← The President's Daily Brief
The President's Daily Brief
June 20th, 2025: Trump Keeps The World Guessing On Iran Attack Plans & China's Hacking Campaign To Steal Russia's Military Secrets
00:24:04
Loading summary
Transcript8 lines
- [00:00]
Richard Karn
Hi, I'm Richard Karn and you may have seen me on TV talking about the world's number one expandable garden hose. Well, the brand new Pocket Hose Copperhead with Pocket Pivot is here and it's a total game changer. Old fashioned hoses get kinks and creases at the spigot, but the Copperhead's pocket pivot swivels 360 degrees for full water flow and freedom to water with ease all around your home. When you're all done, this rust proof anti burst hose shrinks back down to pocket size for effortless handling and tidy storage. Plus your super light and ultra durable pocket hose Copperhead is backed with a 10 year warranty. What could be better than that? I'll tell you what an exciting radio exclusive offer just for you. For a limited time you can get a free Pocket Pivot and their 10 pattern sprayer with the purchase of any size Copperhead hose. Just text water to 64,000. That's water to 64,000 for your two free gifts with purchase W A T E R to 64,000. By texting 64,000 you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message and data rates may apply. No purchase required. Terms apply. Available at pocket hose.com terms they would.
- [01:01]
Mike Baker
Be just about to it's Friday the 20th of June. 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 we'll have the latest on the war between Israel and Iran, as reports claim that President Trump has approved attack plans against the Islamic regime. But Trump is keeping everyone guessing, pushing back on the reports and saying that he'll make a decision on whether to join Israel's campaign within the next two weeks. Later in the show, cracks are beginning to show beneath the surface of Russia and China's publicly very chummy alliance. I might use the word chummy. A new report reveals that the Chinese Communist Party, the ccp, has been engaged in a widespread hacking campaign against the Putin regime in pursuit of military secrets ever since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Plus, Putin claims he's ready to end the war. Oh, that's nice. And directly meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky, while in the same breath he's questioning Zelensky's legitimacy and reiterating his ultimatums for a ceasefire. We'll break down the latest doublespeak from the Kremlin. And in today's Back of the brief, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis leads the evacuation of 1500 stranded Jewish Americans from Israel as the war intensifies with Iran. But first, today's PDB spotlight. We'll begin today with the latest on the war between Israel and Iran as White House sources say that President Trump has approved attack plans against the mullahs but is currently holding back in the hopes that diplomacy can prevail. Now, according to an exclusive report from the Wall Street Journal citing three people familiar with current deliberations, the President gave his official sign off on a potential military operation on Tuesday. As we've been tracking, Trump has also publicly stated in recent days that the US could soon join Israel's military campaign against the mullahs, now entering its eighth day. Earlier this week, the US Redeployed the USS Nimitz carrier strike group to the Middle east and mobilized a large number of aerial refueling tankers to forward operating bases in Europe, suggesting a US Military option is at the ready. Now, as our listeners know, much of the speculation surrounds potential US Strikes on the Fordo underground nuclear enrichment facility. Israel has reportedly been trying to persuade the US to join their campaign as the US Is the only country with the planes and bombs needed to effectively penetrate and destroy the heavily fortified nuclear site. But the sources told the Journal that Trump is hoping that the threat of a US Attack will be enough to force Iran to capitulate to his demands that they end their pursuit of nuclear weapons and dismantle all domestic enrichment capabilities. In typical Trump fashion, the President was quick to respond to the latest speculations in a truth social post. On Thursday morning, Trump slammed the Journal's report, saying, quote, the Wall Street Journal has no idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran. Later on Thursday, the President issued a statement through White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt saying that U. S. Military action was not imminent. Trump said, quote, based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks. Levitt added that Trump remains committed to preventing the mullahs from obtaining a nuclear weapon and said any potential deal would have to prohibit enrichment of uranium by Tehran and eliminate the regime's ability to achieve a nuclear weapon. She added, quote, the president is always interested in a diplomatic solution. He is a peacemaker in chief. He's the peace through strength president. And so if there's a chance for diplomacy, the president's always going to grab it, end quote. The update from Trump came as reports surfaced on Thursday that the President's special envoy Steve Witkoff has spoken several times with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragi since Israel began strikes on the regime's nuclear program last Friday. According to three diplomats that spoke exclusively to Reuters, the pair have discussed the US Proposal given to Iran at the end of May, which the regime has so far rejected. That proposal would put an end to domestic uranium enrichment in Iran, but create a regional consortium that would in theory supply Iran with uranium for civilian energy purposes. But the sources added that the Iranians continue to dig in their heels. The foreign minister relayed to Witkoff that Iran will not return to the negotiating table unless Israel stops their military campaign. Arachi reportedly said that if Washington pressured Israel to end the war, then the regime could show flexibility in the nuclear issue. Now, frankly, Iran's ability to make demands regarding the negotiations is shrinking with every successful Israeli attack on their infrastructure and leadership. As we've been tracking, Israel's campaign has taken out numerous key leaders within their military and Revolutionary Guard Corps, decimated the regime's arsenal of ballistic missiles, and significantly degraded their offensive launch capabilities, though not entirely. Iran did fire another wave of missiles and drones at Israel early Thursday morning, hitting a hospital in the southern city of Beersheba. While no one was killed in the strike, officials said it destroyed several wards and wounded 40 people. But Israel is keeping the pressure up on Iran once again, striking Iran's Natanz in Isfahan and Condab nuclear sites on Thursday, multiple sources from Israel and the US Said leaders in Jerusalem are now seeking to destabilize Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's government and leave it near collapse. When asked about the potential for regime change, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Thursday that, quote, that may be a result, but it's up to the Iranian people to rise for their freedom. But we may create conditions that that will help them do it, End quote. All right, coming up next, a new report reveals that China has been engaged in a widespread hacking campaign against the Putin regime in pursuit of military secrets. And Putin dubiously claims that he's willing to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Of course, Putin is all about the peace. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a bit of your time to talk about personal fitness. Now, the good news is that Americans are prioritizing their health and are focused on getting and staying in shape. But as you know, diet and cardio alone are not enough. Right? You need strength training to be part of your routine. If you want to build muscle and burn fat, you have to also strength train. So that's where Jacked Up Fitness comes in. Look, Jacked Up Fitness is a great company. They are all about making home fitness and strength training a convenient part of your routine. As an example, their all new X series elevates home fitness to a whole new level. The Power Rack Pro X Functional Trainer lets you do hundreds of exercises from the comfort of your own home. I've got a Power Rack Pro at home and I got to tell you something. It's fantastic. The construction is terrific. You can do everything at home that you could do at the gym. It really is great. It features a completely upgraded cable crossover system with articulating pulley arms giving you unlimited width combinations to hit every muscle group. And that of course is important. And if you're new to strength training, well, they offer a free Get Jacked up program that has full body video workouts. It's just press play and you follow along. It's really that simple. And yet look, take control of your fitness. This is really important. Go to getjackedup.com and sign up for their free training program. And when you're ready to purchase your own Power Rack Pro X, just use my promo code Baker B A K E r to save 10% at checkout. That's getjackedup.com.
- [09:07]
Caitlin Becker
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 pulls 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 plan. 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 Post Cast every weekday morning on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcast.
- [09:58]
Mike Baker
Welcome back to the pdb. While China and Russia have spent the past few years flaunting a so called no limits partnership, Chinese Communist Party linked hackers have been repeatedly breaching Moscow's government systems in search of military secrets regarding the war in Ukraine. A classified counterintelligence document from Russia's domestic security agency, the FSB obtained by the New York Times, refers to China as the enemy. The document warns that Beijing is siphoning off Moscow's hard won battlefield insights to fuel its own military ambitions now. Among the primary targets is Rostec. It's a defense conglomerate at the heart of Russia's military industrial complex. The FSB says CCP cyber groups have dramatically and systematically targeted the firm to extract intelligence on radar systems, satellite communications and electronic warfare capabilities. The CCP linked cyber intrusions began accelerating in May 2022, just months after Putin launched his full scale invasion of Ukraine, and the intrusions haven't slowed since. One particularly brazen operation came in 2023 when a Chinese linked group known as Sanyo impersonated the email system of a Russian engineering firm to steal data on nuclear submarines. That's according to Taiwan based cybersecurity firm Team T5. While China and Russia pledged in 2009 and again in 2015 not to hack each other well, the hacking spree suggests Beijing views the Kremlin as less of an equal partner and more of a vulnerable source of battlefield insights intel that could one day shape a future war over Taiwan. Chinese President Xi Jinping may boast of advanced military hardware, but but his troops lack real world combat experience. Analysts say the Ukraine war offers a rare real time window into Western weaponry and drone warfare, all gleaned from Russia's frontline engagements. Much of the hacking has been attributed to state sponsored groups, most notably Mustang Panda. That's one of China's most prolific cyber espionage teams. Although little is known about its origins, Mustang Panda's operations have long mirrored Beijing's global economic and military strategies. Initially they focused on Belt and Road Initiative projects in Africa and Southeast Asia before expanding into Europe and Russia after the war began. In January, the U.S. department of justice unsealed an indictment linking Mustang Panda to the infection of thousands of devices worldwide, including government computers across Europe and Asia. The group is widely believed to operate under the direction of China's Ministry of State Security. Russia, for its part, has stayed conspicuously silent. But in 2023, Moscow based Cybersecurity firm Positive Technologies acknowledged that cyber attacks had hit Russia's aerospace and defense sectors. Many of the attacks reportedly used a sophisticated malware tool called Deedrat. That's software almost exclusively used by Chinese intelligence services. Analysts say Chinese operatives have also used malicious Microsoft Word files to penetrate Russian aviation firms and state agencies. Despite official silence, the scale and persistence of these efforts suggest that CCP linked cyber attacks are not isolated incidents, but part of a systematic campaign. Alright, shifting to the war in Ukraine, Putin says he's ready to negotiate peace with Ukrainian President Zelensky. But he continues to cast doubt on whether Zelenskyy has the authority to sign a deal. Speaking to reporters late Wednesday on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Putin said talks between Russian and Ukrainian working groups could resume as early as next week. But he said a one on one summit with Zelensky would only occur after both sides had hammered out the terms of a deal. Even then, he questioned whether Zelensky's presidency, extended under wartime martial law, remains legally valid. Repeating a favored Kremlin narrative aimed at undercutting Keefe's democratic legitimacy, Putin stated, quote, we are ready to meet. And by the way, I said I am ready to meet with everyone, including Zelensky, adding, quote, but that is not the question. The question is who will sign the documents. Despite those remarks, Putin insisted Russia remains committed to ending the war, quote, as soon as possible. Oh, he said discussions are ongoing through a humanitarian channel and suggested that formal peace negotiations could resume after Sunday. But if this sounds like progress, well, don't get your hopes up. Russia's peace demands remain unchanged and very one sided. Kyiv would have to renounce its NATO bid, adopt neutrality, cede five regions, including some that Russia doesn't fully control, reduce its military footprint, and end all cooperation with Western defense partners. In effect, the demands amount to total Ukrainian capitulation. As we have discussed here on the pdb, Ukraine has flatly rejected those terms and accuses Moscow of dragging out negotiations in bad faith. And it's worth noting that Thursday marked 100 days since Ukraine agreed to a US backed ceasefire proposal, which Russia has consistently ignored. Putin, meanwhile, continues to point fingers. He told reporters, we are ready for substantive negotiations on the settlement principles. All it takes is that the Ukrainian side is ready to act wisely, end quote. The Russian leader even took it a step further, urging Ukraine's allies to, quote, accept the current reality and pressure Kyiv to compromise, warning that if no deal is reached, quote, we will seek to achieve our goals by military methods, end quote. President Trump, who pushed the American ceasefire proposal and voiced tentative support for some of Russia's red lines, such as barring Ukraine from NATO, has since pulled back from active mediation. While Trump hasn't walked away from diplomacy altogether, White House officials say the administration is adopting a more cautious posture as the stalemate drags on. On the battlefield. Moscow's gains remain, well, modest. Independent analysts say Russian forces have advanced slightly near Sumy in the northeast and in parts of Donetsk in the east. But Kremlin claims of efficient progress are not substantiated. However, Russia's air campaign has continued unabated. Earlier this week, a Russian missile strike on a residential building In Kyiv killed 23 civilians. Zelensky condemned the attack on Telegram, calling it fresh evidence that Moscow isn't serious about peace. Posting quote, russia rejects the ceasefire and chooses to kill. Still, there are flickers of diplomacy. Both sides confirmed another prisoner swap this week and part of a broader agreement struck in Istanbul earlier this month to eventually release 1,000 captives apiece. It's unclear just how many soldiers were freed this week. All right, coming up next in the back of the brief, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis leads the evacuation of some 1,500 stranded Jewish Americans from Israel as the war with Iran intensifies. I'll have those details next. Hey, Mike Baker here. Look, when it comes to feeding your family, you obviously want to give them best, right? No shortcuts. You look for the best, the freshest, the most wholesome. You know what I'm talking about? And when you're talking about beef, well, the place to turn is Tritails beef. Look, Tri Tails is a fifth generation Texas ranch, raising pasture, raised grain, finished Black Angus cattle. It's very simple. There's no middlemen, no mystery meat. It's a family run operation delivering great beef directly from their ranch to your doorstep. This summer, fill your freezer with trails, beef, it's raised right, tastes incredible and you'll be supporting real ranchers. Go to tribe.com PDB and you'll get two free flat iron steaks with your order because you want the best for your family. Well, it's got to be Tritails beef. Hey, Mike Baker here. Look, if there's something all of us can believe in, it's hard work, self reliance and showing up for the people who count on us. Right? And a key factor in being able to do all of that is getting enough rest. That's right, getting a good night's sleep. So introducing Beam's Dream Powder. That's Beam. It's spelled B E A M. Look, they're proudly founded in America and they're run by people who share our values, hard work, integrity and delivering results. It's a nighttime blend packed with science backed ingredients shown to improve sleep so you can wake up refreshed. And you know how important that is. Dream is made with a powerful blend of ingredients. You've got Reishi, magnesium, L theanine, apigenin and melatonin. And here's the deal. Beam is giving my listeners the ultimate patriot discount of up to 40% off. That's 40%. Try their best selling Dream Powder and get up to 40% off for a limited time. Go to shopbeam.com mike that's M I K E and use code mike at checkout. That's shopbeam.com mike and use code mike for up to 40% off sleep better, wake up stronger and show up ready for your family, work and your country.
- [19:05]
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 podforce One with me, Miranda Devine every week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. Podcast. You don't want to miss an episode.
- [19:47]
Sean Spicer
Hey, it's Sean Spicer from the Sean Spicer Show Podcast reminding you to tune into my show every day to get your daily dose inside the world of politics. President Trump and his team are shaking up Washington like never before, and we're here to cover it from all sides, especially on the topics the mainstream media won't. So if you're a political junkie on a late lunch or getting ready for the the Drive Home, new episodes of the Sean Spicer show podcast drop at 2pm East coast every day. Make sure you tune in. You can find us at Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast.
- [20:21]
Mike Baker
In today's Back of The brief Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken the lead on evacuating Jewish Americans stranded in the Middle east amid the intensifying war between Israel and Iran. Earlier this week, DeSantis stepped in to charter four flights to bring roughly 1,500 Jewish Americans back home. To safety. For some background, a group of more than 4,000Americans had been on a 10 day trip to Israel when the war broke out last Friday. The trip had been organized through a program called Birthright Israel, which provides trips to the Holy Land for young Americans of Jewish descent. With Israeli airspace closed due to the threat from Iran's missile strikes, the group had to quickly find alternative paths out of the country, according to a report from Fox News. After spending days sheltering in bomb bunkers, 1,500 members of the group were evacuated from Israel on Tuesday morning aboard an Israeli cruise ship, which then took them to the nearby island nation of Cyprus under the protection of the Israeli navy. The CEO of Birthright Israel said it was a, quote, complex and emotional operation carried out under immense pressure and we are proud to have brought 1,500 young adults safely to Cyprus. DeSantis and the Florida Department of Emergency Management then stepped in, volunteering four widebody planes to return the Americans stateside. The first flight arrived in Cyprus late Wednesday evening, but the evacuation efforts are still ongoing. One of the evacuees recounted the moment when an Iranian rocket landed close to the building that they were staying in, telling a CBS News affiliate, quote, we literally heard and felt the shake of the building when we were running down to the shelter. We felt the whole building shake because a rocket had hit. They said their group had, quote, spent the last week going to bomb shelters every single night and barely getting any sleep. The vice president of the Florida based Broward Jewish Federation thanked the governor for his swift efforts to bring the young Americans home. They said their group is working around the clock to get any additional participants out of the country, adding, quote, thank God for the Iron Dome and thank God for Israel having a very developed text alert system. Officials said that the remainder of the international participants in the Birthright Israel trip have chosen to depart via other means or stay in Israel with family members. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Friday 20 June. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me@pdbhefirsttv.com and if you get the chance, take a bit of time out of your busy schedule to check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can find that at President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, still on the road, and I'll be back later today. The PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.
- [23:15]
Richard Karn
It.