← The President's Daily Brief
The President's Daily Brief
November 26th, 2025: Trump Ready for Direct Talks With Maduro & Moscow Signals 'No Deal' On Ukraine
00:26:50
Loading summary
Transcript17 lines
- [00:00]
A
The holidays mean more travel, more shopping, more time online and more personal info in more places that could expose you more to identity theft. But LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second. If your identity is stolen, our US based restoration specialists will fix it, guaranteed your money back. Don't face drained accounts, fraudulent loans or financial losses alone. Get more holiday fun and less holiday worry with LifeLock. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit LifeLock.com podcast terms apply.
- [00:30]
B
Looking to diversify and protect your hard earned assets? Well, schedule a free consultation with the Birch Gold Group. They're the precious metals specialists. Just text PDB to the number 989898 and you'll receive a free no obligation information kit and you'll learn how to convert an existing IRA or 401k into a gold IRA. Again, text PDB to 989-898. Foreign. The 26th of November Thanksgiving is almost here. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. And with apologies for the late upload this morning, a bit of technical difficulty meant a late release. All right, let's get briefed. First up, an unexpected twist in Washington's pressure campaign on Venezuela. It looks like President Trump is now ready to talk one on one with Nicolas Maduro, even as the US Labels him a terrorist. Later in the show, an unusual moment on the diplomatic front. Xi Jinping personally phones President Trump to talk Taiwan and Ukraine, a rare move from Beijing. Plus, the ball is now in Russia's court and all signs point to them picking it up and going home. Sources say Moscow is poised to reject the latest US Ukraine peace plan, meaning, of course, the fighting won't stop anytime soon. And in today's Back of the Brief, a Russian drone pushes further into NATO territory than any previous incident, forcing Romanian and German jets into the air yet again. But first, today's PDP spotlight, a major development in the standoff between Washington and Caracas. President Trump is now signaling that he's ready to speak directly with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. That's a notable shift in tone considering that the administration just formally designated Maduro as the head of a terrorist organization tied to drug running networks. And behind the scenes, US Officials are now openly acknowledging that that while military options remain on the table, diplomacy appears to be taking the lead, at least for the moment. According to senior officials who spoke with Axios, the president has told his advisers he intends to make direct contact with Maduro. That alone is a remarkable reversal, possibly almost even surreal, as we've been tracking here on the pdb. The White House has spent months now authorizing targeted maritime strikes against Venezuelan vessels believed to be involved in narcotics trafficking. Those operations have rattled the Venezuelan government, tightened Maduro's circle of loyalists, and sparked fresh fears of a broader confrontation in the Caribbean. And yet here we are, with the president now expressing willingness to talk. When asked about the possibility of the US Attempting to snatch or assassinate Maduro, one White House official told Axios, nobody is planning to go in and shoot him or snatch him at this point. I wouldn't say never. But that's not the plan right now, end quote. That phrase at this point signals that Washington's pressure campaign is still very real, of course, and very active, or at least they want to give that impression. But that the White House also believes diplomacy may now offer something that military strikes can't, and that would be leverage. And that leverage brings us to a critical question. What exactly does Maduro have to offer the US in any potential negotiation? Well, the answer, according to analysts who spoke with Reuters, may be, you can probably guess, oil. Venezuelan crude is heavy and dirty, but US Gulf coast refineries are built specifically to process that kind of oil. When the US Halted Venezuelan imports years ago and imposed sanctions on the Maduro regime, refiners had to seek alternatives, often, of course, at higher costs or more logistical difficulties. Now, with markets still tight and energy prices playing a major role in global politics, there's renewed interest in whether Venezuelan shipments could reenter the picture. Right now, Venezuela exports about 1.1 million barrels of oil per day. More than 80% of that goes to China. That means Maduro actually does have flexibility, the ability to redirect cargoes, sweeten deals, or offer dedicated supply to American refiners if it means gaining political or economic concessions from Washington. For a regime isolated by sanctions, that's one of the only real bargaining chips that Maduro still has. Admittedly, it's a big one. Venezuela doesn't have much to offer the US Anymore, but it does have the oil and the infrastructure to deliver it quickly if sanctions are lifted or relaxed. That's why some experts believe this sudden openness to dialogue from both sides is less about goodwill and more about transactions. Each party has something the other wants, and the broader pressure campaign may be part of pushing those negotiations forward. And of course, President Trump is often characterized as a transactional person. But this wouldn't likely be a simple oil for sanctions relief arrangement. For one thing, US Negotiators are approaching this from a position of strength. Of course, the Venezuelan Economy is collapsing under the weight of corruption, mismanagement and sanctions. Maduro's government does desperately need cash, foreign investment and some measure of legitimacy. Meanwhile, the US Isn't exactly hurting for oil, but access to specific grades of heavy crude would be strategically useful. So what should we watch for next? Good question. First, whether the White House clarifies what form this potential contact with Maduro would take. That's something to watch for. A phone call is one thing, a meeting is another. US Officials are very carefully choosing their words suggesting that a conversation is on the table without committing to anything more formal. Second, whether Maduro publicly signals a willingness to make concessions, particularly around oil exports, production targets or the role of American energy companies in Venezuela. If he does, that's a sign the regime is preparing for a real negotiation rather than a symbolic exchange. And finally, whether the US Shows or recalibrates its maritime operations in the Caribbean. If those strikes continue at the same intensity, it tells us Washington believes pressure remains the most effective tactic. If the tempo slows, it may signal that diplomatic groundwork is being laid quietly behind the scenes. Coming up after the break, Xi Jinping personally phones President Trump in a rare diplomatic move. And Russia looks ready to reject the latest U. S Ukraine peace plan. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here, PDB host and well known snack expert. Now let me ask you a question. Have you ever read the label on a typical bag of chips? Right. Give it a go, see what you see. Well, I'll tell you what you'll see. It's a science experiment of seed oils and MSG and artificial dyes and mystery ingredients. Now I'll tell you about a different kind of company. Masa M A S a Masa. They're redefining snacking with real food. Their chips have three ingredients. That's it. Three ingredients. Organic corn, sea salt and 100% grass fed beef tallow. Masa chips leave you satisfied and energized without that crash or bloat or sluggishness. And you may ask, Mike, which are your favorite masa chips? Well, I'm glad you did ask. It's hard to choose, to tell you the truth from all the great tastes. You've got original. You got white, you got blue, you got lime, you got cobonero, you got churro. I'd have to go with lime, I think. And if you love Masa, then you'll love Vandy Crisps because Vandy is Masa's sister company and they make the most excellent and delicious three ingredient. Again, just three ingredient. Potato chips you'll ever taste. The flavor choices are amazing. You've got original French onion, herb de Provence. Listen to my French accent and Smokehouse barbecue. Ready to give Masa or Vandy a try? Well, you should be. Use code PDB for 25% off your first order at masachips.com or vandycrisps.com or simply click the link in the video description or scan the QR code to claim their delicious offer. Don't feel like ordering online? No worries. Masa and Vandy are now available nationwide at your local Sprouts supermarket. Stop by and pick up a couple of bags before they're gone.
- [09:16]
C
Hey, Mike Baker here with a pro tip for this year's gift giving. Now, if you're like me, every year there's always at least what one person on your list who's impossible to shop for. But this year I'm going to tell you where to find the perfect gifts for everyone on that list. And that would be Cozy Earth. As an example, their bamboo pajama set. Look, this is a timeless classic. It's made from soft stretch knit bamboo that drapes beautifully and sleeps cooler than cotton. Cozy Earth's PJs are lightweight, they're cozy and they're perfect for holiday mornings or winter nights.
- [09:48]
B
And the bubble Cuddle blanket? Come on.
- [09:51]
C
It's pure luxury. Ultra soft textured and designed for those sit by the fire moments.
- [09:56]
B
That sounds nice.
- [09:57]
C
And the best part? Well, I mean besides saying the words.
- [10:00]
B
Bubble cuddle blanket, the best part is.
- [10:02]
C
Every Cozy Earth purchase is risk free backed by a 100 night sleep trial and a 10 year warranty.
- [10:08]
B
Get that?
- [10:08]
C
A 10 year warranty. Choose your Cozy Earth products, bedding, sleepwear, robes, whatever. And if you don't love what you buy, they've got a hassle free return policy. But trust me, you won't want to return anything.
- [10:19]
B
Give the gift of comfort that lasts beyond the holidays.
- [10:21]
C
This weekend only from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday. Get 40% off. That's 40% off@cozyearth.com using the code PDB. That's code PDB for 40% off. And if you get a post purchase survey, which you might be sure to mention, you heard about Cozy Earth right here on the pdb. Wrap the ones you love in luxury with Cozy Earth.
- [10:44]
B
Welcome back to the pdb. For the first time in years, Beijing was the one to picking up the phone and calling the White House. Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly started his call with President Trump by talking Taiwan as Japan's new hardline on the island's autonomy sent regional tensions rising. But sources close to the conversation say Trump wanted the conversation to be focused on Ukraine. Now, it's rare for those two issues to collide in a single conversation, and even rarer for Beijing to take the initiative to reach out at this level, which is why the call, of course, immediately drew Washington's notice. Privately, sources say the call did begin on the topic of Taiwan, at Xi's insistence, before shifting toward Ukraine once Trump redirected the discussion, a sequence that Beijing worked aggressively to spin once the call became public. According to those familiar with the exchange, Xi didn't waste time getting to his point. He went straight into the familiar historical argument about Taiwan, referencing post war agreements, the US and China's World War II partnership, and the idea that both countries should protect the so called gains of that era. A citation from China state media reports that Xi told Trump Taiwan's return to China is an important component of the post war international order. But given the fact that Japan is now openly warning that it would join any fight over the democratic island, Xi's message came across less like a reminder and more like a warning. And that set the tone for the rest of the call, though the two sides framed the talk very differently. Afterward, Chinese state media said Trump acknowledged, quote, the importance of the Taiwan issue to China. But Washington's readout of the conversation didn't mention Taiwan at all. Instead, Trump posted to Truth Social that he and Xi discussed Ukraine, fentanyl, soybeans and trade, and that he accepted the Chinese president's invitation to visit Beijing in April, with Xi slated to visit Washington later in 2026. But in an eyebrow raising twist, the spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry suggested the US Was the one who requested the call, contradicting the reports that she initiated the discussion due to escalating tensions with Tokyo. But despite those claims, Beijing's urgency to reach out to Washington starts to make sense once you review the recent tense exchange with Japan. As we've been tracking. Earlier this month, Japan's new prime minister warned that a Chinese takeover of Taiwan would pull Japan directly into the fight. China erupted, of course, accusing Tokyo of threatening, quote, armed intervention, and snapped again when the U.S. state Department reaffirmed Washington's commitment to its alliance with Japan and to preserving the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Still, debasing all of this turbulence creates a narrow but valuable opening. Sources close to CCP officials say Xi sees a chance to shape Trump's thinking at a moment when Washington's posture on Taiwan is at times ambiguous. Trump, unlike Biden, has held back from saying whether the US Would defend the democratic island, arguing that showing his hand would undermine his leverage with Xi Jinping. Trump has also said Xi privately vowed not to invade during his presidency, though Beijing has never verified that particular claim. While Beijing remains firm that the phone call was largely about Taiwan, China's state media did publish a comment from Xi saying China supports all efforts committed to peace in Ukraine. Of course they do. As our longtime listeners know, Beijing has provided crucial diplomatic and economic support to Russia since the 2022 invasion, essentially keeping Putin's war machine running. And now, as Trump continues to accelerate his own peace push, China does appear eager to position itself as a player in whatever settlement emerges. Okay, sticking with Ukraine the Trump administration's shuttle diplomacy sprint to lock in a peace deal appeared to buy real momentum, but, well, as you might guess, it may not be enough. The White House now believes Moscow may reject outright the 19 point blueprint and could use disinformation and its usual misinformation to keep President Trump engaged while the war grinds on through Christmas. When we last talked about this, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll touched down in Abu Dhabi to start the week just as US and Ukrainian negotiators finished carving Trump's original 28 point peace plan down to 19 points, engaging in damage control after the original document leaked to the media. The Geneva rewrite left Washington and Kyiv mostly on the same page, with territorial concessions deliberately kicked up to a future leader level discussion between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said yesterday that Driscoll made tremendous progress. She added that only a few delicate but not insurmountable details remain to solidify potential peace. But the very changes that made the peace deal survivable for Ukraine are now, of course, threatening to sink with Russia. According to sources who spoke to the New York post and to U.S. officials familiar with the talks, Moscow is set to reject the new 19 point plan outright. The problem isn't just the latest edits, it's at the US Ukraine rewrite moved the document, supposedly away from what the Kremlin believes Trump implicitly blessed at his August summit with Russian President Putin in Anchorage. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has gone on the offensive with that line. He says Moscow expects to see an interim version of the deal reflecting Ukrainian input, but warned that if the document overall strays from what Putin thinks he secured in Alaska, there'll be a problem. Lavrov framed the original 28 point proposal as the only acceptable baseline. Well, that's because it included most of Russia's demands, even though the Kremlin was never fully satisfied. Oh, there's a shame warning. The situation will be, quote, fundamentally different from Moscow if the new framework deviates from the original version. Well, it does. Still, I'd like to point out that publicly, Moscow is walking a, well, relatively speaking, careful line. Kremlin officials don't want to appear to be dismissing Trump outright, a move that could harden the administration's position and erode whatever leverage Moscow thinks it has. Analysts following the latest rumblings out of Moscow told the New York Post that Russia may instead fall back on familiar disinformation tactics, such as issuing ambiguous statements signaling openness to future talks, or signing documents that look look constructive while ultimately refusing to implement any ceasefire terms. Trump has repeatedly warned that Putin is trying to drag out the war, accusing the Russian strongman of, quote, tapping him along. A senior administration official says the White House is determined not to let Moscow run out the diplomatic clock, particularly with a narrow window for Trump and Zelensky to finalize a deal if the Ukrainian president does visit Washington in the coming days. From Kyiv's perspective, however, the 19 point framework still looks like something Moscow will never sign. American officials working on the deal are increasingly concerned about leaks to the media, which means the public remains in the dark on the verified picture of all the points, though we do know it bears little resemblance to the original. Even so, the Kremlin has made no secret of its expectation of concessions far beyond anything Washington or Kyiv are willing to offer. Putin has long insisted that Ukraine's NATO aspirations were among the so called root causes of his 2022 invasion, a position he shows no signs of backing away from. For the Trump administration, the burst of shuttle diplomacy was meant to convert a fragile moment into a breakthrough for peace. But White House officials and analysts acknowledge the risk that the effort could collapse, just as so many others have if Russia decides it has more to gain by stalling than by negotiating in good faith. Not that Putin has ever negotiated in good faith. All right, coming up in the back of the brief, Romania scrambles jets after the deepest Russian drone intrusion yet into NATO airspace. It's a move that officials are calling a deliberate provocation. I'll have those details when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, I suspect that you know this, but Black Friday is almost here, it's right around the corner, and you've probably asked yourself, do doctors have Black Friday sales? Well, that's a good question. The answer the doctors at Brickhouse nutrition do. And they just announced their Black Friday 30 off sale. It's the biggest sale of the year. The most impressive health and nutrition products in the industry are now 30% off. Like as an example, lean lean. It's the doctor formulated weight loss supplement for people who want to lose meaningful weight without injections. And you get 30 off creatine. That's creatine designed just for women to help you look leaner in shape and toned without extra dieting or exercise. You can even get 30% off field of Greens. And this stuff is terrific. You gotta try it. It's the only super fruit and vegetable drink shown in a university study to actually slow aging. Huh? And only Field of greens promises better health results that your doctor will notice. Every Brickhouse product, from better sleep to superior Collagen is now 30% off. But hurry, because these Black Friday deals go fast. Visit BrickHouseSale.com and save 30%. That's BrickHouseSale.com one more time. OK. BrickHouseSale.com hey, it's Mike Baker here with a message from our good friends over at Birch Gold Group. Now it is that time of year you say. What time of year is that, Mike? Well, it's that one time of year that Birch Gold Group gives away free gold with every qualifying purchase. That's right for Black Friday. When you convert an existing IRA or 401k into a tax sheltered IRA and gold, birch Gold will send free gold to your home for every $20,000 purchased. Look, gold started this year around what, 2600 doll ounce? And by October it was over $4,000 an ounce. And you ask yourself why? Well, the general answer is global uncertainty. 2025 has been defined by trade wars and real wars and just general unease. And central banks are pulling away from the US Dollar as the global reserve currency. So the point is, gold thrives in times of uncertainty. If you're looking to diversify your savings, Birch gold can help. Plus now through November 30th, get free gold with a qualifying purchase. Just text PDB to 989-898 to claim your eligibility and for a free information kit on gold. But your opportunity for free gold with purchase ends on November 30th, so don't wait. Text PDB to the number 989898 for all the details.
- [21:47]
D
With Black Friday savings at the Home Depot, you can get up to $1,400 off plus get free delivery on select appliances like LG, America's most reliable line of appliances. Check out the newest LG refrigerator with new Mini Craft ice straight from the dispenser shop Black Friday savings on select LG appliances plus get free delivery now at the Home Depot. Free delivery on appliance purchases of $396 or more offer valid 11.5through12 3 US only. See store online for details.
- [22:17]
E
AI agents are everywhere, automating tasks and making decisions at machine speed. But agents make mistakes. Just one rogue agent can do big damage before you even notice. Rubrik Agent Cloud is the only platform that helps you monitor agents, set guardrails and rewind mistakes so you can unleash agents, not risk. Accelerate your AI transformation at rubrik.com that's R U B R-I K.com.
- [22:49]
B
In today's back of the Brief Romania and Moldova reported new drone incursions on Tuesday as Russia launched a major missile and drone attack against Ukraine, once again raising alarms about NATO's eastern flank. Romania's defense ministry says two Russian made drones cross directly into NATO territory early Tuesday morning, triggering immediate air defense alerts and prompting NATO to place forces stationed in neighboring Poland and Bulgaria on high alert. The breach happened near Romania's Danube border with southern Ukraine, the same region where debris and errant drones have landed repeatedly since the war began began, but this time Bucharest says the UAVs didn't just slip the frontier. One penetrated deeper into Romanian airspace than ever before. Two Eurofighters from a German air policing mission in Romania were initially scrambled to track the first drone, which flew over a county near Ukraine's southern border before crossing back into Ukrainian airspace. Romanian officials later deployed two F16 fighter jets and activated ground based air defenses after the army detected a second airspace breach near the border county of Galati. Romania's defense minister said the fighter jets nearly shot down the drone but held off over concerns about falling debris causing damage to civilian areas. Radar contact was eventually lost, but a Russian drone without an explosive device was later found more than 150 miles from the Ukrainian border, making it the deepest verified intrusion into NATO airspace since the war began. Leaders in Bucharest condemned the incursions, which marked the 13th breach of Romanian airspace since the war began, calling it another major Russian provocation. The incident comes less than a week after a Russian drone flew roughly five miles inside Romania before radar contact was lost, also during a major bombardment of Ukraine by Moscow. Meanwhile, Moldova's Defense Ministry said they also suffered an airspace breach on Tuesday morning with six Russian drones detected crossing into their territory. One of the drones, sporting a spray painted Z symbol frequently used by the Russian military, fell on a guards building in a border area near Ukraine but did not explode. Now, while NATO has dealt with a pattern of spillovers since 2022, the increasing frequency of these incidents is forcing NATO to reassess the Kremlin's broader intentions and has heightened fears that the war could soon spill into the alliance's eastern territories. The incursions appear geared towards testing the response times of NATO aircraft and overall capabilities of Western air defenses, while leaving enough strategic ambiguity to avoid triggering retaliation. These latest drone incursions came as Russian forces pounded Kyiv and other regions with another massive missile and drone attack. A total of 22 missiles and 464 drones were fired during the bombardment on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, killing seven people and wounding 21 in Kyiv while knocking out electricity and heating systems across the capital. While this shouldn't come as a surprise, the latest aerial attack coincides with the renewed push by the Trump administration to broker a peace deal to end the war. The demonstration from Moscow is likely meant to illustrate the consequences for Ukraine if the Putin regime doesn't get their way in the current negotiations. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Wednesday 26th November. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at BDB, the first tv.com and if you'd like to listen to the show ad free. Well, you can do that, and you can do it very simply. Just consider becoming a premium member. Visit PDB premium.com It's that simple. 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.