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Mike Baker
It's Thursday, the 19th 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. First up, Chinese leader Xi Jinping breaks.
Mike Baker
His silence on the war between Israel and Iran, urging de escalation and positioning.
Co-Host
The Chinese Communist Party, the ccp, as.
Mike Baker
A mediator for peace.
Co-Host
But you ask yourself, what are China's.
Mike Baker
True motives regarding the intensifying conflict. We'll break down the economic ties that.
Co-Host
Connect the Communist Party and the mullahs of Iran. Later in the show.
Mike Baker
North Korea doubles down on their strategic partnership with the Putin regime, pledging to send 5,000 additional construction workers to western Russia to help rebuild their battered infrastructure. Plus, India and Canada reach a diplomatic breakthrough, restoring relations after a nearly two year standoff over New Delhi's alleged involvement in an assassination campaign against Sikh separatists living abroad.
Co-Host
And in today's back of the brief.
Mike Baker
US Senators moved to block attempts by.
Co-Host
The communist Chinese government to to buy.
Mike Baker
Up land near American military bases.
Co-Host
But first, today's PDB Spotlight.
Mike Baker
We'll begin today with China as communist leader Xi Jinping finally breaks his silence on the war between Israel and Iran. Speaking on the sidelines of the China Central Asia summit in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, Xi said he was, quote, deeply worried about the escalating conflict and opposes any.
Co-Host
Actions that infringe upon the, quote, security.
Mike Baker
And territorial integrity of of other countries. While he refrained from directly naming Israel, she pointedly said that, quote, military conflict is not a way to solve problems.
Co-Host
A not so thinly veiled rebuke of leaders in Jerusalem for deciding to strike.
Mike Baker
Against Iran's runaway nuclear program.
Co-Host
Well, one can hope that she will.
Mike Baker
Follow his own advice when it comes to Taiwan.
Co-Host
She continued, quote, all parties should work.
Mike Baker
To de escalate the conflict as soon.
Co-Host
As possible and prevent the situation from worsening further, adding that the war is.
Mike Baker
Quote, not in the common interests of the international community. Notably, he also said that China stands ready to play a, quote, constructive role.
Co-Host
In restoring peace to the region, reminiscent of China's public position regarding Russia's war in Ukraine.
Mike Baker
It appears that Xi is once again attempting to position his regime as a responsible international actor and potentially unbiased mediator in the intensifying conflict. His remarks followed a statement from a.
Co-Host
Spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, who.
Mike Baker
Said Tuesday that CCP officials were already in contact with Iran, Israel and various.
Co-Host
Other regional parties to promote a ceasefire in a clear shot at the Trump administration. The spokesman called on those countries that have a special influence on Israel to shoulder their due responsibilities, take immediate measures.
Mike Baker
To cool down the tense situation and.
Co-Host
Prevent the conflict from escalating and spreading and end quote. China's position echoed that of Russia, Iran's.
Mike Baker
Other major eastern ally. Russian President Putin is also urging de.
Co-Host
Escalation and has offered to help broker a ceasefire because, as we know from his own actions, there's nothing Putin likes better than peaceful existence with one's neighbors. As we discussed earlier this week on.
Mike Baker
The pdb, Russia's position, well, shouldn't come.
Co-Host
As a surprise given the deep military.
Mike Baker
Ties that are forged between Moscow and.
Co-Host
Tehran since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine especially.
Mike Baker
But China also has a strong economic incentive to see the Iranian regime left intact. China is now the dominant buyer of.
Co-Host
Iranian oil, with Chinese companies purchasing more.
Mike Baker
Than 90% of the regime's oil exports.
Co-Host
Just last year, almost always at a.
Mike Baker
Steep discount when compared to global prices. For some background, Iranian oil exports represent less than 2% of global demand, and most countries won't touch their crude oil due to sanctions imposed during President Trump's.
Co-Host
First term in 2018 with limited options available.
Mike Baker
The sanctions have forced Tehran to covertly sell their oil at bargain rates to.
Co-Host
The ccp, using a so called dark fleet of tankers that sail with their transponders turned off. The oil is mostly bought by private Chinese teapot refineries that switched to purchasing illicit Iranian oil en masse back in 2022 in order to protect their profit margins. That's according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. It's hard to overstate the importance of.
Mike Baker
That relationship, as Iran's oil sales to.
Co-Host
China represent about 6% of Iran's entire.
Mike Baker
Economy, or roughly half of their annual government spending.
Co-Host
The arrangement gives China considerable leverage over Tehran, as their purchases have almost single handedly propped up the Islamic regime's last.
Mike Baker
Meaningful source of international revenue. The arrangement also pays dividends for China's export driven economy. The oil is paid for exclusively in.
Co-Host
Chinese currency, meaning that the Islamic regime.
Mike Baker
Has little choice but to spend the profits on Chinese goods. For now, Israel has not attacked Iran's energy export hubs.
Co-Host
But if that calculus changes, China could.
Mike Baker
See itself cut off from their cheapest source of oil.
Co-Host
For example, if Israel seeks regime change in Iran, they'll likely target Kharg island in the Persian Gulf, home to most.
Mike Baker
Of Iran's oil tankers.
Co-Host
That would effectively destroy Iran's ability to export their oil and would force China's private refineries to pay full price from countries like Saudi Arabia and the uae. Put somewhat simply, China stands to suffer.
Mike Baker
A major geopolitical setback depending on how the Israel Iran war evolves. Given the stakes, Xi Jinping is eager to protect his strategic economic relationship with the mullahs and steer events in Beijing's favor.
Co-Host
All right, coming up next, North Korea.
Mike Baker
Doubles down on their strategic partnership with.
Co-Host
The Putin regime, and India and Canada.
Mike Baker
Restore diplomatic relations after a nearly two year standoff over the assassination of Sikh separatists.
Co-Host
I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a bit of.
Mike Baker
Your time to talk about personal fitness. Now, the good news here is that.
Co-Host
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Mike Baker
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Mike Baker
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Co-Host
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Mike Baker
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Mike Baker
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Mike Baker
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Mike Baker
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Mike Baker
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Co-Host
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Mike Baker
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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 Pod Force One. 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 Pod Force One with me, Miranda Devine, every week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. You don't want to miss an episode.
Co-Host
Welcome back to the PDB Thousands of.
Mike Baker
North Koreans are heading to Russia this time not to fight, but to rebuild its war scarred Western border in a.
Co-Host
Sanction defying move that underscores the growing.
Mike Baker
Alliance between the regimes. The announcement came Tuesday from Sergei Shoigu.
Co-Host
A longtime Putin confidant and the Kremlin's Security Council secretary, who told reporters that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had.
Mike Baker
Agreed to dispatch 5,000 construction workers and 1,000 combat engineers to Russia's Kursk region.
Co-Host
As we've discussed here on the pdb.
Mike Baker
It'S the same border area that saw.
Co-Host
Intense fighting earlier this year, including the.
Mike Baker
Deployment of up to 14,000 North Korean.
Co-Host
Troops who, according to Kremlin officials, helped repel Ukrainian incursions.
Mike Baker
Moscow now claims the region is fully under its control. Now that's a claim that Kyiv has flatly denied, insisting that clashes persist in Kursk. Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang this week was his third since March, and the optics left little doubt about the warmth of this partnership. Russian state media broadcast footage of Kim.
Co-Host
Hugging Shoigu, with North Korean media offering its own take, stating that Kim made his decision to dispatch workers based on.
Mike Baker
A correct understanding of the current situation, a phrase that, well, depending on interpretation, could mean basically anything. According to South Korean intelligence, the new labor deployment will add to the at.
Co-Host
Least 15,000 North Koreans that were already working inside Russia as of April, most.
Mike Baker
Of them laborers forced to surrender the bulk of their wages to the Kim regime.
Co-Host
That, of course, is part of Pyongyang's well documented effort to extract hard currency.
Mike Baker
From any of its citizens abroad.
Co-Host
They'll reportedly be tasked with rebuilding roads.
Mike Baker
Power grids and infrastructure obliterated by the war. For Russia, the influx of new workers is a welcome development.
Co-Host
A May report from the Higher School of Economics, one of Russia's top research institutions, found the country ended 2024 with a shortfall of more than two and.
Mike Baker
A half million workers.
Co-Host
It's the worst labor crisis for them on record.
Mike Baker
That's been driven by mounting battlefield losses.
Co-Host
A collapse in migrant labor and a.
Mike Baker
Ruble weakened by sanctions and war spending. To stabilize inflation, Russia's central bank has jacked interest rates from 7% in July.
Co-Host
Of 2023 to a punishing 21% this year. Now, Seoul wasted no time in issuing a rebuke.
Mike Baker
South Korean officials called for a, quote, immediate end to what they called illegal cooperation between the two sanctioned states. Officials there warned that the arrangement likely.
Co-Host
Involves barter payments in the form of.
Mike Baker
Fuel, food and likely weapons technology to.
Co-Host
The Kim regime transactions. Of course, that would amount to yet.
Mike Baker
Another violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
Co-Host
Still, Moscow appears undeterred, choosing to deepen its reliance on Pyongyang as its war.
Mike Baker
On Ukraine grinds on and the costs.
Co-Host
Both human and economic, continue to mount. Alright. Shifting gears, India and Canada have agreed.
Mike Baker
To restore diplomatic ties nearly two years after the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader put relations between the two nations on ice. The announcement came Tuesday after Indian Prime.
Co-Host
Minister Modi met his newly elected Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, on the sidelines of.
Mike Baker
The G7 summit in Alberta. A statement from Carney's office said the two leaders agreed to, quote, return to regular services to citizens and businesses in.
Co-Host
Both countries and recommitted to mutual respect.
Mike Baker
And the principle of territorial sovereignty.
Co-Host
That's nice.
Mike Baker
Under the deal, both sides will install new high commissioners, which is the Commonwealth's.
Co-Host
Version of ambassadors tasked with resuscitating diplomatic services and rebuilding trust between the two countries.
Mike Baker
India's Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling for senior ministerial meetings to resume in order to, quote, rebuild trust and bring.
Co-Host
Momentum to the relationship.
Mike Baker
Now, longtime PDB listeners may recall our.
Co-Host
Coverage of the September 2023 rupture between Ottawa and New Delhi. That's when then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament that there were, quote.
Mike Baker
Credible allegations linking Indian government agents to.
Co-Host
The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijar.
Mike Baker
Now, that was near Vancouver in Canada.
Co-Host
India dismissed the claim as baseless and.
Mike Baker
Accused Trudeau's government of harboring extremists. For background, Nijar was a Canadian citizen and prominent voice in the Khalistan movement. That's an outlawed campaign in India's Punjab.
Co-Host
Region seeking a separate Sikh state.
Mike Baker
He was designated a terrorist by the.
Co-Host
Indian government back in 2020. Sikh advocacy groups abroad, however, described him as a peaceful proponent of human rights.
Mike Baker
It's worth noting that the US has.
Co-Host
Not designated the Khalistan movement as a terrorist organization. The fallout escalated quickly.
Mike Baker
By October of that year, India had.
Co-Host
Expelled Canadian diplomats and recalled its high commissioner. Ottawa retaliated in kind, accusing New Delhi of running an intimidation campaign targeting Sikh Canadians. Allegations that India categorically denied. At the heart of the dispute lies a familiar tension.
Mike Baker
Canada's sizable Sikh community, which makes up.
Co-Host
Roughly 2% of its population, and India's long standing sensitivity to pro Khalistan activism abroad. The Nijjjar case poured gasoline on essentially an already smoldering fire, testing the boundaries of foreign policy discretion.
Mike Baker
Still, in this week's meeting, Modi and.
Co-Host
Carney looked ahead, pledging to expand cooperation in sectors like digital innovation, food security and critical minerals, areas where both sides.
Mike Baker
Of course, see strategic value.
Co-Host
Now, whether this diplomatic reboot leads to.
Mike Baker
A broader reset remains to be seen, as some mistrust obviously still lingers between the governments. But for now, the decision to reopen channels signals a willingness by New Delhi.
Co-Host
And Ottawa to compartmentalize their grievances and.
Mike Baker
Seek areas of pragmatic cooperation. All right, coming up next in the.
Co-Host
Back of the brief, US Senators moved to block attempts by the communist Chinese.
Mike Baker
Government to to buy up land near American military bases. I'll have those details next.
Co-Host
Hey, Mike Baker here.
Mike Baker
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Mike Baker
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Mike Baker
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Mike Baker
Well, if there's something all of us.
Co-Host
Can believe in, it's hard work, self reliance and showing up for the people.
Mike Baker
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Mike Baker
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Anyone can deliver you headlines. Only the New York Post can deliver the headlines you need and the stories you want from the iconic newsroom that p no punches comes the New York Post cast. Every weekday morning, I'll break down a headline impacting your world with sharp insight, context and in depth reporting. Plus, I'll have the Post's signature mix of stories that people are actually talking about. From politics to business to pop culture and everything in between, this isn't just another news podcast. It's a look at what matters and a peek at what's too interesting to ignore, keeping you informed and entertained. I'm Caitlin Becker. Listen and subscribe to the New York Postcast every weekday morning on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcast.
Co-Host
In today's Back of the Brief, a.
Mike Baker
New Republican led bill aims to close a loophole that nearly led to a.
Co-Host
Chinese company purchasing land near a U.S. air Force base in North Dakota. Three years ago, Senate Banking Committee Chairman.
Mike Baker
Tim Scott introduced the Protect Our Bases Act. This week legislation designed to tighten oversight.
Co-Host
Of foreign real estate transactions near sensitive military installations.
Mike Baker
The measure would force the Committee on.
Co-Host
Foreign Investment in the US known as CFIUS because of course there's an acronym.
Mike Baker
To update its list of designated military.
Co-Host
Sites annually and notify Congress of any transactions that might jeopardize national security.
Mike Baker
The legislation is a direct response to a 2022 episode involving the Fufang Group.
Co-Host
That was a Chinese agricultural conglomerate specializing.
Mike Baker
In sugar substitutes and fertilizer that attempted.
Co-Host
To purchase land near Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Mike Baker
Now, the deal raised immediate red flags.
Co-Host
Among U.S. intelligence and defense officials as.
Mike Baker
The base houses sensitive drone and satellite operations. At the time, the Committee on Foreign.
Co-Host
Investment declined to act, citing the Pentagon's failure under then President Biden to designate.
Mike Baker
The base as a protected site. The Grand Fork City Council did eventually.
Co-Host
Step in and kill the deal, but.
Mike Baker
Lawmakers say it was a near miss.
Co-Host
That underscored a dangerous blind spot in.
Mike Baker
America's foreign investment screening process. Scott told New York Post, quote, the.
Co-Host
Chinese Communist Party's efforts to infiltrate and.
Mike Baker
Surveil all parts of the U.S. national.
Co-Host
Security apparatus require vigilance from our national.
Mike Baker
Security agencies, end quote. He went on to say, this legislation will enhance the review of foreign real estate transactions near critical national security installations.
Co-Host
Helping ensure the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US has the information that it needs to protect our homeland.
Mike Baker
Now, the urgency behind the bill has.
Co-Host
Been magnified by Ukraine's 1st of June Operation Spiderweb, which as we covered here on the PDB, was the largest drone.
Mike Baker
Strike on Russian bases during the war. It saw more than 100 Ukrainian drones that were launched from inside Russian borders destroyed dozens of military aircraft. The operation reignited concerns about the vulnerability of even well defended bases to small scale, low cost, precision attacks by infiltrators.
Co-Host
China, widely seen as the global leader in drone manufacturing, poses a similar threat if it can secure land near US Military sites under the guise of civilian ownership. The Protect Our Bases act already has backing from nearly a dozen Republican senators.
Mike Baker
Lawmakers argue that the measure is necessary to prevent a repeat of the Fufeng.
Co-Host
Incident, which many now view as a.
Mike Baker
Major national security wake up call.
Co-Host
All right.
Mike Baker
That, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Thursday 19th June.
Co-Host
Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me@pdbhefirsttv.com and of course to listen to the show.
Mike Baker
Ad free, which you can do. Just become a premium member of the President's Daily brief by visiting PDB premium.com.
Co-Host
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.
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Host: Mike Baker
Co-Host: [Name Not Provided]
Duration: 20 Minutes
Release Date: June 19, 2025
Mike Baker opens the episode by setting the stage for today's critical international developments. The brief covers significant geopolitical shifts, including statements from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, North Korea's enhanced partnership with Russia, and the restoration of diplomatic ties between India and Canada. Additionally, legislative actions in the U.S. aimed at national security are discussed.
Timestamp: [01:59] - [06:35]
Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran at the China Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan. Xi emphasized a call for de-escalation and opposed the use of military force as a solution.
Notable Quote:
"Military conflict is not a way to solve problems," — Xi Jinping ([02:30])
Xi's remarks position China as a mediator seeking peace, though the true motives behind China's involvement are scrutinized, especially considering its deep economic ties with Iran. China's dominance in Iranian oil purchases—over 90% of Iran's exports—provides Beijing with significant leverage over Tehran, ensuring the Islamic regime's economic stability and fostering dependence on Chinese goods through oil transactions paid exclusively in Chinese currency.
The episode highlights the potential geopolitical risks if Israel targets Iran's oil export hubs, such as Kharg Island. Such actions could disrupt China's oil supply, forcing refineries to secure oil at higher global prices, thereby impacting China's economy.
Key Points:
Timestamp: [09:05] - [12:00]
North Korea has significantly deepened its strategic partnership with Russia by dispatching an additional 5,000 construction workers and 1,000 combat engineers to the Russian Kursk region. This move is a continuation of military and infrastructural cooperation between the two nations, particularly following North Korea's previous deployment of troops to aid Russia in repelling Ukrainian forces.
Notable Quote:
"The Kims dispatched workers based on a correct understanding of the current situation," — Sergei Shoigu, Kremlin's Security Council Secretary ([10:10])
The influx of North Korean laborers is a response to Russia's severe labor shortages, exacerbated by ongoing conflicts and economic sanctions. South Korean intelligence reports that many of these workers are compelled to relinquish a significant portion of their wages to the North Korean regime, bolstering Pyongyang's financial resources.
Key Points:
Timestamp: [12:00] - [15:00]
After nearly two years of strained relations due to allegations surrounding the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijar in Canada, India and Canada have agreed to restore diplomatic ties. This breakthrough follows meetings between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 Summit in Alberta.
Notable Quote:
"We committed to mutual respect and the principle of territorial sovereignty," — Statement from Mark Carney's office ([12:26])
Under the new agreement, both nations will reinstate regular diplomatic and business services, appoint new high commissioners, and seek to rebuild trust. The restoration aims to expand cooperation in areas like digital innovation, food security, and critical minerals, though lingering mistrust remains.
Background:
Key Points:
Timestamp: [18:35] - [21:21]
U.S. Senators, led by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, have introduced the Protect Our Bases Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at closing loopholes that allowed a Chinese company, the Fufeng Group, to nearly purchase land near the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. This legislation seeks to enhance the oversight of foreign real estate transactions near sensitive military installations.
Notable Quote:
"The Chinese Communist Party's efforts to infiltrate and surveil all parts of the U.S. national security apparatus require vigilance," — Tim Scott ([20:01])
The Protect Our Bases Act mandates the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to annually update its list of designated military sites and notify Congress of any potentially threatening transactions. This move is a direct response to the 2022 incident where delayed action almost permitted a Chinese firm to acquire critical land, highlighting vulnerabilities in national security protocols.
Key Points:
Mike Baker concludes the brief by reinforcing the importance of staying informed about these critical international developments. The episode underscores the intricate balance of diplomatic relations, economic dependencies, and national security measures shaping today's global landscape.
Closing Remarks:
"Stay informed, stay safe, stay cool." — Mike Baker ([21:45])
China’s Diplomatic Position: China is positioning itself as a peace mediator in the Israel-Iran conflict while safeguarding its economic interests in Iranian oil.
North Korea-Russia Alliance: Enhanced cooperation between North Korea and Russia signifies deeper strategic ties amidst ongoing regional conflicts.
India-Canada Diplomatic Renewal: The restoration of diplomatic relations between India and Canada marks a significant step towards resolving long-standing tensions related to the Khalistan movement.
U.S. National Security Legislation: The Protect Our Bases Act represents a proactive approach to securing U.S. military installations from foreign interference, particularly from China.
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights from the June 19th, 2025 episode of The President's Daily Brief hosted by Mike Baker, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the current geopolitical landscape and its implications for national security and international relations.