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The President's Daily Brief
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | April 17th, 2025: Trump Calls Off Strike On Iran & Hamas Struggles To Pay Fighters
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- [00:00]
Mike Baker
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Well, it turns out the US Came closer to a potential war with Iran than many realized. According to the New York Times, President Trump recently put the brakes on a planned Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear program after a fierce internal debate within his own administration. The strike, which could have been launched as soon as next month, would have required significant U.S. military support, and for a while, it looked like Washington might provide it. Let's start with what Israel had in mind. According to the report, officials in Tel Aviv had drawn up plans for a multi phase attack aimed at setting back Tehran's nuclear ambitions by a year or more. Initially, they hoped to pair airstrikes with commando raids on underground nuclear sites. But when it became clear that the commando teams wouldn't be ready in time, Israel pivoted to a broader bombing campaign, one that would have required American aircraft, intelligence and logistics in order to be successful. And here's where the US Comes in. As we've been reporting here on the pdp, US Military assets have been building up across the region for weeks. A second aircraft carrier, missile defense systems and long range B2 bombers were deployed to Diego Garcia, moves that were publicly framed as part of the ongoing conflict with the Houthis in Yemen. But privately, officials now say that the firepower was also about preparing for a potential operation against Iran. Even basing US Fighters in Israel was reportedly under consideration. The CIA director, John Ratcliffe, was dispatched to Jerusalem to sit down with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the head of Mossad. They discussed various options, including not just direct strikes, but covert sabotage operations and tighter sanctions enforcement. But as planning progressed, reportedly cracks began to show inside the Trump administration. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence DNI, presented a new intelligence assessment, warning that military action could spiral into a broader regional war. Her concerns were echoed by top officials, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the vice president, J.D. vance. Even national security adviser Michael Waltz, normally one of the most hawkish voices on Iran, began questioning whether the Israeli plan could work without massive US Involvement. Ultimately, President Trump decided to hold off. According to the Times, he informed Netanyahu during his visit to Washington that the US Would not support an attack, at least not while Iran has signaled a willingness, as limited as it may be, to negotiate. The White House is now pursuing a short term diplomatic window with Tehran to reach a new nuclear agreement. But while Trump has chosen diplomacy, at least for now, he hasn't ruled anything out. After the Netanyahu meeting, he told reporters, quote, if it requires military, we're going to have military. Israel will obviously be the leader of that, end quote. In the meantime, u. S. Intelligence and military officials are continuing to work with Israel to weigh other options, including covert action. So the message from the White House, well, it's that talks are happening but time is limited and the military option is still on the table. Coming up next, reports say Hamas is broke and struggling to pay its operatives, adding a financial crisis to its lengthy series of military setbacks. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Well, I'm very happy to remind you that it's now grilling season and I'm also happy to give you this pro tip. I'm about to tell you where you can get the finest beef you can throw on that grill. It's from a classic American business. Generations of family raising high quality beef in the great state of Texas. 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Well, tariffs, you may have heard about them recently. They've thrown the global economy into chaos. Potential widespread inflation tied to massive supply chain disruptions. Well, it's weighing heavily on all of us. But there's a silver lining that some people might have missed. Well, it's actually silver and gold. You see, President Trump specifically exempted gold and silver bullion from the sweeping tariffs. And while these new policies are triggering significant financial chaos, the administration preserved your ability to diversify into precious metals. Now, if you're concerned about your savings, I encourage you to have a free consultation with a Birchgold precious metals specialist. It's simple. The first step is to text PDB to the number 989898 and receive your free no obligation information kit on gold. Learn how to hold gold and silver in a tax sheltered account. Birch Gold will help you convert an existing IRA or 401k into a gold IRA for no money out of pocket. 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- [08:28]
Mike Slater
My name is Mike Slater. I have a podcast called Politics by Faith. I was just talking to a friend of mine who said he hasn't been able to follow the news lately. It's been too much. It's too crazy. It's driving him crazy and he's just checked out. If you feel that way sometimes too, I think you'll really like our podcast Politics by Faith. We take the main story of the day and we run it through the Bible. What does the Bible say about this? It's amazing, but it's all there. And then God tells us what to do. We don't even have to figure it out. The answers are right there. He gives us the answers. Politics by Faith. Please join us over there. You can listen to it wherever you're listening to this podcast right now.
- [09:04]
Mike Baker
Politics by Faith welcome back to the Afternoon Bulletin. Hamas's war chest is reportedly drying up fast as Israel's renewed military offensive and tightened aid restrictions have choked off the cash pipelines that once fueled the Iran backed terror group's ability to pay its fighters and officials. The effects are rippling across the enclave. According to Arab, Israeli and Western officials, salary payments have ceased entirely for many of the Hamas members. At the same time, senior operatives, including those in the political wing, received only half pay during Ramadan last month. Rank and file terror operatives have been hit the hardest, reportedly averaging around just 200 to $300 per month, complicating recruitment efforts and weakening internal cohesion. This financial unraveling comes after years of stockpiling resources. Before launching the 7 October 2023 terror attacks on Israel, Hamas relied heavily on a mix of foreign aid, most notably $15 million in monthly cash deliveries from Qatar and domestic income streams that included taxes on commercial goods, customs duties and the resale of humanitarian aid that it had seized or stole or imported. It also drew support from fundraising networks stretching as far as West Africa, South Asia and even the uk, with much of its financial reserve reportedly held in foreign accounts. Well, much of it was pilfered by the top Hamas officials over the years and stuffed in their pockets and their foreign accounts. In recent weeks, the IDF has said it killed a prominent money changer and several senior Hamas figures involved in salary distribution. Intelligence officials report that many others have been forced into hiding, disrupting the terror group's courier and checkpoint systems that Hamas historically used to pay its fighters. As one open source researcher focused on Gaza's economy put it, quote, even if they sit on large amounts of cash, their ability to distribute it would be very limited right now. Any attempt to move money through physical means could now, of course, draw direct Israeli retaliation via airstrike. In response, Hamas has turned to more desperate tactics. In the early weeks of the war, the group reportedly seized up to $180 million from local banks in Gaza, including the bank of Palestine, and began imposing new fees on Gaza merchants, customs charges on imports, and selling off humanitarian goods that it intercepted. But those measures offered only temporary relief. During January's cease fire, Hamas was able to slightly replenish its financial reserves when aid deliveries resumed. That window closed in March when Israel sealed Gaza's borders and imposed tighter controls on humanitarian shipments. As we discussed on today's bdb, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed this week that Israel is pursuing a new aid distribution mechanism designed to bypass Hamas entirely by working with vetted civilian partners. Katz defended the blockade as a necessary measure to break what he described as Hamas's model of monetizing humanitarian aid to fuel its war machine. That monetization, according to Israeli officials, has become so central to Hamas's economic model that military planners are now reevaluating how aid is screened not just for security risks but also for resale value. Even with an estimated $500 million stashed somewhere in Turkey and as much as $3 billion believed to still be circulating inside Gaza, the group's access to those funds has been sharply curtailed. The consequences are already taking shape as the IDF presses deeper into Gaza and anti Hamas demonstrations surface in some areas. Intelligence officials say the financial strain is accelerating a slow disintegration of Hamas's internal command and control. And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon bulletin for Thursday 17th April. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the firsttv.com and as four out of five doctors will tell you to listen to the show ad free, just become a premium member of the President's Daily brief by visiting PDB premium.com I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, well, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.