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The President's Daily Brief
May 15th, 2025: Russian Terror Plot Foiled In Germany & Trump Lands A Deal In Qatar
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Mike Slater
My name is Mike Slater. I have a podcast called Politics by Faith. I was just talking to a friend of mine who said he hasn't been able to follow the news lately. It's been too much, it's too crazy. It's driving him crazy and he's just checked out. If you feel that way sometimes too, I think you'll really like our podcast, Politics by Faith. We take the main story of the day and we run it through the Bible. What does the Bible say about this? It's amazing, but it's all there. And then God tells us what to do. We don't even have to figure it out. The answers are right there. He gives us the answers. Politics by Faith. Please join us over there. You can listen to it wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. Politics by faith.
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Mike Baker
It's Thursday, the 15th of May. 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 today with a foiled terror plot in the heart of Europe. German authorities say they've disrupted a Russian backed sabotage operation designed to cripple Western logistics by setting packages on fire mid flight. Yeah. Later in the show, the European Union just approved a new round of sanctions on Russia, warning that even tougher measures are coming if Putin won't agree to a 30 day ceasefire proposed by the US and its allies. Or, and this is just a thought, how about you start with the tougher measures? Plus, Trump gets another deal during his swing through the Middle East. In the latest show of economic diplomacy, Qatar has signed a 200 billion dollar agreement to buy 160 Boeing jets, which begs the question, do they have enough parking spaces for 160 jets? And in today's back of the brief, Mexico's top security official confirms that 17 family members of high profile cartel leaders recently crossed into the US as part of a deal struck between the Trump administration and the son of a former Sinaloa cartel boss. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. We begin today with a foiled terrorist plot in Europe, one that German officials say bears all the hallmarks of a Russian state sponsored sabotage effort. German police have arrested three Ukrainian nationals suspected of plotting to mail explosives from Germany in a coordinated campaign to disrupt Western logistics networks. According to prosecutors, the plan involved sending booby trapped packages from inside Germany to addresses in Ukraine where they were designed to detonate during transit. The suspects were detained in recent days in both Germany and Switzerland. Authorities alleged they were recruited by Individuals, quote, presumed to be working for Russian state institutions and were preparing attacks on cargo transport systems in Germany. Prosecutors say at least one of the suspects had already conducted a test run in late March, sending packages outfitted with GPS trackers from the city of Cologne. Officials say the plot was disrupted in its early stages, but the implications are serious because, well, as you know, at least if you're a regular listener to the pdb, this is not an isolated incident. Just last year, Europe was rocked by a string of parcel bombings. In July, three devices exploded, one in Birmingham and the UK one in Leipzig in Germany, and another near Warsaw in Poland. Each package had been sent through the same courier network and disguised to look like ordinary consumer goods. Adult toys and massage pillows, to be more specific. Ah, ordinary consumer goods. Concealing explosives inside an adult toy. So many possible jokes. And yet. Let's move on. Inside, investigators found timers made from cheap Chinese electronics, cosmetic tubes filled with flammable nitromethane gel, and wiring intended to trigger fires mid flight. Western security officials quickly pointed the finger at Moscow, describing the attacks as part of a broader sabotage campaign. And they warned, the consequences, well, could have been far worse. Obviously, in at least one case, German authorities noted that a delayed flight may have saved lives. Had the device ignited on schedule, it could have brought down the aircraft. From train derailments to warehouse fires. Russian intelligence has been accused of waging a covert war across Europe, using third party operatives, criminal proxies and low tech tools to create maximum disruption with minimal fingerprints. In France last year, fires broke out at multiple logistics hubs just weeks apart, including one that shut down a major Amazon distribution center near Lyon. Investigators there suspect arson, with French intelligence reportedly linking the incidents to pro Russian operatives acting on indirect orders. In Poland, authorities thwarted a sabotage attempt on the country's rail infrastructure, arresting individuals allegedly paid by Russian handlers to derail trains carrying NATO military equipment bound for Ukraine. Meanwhile, in the UK, MI5 and other agencies have reportedly been tracking a network of individuals tied to Russian intelligence who are believed to be behind a series of mysterious fires and break ins at military linked sites. The strategy appears to be, well, simple but effective. Sow chaos, raise insurance costs, erode confidence in Western infrastructure, and stretch the resources of security agencies. And the threat doesn't stop at Europe. U.S. officials have quietly increased scrutiny of foreign packages arriving from Europe, especially after intelligence suggested the sabotage campaign could target transatlantic shipments. As for this latest plot, authorities aren't yet sure if any additional packages made it into the mail stream. As a public service announcement. If you do receive Any adult toys in the mail, be sure to give them the once over. Investigations are ongoing, and prosecutors say more arrests could follow. Now, Russia, for its part, and here's a surprise, denies any involvement. But the pattern is becoming harder to ignore. Moscow is leveraging deniable assets to wage a covert war not on militaries, but on civilians and civilian supply chains. All right, coming up after the break, the EU hits Russia with fresh sanctions ahead of ceasefire talks. And President Trump lands a $200 billion jet deal with Qatar during his Middle east visit. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me tell you about a, a great company that's out there that could help you with your online security. And that's important, right? Deleteme makes it easy, quick and safe to remove your personal data online. 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The European Union reached a preliminary agreement on what would be its 17th sanctions package against Russia, warning it will be formally enacted if the Kremlin continues to reject the White House's proposed 30 day ceasefire. The thinking being, I suppose. Well, the first 16 sanctions packages didn't work. So maybe the 17th will be the charm. As we've been tracking here on the pdb, the agreement, sealed Wednesday by EU ambassadors, is the culmination of a week long pressure campaign, including a Monday deadline set by Germany for the Kremlin to respond to Washington's overture. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared, this war has to end. We will keep the pressure high. The proposed sanctions once again take aim at Russia's so called shadow fleet. That's a network of aging uninsured oil tankers deployed to skirt avoid Western export controls, as well as individuals and firms tied to Moscow's defense and illicit procurement networks. The full package is expected to get the green light from EU foreign ministers next week. According to the Commission, 189 additional vessels will be added to the EU's blacklist of 153 tankers already barred from European ports and services, bringing the total to over 340. These ships, EU officials say, have engaged in deceptive practices, cutting transponders, faking shipping data and quietly transferring cargo at sea. As our listeners will recall, EU officials have stated that some of the vessels are now under investigation for suspected sabotage against critical European infrastructure, including the suspected sabotage of Internet cables in the Baltic Sea. But the sanctions reach far beyond maritime assets. The package also includes a ban on EU origin chemicals that could be repurposed for missile production and a fresh blacklist of 75 individuals and over 30 companies. Among the firms named are entities operating out of Kazakhstan, Serbia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and the UAE countries and European investigators believe are helping Moscow procure dual use components in defiance of previous rounds of sanctions. The move comes as Ukrainian President Zelensky is slated to meet with Russian officials in Istanbul sometime today for direct peace talks in a format endorsed by President Trump. Whether Russian President Putin will attend remains uncertain. Zelensky made his position clear, warning that if Putin, quote, does not arrive and instead plays games, it's the final point that he does not want to end the war, end quote. For European diplomats, the message is just as direct. Officials in Brussels have tied final approval of the 17th package of sanctions to whether Moscow takes a ceasefire offer seriously. On Tuesday, a commission spokesman confirmed that, quote, in the absence of a ceasefire, we are indeed looking into further sanctions, end quote. Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron went even further, suggesting that the west is prepared to broaden the pressure campaign to Russia's energy and financial sectors. Macron made it clear, quote, our objective is to achieve a 30 day ceasefire on land, air and sea to discuss the issue of territories and security guarantees, end quote. While the current draft cleared the ambassadorial level without major objections, it now faces a more formidable test next week when foreign ministers must approve the measures unanimously. That hurdle has proven problematic in the past. Hungary, a vocal critic of efforts to isolate Moscow, has delayed or threatened to derail multiple rounds of sanctions, especially those touching on oil and gas. Although Budapest offered no resistance this time, officials remain wary that its opposition could return in the enactment process. For now, though, the 17th package of sanctions stands as a calibrated pressure campaign designed to force Moscow's hand. Should the ceasefire be rejected, EU leaders are already preparing the ground for an even broader sanctions offensive against Russia's war economy. Okay. Turning to President Trump's ongoing Gulf state diplomacy tour, the president secured another major win, this time with a landmark $96 billion aircraft deal between Boeing and Qatar Airways. The agreement is part of more than $1 trillion in accords aimed at deepening U.S. qatar defense, trade and energy ties. The deal, unveiled during Trump's visit to Doha, the first ever by a sitting US president, includes 160 widebody aircraft with purchase options for another 50, making it the largest jet order in Boeing's history. How about that? It also stands as the biggest widebody engine sale on record for General Electric Aerospace, which manufactures the aircraft's engines. The order spans Boeing's next gen 777X and the 787 Dreamliner models. Trump and Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani presided over the signing ceremony at the Royal palace, flanked by the CEOs of Boeing and Qatar Airways. The president called the agreement a quote, new level in bilateral relations and praised the emir as a, quote, outstanding man. Although the 777X remains central to the agreement, the aircraft is, well, still in development and not expected to enter commercial service until at least 2026. That is about six years behind its original schedule. But the Boeing order, well, that was just the opening act. Trump and the Amir Inc. To broader portfolio of high dollar agreements covering defense procurement, energy infrastructure and joint ventures in tech and logistics. According to the White House, the total value of signed and pending deals exceeds $1.2 trillion, including over $243 billion in finalized contracts. Among the highlights is a $2 billion agreement for U S built unmanned aerial systems, a $1 billion counter drone package from Raytheon, and a $38 billion statement of intent for joint investment projects aimed at strengthening regional air and maritime defense. Much of those investments will bolster U.S. operations at the Al Udaid air base in Qatar. That's the largest American military installation in the Middle East. Trump's visit to Qatar marked a second leg of his golf tour following Tuesday's multibillion dollar defense and energy agreements with Saudi Arabia. The president is expected to wrap up his trip today in Abu Dhabi, where talks with the UAE president will center again on investment for deepening ties with the U.S. while commerce dominated the itinerary, Trump and the Qatari emir discussed escalating flashpoints in the region, chief among them, of course, Iran's nuclear program. Trump reiterated his commitment to his administration's maximum pressure sanctions strategy against The Iranian regime stating, quote, I have a feeling it's going to work out. The historic visit culminated in a state dinner at Lucille palace where Trump praised the Qatari hosts for their, quote, unbelievable splendor and warmth. The president called the trip a quote, milestone in a new era of US Qatari relations. He called the series of deals a decisive win for American industry, diplomacy and strategic positioning in the Gulf. All right, coming up next in the back of the brief, over a dozen Mexicans across the U. S. Southern border into America. But this time with the blessing of the Trump administration. I'll have those details next. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now this July, you may have heard about this, but this July this going to be a global summit of bricks nations. It's going to be held in Rio de Janeiro. 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Let Birch Gold arm you with a free information kit on owning gold before the July Rio reset. Again just text PDB to 989-898 today. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a few seconds of your time to talk about an important subject, right? Eating smart, eating healthy. And a big part of that effort, and you know this probably I'm sure is, is knowing where your food comes from, right? Knowing how your food is raised and how it's handled. After all, if you don't take control of your food supply, I guarantee you somebody else will. And that somebody will likely be some large faceless corporation. Now also, if you're a fan of beef like I am, I'm about to tell you something really good. This is where you can go to turn for the highest quality beef. And of course I'm talking about a great business called Tri Tails Beef Tritails is a fifth generation Texas ranch. It's run by real ranchers. There's no corporate nonsense, no middlemen, no mystery. It's just pasture, raised grain, finished Black Angus beef that delivers tenderness and rich marbling and great taste in every cut this grilling season. Stock up before it's too late. And right now, when you order over $349, you get a free choice. New York strip. Just go to tribe.com PDB Grill that's tribe.com PDB Grill. Your family, your friends and frankly, your grill will thank you. In today's Back of the Brief. It's not often that you read a story about President Trump helping foreign nationals cross into the United States, but, well, here we are. Mexico's top security official has confirmed that 17 family members of cartel leaders crossed into the US last week as part of a deal between the Trump administration and the son of former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. The security official said in a radio interview Tuesday that the family members of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, El Chapo's son, entered the country through Tijuana and were met by US Agents on the other side. Video footage shows the group calmly walking across the border with suitcases in hand. The move appears to be part of a cooperation agreement. Guzman Lopez, who was extradited to the US in 2023, has reportedly been negotiating a plea deal in exchange for information on rival cartel members. His attorney began those discussions back in January. According to the official, the fact that Guzman's relatives were allowed to enter the US without interference despite their family ties, makes it evident that the Department of Justice cut a deal. There you go. That's what we would refer to as a statement of the obvious. He also noted that Mexican authorities were not actively pursuing any of the family members at the time. As for the U.S. government, well, they've said very little publicly about the arrangement. But the same day this border crossing was confirmed, the U.S. attorney's office announced fresh charges against several cartel leaders, including narco terrorism. Now that's a designation being used for the first time since the Trump administration labeled cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. U.S. attorney Adam Gordon, speaking from the Southern District of California, didn't mention the family directly, but but had a message for the rest of the cartels, quote, you are no longer the hunters, you are the hunted. You will be betrayed by your friends, hounded by your enemies, and ultimately find your face in a courtroom. End quote. The movement of the family members indicates that the Trump administration does appear willing to make deals with cartel figures if it means flipping insiders, gaining intelligence and bringing top tier targets into U.S. courtrooms. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Thursday 15th May. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the firsttv.com and of course to listen to the show ad free. Well, you can do that and you can do it very simply. Just become a premium member of the President's Daily brief by visiting PDB premium.com and finally, if you could take a minute out of your busy day to check out our YouTube channel at President's Daily Brief. It's chock full of episodes and it, it won't leave you with that gassy, bloated feeling that you get from so many of the other YouTube channels. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool. It.