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The President's Daily Brief
May 29th, 2025: How GNC Is Giving China A Foothold on U.S. Military Bases & Russia’s Troop Build-Up
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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 29th of May. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief, Mike. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. And yes, still on the road. All right, let's get briefed. We'll start off today's show with a concerning intrusion onto US military bases. Now a popular supplements chain with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, the CCP is operating inside the wire, raising fears of possible espionage and collection of information on military personnel. Later in the show, Ukraine's president says Russia is massing 50,000 troops near the northeastern border, suggesting that Moscow is preparing for a summer offensive. I mean, nothing says I'm interested in having a ceasefire like putting 50,000 of your troops on the invaded country's border. We'll provide the available details. Plus, Germany's leader says he'll help Ukraine build its own long range missiles. I mean, not personally, but with German know how and resources, it's a major shift that could take the war deep into Russian territory. And in today's back of the brief, Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveils new visa restrictions targeting foreign officials who help to censor Americans online. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. It's a topic that we've covered here on the PDB at length. The threat to national security posed by Chinese institutions and business entities beholden to to the Chinese Communist Party that operate in the United States. And today I want to bring you a story about a Chinese owned company that's actually already operating inside US Military bases. And most service members probably have no idea that the CCP is involved. Now, many of you know the store gnc, right? They've got literally thousands of locations located all over the country. You've probably Got one in your local strip mall. They sell. Do they still have strip malls? I don't know. They sell supplements and vitamins and protein powders and a variety of other potions and stuff promoting or at least promising a healthy lifestyle. What you might not know is that GNC operates 85 stores on American military installations across the country. For example, it's got Multiple locations at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, home to over 50,000 troops and the heart of army special operations, might I add. And a store at Fort Drum in New York, that's the headquarters of the 10th Mountain Division. But behind the shelves of protein powder and vitamins is something more troubling. Gnc, you see, is owned by Harbin Pharmaceuticals. That's a partially state owned Chinese firm with direct links to the ccp, the Chinese Communist Party. In China, the line between the private sector and the state is virtually. What's the word I'm looking for? Non existent. Companies like Harbin Pharmaceuticals aren't independent actors in the Western sense. They operate under the oversight of the ccp, which maintains the legal authority to compel corporate cooperation with intelligence efforts. Under China's 2017 National Intelligence Law, all organizations and citizens are required to support, assist and cooperate with state intelligence work. In other words, when a Chinese company operates abroad, especially in sensitive environments, it's not just a business transaction, it's a potential extension of the Chinese regime. Now, this is not a hypothetical threat. It's a reality currently embedded into the daily lives of American troops. GNC stores on base aren't just licensed storefronts. They're fully operated, staffed and supplied by the company, the CCP linked company. That means foreign ownership has direct access to the purchasing habits and health profiles and other data of US Service members. In addition to running a database that contains individual bio details and financial information, the company could also track individuals with specific vulnerabilities like chronic fatigue or anxiety, testosterone deficiencies or sleep disorders. Over time, well, that information could help paint a portrait of military readiness, deployment cycles, or even personal stress markers or weaknesses. All of it, from the CCP's perspective, potentially exploitable. And that's just the analog threat. These stores are also presenting digital risks. What I mean by that is the loyalty programs of WI FI networks, promotional QR codes could be used to collect geolocation data or even serve as vectors for malicious software, opening the door to surveillance or cyber intrusion. So you say to yourself, how did we get here? Well, GNC was once a Pittsburgh based retailer, but in 2020, amid bankruptcy, it was bought outright by Harbin. Pharmaceuticals for $770 million after Harbin had already taken a 40% stake two years earlier. That acquisition went through with minimal scrutiny, despite warnings from security officials and lawmakers. Since then, the company has grown its footprint to over 4,000 stores globally, including dozens on the front lines of America's national security military infrastructure. In an era when foreign land purchases near bases are finally triggering alarm bells, a CCP linked company is selling supplements inside the perimeter fence. And because GNC operates under long term concession agreements, that's a type of retail contract used on military installations, it isn't classified as a traditional government contractor. That means that GNC isn't subject to the same registration and disclosure requirements in the federal system for award management. I know I'm getting a little bit wonky here, but it's important. In fact, GNC's registration quietly expired back in late 2024 with no mention of its Chinese ownership ever appearing in the database. Shocking. Now, you may hear this news and think to yourself, well, that seems a bit paranoid, worrying that the CCP could be collecting data on military members through a vitamin and supplements business. But the fact is, the Chinese regime's intel apparatus is aggressive, very well resourced, creative and patient. It would be naive to imagine that the CCP would not take advantage of this level of access to US military facilities and personnel. The CCP's intel machine views all information as potentially operationally useful or leverageable. It would run counter to decades of documented behavior on their part to think that they would treat this type of access in a benign fashion. Alright, coming up next, Russia masses 50,000 troops near Ukraine's northeastern border. And Germany vows to help Kyiv build its own long range missiles. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, coming up this July, perhaps you have heard about this, maybe because I've told you, but there's going to be a big global summit of BRICS nations happening in Rio de Janeiro. That's quite a posh spot. The bloc of emerging superpowers, including China and Russia, India and Iran are meeting with the goal of displacing the US Dollar as the global currency. And they are calling this effort. Here's a catchy name, the Rio Reset. As BRICS nations push forward with their plans, well, demand for US dollars could decrease and that of course would bring down the value of the dollar. And while the transition won't happen overnight, the Rio Reset does mark a pivotal moment when BRICS objectives move from possibility toward reality. So you say to yourself, what can you do to help protect your hard earned dollar savings. May I suggest that you check in with the professionals over at Birch Gold Group. Now Birch Gold can help you move your hard earned dollar savings into a tax sheltered IRA in precious metals. To claim your free information kit. It's simple. Just text PDB to 989-898 with an A rating with the Better Business Bureau and tens of thousands of happy customers. Let Birchgold arm you with a free information kit on owning gold before July in that Rio reset again. Just text PDB to 989-898 today. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let's talk about trees, shall we? And plants. Oh, and don't forget shrubs. Now did you know that Fast Growing Trees is the biggest online nursery in the U.S. it's true. With thousands of different plants and over. Get this, 2 million happy customers. They have all the plants your yard needs like fruit trees, privacy trees, flowering trees, shrubs, and so much more. Whatever plants you're interested in, Fast Growing Trees has you covered to get your dream yard delivered directly to your door. Now it's an excellent business and this spring they have the best deals, up to half off on select plants. And now listeners to our show get 15% off their first purchase when using code PDB at checkout. That's an additional 15% off at fastgrowingtrees.com using the code PDB at checkout. Fastgrowingtrees.com code PDB and don't forget, with springtime in full swing, now's the perfect time to plant. Use PDB to save today. Offer is valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply. Welcome back to the pdb. In preparation for a potential summer offensive, Russia is massing more than 50,000 troops near Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, intensifying fears of a renewed cross border offensive. And as the Kremlin continues to stall peace talks, Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed the buildup in comments to his country's national news agency on Tuesday, stating that Russian forces are concentrating both along the border and inside neighboring Kursk. The deployment includes some of Russia's most elite combat units and four villages in Sumy region have already fallen to advancing Russian forces. That's according to Ukrainian officials. Zelenskyy warned that Moscow's goal extends beyond Sumy. He said, quote, now they are accumulating troops in the direction of Sumy. He added that Russia would do everything to cross the administrative border of Dnepropetrovsk. That's an eastern region long pummeled by Russian airstrikes and has so far been spared a full scale ground assault. Kyiv believes the immediate aim is to carve out a nearly 10 mile wide buffer zone, shielding Russian territory from future cross border raids while forcing Ukraine to thin its defenses along the front. It's not a new idea. Russia first floated that plan in 2024, but shelved it after Ukrainian forces staged their own incursion into Kursk. Now the scheme appears to be back on Russia's planning table. Zelenskyy, speaking after an intelligence briefing on Monday, made no effort to hide his exasperation. There's no evidence, he said, that they are seriously considering peace. On the contrary, there's a lot of evidence that they are preparing new offensive operations. Ukraine's military intelligence backs that claim, saying Russia's long term objective remains unchanged, full control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Any gestures toward diplomacy, officials say, are simply delay tactics meant to buy time, replenish arms and reposition forces for a looming summer push. Efforts to reach even a temporary halt in fighting remain frozen. As we discussed this month on the PDB, Russian leader Putin rejected a proposed ceasefire during a 19 May phone call with President Trump. Instead, he promised to submit a, quote, memorandum, oh, that'll help, detailing Moscow's conditions for a future settlement. That document was due Sunday but never materialized. When pressed on the delay, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointed to the weekend's 1000 for 1000 prisoner swap with Ukraine as the reason. Zelensky dismissed that excuse, calling it a flimsy cover for more foot dragging. He said, quote, they talk a lot about diplomacy, but when in the midst of this there are constant Russian strikes, constant killings, constant assaults and preparations for new offensives, this is definitely a diagnosis, end quote. Indeed, Moscow's rhetoric has not stopped the rockets. Russian missile and drone attacks have intensified in recent days, targeting Kyiv and critical energy infrastructure across the country, further calling into question, of course, the Kremlin's claims of restraint. In response, Zelenskyy is urging Western allies to ratchet up pressure on the Kremlin, urging Washington and Brussels to enact new and strong sanctions to undercut Putin's war machine and force Moscow to engage seriously. Officials speaking to the Washington Post echoed Zelenskyy's call, noting that while Russia may not have the manpower to break Ukrainian lines, outright coordinated Western pressure could still shift the balance. Zelensky bluntly added, quote, russia deserves full scale pressure. And given the Kremlin's latest moves, well, it's becoming increasingly difficult to argue otherwise. Okay, sticking with Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's attempt to Project Solidarity alongside President Zelenskyy in Berlin yesterday was eclipsed by backlash from his own party over muddled remarks on long range missile deliveries to Kyiv. Mertz had hoped the visit would spotlight European resolve in the face of Russian escalation. Instead, well, it devolved into a public unraveling of Berlin's defense policy after the Chancellor appeared to greenlight the transfer of Taurus cruise missiles, only to reverse course just a day later. The controversy began Monday when Mertz declared that there were, quote, no more range limitations on Western supplied weapons to Ukraine, suggesting a significant shift in Germany's position. The statement aligned Berlin with Washington, London and Paris, which have already authorized strikes inside Russian territory using their respective weapons systems. As we reported here on the pdb, such a move would represent a major policy pivot. Germany has until now withheld the Taurus system, worried that unleashing a missile with its over 300 mile plus range might provoke direct retaliation from nuclear armed Moscow. But by Tuesday, the message had changed. Mertz clarified that his remarks referred only to existing weapons that Ukraine already possesses and insisted there was no new weapons deal, no new policy and no, no consensus with NATO partners. A senior Christian Democratic Union Party lawmaker took to X to accuse the Chancellor of sowing confusion at a critical moment. He posted, quote, there is no sign of Germany finally delivering Taurus cruise missiles because I still see no unity in the coalition and no political will to respond appropriately and with strength and consistency to Russia's massive escalation. End quote. Mertz's finance minister and the leftist Social Democratic Party leader piled on insisting publicly there had been no new agreement that would alter Germany's cautious stance, underscoring deep fractures within the ruling coalition over how far Berlin is willing to go. Instead, the Chancellor's rhetorical whiplash deepened frustration both in Kyiv and among Germany's allies. The Taurus missile system, highly precise, long range and long requested by Ukraine, well, remains off limits with no timeline for reversal. For those unfamiliar, Germany remains the second largest military donor to Ukraine after the U.S. but its refusal to send long range strike capabilities is increasingly viewed as a strategic liability, particularly as those Russian troops we just mentioned mass near Sumy. In an apparent bid to shift the narrative, Mertz used Wednesday's joint press conference to to unveil a new pledge. Germany will help Ukraine develop its own long range missile systems unrestricted by Western policy. He said Germany would strive to equip the Ukrainian army with all the capabilities that truly enable it to successfully defend the country. The Chancellor added that Ukraine will be able to defend itself outside of its own territory. Zelenskyy notably did not press the Taurus issue in public. Instead, he he welcomed the broader pledge of long term defense cooperation. But any momentum from the Berlin meeting was quickly undercut by a surprise statement out of Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov released a statement inviting Ukraine to resume direct peace talks in Istanbul on 2 June. Moscow, Lavrov claimed, will present a new ceasefire proposal focused on the so called. Oh, here they come again. The root causes of the war. Well, you know, you could argue that the root cause of the war was Putin's invasion, but maybe I'm being churlish. Presidential aide Vladimir Madinsky is set to lead the Russian delegation once again. One detail conspicuously absent from the announcement. Well, there was no mention again of whether Putin would be attending. Now if I were a cynical betting man, I'd say that the sum total of zero progress will come out of the talks in Istanbul on 2 June. Progress, meaningful progress would require that Putin give up some of his long standing hardline demands and he's shown no sign of compromise to date. All right, coming up next in the back of the brief, the US Targets foreign officials who censor Americans online with new visa bans. I'll have those details next. Hey, Mike Baker here. Well, I am very pleased to report, ladies and gentlemen, that that it is now officially grilling season. That is right. You can fire up the grill if you haven't already. Now look, if your grill could talk, here's what I think it would probably say, right? It would probably say something like, hey, stop throwing supermarket mystery meat on me. Right? Get something better. And I'm going to tell you where you can get that something better. Where I get my beef from. And that's trails. Beef. Well, Tritails is an amazing fifth generation family run Texas ranch. It's not some big box meat factory. They, they deliver pasture raised, grazed, finished Black Angus beef right to your front door. And right now, in recognition of Memorial day, they're knocking $20 off their ribeye and New York strip specials. And when you head over to try beef.com PDB they'll toss in two flat iron steaks for free. Look, there's no strings, there's no middlemen, just delicious cuts of beef delivered right to your door. So stock up the freezer, get ready to grill like you mean it and treat your grill and your taste buds with a little respect. That's tribe.com PDB in today's back of the brief, the US State Department is going on offense against foreign censorship of American citizens. In an announcement on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that the Trump administration will begin imposing visa restrictions on foreign officials who are, quote, complicit in censoring Americans. Writing on X, Rubio declared, for too long Americans have been fined, harassed and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights. Today I'm announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans. While Rubio didn't name specific cases, the move comes amid growing concern over Europe's evolving stance on speech rights, especially when it comes to online content. In the UK as an example, police recently arrested a retired officer for a social media post warning about antisemitism, sparking backlash from lawmakers who said authorities are now enforcing thought crimes. Additionally, in the UK authorities have threatened extradition and jail time to US Citizens for online posts allegedly inciting violence from abroad. London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley emphasized that individuals inciting racial hatred or violence online, even even from outside the UK could face legal consequences. Rubio's statement also called out governments around the world, including in Europe and Latin America, for trying to pressure US Tech companies into adopting global content moderation rules that could restrict what Americans are allowed to post online. Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country, rubio said. They the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over. End quote. Now that could mean visa restrictions for foreign government regulators, cyber officials, and even members of so called disinformation boards in allied countries. Anyone pushing rules or policies that silence US Citizens abroad. The new policy sends a blunt message to the world. If you police American speech, well, don't expect a warm welcome at the U.S. border. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Thursday, 29 May. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@thefirsttv.com and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel. It's a humdinger. Just go to President's Daily brief. That's @ PresidentsDaily Brief right there on YouTube. You can't miss it. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool. Trip Planner by Expedia. You were made to have strong opinions about sand. We were made to help you and your friends find a place on the beach with a pool and a marina and a waterfall and a soaking tub. Expedia made to travel.