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Mike Baker
It's Wednesday, the 25th of June. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage.
Unnamed Co-Host
All right, let's get briefed.
Mike Baker
The ceasefire between Israel and Iran may.
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Have paused the bombs, but but not Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Iran's top atomic official says the regime.
Mike Baker
Is already working to restore its damaged enrichment program. Oh, good.
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We'll have the details later in the show. A surprising diplomatic twist. Israel's top national security official says talks.
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With the Syrian regime are already underway.
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Suggesting perhaps that Syria may be the.
Mike Baker
Next to join the Abraham Accords. Plus, President Trump is in the Netherlands.
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For the NATO summit, where allies are.
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Sounding the alarm over China's massive military buildup.
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And in today's Back of the brief.
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ICE just arrested 11 Iranian migrants across multiple states. At least one had ties to Hezbollah. And officials continue to sound the alarm about possible sleeper cells in the U.S.
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But first, today's PDB Spotlight. While a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran has taken hold, major questions remain.
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Regarding the mullah's nuclear weapons program and the threat that the Islamic regime still.
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Poses to regional and global peace.
Mike Baker
Just hours after the truce took effect, bringing an end to what President Trump.
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Is calling the 12 Day War, the.
Mike Baker
Chief of Iran's nuclear program declared that plans were already underway to restore their enrichment facilities, which had been damaged, but apparently not destroyed by U.S. airstrikes over the weekend. He claimed that Iran was prepared for damage to its nuclear sites prior to.
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The attacks and implied that steps had.
Mike Baker
Been taken to limit the impact on their equipment and uranium stores.
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That's according to a report from the Times of Israel.
Mike Baker
Without further elaboration, the Iranian nuclear chief said, quote, the plan is to prevent interruptions in the process of production and services, end quote.
Unnamed Co-Host
Despite the reports, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday that, quote, iran's not going to have a nuclear weapon.
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I think it's the last thing on their mind right now. In a subsequent statement posted to Truth.
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Social, Trump declared, quote, iran will never.
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Rebuild their nuclear facilities, end quote.
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But given the statements from Iran, it.
Mike Baker
Appears that President Trump still has his work cut out for him, at least diplomatically. So now that a ceasefire is in.
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Place, despite getting off to a shaky start, what could we expect? Now, the major question on everyone's mind is how the US Administration plans to.
Mike Baker
Solidify the military achievements of the US And Israel and prevent Iran from restarting their nuclear program. Well, many expect the White House to revive negotiations with the mullahs in the days ahead. Particularly given the unknown status of Iran's stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. Now, another unknown at this time is the actual extent of the damage to the targeted nuclear facilities. Detailed, specific credible battle damage assessments are still pending.
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Of course, it would put the US Negotiating team at a significant disadvantage if.
Mike Baker
They restart the talks with Iran without knowing the actual damage done to the.
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Key nuclear sites, as well as the.
Mike Baker
Location of enriched uranium and perhaps centrifuges moved prior to the US Strikes.
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And for that, well, I'm awarding myself.
Mike Baker
The PDB Statement of the Obvious award for today.
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Now, as our listeners know, President Trump.
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Declared that this past weekend strikes, quote, completely and totally obliterated Iran's nuclear sites. But early assessments from Israeli and US.
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Intelligence well paint a more complicated picture.
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According to reports on Tuesday from the.
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New York Times and cnn, which we should stress only cite anonymous sources, a.
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Preliminary classified report by the Defense Intelligence Agency concluded that the core components of.
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Iran's nuclear program likely survived the strikes and that the operation perhaps will only.
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Set back Iran's nuclear ambitions by less than six months.
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The sources said that the strike sealed.
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Off the entrances to two of the facilities, but did not collapse their underground buildings. The report also allegedly states that Iran moved some equipment and much of their.
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Stockpile of enriched uranium to secret nuclear.
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Sites before the airstrikes commenced. So let me just repeat that. The report allegedly states that Iran moved.
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Some equipment and much of their stockpile.
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Of enriched uranium to secret nuclear sites before the airstrikes commenced.
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Now perhaps one should ask here, does.
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That mean that Iran has been maintaining secret nuclear sites all along? Huh?
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Which begs the question, if they've simply.
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Been pursuing a peaceful nuclear program all.
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This time for civilian purposes, why do.
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They have secret sites?
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You'd have to imagine that if they were secret, that probably means the UN.
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Nuclear watchdog hasn't been aware of them and hasn't been inspecting them. Still, the sources stressed that the five.
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Page classified report from the diagnosed is.
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Just an initial assessment and that they're still gathering intelligence. It could take several days or even.
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Weeks for the US Military to complete.
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A formal battle damage assessment. We should also note that the White House was quick to blast that report.
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As, quote, flat out wrong. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said, quote, the leaking of this alleged assessment.
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Is a clear attempt to demean President.
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Trump and discredit the brave pilots who.
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Conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran's nuclear program.
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She added, quote, everyone knows what happens.
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When you drop 14 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets. Total Obliteration. End quote.
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Or, well, maybe not. The report echoes concerns that we brought.
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You on yesterday's pdb. As we discussed, two Israeli officials told.
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The New York Times that they had.
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Intelligence suggesting Iran had moved equipment and uranium for the Fordo site in the.
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Days leading up to the strikes and.
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That uranium stockpiles may have also been moved from the Isfahan facility late last week.
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If the claims prove accurate, negotiations with the regime will take on a new urgency. It will come down to whether or.
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Not Iran still has the necessary equipment to turn their stores of 60% enriched.
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Uranium into operative weapons, given the damage.
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That was done to their three main nuclear sites.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said.
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That intelligence indicated most of Iran's uranium stockpile was still being stored at the.
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Isfahan facility when the US Carried out its strikes.
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But he also said that any surviving.
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Uranium stores will need to be pulled.
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Out of the ground by Iran and.
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Turned over to international partners so the material can be properly dealt with. Separately, there are ongoing concerns over the.
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State of Iran's ballistic missile program. While Israel did substantial damage to the regime's Arsenal over their 12 day campaign, Iran's stockpiles are not fully depleted and.
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They will likely work quickly to restock. Coming up next, secret Israel, Syria backed channel communications could bring Damascus into the Abraham Accords.
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And NATO leaders issued a warning over China's growing military strength and the possibility of an invasion of Taiwan.
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I'll be right back.
Mike Baker
Hey, Mike Baker here.
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Now, you've likely heard me talking about.
Mike Baker
The upcoming BRICS nations summit that's going to be taking place in Rio de Janeiro. We are days away from what has been dubbed the Rio Reset.
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That's a catchy name.
Mike Baker
And it's potentially the greatest threat to the US dollar's global dominance in over 80 years. On July 6, the BRICS nations, that.
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Includes Russia and China, India, and of course don't forget Iran and many more.
Mike Baker
Are expected to unveil their plans to circumvent the US Dollar basically in an attempt to crater the dollar. Look, they've already been laying the groundwork as their central banks have been methodically divesting from the US Dollar and US Bonds in favor of gold.
Unnamed Co-Host
So you ask yourself, how can you.
Mike Baker
Protect your IRA or your 401k from the fallout from this potential landmark shift? Well, I'm glad you asked that question. One answer could be to diversify with gold from Birch Gold Group. Now look, historically, gold has been a safe haven in times of high uncertainty. And these times would qualify as times of high uncertainty. Get a free information kit on tax.
Unnamed Co-Host
Sheltered gold IRAs by texting PDB to 989898. It's that simple.
Mike Baker
Look, July 6th marks a potentially monumental shift among nations that control one third of the world's gdp. Arm yourself with information to diversify your retirement savings. Text PDB to the number 989898 and claim your free information kit from Birch Gold.
Caitlin Becker
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Unnamed Co-Host
Welcome back to the PDB Israel's top national security official confirmed this week that.
Mike Baker
Jerusalem is engaged in direct daily political.
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Talks with the Syrian regime, talks that.
Mike Baker
Could lead to a seismic normalization agreement between two longtime adversaries. In a classified Sunday session with the.
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Knesset Foreign affairs and Defense Committee, National.
Mike Baker
Security Advisor Saki Hanegbi told lawmakers that he himself is leading negotiations with Syrian.
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Political officials, not merely through military backed channels.
Mike Baker
Hanegbe said that there is a direct dialogue at all levels, putting to rest.
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Weeks of speculation that Israel's contacts with.
Mike Baker
Damascus were informal or intermittent. His remarks are the clearest signal yet that the Netanyahu government is exploring a full diplomatic thaw with Syria, and that Jerusalem sees a rare opening to extend the Abraham Accords even further.
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Both Syria and Lebanon, Hanegbe said, are.
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Now being discussed as potential additions to the US Brokered normalization framework. Timing, as always, is everything.
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The revelation comes on the heels of Israeli operations in Iran, operations that summon.
Mike Baker
The government now view as strategic leverage to isolate Tehran and redraw regional alliances. One member of Knesset urged the government.
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To seize the moment, arguing that Israel.
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Should leverage its recent campaign to pursue peace with neighbors and to fracture Iran's axis.
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Hanagbe agreed, adding, israel and Syria have many things in common, including with Iran. That last comment raised more than a.
Mike Baker
Few eyebrows, especially since it contradicts claims made by Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharra. Speaking to French President Emmanuel Macron in.
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May, Al Sharra insisted that that communication with Israel was minimal.
Mike Baker
Hanegbe now flatly contradicts that claim. He told lawmakers, quote, the truth is.
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That there is a direct dialogue suggesting.
Mike Baker
Far more activity occurring behind the scenes than either side has publicly admitted. His confirmation this week builds on our.
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Coverage from May, when sources that spoke exclusively with the Times of Israel revealed.
Mike Baker
Israeli officials have been holding secret security related talks with Syria's new Islamist led government.
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As we discussed on the pdb, Republican Representative Martin Stutzman met privately with Al Shirah last month and said that the.
Mike Baker
Syrian leader expressed a willingness to recognize Israel and explore joining the Abraham Accords, but not without strings.
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Stutzman recounted that Al Shurra demanded Israel halt airstrikes inside Syria and renegotiate the.
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Status of the Golan Heights. Stutzman noted that while Askarad didn't insist.
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On the return of the Golan Heights, they would have to come to some agreement.
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According to Hanegbi, those issues, including IDF.
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Deployments in Syrian buffer zones, are now on the table. If a deal is reached, Israel would.
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Be prepared to examine possible concessions. Still, skepticism, of course, runs deep.
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Intelligence officials at Sunday's meeting reminded the.
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Committee that Al Sharra has not entirely abandoned his radical past.
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In 2014, he declared in a now.
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Infamous speech that his fighters would take.
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Damascus and then Jerusalem.
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Hanegbe downplayed the quote, saying the new president is being shaped as things move.
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Forward, but acknowledged that Israeli officials are.
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Monitoring signs of ideological softening. That shaping process is what has Israel's intelligence community on edge.
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Al Sharaz past ties to Al Qaeda during the Iraq insurgency haven't been forgotten.
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And remain a key source of internal opposition to any sweeping deal. But if a normalization agreement is secured.
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It would frankly mark nothing short of a geopolitical earthquake.
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It would neutralize Iran's reach into Syria.
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And offer Washington and its allies a.
Mike Baker
Powerful diplomatic counterweight in the region.
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Okay.
Mike Baker
Turning now to a warning from NATO Secretary General that China's massive military buildup is approaching a breaking point, one that may set the stage for an invasion of Taiwan. Speaking ahead of yesterday's NATO summit in.
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The Hague, Secretary General Mark Rotte made.
Mike Baker
Clear that the alliance's expanding partnerships in the Indo Pacific are driven by deepening fears over Beijing's growing militarization. He stated, quote, we have this close relationship with Japan and the Republic of.
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Korea, Australia and New Zealand, exactly for.
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The reason that these countries are very.
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Very worried about the massive military buildup in China.
Mike Baker
The warning comes just weeks after our coverage of China staging large scale military exercises around Taiwan, deploying warships and fighter jets in maneuvers widely seen as rehearsals for a blockade or an invasion.
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Taiwan responded by scrambling its own military assets as tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
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Reached a months long high.
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Now, as we've long discussed here on the pdb, Beijing views Taiwan not as a neighbor but as a breakaway province.
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One that must be brought under Beijing's control by force if necessary.
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And while Taipei has strengthened ties with.
Mike Baker
Washington in an effort to stave off.
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Such a move, it's becoming clear that.
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Deterrence may not be enough. Ruta also pointed to the alarming trend in China's defense sector as a signal.
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Of its long term ambitions to put the growth in perspective.
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China, he stated, quote, out of the.
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10 biggest defense companies only a couple.
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Of years ago, you would not find any Chinese companies.
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At this moment, you will find three.
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To five Chinese defense companies in the top 10. That surge in defense manufacturing, Ruta warned.
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Gives Beijing more than just symbolic leverage. It gives Chinese President Xi Jinping capacity.
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To sustain a prolonged conflict.
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But should he choose to act, and if that day comes, Ruta cautioned, China.
Mike Baker
May not act alone.
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According to Ruta, Xi may tap his quote, junior partner, Putin, remember him, to.
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Create a diversion on NATO's eastern flank.
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Opening a second front in Europe, triggering.
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A diversionary crisis on the alliance's doorstep. Against that backdrop, member states have agreed to a sharp boost in defense spending, committing up to 5% of GDP, as earlier demanded by President Trump. Rutte stressed the alliance must remain vigilant, saying NATO countries must stand ready and cannot be naive about the intentions of authoritarian regimes. Though analysts have long argued that China.
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Prefers coercion and economic pressure over direct.
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Military conflict, Rutte now says a full.
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Scale invasion of Taiwan is not just possible, it's increasingly likely.
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As Ruta made clear, the west is no longer wondering if conflict will come. It's preparing for when.
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Coming up next, in the back of the brief, ICE takes down 11 Iranian.
Mike Baker
Nationals over the weekend in the U.S.
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Some with suspected terror ties. More on that when we come back.
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 podforceone with me, Miranda Devine every week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. You don't want to miss an episode.
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 topic of the mainstream media won't so if you're a political junkie on a late lunch or getting ready for 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 Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast.
Unnamed Co-Host
In today's Back of the Brief Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, or ICE agents.
Mike Baker
Have arrested 11 Iranian nationals across eight US states, including several with suspected ties to terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the irgc. At least one of those individuals was on the US Terror watch list, and another admitted to serving as a sniper in the Iranian army just a few years ago.
Unnamed Co-Host
According to a statement from dhs, the.
Mike Baker
Arrests were part of an aggressive effort to remove what they call the worst of the worst, including known or suspected terrorists who entered illegally or overstayed visas under previous immigration policies. Let's run through some of the individuals.
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Picked up, shall we? One man picked up in St. Paul.
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Minnesota, is a former member of Iran's.
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IRGC who admitted to connections with Hezbollah.
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Another was arrested in Mississippi, was flagged.
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As a known or suspected terrorist, and.
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Had lied on his visa application. In Alabama, Heiss arrested another man, a.
Unnamed Co-Host
Former Iranian army sniper found carrying his Iranian military ID.
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He entered the US on a K1 fiance visa under the Biden administration.
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It's very romantic.
Mike Baker
Other arrests included individuals with long criminal histories ranging from drug trafficking and firearm possession to domestic assault and fraud. One arrest even involved a US Citizen who threatened to shoot ICE agents in.
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The head for attempting to arrest the Iranian national that she was harboring. She and her associate her associate are.
Mike Baker
Now facing federal charges. Now, these arrests aren't random pickups. According to a leaked DHS memo obtained by the New York Post, border agents were told to be on high alert for potential sleeper cells in the wake of recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
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The concern is that individuals, of course, loyal to the Iranian regime may attempt.
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Retaliatory attacks from within US borders. Under the Biden administration, more than 700.
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Iranian nationals who crossed illegally were reportedly.
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Released back into the country. In the U.S. dHS officials say that the threat of sympathizers or operatives acting.
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On Iran's behalf is the highest that it's ever been.
Mike Baker
And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Wednesday, 25 June. Now, if you have any questions or.
Unnamed Co-Host
Comments, and I hope you do, please reach out to me@pdbfirsttv.com and to listen.
Mike Baker
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Mike Baker
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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.
Unnamed Speaker
SA.
The President's Daily Brief: June 25th, 2025
Hosted by Mike Baker
The episode opens with a critical examination of the recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran. While the immediate hostilities have paused, significant tensions remain concerning Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Mike Baker (00:22): Highlights that the ceasefire has halted active bombings but acknowledges that Tehran's nuclear ambitions remain unabated. "The ceasefire between Israel and Iran may have paused the bombs, but not Tehran's nuclear ambitions."
Unnamed Co-Host (02:14): Reports President Trump's firm stance against Iran's nuclear development. "Iran's not going to have a nuclear weapon," Trump declared aboard Air Force One.
Despite President Trump's assurances, intelligence reports suggest a more complex reality:
The White House has vehemently denied these assessments:
This discrepancy between the administration's public statements and intelligence assessments underscores the ongoing diplomatic and strategic challenges in addressing Iran's nuclear capabilities.
In a surprising diplomatic development, Israel is reportedly engaging in direct political talks with the Syrian regime, signaling a potential expansion of the Abraham Accords.
Mike Baker (10:06): Announces that Jerusalem is involved in direct, daily political dialogues with Syria. "Jerusalem is engaged in direct daily political talks with the Syrian regime."
Unnamed Co-Host (10:32): Explains that these discussions could pave the way for Syria—and possibly Lebanon—to join the Abraham Accords. "Both Syria and Lebanon, Hanegbe said, are now being discussed as potential additions to the US Brokered normalization framework."
These negotiations come amidst broader strategic maneuvers to isolate Tehran and realign regional alliances. However, skepticism remains due to Syria's past affiliations and the incumbent leadership's historical positions:
If successful, such an agreement would mark a significant geopolitical shift, neutralizing Iran's influence in Syria and strengthening Washington's diplomatic position in the Middle East.
NATO officials have issued stark warnings about China's escalating military capabilities, suggesting a potential threat to Taiwan and regional stability.
Rutte emphasized the urgent need for the alliance to bolster its defenses:
The discussion also touches upon China's strategic collaborations:
This growing military prowess positions China as a formidable adversary, compelling NATO and its allies to reassess and strengthen their collective security measures.
In the "Back of the Brief" segment, significant developments in U.S. domestic security are highlighted through the recent ICE operations targeting Iranian nationals.
Detailed accounts of these arrests reveal the breadth of the operation:
The operation is part of a broader initiative to dismantle potential sleeper cells within the United States:
These arrests underscore the U.S. government's proactive measures to counteract threats emanating from foreign operatives and ensure national security.
Conclusion
This episode of The President's Daily Brief provides a comprehensive overview of the intricate geopolitical landscape as of June 25th, 2025. From the precarious status of Iran's nuclear aspirations and groundbreaking diplomatic negotiations between Israel and Syria, to NATO's mounting concerns over China's military expansion and proactive U.S. domestic security measures, the briefing encapsulates the multifaceted challenges facing national and international security. Notable quotes from key figures, coupled with detailed analysis, offer listeners a nuanced understanding of the pressing issues shaping America's strategic priorities.
For more in-depth analysis and updates, stay tuned to future episodes of The President's Daily Brief.