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The President's Daily Brief
October 15th, 2025: TORTURE & STARVATION: Hostages Reveal Treatment Under Hamas
00:23:59
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Ford 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 a 401k into a gold IRA. Again, text PDB to the number 989898. Foreign It's Wednesday, the 15th of October. Oh, look at that. Just about halfway through the month and we are well into fall. And I have yet to watch a single episode of the Gilmore Girls. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. And yes, again, coming to you from somewhere on the road. All right, let's get briefed. First up, some of the Israeli hostages released by Hamas are speaking out. Their stories of torture and starvation paint a devastating picture of what they endured in captivity. We'll have the details later in the show. Russia bombs a Ukrainian hospital. Well, how very Putin of Putin. And President Trump fires back, saying he'll, quote, speak with Putin about sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Now, to be fair, I don't think giving Putin a stern talking to is going to change his current attitude. Plus, Venezuela's strongman Nicolas Maduro lashes out over the Nobel Peace Prize, calling winner Maria Corina Machado a demonic witch. That was his words. And shutting down his embassy in Norway. Oh, he also threw his teddy out of the crib and now is refusing to eat his vegetables. How very Venezuelan strongman of him. And in today's Back of the Brief, we turn to Africa, where Madagascar's military has toppled the government. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. With the remaining hostages now back in Israel, we're gaining new insight into how Hamas treated its captives. It's the final chapter of a national ordeal that lasted more than two years, one that's left deep scars, not just on the hostages, but on the country itself. According to Israeli reports, the final group of 20 hostages, many of them men Hamas, viewed as soldiers or potential fighters, appear to have suffered the worst treatment. Relatives say they were held underground, beaten, denied food for long stretches, and kept in total isolation for months at a time. One of them, Avi Natan Orr, spent more than two years in near total isolation. For 737 days, he saw no one, no other captives, no daylight, no sense of time. Medical teams say he lost between 30 and 40% of his body weight. His first request upon returning home was simple to sit and share a cigarette with his girlfriend, Noah Agamani. Now, that's the same woman seen beside him in that infamous kidnapping video from the Nova music festival. Another freed hostage, Elkanah Bobot, says he was chained in a tunnel so long he forgot what day or even what year it was. On the anniversary of his wedding, he begged his captor to let him shower in honor of his wife. At first, the terrorist refused, then relented, unchained him and allowed him that small moment of humanity. The Berman brothers, Gali and Ziv, were held separately for nearly two years, unaware they were in the same area or that they'd be reunited at release. They described periods of severe hunger punctuated by brief stretches of slightly better rations. Occasionally, their guards spoke to them in Hebrew. They could hear the Israeli military operating nearby but were never able to make contact. Others describe what relatives are calling psychological warfare, guns pressed to their heads during Hamas propaganda videos, threats of execution if they didn't behave the way the captors demanded. One hostage's relative told Israeli media that the militants sometimes forced prisoners to join them in card games, mocking gestures of coexistence that only underscored who held the power. For Mitan Anglest, a young Israeli soldier, captivity was particularly brutal. His mother says he was severely tortured during his first months in Gaza because of his military service. For long stretches, he was kept completely alone, under heavy guard. Yet he told her he never broke, refusing to cooperate with what he called the monsters who held him. Most of the freed hostages say they were moved deeper into Hamas's tunnel network after Israel's dramatic rescue of Noah Agamani and three others in June 2024. If you'll remember, that daytime raid was carried out by Israeli special forces in the heart of Nusrat. Troops stormed multiple buildings, simultaneously, rescuing the captives under heavy fire and killing several Hamas guards in the process. In the aftermath, Hamas became far more secretive and paranoid. The group tightened its grip on the remaining hostages, cutting them off almost completely. Many of the captives say they had no idea the war had shifted and that Israel had re entered parts of Gaza. Doctors treating the returnees say the signs of starvation are sunken eyes, skeletal frames, severe muscle atrophy. Some hostages were so malnourished that Hamas reportedly began force feeding them in the final weeks, likely in anticipation of international scrutiny. Once they were released, their testimonies will likely shape how Israel and the world understand the group's tactics going forward and could serve as part of future war crimes investigations. But as Israel welcomes these survivors home, there's another grim reality still unfolding. And that has to do with the remains of those hostages who didn't make it out alive. According to the Jerusalem Post, Hamas agreed to hand over the bodies of four more hostages last night, with four additional remains expected today. Israeli officials say Hamas still holds the remains of roughly 30 hostages in Gaza. The Red Cross is overseeing the transfers while Israeli forensic teams work to confirm identities and notify families. Officials have accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by stalling the return of the bodies, calling it another act of cruelty toward the victims families. Alright, a quick note before we go to break. Episode 5 of the Day the World Almost Ended is now available for PDB subscribers. Now this time, our attention turns to the Middle East. We'll tell you the story of how Israel came within minutes of arming its nuclear arsenal during the Yom Kippur War of 1973, which almost touched off direct conflict between the US and the Soviet Union. You can hear it along with the first four episodes by becoming a premium member at PDB premium.com All right, coming up next, President Trump vows to speak with Putin about Tomahawk missiles and Venezuela strongman has strong feelings about who won the Nobel Peace Prize. Well, maybe he was hoping it would beat President Trump. Hmm. And by the way, you'll probably hearing some background noise again. I am on the road and there appears to be some late night construction going on out there. I'll be right back. This podcast is brought to you in part by Stash. Now, what if you could start investing without ever picking a single stock? Intriguing idea. With Stash, the experts handle the hard part for you. You see, Stash isn't just another investing app. It's a registered investment advisor that combines automated investing with expert guidance so you don't have to worry about figuring it out on your own. You can choose from personalized investments or let Stash's award winning smart portfolio do the work for you. With Stash, investing doesn't feel like gambling. It's simple, smart and stress free so your money can finally start working as hard as you do get access to world class financial advice with personalized guidance for just $3 per monthly subscription. Stash has already helped millions of Americans reach their financial goals. So don't let your money sit around. 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Welcome back to the PDB Hours after a Russian airstrike ripped through a Ukrainian hospital, President Trump hinted he might do what Moscow fears most place long range Tomahawk missiles in Kyiv's hands in what he hopes will bring Russia back to the negotiating table. This strike, part of Russia's relentless aerial campaign that has repeatedly hit hospitals and other civilian infrastructure over more than three and a half years of war, occurred Monday night in Ukraine's Kharkiv region. The Russian strike utilized glide bombs on the civilian infrastructure, injuring six patients, according to Ukrainian and local officials. Moscow has always denied deliberately targeting civilians. Speaking aboard Air Force One earlier that day, Trump told reporters that, quote, ukraine needs Patriot missiles very badly. They'd like to have Tomahawks. That's a step up following a call with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Now, Patriot missile batteries, of course, are among the best aerial defense systems in the world, Trump went on to add, quote, we talked about that and so we'll see. I might have to speak to Russia about Tomahawks before rhetorically asking, quote, does Russia want to have the Tomahawks going in their direction? I don't think so. End quote. Well, that was a rhetorical question, wasn't it? As we've previously reported, the Tomahawk's long range of up to 1550 miles would allow Ukrainian forces to strike far beyond the front lines, targeting critical military infrastructure deep inside Russia, including facilities in Moscow. Trump appeared to frame that possibility as a form of leverage rather than immediate policy, explaining that if he were to speak with Putin over the phone, he would say, look, if this war is not going to get settled, I, I may send Ukraine Tomahawks. Russia doesn't need that. I think it is appropriate to bring that up. Zelensky, meanwhile, arrives in Washington tomorrow ahead of his meeting with Trump at the White House. On Friday, the Ukrainian president said the focus of his visit is strengthening air defenses and, quote, long range capabilities to put pressure on Russia for the sake of peace. Zelensky will also meet with U.S. defense and Energy officials and possibly members of Congress. The Kremlin's reaction was immediate and furious to the threat of Tomahawks in Ukraine. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who never shies away from rattling his nuclear saber, warned that supplying the missiles, quote, could end badly for everyone, especially President Trump, hinting at retaliation. Medvedev is, is actually kind of like that little kid who follows the big bully around the schoolyard, repeating the bully's threats and saying things like, yeah, you tell him, boss, that's Medvedev. That wasn't a very good impersonation of Medvedev, but you get the point anyway. Medvedev, who regularly taunts Trump on social media, posted on Telegram that once a Tomahawk is launched, quote, it's impossible to tell whether it carries a nuclear or conventional warhead. Medvedev's post ended saying, quote, how should Russia respond? Exactly. A veiled suggestion, perhaps, that Moscow might treat any such launch as nuclear. The Kremlin has also argued that Tomahawk systems in Ukraine would require US Personnel to operate, an escalation that it considers unacceptable. Well, then again, some folks would say that it seems unacceptable for North Korean and Cuban troops to be fighting alongside Russian troops and for Chinese PLA personnel to be on the ground monitoring and gaining strategic insight from the battlefield. But that's perhaps just me being churlish. As the ceasefire unfolds in the Middle east between Israel and Hamas, Trump now seems eager to redirect his attention toward Europe, and Zelensky appears to welcome it. But whether Putin is ready to talk is another matter. Analysts say he's unlikely to make concessions simply because Trump picks up the phone and you don't need to be an analyst to come up with that gem. Still, Trump insists he sees a way forward. I really think that President Putin would look great if he got this settled, and I think he's going to settle it. If he doesn't, it's not going to be good for him. End quote. Okay, Turning To Venezuela. There's ongoing fallout over this year's Nobel Peace Prize announcement. And surprisingly, it has nothing to do with the fact that President Trump didn't get it. Nicolas Maduro announced this week that his regime is closing its embassy in Norway just days after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the prize. As we discussed last week, Machado won the prize for what the Norwegian Nobel Committee called her, quote, tireless work promoting democratic rights. It's a nod to her defiance of Maduro's authoritarian rule. The decision apparently struck a nerve in Caracas. Days later, Maduro lashed out, calling Machado a, quote, demonic witch and insisting that, quote, 90% of the population rejects her. Machado has been in hiding since the summer of 2024, when Maduro claimed victory in an election widely seen as fraudulent. Many independent analysts believe the opposition won. Well, that would be because they probably did. The Maduro regime has long been accused of crushing dissent through arrests and violence, causing millions to flee the country. Among those forced into exile was opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who fled to Spain earlier this year after being targeted by the Maduro regime. Gonzalez, who ran against Maduro in last year's contested election, briefly unified Venezuela's opposition before the dictator issued an arrest warrant accusing him of, quote, inciting unrest. Now, it's worth pointing out that Norway doesn't actually decide who wins the Nobel Peace Prize. The independent five member Nobel Committee appointed by Norway's parliament makes its selection in secret. For their part, the Venezuelan government is claiming that the closure was part of a broader diplomatic realignment. Venezuela's Foreign Ministry claimed it was shifting focus toward, quote, alliances with the global south, announcing plans to shutter its embassy in a Australia while opening new ones in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso. The statement framed the moves as defending national sovereignty and a contribution to, quote, a new world order based on justice, solidarity and inclusion, end quote. Yes, that's what Maduro is all about. Norway's Ministry of Foreign affairs confirmed the embassy closure was done without explanation, calling the decision regrettable and reaffirming its commitment to dialogue with Caracas. The Human Rights Foundation, a New York based nonprofit that advocates for dissidents and human rights in authoritarian countries, called Caracas embassy closure an act of political vengeance. Now, as we've previously reported, the Trump administration has branded Maduro's regime a narco terror cartel and deployed warships, of course, in the Caribbean to destroy boats smuggling Venezuelan drugs to American shores. Machado has backed Trump's stance, calling Maduro the head of a narco terrorist structure. In a Fox News interview last month, she said the boats targeted by the Trump administration are, quote, legitimate targets. She even dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump. But the Maduro regime isn't just lashing out symbolically in recent days. In Bogota, Colombia, two exiled Venezuelan activists were shot and wounded Monday in what Colombian police described as a targeted attack. The two activists are reportedly in stable condition in a Colombian hospital. For background, one of the victims is the founder of the Venezuelan Observatory of LGBTQ Violence and had sought asylum in Colombia after being detained in 2024amid a crackdown following Maduro's contested reelection. Okay, coming up in the back of the brief, Madagascar. There's a place we don't talk about much. Madagascar's top military unit has overthrown the government, joining protesters and forcing the president from power. More on that when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here with an exciting offer from our friends over at the birchgold Group. Now you can buy gold and now get free silver. That's right, buy gold, get free silver. Come on, what's not to like? For every $5,000 purchased from Birch Gold Group this month in advance of Veterans Day, they'll send you a free patriotic silver round that commemorates the Gadsden and American flags. Look, gold is up some 40% just since the beginning of the year. That's hitting record highs. 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In today's Back of the Brief, we're turning to the island nation of Madagascar. That's about 250 miles off the coast of Africa. There, what began as youth led protests over power cuts and water shortages and economic hardship has evolved into a full blown military takeover and the president is now gone. A little background all of this kicked off in late September when hundreds of students and young people poured into the streets of the capital city of Antananarivo under the banner Gen Z Madagascar. They demanded basic services and accountability from President Andre Raju Alina, now a polarizing figure who has dominated the country's politics for more than a decade. The protests quickly spread. Union groups, civic organizations, even disaffected elements of the security forces joined in. Demonstrators said they had had enough of corruption, blackouts and rising prices. By early October, a powerful military unit known as CAPSAT began refusing orders and openly siding with demonstrators. Within days, its troops entered the capital and announced they were taking control of the armed forces. Yesterday, the lower house of parliament voted to impeach the sitting president as he fled the capital. In his place, the CAPSACK commander declared himself interim leader, suspending key government institutions and promising a two year transition before new elections. But many in Madagascar have heard promises like that before. As a matter of fact, the current situation essentially mirrors the last transition, when Capsat played a similar role back in 2009. In that coup, the military unit helped bring Raju Oelina to power after toppling his predecessor. So even as some citizens view the coup as a long overdue correction to a failing presidency, others probably realistically so, fear it's simply another turn in the country's cycle of military interventions, trading one strongman for another. For now, the streets of the Capitol remain tense but calm. The young activists who started the protests say they'll keep pushing for real reform, not just new uniforms in the presidential palace. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Wednesday, 15 October. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@thefirsttv.com and again, I apologize for the construction noise in the background of this morning's episode that happens when you're on the road. And remember, 9 out of 10 YouTube users prefer the PDB on YouTube over all the other stuff. You can find us on YouTube at President's Daily Brief. 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.