June 11th, 2025: Russia's “Little Green Men” In The Baltics? & Wuhan Researcher Busted Smuggling Biological Materials Into US

Summary

The President's Daily Brief: June 11th, 2025

Hosted by Mike Baker and The First TV

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Introduction

In the June 11th, 2025 episode of The President's Daily Brief hosted by former CIA Operations Officer Mike Baker, listeners are provided with a comprehensive overview of pressing global security concerns. This episode delves into Russia's potential maneuvers in the Baltics, China's attempts to smuggle biological materials into the United States, North Korea's advancements in its nuclear program, and a significant escalation in the Israel-Houthi conflict in Yemen. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during the episode.

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Russia’s “Little Green Men” and NATO’s Eastern Flank

Overview: The episode opens with alarming intelligence from Germany regarding Russia's intentions to challenge NATO's resolve in the Baltic states. The term "Little Green Men," historically associated with Russian covert military forces, is reignited as a potential tool for Moscow to test the alliance's strength.

Key Points:

• Broader Confrontation: Germany's Foreign Intelligence Chief, Bruno Kalb, revealed that Russia is preparing for a broader clash with the West, extending its territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine to include the Baltic states (01:58).

  Bruno Kalb: "We are quite certain and we have intelligence showing that Ukraine is only a step on the journey westward... and they would like to test it." (02:49)

• NATO's Article 5 Under Scrutiny: Kalb expressed skepticism within Russia about the effectiveness of NATO's collective defense clause, particularly concerning US commitment (02:28).

• Historical Context of Little Green Men: The hosts provided background on the 2014 Crimea annexation, where masked Russian soldiers seized strategic locations, maintaining plausible deniability for Moscow (03:32).

• Current Threats and NATO's Preparedness: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized Russia's rapid defense spending and urged for a significant increase in collective defense expenditures to counter Moscow's military advancements (05:15).

  Mark Rutte: "Wishful thinking will not keep us safe. We cannot dream away the danger. Hope is not a strategy." (06:28)

Insights: The episode underscores the heightened tension in Europe, with Russia seemingly unwilling to seek a peaceful resolution in Ukraine and now eyeing NATO’s eastern flank. The discussion highlights the critical need for NATO members to bolster their defense capabilities to deter potential Russian aggression.

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Chinese National Charged with Smuggling Biological Materials

Overview: A significant focus is placed on the Department of Justice’s charges against Cheng Xuan Han, a Chinese doctoral student accused of smuggling dangerous biological materials into the United States.

Key Points:

• The Arrest: Cheng Xuan Han was apprehended at Detroit Metropolitan Airport while on a J1 visa, marking the third such incident involving Chinese nationals in a week (08:31).

• Nature of the Smuggle: Han allegedly concealed biological materials related to roundworms within books, intending to send them to a University of Michigan laboratory where she planned to complete her doctoral project (09:57).

• Potential Threat: Roundworms are recognized for their resilience and ability to cause severe illness, making them a viable candidate for agroterrorism (10:42).

• Comparison to Previous Incidents: The hosts draw parallels to earlier cases involving Chinese nationals at the same university, suggesting a possible pattern of state-sponsored smuggling operations (12:09).

Notable Quotes:

United States Attorney Jerome Gorgon: "The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this individual from a science and technology university in Wuhan is part of an alarming pattern that threatens our security." (11:49)

Insights: The episode highlights the increasing sophistication and frequency of biological material smuggling attempts by Chinese nationals, raising concerns about national security and the potential for biological threats. The discussion calls for heightened vigilance and robust countermeasures to prevent such activities.

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North Korea’s Expansion of Nuclear Capabilities

Overview: The episode shifts focus to North Korea, where the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has identified signs of a new uranium enrichment facility, signaling an expansion of Kim Jong Un’s nuclear arsenal.

Key Points:

• New Facility Identified: IAEA chief Rafael Grossi presented satellite imagery indicating the construction of a new uranium enrichment plant in Yongbyon, similar in design to the existing Kangsan complex (13:28).

• Implications for Nuclear Arsenal: Analysts suggest that this new facility could enable North Korea to rapidly increase its production of weapons-grade uranium, further enhancing its nuclear capabilities (14:16).

• International Concerns: The partnership between North Korea and Russia, including arms transfers and troop deployments supporting Moscow's war in Ukraine, may embolden Pyongyang’s aggressive stance (16:03).

• Diplomatic Stalemate: Despite offers to revive diplomatic talks, North Korea shows no willingness to engage, complicating efforts to curb its nuclear ambitions (16:28).

Notable Quotes:

Rafael Grossi: "The facility bears dimensions and features similar to the Kangsan enrichment plant, suggesting a significant expansion of our monitoring efforts." (13:39)

Insights: North Korea’s continued defiance of international norms and its ongoing nuclear advancements pose a significant threat to global security. The episode emphasizes the urgency for the international community to address Pyongyang’s nuclear program through robust diplomatic and strategic measures.

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Israel’s Naval Strike on Hodeida, Yemen

Overview: A breakthrough moment in the Israel-Houthi conflict is detailed as the Israeli navy conducts its first seaborne assault targeting the Yemeni port city of Hodeida, aiming to disrupt missile attacks on Israel.

Key Points:

• The Strike: Israeli boats launched an attack on Hodeida, shifting from solely air-based responses to incorporating naval operations (20:24).

• Strategic Importance of Hodeida: The port has been a critical logistical hub for Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, facilitating the smuggling of weaponry and missile technology (21:08).

• IDF’s Objective: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) aimed to halt the use of Hodeida for military purposes, labeling it a key node in the Houthis’ exploitation of civilian infrastructure (21:20).

• Continued Hostilities: Following the naval assault, Israel intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, with Defense Minister Israel Katz warning of further strikes and potential naval and air blockades if aggression persists (21:58).

Notable Quotes:

Defense Minister Israel Katz: "We warned the Houthi terror organization that if they continue to fire at Israel, they will face a powerful response and our naval and air blockade." (22:00)

Insights: Israel’s proactive naval strike represents a strategic escalation aimed at weakening the Houthi’s military capabilities and deterring future missile attacks. The move indicates a broader and more dynamic approach to regional security, reflecting the complexities of the Middle East conflict landscape.

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Conclusion

The June 11th episode of The President's Daily Brief provides a critical analysis of emerging global threats, from Russia's strategic challenges to NATO, China's biological smuggling attempts, North Korea’s nuclear advancements, and Israel’s tactical operations in Yemen. Hosted with expertise and depth, Mike Baker and his co-host offer listeners a nuanced understanding of these complex issues, emphasizing the need for vigilant and coordinated international responses to safeguard global security.

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For more insights and updates, listeners are encouraged to engage with The President's Daily Brief through their official channels.

Transcript

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[Mike Baker]

It's Wednesday, the 11th of June. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage.

[Co-Host]

All right, let's get briefed and we'll start things off with a warning out of Germany, where the country's foreign intelligence chief is raising the alarm over Russia's.

[Mike Baker]

Plans to test NATO's resolve in the.

[Co-Host]

Baltics, which could include the deployment of Moscow's shadowy little green men, which makes.

[Mike Baker]

Them sound far more adorable than they actually are.

[Co-Host]

We'll have the details later in the show. A third Chinese national is now facing charges for allegedly smuggling biological materials into the U.S. plus, the UN's nuclear watchdog.

[Mike Baker]

Says North Korea is likely building a.

[Co-Host]

New uranium enrichment plant that's signaling Kim Jong Un's apparent intent to expand his nuclear arsenal. And in today's Back of the Brief, a first in the conflict between Israel and the Houthis, as the Israeli navy strikes the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. It appears Russia's Vladimir Putin has an.

[Mike Baker]

Appetite for a wider confrontation with Europe.

[Co-Host]

As he reportedly looks to further test.

[Mike Baker]

The resolve of the NATO alliance.

[Co-Host]

It's already apparent that Putin has little.

[Mike Baker]

Interest in a peaceful settlement to his war in Ukraine.

[Co-Host]

And now it appears the Kremlin's territorial.

[Mike Baker]

Ambitions could extend beyond Ukraine's borders to the Baltic states.

[Co-Host]

That's according to Germany's foreign intelligence chief, who warned Monday that Russia is gearing.

[Mike Baker]

Up for a broader clash with the West. More specifically, Bruno Kalb, head of Berlin's Federal Intelligence Service, said his agency has clear intelligence that Russian officials no longer.

[Co-Host]

Believe that the NATO treaty's Article 5.

[Mike Baker]

Collective defense clause holds any practical weight, particularly when it comes to the US.

[Co-Host]

As a reminder, that clause stipulates that if a single member of NATO is attacked, it represents an attack on the entire alliance. While he declined to detail the nature.

[Mike Baker]

Of the intelligence call, said, quote, we.

[Co-Host]

Are quite certain and we have intelligence showing it that Ukraine is only a.

[Mike Baker]

Step on the journey westward.

[Co-Host]

There are people in Moscow who no.

[Mike Baker]

Longer believe that NATO's Article 5 works.

[Co-Host]

And they would like to test it, end quote, he said.

[Mike Baker]

The Baltic states along the alliance's eastern flank are the most obvious targets for.

[Co-Host]

Such tests by Russia, warning it would likely take the form of a hybrid warfare campaign involving covert operations but be.

[Mike Baker]

Geared to stop short of a full military engagement.

[Co-Host]

Kahl continued, they don't need to dispatch.

[Mike Baker]

Armies of tanks for that. It's enough to send Little Green Men.

[Co-Host]

To Estonia to protect supposedly oppressed Russian minorities.

[Mike Baker]

For some background, Little Green Men is.

[Co-Host]

A term first used to refer to Russian military personnel as who wore masks and carried non identifiable weapons and equipment and dressed in a mixture of unmarked uniforms and civilian clothes during the 2014 annexation of Crimea. During the opening stages of Russia's campaign to occupy the Ukrainian peninsula, these forces.

[Mike Baker]

Seized key strategic facilities in Crimea, all.

[Co-Host]

While Moscow denied having any knowledge of their national identity. At one point, the Kremlin claimed the.

[Mike Baker]

Little Green Men were local self defense units. Oh, but the fiction didn't hold for long.

[Co-Host]

A month into operations in Crimea, Putin congratulated the forces on their success and.

[Mike Baker]

Later awarded them victory medals for seizing the territory.

[Co-Host]

The Little Green Men strategy is clear. It allows Russia to engage in provocative, offensive military actions while maintaining a degree, such as it is, of plausible deniability about their involvement. Well, as long as the international community is stupid and feckless enough to let.

[Mike Baker]

Them get away with it.

[Co-Host]

Which of course, they were when Putin seized Crimea. If Germany's intelligence proves accurate, we could.

[Mike Baker]

Soon see a similar strategy employed by the Kremlin in the Baltic states.

[Co-Host]

The warning comes, of course, at a.

[Mike Baker]

Time of mounting uncertainty in Europe over.

[Co-Host]

The Trump administration's commitment to the NATO alliance and the security of the European continent. It's worth noting, however, that Karl said recent contacts with his US Counterparts left him confident that that America takes the Russian threat as seriously as US but anxieties in Europe well remain high. The alarming intelligence from Germany follows statements made by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday, who warned that Russia is.

[Mike Baker]

Far outpacing the bulk of the NATO.

[Co-Host]

Alliance in terms of defense spending and weapons manufacturing. He said Russia's military industrial complex is currently producing arms at a rate that would allow them to attack Europe within five years. That's according to a report from Newsweek.

[Mike Baker]

Rutte said that this year alone, Russia.

[Co-Host]

Is expected to make some 1500 tanks, 3000 armored vehicles and 200 Iskander missiles. He called for a quantum leap in collective defense spending, suggesting members aim to.

[Mike Baker]

Contribute up to 3.5% of annual GDP.

[Co-Host]

On military spending and another 1.5% on defense related expenditures such as roads and airfields and ports.

[Mike Baker]

That mirrors President Trump's demand that members contribute roughly 5% of their GDP toward defense. Rutte said he agreed that America has carried too much of the burden for too long.

[Co-Host]

Getting into specifics, he called for a 400% increase in NATO's arsenal of air and missile defenses, pointing to Russia's reliance on aerial attacks against Ukraine.

[Mike Baker]

Ruta concluded, quote, wishful thinking will not keep us safe. We cannot dream away the danger. Hope is not a strategy.

[Co-Host]

So NATO has to become a stronger.

[Mike Baker]

Fairer and more lethal alliance, end quote. Well, it's, it's kind of hard to spot the lie in that statement.

[Co-Host]

All right, coming up next, a Chinese.

[Mike Baker]

National charged with smuggling biological materials into.

[Co-Host]

The U. S. Oh, wait, I should say another Chinese national charged with smuggling biological materials into the US and fresh warnings that North Korea is expanding its nuclear program. Those stories when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here.

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[Mike Baker]

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[Co-Host]

In what is becoming their signature move.

[Mike Baker]

A third Chinese national has been nabbed by authorities for attempting to smuggle potentially.

[Co-Host]

Dangerous biological materials into the U. S.

[Mike Baker]

And this time, the story involves a research university in Wuhan, China, of all places.

[Co-Host]

Now, you might recall Wuhan as the.

[Mike Baker]

Site of the infamous lab where the Chinese were doing gain of function testing.

[Co-Host]

On Covid just prior to the pandemic. No coincidence there, the Chinese regime, along with some regime apologists and assorted morons.

[Mike Baker]

In the west, continue to deny any.

[Co-Host]

Connection between the pandemic and the Wuhan lab. As a side note, the failure of the Chinese regime to be transparent about COVID and the international community's complete failure to hold the regime to account simply.

[Mike Baker]

Means that the world will not be as prepared as necessary for the next pandemic.

[Co-Host]

But now back to our story. The DOJ brought charges Monday against the Chinese national named as Cheng Xuan Han.

[Mike Baker]

Following her arrest on Sunday after arriving at the Detroit Metropolitan airport on a J1 visa.

[Co-Host]

Han is the third Chinese national charged for trying to circumvent US Customs to bring biological materials into the US through that same airport in just the past week. Han, a Chinese doctoral student at a science and technology university in Wuhan, China.

[Mike Baker]

Is accused of smuggling the biological materials.

[Co-Host]

Into the US for working at a laboratory at the University of Michigan. If that sounds familiar, well, it's because a University of Michigan laboratory was linked last week to a conspiracy by two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous crop killing pathogen described as a potential agroterrorism weapon. According to the new criminal complaint from the DOJ, in 2024 and 2025, Han allegedly sent four shipments from China containing.

[Mike Baker]

Concealed biological material related to roundworms addressed to staff members at the University of.

[Co-Host]

Michigan laboratory, where she plan to spend.

[Mike Baker]

A year completing a project.

[Co-Host]

Much like last week's story, Han's motivations and research plans remain unclear.

[Mike Baker]

But we should note that roundworms, which.

[Co-Host]

Are a type of parasite, of course have potential applications as a biological weapon. They're highly resilient, considered relatively easy to manipulate, and can cause serious illness in.

[Mike Baker]

Humans with limited known treatment options.

[Co-Host]

According to a report from CBS News, when first stopped by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Detroit airport, Han was evasive, lying about the packages and.

[Mike Baker]

The biological materials she's accused of previously sending. When interviewed later by FBI agents, Han fessed up to sending the material, which she reportedly hid between pages of books.

[Co-Host]

She also admitted to lying to the CBP officers and confirmed the materials were.

[Mike Baker]

Related to roundworms, which require a government permit to ship.

[Co-Host]

Furthermore, just three days before her trip to the U.S. hahn admitted to deleting all the contents of an electronic device.

[Mike Baker]

That she had in her possession when Arrested.

[Co-Host]

Now, I'm not Poirot, of course, but that behavior is indicative of guilt. In a statement, United States Attorney Jerome Gorgon said the alleged smuggling of biological.

[Mike Baker]

Materials by this individual from a science.

[Co-Host]

And technology university in Wuhan is part.

[Mike Baker]

Of an alarming pattern that threatens our security. The American taxpayer should not be underwriting.

[Co-Host]

A PRC based smuggling operation at one.

[Mike Baker]

Of our crucial public institutions. End quote. As we recently discussed on the pdb, last week the DOJ brought similar charges.

[Co-Host]

Against two Chinese nationals, including an alleged Communist Party loyalist who works at an.

[Mike Baker]

Agricultural lab at the University of Michigan.

[Co-Host]

They're accused of smuggling samples of an agricultural pathogen that experts warn could theoretically.

[Mike Baker]

Be manipulated to become resistant to treatment or to spread more easily.

[Co-Host]

If weaponized in such a way, it.

[Mike Baker]

Could be used to attack American farms and spread disease in the population.

[Co-Host]

The suspect, who worked at the University of Michigan lab, reportedly signed a loyalty pledge to the Chinese Communist Party in January 2024. That was just six months before her.

[Mike Baker]

Accomplice was stopped with the samples.

[Co-Host]

Their intentions remain unclear, but the story.

[Mike Baker]

Felt uncomfortably reminiscent of allegations of gain.

[Co-Host]

Of function research related to the COVID 19 pandemic. While the University of Michigan has not commented on the latest case, they did.

[Mike Baker]

Issue a statement last week condemning any.

[Co-Host]

Acts seeking to cause harm. Well, that's nice.

[Mike Baker]

And stressed that they received no funding.

[Co-Host]

From the Chinese Communist Party. Okay. Shifting to North Korea, the regime is.

[Mike Baker]

Building a new uranium enrichment facility at.

[Co-Host]

Its main nuclear complex, in what UN inspectors warn is the clearest sign yet that Kim Jong Un is preparing to expand his nuclear arsenal. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi.

[Mike Baker]

Briefed the agency's Board of Governors this.

[Co-Host]

Week, citing satellite imagery of a newly built structure in Yongbyon, about 60 miles north of Pyongyang.

[Mike Baker]

Grossi said the facility bore what he.

[Co-Host]

Called quote, dimensions and features similar to.

[Mike Baker]

The Kang sun enrichment plant.

[Co-Host]

That's a long suspected covert site just outside the capital, suspected of fueling North Korea's weapons program. For those unfamiliar, the IAEA has been.

[Mike Baker]

Locked out of North Korea since 2009, and since then, inspectors have been forced.

[Co-Host]

To rely almost entirely on satellite surveillance.

[Mike Baker]

And the regime's heavily curated state media output. While the IAEA has stopped short of confirming that the new structure is operational, Grossi's assessment all but suggests Pyongyang may be preparing to bring a third enrichment.

[Co-Host]

Facility online, joining the legacy Yongbyon site and the shadowy Kangsan complex.

[Mike Baker]

This development comes just days after North.

[Co-Host]

Korean state television aired fresh footage of Kim himself touring uranium facilities where he.

[Mike Baker]

Reportedly urged engineers to quote, over fulfill targets for weapons grade uranium and produce.

[Co-Host]

Exponentially more than nuclear warheads. It was the latest in a string of high profile visits. Back in September 2024 and January of this year, Kim was photographed inspecting separate enrichment locations, each packed with rows of centrifuges.

[Mike Baker]

Analysts say that the structural differences between.

[Co-Host]

The locations fueled speculation of a third.

[Mike Baker]

Facility now entering the fold.

[Co-Host]

The regime's long defiance of UN Security.

[Mike Baker]

Council resolutions is well documented. Six underground nuclear tests, dozens of ballistic.

[Co-Host]

Missile launches, and a growing arsenal that.

[Mike Baker]

Has all but normalized North Korea's status as a nuclear power.

[Co-Host]

Now, to be clear, North Korea has long maintained the technical capacity to produce.

[Mike Baker]

Both types of atomic bomb fuel, plutonium.

[Co-Host]

And highly enriched uranium. The IAEA also recently detected signs of renewed plutonium reprocessing activity at Yongbyon using spent fuel from a Soviet era reactor.

[Mike Baker]

If confirmed, it would indicate Kim is doubling down on both fuel streams to rapidly grow his warhead stockpile. Western intelligence agencies estimate that North Korea.

[Co-Host]

Has already stockpiled around 50 nuclear warheads.

[Mike Baker]

And has enough fissile material to produce 40 more.

[Co-Host]

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute echoed that warning last year, saying the arsenal.

[Mike Baker]

Could grow significantly under current conditions.

[Co-Host]

The timing of this nuclear sprint is, well, no coincidence. Pyongyang's deepening military partnership with Russia, complete with arms transfers and troop deployments to support Moscow's war in Ukraine, has raised.

[Mike Baker]

Fears that Kim is feeling emboldened, not isolated.

[Co-Host]

And despite efforts to revive diplomacy, the.

[Mike Baker]

Path back to that table is rocky at best. While the Trump administration has expressed openness.

[Co-Host]

To restarting talks, even after the collapse of the 2019 Hanoi summit during President Trump's first administration, Kim hasn't shown the slightest appetite for negotiations. Alright, coming up next, in the back of the brief, a first in the Israel Houthi conflict as the Israeli navy strikes the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a few seconds.

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[IDF Spokesperson]

Done.

[Mike Baker]

In today's Back of the Brief Israel just upped the ante against the.

[Co-Host]

Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, launching its first seaborne assault targeting docks in Huldeida to curb ongoing missile attacks. The strike on the Red Sea port.

[Mike Baker]

City was carried out by Israeli boats on Tuesday. It was a notable shift from prior.

[Co-Host]

Israeli responses that relied solely on air power, underscoring a widening theater of operations for the IDF now. Hodeida, more than 1,100 miles from Israel's southern tip, has long been a logistical.

[Mike Baker]

Thorn in Israel's side.

[Co-Host]

Previous Israeli strikes required long range air power and aerial refueling due to the port's location. The port itself, long a suspected conduit for Iranian arms shipments, has become a.

[Mike Baker]

Focal point of concern for the Israeli government.

[Co-Host]

Officials in Jerusalem accused the Houthis of using the site to skirt UN inspections and channel precision guided weaponry into their arsenal.

[Mike Baker]

In a statement, the IDF made its reasoning plain, stating the strikes were aimed at halting the use of the port.

[Co-Host]

For military purposes, calling Hodeida a key node in what it described as the Houthis cynical exploitation of civilian infrastructure.

[Mike Baker]

The extent of the damage remains unclear. No videos or photos were immediately released, though Houthi sympathizers referenced reports of missile fire.

[Co-Host]

The seaborne assault comes as the Iran backed group escalates its long range attacks on Israel in retaliation for the war in Gaza. Just hours after the naval strike, Jerusalem was rocked by the sound of air defenses intercepting what Israel says was a.

[Mike Baker]

Missile fired from Yemen.

[Co-Host]

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned more strikes may follow if the Houthis continue their aggression, stating we warned the Houthi terror.

[Mike Baker]

Organization that if they continue to fire.

[Co-Host]

At Israel, they will face a powerful.

[Mike Baker]

Response and enter a naval and air blockade.

[Co-Host]

As we've tracked here on the PDB.

[Mike Baker]

The Houthis have mounted more than 100.

[Co-Host]

Attacks on commercial shipping since November of 2023, killing four sailors and sinking two vessels. Their campaign jeopardizes roughly $1 trillion in annual trade in one of the most critical maritime corridors.

[Mike Baker]

Both the US And Israel have struck.

[Co-Host]

Hodeida before, but American airstrikes tapered off.

[Mike Baker]

After President Trump declared the Houthis had.

[Co-Host]

Capitulated following US Airstrikes back in March.

[Mike Baker]

But Tuesday's naval strike signals that Israel.

[Co-Host]

Is prepared to unilaterally escalate pressure on the Houthi rebels if the threats continue. And that, my friends, is the President's.

[Mike Baker]

Daily brief for Wednesday, 11 June.

[Co-Host]

Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and of course, if.

[Mike Baker]

You'D like to listen to the show ad free.

[Co-Host]

Well, we have made that possible.

[PDB Team]

We.

[Co-Host]

All you have to do is 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.

[Mike Baker]

Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.