← The President's Daily Brief
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | April 7th, 2025: Revealed: How A Reporter Was Added To Yemen War Chat On Signal & Iran-Backed Militias Back Down
00:16:21
Loading summary
Transcript7 lines
- [00:01]
FanDuel Representative
It's tourney time and with FanDuel's Dog of the day, you could get a daily profit boost during the college conference championships to bet on any underdog. So get ready to celebrate some upsets.
- [00:11]
Sports Analyst
No one saw that coming except for me, baby.
- [00:15]
FanDuel Representative
21 plus in President select states opt in required minimum 100 eyes required bonus issued is non withdrawable profit boost tokens restriction supply including token expiration and max wager amount. See terms@sportsbook.fanduel.com gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
- [00:42]
Mike Baker
It's Monday the 7th 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. We'll start things off with new revelations about that war plans. Chat group on Signal Remember that? It was a bizarre story that captured the headlines for a few days and then, much like everything else that happens in Washington, D.C. it disappeared from view. We're now learning how the Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg ended up in the chat about US Strikes in Yemen. It all traces back to a contact mix up an old campaign email and one very unhelpful iPhone. Later in the show, several powerful Iranian backed militia groups in Iraq are reportedly prepared to disarm for the first time to avert the threat of an escalating conflict with the US Trump administration. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. We're finally learning the details of exactly how Atlantic magazine editor Jeffrey Goldberg wound up in a Signal group chat where senior Trump administration officials were discussing upcoming military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. And the answer is it was a contact list mix up on an iPhone. Of course it was. It's a very 2000 and twenties mistake. Speaking with the Guardian in the UK three sources familiar with the White House's internal investigation said the table was set for the incident. Way back in October during the presidential campaign, Goldberg had emailed the Trump campaign about a critical story that he was writing, one that questioned Trump's views on wounded service members. In response, the campaign brought in Congressman Mike Waltz, a national security surrogate, to push back. Now here's where it gets let's call it unusual. Goldberg's email, which included his signature block and phone number, you know how emails do sometimes, was forwarded to Waltz by Trump campaign spokesman Brian Hughes, who just copied and pasted the whole thing into a text. Okay, Waltz never called Goldberg, but somehow, likely due to his iPhone's contact suggestion algorithm, Goldberg's number was saved under Hugh's contact card. It's always the Algorithm, isn't it? Fast forward to March Waltz, now Trump's national security advisor, goes to create a signal group chat called Houthi PC small group to coordinate with top officials about U. S. Military action in Yemen. And a crazy coincidence. I also have a chat group called Houthi PC small group. You think? What are the odds? So Waltz meant to add Hughes, but thanks to the contact card mix up months earlier. Well, he added Jeffrey Goldberg instead. And as they say, the rest is history. The editor of the Atlantic was suddenly looped in on high level sensitive conversations about upcoming U. S. Military strikes on an unclassified messaging app. According to reports, Trump was furious when the story broke, but not just because of these security implications. What really ticked him off? Well, apparently it was that Goldberg, editor of a magazine that Trump openly loathes, was in Waltz's phone at all. Trump reportedly considered firing Waltz, but ultimately decided against it, partly to avoid the optics of a media driven firing just weeks into a second term, and partly because the White House's internal review showed that it really was just an accident, an embarrassing bureaucratic digital age blunder. That same review triggered a forensic audit by White House IT staff. They confirmed the iPhone had automatically merged Goldberg's number into the wrong contactee, a, quote, contact suggestion update gone wrong. For his part, Waltz told Fox News that Goldberg's number had been sucked into his phone, his words noting he'd never communicated with Goldberg. But when the Guardian reached out, Goldberg said something slightly different. Quote, I'm not going to comment on my relationship with Mike Waltz, beyond saying I do know him and have spoken to him, end quote. Despite the fallout, Trump has stood by Waltz. Just days ago, the president boarded Marine one with Waltz by his side, along with chief of staff Susie Wiles and personnel chief Sergio Gore. A clear show of support. And while this whole situation raised alarms about security and oversight, officials say that the White House had approved the use of signal in the first place simply because there wasn't a better real time alternative for interagency communication. I mean, unless you count the secure phones that they're supposed to use. But other than that, no. Let this be a lesson for all of us, frankly. The next time you start a chat group to discuss bombing an Iranian proxy group, well, select your group members wisely. Coming up next, a potential significant development in Iraq. Several powerful Iranian backed militias say that they're ready to disarm, marking a potential turning point as they look to avoid a direct clash with the Trump administration. I'll have those details when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Well, take a look around at the economy. What do you see? Well, I'll tell you what we see. We see some tariff wars. We certainly have those. We see ongoing recession fears and we see some stubborn sticky inflation. So it's no wonder that gold has been routinely hitting all time highs. And look in volatile markets, well, like the one that we have right now. Don't just sit on the sidelines with your head in the sand and hoping that things will get better. Take control and safeguard your savings. It's why so many Americans today are turning to Birch Gold Group. They've helped tens of thousands convert an existing IRA or 401k into an IRA in physical gold. So ask yourself, is it time for you to hedge against inflation and economic instability with gold? To learn how to own physical gold in a tax sheltered account, it's simple. Just text PDB to the number 989898. Birch Gold will send you a free, no obligation information kit. Again, just text PDB to the number 989898. With an A rating. With the Better Business Bureau and countless five star reviews, it's no wonder that so many Americans count on Birch Gold to help protect their savings. And you can too. Just text PDB to 989898 today. Mike Baker here. Well, it's springtime. Look at that. We made it. And if it's springtime, that means it's grilling time. Am I right? And here's a pro tip on where to get the very best beef to throw on that grill. Just look no further than Tri Tails beef. Look, Tri Tails is the real deal. It's a fifth generation Texas ranch where cattle are pasture raised, grain finished and raised the right way. They handle the beef on site and ship it straight to your door. There's no middlemen, no mystery. All their beef is sourced to match the genetics and care that they've built their herd on. Ensuring consistent marbling, tenderness and rich flavor in every cut. It's small batch, big flavor. You can taste the difference the moment that it hits the grill. Whether it's a ribeye, a filet or a New York strip, this is the kind of beef that brings people together. USDA prime and choice, hand packed and ready for your table. And right now, they've got a special offer just for PDB listeners. Go to tribe.com PDB and get two free flat iron steaks with your first box. Over $250. That's tribe.com PDB support real ranchers and eat like you mean it.
- [08:32]
Fast Growing Trees Representative
Did you know that Fast Growing Trees is the biggest online nursery in the US with thousands of different plants and over 2 million happy customers? Well now you know, here's the thing. They have all the plants that your yard needs like fruit trees, privacy trees, flowering trees, shrubs, and a whole lot more. Whatever plants you're interested in, Fast Growing Trees has you covered to get your dream yard delivered directly to your door. I love this company. Look, no more wandering around a nursery trying to figure out how you're going to schlep home a bunch of plants. And this spring, well, they have the best deals, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 15% off their first purchase when using code PDB at checkout. That's an additional 15% off at fastgrowingtrees.com using the code PDB at checkout. Fastgrowingtrees.com code PDB now is the perfect time to plant and use code PDB to save. Today offer is valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply like a.
- [09:33]
Josh Hammer
Bowl in a China shop. Donald Trump came in to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C. but with his bold reform and rejuvenation nation agenda comes so many legal questions. Nationwide injunctions? Are they constitutional? What's the deal with birthright citizenship? What about the administrative state? Can he actually clean the deep state and end the politicization of the federal bureaucracy? I'm Josh Hammer, host of America on Trial with Josh Hammer. Subscribe to America on Trial with Josh Hammer for your daily updates on all of these questions and more.
- [10:03]
Mike Baker
Welcome back to the Afternoon bulletin. In a surprise move, several powerful Iranian backed militias in Iraq have signaled a willingness to disarm in a move aimed at sidestepping potential American airstrikes under the Trump administration. The move follows months of stern warnings from the White House, which has quietly pressured Baghdad to bring the Iran aligned militias to heel or face the consequences. Since President Trump's return to office, US Officials have repeatedly made clear that the era of tolerance for Iranian proxy attacks is over. According to six commanders representing four major militias including Kataib Hezbollah, the most formidable of Iraq's Shiite factions. Negotiations with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani are, quote, very advanced. As reported by Reuters, there's a growing consensus among militia leaders that continued defiance risks drawing overwhelming US Military retaliation. These militias fall under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iranian sponsored network overseen by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the irgc. Since the eruption of the war in Gaza, these factions have launched dozens of drone and missile attacks on American and Israeli targets purportedly in solidarity with Hamas. Two senior Iraqi security officials told Reuters that militias command an estimated 50,000 fighters and stockpile weapons that include long range rockets and anti air systems. A Kataib has commander admitted quote, we know Trump is ready to take the war to worst levels. We want to avoid such a bad scenario, end quote. While formal disarmament agreements remain on the table, proposals under discussion include transitioning the militias into political entities or integrating them into Iraq's national armed forces. It's a strategy that mirrors past efforts at neutralizing paramilitary threats. Prime Minister Sudani is seeking to consolidate control has made it clear that all arms must fall under state authority, his foreign affairs adviser told Reuters. The government is pursuing, quote, constructive dialogue with various national actors to achieve that end. Some factions have already begun repositioning, quietly withdrawing from urban flashpoints, moving command centers and ramping up personnel security protocols. Several commanders now reportedly rotate phones, cars and safe houses on a near daily basis to avoid being targeted by American air power. Perhaps most notably, the IRGC appears to have loosened its grip. For the first time in recent memory, Tehran is allowing its Iraqi proxies to act with a degree of autonomy, prioritizing survival over ideological consistency as regional setbacks mount. This shift comes at a volatile moment for Iran's so called axis of resistance, which of course has suffered heavy setbacks across the region. Hamas and Hezbollah have absorbed Israeli bombardments and significant losses to their leaderships. The Houthis are undergoing ongoing US air assaults and December's fall of Syrian President Assad, a cornerstone of Iran's regional strategy, has further undercut the Iranian regime's influence. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reinforced Washington's red lines in a call on 16 March with Sudani. Shortly after US strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, Heath warned that any future militia reprisals on US personnel or Israeli assets would trigger a decisive American response. For Iraq, a nation long caught between Washington and Tehran, the latest developments suggest that its balancing act may be tilting under renewed American pressure and the militia's instinct for survival. And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon bulletin for Monday 7th April. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com of course to listen to the show ad free. It's very easy. 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, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool. Hey Mike, Baker here. Well, have you heard about the MAHA movement? I'm talking about the Make America Healthy Again movement. It's all about inspiring people to make fitness a priority. That's why I'm excited to be working with Don Mastrangello and the team at Jacked Up Fitness. Look, their commercial grade Power Rack Pro has everything you need for a full body workout at home. Seriously, look, this is an amazing setup. The cable crossover system with integrated 200 pound weight stacks and the Smith machine. They allow you to do hundreds of exercises. Basically everything that you can do at the gym. If you're new to strength training, their Get Jacked up program offers complete video workouts. Just press play and follow along. It's that simple. My Power Rack Pro just arrived at the house and our three teenage boys and I are ready to hit it hard. Getting into a consistent home fitness routine is easy with Jacked Up Fitness at the end of the day. Look, there is nothing more important than your health. Go to getjackedup.com and sign up for free access to the program. When you're ready to order your Power rack Pro, save 10% with my promo code. Baker. That's B A K E R. Come on. No more excuses. Go to getjackedup.com.