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The President's Daily Brief
November 18th, 2024: Biden Unleashes Long-Range Weapons Against Russia & Iran Supports Ceasefire in Lebanon
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- [00:00]
Mike Baker
This episode is brought to you by Patriot Gold Group. Now protect your retirement assets and safeguard your future. Speak with the experts over at Patriot Gold. They've been the top rated gold IRA dealer get this for 7 years in a row. And I'm here to tell you that that is a lot of years in a row. Go to patriotgoldgroup.com or call 1-888-621-3856 for a free investor. It's Monday, the 18th of November. 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're starting today with a major development in Ukraine where for the first time President Biden has authorized the use of US Made long range weapons to strike deeper into the heart of Russian territory. We'll have those details later in the show. Iran is signaling that it would support a ceasefire in Lebanon and possibly because they've spent decades spending money in missiles and rockets building Hezbollah. And now, well, they're tired of watching Israel dismantle their proxy group. Plus, Donald Trump's latest cabinet appointments point to an aggressive shift in American energy policy. And in today's Back of the brief, well, you probably wanted another UFO story and I'm giving it to you. The Pentagon has released a new report revealing more than 700 new cases of unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs, and what those of us over a certain age used to refer to as UFOs. We'll have the details. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. President Biden has approved Ukraine's use of US supplied long range missiles known as ATACMs, to strike deeper into Russian territory. This decision relaxes earlier restrictions and aimed at keeping the conflict from escalating further. The move comes as reports suggest thousands of North Korean troops have been deployed near Ukraine's northern border to support Russia in reclaiming lost ground in the Russian Kursk region. Sources familiar with the matter say that these missiles will likely be used in direct response to North Korea's involvement in Putin's war. The sources requested anonymity as they weren't authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Meanwhile, there's been another major development in the war in Ukraine, not on the battlefield. But in a phone call between two key leaders on Friday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin broke a long period of silence with a phone call. It marked the first such conversation between Putin and the leader of any major Western power in nearly two years. According to a German government spokesman. Scholz urged Putin during Their hour long call to withdraw troops, end the full scale invasion and come to the negotiating table. Well, that should do it. He also reaffirmed Germany's commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression for as long as necessary. The Kremlin described the conversation as a detailed and frank exchange of opinions on the situation in Ukraine, adding, the very fact of dialogue is positive, end quote. However, Moscow reiterated that any peace deal should acknowledge Russia's territorial gains and security demands, including that Ukraine renounce joining NATO. Now, granted, it doesn't sound like the diplomatic needle moved very much during this conversation. However, the very fact that a conversation did take place is significant. It may hint that Europe is bracing for a shift in approach as the White House prepares to welcome President Elect Trump. Trump has made a more diplomatic approach to the conflict in Ukraine, a cornerstone of his foreign policy plans. As a matter of fact, Schultz's call with Putin comes less than a week after the German Chancellor spoke to Trump. During that call, Schultz said the pair talked at length about Ukraine, telling German media that the conversation was, quote, surprisingly good and detailed. Schultz's phone call with Putin has found some support amongst Western allies, including from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. You remember him. Trudeau suggested it was important to keep a line of communication open with Putin and that ultimately peace will require engagement or discussion. However, as you might expect, not everyone was pleased with Scholz's overture to Moscow, least of all President Zelensky of Ukraine. The Ukrainian president called it a Pandora's box that would only serve to make Russia less isolated. Zelensky said in a speech, quote, there may be other conversations, other calls, but just a lot of words. And this is exactly what Putin has wanted for a long time. It's crucial for him to weaken his isolation and to engage in negotiations, ordinary negotiations, he said, that will lead to nothing, end quote. Now, the call also sparked anger amongst some members of NATO, including Poland and Lithuania. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a post to x no one will stop Putin with phone calls, adding that telephone diplomacy cannot replace real support from the whole west for Ukraine. Complicating matters, the Scholz call came just hours before Moscow launched one of its fiercest missile and drone barrages against Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Around 120 missiles and 90 drones targeted power plants and energy infrastructure across the country, including in the capital of Kyiv. Ukrainian authorities reported that at least five people were killed. So, yeah, sounds like Putin's super serious about negotiating. Look, the one development that may get Putin in an actual serious negotiating mood may be this US Agreement to allow Ukraine to use atacms to target Russian military facilities and sites further into Russia. Unless Putin starts to feel more pain than he has been currently subjected to, he likely will continue to feel that he has the upper hand. And for Ukraine to secure any sort of acceptable peace deal, well, they need to approach the negotiating table from a position of strength. All right, coming up next, Iran signals support for a potential Lebanon ceasefire, and President Elect Trump's cabinet picks signal an aggressive energy policy shift. I'll have those stories when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let's talk security for a moment. Look, going online without ExpressVPN is like. Well, it's like leaving your laptop unattended at the coffee shop while you run to the bathroom. Maybe you're thinking, hey, it's my neighborhood coffee shop. What's going to go wrong? It'll be fine. But what if one day you come out of the bathroom and your laptop is gone? Look, here's the problem. Connecting to unencrypted networks in cafes or hotels or airports, it puts your online data at risk. Hackers can easily access sensitive information like passwords and credit card details on these networks. And frankly, hacking doesn't require advanced skills, just some cheap hardware making it fairly accessible to anyone. Your data is valuable. Hackers can and will sell it on the dark web, and there are plenty of buyers out there. Now, A VPN like ExpressVPN creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the Internet, protecting your data from theft. In short, a VPN is essential for keeping your online privacy safe. ExpressVPN is a top rated VPN that hides your IP address, protecting your online activity from third parties. It's easy to use with one click protection and works across all devices, ensuring privacy on the go. And also get this, it's rated number one by tech reviewers like CNET and the Verge. Look, it's just common sense. Why wouldn't you do what you can to protect your personal data and activities? For me, ExpressVPN is a logical, easy to use and effective tool in the constant battle to maintain privacy and security. Secure your online data today by visiting expressvpn.com baker that's expressvpn.com baker you can get an extra three months free. Expressvpn.com baker hey, Mike Baker here. Let's talk security for a moment. Look, going online without ExpressVPN is like. Well, it's like leaving your laptop unattended at the coffee shop while you run to the bathroom. Maybe you're thinking, hey, it's my neighborhood coffee shop. What's going to go wrong? It'll be fine. But what if one day you come out of the bathroom and your laptop is gone? Look, here's the problem. Connecting to unencrypted networks in cafes or hotels or airports, it puts your online data at risk. Hackers can easily access sensitive information like passwords and credit card details on these networks. And frankly, hacking doesn't require advanced skills, just some cheap hardware making it fairly accessible to anyone. Your data is valuable. Hackers can and will sell it on the dark web, and there are plenty of buyers out there. Now. A VPN like ExpressVPN creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the Internet, protecting your data from theft. In short, a VPN is essential for keeping your online privacy safe. ExpressVPN is a top rated VPN that hides your IP address, protecting your online activity from third parties. It's easy to use with one click protection and works across all devices, ensuring privacy on the go. And also get this, it's rated number one by tech reviewers like CNET and the Verge. Look, it's just common sense. Why wouldn't you do what you can to protect your personal data and activities? For me, ExpressVPN is a logical, easy to use and effective tool in the constant battle to maintain privacy and security. Secure your online data today by visiting expressvpn.com baker that's expressvpn.com baker and you can get an extra three months free. Expressvpn.com baker welcome back to the PDB. Okay, shifting to Lebanon Israeli airstrikes hammered Hezbollah positions in Beirut on Friday and Sunday as Iran now expresses willingness to support a ceasefire deal with Israel that supported by Lebanon and the Iranian backed Hezbollah. The strikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut's southern suburbs known as Dahiye and southern Lebanon, following warnings from the IDF to evacuate areas ahead of the attacks. Among the attacks, one strike in the Tayunay area was captured by an Associated Press photographer showing an Israeli bomb striking an 11 story residential building. The lower floors were destroyed after the IDF reported that the building housed Hezbollah operations. Casualties remained unclear. The IDF also targeted Hezbollah's Radwan Force, the terror group's special operations unit in southern Lebanon, hitting command centers, weapons depots and rocket launchers used in Thursday's attacks on Haifa. Over the past day, the IDF expanded its operations in southern Lebanon, confirming strikes on 120 Hezbollah sites. Ground forces from the 36th, the 91st and the 146th divisions targeted and destroyed Hezbollah rocket launchers and tunnels in the region during this latest round of attacks. Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikadi appealed to Iran on Friday to help secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, urging Tehran to convince the terror group to agree to a deal that could lead to its withdrawal from the Israeli Lebanon border. The fact that the Lebanese government has to ask Iran to control Hezbollah tells you all you need to know about the Iranian regime and the IRGC's command of the proxy group. Really, the only thing Lebanese about Hezbollah is their location. Meccadi's call for Iranian intervention comes as the US forwarded a proposed ceasefire deal to Hezbollah, aiming to end 13 months of hostilities. According to Lebanese media, US Ambassador Lisa Johnson handed the draft agreement to Lebanese Parliament speaker Nabib Berry, who supposedly leads negotiations on behalf of Hezbollah. Frankly, the US should have just handed the draft agreement to the IRGC and cut out the middleman. The proposal, based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, requires Hezbollah to withdraw from southern Lebanon, leaving control to the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers. That's a provision that remains unfulfilled since the resolution's adoption after the 2006 Israel Hezbollah war. A Lebanese official confirmed Hezbollah is reviewing the draft and will convey its position to be of course, after they confer with Tehran. In a post on X, Mikadi emphasized the Lebanese government is committed to fully implementing Resolution 1701 as it stands without any amendments. While Makati urged Tehran to back Lebanon's sovereignty and national unity, Iranian adviser Ali Larijani reiterated Iran's support for Lebanon's government and people. Larijani sought to downplay concerns about undermining U.S. mediation efforts, stating, we are not trying to blow up any effort, but we want to solve the problem. It's one of the few things that the Iranian regime is not trying to blow up. Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike on Sunday targeted a building in Beirut's Ras Al Naba neighborhood, killing Mohammad Hafif. That's Hezbollah's media chief. And that's according to Lebanese security sources who informed Reuters. Unlike the attacks in Dahiyeh, this assassination strike hit a central region neighborhood, signaling a shift in Israeli tactics, Lebanese media reported. The building also housed offices of the socialist Assyrian Ba'ath party. The IDF offered no evacuation warning before this strike, as it was a direct assassination rather than an infrastructure attack. Hafif gained prominence following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in late September. Also in an Israeli airstrike at a press conference last month interrupted by an IDF evacuation order. A FIF ironically stated, the bombing does not scare us nor the threats. This wave of strikes underscores Israel's intensifying campaign against Hezbollah while diplomatic efforts drag on OK Shifting Stateside President elect Donald Trump unveiled his latest cabinet appointments, signaling his aggressive push toward U.S. energy dominance. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum will lead the Department of the Interior and will chair the newly established National Energy Council, while Chris Wright, CEO of fracking company Liberty Energy, will lead the Department of Energy. As we've been discussing here on the pdb, Trump has wasted no time filling out his top administration positions. The recent announcements of Bergam and Wright underscore Trump's commitment to boosting US Energy production, reducing regulatory barriers and solidifying energy independence as a cornerstone of his administration's geopolitical strategy. Bergam's dual role marks a significant consolidation of energy policymaking under one umbrella. As Secretary of the Interior, he'll oversee federal lands and energy resources. And as chairman of the National Energy Council, Bergam will lead efforts to streamline permitting, cut red tape and encourage private sector innovation. During a Thursday event at Mar A Lago, Trump described Bergam as a strong leader who will clean out corrupt, broken bureaucracies. In his statement, Trump emphasized the council's mission to unify the nation's energy operations, stating, it is a very important body that will prioritize innovation and efficiency. Bergam, a two term governor and former software company CEO, brings substantial experience in energy and natural resources, key pillars of his own GOP nomination campaign. His leadership of the National Energy Council represents a bold shift in federal energy policy, consolidating agencies involved in production, transportation and regulation to create a streamlined pro growth approach. In an ex post following the announcement, Bergam expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, I'm deeply grateful to President Trump for this amazing opportunity to serve the American people and achieve energy dominance. Now, Chris Wright's nomination as Secretary of Energy further highlights Trump's focus on US Fossil fuels and innovation. Wright, a pioneer of the American shale revolution, a period of increased oil and natural gas production, has been instrumental in advancing the nation's energy independence and reshaping global energy markets. Wright, who also serves on the board of a modular nuclear reactor company, expressed interest in developing nuclear energy, a growing focus of the Department of Energy. This dual expertise positions Wright to balance traditional energy sources like oil and gas with nuclear technology advancements. Wright will also sit on the National Energy Council. Wright's nomination also has drawn praise from energy industry leaders, including Harold Hamm, an influential fracking billionaire and Trump confidant who called Wright a really, really sharp individual and the ideal choice for the role. The newly formed Energy Council aims to consolidate oversight to eliminate inefficiencies, fostering collaboration and prioritizing domestic production. With Bergam and Wright at the helm, Trump's second term is set to reshape U.S. energy policy, emphasizing innovation dominance and aggressive production. All right, coming up in the back of the Brief, a new Pentagon report details hundreds of new sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena. I'll have those details when we come back.
- [18:43]
Eric Bolling
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- [19:15]
Mike Baker
In today's Back of The brief, the Pentagon's annual report on unidentified anomalous phenomena known as UAPs, revealed 21 cases of, quote, anomalous characteristics and or behaviors, end quote. That's certainly government speak that continue to baffle investigators, sparking debate, of course, about national security and alien visitation between May 2023 and June 2024. The Defense Department's All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, they just the government excels at this. This is what they do best really, is naming offices and then coming up with acronyms. In this case, Aaro, which that office received nearly 760 new UAP reports. I am, I am the king of acronyms at this point. Of these, 485 occurred within the reporting period, while over 270 were older. Cases from 2021 and 2022 omitted from prior reviews. As of October 2024, the total number of UAP reports stands at more than 1,600. Think about that. The report underscores patterns in UAP descriptions, including sightings of spherical objects and unidentified lights. Now, nearly 300 cases were resolved as mundane objects such as birds, balloons or drones, While another near 450 cases lacked sufficient data for analysis and remain archived. However, 21 outliers stand apart, cases that Pentagon officials admit defy explanation. Despite this, the report underscores, there's no evidence supporting extraterrestrial activity or advanced foreign technologies. The challenges in analyzing UAPS stem largely from what AARO calls a lack of timely and actionable sensor data. To address this aaro, I guess we call it Arrow Because AARO does not really roll off the tongue. Let's go with Arrow has deployed a prototype sensor system. Oh, and it's got a name too. Known as Gremlin. Designed to detect, track and characterize UAPs. According to the report, Gremlin successfully demonstrated its capabilities during a March 2024 test event, marking a step forward in data collection. Meanwhile, the report's release coincides with heightened congressional scrutiny of UAP related matters. Just one day earlier, a House Oversight Committee hearing titled Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Exposing the Truth. Well, that's not too sensational, is it? Brought together witnesses alleging a government cover up. Former Defense Department official Lou Elizondo testified about alleged secret crash retrieval programs aimed at reverse engineering alien technology, stating, let me be clear, UAP are real. Now, all four witnesses at the hearing accused the government of withholding UAP evidence from the public, though none had proof or evidence of extraterrestrial life or a cover up. During their testimony, Elizondo claimed UAP technologies are being concealed, fueling a quote, multi decade secretive arms race hidden from taxpayers and oversight bodies. As debates over government transparency and the potential for alien life continue, the Pentagon and Congress face mounting pressure to provide further answers. For now, while efforts to resolve UAP cases advance, the Pentagon continues to affirm that no foreign adversary or alien smoking gun, well that would be smoking ray gun has been uncovered to account for the current cases that defy explanation. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Monday 18th November. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me@pdb the first tv.com and finally, I do hope you had a chance to check out our extended weekend show. That would be of course, the much loved PDB Situation Report. If not, well, don't fret. You can check it out on our YouTube channel. You can find our YouTube channel at President Resident's Daily Brief. Great guests this past weekend, retired Lieutenant Colonel and man about town, Tony Schaefer, along with author and super smart geopolitical analyst Brandon Weickert. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the BDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay co.