The President’s Daily Brief Host: Mike Baker
Episode: November 18th, 2025: New Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein’s Shadow Diplomacy & Sabotage in Poland
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Mike Baker dives into newly-released emails showing the late Jeffrey Epstein’s deep involvement in international affairs, revealing a pattern of self-styled “shadow diplomacy” with world leaders and power brokers. The episode also covers a suspected sabotage of a critical Polish rail line supplying Ukraine, and large-scale youth-led protests in Mexico City against cartel violence and perceived government inaction. In the “Back of the Brief,” Baker reports on the arrest of an Ecuadorian drug kingpin who faked his death and continued leading his cartel from Europe.

Spotlight: Epstein’s Shadow Diplomacy

Key Discussions & Insights

• Epstein as Power Broker
  Baker notes that while the podcast avoids “salacious stories” about Epstein’s criminality, the newly released emails reveal significant national security concerns due to Epstein’s self-insertion in international diplomacy.

• Russian Connections

  • “Epstein wrote to former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jaglund...claiming he had previously spoken with Russia’s late ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin.” (03:06)
  • Epstein asserted he could offer insights into Trump’s thinking to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
  • Key takeaway: “It shows that Epstein believed he had enough access or influence, or at least perceived proximity to Trump, that he could offer guidance to a foreign power on how to approach the US President.” (04:14)
  • No evidence these meetings actually happened, but the audacity of Epstein’s positioning stands out.

• Expansive Foreign Network
  The Miami Herald’s review further revealed Epstein maintained contacts across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Europe, and with notable US figures like Steve Bannon.

• Diplomacy as Currency
  “Epstein treated influence as a kind of currency...even after his 2008 conviction, long before his 2019 arrest, he was still working the phones...pitching ideas, still trying to broker meetings.” (05:18)

• Impact Assessment

  • No evidence yet that Epstein directly influenced official policy, but the communications depict a man actively seeking to act as a “behind the scenes broker.”
  • Baker frames this as a cautionary tale about individuals drifting into quasi-diplomatic roles outside state oversight:
    • “They reveal how easily high profile individuals can drift into quasi diplomatic roles without oversight...the blurred lines between wealth and access and influence...” (06:23)

Notable Quotes

• “Epstein believed he had enough access...that he could offer guidance to a foreign power on how to approach the US President.” – Mike Baker (04:14)
• “He cultivated this shadow network of diplomats and financiers and politicians and academics and foreign officials as though he were running his own private foreign policy shop.” – Mike Baker (05:28)
• “These new emails...do show a man who believed he had the ability to insert himself into geopolitical conversations and who tried to act on that belief more often than we had previously known.” – Mike Baker (06:05)

[08:53] Sabotage in Poland: Rail Line Targeted

Key Discussions & Insights

• Incident Overview

  • A main rail artery from Warsaw to Lublin, critical for sending aid to Ukraine, was blown up by what Polish authorities describe as an explosive device.
  • Additional evidence of sabotage included metal objects placed on the tracks and damaged overhead power lines.

• Government Response

  • Prime Minister Donald Tusk labeled it “an act of sabotage” (09:53).
  • Security/defense units deployed along 120km of track to search for further threats.

• Suspicions of Russian Involvement

  • While not naming Russia outright, Polish leaders strongly hinted at foreign intelligence involvement.
  • Resembles a “hybrid warfare” tactic Western agencies have warned Russia may pursue across Europe.

• Wider Implications

  • Previous arrests in Poland for plots against rail and military infrastructure.
  • If conclusively attributed to a foreign actor, especially Russia, it could escalate into a NATO-level security issue.

Notable Quotes

• “Any disruption to those corridors creates delays. And in a war where timing matters, that can have real consequences.” – Mike Baker (10:55)
• “[This was] unprecedented, coordinated and clearly intended to disrupt assistance to Ukraine.” – Polish official, quoted by Baker (11:41)
• “Sabotage inside a member state’s borders, especially involving critical infrastructure tied to Ukraine’s defense, moves the conversation from criminal investigation into the realm of alliance security.” – Mike Baker (13:38)

[13:48] Mexico City Protests: Youth Against Cartels & Corruption

Key Discussions & Insights

• Nature of the Protests

  • Thousands (approx. 17,000 people) protested in Mexico City in response to cartel violence, official corruption, and assassination of Mayor Carlos Monzo on November 1st.
  • Movement largely led by Gen Z; protesters breached barricades at the National Palace, leading to violent confrontations.

• Escalation

  • Reports of tear gas, rioting, and injuries: over 120 injured (100 police, 20 protesters arrested).
  • Anger over perceptions that state cannot protect citizens or officials from cartel influence.

• Government & Protester Reactions

  • President Claudia Sheinbaum and officials downplayed the protest, claiming political manipulation; labeled protesters as right-wing provocateurs.
  • Protesters and observers insist the movement is decentralized and not party-driven.
  • Despite unrest, Mexico’s federals institutions remain stable, and Sheinbaum holds governing mandate, but trust in the state is eroding.

Notable Quotes

• “The state is dying.” – Anonymous Mexico City protester, quoted by Baker (15:47)
• “Their message was clear. They do not believe the state can protect them.” – Mike Baker (15:55)
• “The protest exposed a system under considerable strain and a government that is quickly losing the trust and patience of the next generation.” – Mike Baker (17:57)

[20:41] Back of the Brief: Capture of Ecuadorian Drug Kingpin

Key Discussions & Insights

• Capture of Wilmer Chavarria

  • Arrested in Malaga, Spain after faking his death from COVID-19 in 2021.
  • Alleged leader of Los Lobos cartel, continued to run operations—including assassinations and drug shipment logistics—from Europe.

• International Impact

  • Chavarria tied to over 400 deaths; his arrest celebrated by Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa as a major victory for law enforcement cooperation.
  • Quote from Noboa:
    • “Some wrote him off as dead. We hunted him down in his very own hell. We have captured the highest value target today. The mafias fall back today. Ecuador wins.” (21:34)

• Context and Challenges

  • Los Lobos: an estimated 8,000 members, designated a terrorist organization in 2025, operates internationally and maintains links to Mexican cartels.
  • Despite the arrest, the gang’s decentralized structure is resilient; Ecuador continues to struggle with rising violence.
  • Noboa’s push for foreign military cooperation was rejected in a national referendum, limiting future options in fighting organized crime.

Notable Quotes

• “Los Lobos has long operated in a fragmented ecosystem of alliances and splinter groups, and the fact that Chavarria successfully commanded the organization from abroad highlights how resilient and globalized his network has become.” – Mike Baker (22:35)
• "With the referendum defeated, Noboa’s options for expanding international support have now significantly narrowed.” – Mike Baker (23:40)

Episode Highlights & Memorable Moments

• “Say that three times fast!” – Mike Baker’s humor after pronouncing Norwegian PM Thorbjorn Jaglund’s name (03:22)
• The juxtaposition of Baker’s serious tone with wry asides (e.g., “How very Sopranos of him” regarding Chavarria’s tracksuit arrest photo).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Epstein’s Shadow Diplomacy: 01:10 – 07:20
• Sabotage in Poland: 08:53 – 13:47
• Mexico City Protests: 13:48 – 17:57
• Capture of Ecuadorian Drug Lord: 20:41 – 23:40

Summary Takeaway

This episode exposes the complex and opaque world where non-state actors, such as Jeffrey Epstein, can attempt to wield geopolitical influence, raising alarm about “shadow diplomacy.” Concurrently, the episode examines tangible threats to international security—from sabotage in NATO’s backyard to destabilizing violence and civic unrest in Mexico and Ecuador—underscoring Baker’s thesis that blurred lines between crime, diplomacy, and governance present ongoing risks for national and global security.

Host’s Closing:
“If you have any questions or comments… please reach out to me at pdb@thefirsttv.com… I’ll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.” – Mike Baker (24:19)