Iranian assassins nearly killed Pompeo while he was staying at a hotel in Paris roughly three years ago. As a reminder, the assassination threats in Fatwa come at a time, of course, of heightened concerns over the domestic threat from Islamic extremists following the US Strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. The Department of Homeland Security warned border agents to be on high alert for potential sleeper cells, fearing that individuals loyal to the regime may attempt retaliatory attacks from within U.S. borders. All right, coming up after the break, Trump signals a tougher stance on Putin after an apparent tense call. And a story of courage amid all the sad stories coming out of the Texas floods. A rookie coast guard hero saves 165 flood victims during rescue operations. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, did you know that July is National Grilling Month? Well, it's true. So in honor of that, let me tell you about a great company producing some of the finest beef in the country. Because in a world full of corporate meat factories and shrink wrapped average beef, well, you need to know where to find the good stuff. I'm talking about Tritails Beef. Now, Tritails is a fifth generation Texas ranch raising Black Angus cattle the right way. Pasture raised, grain finished. 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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 unique affiliated broadcast. Our purpose is to inform you and give the best assessment of the situation, 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.
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Mike Baker
Welcome back to the pdb. Another record setting aerial assault slammed Ukraine Friday, just hours after a tense phone call between President Trump and Russian leader Putin, during which Trump warned that fresh U.S. sanctions could be on the table. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was, quote, very unhappy with the call and made no progress convincing Putin to scale back the Kremlin's military campaign. Well, that might be because Putin has no interest in peace and hasn't ever since he launched this invasion some three years ago. Trump told reporters Putin wants to go all the way. It's no good, adding that while he's held off on additional penalties for months in hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough, that may soon change. The president said, quote, we talk about sanctions a lot. Putin understands that it may be coming. According to Putin's foreign affairs adviser, the Russian strongman reiterated that he would not abandon his war aims and insisted Moscow is still searching for a political negotiated solution. Oh, that's a line that Trump seemed to dismiss outright. Well, yes. Hours later, the largest drone and missile barrage of the war blanketed Ukraine. Over a seven hour span. Russian forces launched 550 Iranian made drones and 11 missiles, injuring at least 23 people and striking more than 30 targets. In Kyiv, emergency crews scrambled across debris strewn neighborhoods while the night sky lit up with explosions. Ukraine's air defenses reportedly shot down 270 of the drones, while 208 vanished from radar, likely jammed or they were decoys. Russia claims it only struck eight sites using just 63 drones and nine missiles, saying its targets were military infrastructure. However, the strikes extended beyond the capital, hitting parts of eastern Ukraine as well. The country's foreign minister posted on X calling the attack, quote, one of the worst so far and described a, quote, horrible sleepless night. In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Zelensky went further, calling the attack, quote, cynical and accusing Moscow of deliberately timing the bombardment as a show of defiance. In the wake of his counterpart's phone call with Trump if so, well, it does fit a pattern. As our regular PDB listeners know, recent Russian barrages have been touted as record setting and that's no mistake. It's escalation. Ukrainian figures compiled by the Associated Press show that Russia has launched over 5,400 drones in June alone. That's the most in any month since the invasion began. The bombardment comes amid intensified Russian offensives along the 620mile front line, indicating that Moscow's long range strike campaign is increasingly being paired with battlefield pushes in the east. On the same day, Trump held a separate call with Zelensky. Described by both leaders as strategic and forward looking, the two discussed air defense cooperation, co producing weapons systems, and perhaps most critically, a potential shipment of Patriot missile batteries. Trump, who's repeatedly praised the Patriot system as amazingly effective, said Ukraine needs them for defense. I don't want to see people killed. Zelensky stressed the need for just, lasting and dignified peace. But there's little sign that Moscow is interested. While Kyiv and Moscow marked another successful prisoner exchange last week, primary diplomatic channels remain frozen, no new talks are scheduled, and Moscow shows no signs of backing down. Trump told reporters he raised Ukraine's defense needs with German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz, but stopped short of announcing any commitments. The president said, quote, ukrainians have to be protected and we're looking at it. For now, however, Putin remains unmoved and unrelenting as the war grinds on. Trump's growing frustration could mark a turning point. But whether it translates into new, aggressive, meaningful sanctions, well, that remains to be seen. Alright, turning to the US the death toll from Texas's catastrophic July 4 floods has now passed 100, with dozens still missing from what is now among one of the deadliest floods in the US in the last century. As we discussed on Monday's pdb, the hardest hit location in Central Texas remains Camp Mystic. It's a nearly 100-year-old Christian Girls Retreat in Kerr county where the Guadalupe river rose with astounding speed, swelling into a deadly torrent in less than an hour, all before dawn on Friday. Officials confirmed at least 27 campers and counselors died at the site. 10 girls along with one counselor as of now remain missing. Among the dead is 70 year old Richard Eastland, co owner and director of Camp mystic, who drowned trying to rescue children from the rising waters. Kerr county continues to bear the brunt of the fatalities, with 75 of the confirmed deaths occurring there alone. Additional casualties have been reported in Travis Burnett, Kendall and Tom Green counties. President Trump, who signed a federal disaster declaration and activated. FEMA said he plans to visit the area on Friday. He told reporters, quote, we wanted to leave a little time. I would have done it today, but we'd just be in the first responders way. End quote as search and rescue teams race against the clock, a sidebar story of heroism has captured national attention. Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, a 26 year old Coast Guard rescue swimmer from New Jersey, had just completed months of grueling training and had been on call since November. That call came at sunrise on Friday as roads were underwater, boats rendered useless due to debris and terrified campers were stranded. Only helicopters could reach the destroyed summer camp. Ruskin volunteered to stay behind on the ground and triage the rescue effort. In an exclusive interview with the New York Post, he recalled his response to the mission briefing, saying, quote, sweet sounds great. I'll be more helpful on the ground than I will be in the air right now. He was right. As Blackhawk 60s and Coast Guard MH65s circled overhead, Ruskin spent the day navigating wreckage and directing flight crews to survivors. He told the Post, quote, I just tried to comfort these kids and counselors. The hardest part, he added, was seeing parents and staff beg for help finding missing loved ones. In total, Ruskin evacuated 165 survivors from Camp mystic, many of them barefoot and soaked and still in pajamas after escaping the rising floodwaters. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled Ruskin a, quote, American hero in a model of the Coast Guard's mission. But as rescue efforts continue, questions are mounting over what wasn't done. The mayor of Kerrville, a town adjacent to Camp mystic, said the city never received a flood warning. In an interview with CNN, Joe Herrick Jr. Said he only learned of the disaster from the city manager at 5:30am Friday. He said, quote, When I checked it about 8:00' clock that night, meaning Thursday night there was a chance of rain. I did not see a flood warning. I did not receive a flood notification. I did not know, end quote. Senator Ted Cruz from Texas has since called for a full review of the state's flood detection emergency alert systems. He said at a news conference, quote, next time there's a flood, I hope we have in place processes to remove especially the most vulnerable from harm's way. With more storms in the forecast, the Weather Prediction center has issued additional flood warnings for Kerr county and surrounding areas, warning that any additional rainfall could bring renewed flash flooding to already devastated ground. Okay, up next, in the back of the brief, the Houthis launch their first attack in months on a commercial vessel. And Israel responds with airstrikes deep inside Yemen. Stay with us. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, have you ever said to yourself, I need to figure out a better way to carry my credit cards in cash? Well, I suspect you have. I know I have. I've got your answer. Actually, the company is called Ridge. That's spelled R I D G E Ridge. And their wallets are built for folks who value durability, simplicity and smart design. With a slim profile that holds up to 12 cards and cash, these wallets are crafted from premium metals like aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber. Made the last and made to work. Look. Each wallet includes RFID blocking technology to help protect against digital theft, which of course offers peace of mind in a digital world. I've got a Ridge wallet and I tell you they work great. 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Miranda Devine
Power, Politics and the People behind the headlines. I'm Miranda Devine, New York Post columnist and the host of the brand new podcast podforceone. Every week I'll sit down for candid conversations with Washington's most powerful disruptors, lawmakers, newsmakers and even the President of the United States. These are the leaders shaping the future of America and the world. Listen to podforceone with me, Miranda Devine. Every week, week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. You don't want to miss an episode.
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Mike Baker
In today's Back of the Brief. After a months long lull, the Iranian backed Houthi militants of Yemen have resumed their attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea prompting a major retaliation from Israel. On Sunday, the terror group claimed responsibility for an attack on the bulk carrier Magic Seas in the Red Sea, marking their first assault on a commercial ship this year. The Liberian flagged vessel which the Houthis claimed had used Israeli ports was hit with unmanned boats, missiles and drones, causing severe damage to its hull and forcing the crew to abandon ship. That's according to a report from Fox News. Officials with the UAE said they responded to the vessel's distress signal and rescued all 19 crew members, working in close coordination with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Group. The incident came after the Houthis launched at least three ballistic missiles toward Israel on Saturday, which were all successfully intercepted by the IDF's air defenses. In response, Israel carried out a wave of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen Sunday night into Monday morning, hitting a power station in multiple ports, including in the Houthi stronghold of Hodeida. In a statement, IDF officials said those ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regiment to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the State of Israel and its allies. The strikes also reportedly destroyed the Galaxy Leader vessel. That's a cargo ship seized by the Houthis in November of 2023. IDF officials said the Houthis had since installed a radar system on the vessel which they were using for maritime surveillance and operational planning. The operation marked Israel's first strikes against the Houthis since the US brokered ceasefire between Jerusalem and Tehran. In total, the IDF said more than 50 munitions were dropped by Israeli Air Force fighter jets on the Houthi targets. The militants responded by firing two ballistic missiles at Israel, setting off sirens in several southern west bank settlements, though no impacts or injuries were reported. As a reminder, since Hamas launched its terror attack on Israel on 7 October back in 2023, the Houthis have carried out at least 145 attacks on commercial vessels, killing four sailors and sinking two ships. Their attacks have rattled global trade 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 agreement with the militants under which the Iran backed group pledged to stop targeting American maritime assets in the Red Sea. But the deal did not include protections for Israel and the Houthis have continued targeting the Jewish state with missile and drone attacks. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that Israel's retaliatory strikes are part of a new campaign against Iranian backed terrorists dubbed Operation Black Flag. Katz warned that more strikes will follow if the Houthis continue their attacks. Warning, quote, Yemen will be treated like Tehran. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. And that, my friends, is the President's daily brief for Tuesday 8th July. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and if you're so inclined. You know, you can listen to the show ad free simply by becoming a premium member of the President's Daily brief by visiting PDB premium.com. it's that simple. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.