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The President's Daily Brief
October 10th, 2025: U.S. Special Forces Spotted Near Venezuela’s Coast & ISIS Link to Manchester Attack
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Plus new details about the Manchester Synagogue attacker. Investigators say he pledged allegiance to ISIS before launching his deadly rampage. There might be a clue as to motivation there. And in today's Back of the Brief, ICE agents arrest a Latin King's gang member accused of placing a $10,000 bounty on head of the U.S. border Patrol chief. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. We're starting today in the Caribbean where we continue to keep an eye on America's growing military presence. Over the past week, more indications have surfaced that U.S. special Operations forces are active in the region, operating just off of Venezuela's coast and of course, raising anxiety levels within the Maduro regime. According to multiple reports, several US Military helicopters, including Blackhawks and other aircraft tied to special operations units, have been spotted near the island of Trinidad and Tobago, just about seven miles from Venezuela's northern coast. To give you a sense of just how close this American activity is, on a clear day, you can actually see Venezuela's shoreline from parts of Trinidad. It's kind of like seeing Russia from Alaska. A Venezuelan outlet, El Nacional and others cite flight trackers and local observers who say the aircraft may be operating from the MV Ocean Trader. The that's a converted cargo ship designed to serve as a mobile base for U.S. navy SEALs and other special operations teams. Now, we first reported on that ship here on the PDB last week. The Ocean Trader is one of the US Military's most secretive vessels, often deployed for clandestine missions that require a small footprint and maximum flexibility. It's capable of launching helicopters Small boats and underwater drones, essentially a floating special ops command post. So its appearance in Caribbean waters this close to Venezuela is raising eyebrows. Washington hasn't confirmed any new deployment, but US Officials have said in recent months that the region has become a focal point for counternarcotics and anti trafficking operations. Venezuela, meanwhile, remains one of the largest transit hubs for cocaine headed to the US And Europe. Still, this buildup appears larger and more coordinated than just routine patrols. And it has caught Caracas off guard. That may explain the increasingly anxious tone now coming from the Venezuelan government. The nation's Defense Minister, Vladimir Pedrino Lopez, took to national television this week warning that the US could be preparing to send special forces into Venezuela to carry out targeted assassinations and sabotage missions. He accused Washington of attempting to destabilize the country from within. Language that we've heard before, but this time with a sense of urgency rarely seen from that regime. State controlled media has echoed those warnings, portraying the movement of US Aircraft as part of a plot to topple the government or eliminate key officials. Privately, intelligence sources suggest these statements reveal something else. A growing unease within Maduro's inner circle. Perhaps even fear that an American covert operation could already be underway. That unease only deepened this week with a new claim from President Maduro. On Tuesday, Maduro announced that the Venezuelan security forces had foiled. Ooh. They foiled what he called a false flag bombing plot targeting the US Embassy in Caracas. According to Maduro's version of events, extremist elements linked to the opposition planned to detonate explosives near the embassy and blame the attack on his government, creating a pretext for US Military action. He offered no evidence and named no suspects, but he praised his security services. Well done, fellas, for preventing what described as a, quote, imperialist provocation. Now it's worth noting that the U. S. Embassy in Caracas has been closed for years. Washington pulled its diplomats and suspended operations there back in 2019 after the collapse of formal relations between the two countries. So the building still stands, but it has been empty ever since then. It's unclear what anybody had to gain from bombing an empty embassy, but it is clear that Maduro man probably should spend a bit more time dreaming up his disinformation scenarios. Still, it is a familiar playbook. By framing himself as the victim of US aggression, Maduro can try to rally loyalists, justify new internal crackdowns and divert attention from his country's worsening economic crises. The so called foiled attack may also serve as cover for future arrests of opposition figures or activists accused of being foreign agents. At the same time, US Officials have not commented publicly on any of these accusations, but the broader context is clear. Relations between Washington and Caracas have deteriorated sharply in recent weeks. Diplomatic backed channels have gone silent, and both sides appear to be preparing for a prolonged standoff. For the US the presence of the Ocean Trader and other assets in the Caribbean sends a simple Washington is keeping its options open. For Maduro and his relatively small circle of close confidants, it's an unnerving reminder that his regime is surrounded by American power just beyond his coastline. A quick note. The fifth episode of our special podcast series, the Day the World Almost Ended. I know it's a very cheery title, comes out next week. Now if you've missed the first four episodes, now's the time to catch up. They're all available for our members@pdb premium.com by signing up as a premium member of the President's Daily Brief, you'll also be able to listen to the PDB ad free. So I hope you'll take a few minutes and check it out. All right. Coming up next, we'll have the latest on the Gaza ceasefire deal, plus new details on the Manchester Synagogue attacker who pledged allegiance to ISIS just before his deadly assault. I'll be right back. Mike Baker here. Now. I've spent a large portion of my career out in the field. Long hours, tough terrain, no room for gear that can't keep up. And that's why I trust Brunt Workwear. That's B R U Brunt, just like it sounds. Their field boots, for example, rugged, waterproof, and this is important. Comfortable right out of the box. There's, there's no break in needed. Brunt builds more than boots, though. Work pants, jackets, and all of it built to perform durable, reliable mission ready for those who get after it. Brunt's got your back. 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Welcome back to the pdb. We're learning more about how the first phase of President Trump's 20 point peace plan is taking shape, an agreement both Israel and Hamas say could bring a permanent end to the war in Gaza. According to a spokeswoman from the Israeli Prime Minister's office, the final draft of Phase one was signed in Egypt yesterday morning, a deal that Israel says was approved, quote, by all parties. She added that Prime Minister Netanyahu held a warm conversation with Trump soon after, with both leaders hailing the agreement as a historic achievement. From the other side, senior Hamas negotiating official Khalil Al Haya said the Iran backed terror group received, quote, guarantees from the US and mediators that the war has completely ended. He described the agreement as encompassing a permanent ceasefire, a full IDF withdrawal and renewed humanitarian aid into the enclave. The Israeli Cabinet's late night vote Thursday ratified the deal, triggering the 24 hour countdown toward a ceasefire expected to take effect today. Once the guns do fall silent, hamas will have 72 hours to release the remaining 20 Israeli hostages believed to still be alive. Trump expects the hostages to be home by Monday. During a White House Cabinet meeting Thursday, Trump admitted, quote, the bodies of those no longer living are a bigger problem. Some are going to be a little bit hard to find, but we're going to do the best we can, end quote. Referencing, of course, the deceased Israeli captives buried under the destruction across the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials told i24 News that an international force will be established to locate the, quote, missing abductees. As we've been tracking, under the terms of phase one, Israel will release roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. As the hostages are returned, the remains of 15 Palestinians will also be exchanged for each deceased Israeli captive. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met yesterday with US Middle east envoy Steve Witkoff and former Trump adviser Jared Kushner. His spokesman said Egypt appreciates and supports President Trump's efforts to end conflicts and bring peace to the Middle east and the entire world, end quote. Later that same day, Kushner and Witkoff flew to Israel to Join the cabinet meeting with Netanyahu that finalized the ceasefire plan. Egyptian President El Sisi has since invited Trump to his country to witness the official signing ceremony, possibly as soon as this weekend. Trump confirmed he plans to be there, adding that he's also considering a visit to Israel, where he's been invited to address the Knesset. At the un, Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the signing of Phase one, saying it would allow the UN and its partners to, quote, scale up the delivery of food, water, medical assistance and shelter. The UN says some 170,000 metric tons of aid are staged and ready to surge into Gaza once the ceasefire is implemented. As we previously discussed, an Israeli government spokesman confirmed that once the ceasefire takes hold, the IDF will withdraw to the so called yellow line, leaving Israel in control of roughly 53% of Gaza, which is the position outlined in Trump's plan. When it comes to Hamas's disarmament, that issue appears to have been deferred to the next round of negotiations expected to open sometime next week. The terror group has yet to commit to dismantling its military wing, and that, of course, is a core demand of the proposal. Meanwhile, far right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben GVIR warned Netanyahu that his party would, quote, bring down the government if Hamas remains intact and armed on X, he posted, quote, under no circumstances will I be a part of a government that allows Hamas rule in Gaza. This is the clear red line, end quote. That, of course, setting the stage for more intense negotiations on the horizon. Another red line for Ben Gaver as well as one for Netanyahu, is the prospect of a Palestinian state. When Trump was asked by reporters about that possibility, the president said, quote, we're going to see how it all goes. There's a point at which we may have to do something that would be a little different. I think we will get to that end, quote, Leaving, of course, details up for further discussion. Still, senior U.S. officials say the 20 point peace plan remains fragile. An official told reporters last night that the deal could still fall apart at any stage given the ongoing deep rooted mistrust between Hamas and Israel. But if implemented as scheduled, the upcoming ceasefire would mark the first complete halt in fighting since the war began two years ago. Okay, shifting to the United Kingdom. British police now say the suspect behind last week's deadly car ramming and stabbing attack outside a Manchester synagogue allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State moments before carrying out the assault. This revelation marks a chilling development in the case that has rattled Manchester's Jewish community and revived fears of Lone actor Extremism in Britain. Authorities have since identified the attacker as 35 year old jihad Al Shami, a British citizen of Syrian descent. Really his his name is Jihad. There's a clue there somewhere. Investigators say he carried out the attack during Yom Kippur services at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, slamming his car into pedestrians before emerging with a knife. Two people were killed. Several more were injured before police shot him dead at the scene. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts of Greater Manchester police said Wednesday that Al Shami phoned emergency dispatchers before the attack, allegedly declaring loyalty to ISIS and claiming responsibility in advance. Potts told reporters, quote, we have conducted assessments across our systems and I can reiterate that Al Shami had never been referred to the PREVENT program, nor was he otherwise known to counterterrorism. Policing for context, the PREVENT program is Britain's early intervention effort to identify individuals vulnerable to radicalization. It's long been the linchpin of the country's counter extremism strategy. Yet officials say Al Shami had no prior record of extremist behavior, though he was out on bail at the time of the attack after being arrested on suspicion of rape. Potts added that the emergency call is now central to understanding the suspect's motives. He said, quote, we are more confident that Al Shami was influenced by extreme Islamist ideology. The call forms part of that assessment, while noting that investigators continue to probe, quote, further motivations. As we covered here last week, the suspect, wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest, used his car as a weapon before launching into a stabbing spree in front of the synagogue at Passerby. His vest was later found to be a hoax described by police as, quote, non viable. Potts confirmed that three people remain hospitalized and that one of the two fatalities may have been killed by police gunfire. Amid the chaos of the response, the attack tore through one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. As part of the expanding probe, authorities arrested six individual people, three men and three women, on suspicion of, quote, commission preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. According to the Associated Press, two of them, a man and a woman, were later released while four remain in custody as police examined potential links to Al Shami. Okay, coming up in the back of the brief, ICE takes down a Latin Kings member who allegedly tried to put a price on the head of the Border Patrol chief. More on that when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a moment to talk about protecting your hard earned assets. Now, did you know that gold is up around 40% this year. 4, 0 40%. That's not speculation, that's just reality. And if a portion of your savings isn't diversified into gold, well, you could be missing the boat. Here's the Inflation is still too high, the US dollar is still too weak and the government debt seems insurmountable. 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Experian in today's Back of the brief, federal agents in Chicago arrested a suspected Latin Kings leader accused of offering cash bounties to kill a senior immigration officer, an act that prosecutors call an assault on the rule of law. Yeah, that would qualify. According to a criminal complaint unsealed this week by the U.S. attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois. 37 year old Juan Espinoza Martinez, a Chicago resident, an alleged high ranking member of the Latin Kings, one of the nation's largest and most violent street gangs faces one count of murder for hire. Investigators say Martinez used the media and text sharing app Snapchat to circulate bounties, offering 2,000 on information when you get him and $10,000 if you take him down. Alongside a photograph of the intended target, Chief Gregory Bovino, commander at large of the U.S. border Patrol. Bovino was in Chicago as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a multi agency initiative targeting unlawful immigration networks and cartel linked activity across the Midwest. Martinez was arrested Monday by ICE agents and remains in federal custody ahead of a detention hearing. U.S. attorney Andrew Boutros condemned the alleged plot, calling it, quote, an attack on the rule of law and evidence of, quote, a profound contempt for human life and public safety. Prosecutors say Martinez, who entered the US Illegally from Mexico, continued directing Latin King's activity while orchestrating the murder for hire scheme. The case reportedly escalated after a police involved shooting on 4 October involving Border Patrol agents in a Chicago neighborhood. A confidential informant told investigators that Martinez ordered gang members to come and patrol the area, acquire firearms and defend their territory against further law enforcement incursions. Screenshots included in the complaint show a flurry of Snapchat messages calling for retribution. Among them the bounty posts targeting Chief Bovino. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the case underscores the growing danger federal officers face from organized crime groups. She described Martinez as a, quote, depraved individual who does not value human life and threatens law enforcement, end quote. Federal officials say the arrest is part of a broader Justice Department effort to dismantle gang networks that have turned their attention to federal immigration personnel. If convicted, Martinez faces life in prison under federal statutes governing murder for hire related offenses. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Friday 10th October. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me@pdbhfirsttv.com and of course, as I'm sure you noticed this morning while making coffee, it's Friday and we've made it through another week. Huzzah. As always, your reward is a brand new episode of the much loved and occasionally acclaimed PDB Situation Report. This weekend's show takes a close look at the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and also focuses on Venezuela as we try to figure out what the White House plans to do regarding the Nicolas Maduro crime syndicate. I mean, regime, sorry, Freudian slip. You can catch the new episode starting tonight at 10pm on the first TV and of course on our YouTube channel, at President's Daily Brief and podcast platforms everywhere. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.