← The President's Daily Brief
The President's Daily Brief
March 20th, 2025: Grisly Cartel ‘Extermination Camp’ Uncovered & Houthi Leaders Go Into Hiding
00:23:26
Loading summary
Transcript9 lines
- [00:00]
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
- [00:22]
Announcer
Of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full terms@mintmobile.com.
- [00:42]
Mike Baker
It's Thursday, the 20th of March. 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. We'll start things off with a grisly discovery in Mexico. Volunteers searching for missing loved ones uncovered what appears to be an extermination site used by drug cartels, complete with burned remains and underground cremation ovens. We've got the details. Later in the show, the US Military launched another round of strikes on Houthi strongholds in Yemen. Now the attacks have forced Houthi leaders into hiding, cutting off communications as they scramble to respond. Plus, President Trump engages in a very good call with Ukrainian President Zelensky, with the pair discussing steps toward a ceasefire again. And not to beat that dead war horse, but this ceasefire talk with Zelenskyy only means something if Putin decides that he wants to stop waging war on Ukraine. And in today's Back of the Brief, the European Union is unveiling a new initiative to cut reliance on US Military supplies. With intelligence warning that Russia could be ready for war in five years, the EU is making moves to bolster its own security. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. We'll begin in Mexico, where the violence and depravity of the nation's drug cartels is once again on display following the gruesome discovery of what authorities are calling an extermination camp. Mexican authorities recently descended on the Isaguira ranch in the western state of Jalisco after a group of volunteers searching for their missing loved ones received a tip about a mass grave hidden at the abandoned ranch just outside of Guadalajara. When they arrived at the ranch, officials found underground cremation ovens, burned human remains, bone fragments, hundreds of pairs of shoes, discarded clothing and children's toys. That's according to a report from the New York Times. They even found multiple figurines of Santa Muerte, the Mexican folk saint of death revered by criminals and drug traffickers throughout the country. As the investigation progressed, authorities also uncovered at least 96 shell casings of various calibers and metal gripping rings likely used to bind the victims. The grisly discovery has raised fears that the new generation Jalisco cartel, which previously operated the ranch, likely carried out mass killings at the property. It's unclear how many people died at the ranch, and authorities have yet to identify any of the remains. But the more than 700 personal items found scattered across the property hint at a disturbingly high number of victims, even for a country that is sadly acclimated to episodes of brutal cartel violence. The images sent shockwaves through the community, with local media outlets referring to the site as an extermination camp. The discovery grabbed the attention of Mexican President Claudius Sheinbaum, who directed the state Attorney General's office to take over the investigation over concerns that local officials may have engaged in a cover up. The findings also provoked outrage among cartel victims, families and human rights groups who renewed their demands that the Mexican government make cracking down on the cartels their top priority. A security analyst based in Mexico City told the New York Times, the number of victims that presumably could have been buried there is enormous, and it resurfaced the nightmarish reminder that Mexico is plagued with mass graves. According to the government, more than 120,000 people have been forcibly disappeared in Mexico since 1962, when record keeping first began, though the families of victims warn that number is likely far higher. While the government has not officially determined who was behind the mass killings on the ranch, suspicion as mentioned has fallen on the new generation Jalisco cartel, which first emerged in the early 2010s. They've since garnered a reputation as one of the most violent criminal groups in Mexico, and frankly, that's no small feat given their competition from groups like the notoriously brutal Sinaloa Cartel. The new Jalisco generation cartel is a major trafficker of the deadly opioid fentanyl as well as meth, but have since diversified their criminal schemes to include large scale human trafficking. According to a report from the New York Times, as the cartel rapidly expanded in recent years, authorities in the region noted a marked increase in homicides, disappearances and the discovery of mass graves. Indira Novaro, the leader of the group Searching warriors of Jalisco that first discovered the extermination camp, confirmed that a number of people have contacted the group since the site became publicized, saying they were unwittingly recruited by the new generation Jalisco cartel through false job offers. They would reportedly be told to meet at a bus station in Guadalajara before being taken to the ranch, where they were trained with weapons and in grisly torture techniques. They also said the ranch served as a disposal site for the victims of the cartel. Horrifically, the young recruits would reportedly be forced to take part in the torture and killing of victims, and if they refused, were sometimes fed to wild animals. According to the New York Times, Navarro said, this is not a horror film. This is our reality and people should know about it. End quote. The discovery of the Jalisco ranch comes as Mexico faces economic pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on the cartels. In recent months, the Mexican government has been bringing the fight to drug cartels with renewed Vigor, dispatching some 10,000 troops in early February to towns and cities along the border, including cartel strongholds like Juarez and hundreds more to Sinaloa State. It's the main hub for fentanyl trafficking. A series of high profile arrests, drug seizures and fentanyl lab busts have followed, striking at least a temporary blow to cartel operations. Officials recently said They've made nearly 1,000 arrests since the crackdown began and seized nearly as much fentanyl in the last five months as they did in the previous year. Alright, coming up next, the US Strikes Houthi strongholds, forcing leaders into hiding, while President Trump picks up the phone and calls President Zelensky saying a ceasefire remains on track. I'll be right back.
- [07:44]
Announcer
This episode is brought to you by Bluehost. You might not be a tech genius, but you want the website for your business to crush it. Thankfully, Bluehost makes it easy. Customized, optimized and monetized. Everything exactly how you want. With AI, your site can be up within minutes. And the search engine tools even help you get more site visitors. Whatever your passion project is, set it up with Bluehost. With our 30 day money back guarantee. What have you got to lose? Head to bluehost.com to start now.
- [08:14]
Mike Baker
Welcome back to the PDB. The U.S. has intensified its airstrike campaign against the Houthis, this time shifting focus to the Iranian terror proxy's leadership stronghold in Yemen's Sada Province. On Tuesday night, US Fighter jets pounded multiple sites, including the Al Safra district, a key weapons depot and training location. Likhouti Run Al Masra, a news channel, reported more than 10 strikes in the area, which Yemeni sources describe as one of the terror group's most heavily fortified locations. As we've been discussing here on the pdb, the Houthis have waged a relentless conflict against US and allied forces in the Red Sea, launching missile and drone attacks that have forced global shipping routes into disarray. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden typically handle about 12% of the world's trade. But with attacks making those waters increasingly dangerous, many vessels have been forced to reroute around Africa. But the pressure on the rebel group is mounting. Yemeni sources tell Reuters that Houthi leadership has gone underground, cutting off communications and abandoning mobile phones in an effort to evade detection. The only senior figure seen in recent days was Muhammad Ali Ahouti. That's the head of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee, and he was filmed riding a public bus in disguise before delivering a speech in Sana'a's Sabine Square. The terror group has also scrambled to relocate weapons, digging new trenches and bunkers in an effort to shield its arsenal from US Surveillance. Yet intelligence suggests that the ongoing US Airstrikes are targeting those newly established sites, continuing to weaken the Iran backed terror group's operational capacity. Despite these setbacks, the Houthis remain defiant. Their military spokesperson claimed they again launched cruise missiles and drones at the USS Harry Truman carrier group, marking the fourth attempted strike on US warships in a 72 hour period. The Pentagon, however, has not confirmed any damage, dismissing Houthi claims as exaggerated and misleading. President Trump continues to place the blame squarely on the Iranian regime, warning that Iran will be held responsible for any continued attacks. While reports indicate Iran has scaled back direct military assistance to the Houthis, the US Intelligence suggests logistical and material support continues. Trump reinforced that stance on Truth Social Wednesday, vowing that the Houthis will be completely annihilated and warning Iran to cease all supply shipments to its proxy. The Commander in chief's message was U.S. forces will continue to inflict tremendous damage upon the Houthi barbarians until the terror group halts its Red Sea attacks. US Central Command confirmed that continuous operations against Iran backed Houthi terrorists will persist until maritime security is restored. Meanwhile, Iran's position appears increasingly conflicted. As we reported Wednesday, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Tehran issued a verbal warning to the Houthis last week, referring urging them to scale back hostilities. But the Houthis publicly rejected any calls for restraint. Not that I'm cynical, but, well, there is a chance that Iran's claims that they have asked the Houthis to refrain from their attacks is simply window dressing designed to give the mullahs plausible deniability while still allowing their proxy to continue making waves in the Red Sea. The coming days will reveal whether sustained US Pressure can cripple the Houthis operational capacity, or if the terror group can somehow endure and escalate its attacks. All right, next, I want to turn your attention to the war in Ukraine. Following a tumultuous 24 hours, which included a phone call between President Trump and President Vladimir Putin, followed shortly after by continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and energy sites, President Trump said Wednesday that ceasefire talks are back on track after what he described as a very good call with Ukrainian President Zelensky. The pair spoke for an hour on Wednesday morning, just one day after Trump held a nearly two hour phone call with Putin. To bring you up to speed. During the phone call on Tuesday, Trump and Putin agreed to immediately commence negotiations at a neutral site in the Middle east for a potential peace deal. Well, in the interim, Putin agreed in theory to a 30 day limited ceasefire. Now, that would be a very limited ceasefire in the sense because they basically only agreed to halting attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. But even that tentative agreement was thrown into question by Wednesday morning after Ukrainian officials said Russia launched a massive drone and missile bombardment overnight that struck two hospitals in northeastern Ukraine and an energy substation in the eastern Donetsk region. Those are accusations which Russia denied. Ahead of his call with Trump, Zelensky pointed to the Russian attacks overnight as proof that Putin is not being honest about his intentions. Well, that would be a shock, saying Putin's words are very much at odds with reality. It appeared hopes for a limited truce were already at risk of disintegrating. But after the call with Zelensky, Trump claimed that Russia we are very much on track. While Zelenskyy said the conversation was positive, frank and very substantive. Zelenskyy even went on to say that together with America, with President Trump, and under American leadership, lasting peace can be achieved this year. So what happened during the phone call? Well, most notably, Zelenskyy officially agreed to the partial ceasefire with Russia covering energy and other civilian infrastructure, though it remains unclear how the tentative agreement will be formally implemented and enforced. Perhaps more surprisingly, Trump appeared to soften his stance toward Kyiv. Zelenskyy reportedly requested additional air defense systems, particularly US Made Patriot missile systems, and Trump agreed to work with him to fulfill the request. Trump also pledged to keep providing Kyiv with military and intelligence assistance, despite the Kremlin's demand on Tuesday that ongoing aid be halted. Furthermore, President Trump told Zelenskyy that the US could help run Ukraine's electrical facilities and nuclear power plants as a kind of security guarantee, reportedly saying that American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later confirmed the details of the call and said a delegation from the US Will hold discussions with Russian and Ukrainian officials next Monday and Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to work out the technical details of the partial ceasefire and potentially expand it to include a halt on fighting in the Black Sea. Rubio suggested that these discussions could provide the basis for a broader accord to bring the war to a permanent end. It's encouraging progress, to be sure, but as we've been tracking, Putin is still sticking to a long list of demands for a lasting peace that Kyiv is not likely to accept. Much will likely hinge on how willing the Kremlin is to make concessions next week to move the discussions forward. And so far, well, they've shown no willingness to back off their list of hardline demands. Acknowledging the chaotic nature of the discussions this week, White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz said Wednesday, shuttle diplomacy is difficult. It's tough, but we are going back and forth at every level, driving both sides toward a ceasefire and driving both sides toward the end of this war. End quote. Hmm. Okay, coming up in the back of the brief, the eu, the European Union unveils a new defense strategy to cut reliance on US Military supplies preparing for a potential conflict with Russia. And in the coming years. We'll have those details next.
- [16:45]
Announcer
Your data is like gold to hackers. They're selling your passwords, bank details and private messages. McAfee helps stop them. Secure VPN keeps your online activity private, AI powered text scam detector spots phishing attempts instantly and with award winning antivirus you get top tier hacker protection. Plus you'll get up to $2 million in identity theft coverage. All for just $39.99 for your first year. Visit McAfee.com, cancel anytime terms apply.
- [17:15]
This episode is brought to you by Polestar Electric. Performance is at the core of every choice that went into the all electric Polestar 3. Like merging a spacious interior with the torque and handling of a sports car, or the ability to go from 0 to 60 in as little as 4.8 seconds and get an EPA estimated range of up to 315 miles per charge. Choices like this all lead to making your decision to choose Polestar 3 obvious. Book your test drive today at polestar.com.
- [17:46]
Mike Baker
In today's back of the brief, the European Union unveiled an ambitious security strategy aimed at reducing its dependence on US Military suppliers. The move urges member states to prioritize European defense firms as intelligence warns of another looming war with Russia. The EU's push for military Self sufficiency is a direct response to growing concerns that Washington's commitment to European defense is, well, uncertain. Last month, the Trump administration signaled a shift in focus, prioritizing border security and Indo Pacific threats over European defense. That's a stance that accelerated efforts within the EU to secure its own military capabilities. Europe's security calculus has already been reshaped by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but NATO intelligence now suggests Moscow could be in a position to launch another attack on the continent within the next three to five years. With that threat, the European Commission on Wednesday rolled out its Readiness 2030 initiative, an aggressive plan to fortify Europe's defense industry and lessen reliance on American military technology. The strategy, outlined as EU leaders meet at the European Council summit today, prioritizes investment in missile defense systems, artillery, ammunition, drones, cyber warfare tools and border security. At the heart of the Readiness 2030 framework is a mandate requiring EU members to Procure at least 65% of their military equipment from EU suppliers Norway or Ukraine. The initiative comes with a substantial financial backing. It's a newly created $164 billion loan program earmarked for EU aligned defense projects, along with incentives for governments that prioritize European manufacturers over American firms. The move is a well, it's frankly a seismic shift, especially considering that US defense companies historically supplied nearly 2/3 of the EU's military equipment. But European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended this plan, stating, the security architecture that we relied on can no longer be taken for granted. The strategy takes a page from REpower EU that's the EU's successful energy initiative that slashed dependence on Russian gas after Moscow weaponized its supply. France has long championed a by European defense policy, but resistance is expected from countries like Poland and the Netherlands which favor American made weaponry. Still, EU officials acknowledge the United States remains a vital Western ally, with the US focusing elsewhere and Russia's military ambitions looming. The EU's pivot toward military self reliance marks a defining moment that could alter Europe's security landscape in the years to come. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Thursday 20th March. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me@pdbhirsttv.com and not that I need to remind you, but to listen to the show ad free it's simple. 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. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.
- [21:40]
Mike Slater
Hey, I'm Mike Slater. I have a podcast called Politics by Faith. We have a very simple mission. We take the news of the day and we filter it through a biblical worldview. So here's the big story of the day. What does the Bible say about it and how can we apply it? It's amazing. There's nothing new under the sun. The Bible has something to say about everything that's going on today. So basically we thumped the Bible over on Politics by Faith. I think we ought to keep MAGA going. And I think the way to take it beyond to political victory into a true reality, rebuilding and awakening and revival in America is to make sure that this is all grounded in biblical principles. And that's what we do on the podcast Politics by Faith. And you can subscribe to Politics by Faith wherever you're listening to the show right now.