PDB Afternoon Bulletin | April 10th, 2026: Trump Blasts Iran as Hormuz Standoff Deepens & Putin Declares Orthodox Easter Truce In Ukraine

Summary

The President's Daily Brief — Afternoon Bulletin

April 10, 2026

Host: Mike Baker

Episode Theme:
An urgent look at rising US-Iran tensions as the Hormuz Strait remains closed and both sides prepare for rare direct talks. Plus, a short-lived Orthodox Easter truce in Ukraine as both Kyiv and Moscow express skepticism—but with signs a peace deal may be closer than expected.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. US-Iran Tensions & Hormuz Standoff

[00:42 – 07:16]

• Ceasefire in Name Only:
  Despite an announced ceasefire between the US and Iran, hostilities persist. Iran continues firing missiles and drones at Gulf states, notably hitting sites in Kuwait (Al Udari base, Kuwait Oil Corporation refinery).

• Strait of Hormuz Blockade:
  Iran maintains a near total blockade of this critical shipping lane, disrupting 20% of the world’s oil supply.

• Trump’s Strong Rebuke:

  • On Iran’s behavior:
    • “Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable, some would say, of allowing oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz… that is not the agreement we have.” — President Trump, Truth Social (attributed by host at 01:38)
    • “I don't think that a regime that just recently admitted to slaughtering thousands and thousands of their own citizens really gives a rat's ass about being called dishonorable.” — Mike Baker (01:52)
  • On Iran’s motives:
    • Trump accused Tehran of “short term extortion of the world by restricting access to international waterways and claiming the regime has no cards beyond that leverage.” (02:02)
  • US Military Posture:
    • Trump tells the New York Post that US warships are “reloaded with munitions and ready to resume strikes if talks in Pakistan fail.” (02:34)

• Iran’s Leverage and Negotiating Tactics:

  • Iran has reportedly discussed imposing multimillion-dollar transit fees ($2 million/tanker) for passage, likely to fund reconstruction post-strikes.
    • “Some of the tankers that have managed to pass… have in fact been paying the toll or the ransom fee or the extortion amount, however you want to refer to it.” — Mike Baker (03:32)
  • Notably, Trump did not initially dismiss the toll idea, floating a “joint US-Iran arrangement to manage the strait, calling it a way to secure the route while making, quote, big money.” (03:50)
    • Host’s incredulity: “I'm not making that up.” — Mike Baker (03:57)

• Risks of Precedent:
  Maritime experts warn a toll in Hormuz could lead to similar restrictions elsewhere—Taiwan Strait, Strait of Gibraltar, etc. (04:05)

• Negotiation Roadblocks:

  • Iran throws a last-minute wrench into imminent talks, demanding assets be unfrozen and a Lebanese ceasefire before negotiations proceed. (05:16)
    • “The demand… could torpedo the talks before they even have a chance to begin.” — Mike Baker (05:38)

• US Delegation & Political Pressures:

  • Vice President J.D. Vance to lead US team, adopting cautious optimism but warning against bad-faith negotiations or Iranian “play.”
    • “If Iran is not negotiating in good faith,… the US team will not be receptive.” — J.D. Vance (06:12)
  • Host notes White House is incentivized to resolve the conflict quickly due to looming midterm elections. (06:39)

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2. Russia-Ukraine Easter Truce

[11:30 – 15:44]

• 32-Hour Ceasefire Announcement:

  • Putin frames it as a “humanitarian gesture,” effective Orthodox Easter weekend.
    • Host’s dry wit: “When I think of Putin, many times the first word that comes to mind is humanitarian.” — Mike Baker (11:38)

• Kyiv’s Skepticism:

  • Zelensky agrees to the truce but doubts its sincerity, citing Russia’s prior manipulation of such pauses for strategic gain.
    • “We believe that a ceasefire is the right strategy to advance diplomatic efforts, whether we are talking about the Middle east or Russian aggression against Ukraine.” — Ukraine’s Foreign Minister (12:42)

• Peace Negotiations’ Sticking Points:

  • Russia wants permanent peace contingent on Ukraine ceding entire Donbass.
  • Zelensky has “repeatedly rejected those terms,” seeing them as Kremlin delaying tactics. (13:35)
  • Both sides’ populations express deep skepticism, pointing to last year’s failed Easter truce. (13:55)

• Tentative Hopes for Peace:

  • Kyrylo Budanov (Ukraine):
    • “They all understand the war needs to end. I don't think it will be long.” — Budanov to Bloomberg (14:13)
  • Both parties are “moving away from earlier maximalist positions,” due to the growing economic burden—especially for Russia.

• Reality Check:

  • “Talks have largely stalled, with both sides outlining positions that remain unacceptable to the other… this Easter ceasefire appears to represent something familiar in this war—a brief pause layered with competing narratives and very deep skepticism. And, well, the war grinds on.” — Mike Baker (15:15)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I don't know, just hours before the two sides are supposedly set to sit down for their first direct talks since the war began… President Trump is making it clear that he's not pleased with how Tehran is handling the ceasefire, particularly when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz.” — Mike Baker (01:00)
• “But no surprise, maritime experts warn that introducing a toll system in a strategic choke point like Hormuz could set a dangerous precedent.” — Mike Baker (04:05)
• “Vice President J.D. Vance, who is expected to lead the U.S. delegation… struck a cautiously optimistic tone… but also issued a clear warning.” — Mike Baker (06:07)
• “I don't think it will be long.” — Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office (14:13)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | | --------------------------------------------------- | ----------: | | US-Iran Ceasefire & Strait of Hormuz | 00:42–07:16 | | Iran Missile & Drone Attacks Continue | 02:00–02:30 | | Trump Remarks & US Military Posture | 01:38–02:34 | | Iran Proposes Transit Fees | 03:32–03:57 | | Maritime Toll Precedent Concerns | 04:05 | | Roadblocks to US-Iran Talks | 05:16–05:38 | | US Political Implications | 06:39 | | Russia-Ukraine Orthodox Easter Truce | 11:30–15:44 | | Kyrylo Budanov’s Comments on Peace Prospects | 14:13 |

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Tone and Style

Mike Baker delivers the news with a blend of ex-intelligence officer’s directness and dry humor. He’s skeptical, occasionally biting, but focused on providing clear, actionable context for major world events. He’s unflinching in addressing the stakes and very much attentive to policy minutiae and realpolitik.

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Summary for New Listeners

This episode provides a sharp, fast-paced rundown of escalating world crises—US-Iran brinkmanship in the Persian Gulf, with direct quotes from President Trump and details about the high-stakes negotiations, and a deep dive into the symbolic and likely fleeting Orthodox Easter truce in Ukraine, with on-the-ground skepticism and rare diplomatic optimism. All amid ongoing hostilities, diplomatic gamesmanship, and underlying domestic political influences in both regions.

If you want a quick, no-nonsense unpacking of today’s global flashpoints—and why they matter—you’ll find this episode concise and insightful.

Transcript

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[Mike Baker]

It's Friday, the 10th of April. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First up, a ceasefire may or well may not be in place between the US And Iran while the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut down. Not to mention, but I'm about to, that Iran is still firing missiles and drones at Gulf states. And all along here I thought a ceasefire meant that you, I don't know, cease fire. And now, just hours before talks begin or supposedly begin between the US And Iran, both sides are already raising the stakes. Later in the show, a brief Easter ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is set to take hold, but few believe it will last. Regardless behind the scenes, one senior Ukrainian official now says a peace deal may be closer than expected. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. We begin today with rising tensions between the US And Iran. You know, could they rise any further? I don't know. Just hours before the two sides are supposedly set to sit down for their first direct talks since the war began. Ahead of those talks, scheduled for Saturday morning in Pakistan, President Trump is making it clear that he's not pleased with how Tehran is handling the ceasefire, particularly when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz. In a series of posts on Truth Social on Thursday night and Friday, the president slammed Iran for acting in bad faith, saying, quote, iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable, some would say, of allowing oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz, end quote, while adding, quote, that is not the agreement we have. Well, maybe it's just me, but I don't think that a regime that just recently admitted to slaughtering thousands and thousands of their own citizens really gives a rat's ass about being called dishonorable. Trump went further, though, accusing Iran of what he described as a, quote, short term extortion of the world by restricting access to international waterways and claiming the regime has, quote, no cards beyond that leverage. Additionally, Trump told the New York Post on Friday that US Warships are currently being reloaded with munitions and are ready to resume strikes if the talks in Pakistan fail. Now, despite the escalating tensions, the ceasefire, well in name only, is still holding. There are reports that since supposedly agreeing to the deal, Iran has continued launching missiles and drones at regional targets, including hitting key sites in Kuwait over the past 48 hours, such as the Al Udari base in Kuwait and the Kuwait Oil Corporation refinery. And as we've been tracking on the pdb, Iran continues to maintain a near total blockade of the strait, disrupting global energy flows in a corridor that typically carries roughly 20% of the world's oil supply. There are also reports first cited by the New York Times suggesting Iranian officials have discussed imposing fees of up to $2 million per transit, potentially as a way to fund reconstruction after recent strikes. It's likely that some of the tankers that have managed to pass through the strait with Iranian authorization over the past few weeks have in fact been paying the toll or the ransom fee or the extortion amount, however you want to refer to it now, in the category of just when you think you've heard it all. President Trump did not entirely dismiss the concept of a toll or a fee for transiting the strait earlier this week, telling reporters that he's entertaining the idea of a potential joint US Iran arrangement to manage the strait, calling it a way to secure the route while making, quote, big money. I'm not making that up. But no surprise, maritime experts warn that introducing a toll system in a strategic choke point like Hormuz could set a dangerous precedent, raising questions about whether other critical waterways from the Taiwan Strait to the Strait of Gibraltar could face similar restrictions in the future. Regardless, the president apparently had shifted his tone by Thursday afternoon, warning that if the reports are true, then Iran, quote, better stop now. So perhaps he's shelved the big money concept. All of this, as I mentioned, is unfolding just as US And Iranian officials prepare to sit down for direct talks in Islamabad. As we laid out yesterday, Iran is entering those talks with a clear objective, maintain leverage, particularly over the strait, while pushing for sanctions relief and preserving key elements of its nuclear program. The U.S. meanwhile, is coming in with its own red lines, chief among them ensuring that Iran can't maintain a pathway to a nuclear weapon and restoring stability to global shipping routes. But further complicating the talks, Iran threw a last minute wrench into the peace negotiations on Friday afternoon, demanding that Iranian assets be unblocked and and a ceasefire implemented in Lebanon before peace talks can proceed. So the Iranian regime, which has already declared victory in this conflict, is continuing to stick to its demands. While the White House has not yet publicly commented the demand issued by Iran's parliament speaker could torpedo the talks before they even have a chance to begin. As an aside, be sure to tune into our much loved weekend show. That would be the PDB Situation report this weekend. The most excellent David Daoud from the foundation for Defense of Democracies joins us and provides an excellent analysis of the current Hezbollah Israel conflict, including the role that Lebanon is currently playing in this fragile ceasefire or whatever we call an agreement where the firing hasn't yet ceased. Vice President J.D. vance, who is expected to lead the U.S. delegation, struck a cautiously optimistic tone on Friday as he departed for the region, saying he expects the negotiations to be positive. But he also issued a clear warning, saying that if Iran is not negotiating in good faith, and what are the odds of that or is seen to be trying to, quote, play us, the U.S. team will not be receptive. Now, normally I would be very pessimistic about the chances for any progress in these talks, but domestic politics are at play here, meaning the White House is very keen to resolve this conflict as quickly as possible in order to move on with an eye on how it all could impact the midterm elections. All right, coming up next, Russia has announced a short Easter truce in Ukraine and Kiev says it will comply, but both sides are already casting doubt on what comes next. I'll be right back.

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[Mike Baker]

Welcome back to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Turning now to the war in Ukraine, where a short symbolic ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter holiday is offering a brief pause in fighting but little clarity on whether it signals any real progress toward peace. On Thursday, Russian President Putin announced a 32 hour ceasefire in Ukraine, set to begin Saturday afternoon and run through Orthodox Easter Sunday, framing it, of course, as a humanitarian gesture. Well, yes, I know that when I think of Putin many times the first word that comes to mind is humanitarian. Ukrainian President Zelensky quickly said Kiev would abide by the pause despite their skepticism, given Moscow's past history of using similar ceasefires for strategic or political gain. Ukrainian officials quickly urged Russia on Friday to extend the truce beyond the holiday period and to restart broader peace talks, warning that a short term pause will mean little if fighting simply resumes afterward. Ukraine's foreign minister said Kyiv sees a ceasefire as a way to advance diplomacy, not just pause the battlefield. He told reporters, quote, we believe that a ceasefire is the right strategy to advance diplomatic efforts, whether we are talking about the Middle east or Russian aggression against Ukraine, end quote. But the Kremlin is already signaling limits. Officials in Moscow describe the Easter truce as a temporary measure, while reiterating that Russia is focused on securing a permanent peace deal, one that includes long standing demands for Ukraine to cede the entire Donbass region, including territory currently held by Kyiv. Zelensky has repeatedly rejected those terms, describing them as a delaying tactic on the part of the Kremlin and saying any such concession would betray Ukrainian forces and reward Russian aggression. And on the ground, there are few signs that this latest ceasefire is changing any expectations on either side of the war. Residents in both Kiev and Moscow express doubts in interviews with Reuters, pointing to a long history of failed or violated truces, including a similar Easter ceasefire last year that quickly broke down. But at the same time, there are signals, however tentative, that negotiations could be inching forward behind the scenes. Kyrilo Budnov, the head of Ukraine's presidential office and a key participant in peace talks, told Bloomberg on Friday that he believes a deal could come sooner than many expect. He said, quote, they all understand the war needs to end. I don't think it will be long. End quote. Budnov argued that both sides are moving away from earlier maximalist positions, driven in part by the growing economic strain of the war, particularly in Russia, which he said is spending enormous sums to sustain its campaign. Still, that optimism is far from universally shared. According to the same Bloomberg reporting, talks have largely stalled, with both sides outlining positions that remain unacceptable to the other, even as they express interest in resuming direct negotiations once conditions allow. So for now, this Easter ceasefire appears to represent something familiar in this war. A brief pause layered with competing narratives and very deep skepticism. And, well, the war grinds on. And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon bulletin for Friday 10th April. Now, if you have any questions or comments, and I hope you do, just reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and as mentioned earlier, be sure to catch this weekend's PDB Situation Report. It airs tonight at 10pm on the first TV and also available on our YouTube channel at President's Daily Brief. And wherever you get your podcast stuff, we've got David Daoud, an expert on Lebanon and Hezbollah from the foundation for Defense of Democracies, and also retired Colonel Wesley Martin. He brings extensive experience working in the Middle east to the show to discuss the current situation in Iran. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back over the weekend with the PDB Situation Report. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.

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